Best ADN Programs in New Hampshire (2026)

St. Joseph School of Nursing in Nashua is a standalone, mission-driven nursing school operating under the Saint Joseph Healthcare system. Its ADN-track programs are built around small cohort sizes — enrollment sits at roughly 95 students across the school — which means direct faculty access and tightly supervised clinical rotations at affiliated hospital and healthcare sites. Because the school is embedded in an active healthcare network, clinical placements are an in-person requirement; no prelicensure nursing program can be completed remotely, and St. Joseph is no exception. Prospective students should visit the programs page directly to confirm current start dates, admission requirements, and program length, as cohort details shift each cycle.

The standout data point here is a 100% graduation rate, the highest of any program in this ranking and the basis for its top Hakia Score of 81.1. Tuition is $20,750 per year regardless of residency, which puts it above the community-college options in this list but still well below many four-year universities. That combination of near-certain completion and a nationally recognized private nonprofit setting makes St. Joseph the right fit for a student who wants intensive faculty mentorship and is willing to pay a premium for it. Graduates sit for the same NCLEX-RN as every other ADN program and earn an identical RN license.

Rivier University's Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program in Nashua runs five semesters after prerequisites are satisfied, totaling 42 nursing credits. The cost per credit for the 2026-27 year is $427 for lecture courses and $1,200 for clinical courses. Evening classes and evening or weekend clinical rotations are scheduled deliberately so students can hold a job while completing the degree. Clinical placements span a wide network including Catholic Medical Center, Lowell General Hospital, Southern NH Health System, and home health and hospice settings. Licensed Practical Nurses can apply for advanced placement, which exempts qualifying LPNs from the first-semester Fundamentals course when prerequisites are met. Rivier's simulation labs underwent a $5 million renovation in 2022, adding high-fidelity medical-surgical, pediatric, obstetrics, and telehealth simulation rooms. The program carries ACEN accreditation with a continuing accreditation decision from the board of commissioners.

From 2020 through 2024, Rivier ASN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on their first attempt at an 86.76% rate, beating the national ASN average of 85.34% over the same window. The school reports a 52% graduation rate and an 83% admit rate, meaning admission is accessible but completion demands sustained effort across the five-semester curriculum. In-state and out-of-state tuition are the same at $38,078 per year, the highest in this ranking, reflecting the private university model. Its Hakia Score of 80.9 places it second in New Hampshire, driven by the documented NCLEX outcome and the breadth of clinical partnerships. This program suits a student who values a documented pass-rate track record, evening scheduling flexibility, and an LPN-to-RN pathway, and who can handle the higher price point.

White Mountains Community College in Berlin offers an ACEN-accredited two-year Registered Nurse program structured around concurrent classroom, simulation lab, and in-person clinical components. Students complete nursing courses in sequence and must achieve a minimum grade of C+ (76.67%) in all theory and science courses, including Anatomy and Physiology I and II and Microbiology; all nursing coursework must be finished within three years of entering the first nursing course. Clinical practicums rotate through hospitals, nursing homes, and social service agencies across northern New Hampshire, and the college is adding a new state-of-the-art simulation lab in Fall 2025. A dedicated LPN-to-RN completion option lets licensed practical nurses transfer into the second semester of the program, bypassing the first-semester content, provided they hold a current unencumbered LPN license and have met WMCC's admission and prerequisite requirements. Admission is competitive: applicants submit ATI TEAS scores (minimum 60%), official transcripts, and two professional references, with a February 1 application deadline and selection determined by a nursing admission rubric.

In-state tuition is $6,450 per year, the lowest of the private programs in this ranking and identical to Manchester Community College, making WMCC one of the most affordable RN entry points in New Hampshire. The graduation rate is 62%, and no institutional admit rate is published. WMCC's Hakia Score of 79.2 reflects the strong cost value, ACEN accreditation, and structured clinical network in a region where healthcare access and nursing workforce needs are acute. Graduates qualify to sit for the NCLEX-RN and earn the same RN license as any BSN graduate. Enrollment data from IPEDS puts the college at 577 students, giving the program an intimate, community-focused character. The right fit here is a cost-conscious student in northern NH, or an LPN ready to bridge to RN without repeating first-semester fundamentals.

Manchester Community College's Nursing A.S. program trains students for RN practice in acute care, long-term care, and other structured settings through a curriculum of science, general education, and nursing courses. All classroom and clinical components run concurrently; nursing coursework must be completed within four years of entering the first nursing course. Clinical and simulation labs complement in-person rotations at area healthcare facilities, with schedules that can include days, evenings, and weekends depending on placement availability. MCC offers two distinct entry tracks: the standard Nursing A.S. admissions path and a dedicated LPN-to-RN Bridge program for licensed practical nurses seeking to advance. For students who know they eventually want a BSN, MCC has formalized RN-to-BSN transfer partnerships with regional colleges, universities, and hospitals, making the ADN-first strategy concrete and mapped rather than aspirational. The program holds ACEN accreditation and approval from the New Hampshire Board of Nursing; first-time NCLEX pass rates are publicly reported by the NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification at oplc.nh.gov.

In-state tuition is $6,450 per year, matching WMCC as the most affordable option in this ranking. The graduation rate of 41% is the lowest among the four programs, which points to a rigorous selective progression rather than open throughput; students admitted should plan for demanding coursework and factor advising and tutoring resources (MCC offers Brainfuse tutoring in nursing and allied health, plus a Liberal Arts Pre-Nursing Pathway for students who need to build prerequisites first) into their plan. MCC's Hakia Score of 73.7 reflects the cost advantage and accreditation standing weighed against the lower completion rate. With an enrollment of 2,081, MCC is the largest school in this group, operating in New Hampshire's most populous city with the broadest institutional support network. The program fits a Manchester-area student seeking the lowest-cost RN credential, an LPN ready to bridge, or anyone who wants an explicit roadmap to a BSN after licensure.

Lakes Region Community College offers a 70-credit Associate of Science in Nursing approved by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The program runs across four semesters of full-time study anchored by four clinical nursing courses (Nursing I through IV) taken alongside anatomy, microbiology, and general education requirements. Clinical attendance is mandatory from day one: the college requires presence at every lab and clinical session, with make-up hours determined by faculty. LPNs holding an unencumbered New Hampshire license can apply for advanced entry into the spring semester (Nursing II) after passing the ATI Fundamentals proctored exam at 65.5% or higher, skipping the TEAS requirement and entering with existing clinical experience.

At $6,450 per year in-state tuition, the cost to complete this ADN is a fraction of a four-year BSN. The program posted a 46% graduation rate (IPEDS); LRCC does not publish a school-specific NCLEX pass rate on its program page, so that figure is not cited here. The Hakia Score of 72.3 ranks LRCC fifth among New Hampshire ADN programs, reflecting the value of low cost, ACEN accreditation, and the LPN bridge option. Graduates sit for the same NCLEX-RN as any BSN graduate and earn the identical RN license; a common next move is an online RN-to-BSN bridge while working full time. The program suits career-changers who already hold an LPN and workers in the Laconia area who need a nearby, affordable path to RN licensure.

Nashua Community College's Associate in Science in Nursing is a 69-credit program approved by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing and built around small-cohort instruction: the college explicitly limits class size to 32 students, enabling personalized mentorship alongside simulation lab work and placed clinical rotations. The sequence moves from fundamentals and anatomy in the first year through pharmacology in the summer into advanced nursing care management in the second year, all clinical components completed in person. Students who finish the first nursing course (NURS125N) become eligible to apply for Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) licensure before completing the full degree, adding a stackable credential during training. NCC also runs a Health Science Pre-Nursing pathway for students who want to complete prerequisites before formal nursing admission.

In-state tuition is $6,450 per year, matching the other New Hampshire Community College System schools. NCC reported a 38% graduation rate (IPEDS); the program page does not state a school-specific NCLEX first-time pass rate, so one is not cited. The Hakia Score of 68.1 places NCC sixth in New Hampshire, with the small cohort size and simulation-forward curriculum as differentiating factors. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN and enter the workforce earning a national median of $97,550 per year for registered nurses. The program suits applicants who want a structured, faculty-close environment in the Nashua metro rather than a lecture-hall experience.

Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth offers an ACEN-accredited Associate in Science in Nursing approved by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing, with the additional distinction that the program meets state education requirements for RN licensure in Massachusetts and Maryland as well, broadening where graduates can practice without additional schooling credits. Clinical and classroom components must be completed concurrently and in sequence; all nursing courses must be finished within four years of starting the first nursing course. Students can complete the program full time or part time. Advanced placement and transfer credit are possible. Mid-program, students who pass Nursing I become eligible to apply for LNA licensure; those who pass Nursing III can apply for LPN licensure, creating stackable credentials along the route to the RN.

GBCC publishes verified NCLEX data directly on its program page: first-time pass rates were 97.50% in 2024 and 95.57% in 2025, consistently above both the NH and national averages in each of the five years reported (2021-2025). In-state tuition is $6,450 per year. The most recent retention cohort (2023-2025) shows 85.11% of admitted students completing within the program's stated length, a significant improvement over earlier cohorts. IPEDS records a 34% graduation rate. The Hakia Score of 65.8 ranks GBCC seventh in New Hampshire; the NCLEX performance data is the strongest publicly documented of any school on this list. This program fits applicants who prioritize verifiable licensure-exam outcomes and multi-state practice flexibility. Graduates pursue a national median RN salary of $97,550 and commonly bridge to a BSN online while employed. See accreditation details at ACEN.

NHTI-Concord's Community College offers an Associate of Science in Nursing accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing. The program is the largest in the state by enrollment. Admission is competitive and structured: applicants are scored on a cumulative point system that weighs prerequisite science grades, college coursework, TEAS exam scores (minimum 66%), and two professional references, which the college designates as critical. Qualified candidates not admitted can be placed on a prioritized wait list. For students who completed nursing coursework elsewhere, an Advanced Standing Transfer pathway lets them test into appropriate courses rather than repeat material. Clinical rotations are in-person and required throughout the nursing sequence.

In-state tuition is $6,450 per year, the same rate across the New Hampshire Community College System. NHTI reported a 29% graduation rate (IPEDS); the program page does not publish a school-specific NCLEX first-time pass rate. The Hakia Score of 64.6 places NHTI eighth in New Hampshire; the program's size gives it broad clinical placement reach across the Concord area, and the structured point-based selection process gives returning students and career-changers a clear map of what to strengthen before applying. Graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN and earn the same RN license as a BSN graduate, with a national median salary of $97,550. Early Action applicants who submit by November 30 receive priority consideration for the following fall cohort.

River Valley Community College's Associate in Science in Nursing (ASN-RN) is a 64-to-66-credit, four-semester program built around in-person clinical rotations at critical access hospitals and Dartmouth Health. Students choose between a traditional sequence (Fall/Spring/Fall/Spring) or an accelerated path (Fall/Spring/Summer/Fall) that compresses the timeline by swapping one fall term for a summer session. Two LPN-to-RN pathways add flexibility: a two-semester Direct Entry track for RVCC LPN graduates within two years of completion, and a three-semester Bridge Program open to any licensed LPN who certified more than two years ago. Both campus locations — Claremont and Keene — are available. The program is ACEN-accredited through Spring 2029 and approved by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing.

RVCC's outcomes data is public and strong. The program's 2024 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate hit 97.96%, with 2025 year-to-date at 95.2%; the 2023 rate was 97.5%. Program completion ran 74.5% in both 2024 and 2023. In-state tuition for the full program is $21,000 — well below the cost of a four-year BSN at most state universities. IPEDS places annual in-state tuition at $6,450. Graduates sit for the same NCLEX-RN as BSN candidates and earn an identical RN license; the BLS reports a national median salary of $97,550 for registered nurses, regardless of degree level. A Hakia Score of 58.8 reflects the program's affordability and licensure-exam outcomes against New Hampshire peers. Admission requires a TEAS composite of 66.0 or higher and current Nursing Assistant licensure (waivable for qualified Allied Health workers), which means applicants who plan ahead can meet requirements without a separate detour.

This program fits the cost-conscious career-changer or recent graduate who wants to enter the workforce as an RN in roughly two years, keep total debt low at $21,000 for the full in-state run, and preserve the option of completing an online RN-to-BSN bridge later while working. The dual-campus model and two LPN upgrade tracks also make RVCC a practical choice for working LPNs in western or southern New Hampshire who want to advance without relocating.