Nursing in Connecticut
Connecticut has 31 nursing schools running 44 board-approved programs, and the median RN program’s first-time NCLEX pass rate was 93%. Registered nurses here earn a median of $102,740; nurse practitioners, $138,470. Connecticut is a compact state, so a license here can be a multistate license. Every figure below names its source and the period it covers.
Nursing Schools in Connecticut
33 of Connecticut’s 44 programs have a published 2025 first-time pass rate. RN programs averaged 91.2% — 4.7 points above the 86.5% national average. Practical nursing programs averaged 69.7%.
| Degree | Programs | Median pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Associate (ADN) | 9 | 94% (8 rated) |
| Bachelor’s (BSN) | 16 | 92% (11 rated) |
Both degrees lead to the same RN license. ADN vs BSN, compared nationally →
Highest first-time pass rates (2025)
In-state RN programs. Ties go to the program with more nursing graduates. A single year’s rate swings widely for small programs; check the trend before you choose.
- Western Connecticut State UniversityDanbury · BACCALAUREATE NURSING EDUCATION (4 YEAR)100%
- Sacred Heart UniversityFairfield · BACCALAUREATE NURSING EDUCATION (4 YEAR)98%
- CT State Community College, Naugatuck ValleyWaterbury · ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING PROGRAM (2 YEAR)97%
- CT State Community College, NorthwesternWinsted · ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING PROGRAM (2 YEAR)97%
- Quinnipiac UniversityHamden · BACCALAUREATE NURSING EDUCATION (4 YEAR)96%
What Nurses Earn in Connecticut
Federal wage survey data (BLS OEWS, May 2025) — employer-reported, not job-board estimates. The RN median in Connecticut is $5,190 above the $97,550 national median; the NP median is $6,170 above the $132,300 national NP median.
| Connecticut | Registered nurse | Nurse practitioner |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $102,740 | $138,470 |
| Median hourly | $49.39 | $66.57 |
| Starting range (10th pct.) | $80,350 | $109,930 |
| Top earners (90th pct.) | $134,870 | $173,810 |
| Employed in state | 40,110 | 3,750 |
Licensing in Connecticut
Connecticut is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented October 1, 2025). A nurse whose primary residence is Connecticut can hold one multistate license and practice in every other compact state without applying for another license.
Either way the license starts the same: graduate from a board-approved program and pass the NCLEX. Fees, processing times, and continuing-education rules are set by the Connecticut board of nursing and change — confirm them with the board directly. The board documents these pass rates came from: Live page as of July 12, 2026; pass rate CY2025 first-time (DPH 'NCLEX Pass Rates' live table, 2022-2026) (1), Live page as of July 12, 2026; pass rate CY2025 first-time Day program (DPH 'NCLEX Pass Rates' live table, 2023-2026) (2).
Sources
- First-time NCLEX pass rates by programEach state board of nursing — the exact board documents are linked on every state page · Data: 2025 first-time test takers · Checked
- Program cost, completion, and graduate earningsU.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Checked
- Registered nurse wages and employment (SOC 29-1141)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data: May 2025 · Checked
- Nurse practitioner wages and employment (SOC 29-1171)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data: May 2025 · Checked
- Nurse Licensure Compact member states and implementation datesNational Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) · Checked
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing schools are in Connecticut?
Connecticut has 31 nursing schools running 44 board-approved programs — 27 RN programs and 17 practical nursing programs (state board of nursing list, 2025 pass-rate year).
What is the NCLEX pass rate in Connecticut?
The median Connecticut RN program's first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 93%, and the average across programs was 91.2% — 4.7 points above the 86.5% national average (2025 first-time test takers, from the state board of nursing).
How much do nurses make in Connecticut?
Registered nurses in Connecticut earn a median of $102,740 a year ($49.39 an hour), $5,190 above the national RN median. Nurse practitioners earn a median of $138,470 (BLS, May 2025).
Is Connecticut a compact nursing state?
Connecticut is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented October 1, 2025). A nurse whose primary residence is Connecticut can hold one multistate license and practice in every other compact state without applying for another license. Source: NCSBN compact map, checked September 17, 2026.
Nursing in other states
Keep going
- 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.
- GuideADN vs BSN: Which Nursing Program Should You Choose?Compare ADN and prelicensure BSN pathways by time, total cost, admission, clinical logistics, employer expectations, and bridge options—not prestige alone.
- FinderCheapest RN programs in the U.S.The lowest-cost RN programs nationally, with their NCLEX pass rates alongside.
- FinderCompare nursing schoolsPut any nursing programs side by side on pass rate, cost, and outcomes.
- GuideHow Competitive Is Nursing School Admission?Estimate nursing-school competitiveness using seats, qualified applicants, point rubrics, recent cutoffs, attrition, and the parts of your application you can still change.
- 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.