Nursing Schools in North Dakota: All 22 Approved Programs & NCLEX Pass Rates
North Dakota has 13 schools running 22 board-approved nursing programs — 15 RN-track and 7 PN/LPN-track. The average 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate across North Dakota programs is 89.9%, 3.4 points above the national average of 86.5%. Every row below comes straight from the state board of nursing's published approved-program list — not self-reported school marketing.
Best Nursing Schools in North Dakota by NCLEX Pass Rate
Top RN programs ranked by 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, among programs with a published 2025 rate. Rates are one year of data — check multi-year trends before deciding.
- 1100%Minot · Baccalaureate Degree RN Nursing Programs
- 2100%Williston · Associate Degree RN Nursing Programs (AAS)
- 397%Fargo · Baccalaureate Degree RN Nursing Programs
- 497%Bismarck · Baccalaureate Degree RN Nursing Programs
- 596.8%Bismarck · Baccalaureate Degree RN Nursing Programs
- 694.7%Jamestown · Baccalaureate Degree RN Nursing Programs
- 793.6%Grand Forks · Baccalaureate Degree RN Nursing Programs
- 892.7%Bismarck · Associate Degree RN Nursing Programs (AAS)
- 982.4%Fargo · Baccalaureate Degree RN Nursing Programs
- 1081.8%Bottineau · Associate Degree RN Nursing Programs (AAS)
What Nursing School Costs in North Dakota — and What Graduates Earn
Tuition, admissions and graduate-earnings figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, matched to 12 of 13 North Dakota schools. Earnings are program-level — the median for graduates of that school's own nursing program, not all its alumni.
Median federal loan debt for BSN graduates in North Dakota is $24,445 (6 programs). Sticker tuition is the whole school's published price, not the nursing program's alone, and it ignores aid — the number that decides whether a program pays off is what you actually pay plus the wages you give up while enrolled. Run your own numbers in the ROI calculator or read the full cost of becoming an RN.
Every Approved Nursing Program in North Dakota
Sort by any column, filter RN vs PN/LPN, or search a school or city.
22 of 22 programs · “—” = not published for that program · tuition is the school’s published in-state price for one year, before aid; grad pay is the median for that program’s own graduates, one year out
| Bismarck State College | Bismarck | Associate Degree RN Nursing Programs (AAS)RN | $5,247 | $66,335 | 92.7% |
| Bismarck State College | Bismarck | Certificate & Diploma LPN Programs (Certificate)PN | $5,247 | $61,629 | 100% |
| Dakota College at Bottineau | Bottineau | Associate Degree RN Nursing Programs (AAS)RN | $5,388 | $71,421 | 81.8% |
| Dakota College at Bottineau | Bottineau | Certificate & Diploma LPN Programs (Certificate)PN | $5,388 | $60,969 | 100% |
| Dickinson State University | Dickinson | Associate Degree LPN Programs (AASPN)PN | $9,118 | — | 100% |
| Dickinson State University | Dickinson | Baccalaureate Degree RN Nursing ProgramsRN | $9,118 | $68,151 | 75% |
| Lake Region State College | Devils Lake | Associate Degree RN Nursing Programs (AAS)RN | $5,520 | $68,214 | 76% |
| Lake Region State College | Devils Lake | Certificate & Diploma LPN Programs (Certificate)PN | $5,520 | — | 97.7% |
| Minot State University | Minot | Baccalaureate Degree RN Nursing ProgramsRN | $8,702 | $72,522 | 100% |
| North Dakota State College of Science | Wahpeton | Associate Degree RN Nursing Programs (AAS & ASN)RN | $5,974 | $59,229 | 81.8% |
| North Dakota State College of Science | Wahpeton | Certificate & Diploma LPN Programs (Diploma)PN | $5,974 | — | 91.6% |
| North Dakota State University | Fargo | Baccalaureate Degree RN Nursing ProgramsRN | $11,110 | $70,821 | 97% |
| North Dakota State University | Bismarck | Baccalaureate Degree RN Nursing ProgramsRN | $11,110 | $70,821 | 97% |
| Rasmussen University | Fargo | Baccalaureate Degree RN Nursing ProgramsRN | — | — | 82.4% |
| Sitting Bull College | Fort Yates | Associate Degree LPN Programs (ASPN)PN | $4,010 | — | 100% |
| University of JamestownNew/provisional | Fargo | Associate Degree RN Nursing Programs (ASN)RN | $24,990 | — | — |
| University of Jamestown | Jamestown | Baccalaureate Degree RN Nursing ProgramsRN | $24,990 | $74,094 | 94.7% |
| University of JamestownNew/provisional | Fargo | Direct Entry Master's Degree RN Programs (DEMSN)RN | $24,990 | — | — |
| University of Mary | Bismarck | Baccalaureate Degree RN Nursing ProgramsRN | $22,356 | $72,453 | 96.8% |
| University of North Dakota | Grand Forks | Baccalaureate Degree RN Nursing ProgramsRN | $10,951 | $73,097 | 93.6% |
| Williston State College | Williston | Associate Degree RN Nursing Programs (AAS)RN | $6,128 | $60,944 | 100% |
| Williston State College | Williston | Certificate & Diploma LPN Programs (Certificate)PN | $6,128 | — | 100% |
Whichever school you choose, the NCLEX is the finish line
The pass rates above are made by students, not buildings. Students who do well start NCLEX-style practice in their first semester — studying for class exams and the boards at the same time. NurseSavvy turns your own course materials into matched NCLEX practice questions from day one — free to try, then $19/mo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best nursing school in North Dakota by NCLEX pass rate?
2 RN programs in North Dakota tied for the highest 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate at 100%, including Minot State University in Minot — see the full ranked list above, among programs with a published 2025 rate on the state board's list.
How many nursing schools are in North Dakota?
North Dakota has 13 schools offering 22 board-approved nursing programs: 15 RN-track (ADN/BSN and similar) and 7 PN/LPN-track programs, per the state board of nursing's current approved-program list.
What is the average NCLEX pass rate in North Dakota?
Across North Dakota RN programs with a published 2025 rate, the average first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is 89.9% — 3.4 points above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does nursing school cost in North Dakota?
Across North Dakota nursing schools we could match to U.S. Department of Education data, median published in-state tuition and fees run $6,051 a year at public schools (10 schools). That is the whole institution's sticker price per year, before aid — an ADN takes about two years and a BSN four, and most students pay less than sticker. Per-school figures are in the table above.
What do nursing graduates in North Dakota earn?
Federal earnings data tracks graduates of each specific nursing program. In North Dakota, median earnings one year after finishing are $66,335 for ADN graduates (5 programs) and $72,488 for BSN graduates (6 programs). These are medians of program-level medians and the federal figures lag by a few years, so treat them as a floor for comparison between schools rather than a salary prediction.
What does a first-time NCLEX pass rate tell me about a school?
It is the share of a program’s graduates who passed the NCLEX on their first attempt — the single most comparable public outcome number nursing programs report. Boards of nursing track it for program approval, and consistently low rates can put a program on conditional status. Compare it alongside cost, location, and program length, not in isolation.
About this data
Program list and 2025 first-time NCLEX pass rates are taken directly from the North Dakota board of nursing's published approved-program materials. “—” means the board did not publish a 2025 rate for that program (new programs, small cohorts, or PN lists without rate tables). Pass rates refresh annually; this page is rebuilt from the board lists when they update.
Tuition, admission rates, graduate earnings and debt come from the U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts, June 10 2026 data release), matched by school name and city to 12 of 13 North Dakota schools. Schools the federal data does not cover — hospital-based programs and schools outside federal student-aid reporting — show “—” rather than an estimate. Tuition and admission rates describe the whole institution; earnings and debt are specific to its nursing programs, by credential, and lag the current graduating class by several years.
- collegescorecard.ed.gov — Most Recent Cohorts, June 10 2026 data release