Georgia is a fantastic place to begin or advance your nursing career, offering top-rated programs, a lower cost of living, and diverse clinical opportunities. Whether you’re looking to earn your first nursing degree or specialize further, this guide will walk you through the best nursing schools in Georgia to help you make an informed choice. Let’s get started!
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Why Choose Nursing Schools in Georgia?
Georgia stands out as a prime destination for nursing education, offering a combination of high-quality programs, growing job opportunities, and an affordable lifestyle. Here’s why you should consider nursing schools in the Peach State:
Growing Demand for Nurses: With job openings projected to grow by 6% over the next decade, the state is actively supporting nursing education to meet this demand.
Quality Nursing Programs: Georgia is home to many nationally accredited nursing schools known for their rigorous academic standards and strong NCLEX pass rates that produce competent, career-ready graduates. Whether you’re aiming for an ADN, BSN, or MSN, you’ll find programs tailored to meet your goals.
Affordable Cost of Living: Georgia offers a cost of living that’s, on average, 10% lower than the national average, making it easier for students to manage expenses while pursuing their degrees. While this can vary widely between areas (Atlanta is more expensive than Athens), other things like gas, utilities, health care, and other goods and services consistently rank lower than the national average. This post outlines it in much more detail.
Diverse Clinical Opportunities: From world-class hospitals in Atlanta to smaller community healthcare settings in rural areas, Georgia offers a wide variety of clinical experiences. Whether it’s the promise of job security, excellent educational options, or an affordable lifestyle, Georgia makes a compelling case for nursing students.
Two Important Considerations: Board Program Approval and NCLEX Pass Rates
The whole point of going to nursing school is to work as a nurse! The only way to do this is to complete a few steps:
- Graduate from an accredited nursing school
- Pass the NCLEX
- Pass a background check and get approval by the Georgia Board of Nursing
You will not get your RN license if the nursing school you go to is not approved by the state, OR if you don’t pass the NCLEX. Let’s discuss this a bit more.
Board-Approved Nursing Programs in Georgia
The Georgia BON (board of nursing) will determine whether they approve of a nursing school’s program to ensure they adhere to Georgia’s standard of nursing. This is to protect both the prospective student and the public. They publish a list of approved programs on their website.
The list of approved programs is located on this page (scroll to “Approved Educational Programs” and pick RN) for the most up to date list.
If you go to a non-approved nursing program in Georgia, pay for it, and graduate, the Georgia BON may not grant you a license.
NCLEX Pass Rates for Nursing Programs in Georgia
A critical piece of the puzzle when choosing a nursing school is their NCLEX pass rates. This tells you the percentage of graduates from that school who pass the RN board examination (NCLEX). Naturally we want a high pass rate.
These pass rates are publicly available and reported by the Georgia Board of Nursing. These are not immediately available, and typically a few years behind. The latest pass rates available are the 2020-2023 rates. I will cite them as I mention specific schools below, but for your reference, you can view the full table here.
The four-year national pass rate average for the NCLEX is 83.66%. This means that 86.33% of nursing school graduates pass the NCLEX and are, therefore, eligible for an RN license to be granted to them by a state board of nursing. Georgia’s state-wide four-year average NCLEX pass rate is 86.3%, so it is higher than the national average.
Please note that the four-year average includes the COVID/post-COVID educational time, in which many schools saw a decrease in their overall pass rates.
The page that will be updated if new results are available is here.
Top ADN Nursing Schools in Georgia
ADN programs are typically two years long and provide the foundational skills needed to become a registered nurse (RN). ADN graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam and begin practicing as RNs. These programs are offered at community colleges.
This is the fastest path to obtaining an RN license; however, many large hospitals prefer or require their nurses to have a BSN.
Pro-tip ➡️ A cost-effective path is to obtain your ADN and get a job at a hospital that provides tuition reimbursement, and then complete an RN-to-BSN-bridge program.
Check out available ADN programs in your area here 👇
Learn more about the difference between an ADN and a BSN here.
Georgia’s 2023 ADN pass rate is 91.44%, with the national average at 87.76%.
Evaluating nursing programs in Georgia from the associate’s degree level is more challenging than the bachelor level, as there is no widely acceptable ranking system. Therefore, to create this list, I dove into the data from the Georgia BON.
The following is a list of eight schools that met the following criteria:
- An NCLEX pass rate above 90%
- More than 40 graduates
- No less than four years old
While there are 28 ADN programs with data reporting to the Georgia BON, many of them have very small graduating classes, and some have not-so-great NCLEX pass rates. Therefore, these schools were excluded. The 2023 NCLEX pass rates are noted below.
While larger hospitals may require RNs to complete their BSN before advancing to other roles or to maintain their current one, I am a huge fan of ADN programs. They are very heavily clinical-focused and shorter, so many of these graduates are clinically competent.
It’s an efficient way to finish the degree in a cost-effective way and begin working ASAP! Did you go to an ADN nursing program in Georgia? Share in the comments!
Top BSN Nursing Programs in Georgia
A BSN is a four-year degree that offers a comprehensive education, including leadership, public health, and advanced clinical skills. BSN programs prepare graduates for more career opportunities, (possibly) higher salaries, and leadership roles. These programs are offered at colleges and universities.
Please note, if you are starting a BSN from scratch, you will first apply to the university as a whole and complete your pre-requisite courses (courses you are required to pass to apply to the nursing school). Once you have obtained satisfactory grades in those, then you can apply to the university’s specific school of nursing.
Most competitive schools require at least a C or B in these prerequisite courses to be considered for admission into the nursing school. The more competitive the school, the better those grades need to be! Many also require a 3.0 GPA minimum and standardized testing (like the TEAS test).
Below are top BSN and RN to BSN programs available in your area. Click on any of the blue hyperlinks to learn more about each program 👇
Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Located in Atlanta, this BSN program is one of the most well-known and highly reputable programs in the United States. In 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked it the top BSN program in the entire country. It offers state-of-the art simulation labs, diverse clinical placement options, and a strong emphasis on research and global initiatives. Naturally, this is a highly competitive program to get into, with only 11% of applicants admitted.
Emory’s 2023 NCLEX pass rate was 94.04%, with 142 graduates passing out of 151 total. Emory is one of only four schools that boasted 300+ graduates in a single class! Their four-year average pass rate is 90.07%, and they are a board-approved program.
The nursing school is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Learn more here.
Augusta University
Located in Augusta, Georgia, Augusta University boasts an affordable in-state tuition rate, with a respectable NCLEX pass rate, a high reputation score from US News World and Report, and is a board-approved program. They accept about 86% of applicants into the college, and in 2023, the nursing school reported a 96.45% NCLEX pass rate. (Their four-year average is 88.13%.)
Learn more about their BSN program here.
Kennesaw State University
Nestled about 45 minutes north of Atlanta is Kennesaw State University’s WellStar School of Nursing. The WellStar School of Nursing is one of the largest BSN programs in the state, with 301 graduates in 2023. Their NCLEX pass rate for that year was 90.7% (273 passing out of 301). KSU’s four-year average NCLEX pass rate is 92.4%, and they are a board-approved program. They are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Learn more about their traditional BSN program here.
Honorable Mention BSN Nursing Schools in Georgia
The following programs have respectable NCLEX-pass rates, are board-approved programs, have reasonable tuition rates, and a solid reputation score (as reported by US News World & Report).
The highest reputation score for any BSN nursing program in Georgia was 4.5, held by Emory. Acceptance rates reflect the university as a whole and not necessarily the school of nursing.
- Georgia State University
- 2023 Pass Rate: 83.64% (92 out of 110 graduates)
- 3.5 Reputation Score
- 52% Acceptance rate
- Georgia College & State University
- 2023 Pass Rate: 94.81% (128 out of 135 graduates)
- 3.1 Reputation Score
- 88% Acceptance Rate
- Valdosta State University
- 2023 Pass Rate: 94.05 (79 out of 84 graduates)
- 3.0 Reputation Score
- 83% Acceptance Rate
Have you had a personal experience with any of these schools? Leave a comment and let others know!
A Free Tool 🧰 to Find a Top Nursing Program
If you’re looking to become a nurse or go back for more nursing education, I’ve got a helpful tool one of my partners created to explore various nursing programs accepting applicants in your area. Select what you have now (whether that is no nursing degree or any other level of education, and what you want to do! The tool will generate programs automatically.
If you already know what type program you want to dig into, click on one of the listed options below.
Tips for Choosing the Right Nursing School in Georgia
Choosing which nursing program in Georgia to apply to is a big decision, so it’s important to consider these key factors:
Accreditation
This is non-negotiable. Accreditation ensures that the program meets high educational standards and prepares you for licensure exams. Look for schools accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Without accreditation, you might face challenges securing licensure or transferring credits. Again, check the Georgia BON website to see if your prospective school is listed as an approved program.
Program Fit
Think about what matters most to you—location, program length, and the type of degree you’re pursuing. For many of these options, you must live near the school to commute for clinicals, lab time, and classes.
Many people choose to get their ADN and begin working as an RN, later going back to an RN to BSN bridge program (and if I could do it all over, I would probably do that too because it’s so cost-effective). While others desire the more traditional BSN route.
Clinical Opportunities
Hands-on experience is crucial in nursing education. Look for programs with strong clinical partnerships in a variety of settings, from large hospitals in urban areas to smaller community health centers. The more diverse your clinical experiences, the better prepared you’ll be for real-world nursing.
If you are interested in a more rural college, please keep in mind that you will need reliable transportation to clinical sites. I went to nursing school in rural Iowa, therefore I was traveling anywhere from the small health center in town, to the larger hospital 20 minutes away, and even 50 minutes to the large teaching hospital! If you choose a school in a large city, there are many more options for clinical sites.
Final Thoughts on Nursing Schools in Georgia
Georgia offers a wealth of opportunities for aspiring nurses, with top-tier programs, affordable living costs, and an ever-growing demand for healthcare professionals. The Peach State is a fantastic place to pursue nursing education.
From ADN programs that get you working quickly to advanced degrees like the DNP or PhD, Georgia has options for everyone. Combine that with high NCLEX pass rates and strong clinical partnerships, and you’ve got a recipe for success.
Ready to take the next step? Explore the schools we’ve highlighted and start your application process today. Your future as a nurse is waiting!
More Resources
How Long Does It Take to Become a Nurse?
What’s The Difference Between LPN, RN, and BSN?
How Hard Is It To Become a Nurse?
Why RN to BSN Programs Online Could Be Your Next Best Career Move
MSN Program Requirements Explained: Your Guide to Choosing the Right Path
The Complete Breakdown of Online DNP Programs: Your Path to the Top of Nursing
Best RN Schools in Florida: Your Guide to Top Nursing Programs in the Sunshine State
FAQs
What is the best nursing school in Georgia?
The best nursing school for you depends on your career goals and needs, but top-ranked programs include Emory University, Kennesaw State University, and the University of North Georgia. Please review the entire post to see different options.
Are there online nursing programs in Georgia?
Yes! Many schools in Georgia offer accredited online programs for RN-to-BSN, MSN, and even doctoral degrees like the DNP. These are great options for students balancing work and family commitments. However, please keep in mind that getting an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in nursing will require in-person clinicals and lab time, and likely class time as well.
How much does it cost to become a nurse in Georgia?
Costs vary depending on the program and school. ADN programs can range from $3,000 to $10,000 per year at public institutions, while BSN programs typically cost $10,000 to $20,000 annually for in-state students. Advanced degrees like the DNP or PhD can cost $25,000 to $100,000.
What are the NCLEX pass rates for Georgia nursing schools?
Georgia nursing schools boast impressive NCLEX pass rates, with many programs achieving rates above 90%. To see the latest pass rates, you must go to the Georgia BON website, located here. Select “NCLEX Results By Program” to see the most current version.
What financial aid options are available for nursing students in Georgia?
Nursing students in Georgia can access federal and state grants, scholarships, and student loans. Many schools also offer institution-specific scholarships. Be sure to explore programs like the Georgia HOPE Scholarship or the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program for additional funding options.
Feel like nursing school didn’t prepare you for clinicals?
Nursing clinicals are awkward at first. You’re surrounded by experienced nurses, real patients, and you’re just trying to figure out where the gloves are. It’s a lot.
That’s why we created Nursing Skills Refresh—to give you a realistic, supportive head start. You’ll get demo videos of common procedures, insider tips from two experienced nurses, and a clear picture of how a shift actually flows. (and a lot more) The goal? Walk into clinicals feeling like you belong there—not like you’re in the way.
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