Best ADN Programs in Idaho for 2026

Carrington College's Associate Degree in Nursing at its Boise campus is a private, accredited ADN designed around in-person clinical rotations that span the full lifespan and health/wellness continuum. The program builds toward the same NCLEX-RN all ADN graduates take, with outcomes framed around evidence-based practice, patient-centered care, and professional communication. Two structured advanced-placement tracks set it apart: military-trained healthcare personnel (Navy HM, Army 68W, Air Force BMTCP or IMDT) can challenge into the program using documented military education plus a passing score on competency exams, and LPNs or LVNs can enter the LVN-to-RN Bridge by meeting ATI Fundamentals benchmarks and passing program-specific exams rather than repeating foundational coursework.

Carrington earns the top Hakia Score in this Idaho ranking at 85.7, driven primarily by its 62% graduation rate, which leads this group. Tuition figures require direct inquiry through the program's Academic Catalog. The school is institutionally accredited by ACCJC; ACEN programmatic accreditation applies to specific campuses (Albuquerque, Phoenix, Mesa) and prospective students at Boise should confirm the current accreditation status of that location directly at ACEN. This program fits career-changers from military healthcare or current LPNs ready to step into full RN scope without restarting from square one.

College of Eastern Idaho's ADN program in Idaho Falls is a public community-college program offering three scheduling tracks: full-time (four semesters), an alternative schedule (six semesters), and an LPN-to-RN Bridge (three semesters starting each June). All three lead to an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing and NCLEX-RN eligibility. The final semester is clinically intensive by design: full-time and alternative-schedule students log over 400 hours of 1:1 clinical experience alongside experienced nurses across varied healthcare settings, which CEI notes directly produces job offers before graduation in many cases. A skills lab and high-fidelity simulation lab with advanced manikins support the earlier coursework. CEI also maintains formal articulation agreements with four-year institutions for graduates who later pursue an RN-to-BSN.

The published numbers are among the strongest in Idaho. First-time NCLEX pass rates: 98.89% (2024), 96.84% (2023), 89.53% (2022). Program completion within the intended timeframe: 94.2% (2024), 92.8% (2025 pending). Job placement as RNs within 12 months: 98% (2024), 92% (2023). In-state tuition is $4,360 per year per IPEDS. The overall graduation rate from IPEDS data is 39%, which reflects institution-wide completion and not program-specific outcomes; the program's own 94.2% completion figure in 2024 is the more relevant comparator. Hakia Score: 77.4. CEI is the right pick for Idaho Falls-area candidates who want the lowest realistic cost, the most intensive clinical final semester in the state, and data-backed NCLEX outcomes.

BLS data puts the national median for registered nurses at $97,550 per year, the same credential ADN and BSN graduates earn alike.

North Idaho College's Associate Degree in Nursing program in Coeur d'Alene is a public community-college ADN designed to meet Idaho's educational requirements for registered nurse licensure. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN upon completion. NIC's program page focuses on licensure disclosure, noting that students who intend to seek licensure outside Idaho should verify state-specific requirements before enrolling. Prospective students should contact NIC's Office of Instruction directly at (208) 769-3305 or OfficeofInstruction@nic.edu for current admission requirements, cohort size, and clinical placement details, as the scraped page does not publish those specifics.

In-state tuition is $4,000 per year per IPEDS, the lowest figure in this group. Out-of-state tuition is $7,776. The institution-wide graduation rate is 38% per IPEDS. Hakia Score is 77.2, placing NIC third in this Idaho ranking. NIC serves a largely rural and semi-rural northern Idaho population in a region where RN demand is consistent and the cost advantage over private programs is substantial. For a Coeur d'Alene-area candidate whose priority is minimizing debt before an optional RN-to-BSN bridge, NIC is the clear geographic and cost choice.

Idaho State University's Associate Degree Registered Nurse (ADRN) program in Pocatello is not a general ADN open to all applicants. Entry requires an active, unrestricted Idaho LPN license. The program is explicitly designed as a two-year bridge for working LPNs to earn an Associate of Applied Science in Registered Nursing and qualify for the NCLEX-RN. Coursework combines mandatory on-campus intensive sessions, in-person clinical practicums, and web-based components. Prerequisites include two semesters of additional coursework (anatomy and physiology sequences, English, psychology, math, communications), a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 across all postsecondary work, IV Therapy certification, and current CPR certification. Applications are accepted August through early October each year. Admission is competitive: ranking uses a nationally normed readiness test, cumulative GPA, and documented years of LPN work experience. The program is accredited by ACEN.

In-state tuition is $6,104 per year per IPEDS, higher than the community-college alternatives in this group, which is typical for a university-based program. The institution-wide graduation rate is 39%. Hakia Score is 75.5. ISU publishes a five-year placement rate of 99% for ADRN graduates across hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities, home health, and outpatient surgery settings. The program articulates into ISU's baccalaureate and master's nursing pathways for LPN-to-RN graduates who later want a BSN or MSN. BLS puts the national RN median at $97,550; ISU notes Idaho-specific median wages at $86,100. This program is the right fit for Idaho LPNs who want a structured university pathway to RN credentials while continuing to draw on their clinical experience in the admissions ranking.

College of Southern Idaho's Associate of Science in Nursing program runs at the Twin Falls campus, a comprehensive community college serving south-central Idaho. Coursework is delivered face-to-face and in hybrid format, and clinical experiences take place in both a campus simulation lab and a range of off-campus healthcare settings across the region — no fully online workaround. The program opens seats twice a year (fall and spring), which is uncommon for associate-level nursing programs and meaningfully shortens the wait between an acceptance decision and a first clinical day. Graduates earn an ASN degree and are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN, the same licensure exam taken by BSN graduates, resulting in an identical RN credential. The program page also notes a clear bridge path: after passing the NCLEX-RN, graduates can transition into a BSN completion program while working as licensed RNs.

CSI's in-state tuition sits at $4,560 per year, well below the national average for community college nursing programs, and reflects the school's mission as a public institution with an enrollment of roughly 10,000 students. The IPEDS-reported graduation rate is 33%, which is typical for open-access community colleges that serve working adults and career-changers facing schedule and financial pressures rather than a traditionally college-bound population. Admit-rate data is not published, consistent with the program's separate, competitive application process noted on the department page. The program's IPEDS profile and Hakia Score of 73.3 place it among the ranked ADN options in Idaho for students prioritizing low cost and multiple annual entry points over selectivity metrics.