Nursing in New Jersey
New Jersey has 95 nursing schools running 107 board-approved programs, and the median RN program’s first-time NCLEX pass rate was 89.5%. Registered nurses here earn a median of $106,500; nurse practitioners, $159,310. New Jersey 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 New Jersey
99 of New Jersey’s 107 programs have a published 2025 first-time pass rate. RN programs averaged 85.5% — 1.0 points below the 86.5% national average. Practical nursing programs averaged 80.6%.
| Degree | Programs | Median pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Associate (ADN) | 24 | 90.6% |
| Bachelor’s (BSN) | 32 | 89.2% (31 rated) |
Both degrees lead to the same RN license. ADN vs BSN, compared nationally →
Highest first-time pass rates (2025)
In-state RN programs. 6 programs tied at 100% — the five with the most nursing graduates are shown. A single year’s rate swings widely for small programs; check the trend before you choose.
- Camden County CollegeCamden · ASSOCIATE DEGREE100%
- The College of New Jersey School of NursingEwing · BACCALAUREATE SCHOOLS100%
- Best Care CollegeEast orange · ASSOCIATE DEGREE100%
- Cumberland County CollegeVineland · ASSOCIATE DEGREE100%
- Eastern International College - BSNBSN (per NCLEX report)100%
What Nurses Earn in New Jersey
Federal wage survey data (BLS OEWS, May 2025) — employer-reported, not job-board estimates. The RN median in New Jersey is $8,950 above the $97,550 national median; the NP median is $27,010 above the $132,300 national NP median.
| New Jersey | Registered nurse | Nurse practitioner |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $106,500 | $159,310 |
| Median hourly | $51.20 | $76.59 |
| Starting range (10th pct.) | $83,060 | $122,390 |
| Top earners (90th pct.) | $135,170 | $183,420 |
| Employed in state | 92,680 | 9,950 |
Licensing in New Jersey
New Jersey is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented November 15, 2021). A nurse whose primary residence is New Jersey 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 New Jersey board of nursing and change — confirm them with the board directly.
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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has 95 nursing schools running 107 board-approved programs — 64 RN programs and 43 practical nursing programs (state board of nursing list, 2025 pass-rate year).
What is the NCLEX pass rate in New Jersey?
The median New Jersey RN program's first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 89.5%, and the average across programs was 85.5% — 1.0 points below the 86.5% national average (2025 first-time test takers, from the state board of nursing).
How much do nurses make in New Jersey?
Registered nurses in New Jersey earn a median of $106,500 a year ($51.20 an hour), $8,950 above the national RN median. Nurse practitioners earn a median of $159,310 (BLS, May 2025).
Is New Jersey a compact nursing state?
New Jersey is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented November 15, 2021). A nurse whose primary residence is New Jersey 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.