Compare tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and program outcomes for BSN programs serving the Metairie and greater New Orleans area.
Which nursing programs near Metairie give you the strongest shot at first-time NCLEX success without piling on debt?
Metairie’s position in the New Orleans metro puts students within a 30-minute drive of major hospitals like Ochsner Medical Center and East Jefferson General Hospital, where clinical rotations can make or break a nurse’s preparation. Within commuting distance, you’ll find traditional four-year BSNs, accelerated tracks for second-degree seekers, and hybrid online options, each tied to different clinical networks.
Comparing NCLEX pass rates and net costs across Jefferson Parish and neighboring parishes reveals which programs consistently produce practice-ready graduates. Students who train in high-acuity units at these teaching hospitals often transition more confidently into the local workforce. That clinical experience is often the deciding factor in early job placement and starting salary.
Metairie residents have access to a strong set of baccalaureate nursing programs within a short commute, spanning public universities, private colleges, and health sciences centers in New Orleans and the surrounding parishes. The schools listed below combine classroom instruction with clinical rotations at major regional hospitals, preparing graduates for RN licensure and immediate employment in Jefferson Parish and beyond.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | Second-degree seekers needing an accelerated path | ||
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans is a leading destination for nursing education in the metro area, offering a traditional three-year BSN and an accelerated CARE program for second-degree students. Its downtown campus and clinical partnerships with major New Orleans hospitals create a direct pipeline to local employment, with competitive admission and start dates in both fall and spring.
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| #2 | Nicholls State University | Thibodaux, LA | $8,000 – $9,000/yr | Commuting students prioritizing NCLEX success | |
Nicholls State University in Thibodaux draws many commuters from Jefferson Parish with its highly regarded BSN program and exceptional 98.25% NCLEX-RN pass rate. Multiple entry paths, including LPN-BSN and RN-BSN articulations, serve career-movers, while the S.E.A.T. early acceptance track gives high-achieving high school seniors a guaranteed clinical seat.
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| #3 | Southeastern Louisiana University | Hammond, LA | $13,000/yr | Working RNs needing a fully online BSN | |
Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond is one of the most accessible public BSN options for Metairie students, with clinical placements across the Northshore and Greater New Orleans. The program boasts first-time NCLEX pass rates of 97-100%, four concentration options, and a fully online RN-BSN track that supports working nurses in the region.
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| #4 | University of Holy Cross | New Orleans, LA | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | ||
University of Holy Cross sits on the West Bank of New Orleans, just a short commute from Metairie, and has trained nurses for over 30 years from a Christian perspective. The BSN program begins with pre-nursing in the freshman year, moves into clinical rotations starting sophomore year, and includes a practicum in each clinical course, all accredited by ACEN.
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| #5 | Tulane University of Louisiana | New Orleans, LA | ~$40,000/yr (est.) | ||
Tulane University’s accelerated BSN is a fast-paced hybrid program designed for students with a prior bachelor’s degree who want to earn a nursing credential in four semesters. With interprofessional training alongside medical students and 720 clinical hours in New Orleans hospitals, graduates are well-prepared for roles in emergency, surgical, pediatric, and community health nursing.
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| #6 | Dillard University | New Orleans, LA | ~$22,000/yr (est.) | ||
Dillard University, a historically Black institution in New Orleans, offers Louisiana’s oldest accredited baccalaureate nursing program with a focus on holistic, ethical care. Students benefit from six simulation labs, service learning, and multiple tracks including traditional, transfer, LPN to BSN, and RN to BSN pathways, all supported by dedicated nursing advisors.
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| #7 | Southern University at New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | ~$15,000/yr (est.) | ||
Southern University at New Orleans provides a traditional BSN that actively recruits underrepresented minority students, supported by clinical partnerships with seven regional health systems. Admission requires a 2.7 GPA, TEAS exam, interview, and background check, and the program emphasizes culturally appropriate nursing and social mobility.
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| #8 | Fletcher Technical Community College | Schriever, LA | ~$11,000/yr (est.) | ||
Fletcher Technical Community College in Schriever offers an ACEN-accredited Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) that leads to RN licensure in two years. With small cohort sizes of 40 in fall and 20 in spring, the program includes three semesters of clinical training and is approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing.
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| #9 | Delgado Community College | New Orleans, LA | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Delgado Community College’s Charity School of Nursing in New Orleans provides an affordable ADN pathway that can be completed in five semesters. Students learn through clinical rotations in Greater New Orleans facilities and are assigned a faculty advisor as mentor, with a curriculum grounded in natural and social sciences and holistic care.
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| #10 | Northshore Technical Community College | Lacombe, LA | ~$11,000/yr (est.) | ||
Northshore Technical Community College, located in Lacombe on the Northshore, offers a competitive, limited-enrollment ASN-RN program accredited by LSBN and ACEN. The curriculum includes foundational and clinical nursing courses, with admission requiring a 2.8 GPA and a TEAS score of 65% or higher, along with personalized academic advising.
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The table below compares annual costs for BSN programs near Metairie. These net price figures are institution-wide averages and not specific to the nursing program, but they illustrate the impact of financial aid. Louisiana State University-Alexandria offers the lowest net price, while Louisiana Christian University shows a large gap due to its higher sticker price and generous aid.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price (After Aid) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana State University-Alexandria | $7,050 | $14,725 | $7,065 |
| McNeese State University | $8,489 | $9,989 | $12,493 |
| Nicholls State University | $8,149 | $9,242 | $12,947 |
| Louisiana Christian University | $20,266 | $20,266 | $13,113 |
The Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN) is the authoritative source for program-level NCLEX-RN pass rates within the state. Each year the board publishes an annual report that includes first-time pass rates for every prelicensure nursing program, including BSN tracks. These reports typically break down results by program and compare them to the statewide average. You can find the latest edition on the LSBN website under the education or reports section. For prospective students in Metairie, this data helps reveal how well nearby BSN programs prepare graduates for the licensing exam.1
Programs in the New Orleans area that appear in these reports include Louisiana State University Health New Orleans, University of Holy Cross, Xavier University of Louisiana, and Dillard University. The LSBN's 2024 Nursing Education Capacity report listed 19 BSN programs statewide, so comparing a school's pass rate against the state average provides useful context. Keep in mind that small cohort sizes can cause year-to-year swings in a program's rate; looking at two or three years of data offers a more reliable picture.
Beyond individual school data, it's helpful to know how Louisiana BSN graduates perform relative to the nation. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) releases national NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates in its quarterly or annual publications. Checking the most recent NCSBN report lets you see whether a Metairie-area program's results fall above or below the national norm. The LSBN annual report likewise includes a statewide average for all first-time test-takers, giving you a second benchmark. Consistent outperformance of both the state and national figures indicates a strong licensure preparation curriculum.
Early-career earnings potential is another important factor. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program provides detailed wage estimates for registered nurses (SOC code 29-1141) in the New Orleans-Metairie metropolitan statistical area. By visiting the BLS website and selecting this metro area, you can view percentile breakdowns: 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages. These figures show the range of what RNs in the region earn, from entry-level to experienced. Because the data is updated annually, the most current snapshot reflects the latest labor market conditions in Jefferson Parish and surrounding parishes.
While program-level graduate earnings are not publicly reported in a standardized way across all schools, the BLS metro-level wage data gives a realistic baseline for what new BSN graduates might expect after passing the NCLEX. National median wages for registered nurses may differ from the New Orleans-Metairie median, so always verify the geographic scope of any wage figure you encounter.
Many nursing programs post their own NCLEX pass rates on their websites or in admissions brochures. These figures are useful, but it is wise to cross-check them against the LSBN annual reports. Occasionally, a school may highlight a particularly high pass rate from a single cohort or report a rate that includes repeat test-takers in a way that skews the comparison. By consulting the official state data, you can confirm that the numbers align. For additional context on each program, including admissions requirements and clinical placement information, the nursing schools in Louisiana profiles on topnursing.org consolidate key details to streamline your research.
Prospective nursing students near Metairie will find distinct program formats to fit their schedules and career goals. The table below compares in-person and hybrid options, evening and weekend availability, accelerated tracks, and clinical partnerships for BSN programs in the New Orleans area.
| School | Delivery Format | Evening/Weekend Schedule | Accelerated Track | Program Length | Key Clinical Partners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamberlain University – New Orleans | Hybrid | Yes | No | 36 months | Ochsner Medical Center |
| Southern University at New Orleans | On-campus | Yes | No | 24 months | Not publicly listed |
| LSU Health Sciences Center – New Orleans | On-campus | No | Yes | 36 months | Not publicly listed |
| Loyola University New Orleans | On-campus | No | No | 48 months | Ochsner Health |
Your background dictates which BSN pathway makes the most sense. Recent high school graduates typically thrive in a traditional four-year BSN at a campus with strong clinical partnerships in the New Orleans metro area. Career changers who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field can fast-track through an accelerated BSN, often completing it in 12 to 18 months. Working LPNs or paramedics should look for LPN-to-BSN bridge programs or flexible evening and weekend schedules that let you keep your job while advancing your credentials.
Three numbers deserve your closest attention when comparing schools:
A campus visit helps you gauge culture and facilities, but the most useful part is a conversation with admissions. Ask for a clear prerequisite timeline: which general education and science courses you need before enrolling, and whether any have expiration dates. Also clarify application cycles, since some programs only start once a year, so you can plan ahead.
If the local BSN tracks don’t align with your schedule or budget, widen the lens. You can find nursing schools across Louisiana on topnursing.org/schools/louisiana/, where programs range from large public universities to smaller private colleges. A slightly longer commute or a different admission timeline might unlock the perfect fit.
Prospective nursing students in Metairie often have pressing questions about program quality, costs, and outcomes. Here are answers to the most common inquiries, based on the detailed research presented in this guide.
