Compare NCLEX pass rates, tuition costs, and outcomes for every Indianapolis-area BSN program
With over 34,000 employees, IU Health is Indiana’s largest health system, and alongside Ascension St. Vincent and Community Health Network, it forms a dense clinical training ground for nursing students. These systems hire heavily from local BSN programs, making the city a strategic launch point for a nursing career.
Prospective students choose among traditional four-year BSNs, accelerated second-degree tracks that run 12 to 18 months, and direct-entry MSN options for those with a prior bachelor’s in another field.
The real decision often comes down to how well a program’s clinical placements and NCLEX support convert into job offers, given that net tuition can range from under $4,000 to over $30,000 per year.
These top nursing schools in the Indianapolis region offer a mix of public and private BSN programs, with standout NCLEX performance and strong ties to the city's major healthcare employers. Our ranking weights affordability, graduate earnings, and program-specific strengths to help you find the best fit.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Indiana University-Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN | $11,000 – $35,000/yr | In-state students pursuing urban hospital immersion | |
Indiana University Indianapolis is the city's flagship public nursing school, located on a downtown campus adjacent to IU Health University Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children. Its BSN programs, recognized among the top 40 nationally, provide direct access to clinical rotations at major Indianapolis hospitals and leverage a vast statewide alumni network. With in-state tuition and an online RN-to-BSN track for working nurses, it offers strong flexibility and affordability.
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| #2 | Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN | $15,000/yr | High-achieving candidates targeting elevated nursing pay | |
Purdue University's direct-admit BSN combines rigorous academics with a 96% NCLEX pass rate and a 98.3% career success rate, yielding an average starting salary that tops many competitors. Its state-of-the-art simulation centers and statewide clinical partnerships, including those in Indianapolis, make it a strong choice for high-achieving students.
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| #3 | St. Elizabeth School of Nursing | Lafayette, IN | $22,000/yr (net price) | Faith-centered learners seeking intimate clinical cohorts | |
St. Elizabeth School of Nursing offers a cooperative BSN with the University of Saint Francis in a faith-based environment that emphasizes small class sizes and a 94% first-attempt NCLEX pass rate. Its affiliation with Franciscan Health provides a direct pipeline to clinical placements and employment in the Indianapolis area.
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| #4 | Indiana Wesleyan University | Marion, IN | ~$23,000/yr (est.) | ||
Indiana Wesleyan University provides a Christ-centered BSN with multiple pathways: a standard campus program, an accelerated three-year fast track, and a transition option for second-degree seekers. Locked tuition rates and a holistic care focus appeal to students who value financial predictability and faith integration.
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| #5 | Goshen College | Goshen, IN | $14,000/yr | ||
Goshen College, home to Indiana's oldest BSN, stands out for its emphasis on holistic and culturally diverse care. Graduates are highly sought after for their cross-cultural competence, and the program's generous financial aid makes it one of the more affordable private options.
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| #6 | Ball State University | Muncie, IN | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | ||
Ball State University offers a versatile suite of nursing pathways: a traditional campus BSN, an LPN-to-BS bridge, and a fully online RN-to-BS completion program. Its central Indiana location and strong simulation labs make it a practical choice for students seeking NCAA Division I campus life and a direct route to Indianapolis employers.
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| #7 | Valparaiso University | Valparaiso, IN | $19,000/yr | ||
Valparaiso University's direct-admit BSN pairs a Lutheran liberal arts education with a 96% NCLEX pass rate and global service-learning trips. Its accelerated option compresses the degree into 15 months for qualified second-degree students, and its graduate outcomes rate of 97.1% signals strong career readiness.
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| #8 | Saint Mary's College | Notre Dame, IN | $25,000/yr (net price) | ||
Saint Mary's College, a women's institution in Notre Dame, offers a BSN that emphasizes compassionate, relationship-centered care and boasts high NCLEX scores. A Direct Entry MSN pathway allows non-nursing bachelor's holders to pivot into nursing at the graduate level, with access to the college's state-of-the-art simulation labs and lifetime career services.
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| #9 | University of Evansville | Evansville, IN | $18,000/yr (net price) | ||
The University of Evansville's BSN is a direct-entry program accredited by ACEN, and it reports a 100% employment or graduate school placement rate within six months of graduation. Transfer students are welcomed, and the curriculum includes study abroad opportunities, though admission requires competitive ACT or SAT scores.
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| #10 | Huntington University | Huntington, IN | ~$19,000/yr (est.) | ||
Huntington University claims a 100% job placement rate for its BSN graduates, backed by rigorous NCLEX preparation and a Christ-centered approach. Admission requires a 3.0 GPA, pre-nursing coursework, and a satisfactory TEAS score, making it a competitive yet supportive environment for aspiring nurses.
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Choosing a nursing program means balancing upfront affordability against long-term earnings and debt. To help you weigh these tradeoffs, our rankings of nursing programs in Indiana focus on metrics that reflect value: what you pay after financial aid, how many students finish, and what graduates earn relative to what they owe.
The four core factors are drawn from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the College Scorecard: - Net price after aid: The average amount students pay out of pocket once grants and scholarships are applied, not the sticker price. - Graduation rate: The share of full-time, first-time undergraduates who complete a degree within 150% of the expected time. This figure is institution-wide rather than BSN-specific, but it signals overall student support. - Median earnings: Program-level median earnings one year after graduation, drawn from federal data, showing how quickly graduates earn back their investment. - Median debt: The typical federal loan debt for graduates, which helps gauge the financial burden the program leaves behind.
Some quality signals are not part of this composite score. NCLEX pass rates and clinical hour requirements, for example, come from state nursing board data rather than federal datasets, so they are discussed separately to give you a fuller picture. All ranked schools, however, meet a baseline requirement: they hold programmatic accreditation from either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). That ensures the curriculum meets national standards before any other factor is considered.
The net price, what students pay after grants and scholarships, varies widely among Indianapolis-area nursing programs. For example, Indiana University–Kokomo comes in at just $3,968, while Vincennes University reaches $11,225. Keep in mind that net price reflects average aid; your individual financial aid package will determine your actual cost.
NCLEX-RN pass rates reflect the share of graduates who pass the national licensing exam for registered nurses on their first try. This metric is widely used to gauge how well a nursing program prepares students for entry-level practice. A high first-time pass rate signals strong curriculum design, clinical preparation, and student support, while persistently low rates can indicate gaps.
National first-time pass rates for RN candidates typically hover around 87, 89%; in 2025, the rate was approximately 87.5, 87.6%.1 Most state boards of nursing set minimum thresholds that programs must meet to maintain approval; in Indiana, that floor is generally 80%. Programs consistently scoring above 90% are considered strong, with rates exceeding 95% reflecting exceptional performance. When evaluating a school, look beyond a single year: programs that maintain pass rates above state and national averages for at least three consecutive years are a more reliable indicator of quality.
Statewide, Indiana BSN programs posted a collective first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate of 91.37% in 20233, outperforming the national average by several points. Within the Indianapolis area, Anderson University stands out: its BSN graduates achieved a 100% pass rate in 2023.2 That perfect score, while notable, represents one year; the program’s multi-year trend reinforces its strong standing.
Comprehensive school-by-school data for all Indianapolis programs is published by the Indiana State Board of Nursing and the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. Because pass rates can fluctuate from one cohort to the next, prospective students should review the most recent report (typically available on each school’s website or through the state board), paying attention to both annual and three-year average rates. Programs that consistently exceed the national benchmark give added confidence that their graduates are ready to sit for the exam and launch their nursing careers.
How do accelerated BSN programs in Indianapolis differ from traditional four-year degrees, and which path fits your timeline and background?
Accelerated BSN (ABSN) and second-degree BSN programs in Indianapolis compress the nursing curriculum into 12 to 18 months for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field. In contrast, a traditional BSN follows a four-year timeline and includes general education requirements alongside nursing courses. Several Indianapolis-area schools offer these fast-paced tracks, but program structures, prerequisite requirements, and admissions criteria vary widely.
Start by visiting the official program pages of schools like Indiana University, the University of Indianapolis, Marian University, and Butler University. Look for: - Prerequisites: Required science courses (anatomy, physiology, microbiology) and any minimum GPA. - Format: In-person, hybrid, or online delivery: some accelerated programs are fully on-campus. - Schedule: Full-time enrollment expectations and whether part-time options exist. - Application deadlines: Many ABSN programs have competitive, early cut-offs.
Because ABSN programs move quickly, they often demand full-time enrollment and may not permit outside employment. You’ll complete the same clinical rotations and NCLEX preparation as traditional students, just on a compressed schedule. Schools typically publish detailed curriculum maps and sample schedules. These reveal how many credit hours you’ll carry each term and whether the format is in-person, hybrid, or online.
For long-term salary and job outlook data, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides national and state-level wage estimates for registered nurses. While it won’t break down earnings by specific school, the BLS can help you gauge the return on your educational investment. For program-level outcomes like NCLEX pass rates and employment rates, check the school’s own consumer disclosures or the Indiana State Board of Nursing.
Weighing the cost of a BSN against future earnings is one of the most practical calculations any nursing student can make. While program-level median earnings one year after graduation are not yet published for the schools in this ranking, the broader labor market in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson metro area offers a clear signal: registered nurses here enjoy strong pay and steady demand.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $85,580 for registered nurses in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson MSA (May 2023).1 That figure reflects the more than 26,000 RNs employed across the region in settings from large hospital systems to outpatient clinics and long-term care facilities. Nationally, employment for registered nurses is projected to grow 5%2 between 2024 and 2034, adding thousands of positions and reinforcing job security for new graduates.
When you compare local nurse wages against the net price of a BSN (often between $15,000 and $30,000 per year after financial aid, depending on the school), the math tilts favorably. A new RN earning the metro-area median can cover annual tuition in roughly four to eight months of full-time work, assuming typical living expenses. That quick return helps justify the upfront investment, especially for accelerated or direct-entry tracks that shorten the time to licensure.
Even without school-specific early-career earnings, the pattern is consistent: Indianapolis nursing graduates step into a market where pay scales relative to cost of living, career advancement opportunities are abundant, and employer demand remains high. Checking each program’s licensure exam pass rates and clinical placement partnerships can further sharpen the value picture.
Here are answers to common questions about nursing education in Indianapolis, drawing on our 2026 rankings and research.
Looking for more nursing programs in Indiana? The following directory includes 15 additional schools with BSN and other nursing degrees that didn't make our top-ranked list. Explore program formats, locations, and estimated costs to find the right fit for your career goals. For a complete overview of nursing education in the state, visit the Indiana nursing schools page.
