How to Choose a Nursing School

Interested in nursing school but overwhelmed with all the options out there? After doing hours of extensive research before starting my own nursing school journey, I can confirm that nursing schools are definitely not all created equal. So if you’re trying to answer the question “What nursing school should I go to?” read on for some things to consider when you’re thinking about how to choose a nursing school. 

Already have an interview invitation? You can prepare for the interview with this list of over 100 interview questions, or read up on what to ask at your nursing school interview here.

Location

This one is kind of a no-brainer, but location is a very important factor to consider. Do you want to be close to home or do you want to run far, far away to a new state? (As a side note, I went this route and don’t regret it!) Are you excited to work as a nurse in the state in which you are applying for school?

While you are obviously not forever stuck in the state where you initially get your license, it is much, much easier to make connections at your clinical placements and get a job in the city you are already in than to have to start over. The new grad competition can be fierce, so where you do clinical placements can be a very important (and helpful) factor in getting a job after graduation.

Cost

This is also an extremely important factor. Sometimes (but not always,) declaring your major as nursing and going through a 4-year nursing school program as an undergraduate can be less expensive than attending a costly private nursing school that awards you a second degree in nursing in 2 years. While financial aid and scholarships are often available, how expensive your loan payments are going to be upon graduation is a very important factor. Keep in mind that nurses make very different salaries in different states, so you don’t want to be setting yourself up for failure before your career even begins!

Similarly, going the “slower” route and getting one degree at a time (for example, getting your ADN, BSN, MSN, then an advanced degree if that is the route that you choose) can be very cost-effective.  Though this will take longer, the end result is the same, so I always encourage you to do what is best for you.

Length and pace of program

Are you just looking to get your degree and be done with school forever? Or do your other life obligations require you to complete the program part-time? Are students generally able to work during the program, or is the program considered full-time? For me personally, my program was an accelerated MSN in 24 months, and working was highly discouraged due to the rigorous nature of the program. However, some people still did it and managed to do well.

Another important question: Is the program on a quarter or semester system? This can be helpful when trying to plan other family obligations, such as how many breaks / vacations you get, as well as financial aid. In my experience, many schools on a quarter system appear cheaper at first glance, but end up being more expensive when compared to schools on a semester system.

Some accelerated programs have you ready to sit for the NCLEX in 16 months, while other programs take 2-4 years. Only you know your life circumstances and what works best for you!

Class size

Are the class and clinical group sizes small? Or is it 1 instructor to 12 students? Smaller class and clinical sizes allow you to get more hands on experience, have your questions answered, and identify opportunities for growth. If you’re not big on hand holding and don’t think this is something you need, that’s okay too! I personally found it helpful to have smaller student: professor ratios, especially in a clinical setting. For example, as one of just 6 students in my clinical group, I felt so supported and never had a question go unanswered while in a hospital setting.

Clinicals

You will quickly learn that most of your nursing knowledge will come from hands-on experience, therefore this is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a nursing program. The location of clinical placements, how many clinical hours you can expect to graduate with, and what areas or specialties you will have clinicals in are all very important. If you want to work in a specialty (for example the ICU, ER, L&D, or OR,) not having the opportunity to spend some time in these areas and actually find out if these specialties are right for you is doing yourself a HUGE disservice. Remember that the end goal is not just how to choose a nursing school, but how to choose a nursing JOB that brings you joy!

The format (for both classes and clinicals)

Knowing HOW coursework is offered can be an important factor. If you need more flexibility, finding a program that offers courses in a hybrid (in-person and online) vs. just in person format might be beneficial for you. Don’t learn well or feel motivated when you are taking classes online? Choose a program that is 100% in-person. As someone with ADHD, I found it very helpful to have both classes and (definitely) clinical placements in person to keep me engaged.

NCLEX prep & pass rates

Listen to me, prospective nursing students: If this school has a low NCLEX pass rate and does not provide resources to pass this exam in the final months before graduation, RUN. If the nursing student retention rate is low, the NCLEX pass rate is low (I personally didn’t look at any schools below 95%), and you get the sense upon interviewing that no NCLEX prep is offered during the program, RUN. If how to choose a nursing school is stressing you out and you don’t know where to start, start here!

Not sure where to find NCLEX pass rates? If they are not available on the schools website, they can be found on other sites like the NCSBN.

As a side note, the most helpful resource I found in preparing for the NCLEX was UWorld. It was worth every single penny, more so than Kaplan or any other test prep we used in my program.

Remember: At the end of the day, your job is to pass the NCLEX and secure a job after graduation. Nursing school prepares you for the NCLEX, your clinical placements prepare you to actually be a nurse. So if the school isn’t preparing you for this test, it’s not worth it!

Job prospects after graduation

While any nursing program has pros and cons, one of the things I found most beneficial about the program I attended was the emphasis placed on getting students ready to obtain a job after graduation. Most (if not all) of my classmates had jobs lined up before we even graduated. Why? Because we spent hours doing mock interviews, putting together a portfolio, making LinkedIn profiles, fine-tuning our resumes, and making connections with unit staff and leadership throughout our clinical placements. I truly think my school set me up SO well for success when it came to finding a job, and would highly recommend a school that prepares you not only for the NCLEX but for obtaining a job as well (remember, that’s the end goal here.)

Degree awarded

Again, this one is personal. Whether you get an ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP Post-Masters Certificate, or one of the millions of other possible degrees that are out there is a personal preference. However, I would encourage you to do your research on what that can mean for future job prospects.

For example, many Magnet-designated hospitals will not hire you if you do not have at least a BSN (meaning if you have an ADN, you cannot get a job there, or must commit to obtaining your BSN within a certain amount of years upon hiring.) Similarly, if your end goal is the teach in an academic setting, many places will not hire anyone without a MSN or DNP. Knowing what your dream nursing job is can help you decide which degree you hope to obtain.

Another thing to keep in mind is that many employers (ie hospitals) will give you education credits if you want to go back and further advance your degree. What does that mean? They might be paying for you to go back to school!

School pre-requisites or entrance requirements

If you just graduated from high school and are starting a 4-year nursing college program, this one doesn’t really apply to you (but your science GPA in certain classes might, so get to studying!)

Generally, most nursing programs will list out their pre-requisites or requirements for nursing school entry on their website. I personally ruled out any who had a long list of classes I didn’t take or didn’t have interest, time, or money to take again. For example, I hated organic chemistry and statistics and took the minimum number of these classes throughout college to get my undergraduate degree. I did, however, fill in the gaps of my undergraduate transcript by taking microbiology and microbiology lab.

Though taking some classes you don’t love in order to get into any nursing program might be inevitable, if the program required the TEAS exam or the GRE or made it necessary to take extra classes that I  truly felt no need to take again, I didn’t bother applying. Again, this is just what worked for me, and I have no regrets about my decisions!

Accreditation status

ANY nursing school you are considering needs to be accredited by either the ACEN or the CCNE. Nursing school accreditation matters. This article by Nurse.org breaks down why this is so important and what this really means. Basically, if you choose a non-accredited nursing program, you run the risk of going through an entire program only to not be eligible to sit for the NCLEX exam, and you are back to square one. I cannot stress this enough: Make sure the school is accredited.

Reviews

While this isn’t super necessary, I did find it helpful to see what current and former students have said about the programs I was applying to. Reading through these forums was also a great way to chat with other students who had applied and were eagerly awaiting any status updates on their application. allnurses.com (one of my favorite resources) and certain pages on Reddit are great places to read all the tea! There are also lots of people on these forums sharing how to choose a nursing school if you need any more ideas after reading this list.

Rankings

I started my nursing school search on the U.S. News and World Report’s Best Nursing Schools list, not because I needed to go to the best nursing school in the world, but because it was a great place to narrow down reputable schools in different locations. I then went on to do some more research on the ones that fit the degree (MSN) I was hoping to have upon graduating. I personally just wanted to find a school that supported me, prepared me for the nclex, was accredited, and allowed me to make connections in the area. As you start your quest to choose a nursing school, rankings matter the least of all these things, but this list can be a good place to start.

I hope you my how to choose a nursing school list helpful! Remember: Take your time, make a spreadsheet, get organized, and try not to stress too much. You can knock out several schools based on just accreditation, NCLEX rates, location, and cost. Choosing a nursing school is a highly personal decision, and though it’s an important one, the most important thing is that you pass the NCLEX and get that RN license!