Compare NCLEX pass rates, tuition costs, and program formats at accredited Atlanta nursing schools.
Atlanta’s nursing schools split along a practical fault line: the speed of an associate degree versus the long-term earnings boost that comes with a BSN. In a metro where hospitals employ over 57,000 registered nurses, hiring preferences increasingly tilt toward baccalaureate-prepared candidates.
The city’s dense network of teaching hospitals, such as Emory, Grady, and Piedmont, provides clinical placement depth that is hard to replicate, but that concentration also means seats in the strongest programs fill quickly. Net price after aid spans $10,000 to over $25,000, and graduation rates differ sharply.
Navigating these differences starts with NCLEX pass rates and employer expectations in a market that expects new nurses to handle complex patients from day one.
This 2026 ranking highlights Atlanta-area nursing programs that combine strong student outcomes, net affordability, and graduation success. The schools below offer a mix of BSN and ASN pathways, with many providing direct clinical access to Atlanta’s major health systems. Whether you’re a first-time student or a career changer, these top-rated programs prepare you for Georgia’s growing nursing workforce.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Emory University | Atlanta, GA | $23,000/yr | Ambitious students pursuing elite Atlanta clinical training | |
Emory University’s nursing programs are consistently ranked among the nation’s best, offering Atlanta-based students access to clinical experiences within Emory Healthcare, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Grady Health System. The hybrid BSN blends liberal arts with nursing science, while the Distance-Accelerated BSN lets prior degree holders earn a BSN in one year through a mix of online coursework and on-campus intensives. Graduates enjoy excellent NCLEX pass rates and a median 10-year earnings of $80,137.
| |||||
| #2 | Mercer University | Macon, GA | $24,000/yr | Career changers needing an accelerated Atlanta BSN | |
Mercer University’s nursing school offers BSN pathways on its Atlanta and Macon campuses, preparing graduates for Georgia’s healthcare workforce. With a reported 95% NCLEX pass rate on the traditional track, the program emphasizes evidence-based practice and hands-on clinicals at major state systems like Wellstar and Piedmont. The Second Degree Accelerated BSN is a hybrid fast-track for non-nursing bachelor’s holders.
| |||||
| #3 | Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | $9,000 – $30,000/yr | Budget-conscious in-state students seeking high NCLEX success | |
Georgia College & State University’s public BSN program is a top-ranked option for Georgia residents, boasting a 92% first-time NCLEX pass rate and a strong employment pipeline into the state’s hospitals. The curriculum incorporates leadership development and study abroad opportunities, with clinical training at the on-campus Simulation and Translational Research Center. In-state tuition and eligibility for HOPE scholarships make this an affordable path to a nursing career.
| |||||
| #4 | Southern Crescent Technical College | Griffin, GA | $6,000/yr | ||
Southern Crescent Technical College’s ASN program serves the south metro Atlanta region, offering an affordable and accessible entry into nursing. With an net price of just $5,661, the six-semester program combines theory with clinical practice at regional hospitals, preparing students for the NCLEX-RN. As a Technical College System of Georgia institution, students can access HOPE Grants to reduce costs further.
| |||||
| #5 | Berry College | Mount Berry, GA | $22,000/yr (net price) | ||
Berry College’s BSN program stands out for its 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate and 100% job offer rate by graduation, reflecting strong ties to Georgia health systems including metro Atlanta. Students accumulate over 650 clinical hours through partnerships with AdventHealth and Atrium Health Floyd, supported by multiple pathways including a Fast Track option. The private college’s competitive merit aid helps keep the net price around $22,320.
| |||||
| #6 | Georgia Northwestern Technical College | Rome, GA | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s ASN program focuses on meeting the healthcare needs of North Georgia, with a curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking and compassionate care. The program reports high NCLEX pass rates and strong job placement in regional and Atlanta-area facilities. With a net price of $5,720 and HOPE Grant eligibility, it is one of the most affordable nursing pathways in the state.
| |||||
| #7 | Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | $9,000 – $25,000/yr | ||
Georgia State University offers a BSN on its downtown Atlanta campus with extensive clinical placements at Grady Memorial, Emory Healthcare, and other major city systems. The public university provides in-state tuition and HOPE scholarships, making it a cost-effective BSN option for Atlanta residents. Additionally, its Perimeter College division runs an ASN program with a 100% NCLEX pass rate, including LPN-RN and generic tracks, serving as a critical local pipeline for registered nurses.
| |||||
| #8 | Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, GA | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | ||
Georgia Southern University’s BSN program prepares students through academic rigor and simulation labs on its Statesboro and Savannah campuses. With a requirement of 124 credit hours and clinical partnerships statewide, graduates are equipped for nursing roles across Georgia, including Atlanta hospitals. In-state tuition and HOPE program access make it an affordable public university option for Georgia residents.
| |||||
| #9 | Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, GA | $15,000/yr | ||
Kennesaw State University’s Wellstar School of Nursing is located in the northwestern Atlanta suburb of Kennesaw, with clinical rotations at Wellstar, Children’s, Emory, and Piedmont hospitals. The Traditional BSN is face-to-face, while the RN-to-BSN Completion program uses a hybrid format designed for working Atlanta-area RNs. In-state tuition and strong employer relationships enhance the value for Georgia residents.
| |||||
| #10 | Central Georgia Technical College | Warner Robins, GA | $7,000/yr | ||
Central Georgia Technical College’s ASN program provides an entry point into nursing for students in Central Georgia, with graduates often employed at regional systems like Atrium Health Navicent and Houston Healthcare. The ACEN-accredited program blends theory and practice on a campus in Warner Robins, with access to Georgia HOPE aid to reduce the already low net price of $7,052.
| |||||
Our 2026 rankings draw from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, focusing on metrics that matter most to nursing students: net price after financial aid, institutional graduation rates, median earnings of former students, median debt, and a return-on-investment ratio. When program-level earnings data are available for nursing graduates, we use those figures; otherwise, institutional medians serve as a broader benchmark. Since graduation rates reflect the entire institution and net price is an average after grants, these figures provide useful comparisons rather than an exact out-of-pocket cost. Each school listed holds regional accreditation and offers a BSN-level program within the Atlanta metro area.
The following table compares costs for ten nursing programs in and around Atlanta, sorted from the lowest net price after financial aid. All listed schools are public institutions, which typically offer lower tuition than private alternatives. The net price reflects what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, and median graduate debt represents federal loans for those who borrowed.
| School | In-State Tuition (2026) | Out-of-State Tuition (2026) | Net Price (After Aid) | Median Graduate Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Georgia Technical College | $3,410 | $5,978 | $2,457 | $11,110 |
| North Georgia Technical College | $3,330 | $5,898 | $4,005 | $7,823 |
| Albany Technical College | $3,364 | $5,932 | $4,524 | $12,412 |
| Dalton State College | $3,336 | $10,656 | $5,012 | $12,937 |
| Southern Crescent Technical College | $3,516 | $6,084 | $5,661 | $9,500 |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College | $3,300 | $5,868 | $5,720 | $6,421 |
| Gwinnett Technical College | $3,524 | $6,092 | $6,696 | $13,000 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | $3,268 | $10,588 | $6,842 | $16,750 |
| Central Georgia Technical College | $3,448 | $6,016 | $7,052 | $9,608 |
| Clayton State University | $5,180 | $16,532 | $8,365 | $25,706 |
NCLEX pass rates remain the most visible quality indicator for nursing programs, and recent results from Atlanta-area schools show both strength and some variability worth monitoring. While aggregate data for BSN graduates paints a positive picture, not every program reports its outcomes in the same cycle, so comparing multiple years where possible is wise.
Aggregate figures from the Georgia Board of Nursing and the NCSBN offer a snapshot. In 2024, 417 test-takers from Atlanta BSN programs took the NCLEX-RN, posting a collective first-time pass rate of 96.88%.1 ADN programs in the region also performed respectably, with a 90.59% pass rate in the same year.1
Looking back to 2022, Atlanta nursing programs as a whole (BSN and ADN combined) logged an 89.1% pass rate across 479 test-takers.1 Among individual schools, Kennesaw State University reported an 88.1% pass rate for its BSN graduates that year.1 While that figure is slightly below the recent BSN aggregate, single-year rates can fluctuate with cohort size and curricular adjustments.
The national average NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate has hovered around 87.5% in the past few reporting cycles. Atlanta’s BSN-only cohort in 2024 outperformed that mark by roughly 9 percentage points.1 Even the mixed-program 2022 aggregate landed just above the national norm.1 These numbers suggest the metro area’s nursing schools generally prepare students effectively for licensure, though the gap between the top-performing aggregate and a single school like Kennesaw State underscores the value of checking program-specific data.1
When evaluating pass rates, consider two factors: sample size and year-over-year consistency. A small cohort can produce dramatic swings, so a single low or high year isn’t necessarily a trend. Also, the NCSBN reports first-time pass rates separately from repeat test-takers; always look for the first-time metric, as it better reflects program quality. Because some Atlanta schools release data on different timelines, you may need to contact admissions offices directly for the most current figures if a program’s last published rate is more than two years old.
Georgia’s registered nurses earn a mean wage of $95,080, and the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metro area alone employs more than 57,000 RNs, a figure that underscores the region’s appetite for skilled nurses.
New BSN graduates enter a market anchored by globally recognized health systems. Major hospitals and clinical partners in the metro include Grady Memorial Hospital, Emory Healthcare, Piedmont Healthcare, WellStar Health System, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. These institutions not only hire newly licensed RNs but also partner with local nursing schools for clinical rotations, giving students direct exposure to high-acuity, urban care environments.
The national outlook for registered nurses projects 5% growth over the next decade, but Georgia’s projection far outpaces that at 15%. With nearly 6,000 annual openings statewide, demand in the Atlanta area is particularly acute as the population ages and hospital networks expand specialty services. Employers often report difficulty filling critical care, emergency, and medical-surgical roles, making the job market favorable for new BSN holders.
While program-level earnings for Atlanta BSN graduates are not yet publicly reported, aggregate data paints a competitive picture. The national median annual wage for RNs sits at $93,600, and Georgia’s mean wage of $95,080 suggests that Atlanta nurses, who operate in a higher-cost urban market, likely earn above the national midpoint. Signing bonuses, shift differentials, and tuition reimbursement programs offered by area health systems further boost total compensation for new graduates.
Begin with the Georgia Board of Nursing website. It lists official RN licensure steps, from approved education to passing the NCLEX-RN. Review fees, background check rules, and the typical application timeline, processing can take several weeks, so plan early. Nurses licensed in other states can find the endorsement pathway and specific requirements for transferring credentials there.
BSN programs in Atlanta set their own admission bars. For example, schools like Emory, Georgia State, and Mercer typically expect a competitive GPA (often 3.0 or above) and TEAS or HESI exam scores. Specific ranges aren't universal, contact admissions offices directly or check program websites for the most current criteria. Requirements can shift, so verify before applying.
Use the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov) to explore salary data and job growth projections for registered nurses in the Atlanta metro area, and compare national trends with our nurse salary by experience page. The Georgia Nurses Association also offers local licensing updates and professional support. Knowing the earning potential helps you weigh program costs against your career return.
Compile a master list of all deadlines, fees, and required documents from both the Board of Nursing and your target schools. Include items like transcripts, test scores, background check consent forms, and application fees. A single calendar tracker prevents missed steps and keeps the process manageable.
Prospective nursing students in Atlanta often have the same key concerns about program quality, cost, and admission requirements. Here are clear, concise answers to the most common questions.
More than 57,000 RNs work in the Atlanta metro area, and nursing schools here range from HBCUs to large public research universities to private colleges, all within commuting distance. As you compare programs, weigh net cost, NCLEX outcomes, clinical placement reach, and schedule flexibility using the data above. Visit program websites, attend an information session, and compare financial aid offers to find the best fit for your goals and budget.
