Nursing Schools by State

The nursing industry in America is among the world’s fastest growing healthcare industries. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics has forecasted the growth in this field to be  26 percent between 2010 and 2020. In order to train students in the skills needed, universities across the country are offering nursing programs at graduate and undergraduate level.

The number of schools offering such programs can be quite high. As a result, finding the right school for yourself can become difficult. If you are interested in entering the field of nursing, a good place to start would be to look up the nursing schools by state.

How can I access a list of state nursing programs?

The fastest way to find out the best nursing schools by state is to visit the designated website for your State’s Board of Nursing. These websites contain an extensive list of all schools which are accredited by the state to teach their curriculum. Students can look through the list and determine the kind of program – undergraduate or graduate; associate’s degree or Doctoral program – based on their preferences, prior education and career objectives.

Going through the state’s Board of Nursing website is recommended because it helps weed out legitimate programs from scams. These unauthorized programs lure you in with their offers, but teach a substandard curriculum and do not train you properly for the challenges ahead. Additionally, you are not going to be allowed to take your licensing exams, because an accredited degree is a prerequisite.

Is there a lot of variation in nursing schools by state?

Because the field of healthcare is so precise, the teaching that students undergo has to be more or less standardized so that everyone is able to get the same skill set. As a result, nursing schools by state don’t generally vary in the coursework they cover. However, the degrees may vary in their duration from university to university. Alternatively, they may also depend on your own commitment as a full or part-time student.

What kinds of programs are available?

States in the US offer a variety of nursing programs. Those looking to simply enter the field can opt for a Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN), while those looking for advanced learning opportunities can go on to complete a Master’s or a Doctoral degree in the field.

In order to increase accessibility to education, some universities are also offering online nursing programs which students can take up  and earn their degrees. However, not all states in the US currently offer online programs, so you should ensure whether the state has such opportunities before signing up for a degree.

Nursing programs vary in their admission requirements as well. Different states have different standards used to evaluate applicants, and you should be aware of the criteria before you go on to apply for these programs. Online nursing programs follow the same procedure as well; some programs will only consider the top 10 percent of applicants, while others will take in a larger number of students