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
The University of Jamestown offers an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program designed to prepare students for a rewarding nursing career. This hybrid program combines online coursework with in-person clinicals in Fargo, ND, providing flexibility and hands-on experience. Students will gain the skills needed to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam, with a curriculum focused on patient-centered care, teamwork, and evidence-based practice. The program spans 20 months, totaling 70 credit hours, with tuition at $560 per credit hour. Admission requires a high school diploma, official transcripts, and a 2.5 GPA. This program is ideal for those seeking a fast-track to nursing with a blend of theoretical and practical learning.
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The Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Jamestown prepares students for a rewarding career as Registered Nurses with a focus on patient-centered care. The program features a state-of-the-art simulation lab for hands-on experience, small class sizes for personalized support, and opportunities to earn certifications like ACLS and PALS. Graduates enjoy a 99% employment rate, working in diverse settings from emergency departments to oncology. Admission is straightforward, with direct entry for incoming students and sophomore entry options. The curriculum covers everything from human anatomy to nursing management, ensuring a comprehensive education.
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The Direct-Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DEMSN) program at the University of Jamestown is designed for career changers with a non-nursing bachelor's degree. This hybrid program combines online coursework with in-person clinicals in Fargo, ND, preparing students for the NCLEX-RN exam in as few as 20 months. With a focus on patient-centered care, the curriculum covers evidence-based practice, healthcare technologies, and leadership. Tuition is $733 per credit hour, totaling $52,776. Admission requires a 2.85 GPA and completion of prerequisite courses.
Devils Lake, ND - Public 2-Year - lrsc.edu
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Lake Region State College in North Dakota offers a hybrid Associate Degree Nurse (RN) program, preparing students for a rewarding career in nursing. This program combines classroom instruction with clinical practice, covering adult health, maternal child nursing, community health, and psychosocial nursing. Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam for licensure. Prerequisites include CPR certification and LPN certificate or paramedic experience. The curriculum includes courses in microbiology, professional development, and clinical applications, ensuring a comprehensive education.
Fargo, ND - Private 4-year - rasmussen.edu
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Rasmussen University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is designed for aspiring nurses at every career stage. Offering hybrid learning, this CCNE-accredited program prepares students for the NCLEX-RN exam with hands-on clinical experiences and small class sizes. Choose between a standard track (33 months) or an accelerated second-degree option (18 months) if you already hold a bachelor's degree. With eight start dates annually, flexible online courses, and no prerequisite courses for admission, Rasmussen makes advancing your nursing career accessible. Tuition starts at $359 per credit, with financial aid options available.
Grand Forks, ND - Public 4-Year - und.edu
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The University of North Dakota offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program designed to prepare students for a rewarding career in nursing. This on-campus program spans four years and requires 121 credit hours, focusing on compassionate care, diverse populations, and rural communities. Students benefit from state-of-the-art learning technology, clinical experiences, and a curriculum that exceeds national NCLEX pass rates. Admission requires meeting specific criteria, with deadlines in fall, spring, and summer. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), ensuring high-quality education and preparation for the NCLEX-RN exam.
Minot, ND - Public 4-Year - minotstateu.edu
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The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at Minot State University prepares students for the licensure exam to become registered nurses. This program offers a comprehensive education with over 1,000 hours of hands-on clinical experiences. Students benefit from a dynamic learning environment, including high-fidelity simulations and public health nursing opportunities. The program is affordable, with no out-of-state tuition increase, and offers multiple scholarships. Graduates are highly sought after in various healthcare settings, with potential roles in nursing science, research, and leadership. Admission requires meeting specific criteria, including a high GPA or ACT score for guaranteed admission.
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