Compare accredited LPN programs available to Delaware residents, with costs, outcomes, and career data to guide your decision.
Delaware currently has no accredited in-state LPN programs as of 2026, a void that pushes aspiring practical nurses toward out-of-state or online training. The Delaware Board of Nursing accepts graduates from approved programs elsewhere, but the distance creates real friction: out-of-state tuition, unfamiliar clinical placement requirements, and inconsistent NCLEX-PN preparation quality.
For Delaware students, the best program is rarely the cheapest or closest; it is the one that actively coordinates clinical rotations within the state and has a track record of strong NCLEX-PN outcomes. That makes careful comparison essential.
Delaware currently has no accredited in-state LPN programs, but the Delaware Board of Nursing accepts graduates from approved out-of-state programs. This ranking focuses on the best online and hybrid LPN programs available to Delaware residents, ordered by a composite score that weights graduation rates, net price, and graduate outcomes to highlight quality and affordability.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Northland Community and Technical College | Thief River Falls, MN | ~$14,000/yr (est.) | Distance learners needing flexible clinicals | |
Northland Community and Technical College’s practical nursing diploma features an online/hybrid delivery model, making it one of the most flexible options for Delaware students. The program’s distance coursework allows remote learning, and NC-SARA participation facilitates out-of-state enrollment, though on-campus clinicals are required in Minnesota. With a graduation rate of 56% and median graduate earnings of $44,425, Northland combines accessibility with strong career outcomes.
| |||||
| #2 | Mitchell Technical College | Mitchell, SD | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | Cost-conscious students seeking job placement | |
Mitchell Technical College’s LPN program is known for its affordability and strong outcomes, with a total program tuition of $4,000 and a 100% job placement rate. The curriculum blends online general education courses with in-person nursing labs and clinicals in a hybrid format. Institutional data shows a net price of $13,460 and a graduation rate of 76.3%, positioning it as a high-value option for Delaware students pursuing LPN licensure out-of-state.
| |||||
| #3 | Riverland Community College | Austin, MN | $7,000/yr (net price) | Working adults balancing work and study | |
Riverland Community College provides a practical nursing diploma with both full-time day and part-time evening tracks, ideal for working adults. The program’s ACEN accreditation and seamless transfer pathways to A.S. Nursing programs add long-term value. With a net price of $7,427 and median graduate earnings of $45,247, Riverland offers an affordable and flexible path to LPN licensure for Delaware residents willing to complete clinicals in Minnesota.
| |||||
| #4 | Montgomery Community College | Troy, NC | ~$14,000/yr (est.) | ||
Montgomery Community College’s nine-month practical nursing diploma is one of the fastest paths to licensure, combining hybrid online classes with 480 clinical hours. The program boasts a high graduation rate of 83.9% and a net price of $13,832. Though clinicals are on-campus in North Carolina, the compressed timeline appeals to Delaware students seeking rapid entry into the field.
| |||||
| #5 | Rasmussen University-Minnesota | St. Cloud, MN | $18,000/yr | ||
Rasmussen University’s Practical Nursing Diploma offers up to eight start dates per year and no prerequisite coursework, providing maximum flexibility for Delaware students. The hybrid program integrates online coursework with hands-on clinical experiences, and institutional data show a median debt of $20,899 and median earnings of $39,080. While net price is $17,962, the accelerated 15-month format and LPN Care Grant may offset costs.
| |||||
| #6 | Ozarks Technical Community College | Springfield, MO | $7,000/yr (net price) | ||
Ozarks Technical Community College’s Practical Nursing Certificate can be completed in one year and boasts a 100% licensure pass rate and job placement rate. With a net price of $6,936 and median earnings of $36,455, the program delivers strong value. Hybrid course delivery allows some online learning, but Delaware students should plan for on-campus clinicals in Missouri.
| |||||
| #7 | Bismarck State College | Bismarck, ND | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | ||
Bismarck State College’s 11-month practical nursing program combines IVN theory instruction with clinical training at West River Health Services, achieving a 100% NCLEX-PN pass rate. The program’s net price of $10,270 and median earnings of $54,277 offer an excellent return on investment. Though located in North Dakota, the compact curriculum timeline is attractive for out-of-state students.
| |||||
| #8 | Minnesota West Community and Technical College | Granite Falls, MN | $11,000/yr | ||
Minnesota West Community and Technical College offers an ACEN-accredited practical nursing diploma with hybrid delivery and strong NCLEX pass rates. The three-semester program includes clinical rotations in southwest Minnesota, and graduates can ladder into an RN pathway. With a net price of $11,191 and median earnings of $45,285, it provides a balanced option for Delaware students.
| |||||
| #9 | Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City, IA | $9,000/yr | ||
Western Iowa Tech Community College’s one-year PN diploma uses a hybrid format across three Iowa campuses, requiring CNA certification for admission. The program reports a high NCLEX-PN pass rate, and institutional data show a net price of $8,770 and median earnings of $40,473, making it cost-effective for Delaware residents willing to relocate for clinicals.
| |||||
| #10 | Northwest Technical College | Bemidji, MN | $11,000/yr | ||
Northwest Technical College’s practical nursing diploma emphasizes hands-on simulation labs and direct clinical experiences. With a net price of $10,996 and median earnings of $42,930, the program offers solid outcomes. While primarily campus-based, hybrid elements and NC-SARA participation allow some flexibility for Delaware students.
| |||||
If you're searching for a local LPN program in Delaware, you'll quickly discover that options are slim, and right now, they're essentially non-existent for new students. Delaware's small population and limited vocational training infrastructure mean only a tiny handful of programs exist statewide, and their enrollment cycles are infrequent, leaving aspiring nurses without an in-state pathway for months or even years at a time.
Delaware is home to just two practical nursing programs: the Licensed Practical Nursing program at the Delaware Skills Center in New Castle1 and the Practical Nursing program offered by POLYTECH Adult Education in Woodside2. Both are full-time, in-person programs that prepare students for the NCLEX-PN exam. The Delaware Skills Center's 10.5-month program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and requires 1,635 hours of instruction.1 However, as of 2026, its application window for the 2026-2027 cohort has closed, and the program will not accept new applications until summer 2027 for the following year's class.1 POLYTECH Adult Education operates on a similar limited-enrollment schedule2, meaning no in-state LPN program in Delaware is currently admitting new students.
This gap does not mean you must put your nursing career on hold. The Delaware Board of Nursing accepts graduates of out-of-state and online LPN programs for licensure, provided the program is approved by the nursing board in its home state and includes supervised clinical practice.1 This policy opens the door to a wide range of accredited programs across the country, including hybrid online options that let you complete theory coursework remotely while fulfilling clinical requirements at sites near your Delaware community.
Before enrolling in any program, verify these three things:
Hybrid formats are increasingly common, but they are not fully remote, hands-on clinical hours are non-negotiable. Checking that clinical logistics work for your location is essential before committing.
From enrollment to your first day working as a licensed practical nurse in Delaware, expect the process to take roughly 14 to 20 months. The timeline includes completing an accredited LPN program (typically 12-18 months) plus the time required for the NCLEX-PN exam and state licensure.
Sticker price can be misleading. What you actually pay after aid often tells a different story. For Delaware students researching affordable LPN programs, understanding the true cost means looking beyond published tuition numbers and focusing on net price, financial aid options, and how debt stacks up across your options.
Net price, what students pay after grants and scholarships, gives a far clearer picture than advertised tuition. Among the top online programs available to Delaware students, net prices range from about $4,500 to $7,500 per year. Delta College sits at the low end with an average net price under $4,600, while programs like Riverland Community College land near $7,400. These figures are institution-wide averages, so your own situation may differ, but they highlight that even with out-of-state online enrollment, costs can stay manageable.
Most programs show a strong track record of connecting students with aid. Federal Pell Grants, reserved for undergraduates with significant financial need, cover a large share of learners at these schools. For example, 99% of students at Allan Hancock College received Pell grants, and Delta College, Dalton State, and Ozarks Technical Community College all reported Pell recipient shares above 84%. If you’re a Delaware resident, also check state-based aid through the Delaware Department of Education (DEDOE) and the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), though many state programs are geared toward in-state schools. Additionally, employer tuition reimbursement can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs, so ask your current employer if they support healthcare education.
Not all LPN programs leave graduates with the same debt load. Programs with median debt below $10,000 include Piedmont Virginia Community College at $8,750 and Holmes Community College at $9,274. Others, like Ozarks Technical Community College and Delta College, also keep debt under $11,000. When comparing programs, look at both net price and median debt for a fuller picture, a slightly higher net price might be offset by stronger grant packaging and lower borrowing.
Since Delaware has no in-state LPN programs, you’ll likely be paying out-of-state or online tuition rates. The good news: many schools offer flat-rate online tuition that closes the gap. Riverland Community College charges the same rate for all students regardless of residency, while programs like North Central Texas College and Jefferson Community and Technical College have out-of-state tuition only slightly above in-state levels. In many cases, the total cost of a fully online program lands close to what a hypothetical in-state Delaware program would charge, making the choice about fit and quality rather than geography.
Choosing an LPN program often means weighing a fast start against thorough hands-on training. Most practical nursing programs run 12 to 18 months and award a certificate or diploma, but the exact timeline, course load, and clinical hours vary by school. For Delaware students who typically enroll in online or hybrid programs based out of state, understanding how the curriculum unfolds and where the clinical rotations happen is essential.
Practical nursing programs build foundational skills through a mix of classroom theory and lab practice. Common subjects include anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, fundamentals of nursing, medical-surgical nursing, pediatric nursing, and maternal health. A typical program requires roughly 48–49 credit hours or the equivalent in clock hours, for example, City Colleges of Chicago lists 49 credits over four semesters, while Florence-Darlington Technical College requires 48 credits for a 16-month diploma. Some schools measure progress in clock hours: Best Care College’s LPN program clocks in at 1,500 total hours over 52 weeks. Regardless of the unit of measure, the content consistently prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-PN.
Full-time students commonly complete an LPN program in 12 to 18 months. Part-time paths stretch that window to 18–24 months, a helpful option for working adults who need evening or weekend classes. Florence-Darlington’s diploma, for instance, is designed to finish in 16 months with three core nursing terms. When coursework moves online, pacing can become more flexible, asynchronous lectures let you study on your own schedule, though clinical shifts and lab sessions remain fixed. Before enrolling, verify whether the program offers the specific part-time or accelerated track that matches your availability.
State nursing boards require supervised clinical practice, typically in the range of 400 to 600-plus hours. Florida’s 2025–2026 framework illustrates this clearly: a 1,350-hour program must include at least 675 clinical hours, with a cap of 50 percent simulation substitution. For Delaware students in online LPN programs, the clinical component is arranged at healthcare facilities near your location. This is the crucial logistical piece, you must confirm that the school can secure a site within reasonable commuting distance in Delaware. Do not assume availability; ask the program coordinator about existing placement agreements before you commit.
The typical online LPN program follows a hybrid model. Didactic coursework, lectures, readings, quizzes, is delivered entirely online. Skills labs and clinical rotations, however, happen face-to-face at partner hospitals, nursing homes, or clinics. This structure preserves the hands-on practice that state boards demand while offering geographic flexibility for the academic portion. Delaware students should look for programs that explicitly state they coordinate practical placements in the Mid-Atlantic region.
The NCLEX-PN is the national licensing exam that all practical nursing graduates must pass before they can begin practicing. Passing this test confirms a candidate has the baseline clinical judgment and knowledge to deliver safe, entry-level care. For Delaware students attending online LPN programs in other states, understanding the exam’s pass-rate landscape and the specific licensing steps in Delaware is just as critical as choosing the right school.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) releases aggregate NCLEX-PN pass rates each year, typically broken down by first-time, U.S.-educated test takers. In 2024, that national first-time rate hovered around 86.5%: a benchmark that can help you gauge how a program’s own scores compare. Because Delaware has very few, if any, in-state LPN programs, local pass-rate data is scarce. The Delaware Board of Nursing (DBON) maintains a list of approved programs and their outcomes, but the numbers will largely reflect out-of-state or online schools.
Pearson VUE administers the exam, and the registration process is uniform across states. You’ll need an Authorization to Test (ATT) from the Delaware Board of Nursing before you can book a test date.
Even if your LPN program is based in another state, the Delaware Board of Nursing processes all LPN license applications for in-state practice. The exam and licensure fees are separate: expect an additional application fee (verify the current amount on the DBON site).
For employment outlook context while you prepare for the exam, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects steady demand for LPNs nationwide. Delaware-specific wage data and job growth figures can help you set realistic salary expectations after licensure.
Delaware employed 1,600 licensed practical nurses as of the latest data, earning a median annual wage of $66,090. Wages span from the 25th percentile at $62,250 to the 75th percentile at $71,450, with a mean salary of $66,510. Projections from the Delaware Department of Labor point to a modest 0.6% average annual job growth for LPNs from 2016 to 2026, signaling steady demand driven by the state's aging population.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Current Employment (Delaware) | 1,600 |
| 25th Percentile Annual Wage | $62,250 |
| Median Annual Wage | $66,090 |
| 75th Percentile Annual Wage | $71,450 |
| Mean Annual Wage | $66,510 |
| Projected Annual Job Growth (2016-2026) | 0.6% |
Here's how LPN salaries in Delaware break down by percentile. The median annual wage is $57,360, with the middle 80% earning between $48,120 and $70,260.
Online LPN programs offer flexibility for Delaware students who lack in-state options, but that convenience often hinges on your ability to arrange a local clinical site. This requirement adds a layer of planning beyond the application itself.
Many programs expect foundation courses completed with a grade of C or better; Ocean County College, for example, mandates this. Common prerequisites include English composition, college math, introductory psychology, anatomy and physiology I and II, chemistry, and microbiology. Some schools allow concurrent enrollment, but finishing prerequisites before applying can make your application more competitive and reduce your workload during the nursing curriculum.
Since Delaware has no in-state LPN programs, you will likely enroll in an online program based elsewhere. These programs often require out-of-state students to secure a clinical preceptor or site in their home community. You may need to submit proof of an agreement with a local hospital, nursing home, or clinic well before the term starts. This step is critical and can take time; plan to contact potential sites early. Additionally, some schools verify your eligibility for Delaware licensure before admitting you; Ocean County College, for instance, requires out-of-state licensure verification prior to enrollment.
Selectivity varies widely. Some programs publish clear score and GPA cutoffs, while others review applications holistically. Because Delaware students have fewer in-state alternatives, popular online programs can be competitive. Checking a program's College Scorecard profile can show acceptance rates. Hitting the minimums does not guarantee acceptance, so applying to multiple programs and submitting a complete application early improves your chances.
An LPN license is a sturdy launchpad. In just 1-2 years, an LPN-to-RN bridge program qualifies you for the NCLEX-RN; go further with an LPN-to-BSN in 2-3 years. Both paths unlock higher wages and broader roles. For Delaware-area RN and NP programs, browse the comprehensive directory on topnursing.org and start planning your next step today.
Navigating LPN education as a Delaware resident comes with unique considerations, since the state lacks board-approved practical nursing programs. These FAQs address the most pressing questions about training, licensure, and career steps.
Beyond the top 10, many other accredited programs welcome Delaware students through online or hybrid formats. Each program listed here offers a practical nursing certificate or diploma that can be completed remotely, with clinical requirements arranged locally. Compare net prices, program lengths, and special features to find the best fit for your budget and schedule.
