Compare NCLEX pass rates, tuition, admissions, and program formats across Atlanta's leading BSN programs.
Atlanta’s metro area hosts nearly 30 ranked nursing programs, with listed tuition spanning from $8,664 a year at public Georgia State University to $64,280 at private Emory University. After accounting for institutional aid, the net price most students pay tightens to a $15,000 to $24,000 band, but each dollar of debt still carries different long-term earnings implications. A graduate of a higher-priced program can earn a median salary significantly above that of a public-degree holder, though the margin narrows once loan payments begin.
Ultimately, the metric that matters most is a school’s first-time NCLEX pass rate; a weak showing there can stall a nursing career before it starts, regardless of the university’s name. In Atlanta’s tight hospital networks, where new RNs are hired directly from clinical rotations, a strong NCLEX record is the reliable ticket to a staff position.
Atlanta’s nursing schools range from research-intensive universities to community-focused technical colleges, each preparing graduates for the NCLEX-RN and careers in the region’s robust healthcare sector. Below are the top programs in the Atlanta metro area, selected for their strong graduation rates, competitive costs, and real-world clinical training.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Emory University | Atlanta, GA | $23,000/yr | High-achieving nursing research aspirants | |
Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing sits in the heart of Atlanta, giving students direct access to clinical rotations at Emory Healthcare, Grady Health System, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and the CDC. The traditional BSN blends a rigorous liberal arts foundation with nursing science, while the Distance-Accelerated BSN offers a hybrid path for career changers with a prior bachelor’s degree. Emory consistently ranks as Georgia’s top nursing school, with a graduation rate over 90% and a 10-year median earnings figure that outpaces peers.
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| #2 | Mercer University | Macon, GA | $24,000/yr | Career changers seeking accelerated BSN | |
Mercer University operates BSN programs on both its Macon and Atlanta campuses, with the Atlanta location providing direct access to the metro hospital network. The Traditional Prelicensure BSN boasts a 95% NCLEX pass rate and emphasizes hands-on learning in clinical skills labs, while the Second Degree Accelerated BSN allows those with a non-nursing bachelor’s to earn a BSN in three semesters through a hybrid model. Graduates benefit from a strong regional reputation and a median debt lower than many private peers.
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| #3 | Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | $9,000 – $25,000/yr | Budget-conscious Atlanta metro students | |
Georgia State University provides one of the most affordable BSN pathways in downtown Atlanta, leveraging its urban location to offer clinical experiences in major hospitals and community health sites. The program emphasizes serving diverse and underserved populations, and students can also begin with an Associate of Science in Nursing through Perimeter College campuses across the metro area. With a net price near $15,900 and a focus on first-generation college students, GSU is an accessible entry point for Atlanta residents aiming to enter the nursing workforce quickly.
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| #4 | Southern Crescent Technical College | Griffin, GA | $6,000/yr | ||
Southern Crescent Technical College’s ASN program serves the southern Atlanta metro counties, placing students in clinical rotations with regional hospitals and long-term care facilities. The campus-based, six-semester curriculum emphasizes patient-centered care and safety, preparing graduates for the NCLEX-RN exam. With annual in-state tuition under $3,600 and a net price below $5,700, it is one of the lowest-cost nursing pathways near Atlanta.
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| #5 | Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, GA | $15,000/yr | ||
Kennesaw State University’s WellStar School of Nursing is located in Cobb County, part of the northwest Atlanta metro area. The prelicensure BSN offers traditional and accelerated tracks, with clinical partnerships throughout the region’s hospitals and clinics. For working RNs, the hybrid RN-to-BSN completion program allows nurses to advance their education while remaining employed locally. KSU’s public tuition and strong metro connections make it a practical choice for Atlanta-area commuters.
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| #6 | Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | $9,000 – $30,000/yr | ||
Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville offers a highly respected BSN program with a 92% first-time NCLEX pass rate and a focus on nursing leadership. The campus-based format includes a state-of-the-art simulation center and opportunities for study abroad and undergraduate research. While not located in the Atlanta metro, it provides an in-state public option with a net price around $20,700 and a graduation rate of nearly 64%.
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| #7 | Berry College | Mount Berry, GA | $22,000/yr (net price) | ||
Berry College’s CCNE-accredited BSN program in Mount Berry delivers over 650 clinical hours and reports a 100% NCLEX pass rate and job offer rate by graduation. The campus-based curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice and offers multiple pathways, including Direct Admit and Fast Track options. While not in the immediate Atlanta area, Berry’s small class sizes and strong outcomes attract students seeking a personalized nursing education at a private liberal arts institution.
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| #8 | Georgia Northwestern Technical College | Rome, GA | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Georgia Northwestern Technical College offers an ACEN-accredited ASN program from its Rome campus, designed to meet the healthcare needs of northwest Georgia. The curriculum develops critical thinking and technical competence, with high NCLEX pass rates and strong local job placement. Although outside the Atlanta metro, the program’s in-state tuition of $3,300 and net price of $5,720 provide an affordable path for students willing to relocate or commute.
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| #9 | Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, GA | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | ||
Georgia Southern University’s BSN program is offered at campuses in Statesboro and Savannah, serving the coastal and southeast Georgia region. The 124-credit-hour curriculum includes state-of-the-art simulation labs and hands-on clinical experience, with admission requiring a 3.0 GPA and the Evolve Reach exam. Graduates benefit from a net price of $15,267 and median earnings above $53,000, though the program lacks specific Atlanta metro ties.
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| #10 | Central Georgia Technical College | Warner Robins, GA | $7,000/yr | ||
Central Georgia Technical College provides an ACEN-accredited ASN program at its Warner Robins campus, primarily serving the central Georgia workforce. The campus-based curriculum blends theory and clinical practice, with affordable in-state tuition of $3,448 and a net price of $7,052. While not tied to the Atlanta metro, it offers a low-cost gateway into nursing for students in the region.
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Understanding the true cost of a BSN program goes beyond sticker price. The net price reflects what the average student actually pays after grants and scholarships, while median debt and earnings help weigh the long-term return on investment. Below, we compare key financial metrics for 15 BSN-granting schools in the Atlanta metro area, sorted from lowest to highest net price.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price | Median Debt | Median Earnings (10yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Georgia Technical College | $3,410 | $5,978 | $2,457 | $11,110 | $35,479 |
| North Georgia Technical College | $3,330 | $5,898 | $4,005 | $7,823 | $32,932 |
| Albany Technical College | $3,364 | $5,932 | $4,524 | $12,412 | $30,541 |
| Dalton State College | $3,336 | $10,656 | $5,012 | $12,937 | $40,251 |
| Southern Crescent Technical College | $3,516 | $6,084 | $5,661 | $9,500 | $36,104 |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College | $3,300 | $5,868 | $5,720 | $6,421 | $35,759 |
| Gwinnett Technical College | $3,524 | $6,092 | $6,696 | $13,000 | $45,025 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | $3,268 | $10,588 | $6,842 | $16,750 | $34,996 |
| Central Georgia Technical College | $3,448 | $6,016 | $7,052 | $9,608 | $30,848 |
| Clayton State University | $5,180 | $16,532 | $8,365 | $25,706 | $49,179 |
| University of North Georgia | $5,444 | $16,956 | $9,823 | $17,750 | $50,135 |
| Augusta Technical College | $4,282 | $7,492 | $10,485 | $4,500 | $33,523 |
| Southeastern Technical College | $3,400 | $5,968 | $10,612 | $5,750 | $30,329 |
| Valdosta State University | $6,124 | $17,836 | $10,945 | $24,779 | $49,361 |
| Georgia Southwestern State University | $5,220 | $16,572 | $12,019 | $18,851 | $48,757 |
Choosing a nursing school isn't just about prestige or cost; it's also about whether graduates actually pass the NCLEX. A program's first-time pass rate is a direct measure of how well it prepares students for licensure. In Georgia, these rates span a wide range, from 65% to 99%1, so digging into the numbers before you apply is essential.
First-time pass rates reflect how effectively a BSN program covers the NCLEX-RN test plan. In 2024, U.S.-educated graduates nationally had a first-time NCLEX pass rate between 82% and 86%.2 A school that consistently falls below the state or national average may have curriculum gaps. Conversely, a high rate over several years often signals strong clinical instruction and exam preparation.
Choosing between a traditional four-year BSN and an accelerated second-degree path sets the stage for the entire admission process. Each track carries distinct prerequisites, testing expectations, and timelines, so understanding what Atlanta schools require will help you narrow the field quickly.
Atlanta offers multiple routes to the BSN. The traditional BSN is a four-year campus-based program designed for students starting from a high school diploma. Georgia State University’s Nursing BSN falls here, with 123 credit hours completed over 48 months. Accelerated BSN (ABSN) options compress nursing coursework into 12–18 months for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field. Emory University provides two such pathways: a distance-based BSN (12–15 months) and an accelerated BSN+MSN (15 months), both requiring a prior bachelor’s. Kennesaw State University also lists an accelerated track alongside its traditional program. RN-to-BSN completion programs serve working RNs with an associate degree, though those are not covered in detail here.
Admission rates reported in internal data offer a realistic view of selectivity. - Emory University: 10.7% acceptance rate, making it the most competitive BSN option in the area. - Georgia State University: 55.4% acceptance rate, reflecting moderate selectivity with clearly defined GPA and exam requirements. - Kennesaw State University: 69.2% acceptance rate, the most accessible among the major Atlanta BSN providers.
Minimum GPA requirements give a concrete target. Georgia State mandates a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 in science prerequisites, plus the TEAS entrance exam. While a specific TEAS cutoff is not published, competitive scores are essential. Emory’s accelerated programs do not require a standardized entrance exam, although they expect a strong undergraduate record from the prior degree. Kennesaw State typically requires a qualifying exam (often the TEAS or HESI) and a competitive GPA, though exact thresholds vary by applicant pool.
Most Atlanta BSN programs follow a similar science foundation. Commonly required prerequisites include anatomy and physiology with labs, microbiology, chemistry, and statistics. Georgia State explicitly notes that science prerequisites must be completed before applying, with a 3.0 science GPA minimum. Healthcare experience or CNA certification is not a universal requirement; Georgia State does not mandate any prior patient-care hours. Many direct-entry traditional programs in the region follow that model. Accelerated second-degree tracks at Emory focus far more heavily on the completed bachelor’s degree and the prerequisite course list than on work experience, though exposure to healthcare settings can strengthen an application.
Choosing a nursing school isn’t only about tuition and NCLEX pass rates; it’s also a long-term financial decision. A BSN from a higher-priced private university may yield a stronger salary trajectory, while a low-cost public program can deliver excellent value when earnings hold up and debt stays manageable.
Program-specific median earnings one and four years after graduation are not yet reported for these schools. However, broader institutional measures show that graduates of top-ranked Atlanta BSN programs can expect strong earning potential. For example, former students at Emory University, which tops our ranking, had a median income of $80,137 ten years after entering college, well above the metro area’s typical nurse salary. While those figures include all majors, nursing graduates often earn at or above their institution’s overall median, especially at research universities with large health science programs.
A program’s return on investment (ROI) compares how much graduates earn to how much they borrow. Among the schools on this list, Emory University delivers the highest ROI: its graduates’ median earnings are 4.4 times the median federal student debt. Public universities offer compelling value too. For instance, the University of North Georgia and Georgia College & State University both show earnings that are roughly 2.6 to 2.8 times their graduates’ median debt. In contrast, lower ROI ratios appear at some higher-debt programs like Valdosta State, where the earnings-to-debt ratio drops to about 2.0. This suggests that even when nominal salaries are respectable, a larger debt load can dampen the financial payoff.
For additional context, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual wage for registered nurses in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metropolitan area was $81,220 in 2022.1 The middle 50% of RNs earned between roughly $66,680 and $101,100, while the top 10% exceeded $129,400. Nationally, the median RN salary rose to $93,600 in 2024.2 Earning potential typically increases with experience, specialty certification, and advanced degrees, making a BSN the gateway to long-term career growth in this region.
These additional nursing programs across Georgia broaden your options beyond the Atlanta metro, with choices ranging from BSN and ADN pathways to direct-entry MSN tracks. Use this directory to compare locations, formats, and key features as you plan your nursing education.
