Compare NCLEX pass rates, tuition, earnings, and program formats across Georgia's ranked nursing programs.
Registered nurses in Georgia earned a median salary of $82,610 in 2024, and the state's aging population and hospital expansion continue to push demand for new graduates. Program options span associate degrees at technical colleges, four-year BSNs at research universities, and accelerated nursing programs in Georgia, with licensure pass rates and price tags that vary widely.
That variation is where the real decision lives. In-state tuition runs from roughly $3,500 a year at technical colleges to more than $64,000 at Emory, while first-time NCLEX pass rates range from the low 80s to a reported 100%. Format matters too: nearly all top nursing schools in Georgia are campus-based, with only a handful offering hybrid delivery.
For most applicants, the tension comes down to how fast you want to start working against how far you plan to climb. An ADN can get you to the bedside in two years; a BSN costs more and takes longer but opens management and specialty tracks that many hospitals now require.
Here are ten Georgia nursing programs worth comparing in 2026, with net prices and graduation rates noted for each school. These figures are institution-wide rather than program-specific, and some program-level earnings data are not yet available. Use the school-reported pass and placement rates as one signal among several when you build your shortlist.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Emory University | Atlanta, GA | ~$49,000/yr (est.) | Research-driven students needing major Atlanta hospital access | |
Emory pairs a liberal arts BSN with clinical access to major Atlanta systems, including Emory Healthcare, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Grady, and the Atlanta VA. The institution-wide graduation rate is 91%, and the estimated net price is about $22,585. Students can choose a campus BSN or a Direct Entry MSN pathway for college graduates. CCNE accredited
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| #2 | Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | $9,000 – $30,000/yr (est.) | Central Georgia students seeking affordable public BSN | |
Georgia College & State University offers a four-year campus BSN with a 92% first-time NCLEX pass rate and a state-of-the-art simulation center. The institution-wide graduation rate is 64%, and the estimated net price is about $20,686 for in-state students. Admission requires a 3.0 GPA, TEAS scores, and prerequisite courses. CCNE accredited
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| #3 | Mercer University | Macon, GA | ~$24,000/yr (est.) | Second-career students wanting flexible accelerated BSN | |
Mercer University's Georgia Baptist College of Nursing offers campus and hybrid BSN tracks in Macon and Atlanta, including a second-degree accelerated option that can be completed in as few as three semesters. The institution-wide graduation rate is 70%, and the estimated net price is about $23,847. Students choose from traditional prelicensure, accelerated, and RN to BSN pathways that prepare for NCLEX-RN. CCNE accredited
CCNE accredited
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| #4 | Berry College | Mount Berry, GA | $22,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
Berry College offers a direct-admit campus BSN with 650+ clinical hours, a 100% NCLEX pass rate, and a 100% job placement record. The institution-wide graduation rate is 69%, and the estimated net price is about $22,320. Students can choose traditional, transfer, fast-track, or direct-admit entry paths. CCNE accredited
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| #5 | Oconee Fall Line Technical College | Sandersville, GA | ~$13,000/yr (est.) | ||
Oconee Fall Line Technical College offers an affordable campus ADN with bridge and traditional ASN tracks at about $107 per credit. The institution-wide graduation rate is 65%, and the estimated net price is about $12,844. The bridge option is designed for working LPNs and paramedics with flexible morning, afternoon, and evening classes.
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| #6 | Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, GA | ~$15,000/yr (est.) | ||
Kennesaw State University runs the largest nursing program in North Georgia with campus BSN tracks and a hybrid RN-to-BSN completion option. The institution-wide graduation rate is 52%, and the estimated net price is about $15,048. Students benefit from extensive metro-Atlanta clinical partnerships and multiple start dates. CCNE accredited
CCNE accredited
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| #7 | Chamberlain University-Georgia | Sandy Springs, GA | $30,000 – $35,000/yr (est.) | ||
Chamberlain University's Georgia BSN combines hybrid online and hands-on coursework at Sandy Springs and Stockbridge campuses, with six start dates a year and three-year completion. The institution-wide graduation rate is 50%, and the estimated net price is about $33,188. The program integrates Google-backed AI training and clinical placements at more than 900 partner sites.
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| #8 | Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | $9,000 – $25,000/yr (est.) | ||
Georgia State University offers a campus BSN in Atlanta plus an associate-degree nursing pathway at Perimeter College, including an LPN-to-RN bridge. The institution-wide graduation rate is 53%, and the estimated net price is about $15,931. The ASN reports a 97.5% NCLEX pass rate and a seamless transition to the BSN. CCNE accredited
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| #9 | Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, GA | $15,000 – $20,000/yr (est.) | ||
Georgia Southern University's BSN blends classroom instruction with simulation labs on the Statesboro and Armstrong campuses and clinical rotations at partner hospitals. The institution-wide graduation rate is 55%, and the estimated net price is about $15,267. The program reports a 93% first-time NCLEX pass rate and offers dedicated nursing advisors. CCNE accredited
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| #10 | Augusta University | Augusta, GA | $7,000 – $21,000/yr (est.) | ||
Augusta University offers campus BSN, accelerated BSN, and Direct Entry MSN pathways on the Augusta and Athens campuses, with a 97% first-time NCLEX pass rate for the BSN. The institution-wide graduation rate is 49%, and the estimated net price is about $13,787. The Direct Entry MSN is a 16-month Clinical Nurse Leader option for college graduates. CCNE accredited
CCNE accredited
CCNE accredited
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Choosing a nursing program often means balancing cost against long-term earning potential. Our rankings aim to spotlight Georgia schools that deliver strong value without burying you in debt.
We evaluate each school using five data points: net price (the average cost after gift aid), graduation rate, program-level median earnings of graduates, median debt, and a return-on-investment ratio that compares earnings to debt. Together they show not just how affordable a program is upfront, but how it pays off over time. Note that the graduation rate and net price figures are drawn from the institution’s overall undergraduate population, not solely nursing majors. This is a standard limitation of federal data, and we note it so you can interpret results fairly.
Every program in our list holds current CCNE or ACEN accreditation, verified through the CCNE directory1 and the Georgia Board of Nursing’s approved list. This ensures programs meet national standards for curriculum and clinical training. For example, Emory University, Georgia State University, Kennesaw State, Augusta University, Mercer University, and Georgia Southern University all carry CCNE accreditation, reflecting a strong commitment to quality.
Many ranking sites rely on self-reported surveys or select salary data. We pull earnings and debt outcomes directly from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, which reports program-level results based on actual graduate data. This means the numbers you see reflect real-world returns, not just institutional marketing. By focusing on objective, comparable metrics and screening for accreditation upfront, our methodology cuts through noise and helps you compare Georgia nursing programs on the factors that most directly affect your career and finances.
The net price shown is the average amount students pay after grants and scholarships, as reported by the schools. These figures are for the entire institution and may not reflect the exact cost of a nursing program. For the most accurate estimate, check directly with the school's financial aid office.
Cost and earnings data paint a clear picture of value across Georgia's nursing programs. Net price (after grants and scholarships) ranges from a negative figure at Coastal Pines Technical College, where aid exceeds cost, to over $22,000 at Emory University. Median debt at completion also varies widely, from $4,500 at Augusta Tech to $18,250 at Emory. The earnings column uses 10-year median figures from the College Scorecard; program-specific one-year earnings are not yet available. This comparison lets you quickly spot the schools where low upfront cost and manageable debt align with strong earning potential.
| School | Net Price (after aid) | Median Debt at Completion | 10-Year Median Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Pines Technical College | -$126 | N/A | $30,214 |
| West Georgia Technical College | $2,457 | $11,110 | $35,479 |
| North Georgia Technical College | $4,005 | $7,823 | $32,932 |
| Southern Crescent Technical College | $5,661 | $9,500 | $36,104 |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College | $5,720 | $6,421 | $35,759 |
| Gwinnett Technical College | $6,696 | $13,000 | $45,025 |
| Central Georgia Technical College | $7,052 | $9,608 | $30,848 |
| Augusta Technical College | $10,485 | $4,500 | $33,523 |
| Southeastern Technical College | $10,612 | $5,750 | $30,329 |
| Emory University | $22,585 | $18,250 | $80,137 |
Students in Georgia who want a BSN typically choose between a traditional campus cohort and a fully online or hybrid path. Among the ranked Georgia programs, campus delivery is the default; only a small minority are classified as online or hybrid. Your best choice depends on whether you need scheduling flexibility or prefer in-person labs, clinical placements, and faculty relationships.
Choosing between an ADN and a BSN often hinges on how quickly you want to start working versus how far you plan to advance. Georgia offers multiple entry points into nursing, from two-year associate degrees to fast-track programs for career switchers. Understanding the differences can help you align your education with your professional goals.
An ADN is the quickest path to becoming a registered nurse, typically completed in two years at a community or technical college. These programs focus on core clinical skills and prepare you to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. However, many hospitals now prefer or require a BSN for new hires, and advancement into leadership, research, or specialty roles often demands a bachelor's degree later. ADN graduates can bridge to a BSN while working, but the initial ceiling is worth considering if you plan to climb the career ladder.
A four-year BSN includes the same clinical preparation as an ADN, plus coursework in evidence-based practice, community health, and leadership. It has become the preferred credential for magnet hospitals and opens doors to roles in management, school nursing, and public health. Many Georgia employers now give hiring preference to BSN-prepared nurses, and the degree positions you for graduate study.
If you already hold a bachelor's degree in another field, an accelerated BSN lets you leverage your prior education and earn a nursing degree in 12 to 18 months. These rigorous, full-time programs are designed for high performers. Among ranked Georgia schools, notable options include:
Prerequisites vary, but most programs demand strong science backgrounds and competitive standardized test scores.
For nurses who already hold an ADN, an RN-to-BSN program offers a flexible, often online pathway to earn a bachelor's degree in as little as two semesters. Many universities in the topnursing.org Georgia rankings provide this option, enabling working RNs to meet the growing employer preference for BSN credentials without pausing their careers.
The 2026 topnursing.org Georgia nursing school rankings include both associate and bachelor's programs, allowing you to filter results by degree level. Whether you are looking for a quick ADN start or a direct-entry BSN, the list helps you compare options that match your educational background and timeline.
NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates are a key indicator of how well a nursing program prepares students for licensure. In 2025, the national average first-time pass rate was 86.7%. Below, we compare rates from select Georgia programs.
Follow these five steps to earn your Georgia RN license. The process includes completing an approved nursing program, passing the NCLEX-RN, and meeting the state's background check and continuing education requirements.
Nursing school admissions in Georgia are a two-step process: meeting general university prerequisites and then clearing the nursing program's specific entry requirements. Each school sets its own standards for GPA, entrance exams, and prerequisite coursework, so understanding the landscape before you apply is essential.
Most nursing programs in Georgia require a set of core science prerequisites, typically including anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and statistics. Many BSN programs also expect courses in chemistry, English, and psychology. For the entrance exam, the ATI TEAS is widely used at schools like Georgia State, Kennesaw State, and Georgia Southern. A few programs, such as Augusta University, rely on the HESI A2. ASN programs may also use the TEAS; for instance, Georgia Highlands College requires a minimum TEAS score of 70.
Minimum GPA requirements fall into two common tiers. Programs like Georgia Highlands College's ASN start as low as 2.5, while most BSN programs, including those at Georgia State, Kennesaw State, Augusta, and Georgia Southern, set a floor of 3.0. However, meeting the minimum is rarely enough. At Kennesaw State and Georgia Southern, the competitive TEAS score is around 82 percent, far above the minimum 68 required for some Middle Georgia State University pathways. Applicants should aim significantly higher than the posted minimums to remain competitive.
Institution-wide acceptance rates vary dramatically, from Emory University's 10.6% to Georgia Southern's 87.9% and Augusta University's 86.4%. These are overall university figures, nursing admission is often far more selective. Georgia State, with a university acceptance rate of 55.4%, for example, admits only a fraction of qualified nursing applicants. Community and technical colleges with near-open enrollment, like Central Georgia Technical College or Georgia Northwestern Technical College, can offer a lower barrier to entry, but their nursing seats are still capped and competitive. There is no single "easiest" school; instead, applying broadly and targeting programs where your stats exceed typical admitted-student profiles improves your odds.
Registered nurses in Georgia earned a median annual salary of $82,610 in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This figure highlights the robust earning potential for nurses in the state's expanding healthcare sector, making nursing a financially sound career choice. The data comes from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.
Find answers to common questions about nursing schools in Georgia, including program costs, NCLEX pass rates, and admission requirements. This FAQ draws on the rankings, cost data, and program details covered in earlier sections of this guide.
The directory below covers additional nursing programs across Georgia, organized by region so you can browse schools near you. Each entry lists the school, city, degree level, and learning format. Programs here are presented without rank.
