Compare costs, NCLEX pass rates, and program lengths at accredited LPN schools near Paramus.
Community college LPN programs across northern New Jersey charge under $10,000 in tuition, while accelerated private options can cut training time to 12 months. Bergen County's concentration of long-term care facilities, home health agencies, and outpatient clinics ensures steady openings for new graduates. Multiple accredited programs sit within a 30-minute drive of Paramus, each with distinct schedules, costs, and NCLEX track records. The financial trade-off is real: lower upfront cost often means a longer commute or evening classes, while a faster track demands higher tuition but gets you to a paycheck sooner; researching average LPN salaries can help you decide.
Paramus residents have access to a range of LPN programs in Bergen County and neighboring areas. This ranking evaluates schools within commuting distance based on quality, outcomes, and local relevance to help you choose the right fit.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Holy Name Medical Center-Sister Claire Tynan School of Nursing | Englewood Cliffs, NJ | $24,000/yr | Hospital-based training in Bergen County | |
Holy Name Medical Center's Sister Claire Tynan School of Nursing, located in Englewood Cliffs, offers a hospital-embedded LPN program with strong ties to Bergen County healthcare. The ACEN-accredited 60-week curriculum blends theory, hands-on labs, and clinical rotations, with graduates earning 17 transferable college credits. This program benefits from its affiliation with a major regional medical center, providing convenient clinical placement and networking opportunities close to Paramus.
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| #2 | Jersey College | Teterboro, NJ | $53,000/yr | Flexible scheduling near Paramus | |
Jersey College's Teterboro campus, minutes from Paramus in Bergen County, combines academic coursework with clinical training in a student-centered environment. The campus-based LPN program emphasizes holistic patient care and flexible scheduling, making it accessible for working adults. Accredited by the New Jersey Board of Nursing, it prepares students for the NCLEX-PN and entry-level nursing roles across diverse healthcare settings.
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| #3 | Berkeley College-Woodland Park | Woodland Park, NJ | $27,000/yr | Evening track for career changers | |
Berkeley College in Woodland Park offers a Practical Nurse Certificate with both day (60-week) and evening (75-week) options, reachable from Paramus via major highways. The program features small cohorts, on-site nursing labs, and off-campus clinical rotations under RN supervision. Rolling admissions and dedicated faculty support make it a practical choice for career changers and those seeking a more flexible timeline.
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| #4 | Essex County College | Newark, NJ | $4,000/yr (net price) | ||
Essex County College in Newark provides an affordable public LPN pathway with a 49-credit curriculum. The campus-based program includes comprehensive training in adult, maternal, child, and mental health nursing, preparing students for the NCLEX-PN. As a North Jersey urban community college, it offers a low-net-price option within a reasonable commute from Paramus.
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| #5 | UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ | Cranford, NJ | $8,000/yr (net price) | ||
UCNJ Union College of Union County in Cranford offers a four-semester Practical Nursing certificate with daytime courses and varied clinical rotation schedules. As a public institution, it is one of the lowest-tuition options in North Jersey, though commuting from Paramus is longer than to Bergen-based schools. The program is pursuing NLN CNEA accreditation and prepares students for NCLEX-PN and entry-level nursing roles.
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| #6 | Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester | Sewell, NJ | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | ||
Rowan College of South Jersey's Gloucester campus, located in Sewell, offers a one-year certificate program with a fall cohort start. The competitive, portfolio-based admission and clinical placements within a 90-minute radius appeal to students in South Jersey, though it is a significant commute from Paramus. The program awards an Academic Certificate and prepares graduates for NCLEX-PN licensure.
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| #7 | Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland Campus | Vineland, NJ | $11,000/yr | ||
Rowan College of South Jersey's Cumberland campus in Vineland provides the same one-year Practical Nursing curriculum as the Gloucester campus, with clinical sites within a 90-minute radius. Like its sister program, it requires portfolio-based admission and operates on a fall cohort schedule, serving South Jersey residents but located far from Paramus.
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The published tuition (sticker price) can differ substantially from the average net price, which is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships like the federal Pell Grant or the New Jersey Tuition Aid Grant (TAG). While many public colleges charge higher tuition for out-of-state students, the schools below have a flat rate regardless of residency; your final net price depends on your FAFSA results, your expected family contribution, and any outside aid you secure.
| School | Published Tuition | Avg. Net Price (After Aid) |
|---|---|---|
| Essex County College | $9,523 | $4,436 |
| UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ | $9,500 | $8,257 |
| Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland Campus | $6,000 | $10,562 |
| Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester | $6,000 | $12,378 |
| Berkeley College-Woodland Park | $28,320 | $27,100 |
| Jersey College | N/A | $52,558 |
NCLEX-PN pass rates are the single strongest predictor of a practical nursing program's ability to prepare students for licensure, but the two largest schools near Paramus do not publicly report this critical metric.
To become a Licensed Practical Nurse in New Jersey, you must pass the NCLEX-PN exam. The test measures whether graduates possess the minimum competency to practice safely. When a program consistently posts low pass rates, it often signals weak curriculum, insufficient clinical training, or inadequate exam preparation. Conversely, high rates suggest a program equips students well for entry-level nursing.
Eastwick College and Lincoln Technical Institute in Paramus train many practical nurses each year, yet neither institution publishes program-level NCLEX-PN results openly. New Jersey’s Board of Nursing collects this data but does not make school-specific pass rates available to the public in its annual reports. Some proprietary nursing schools report pass rates aggregated across all campuses, which can mask weaker performance at individual locations. As a result, prospective students cannot easily compare outcomes between local options without asking the programs directly.
For context, the national first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate among all test-takers has recently hovered between 82% and 85%. New Jersey’s overall rate is slightly higher, reflecting a generally strong nursing education infrastructure. However, these statewide averages encompass dozens of programs, some high-performing, others not. Without transparent, school-level data, you cannot know where a particular Paramus-area program falls on that spectrum.
When evaluating a program, request its most recent NCLEX-PN pass rates for first-time test-takers. Ask whether the figure represents only the campus you would attend or a combined rate across all locations. A program that hesitates to share this data, or cannot provide it, should give you pause. Weigh pass rates alongside cost, schedule, and clinical placement support to make the best choice for your career.
The application process for an LPN program in New Jersey involves a few consistent baseline requirements, with some variation from school to school. Gathering documents early and understanding each program's specific deadlines will help you submit a complete application.
Most LPN programs near Paramus expect applicants to meet these common prerequisites:
Lincoln Tech's Paramus campus offers a Practical Nursing Certificate program, so local students do not need to travel to other Lincoln Tech locations. The program's admission requirements include a high school diploma or GED, an unspecified nursing entrance exam, and a rolling application process. Because seats can fill, applying well in advance is recommended even though there is no fixed deadline. The 52-week day program and 104-week evening program accommodate different schedules, and acceptance decisions are typically made after the entrance exam and interview.
A practical checklist can keep you organized:
Many schools encourage applying 4–6 months before the program start date, especially for programs with limited cohorts. Since Lincoln Tech uses rolling admissions, contacting their admissions office directly about start dates and material submission deadlines is the best way to stay on track.
Most LPN programs in the Paramus area run 12 to 18 months, with day tracks generally finishing faster than evening or weekend options. For example, Eastwick College's day program takes 18 months, while its evening track extends to 21 months. All approved programs must meet the New Jersey Board of Nursing's minimum of 1,500 total clock hours, which shapes both length and scheduling.
LPNs in Bergen County benefit from wages that consistently surpass the national median, reflecting the region's high living costs and robust healthcare sector.1
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for licensed practical nurses in the New York-Newark-Jersey City metropolitan area ranged from $62,000 to $64,000 in 2023.1 This is notably higher than the national median of $59,730.2 New Jersey’s statewide figures mirror the metro area: the median range is similar, and the middle 50% typically earn between $48,000 and $80,000 annually.2 The top 10% of LPNs in the state can earn over $79,000, while entry-level positions often start near $48,000.2
Bergen County’s mix of suburban communities and proximity to New York City creates concentrated demand in several settings. The largest employers include skilled nursing facilities, assisted living centers, and rehabilitation hospitals. Physician offices and home health agencies also hire LPNs regularly, offering opportunities from clinical care to patient education. These roles provide both full-time and per-diem schedules, suiting nurses who need flexibility.
Nationally, the BLS projects employment for LPNs to grow by 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, slower than the average for all occupations.3 Despite this modest rate, roughly 54,400 openings are expected each year, largely due to retirements and workers transferring to other fields.3 In Bergen County, an aging population and the prevalence of long-term care facilities sustain a reliable need for new LPN graduates. While not a hiring surge, the outlook points to consistent job availability, especially for those willing to work in geriatric or post-acute settings.
Looking for practical nursing training near Paramus? These are the questions prospective students ask most often. Get straight answers about program availability, costs, admission requirements, time to completion, and pass rates.
