Nursing in Delaware
Delaware has 8 nursing schools running 14 board-approved programs, and the median RN program’s first-time NCLEX pass rate was 89.9%. Registered nurses here earn a median of $99,520; nurse practitioners, $131,040. Delaware 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 Delaware
13 of Delaware’s 14 programs have a published 2025 first-time pass rate. RN programs averaged 89.7% — 3.2 points above the 86.5% national average. Practical nursing programs averaged 81.3%.
| Degree | Programs | Median pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Associate (ADN) | 4 | 87.7% (3 rated) |
| Bachelor’s (BSN) | 2 | 92.3% |
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.
- University of DelawareNewark · Bachelor of Science93.7%
- Delaware Technical Community CollegeDover · Associate Degree91.4%
- Delaware State UniversityDover · Bachelor of Science90.9%
- M. H. Rollins School of NursingLewes · Diploma88.9%
- Delaware Technical Community CollegeNewark · Associate Degree87.7%
What Nurses Earn in Delaware
Federal wage survey data (BLS OEWS, May 2025) — employer-reported, not job-board estimates. The RN median in Delaware is $1,970 above the $97,550 national median; the NP median is $1,260 below the $132,300 national NP median.
| Delaware | Registered nurse | Nurse practitioner |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $99,520 | $131,040 |
| Median hourly | $47.85 | $63.00 |
| Starting range (10th pct.) | $78,340 | $97,450 |
| Top earners (90th pct.) | $123,860 | $162,870 |
| Employed in state | 14,290 | 1,430 |
Licensing in Delaware
Delaware is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented January 19, 2018). A nurse whose primary residence is Delaware 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 Delaware board of nursing and change — confirm them with the board directly. The board documents these pass rates came from: Program list updated 03/2025; RN pass rate 10/1/2024-9/30/2025 (Annual Statistics NCLEX School Year 2025, dated 01/22/2026).
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 Delaware?
Delaware has 8 nursing schools running 14 board-approved programs — 7 RN programs and 7 practical nursing programs (state board of nursing list, 2025 pass-rate year).
What is the NCLEX pass rate in Delaware?
The median Delaware RN program's first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 89.9%, and the average across programs was 89.7% — 3.2 points above the 86.5% national average (2025 first-time test takers, from the state board of nursing).
How much do nurses make in Delaware?
Registered nurses in Delaware earn a median of $99,520 a year ($47.85 an hour), $1,970 above the national RN median. Nurse practitioners earn a median of $131,040 (BLS, May 2025).
Is Delaware a compact nursing state?
Delaware is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented January 19, 2018). A nurse whose primary residence is Delaware 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.