Accredited nursing programs in New Jersey
41 schools in New Jersey have at least one nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE: 20 BSN, 19 ADN, 3 LPN, 18 MSN programs. For the bachelor’s degree, 16 of 20 listings are CCNE and 4 are ACEN.
- Bachelor's programs
- 20
- 4 ACEN, 16 CCNE
- Associate programs
- 19
- 19 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Practical programs
- 3
- 3 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Master's programs
- 18
- 4 ACEN, 14 CCNE
Accredited schools in New Jersey
| School | City | Type | BSN | ADN | LPN | MSN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Cape Community College | Mays Landing | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Bergen Community College | Paramus | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Best Care College | East Orange | For-profit | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Bloomfield College of Montclair State University | Bloomfield | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Brookdale Community College | Lincroft | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Caldwell University | Caldwell | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Camden County College | Blackwood | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| County College of Morris | Randolph | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Eastern International College-Jersey City | Jersey City | For-profit | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Essex County College | Newark | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | Teaneck | Private | ACEN | – | – | ACEN |
| Felician University | Lodi | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Georgian Court University | Lakewood | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Hudson County Community College | Jersey City | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Jersey College | Teterboro | For-profit | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Kean University | Union | Public | ACEN | – | – | ACEN |
| Lincoln Technical Institute-Iselin | Iselin | For-profit | – | – | ACEN | – |
| Lincoln Technical Institute-Moorestown | Moorestown | For-profit | – | – | ACEN | – |
| Mercer County Community College | West Windsor | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Middlesex College | Edison | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Monmouth University | West Long Branch | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Montclair State University | Montclair | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| New Jersey City University | Jersey City | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Ocean County College | Toms River | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Passaic County Community College | Paterson | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey | Mahwah | Public | ACEN | – | – | ACEN |
| Raritan Valley Community College | Branchburg | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Rider University | Lawrenceville | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Rowan College at Burlington County | Mount Laurel | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus | Sewell | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Rowan University | Glassboro | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Rutgers University-Camden | Camden | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Saint Elizabeth University | Morristown | Private | ACEN | – | – | ACEN |
| Saint Peter's University | Jersey City | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Salem Community College | Carneys Point | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Seton Hall University | South Orange | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Stockton University | Galloway | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| The College of New Jersey | Ewing | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Thomas Edison State University | Trenton | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Warren County Community College | Washington | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey | Wayne | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
Programs listed as accredited in the ACEN directory (opens in a new tab) and the CCNE directory (opens in a new tab), collected November 2026 and matched to schools by name and city. Programs in candidacy are not counted. A dash means no accredited program at that level was matched.
Programs with an ACEN note
ACEN publishes a note beside some listings. The wording below is ACEN’s own; open the listing for what it means for the program.
- Kean University, MSN: With Conditions. ACEN listing (opens in a new tab)
What accreditation means in New Jersey
Two separate approvals apply to a nursing program. The New Jersey board of nursing approves programs so their graduates can sit the NCLEX. Programmatic accreditation from ACEN or CCNE is voluntary and is judged by a national peer body.
Bachelor's programs are the most common accredited level here, with 20. For bachelor’s degrees, 20 of 26 schools reporting graduates to the federal government matched an accredited program (77%). Compare New Jersey BSN programs by NCLEX pass rate, cost and pay.
Common questions
How many nursing schools in New Jersey are accredited?
We matched 41 New Jersey schools to at least one accredited nursing program in the ACEN and CCNE directories: 20 BSN, 19 ADN, 3 LPN, 18 MSN. Schools with several programs appear once.
What is the difference between ACEN and CCNE?
ACEN accredits nursing programs at every level, from practical nursing to doctorates. CCNE accredits bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. Both are recognized by the US Department of Education.
Do I need an accredited program to become a nurse in New Jersey?
Not always. The state board of nursing approves programs for licensure, and that is a separate approval from ACEN or CCNE accreditation. Accreditation still matters for transferring credits, federal and employer tuition benefits, and entry to graduate programs.
Are all New Jersey bachelor’s programs accredited?
20 of the 26 New Jersey schools that report nursing bachelor’s graduates to the federal government matched an accredited listing. A school that does not match may be new, may be listed under another name, or may lack accreditation, so check the accreditor’s own directory before you apply.