Nursing in Louisiana
Louisiana has 57 nursing schools running 93 board-approved programs, and the median RN program’s first-time NCLEX pass rate was 90.8%. Registered nurses here earn a median of $80,230; nurse practitioners, $125,600. Louisiana 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 Louisiana
75 of Louisiana’s 93 programs have a published 2025 first-time pass rate. RN programs averaged 88.6% — 2.1 points above the 86.5% national average. Practical nursing programs averaged 89.2%.
| Degree | Programs | Median pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Associate (ADN) | 13 | 89.7% |
| Bachelor’s (BSN) | 19 | 91.1% (17 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.
- Mcneese State UniversityLake Charles · BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS100%
- Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady UniversityBaton Rouge · BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS100%
- Grambling State UniversityGrambling · BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS100%
- Bossier Parish Community CollegeBossier City · ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS98.8%
- Nicholls State UniversityThibodaux · BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS98.3%
What Nurses Earn in Louisiana
Federal wage survey data (BLS OEWS, May 2025) — employer-reported, not job-board estimates. The RN median in Louisiana is $17,320 below the $97,550 national median; the NP median is $6,700 below the $132,300 national NP median.
| Louisiana | Registered nurse | Nurse practitioner |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $80,230 | $125,600 |
| Median hourly | $38.57 | $60.38 |
| Starting range (10th pct.) | $63,800 | $99,050 |
| Top earners (90th pct.) | $104,740 | $159,570 |
| Employed in state | 48,970 | 5,380 |
Licensing in Louisiana
Louisiana is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented July 1, 2019). A nurse whose primary residence is Louisiana 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 Louisiana board of nursing and change — confirm them with the board directly. The board documents these pass rates came from: Approved-programs list rev. 6/26/2026 (schools.pdf); pass rate Jan 1-Dec 31 2025 (LSBN 2025 Annual Report, Appendix B1) (1), PN Program List live page accessed 2026-07-12 (status shown for 25-26); pass rate CY2025 (2025_NCLEX_PassRates.pdf, by cohort completion date) (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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has 57 nursing schools running 93 board-approved programs — 37 RN programs and 56 practical nursing programs (state board of nursing list, 2025 pass-rate year).
What is the NCLEX pass rate in Louisiana?
The median Louisiana RN program's first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 90.8%, and the average across programs was 88.6% — 2.1 points above the 86.5% national average (2025 first-time test takers, from the state board of nursing).
How much do nurses make in Louisiana?
Registered nurses in Louisiana earn a median of $80,230 a year ($38.57 an hour), $17,320 below the national RN median. Nurse practitioners earn a median of $125,600 (BLS, May 2025).
Is Louisiana a compact nursing state?
Louisiana is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented July 1, 2019). A nurse whose primary residence is Louisiana 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.