Best ADN Programs in Georgia for 2026

Southern Crescent Technical College's Traditional ASN Option runs six terms (spring start only) across the Flint River Campus and Henry County Center, requiring 69 credit hours for graduation. The program is strictly full-time, Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with no evening or weekend didactic alternatives. Clinical rotations are hands-on and in person, scheduled per Georgia Board of Nursing requirements. Graduates earn an Associate of Science in Nursing and are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN for full RN licensure, identical to the credential awarded to BSN graduates. There is no LPN-to-RN bridge track within this option; the program targets students entering nursing without a prior license.

Southern Crescent carries ACEN initial accreditation for the ASN program. In-state tuition runs $2,568 per year, one of the lowest price points available for a licensed nursing credential in Georgia. The program's 58% graduation rate reflects a competitive, rigorous selection process: admission is once per calendar year, requires all prerequisite coursework completed before the August application window, and demands a current HESI A2 score no older than one year. There is no waitlist; applicants not selected must reapply the following cycle. Southern Crescent's Hakia Score of 87.2 places it first among Georgia ADN programs in this ranking, reflecting the combination of low cost, regional access across two campuses, and accreditation standing.

Central Georgia Technical College in Warner Robins offers two pathways to the RN credential under its ACEN-accredited nursing program: the Associate of Science in Nursing for students without a prior license, and the ASN Bridge (AF93) designed for Licensed Practical Nurses and paramedics ready to advance. Both tracks carry ACEN continuing accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the most recent decision being Continuing Accreditation for the ASN program. CGTC also maintains a Practical Nursing diploma program and multiple nurse aide certificates, giving students a stacked pathway from entry-level care through full RN licensure. All clinical experiences are hands-on and completed in person at affiliated healthcare facilities; a licensed prelicensure ASN cannot be earned without those rotations.

In-state tuition is $2,568 per year, matching the Georgia Technical College System rate. The 47% graduation rate is below the state average for ADN programs, which prospective students should weigh against CGTC's large enrollment of 11,527 and the breadth of support resources the school offers, including dedicated Health Success Coaches and a nursing program chair with direct contact information. CGTC's Hakia Score of 86.1 reflects strong accreditation standing and program breadth. Graduates who pass the NCLEX-RN hold the same RN license as BSN graduates; the BLS national median wage for registered nurses is $97,550 per year.

Oconee Fall Line Technical College in Sandersville structures its nursing division around three distinct tracks: a 3-semester Practical Nursing certificate, a 7-semester Associate of Science in Nursing for students with no prior healthcare background, and a 6-semester ADN Bridge designed specifically for Licensed Practical Nurses or paramedics who have at least one year of in-field experience. The ADN Bridge is the accelerated path, allowing working LPNs and paramedics to continue employment while completing the degree. Clinical rotations for both RN tracks are hands-on and in person, as required for any legitimate prelicensure nursing program. Graduates of either ASN track are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN and earn the same full RN license regardless of whether they came through the bridge or the standard route.

OFTC's 65% graduation rate is the highest among this group of four Georgia ADN programs and a meaningful signal of program completion momentum at a school with 2,108 students. In-state tuition is $2,568 per year, and the nursing program qualifies for the HOPE Career Grant, a Georgia-specific award available to students in high-demand fields that can further reduce out-of-pocket cost. OFTC's Hakia Score of 86.0 reflects the combination of strong completion outcomes, program breadth, and affordability. The BLS national median wage for registered nurses stands at $97,550 per year, the same benchmark for every RN regardless of whether the degree is an ASN or BSN.

• 65% graduation rate — highest in this ranking
• $2,568/yr in-state tuition
• HOPE Career Grant eligible

Athens Technical College runs a four-semester, full-time ASN program delivered across two campuses: Athens and Walton County, with each accepting up to 80 students per fall cohort. All nursing core courses are taught on campus; clinical experiences rotate through multiple affiliated healthcare facilities. The program includes a 180-hour practicum at the end of the senior year, guided by an experienced registered nurse and overseen by faculty. Athens TC also offers an accelerated bridge track for Licensed Practical Nurses and licensed Georgia paramedics, requiring a minimum of three semesters to complete the nursing coursework; bridge students enter as senior-level students on a space-available basis. Applications for the standard ASN program are due February 1 for fall enrollment. Graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN and earn the same full RN license as BSN graduates from four-year universities.

In-state tuition is $2,568 per year, consistent with the Georgia Technical College System rate. The program's 51% graduation rate is near the midpoint of this Georgia ADN group. Athens TC's Hakia Score of 84.9 reflects solid program structure and the distinctive 180-hour practicum, which the college notes regularly leads to direct job offers from clinical sites. The simulation laboratories on campus include high- and low-fidelity manikins for both junior and senior cohorts, giving students structured practice before entering live clinical settings. The BLS national median wage for registered nurses is $97,550 per year regardless of degree level.

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College offers an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) across three campuses: Valdosta, Ben Hill-Irwin, and Coffee. The two-year, six-term program runs on a cohort model, meaning students progress through RNSG courses as a group in a fixed sequence. Four of those six terms include in-person clinical rotations in acute and long-term care settings. There is no fully online path; clinical requirements are set by partner facilities and must be met to graduate. The program does not list a standalone LPN-to-RN bridge track, but the competitive admissions pathway begins with the Nursing Technician Certificate, which functions as a structured prerequisite sequence before students can apply to the ASN. Valdosta starts each spring; Ben Hill-Irwin and Coffee start each fall.

Admission is genuinely competitive. Applicants are ranked on a weighted formula: Nursing Technician TCC GPA counts 40%, HESI cumulative score 40%, and HESI Critical Thinking conversion 20%. A 2.75 prerequisite GPA and a 75.0 HESI cumulative score are the floor. In-state tuition runs $2,568 per year, making cost a real strength for southwest Georgia students. IPEDS data show a 50% graduation rate, and the program does not publish a standalone NCLEX pass rate on the scraped catalog page. Wiregrass earns a Hakia Score of 83, the highest among the Georgia ADN programs in this group, reflecting its combination of low cost and program outcomes. It fits determined applicants who want a clear, structured prerequisite path and are willing to compete on academics for a seat.

Atlanta Technical College runs an Associate of Science in Nursing as part of its accredited healthcare division in Atlanta. The scraped program page confirms that nursing training includes an ASN track alongside Hemodialysis, Nurse Aide, and Patient Care options, positioning the nursing program within a broader allied-health ecosystem that shares clinical infrastructure. The ASN is a classroom-plus-clinical program; prelicensure clinical rotations are in person and required for graduation. The program page does not detail a distinct LPN-to-RN bridge track separate from the traditional ASN pathway. Atlanta's urban hospital network, which includes Grady, Emory, and Piedmont facilities, provides clinical placement opportunities consistent with a large metro technical college.

In-state tuition is $2,568 per year, identical to the Georgia Technical College System standard. IPEDS data show a 49% graduation rate, and the scraped page does not publish a standalone NCLEX pass rate figure. Enrollment is approximately 4,498, reflecting a mid-size institution. Atlanta Technical College carries a Hakia Score of 81.3. The program fits Atlanta-area students who want a low-cost, accredited pathway to RN licensure in a city where hospital employers are abundant. Graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN and earn the same full RN license as a BSN graduate; many then pursue an online RN-to-BSN bridge while working. National median RN earnings are $97,550 per year according to the BLS.

Coastal Pines Technical College offers an Associate of Science in Nursing anchored at its Jesup campus, 1777 W. Cherry Street, Jesup, Georgia. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), with the most recent decision recorded as Initial Accreditation. The mission is to prepare novice practitioners to provide safe, effective care across a variety of clinical settings. Clinical experience is in person and mandatory; graduates are trained through traditional delivery combined with distance-format didactic support. The program page lists allied-health companions including Practical Nursing and Nurse Aide, indicating shared clinical infrastructure across Coastal Pines health programs.

The numbers on the program page are the strongest in this Georgia group. The 2025 cohort achieved a 100% completion rate (23 of 23 students) and a 100% first-attempt-plus-repeater NCLEX pass rate. Year-to-date 2025 NCLEX performance across all candidates stands at 81.48% combined. Job placement for the 2025 cohort is reported at 100%. In-state tuition is $2,568 per year, consistent with the Georgia Technical College System. IPEDS data show a 48% overall graduation rate, and total enrollment is approximately 4,130. Coastal Pines earns a Hakia Score of 80.7. It is the right choice for a student in southeast Georgia who wants documented NCLEX outcomes and accreditation on record before applying. ADN graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN and earn a full RN license; national median RN pay is $97,550/yr per the BLS.

Gwinnett Technical College in Lawrenceville offers one of the most versatile ADN programs in Georgia, with four distinct entry pathways: the Traditional Option, an LPN Bridge, a Paramedic Bridge, and a Surgical Technologist Bridge. Each bridge option allows students who have completed prior healthcare training to enter directly into the second year of the nursing curriculum, compressing the time to RN licensure for working healthcare professionals. The traditional pathway provides a full classroom-to-clinical sequence for students entering nursing without prior licensure. All tracks combine classroom and laboratory training with in-person clinical rotations; no prelicensure path is fully online. The program holds ACEN Continuing Accreditation at the Lawrenceville campus, the strongest accreditation standing available.

Tuition is priced at $107 per credit hour plus fees, and in-state tuition totals $2,568 per year per IPEDS. Gwinnett Tech also maintains transfer agreements with four-year colleges to facilitate RN-to-BSN completion after graduation, a practical acknowledgment that many hospital systems now prefer BSN-prepared nurses. IPEDS reports a 32% graduation rate and enrollment of approximately 11,166, making Gwinnett one of the largest technical colleges in this Georgia group. The program carries a Hakia Score of 74.9. The program page does not publish a standalone NCLEX pass rate; student achievement data are available through ACEN disclosure. Gwinnett is the strongest fit for LPNs, paramedics, or surgical techs in the greater Atlanta metro who want to bridge to RN without starting from scratch. Graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN; national median RN earnings are $97,550/yr per the BLS.

Albany Technical College offers an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) designed to prepare graduates for the NCLEX-RN and a full registered-nurse license. The program blends general-education coursework with nursing coursework and requires hands-on clinical rotations — prelicensure nursing cannot be completed entirely online, and Albany Tech's clinical training is grounded at its Phoebe LLC clinical site. The college accepts applications twice yearly (Fall deadline June 1, Spring deadline November 1), giving students more entry points than most competitive ADN programs in the state.

Admission requires a minimum nursing GPA of 2.75 and a TEAS score of at least 60, with no more than two attempts allowed in a 12-month window. In-state tuition runs $2,568 per year — among the lowest in Georgia and a fraction of BSN program costs at four-year universities. The program's graduation rate is 42%, which reflects the rigor of a selective health-sciences curriculum at a community-technical college serving a large rural region. Albany Tech's Hakia Score of 74.8 ranks it ninth among Georgia ADN programs, based on cost, outcomes data, and program characteristics. The program fits students in the Albany metro and surrounding southwest Georgia communities who want the fastest, lowest-cost route to an RN license, with the option to pursue an RN-to-BSN bridge later while employed.

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) in Tifton offers an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) through two distinct tracks. The generic track runs six semesters total: two semesters of prerequisite coursework followed by a four-semester nursing sequence covering anatomy, microbiology, fundamentals, medical-surgical, maternal and pediatric nursing, mental health, pharmacology, and clinical rotations at partner healthcare facilities. The One-Year Registered Nurse Bridge is built for LPNs, paramedics, and respiratory therapists who already hold core-class credit; those students enter the four-semester nursing sequence immediately and complete the degree in three semesters at one day per week while continuing to work. Clinical rotations are hands-on and in person at ABAC partner facilities — no prelicensure nursing program can fulfill clinical hours online.

ABAC's in-state tuition is $2,616 per year, and the college has a 76% admit rate, making it genuinely accessible rather than hyper-selective. The program's graduation rate is 36%, which is consistent with the academic intensity of ADN curricula at open-access colleges. ABAC does not publish a specific NCLEX pass rate on its program page; graduates sit for the same NCLEX-RN and earn an identical RN license to a BSN graduate. The Hakia Score of 74.7 places ABAC tenth among Georgia ADN programs. The school fits three audiences: rural south Georgia residents who want an affordable, local RN pathway; allied-health workers (LPNs, paramedics, respiratory therapists) ready to bridge to RN in a single year; and students who plan to complete the degree then ladder into an online RN-to-BSN while working as a new RN. BLS data puts the national median RN salary at $97,550 per year regardless of whether the RN holds an ADN or BSN.