Nursing in Utah
Utah has 31 nursing schools running 42 board-approved programs, and the median RN program’s first-time NCLEX pass rate was 87.5%. Registered nurses here earn a median of $84,600; nurse practitioners, $130,920. Utah 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 Utah
39 of Utah’s 42 programs have a published 2025 first-time pass rate. RN programs averaged 83.6% — 2.9 points below the 86.5% national average. Practical nursing programs averaged 92.9%.
| Degree | Programs | Median pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Associate (ADN) | 11 | 83.8% |
| Bachelor’s (BSN) | 14 | 90.7% |
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.
- Utah State UniversityLogan · BSN100%
- Eagle Gate CollegeMurray · Master's Entry Program100%
- 100%
- Brigham Young UniversityProvo · BSN96.6%
- Provo CollegeProvo · BSN94.8%
What Nurses Earn in Utah
Federal wage survey data (BLS OEWS, May 2025) — employer-reported, not job-board estimates. The RN median in Utah is $12,950 below the $97,550 national median; the NP median is $1,380 below the $132,300 national NP median.
| Utah | Registered nurse | Nurse practitioner |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $84,600 | $130,920 |
| Median hourly | $40.67 | $62.94 |
| Starting range (10th pct.) | $68,920 | $102,980 |
| Top earners (90th pct.) | $109,050 | $175,220 |
| Employed in state | 27,420 | 2,740 |
Licensing in Utah
Utah is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented January 19, 2018). A nurse whose primary residence is Utah 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 Utah board of nursing and change — confirm them with the board directly. The board documents these pass rates came from: 2025-11 report (incl. Q1 2026) (1), 2025-11 report (incl. Q1 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 Utah?
Utah has 31 nursing schools running 42 board-approved programs — 27 RN programs and 15 practical nursing programs (state board of nursing list, 2025 pass-rate year).
What is the NCLEX pass rate in Utah?
The median Utah RN program's first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 87.5%, and the average across programs was 83.6% — 2.9 points below the 86.5% national average (2025 first-time test takers, from the state board of nursing).
How much do nurses make in Utah?
Registered nurses in Utah earn a median of $84,600 a year ($40.67 an hour), $12,950 below the national RN median. Nurse practitioners earn a median of $130,920 (BLS, May 2025).
Is Utah a compact nursing state?
Utah is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented January 19, 2018). A nurse whose primary residence is Utah 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.