Top Nursing Schools in New Jersey
This page lists 57 schools in New Jersey that reported awards in licensed nursing education to the U.S. Department of Education for 2023-24 — including 16 practical/vocational nursing (LPN/LVN), 23 associate degree (ADN), 26 bachelor's (BSN), 20 master's and 8 Doctor of Nursing Practice award levels. By ownership, 34 public, 13 private nonprofit and 10 private for-profit. 42 appear in the CCNE or ACEN accreditor directories for at least one nursing program level. The largest concentrations are in Jersey City (4), Newark (2), Paramus (2) and Toms River (2).
Data last reviewed: October 6, 2026
Sources: IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education) / CCNE directory / ACEN directory
Listing does not certify educational quality or guarantee licensure eligibility. Verify details with the school before applying.
Listed alphabetically. Inclusion is editorial selection, not a ranking — see our methodology. How schools are selected
Schools (57)
| School | Location | Ownership | Nursing awards / programs | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rowan College at Burlington County | Mount Laurel, NJ | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland Campus | Vineland, NJ | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus | Sewell, NJ | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| Rowan University | Glassboro, NJ | Public | BSN, MSN-CNL, Grad Cert, Post-Master's-FNP | CCNE |
| Rutgers University-Camden | Camden, NJ | Public | BSN, MSN, PhD | CCNE |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | New Brunswick, NJ | Public | BSN, MSN, Post-Master's, PhD | — |
| Rutgers University-Newark | Newark, NJ | Public | PhD | CCNE |
| Saint Elizabeth University | Morristown, NJ | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN | ACEN |
| Saint Peter's University | Jersey City, NJ | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN | CCNE |
| Salem Community College | Carneys Point, NJ | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Seton Hall University | South Orange, NJ | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, MSN-Leadership, MSN-PMHNP, DNP, PhD | CCNE |
| Stockton University | Galloway, NJ | Public | BSN, MSN, DNP | CCNE |
| The College of New Jersey | Ewing, NJ | Public | BSN, MSN | CCNE |
| Thomas Edison State University | Trenton, NJ | Public | BSN, MSN, Grad Cert, DNP | CCNE |
| UCNJ Union College of Union County, New Jersey | Cranford, NJ | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Warren County Community College | Washington, NJ | Public | ADN | ACEN |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey | Wayne, NJ | Public | BSN, MSN, Grad Cert, Post-Master's, DNP | CCNE |
Before you apply in New Jersey
- Prelicensure nursing programs must be approved by the state's board of nursing. Check the board's current list for the campus you will attend.
- Program accreditation (CCNE, ACEN or CNEA) is separate from state approval and from the institution's own accreditation. Each school page shows which records we found and where.
- Online programs based in another state may not accept residents of New Jersey. See online coursework and clinical requirements.