
Maria Delgado, RN
June 26, 2025
North Dakota’s nursing education offerings provide clear pathways for professionals at every career level, from foundational certification to advanced clinical practice. Whether you’re beginning as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), advancing from a Registered Nurse (RN) to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), pursuing licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or training for advanced practice as a Nurse Practitioner (NP), the state’s colleges, universities, and healthcare systems blend rigorous coursework with immersive clinical experiences. With flexible online options that accommodate busy schedules alongside hands‑on practicum placements in accredited care settings, North Dakota’s nursing programs prepare graduates with the expertise, credentials, and competitive salary potential needed to thrive across a variety of healthcare environments.
Jamestown, ND - Private 4-year - uj.edu
Online Learning - Visit Website
University of Jamestown's Associate of Science in Nursing is a hybrid program combining online coursework with in-person clinicals in Fargo, ND, designed for flexibility and practical experience. It prepares students for the NCLEX-RN exam over 20 months, with a focus on evidence-based practice and patient-centered care. Admission requires a high school diploma and a 2.5 GPA; no entrance exam is specified, but it's not promoted as exempt.
Campus Based - Visit Website
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Jamestown offers a campus-based program with a strong focus on patient-centered care, featuring a state-of-the-art simulation lab for hands-on training and small class sizes for personalized support. Graduates achieve a 99% employment rate, working in diverse healthcare settings. Admission requires an ACT or SAT entrance exam, and the curriculum includes certifications like ACLS and PALS, preparing students comprehensively for nursing roles.
Online Learning - Visit Website
The Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing at University of Jamestown is a hybrid program for career changers with non-nursing bachelor's degrees, offering online coursework and in-person clinicals in Fargo. It prepares for the NCLEX-RN in 20 months, emphasizing evidence-based practice, leadership, and healthcare technologies. Admission requires a 2.85 GPA and prerequisite courses; no entrance exam is specified or promoted as not required.
Devils Lake, ND - Public 2-Year - lrsc.edu
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Lake Region State College in North Dakota provides a hybrid Associate Degree Nurse (RN) program, blending online and in-person learning with extensive clinical practice. It covers key areas like adult health, maternal child nursing, community health, and psychosocial nursing, preparing graduates for the NCLEX-RN exam. Prerequisites include CPR certification and LPN or paramedic experience. The curriculum includes microbiology, professional development, and clinical applications, with a comprehensive predictor success rate of 92%. As an associate-level program, it does not require ACT or SAT entrance exams.
Fargo, ND - Private 4-year - rasmussen.edu
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Rasmussen University-North Dakota's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is CCNE-accredited and offered in a hybrid format, combining online coursework with in-person clinical experiences. It prepares students for the NCLEX-RN exam through hands-on training and small class sizes. With no prerequisite courses required and eight start dates annually, it includes both a standard 33-month track and an accelerated 18-month option for those with a prior bachelor's degree. Admission does not require an ACT or SAT exam. Tuition starts at $359 per credit, and financial aid is available, making it a flexible and accessible choice for aspiring nurses.
Grand Forks, ND - Public 4-Year - und.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
The University of North Dakota's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a four-year, on-campus program requiring 121 credit hours. It focuses on compassionate care for diverse and rural populations, utilizing state-of-the-art technology and clinical experiences. Accredited by CCNE, it boasts a 97% NCLEX pass rate and prepares students for the NCLEX-RN exam. Admission requires meeting specific criteria with fall, spring, and summer deadlines; entrance exams like ACT or SAT are not mentioned as required, so it's assumed they may be part of general admission but not explicitly stated. The program includes opportunities for research and honors societies.
Minot, ND - Public 4-Year - minotstateu.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
Minot State University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program provides a comprehensive education with over 1,000 clinical hours, high-fidelity simulations, and public health nursing opportunities. Accredited by CCNE, it emphasizes compassionate care and leadership development in an affordable, on-campus setting with no out-of-state tuition increase. Admission may require an ACT score for guaranteed entry, preparing graduates for the NCLEX-RN and diverse healthcare roles.
North Dakota’s LPN programs combine focused coursework in anatomy, pharmacology, and nursing fundamentals with supervised clinical rotations in hospitals, long‑term care facilities, and rural clinics. After mastering skills in medication administration, vital‑sign monitoring, and patient support, students prepare for and pass the NCLEX‑PN exam to earn state licensure. Graduates bolster North Dakota’s practical nursing workforce by easing RN workloads and enhancing access to quality care across both urban centers and remote communities.
North Dakota’s CNA programs span six to twelve weeks, blending coursework on patient safety, hygiene, and vital‑sign monitoring with hands‑on practicums. Learners gain experience in assisting with personal care, mobility support, and routine checks, all under professional supervision. Once certified, CNAs become key contributors in both institutional and rural care settings. Their role ensures that licensed nurses can focus on complex clinical responsibilities.
North Dakota’s RN to BSN offerings blend self-paced online modules in leadership, population health, informatics and policy with hands-on practicums at both regional hospitals and frontier clinics. Available in part-time and accelerated tracks, they let RNs continue their current roles while completing a bachelor’s degree. Earning a BSN deepens expertise in evidence-driven care, care coordination and system-level thinking, meets employer and accreditation standards for baccalaureate-prepared nurses, and opens doors to leadership positions, specialty certifications and broader community health initiatives across the state.
North Dakota’s Nurse Practitioner pathways advance a BSN-prepared nurse into specialized practice through a blend of rigorous graduate coursework and immersive clinical rotations, typically completed in two to three years, in areas such as family health, pediatric care, and psychiatric-mental health. Delivered via on-campus cohorts, hybrid models, and fully online tracks at institutions like the University of North Dakota, these MSN and DNP programs equip nurses for APRN certification and North Dakota licensure. Graduates take on roles as primary care clinicians, chronic disease coordinators, and telehealth providers in critical-access hospitals, rural health clinics, and tribal health centers. By supplying expert practitioners to sparsely populated regions and strengthening telehealth infrastructure, NP programs are essential to improving care access and outcomes across North Dakota.
| Degree | Typical Length | Prerequisites | Outcome / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) | ~2 years | High school diploma or GED | Common entry in rural/frontier areas, BSN preferred in larger hospitals |
| RN Diploma | 2-3 years | High school diploma or GED | No longer offered in North Dakota |
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) | 4 years (12-18 months accelerated) | High school diploma or ADN transfer | BSN-in-10 state, BSN-prepared nurses strongly preferred statewide |
| Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) | 2 years (post-BSN) | BSN + RN license | Prepares for advanced roles, NPs have full practice authority |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) | 3-6 years (post-BSN or post-MSN) | BSN or MSN + RN license | Highest degree, DNP-prepared NPs practice independently statewide |
Online & Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
Online & Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
Online & Campus Based - Website
Campus Based - Website
Online Learning - Website
Campus Based - Website
Online Learning - Website
Campus Based - Website
Online & Campus Based - Website