Compare tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and program formats for BSN programs near Jefferson Parish.
Jefferson Parish lies within 10 miles of Ochsner Medical Center and University Medical Center, two of Louisiana’s largest teaching hospitals. With Magnet designations pushing for a heavily BSN-prepared nursing staff, earning a bachelor’s degree is now the baseline for most acute-care roles in the New Orleans metro.
The programs ranked here balance tuition, net price, and early-career earnings to highlight genuine value. NCLEX first-time pass rates gauge exam readiness, while the state board’s licensure steps clarify the path after graduation. As hospitals continue to hire preferentially for BSN nurses, starting with a strong program puts you ahead of the pack.
The ranking below spotlights accredited BSN programs within a realistic commute of Jefferson, Louisiana, weighing net price, student outcomes, and program format. Each school offers a distinct pathway to a nursing career in the Greater New Orleans region.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | Driven students wanting an academic health center | ||
LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing is the state's only nursing program within an academic health sciences center, granting students unmatched access to New Orleans' teaching hospitals and simulation technology. The traditional BSN and accelerated CARE tracks are both on-campus and highly competitive, with small class sizes. Jefferson residents benefit from in-state tuition and the ability to train in the region's premier medical corridor.
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| #2 | University of Holy Cross | New Orleans, LA | $15,000 – $20,000/yr | Faith-based learners near the Westbank | |
Located on the Westbank just minutes from Jefferson Parish, University of Holy Cross offers a faith-based BSN with a strong local reputation and NCLEX pass rates consistently reported at or near 100%. The campus-based program emphasizes holistic, patient-centered care from a Christian perspective, with clinical practicums in every nursing course. Net price is about $15,635, and median earnings around $49,316 make it an accessible, outcomes-focused choice.
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| #3 | Dillard University | New Orleans, LA | ~$22,000/yr (est.) | HBCU heritage with hybrid nursing tracks | |
Dillard University, a historic HBCU in New Orleans, houses Louisiana’s oldest accredited baccalaureate nursing program. The BSN offers hybrid delivery and multiple pathways, including traditional, LPN-BSN, and RN-BSN tracks, with dedicated advising and hands-on simulation. Net price averages $22,094, and median graduate earnings are $39,196. Its legacy of service and community health focus makes it a distinctive choice for students seeking a culturally rich nursing education.
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| #4 | Nicholls State University | Thibodaux, LA | $8,000 – $9,000/yr | ||
Nicholls State University in Thibodaux provides a traditional, campus-based BSN with an impressive 98.25% NCLEX-RN pass rate, CCNE accreditation, and an early-acceptance S.E.A.T. track for high-achieving high schoolers. Net price is $12,947, and median earnings a decade after enrollment reach $45,454. LPN-BSN and RN-BSN articulation options add flexibility for working nurses in the Bayou Region.
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| #5 | Southeastern Louisiana University | Hammond, LA | $13,000/yr | ||
Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond sits within the New Orleans commuter belt, offering a traditional, campus-based BSN along with LPN-BSN, RN-BSN (100% online), and accelerated options. NCLEX first-time pass rates consistently hit 97-100%. Net price is $13,154, and median earnings are $46,482. The EDGE early entry program for high school students provides an additional on-ramp.
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| #6 | Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University | Baton Rouge, LA | ~$19,000/yr (est.) | ||
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University in Baton Rouge integrates Catholic values with rigorous nursing training, featuring a simulated teaching hospital and clinical rotations at the adjacent Our Lady of the Lake Health System. Students can choose a traditional five-semester BSN or a 16-month accelerated track, both with 100% job placement rates. Net price is $18,552, and graduates see median earnings of $59,419.
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| #7 | Delgado Community College | New Orleans, LA | $5,000 – $10,000/yr | ||
Delgado Community College's Charity School of Nursing in New Orleans offers an affordable, campus-based ADN that can be completed in five semesters, with clinical rotations in hospitals and clinics throughout the metro area. Net price is $9,747, and median earnings post-graduation are $33,305. This program is ideal for those seeking a cost-effective, hands-on entry into nursing, with a strong foundation for later BSN completion.
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| #8 | Tulane University of Louisiana | New Orleans, LA | ~$40,000/yr (est.) | ||
Tulane University in downtown New Orleans provides a hybrid, accelerated BSN for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree. The intensive four-semester program includes 720 clinical hours and interprofessional training alongside medical students. Net price is $39,949, and median earnings are $63,268, reflecting the premium placed on the Tulane name and rigorous preparation.
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| #9 | Fletcher Technical Community College | Schriever, LA | ~$11,000/yr (est.) | ||
Fletcher Technical Community College in Schriever delivers an ACEN-accredited ADN with a focus on affordability and small cohort sizes, making it a practical option for students in the Bayou Region near Jefferson. Net price is $10,527, and median earnings are $32,189. The program can be completed in two years with clinicals at accredited hospitals.
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| #10 | Northshore Technical Community College | Lacombe, LA | ~$11,000/yr (est.) | ||
Northshore Technical Community College in Lacombe offers a cost-effective, campus-based ADN with LSBN and ACEN accreditation, designed for students seeking a quick entry into registered nursing. Net price is $10,773, and median earnings are $29,734. Competitive admission requires a 2.8 GPA and TEAS score of 65%, with starts in spring.
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Choosing a nursing program often means weighing affordability against the strength of long-term career outcomes. A low sticker price can hide high student debt, while a well-known name doesn’t always translate into higher earnings after graduation. Our rankings aim to cut through that noise by centering what matters most: net price, graduate debt, graduation rates, and program-level earnings.
We draw all core metrics from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard. Net price reflects what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Graduate debt measures the median federal loan load for completers. Earnings data captures median pay for program graduates in the years after they finish, giving you a realistic look at return on investment.
The graduation rates we use are institution-wide, not specific to nursing. They still serve as a strong proxy for the support systems, advising, and academic environment a school provides. A campus that consistently helps students across all majors reach the finish line tends to do the same for nursing students.
We set a 75-mile search radius from Jefferson, Louisiana. That pulls in every major nursing educator in the Greater New Orleans area, including top nursing schools in Louisiana, which is why programs from LSU Health New Orleans, Chamberlain University, and other nearby schools appear prominently. If a program lies outside this radius but offers a strong fit, you’ll find it in the expanded listings later on the page.
NCLEX performance isn’t part of this ranking because those figures come directly from the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, not from the Scorecard. We address first-time pass rates separately so you can see both the academic and licensure readiness picture side by side.
The following table compares annual tuition and net price for four-year BSN programs near Jefferson, LA. Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for full-time beginning students, giving a more realistic estimate of what students actually pay.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Christian University | $20,266 | $20,266 | $13,113 |
| 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 |
A program’s NCLEX pass rate tells you whether graduates are ready to sit for the licensing exam, but the real test is what comes next: landing a nursing job and earning a salary that rewards the investment.
The 2024 Louisiana State Board of Nursing data reports a first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate of 90% for BSN programs statewide1, well above the 87% national average1, which typically falls between 85% and 88% depending on the year3. In the Jefferson and Greater New Orleans area, several schools consistently exceed that mark. LSU Health New Orleans and Loyola University New Orleans traditionally see first-time pass rates above 90%, often approaching 95%, reflecting rigorous clinical and didactic training. Chamberlain University’s New Orleans campus and the University of Holy Cross also maintain rates at or above the state average. All BSN programs in the region meet Louisiana’s 80% minimum pass rate threshold required for program approval2, but the strongest candidates look for schools that beat the statewide figure. If a program’s rate falls significantly, say below 85%, it may indicate gaps in NCLEX preparation, and you should investigate its support resources before enrolling.
A high NCLEX score gets you the license, but what matters next is your earning power. topnursing.org pulls graduate earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard where available, though many program-level figures are still in the collection phase. For BSN-prepared nurses in the New Orleans metro, early-career salaries generally range from $55,000 to $65,000 per year, with experienced RNs earning significantly more. Actual pay varies by employer, specialty, and shift differentials, so students benefit from programs with strong hospital partnerships and job placement pipelines. As more earnings data becomes public, topnursing.org will update its rankings to show which local programs deliver the best return on tuition investment. For now, pairing a program’s proven NCLEX success with its clinical reputation gives you a reliable gauge of your future career trajectory.
Not every nursing student in Jefferson can commit to a traditional Monday-through-Friday class schedule. Some need to work while studying; others already hold a bachelor's degree and want the fastest route to RN licensure. Hybrid, evening, and accelerated BSN tracks answer these needs, blending online coursework with necessary hands-on training and clinical hours.
Chamberlain University's New Orleans campus offers an Evening & Weekend BSN designed for working students. The hybrid format delivers coursework online while labs and clinicals take place in person. Loyola University New Orleans and Tulane University both run hybrid Accelerated BSN tracks for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree. While the online content offers flexibility, all hybrid programs require you to attend clinical rotations at partner healthcare facilities, so living within a reasonable commute of New Orleans is a must.
If you already have a bachelor's in another field, an accelerated BSN lets you earn your nursing degree in as little as 15–24 months without repeating general education credits. Several schools near Jefferson offer these intensive pathways: - LSU Health New Orleans: CARE BSN track lasts 24 months and is fully on-campus. - Loyola University New Orleans: Hybrid 17-month ABSN. - Tulane University: Hybrid 16-month ABSN. - Herzing University New Orleans: 20- to 24-month ABSN for those with a non-nursing bachelor's or master's. - Southeastern Louisiana University (Hammond): 18-month on-campus ABSN. - University of Louisiana at Lafayette: 15-month ABSN.
All are full-time and demanding, but they get you to the NCLEX quickly.
Hybrid programs are not fully online. You'll attend on-campus labs and complete clinical hours at local hospitals, so plan your schedule and commute accordingly. Accelerated tracks compress the same BSN curriculum into fewer months, meaning you'll likely need to treat school as a full-time job. Regardless of format, all BSN programs require hands-on training; proximity to the New Orleans metro area is a practical advantage for Jefferson residents. Always confirm clinical placement policies with the school, as some may arrange sites for you while others require you to secure your own.
Becoming a registered nurse in Jefferson, LA starts with an accredited nursing program and follows a state-defined licensure path. The Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN) sets the official requirements and processes applications for the NCLEX-RN exam.
If you are considering a nursing career in Jefferson Parish, you likely have questions about schools, costs, and program options. Below, we answer the most common queries prospective students ask.
