New Jersey Nursing Colleges, Degrees & Licenses

Accredited Undergraduate Nursing Programs in New Jersey

Seton Hall University

The Seton Hall University College of Nursing is distinguished as New Jersey’s first BSN degree program. U.S. News & World Report has previously ranked Seton Hall University College of Nursing as one of the top graduate nursing programs in the country. The mission of the College of Nursing is to educate baccalaureate-prepared generalists and advanced practitioners of nursing. 

The program accepts applicants from various backgrounds, including high school graduates, transfer applicants, and students for whom English is not their first language. Admissions requirements vary according to the background of the applicant. Applicants typically must meet a combination of criteria, including at least some training in biology and chemistry, a satisfactory GPA, and demonstrated ability to complete the curriculum as provided within the English language satisfactorily.

The BSN curriculum features a blend of classroom study and laboratory experience. It also features simulations designed to equip students with the skills necessary to perform well in numerous clinical settings. The curriculum provides professional training in nursing and elements of a liberal arts education designed to produce well-rounded professionals capable of providing excellent care. The curriculum studies various subjects, including anatomy, physiology, psychology, and sociology. Students are introduced to clinical skills in their sophomore year and gain patient-care experience in various clinical settings. Such settings include hospitals, long-term care facilities, community health agencies, behavioral-health settings, schools and clinics.

• Location: Nutley, NJ
• Duration: Four years
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Tuition: $1,490 per credit for part-time (fewer than 12 credits) and $24,335 per semester for 12 credits or more

Our Lady of Lourdes

Our Lady of Lourdes School of Nursing is unique because it is the only provider of Catholic nursing education in southern New Jersey. This program visualizes nursing as a professional discipline that values developing and applying evidence-based knowledge and clinical reasoning to provide quality, safe, patient-centered care. This 77-credit curriculum is based on Christian values, including caring, social responsibility, and service to those in need. The program provides a learner-centered environment to create competent, compassionate, and knowledgeable professional nurses. 

The mission of the School of Nursing is an enduring commitment to educating future generations of nurses who will apply their skills to create positive change in the communities they serve. The various elements of the program, such as the curriculum and the professional development guidance provided by advisors, are designed under the mission of the School of Nursing. Fulfillment of this mission is achieved through its commitment to educational excellence, a diverse workforce, deep collaborative relationships within communities, and lifelong learning.

• Location: Stratford, NJ
• Duration: Three years
• Accreditation: New Jersey Board of Nursing and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
• Tuition: $115 per credit; $119 for out-of-county NJ residents; $199 for international students

Thomas Edison State University (Hybrid)

The Thomas Edison State University W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing offers an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSNA) program. This intense, full-time program provides non-nurses the training to be prepared to successfully take the National Council Licensure Exam for RNs (NCLEX-RN) in just fifteen months. This program is specifically designed for adults with at least 60 college credits or a bachelor’s degree in another subject area. 

Due to the rigorous nature of the curriculum, outside employment is not recommended during the duration of the program. The licensure exam pass rate for graduates of this program is reliably higher than that of both state and national averages.

This 60-credit program consists of 26 credits of online courses and 34 of hybrid coursework. Critical highlights of this program include its hybrid delivery model, clinical experience offerings at multiple local facilities, the option to apply up to nine graduate credits towards the school’s master of science in nursing (MSN) program, three available cohort start dates per year, and fast-paced courses of eight weeks’ duration.

• Location: Trenton, NJ
• Duration: Fifteen months
• Accreditation: New Jersey Board of Nursing and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Tuition: $38,824 for the entire program

Ramapo College of New Jersey

Ramapo College offers a 128-credit generalist bachelor’s degree program in nursing (BSN). The design of this program curriculum is guided by interdisciplinary collaboration, the American Nurses’ Association (ANA) standards of clinical nursing practice, and the AACN essentials of baccalaureate nursing practice. The curriculum features both a general education component and nursing training. Students complete the general education component first. This component includes exposure to various subjects within the liberal arts, physical and social sciences, and humanities. Students begin nursing courses in their junior year after completing their science and general education courses and their prerequisites.

This program is the product of a clinical partnership with The Valley Hospital. The Valley Hospital is designated as a magnet hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Students complete nursing courses on the Ramapo campus and clinical coursework via instruction provided by nurses at The Valley Hospital. These nurse instructors at The Valley Hospital hold the designation of clinical associate faculty at Ramapo College. Students may also pursue their clinical training requirements at other local clinical affiliates. Facilities, where students may complete their clinical training, include acute care institutions, long-term care facilities, community health agencies, outpatient/ ambulatory care settings, professional organizations, and occupational health/industrial sites.

Graduates of this generalist program hold the training necessary to fill critical roles in providing nursing care within complex healthcare systems. They can also take the license examination (NCLEX) to become registered nurses.

Students interested in advancing their careers may seek to enroll later in Ramapo’s master of science in nursing (MSN) program. This program offers tracks in nursing education, nursing administration, and family nurse practitioner.

• Location: Mahwah, NJ
• Duration: Four years
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
• Tuition: $15,363 per year for in-state students; $25,373 for non-residents (includes fees) 

The College of New Jersey

The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) offers a generic bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree program. This program is the only one offered in Mercer County that awards a generalist BSN degree. In addition, according to the NCLEX pass rate, TCNJ offered the best BSN program in New Jersey in 2021.

This program typically accepts both post-high school students and transfer students. However, due to high enrollment and retention, the program cannot accept external transfer students for the 2023-2024 academic year. Though prospective students holding a high school diploma have no specific course requirements, they are strongly recommended to enter this program with a strong science background, especially in chemistry and biology.

This program has several appealing features, including state-of-the-art professional instruction designed to teach students a patient-centered approach guided by evidence-based practice, a highly qualified faculty, a low faculty-student ratio, a strong leadership focus, a curriculum composed of a mix of liberal arts, natural and behavioral sciences, nursing sciences, and clinical nursing practice coursework, and the training necessary to successfully pass the NCLEX-RN examination to achieve designation as a registered nurse. TCNJ also boasts a high success rate for its graduates; 100 percent have been employed within six months of completing the program.

• Location: Ewing, NJ
• Duration: Four years
• Accreditation: New Jersey Board of Nursing and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Tuition: Contact the school for a customized assessment

Nursing School Accreditation

Nursing school accreditation is a voluntary but important step programs take to demonstrate that nurses who complete their program have received a quality education. When looking for a nursing program, it is important to ensure that it is accredited by either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). 

These organizations ensure that nursing programs meet certain standards and provide students with a quality education. The main noteworthy distinction between these two accrediting organizations is the type of education programs they focus on accrediting. ACEN accredits programs at all nurse education levels while CCNE focuses primarily on graduate programs and fellowships.

Undergraduate nursing education programs in New Jersey are often accredited by the New Jersey Board of Nursing. Nurses seeking to practice within New Jersey will typically need to interact with this board for various purposes. The New Jersey Board of Nursing is responsible for many things including, but not limited to, issuance and reinstatement of licenses, applications to establish new nursing programs, certifications of nurses such as APNs, and issuance of temporary courtesy licenses.

Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (RN) Licensure in New Jersey

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs Board of Nursing	To qualify for an LPN license in New Jersey, candidates must: Graduate from a board-approved nursing program Provide proof of residency in NJ Pass the NCLEX-PN and pay the $200 fee Submit completed state and federal criminal background checks and pay associated fees Proof of no felonies in the state or federally Have a valid US Social Security Number	To new a license LPNs in New Jersey must meet the following requirements every two years: Complete 30 contact hours of continuing education Obtain one contact hour of organ and tissue donation and recovery Pay the renewal fee of $120

Registered Nurse (RN) Licensure in New Jersey

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs Board of Nursing	Requirements for candidates for an RN license in New Jersey include: Graduate from a board-approved nursing program Provide proof of residency in NJ Pass the NCLEX-RN and pay the $200 fee Submit completed state and federal criminal background checks and pay associated fees Proof of no felonies in the state or federally Have a valid US Social Security Number Pay $75 application fee	RNs in New Jersey must meet the following requirements every two years to renew their license: Complete 30 contact hours of continuing education Obtain one contact hour of organ and tissue donation and recovery Pay the renewal fee of $120

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Licensure in New Jersey

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
New Jersey Board of Nursing	New Jersey certifies CNSs as APRNs. To be eligible for a CNS license in the state of New Jersey, applicants must meet the following requirements: Be an RN in the state of New Jersey Complete an application form and pay the fee of $100 Submit an official transcript(s) directly from educating body to the Board, documenting compliance with the Board’s education requirements including: graduation from a master’s-level program, completion of a graduate level three-credit course in Pharmacology from a school accredited by a national accrediting agency approved by the Board, or a pharmacology course of at least 45 hours integrated into the MSN program Pass the highest level practice examination in the specialization of Clinical Nurse Specialist, approved by the Board	In order to renew an APRN license in New Jersey, licensees must submit a renewal application, proof that the applicant is currently certified by a national certifying agency that is accredited by the American Board of Nursing Specialties, and/or the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, and pay the renewal fee. Each licensee must complete a minimum of 30 contact hours of continuing education contact hours during the two-year period before renewal, as well as any continuing education requirements set forth by the certifying agency.

Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) Licensure in New Jersey

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
Midwifery Liaison Committee	In the state of New Jersey, the Midwifery Liaison Committee licenses a CNM and the following is required: Hold an RRN license in the state of New Jersey Submit a completed and notarized application along with a $125 fee, three passport-sized photos, and a copy of a birth certificate or passport Send official midwifery education transcripts to the Committee Send official verification of certification from one of the following to the Committee: the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), the American College of Nurse-Midwives Certification Council (ACC), or the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM.) For prescriptive authorization, applicants must have completed pharmacology education in a program separate from the midwifery education and an authorized representative of the program should complete a verification form Complete and notarize the Certification and Authorization Form for a Criminal History Background Check Submit a copy of current resume or curriculum vitae Send the Verification of License form to the Committee from any and/or all states in which any professional license is held	Renewal of CNM licensure occurs every two years. New Jersey requires licensees to submit a completed renewal application, proof of current certification by the ACNM, AMCB, or NARM, and pay the renewal fee of $160

Nurse Practitioner (NP) Licensure in New Jersey

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
New Jersey Board of Nursing	New Jersey certifies NPs as Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs). To be eligible for an APN license in the state of New Jersey, applicants must meet the following requirements: Be an RN in the state of New Jersey Complete an application form and pay the fee of $100 Submit an official transcript(s) directly from educating body to the Board, documenting compliance with the Board’s education requirements including graduation from a master’s-level program, completion of a graduate-level three-credit course in Pharmacology from a school accredited by a national accrediting agency approved by the Board OR a pharmacology course of at least 45 hours integrated into the Master’s in Nursing program, Pass the highest level practice examination in the specialization of NP, approved by the Board	In order to renew an APN license in New Jersey, licensees must submit a renewal application, proof that the applicant is currently certified by a national certifying agency that is accredited by the American Board of Nursing Specialties, and/or the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, and pay the renewal fee. Each licensee must complete a minimum of 30 contact hours of continuing education contact hours during the two-year period before renewal, as well as any continuing education requirements set forth by the certifying agency.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CNRA) Licensure in New Jersey

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
New Jersey Board of Nursing	New Jersey certifies a CRNA as an APRN. To be eligible for a CRNA license in the state of New Jersey, applicants must meet the following requirements: Be an RN in the state of New Jersey Complete an application form and pay the fee of $100 Submit an official transcript(s) directly from educating body to the Board, documenting compliance with the Board’s education requirements including: graduation from a master’s-level program, completion of a graduate level three-credit course in Pharmacology from a school accredited by a national accrediting agency approved by the Board OR a pharmacology course of at least 45 hours integrated into the master’s in nursing program, Pass the highest level practice examination in the specialization of CRNA, approved by the Board	In order to renew a CRNA license, licensees must submit a renewal application, proof that the applicant is currently certified by a national certifying agency that is accredited by the American Board of Nursing Specialties, and/or the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, and pay the renewal fee of $160. Each licensee must complete a minimum of 30 contact hours of continuing education contact hours during the two-year period before renewal, as well as any continued education requirements set forth by the certifying agency.