Associate degree in nursing (ADN): top programs
An associate degree in nursing is the fastest college route to a registered nurse license. These are the ADN programs with the strongest first-time NCLEX results in the states whose boards publish them.
- 86.1%
- of ADN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on the first try in 2025 (BSN: 87.6%)
- 1,063
- US schools award associate degrees in nursing, per federal data
- 827
- ADN programs with at least 20 first-time test-takers in the 30 states we cover
What the data shows
- Across the 827 ranked programs, 87.2% of first-time test-takers passed, against the national ADN rate of 86.1% in 2025. 571 of the 827 programs were at or above the national rate.
- Of the 1,063 schools awarding an ADN, 856 are public, 80 are private nonprofit and 127 are for-profit.
- The median net price a year is $7,328 at public ADN schools and $26,759 at private ones. The typical ADN program’s median loan debt is $15,093.
Top 25 ADN programs by first-time pass rate
Pooled over each program’s last three reporting years, programs with 20 or more first-time test-takers. Net price is the school’s average a year for students receiving aid; debt is the median among program graduates.
| # | School | State | Pass rate | Test-takers | Net price a year | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Rapids Community CollegeGrand Rapids, Public | Michigan | 100.0% | 263 | $3,357 | $9,600 |
| 2 | Kilgore CollegeKilgore, Public | Texas | 100.0% | 112 | $6,362 | $19,635 |
| 3 | Western Technical CollegeLa Crosse, Public | Wisconsin | 100.0% | 105 | $11,615 | $14,233 |
| 4 | San Diego City CollegeSan Diego, Public | California | 100.0% | 96 | $18,693 | n/a |
| 5 | Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton, Public | Wisconsin | 100.0% | 89 | $15,585 | $11,625 |
| 6 | McHenry County CollegeCrystal Lake, Public | Illinois | 100.0% | 88 | $11,434 | n/a |
| 7 | Great Basin CollegeElko, Public | Nevada | 100.0% | 80 | $9,357 | n/a |
| 8 | Mid-State Technical CollegeWisconsin Rapids, Public | Wisconsin | 100.0% | 66 | $17,372 | $10,500 |
| 9 | Blackhawk Technical CollegeJanesville, Public | Wisconsin | 100.0% | 62 | $10,514 | $9,000 |
| 10 | Clatsop Community CollegeAstoria, Public | Oregon | 100.0% | 55 | $11,607 | $12,249 |
| 11 | Southwest Wisconsin Technical CollegeFennimore, Public | Wisconsin | 100.0% | 52 | $12,778 | $11,215 |
| 12 | Atlanta Technical CollegeAtlanta, Public | Georgia | 100.0% | 49 | $2,240 | $14,161 |
| 13 | Big Bend Community CollegeMoses Lake, Public | Washington | 100.0% | 49 | $16,900 | n/a |
| 14 | Mayland Community CollegeSpruce Pine, Public | North Carolina | 100.0% | 43 | $2,488 | n/a |
| 15 | Georgia Northwestern Technical CollegeRome, Public | Georgia | 100.0% | 42 | $4,043 | n/a |
| 16 | Randolph Community CollegeAsheboro, Public | North Carolina | 100.0% | 41 | $6,669 | n/a |
| 17 | Lakeshore Technical CollegeCleveland, Public | Wisconsin | 100.0% | 37 | $16,446 | $11,500 |
| 18 | Jersey College - Brooksville | Florida | 100.0% | 33 | n/a | n/a |
| 19 | Bethesda College of Health Sciences Nursing Program | Florida | 100.0% | 26 | n/a | n/a |
| 20 | Weimar University | California | 100.0% | 26 | n/a | n/a |
| 21 | Southeast New Mexico CollegeCarlsbad, Public | New Mexico | 100.0% | 23 | $6,480 | n/a |
| 22 | Jersey College - Naples | Florida | 100.0% | 21 | n/a | n/a |
| 23 | Carolinas College of Health SciencesCharlotte, Public | North Carolina | 99.7% | 286 | $41,407 | $11,500 |
| 24 | Moorpark CollegeMoorpark, Public | California | 99.4% | 176 | n/a | n/a |
| 25 | Gaston CollegeDallas, Public | North Carolina | 99.4% | 168 | $3,981 | n/a |
State boards of nursing, collected 2026. Reporting years differ by state, so compare within a state. For one state’s full list see the NCLEX pass rates by state.
Choosing between an ADN and a BSN
An ADN takes about two years, costs less at a community college and qualifies you for the same NCLEX-RN and the same license as a BSN graduate. Hospitals in many areas hire ADN nurses, though some prefer or require a bachelor’s degree. In the 2024 workforce study, 73% of RNs held a BSN or higher, and 46% started with a BSN.
If you choose an ADN, plan the next step: an RN-to-BSN program lets you finish a bachelor’s degree while working. See online RN-to-BSN programs and BSN programs. For prerequisites, see prerequisites for nursing, and for what to ask, how to choose a nursing school.
Look for approval by the state board, programmatic accreditation (see accredited programs by state), the program’s pass rate and what share of entering students finish, and how clinical placements are assigned. Competitive community college programs often have waiting lists, so ask about admission points and timelines.
Common questions
Can you become a registered nurse with an associate degree?
Yes. An associate degree in nursing (ADN) takes about two years and qualifies you to take the NCLEX-RN. 86.1% of ADN graduates passed on their first attempt in 2025, compared with 87.6% of BSN graduates.
Is an ADN or a BSN better?
An ADN is faster and usually cheaper, and a BSN is required for some employers and roles such as management, and for most graduate programs. Many nurses start with an ADN and finish an RN-to-BSN program while working. See the BSN overview and the quickest route to a BSN.
How are these ADN programs ranked?
Programs with at least 20 first-time NCLEX test-takers over their last three reporting years, ordered by the pooled first-time pass rate published by the state board. Boards define reporting years differently, so use the list to shortlist, then compare programs inside your state.
Why is my state missing?
30 states publish pass rates by program with the number of test-takers. Others publish only a rate, publish statewide figures or block automated access, and we do not estimate what a board has not published.
Sources: state boards of nursing, NCSBN (national rates), IPEDS, College Scorecard. Data sources · Methodology.