The Cheapest RN Programs in the U.S. — That Actually Pass the NCLEX
Ranked by published in-state tuition from U.S. Department of Education data, across every board-approved RN program in the country. Every school shows its 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate next to the price — a cheap program whose graduates don't pass the boards isn't a bargain, it's a detour.
25 Cheapest RN Programs by In-State Tuition
Among schools with a rated RN program. Tuition is the whole institution's published in-state price per year, before aid — an ADN takes about two years.
Cheapest RN Programs With a 90%+ NCLEX Pass Rate
The same ranking, restricted to programs whose 2025 first-time pass rate beat 90% — well above the national average of 86.5%. Cheap and effective.
The cheapest part of nursing school is protecting the investment
Whatever tuition you land on, failing the NCLEX delays your RN income by months — that's the expensive outcome. NurseSavvy turns your own course materials into NCLEX practice from semester 1 for $19/mo, the smallest line item in any of these budgets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to become an RN?
An ADN at a public community college — the list above starts at $1,128 a year in published in-state tuition. Two years of that plus NCLEX fees is routinely under a fifth of a private BSN's sticker price, and RN licensure is the same license either way. Many nurses then finish an RN-to-BSN online while working.
Is a cheap nursing program worth it if the NCLEX pass rate is low?
No — tuition you pay at a program whose graduates don't pass the boards is money spent without the license. That's why every school listed here carries its 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate (national average: 86.5%), and why the second table filters to programs at 90% or better.
Why is my state’s cheapest school not on this list?
The ranking uses published in-state tuition from the U.S. Department of Education, so schools outside federal student-aid reporting (many hospital-based programs) and schools without a published 2025 pass rate are excluded. Your state page lists every board-approved program, including those.
Do these prices include fees, books, and living costs?
No — this is the published in-state tuition-and-fees sticker price for one year, before financial aid. Out-of-state students usually pay more at public schools, and the true cost of becoming an RN also includes wages you give up while enrolled. The ROI calculator linked below does that math.
Methodology
Tuition is published in-state tuition and fees per year from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release); pass rates are 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN rates from each state board of nursing. Ranked lists include only schools with both figures — hospital-based programs outside federal reporting and programs without a published 2025 rate are on their state pages instead. Prices are sticker, not net; most students pay less after aid.
Keep going
- GuideHow Much Does Nursing School Cost? ADN vs BSN vs Accelerated (2026)Real 2025-26 tuition averages for every path to RN — community college ADN, public and private BSN, accelerated programs — plus the nursing-specific fees and the hidden opportunity cost nobody budgets.
- CalculatorNursing School Budget BuilderAn editable, itemized budget for becoming an RN: tuition, books, uniforms, testing packages, clearances, NCLEX and license fees, and prep.
- GuideThe Full Cost of Becoming an RN: An Itemized Budget (2026)Every line item between you and your RN license — tuition, clearances, testing packages, the $200 NCLEX fee, prep tools — in an editable budget builder. One line is weirdly cheap, and it protects all the others.
- Degree pathwayADN vs BSNBoth degrees lead to the same RN license. Here is how associate and bachelor’s programs actually compare on NCLEX pass rates, graduate debt, and earnings.
- CalculatorNursing School ROI CalculatorEnter your program cost, current pay, and state to see the true cost of nursing school, your break-even point, and your 10- and 20-year return.
- Degree pathwayLPN to RNThe pay difference between a practical nurse and a registered nurse, and how practical-nursing and RN programs compare on pass rates, debt, and graduate earnings.