Best ADN Programs in Oklahoma, Ranked (2026)

Northern Oklahoma College offers a 2-year Associate of Applied Science in Nursing across three campuses: Tonkawa (the original, 1973), Enid (added 1994), and Stillwater (added 2002). The program runs via a mix of interactive television (ITV) and onsite live instruction, with roughly 100 students enrolled annually. Clinical rotations are hands-on and in person, covering acute care, ICU, emergency, maternity, pediatrics, and surgical settings. No LPN-to-RN track is described on the program page; prospective lateral-entry candidates should contact the nursing division at nursing@noc.edu or 580.628.6679.

In-state tuition is $3,681 per year, placing NOC among the lowest-cost ADN options in Oklahoma. Graduation rate is 48% by IPEDS data, consistent with open-access community college programs serving working adults. Admit-rate figures are not published. NOC's Hakia Score of 81.6 is the top mark in this Oklahoma ranking, driven by cost, multi-campus reach, and 50-plus years of program continuity. Graduates sit for the NCLEX-RN and earn the same full RN license as any BSN graduate. The program explicitly points graduates toward online RN-to-BSN bridges, many employer-reimbursed, making the ADN-first-then-BSN path a practical strategy for reaching Magnet-preferred credentials without delaying the RN paycheck.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a national median of $97,550/yr for registered nurses. That figure applies equally to ADN and BSN holders once licensed; the degree level affects hiring preference at Magnet hospitals, not the license itself.

Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology in Okmulgee offers an ACEN-accredited Associate in Applied Science in Nursing with two entry tracks. The Traditional track admits in fall (applications February 1 to March 31) and spring (applications July 15 to August 31). The Career Mobility track admits LPNs and paramedics in summer (applications February 1 to March 31), granting credit for prior clinical experience and shortening time to RN licensure. Both tracks culminate in the same NCLEX-RN exam and qualify graduates for Oklahoma licensure and the multistate Nurse Licensure Compact. All clinical training is in person at modern simulation and clinical facilities.

OSUIT publishes detailed outcomes on its program page: 2024 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate 90.14%, up from 85.94% in 2023 and 73.97% in 2022. The pass rate within one year of graduation was 100% in both 2023 and 2024. On-time completion sits at 58% (2024); overall completion within eight semesters averages 78% over a rolling three-year period. Graduation rate by IPEDS is 42%. In-state tuition is $4,574 per year. OSUIT's Hakia Score of 77.3 ranks it second in Oklahoma, anchored by ACEN accreditation, a transparent outcomes record, and a clear LPN/paramedic mobility path. The BLS national median wage for RNs is $97,550/yr, the same credential regardless of ADN or BSN.

The LPN-to-RN track makes OSUIT a strong fit for licensed practical nurses in eastern Oklahoma who want to step up to RN without starting over. The published year-over-year NCLEX trend also lets prospective students evaluate program quality with real data rather than marketing language.

Carl Albert State College in Poteau offers an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing at two southeastern Oklahoma locations: the main Poteau campus (Dickerson Health Science Center) and the Sallisaw campus (Mayo Center). The program prepares students for the NCLEX-RN through a curriculum that integrates theory, hands-on clinical rotations, and simulation. Clinical experiences are in person and cover client assessment, clinical judgment, communication, and care management across the health-illness continuum. The program also holds dual licensure information for both Oklahoma and Arkansas boards, useful for students near the state line. No LPN-to-RN or advanced-placement track is described on the current program page.

At $3,000 per year in-state, CASC carries the lowest tuition of any program in this Oklahoma ADN ranking. Out-of-state tuition is $7,478. Graduation rate is 43% by IPEDS data. Admit-rate figures are not published. NCLEX pass rates are not stated on the scraped program page; prospective students should request outcome data directly from the nursing division at deesteele@carlalbert.edu or (918) 647-1355. The Hakia Score of 76.7 ranks CASC third in Oklahoma, reflecting strong cost access and two-campus reach in an underserved region. The BLS national median for RNs is $97,550/yr, the same full RN license earned by CASC graduates as by any four-year BSN graduate.

CASC is the right fit for cost-conscious students in southeast Oklahoma or just across the Arkansas line who need a close-to-home, affordable path to the RN credential. The two-campus setup and mission statement centered on affordable, accessible education reflect a genuine community college orientation rather than a university program in miniature.

Connors State College launched its Associate of Applied Science in Nursing in Warner, Oklahoma in 1984 with 20 students. The program now operates at two sites: the Nursing and Allied Health Building on the Three Rivers Port Campus in Muskogee, and an instructional site at the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah. Both fall and spring admission cycles are available at both locations, giving students more entry points per year than programs with a single annual cohort. Connors also offers a Career Ladder track for LPNs and paramedics, with transition-course entry available in fall, spring, and summer. Clinical training is in person and faculty benchmark student progress throughout the program using standardized exams to identify and remediate gaps before the NCLEX-RN.

In-state tuition is $2,520 per year, the lowest published rate in this Oklahoma ADN ranking. Out-of-state tuition is $6,258. Graduation rate is 36% by IPEDS data. Admit-rate figures are not published; small cohort sizes are cited as an intentional program feature that allows more individualized instruction than larger metro programs. NCLEX pass rates are not listed on the program page; contact the nursing division at (918) 684-5436 for current outcome data. Connors' Hakia Score of 75.6 ranks it fourth in Oklahoma. The BLS national median wage for registered nurses is $97,550/yr, a figure tied to the RN license, not the degree level.

Connors fits students in eastern Oklahoma, particularly those near Muskogee or Tahlequah, who need dual-semester entry windows or a Career Ladder path from LPN or paramedic to RN. The small-class model and 40-year program history indicate stable clinical relationships and faculty continuity, both factors that matter for NCLEX readiness.

Tulsa Community College's Nursing (RN) A.A.S. runs across the Metro and Southeast campuses and splits into two clearly defined tracks. The Traditional Track opens every fall and spring, spans four semesters of nursing coursework (five including the prerequisite semester), and targets students entering nursing without a clinical background. The Career Mobility Track is purpose-built for Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Paramedics who already hold an unrestricted Oklahoma license; they complete the same A.A.S. in three nursing semesters, with classes scheduled on compressed weekday blocks (Wednesdays/Thursdays in fall, Fridays/Saturdays in spring and summer) to accommodate working professionals. Both tracks culminate in eligibility for the NCLEX-RN, the same licensure exam taken by every BSN graduate in the country.

TCC's in-state tuition runs $3,000 per year, making it one of the lowest-cost entry points to an RN credential in northeastern Oklahoma. IPEDS reports a graduation rate of 28%, which reflects the reality of open-enrollment community college demographics and a competitive selection process rather than program quality. The Hakia Score of 74.6 ranks TCC fifth among Oklahoma ADN programs on this list, driven by its cost efficiency, metro-area clinical placement network, and the dual-track structure that broadens access. Applicants need a 2.5 cumulative GPA, completion of all prerequisite courses with a C or better, and an ACCUPLACER score. Admission is competitive given the roughly 80 seats available each semester.

For a Tulsa-area career changer or a working LPN ready to close the RN gap, TCC's combination of ultra-low tuition and a schedule engineered around existing clinical jobs is a practical argument for this program over higher-cost alternatives. Graduates who want a BSN later will find that the RN-to-BSN bridge is widely available online, often employer-sponsored, and completable while working full-time as an RN. Data on per-student outcomes is available through IPEDS.

Seminole State College offers a Nursing Associate in Applied Science built around 70 semester credit hours and more than 484 documented clinical hours spread across Medical-Surgical I and II, Maternal/Newborn, Pediatrics, Psychosocial Nursing, and a Leadership Capstone. That clinical load is completed in person at area healthcare facilities; no prelicensure nursing program can substitute seat-hours with online equivalents. The program requires formal, competitive admission on top of baseline eligibility: a 2.5 GPA in at least 12 applicable credit hours (or a 3.0 high school GPA and a composite ACT of 19 for students with fewer college credits), along with current CPR certification, a criminal background check, and a negative drug screen. Every nursing course demands a C or better; there is no option to pass on a D. The program is accredited by ACEN and approved by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing.

NCLEX outcomes, published directly on SSC's program page, tell the most important story: 87.5% first-time pass rate in 2024 and 100% to date in 2025, after a difficult stretch from 2020 to 2022 that the program has clearly worked through. The five-year completion rates run from 67% to 79%, and IPEDS reports an overall institutional graduation rate of 40%, both figures reflecting the real academic demands of nursing candidacy. In-state tuition is $3,210 per year. The Hakia Score of 73.4 places SSC sixth in Oklahoma, with the recent NCLEX rebound as a primary factor. For a student in central Oklahoma who wants verified licensure-exam outcomes before committing, SSC publishes more transparency than most programs in the state.

SSC fits students who want a small-college environment, can tolerate a rigorous competitive admission process, and value published NCLEX data over marketing language. The program does not advertise an LPN-to-RN bridge track on its current degree page. Graduates earn the same RN license as a BSN holder and can pursue an employer-sponsored online RN-to-BSN later. See NCSBN for current NCLEX candidate performance benchmarks.

Murray State College's Associate of Applied Science in Nursing runs a traditional two-year format approved by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing and prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN. The program operates across three campuses: Ardmore, Durant, and Tishomingo, a footprint that matters in a region where the nearest nursing school can be an hour's drive. Clinical rotations are completed in person at affiliated healthcare facilities serving the southern Oklahoma corridor. Admission is selective: applicants must hold a 2.5 college GPA, earn at least a 20 on the ACT Reading section (or 250 on the NextGen ACCUPLACER reading exam), and complete all prerequisite courses with a C or better. The process includes attendance at a mandatory information session before an application packet is released, which means prospective students should contact the program well before any cycle deadline.

In-state tuition runs $4,830 per year, the highest of the four programs on this list but still well below the cost of a four-year BSN at a regional university. IPEDS records a graduation rate of 27%, consistent with selective-admission community nursing programs that draw non-traditional students managing work and family obligations alongside clinical demands. The Hakia Score of 67.6 ranks Murray State seventh in Oklahoma, reflecting the higher tuition relative to comparably ranked programs and the smaller enrollment base of 2,949 students. Murray State does not list an LPN-to-RN track on its traditional nursing page. Salary data from the BLS shows the national median for registered nurses at $97,550 annually regardless of whether the RN's entry credential was an ADN or a BSN.

Murray State is the clearest choice for a student based in Tishomingo, Ardmore, or Durant who needs a local, affordable, accredited path to an RN license without relocating to Oklahoma City or Tulsa. The three-campus structure means seats are distributed across the region rather than concentrated at one site. Students who later want a BSN will find the standard online RN-to-BSN bridge accessible from virtually any employer in the state. Institutional data is available through IPEDS.

Redlands Community College in El Reno offers a Nursing Associate in Applied Science with two clearly separated entry paths. The Generic (Traditional) Track admits one cohort per year through a March 1 application deadline, with the cohort starting in the fall. The LPN-to-RN Track runs on its own spring start cycle, with applications due December 1. Transfer and readmission applicants have a May 1 deadline for fall placement. Every admission includes an interview, and Redlands recommends submitting two to three weeks early to allow time to schedule it. The program holds ACEN Continuing Accreditation through Fall 2033 and is approved by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing, meaning graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN and hold the identical registered nurse license as any BSN graduate.

In-state tuition at Redlands is $4,645 per year. IPEDS records a 35% graduation rate. The Hakia Score of 66.9 places Redlands eighth in Oklahoma on this ranking, with accreditation standing and the dual-track structure as notable positives offset by higher relative tuition and a single annual cohort that limits seat availability. Redlands' published program outcome target is an 80% or better three-year mean NCLEX pass rate; the program page does not publish year-by-year pass-rate tables in the scraped content, so prospective students should request current outcome data directly from the nursing department at 405-422-6224. The BLS reports the national median RN wage at $97,550 per year, a figure that does not change based on whether the nurse entered via an ADN or a BSN.

Redlands is a strong fit for working LPNs in the El Reno and Oklahoma City metro west corridor who want a structured spring-start cohort with a defined application period, rather than competing for a generic fall seat. The interview requirement signals a program that values professional readiness alongside GPA, which can benefit applicants with strong clinical backgrounds. Graduates looking to advance to a BSN have access to the standard online RN-to-BSN pathway at multiple Oklahoma universities. Enrollment data is on file with IPEDS.

Western Oklahoma State College runs its Associate in Applied Science in Nursing across three sites in southwestern Oklahoma: the main campus in Altus and satellite locations in Lawton and Elk City. The program is a prelicensure ADN built around in-person clinical rotations; nursing advisors at each campus coordinate scheduling and keep students on track each semester. WOSC encourages pre-nursing students to meet with a faculty nursing advisor at least once per semester, which reflects the hands-on, guided structure typical of a community-college nursing pathway. The program page does not publish an LPN-to-RN advanced-placement track, so prospective LPNs should confirm options directly with a nursing advisor at their nearest site before applying.

At $3,136 per year for in-state students, WOSC delivers one of the lower tuition figures among ranked Oklahoma ADN programs. Graduation rate sits at 31%, which is common in selective allied-health programs where clinical benchmarks and prerequisite sequences thin the cohort. Hakia scored this program 66.4, placing it ninth among Oklahoma ADN programs in the 2026 rankings. Graduates who pass the NCLEX-RN hold a full, unrestricted registered nurse license identical to a BSN graduate's. BLS data puts the national median RN wage at $97,550 per year. The multi-campus model is the main draw here: students in Lawton or Elk City avoid the commute to Altus while still accessing the same program and the same credential.

Rose State College, in Midwest City near Oklahoma City, has offered its Associate of Applied Science in Nursing since 1981. The program is approved by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The Beginning Track is structured as 4 consecutive semesters of nursing coursework after prerequisite completion, covering four Professional Nursing Concepts courses plus clinical rotations; all clinical work is in person. A separate Career Ladder Track is available exclusively to qualified LPNs and paramedics: those applicants enter at the third semester and can complete the program in 2 semesters by earning advanced standing or challenge-exam credit for the first two nursing courses. All students must earn a C or better in every course to remain eligible for graduation.

In-state tuition runs $3,778 per year, making Rose State one of the more affordable ADN options in central Oklahoma given its metro location and enrollment of nearly 7,800 students. The graduation rate is 20%, which reflects the competitive admission criteria and the strict consecutive-course sequencing that applies once a student enters the nursing program. Hakia scored this program 65.8, ranking it tenth among Oklahoma ADN programs for 2026. The scraped program page does not publish a point-in-time NCLEX-RN pass rate; prospective students should request current pass rate data directly from the Health Sciences division. Graduates who pass the NCLEX-RN earn an unrestricted RN license, eligible for endorsement in any state. BLS data places the national median RN wage at $97,550 per year. Rose State also notes that many Oklahoma universities offer online RN-to-BSN bridge programs completable in as few as two semesters for those who want to ladder up after working as an RN.