Compare costs, NCLEX pass rates, and program lengths for Marietta-area practical nursing schools
Where can you find an affordable LPN program that feeds directly into Cobb County's robust healthcare job market? Marietta sits at the center of a region served by major employers like WellStar Health System, and is a short drive from Atlanta's hospital networks, creating steady demand for licensed practical nurses.
Seven accredited programs within reach offer in-state tuition rates from roughly $3,300 to $3,500 per year; after financial aid, net prices vary from under $1,000 to over $12,000. Costs, NCLEX pass rates, local salary data, and bridge-to-RN options at nursing schools in Georgia shape the decision. For LPNs willing to commute, the concentration of healthcare facilities in Cobb County means graduates rarely struggle to find their first position.
The Marietta area offers access to several quality LPN programs throughout north Georgia, including Dalton State College's recently expanded Mountain Campus in Ellijay. Schools listed here were evaluated based on program accreditation, cost, graduation outcomes, and proximity to Cobb County. Prospective students should verify current tuition and admission details through official program websites.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
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| #1 | Dalton State College | Dalton, GA | $3,000 – $11,000/yr | Students pursuing a stacked LPN-to-BSN pathway | |
Dalton State College offers a hybrid LPN certificate with spring and summer start dates, preparing students for the NCLEX-PN in just 12 months. The program has expanded to the Mountain Campus in Ellijay, which is significantly closer to Marietta, and provides a direct pathway to an online RN-BSN after licensure. With competitive TEAS-based admission, affordable in-state tuition, and strong median alumni earnings, it is a top choice for north Georgia students seeking a fast, stackable nursing education.
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| #2 | Southeastern Technical College | Vidalia, GA | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | ||
Southeastern Technical College provides two practical nursing tracks at its Vidalia and Swainsboro campuses: a 60-credit diploma and a 49-credit technical certificate. Both combine classroom theory with clinical practice and require the TEAS exam for entry. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN. While the college primarily serves southeast Georgia, its programs offer a solid foundation for students willing to relocate for hands-on training.
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| #3 | Central Georgia Technical College | Warner Robins, GA | $7,000/yr | ||
Central Georgia Technical College in Warner Robins delivers a three-semester practical nursing program accredited by ACEN. The curriculum emphasizes clinical readiness with rotations within an 80-mile radius, simulation labs, and ATI comprehensive testing. With a reported 80% job placement rate and dedicated NCLEX-PN review, this program is a strong option for students in the middle Georgia area seeking a rigorous, career-focused LPN education.
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| #4 | Coastal Pines Technical College | Waycross, GA | $0 – $5,000/yr | ||
Coastal Pines Technical College offers a practical nursing certificate (PN21) and a diploma (PN12) at multiple campuses in southeast Georgia. The certificate track spans 49 credits over three semesters with day and evening options, while the diploma requires 57 credits and a prerequisite healthcare assistant credential. Both programs include clinical rotations and prepare graduates for the NCLEX-PN, with a focus on small, cohort-based learning environments.
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| #5 | Oconee Fall Line Technical College | Sandersville, GA | $13,000/yr | ||
Oconee Fall Line Technical College’s practical nursing certificate is a three-semester program with a strong emphasis on affordability and flexible scheduling. Small class sizes, morning/afternoon/evening options, and a reported 100% job placement rate make it appealing to students in the Sandersville area. The curriculum prepares students for the NCLEX-PN and entry-level roles in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities.
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| #6 | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | Valdosta, GA | $0 – $5,000/yr | ||
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College serves south Georgia with both a practical nursing diploma (PN12) and a certificate option, though the diploma is being phased out in favor of the three-term certificate. The diploma requires 57 hours and 300 clinical hours, while the certificate offers a streamlined path to NCLEX-PN eligibility. Both tracks use the HESI A2 for admission and are ACEN accredited for the diploma program.
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| #7 | North Georgia Technical College | Clarkesville, GA | $4,000/yr (net price) | ||
North Georgia Technical College in Clarkesville offers a campus-based practical nursing program that emphasizes patient care, medical procedures, and healthcare ethics. Located in northeast Georgia, it provides a stepping stone to the college’s LPN-to-RN bridge program, making it a viable starting point for students in the northern part of the state who plan to advance their nursing career while staying in the region.
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In-state tuition for a practical nursing diploma at Georgia’s technical colleges typically ranges from $3,300 to $3,500 per year, and the figure drops sharply once grant aid is factored in.
The net price, what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, can be far lower than the sticker tuition. Among ranked programs, effective net price spans from as low as $614 at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College to $12,844 at Oconee Fall Line Technical College. These are approximate averages, but they illustrate how much financial aid can alter the true cost. Many students at these schools receive federal Pell Grants; for instance, North Georgia Technical College and Oconee Fall Line both report Pell Grant receipt rates above 90%.
Practical nursing students at Georgia public technical colleges qualify for the HOPE Grant, which covers tuition only (fees, books, and supplies are not included). The grant requires a minimum college GPA of 2.0, no high school GPA, and Georgia residency. Students can receive the grant for up to 63 semester credit hours. Pairing the HOPE Grant with the HOPE Career Grant, available to practical nursing majors, brings tuition coverage to 100%. High-GPA students (3.5 or above) may instead qualify for the Zell Miller Grant, which also provides full tuition. Apply by filing the FAFSA or completing the Georgia Student Finance Commission application at GAfutures.
Beyond state grants, many LPN students tap federal Pell Grants, workforce development scholarships, and employer tuition reimbursement. Hospitals and long-term care facilities often partner with schools to offset costs in exchange for a work commitment after graduation. Contact your employer’s HR department or the financial aid office of your intended program to explore all avenues.
A realistic budget must account for textbooks, uniforms, liability insurance, and clinical supplies. Central Georgia Technical College, for example, estimates textbook bundles at $560.40 and annual liability insurance at $11. Additional expenses typically include ATI testing fees, background checks, drug screens, and the NCLEX-PN exam fee. Planing for an extra $1,200 to $2,500 beyond tuition is prudent, depending on the program.
Most full-time LPN programs in Georgia take between 11 and 15 months to complete. However, the primary LPN program serving Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College’s Practical Nursing Technical Certificate of Credit (PN21), spans 18 months of full-time, campus-based study.1 This longer timeline reflects the program’s comprehensive curriculum and the prerequisite pathway designed to build a strong clinical foundation.
The PN21 program requires 49 credit hours and operates on a full-time schedule over three semesters. This 18-month structure replaced the previous PN12 certificate format for cohorts starting in Fall 2024 and beyond. Students progress through a sequence of nursing theory courses, laboratory simulations, and supervised clinical rotations at local healthcare facilities.
Chattahoochee Tech’s LPN program is delivered as a traditional daytime, in-person program. At present, neither the college nor other nearby institutions appear to offer a Marietta-based evening-only, weekend, or fully online/hybrid LPN pathway. While some Georgia schools outside the immediate area may provide part-time or weekend options, students in Marietta should expect a full-time daytime commitment. Contacting admissions directly is the best way to confirm the latest schedule offerings and any potential flexibility for working students.
Before enrolling in the clinical nursing courses, students must satisfy a prerequisite barrier: Chattahoochee Tech requires applicants to hold either a Health Care Assistant Certificate, Healthcare Science Certificate, or an approved Interdisciplinary Studies (Nursing Track) credential.1 Earning one of these prerequisites typically adds at least one semester, and sometimes more, to a student’s overall path. This means that a candidate starting without any prior healthcare training should realistically budget two years or longer to complete the LPN journey, including the upfront coursework and the 18-month nursing program itself. Planning ahead to complete prerequisites before applying can help streamline the process.
Gaining entry to an LPN program in the Marietta area typically involves more than meeting minimum academic thresholds; applicants must navigate a competitive selection process and complete several pre-admission steps, including specific lpn prerequisites. Understanding the specific requirements of schools like Chattahoochee Technical College, the region's primary public option, is essential for a successful application.
A high school diploma or GED is the baseline, but many programs, including Chattahoochee Tech's Practical Nursing (PN12) diploma, expect additional college-level preparation. Applicants must hold a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA on any prior college coursework and complete prerequisite education: a Healthcare Assistant Certificate, Healthcare Science Certificate, or an Interdisciplinary Studies-Health Track. The ATI TEAS exam is required, and while Chattahoochee does not publish a firm minimum score, a result above the national average strengthens an application significantly.1
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee a seat. Chattahoochee Tech uses a competitive-entry process without a waitlist.2 Qualified applicants are placed in a holding program while they finish any remaining steps, but admission to the PN12 cohort itself is selective and awarded to the highest-ranked candidates each cycle. Students who are not selected must reapply for a future term. This approach is common among Marietta-area LPN schools, so applicants should aim to exceed baseline criteria.
Once conditionally admitted, students must complete a mandatory program orientation.1 Clinical participation also requires a background check, drug screening, and up-to-date immunization records, standard for Georgia nursing programs. While Chattahoochee Tech does not require a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential or CPR certification for admission3, holding either can make an application more competitive and may satisfy clinical readiness requirements early. Prospective students should confirm each school's policy, as some private LPN programs in the metro area may have different prerequisites.
A program’s NCLEX-PN first-time pass rate is one of the clearest signals of how well it prepares students for licensure. In Georgia, the Board of Nursing closely monitors these rates, and schools with persistently low figures may face additional scrutiny. Chattahoochee Technical College’s Marietta campus stands out with a rate that far surpasses state and national benchmarks.
Licensed practical nurses in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metropolitan area, which includes Marietta and Cobb County, earned a mean annual wage of $58,130, or $27.95 per hour, according to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data (2023). While metro-level median and percentile figures are not published, the national data offers a useful benchmark: the median U.S. LPN wage is $59,730 per year ($28.72 hourly), with the top 10% reaching $77,870. The local mean sits just below the national median, suggesting competitive pay for the region.
Georgia’s statewide mean LPN wage is reported in a range between roughly $58,090 and $61,640, placing the metro area squarely in line with state averages. The national median of $59,730 is slightly higher than the metro-area mean, but the difference is modest. Wages can shift with experience, shift differentials, and employer. Nationally, the bottom 10% of LPNs earn $45,670, while the 75th percentile reaches $67,140.
These figures reflect all LPNs, not just those entering the field. Program-level earnings for recent graduates in the Marietta area are not yet available through federal data, so new nurses may start toward the lower end of these ranges. Employers in the region often include WellStar Kennestone Hospital, home health agencies, and long-term care facilities, where pay scales and onboarding support can vary. Checking with local program graduates or career services can offer a clearer picture of early-career earnings.
Nationally, the BLS projects LPN employment to grow 5% from 2023 to 2033, roughly as fast as average. In Cobb County, demand remains steady due to an aging population and the ongoing need for skilled nursing in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and assisted living. Available data suggests that LPNs who pursue additional certifications or bridge to RN status may find even stronger opportunities in the years ahead.
LPN-to-RN bridge programs near Marietta typically require three to six semesters of study, allowing working nurses to advance efficiently. These programs build on the licensed practical nurse's existing knowledge, transferring credits for prior coursework and adding advanced clinical training that prepares students for the NCLEX-RN exam.
Chattahoochee Technical College offers an LPN to ASN Bridge Option on its Marietta campus, with articulation agreements that streamline admission into associate-degree nursing tracks. Atlanta Technical College provides a three-semester LPN to RN Bridge program delivered fully on campus. Further west, West Georgia Technical College runs an LPN-to-RN bridge, and Georgia Highlands College includes a three-semester LPN/Paramedic Bridge to ASN pathway. North Georgia Technical College's bridge spans four semesters and requires 65 credits.
For nurses aiming beyond an associate degree, Georgia State University offers a hybrid LPN to BSN Bridge Program that blends online coursework with limited campus sessions. Spanning six semesters, it lets Marietta-area LPNs earn a bachelor's degree without relocating or pausing employment.
Prospective nursing students often have common questions about LPN programs in Marietta. Here are concise answers to help you get started on your practical nursing career path.
