Best RN Programs in Georgia: 2026 Rankings by Cost, Outcomes, and Accreditation

The Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University offers a traditional BSN designed as a first bachelor's degree, structured across eight semesters: four prerequisite semesters completed at Emory College or Oxford College, followed by four semesters of full-time nursing coursework. Students who earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in prerequisites receive guaranteed admission. The program is entirely in-person and full-time, with no online or accelerated pathway for prelicensure students. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN in any U.S. state.

Emory carries a 91% graduation rate and an 11% university-wide admit rate, making it the most selective nursing program on this list. Tuition is $63,400 per year regardless of residency. That price point narrows the applicant pool significantly, but the clinical infrastructure, including more than 600 directly supervised clinical hours and simulation resources at the Emory Nursing Learning Center, is difficult to match regionally. Recent graduates have placed into emergency medicine, neonatal, cardiovascular, and pediatric intensive care roles. The program earns a Hakia Score of 94.7, the highest among Georgia BSN programs in this ranking.

This program fits students who can meet a 3.0 GPA floor coming out of prerequisites and who have access to private financing or strong scholarship support. The guaranteed admission pathway for qualifying Emory undergraduates is a meaningful structural advantage. National BLS wage data puts the median registered nurse salary at $97,550 per year, the baseline all BSN graduates are competing for regardless of where they train.

Mercer University's Georgia Baptist College of Nursing runs three BSN tracks under one program. The traditional prelicensure track spans four semesters of in-person classroom, skills lab, and clinical work, available on both the Macon and Atlanta campuses. The second-degree accelerated track compresses the BSN into three semesters and uses asynchronous online coursework paired with in-person clinical and skills lab requirements, making it the program's most flexible option for career changers. A third RN-to-BSN completion track serves licensed RNs who hold an associate degree or diploma and participate in the Georgia RN-BSN Articulation Model. All three tracks lead to the same BSN degree and NCLEX-RN eligibility.

Mercer's tuition sits at $31,265 per year, less than half of Emory's. The graduation rate is 70% and the admit rate is 69%, indicating a far more accessible entry point. The Hakia Score of 87.5 reflects that accessibility tradeoff against outcomes. The program's structure, spanning two campuses and three entry pathways, makes it the most route-flexible private option in Georgia for students coming from different academic starting points. The accelerated track in particular serves working adults with prior degrees who want to enter nursing without a lengthy timeline.

Students weighing Mercer against public options will pay a private-school premium: there is no in-state discount. But the multi-campus availability, the structured articulation agreement for RNs, and the accelerated pathway for second-degree students give Mercer genuine breadth that single-track programs cannot match. All graduates who complete the prelicensure tracks are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.

Berry College's CCNE-accredited BSN program in Mount Berry, North Georgia, offers four entry pathways. The traditional pathway guides students through pre-nursing prerequisites before applying in their sophomore year. A transfer pathway accepts students who have completed two or more years elsewhere and allows simultaneous application to Berry and the nursing program. A fast-track option targets students with AP or dual enrollment credit who want to finish in 3.5 years. A direct-admit pathway guarantees entry to the nursing program for qualifying high school seniors, bypassing the competitive internal reapplication process common at other schools. The program is expanding and now accepts transfer students for both spring and fall semesters.

Berry's tuition is $41,160 per year. The graduation rate is 69% and the admit rate is 64%, positioning it between Emory's selectivity and Mercer's openness. The Hakia Score is 83.6. The school reports on its program page that 100% of Berry nurses had a job offer by graduation and that the NCLEX-RN pass rate was 100% for 2023, 2024, and 2025. Berry attributes those claims to its own data; we present them as the school's reported figures. The program includes 650+ clinical hours, hospital partnerships and a large private medical clinic within two miles of campus, and the school reports 90% of juniors and seniors hold paid clinical positions through its LifeWorks program.

The direct-admit guarantee and the four distinct entry pathways make Berry the most structurally flexible private BSN in this group for traditional-age students. International clinical experience through immersion programs in Kenya (and Ecuador starting 2026) is a differentiator for students who want global exposure. The $5 million Bailey Morgan Scholarship fund adds meaningful financial aid potential. Registered nursing salaries are set by the labor market, not the school; the BLS national median is $97,550 per year for RNs across all entry points.

Kennesaw State University's Wellstar School of Nursing offers two prelicensure BSN pathways within the same 120-credit-hour degree. The traditional track requires general education plus six semesters of nursing coursework. The accelerated track covers the same degree in four semesters of nursing coursework following prerequisite completion. Both pathways are face-to-face and accept students in fall and spring. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). KSU also notes a Double Owl Pathway allowing undergraduates to begin graduate coursework before finishing their BSN, reducing time and cost to an advanced degree.

The financial case for KSU is straightforward. In-state tuition is $4,560 per year, versus $16,488 for out-of-state students. For Georgia residents, that gap against Berry ($41,160) or Emory ($63,400) is decisive. The graduation rate is 52%, the lowest in this group, and the admit rate is 69%. The Hakia Score of 82.1 reflects the graduation rate drag against the program's cost and scale advantages. The Wellstar School of Nursing carries extensive clinical partnerships across metro Atlanta, and the program page states graduates consistently outperform the national average on the state licensing exam, though KSU does not publish a specific pass rate figure on the page reviewed.

KSU's enrollment of 47,764 university-wide means students operate in a large-institution environment with more resources but less of the individualized attention Berry or Emory can offer. For Georgia residents who qualify, the $4,560 in-state tuition is the clearest cost-to-outcome argument in this ranking. The accelerated track option adds flexibility for students who want to front-load prerequisites and move faster. BLS data places the national RN median at $97,550 annually, the same target every program here points toward.

Georgia College & State University offers a traditional four-year BSN through its College of Health Sciences School of Nursing in Milledgeville. The program runs on a cohort model: students apply during their sophomore year while completing core prerequisites, then spend two full years on nursing coursework. Admission is selective within the BSN application itself; the school reports accepting students into limited cohort seats, so not all qualified applicants receive offers. The program holds full CCNE accreditation and Georgia Board of Nursing approval. Clinical placements span up to a 100-mile radius, with travel costs on the student.

The numbers tell a competitive story. In-state tuition runs $7,696 per year, compared to $28,022 for out-of-state students, making residency a significant cost factor. The university-wide graduation rate is 64% and the overall admit rate is 78%, though the nursing program itself describes its admissions as highly competitive within that pool. The school reports a 92% first-time NCLEX pass rate on its program page, and its Simulation and Translational Research Center holds provisional accreditation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. GC&SU earned a Hakia Score of 81.8, placing it among the top programs in this Georgia ranking. Registered nurses nationally earn a median of $97,550 per year according to the BLS OEWS.

This program fits Georgia residents who want a mid-sized liberal arts environment with a genuine clinical outcomes record. The additional ~$2,000 in program fees (HESI, uniforms, malpractice insurance) beyond tuition are worth budgeting for. Study abroad options and a leadership cognate threaded through the curriculum add breadth, but the core draw is a documented pass rate at an accessible in-state price.

Georgia State University's traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing is housed in the Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions in Atlanta. The program is designed exclusively for students who do not yet hold RN licensure and runs 123 credit hours over eight semesters. The first four semesters cover University System of Georgia core curriculum and nursing prerequisites; the final four center on nursing coursework, clinical placements, and relevant electives. The college notes that an accelerated track (ACE) is no longer offered. The program carries full CCNE accreditation and Georgia Board of Nursing approval. Graduates become eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN upon completion.

Selectivity here is real: GSU's university-wide admit rate is 55%, and nursing applicants face an additional competitive filter requiring a minimum 3.0 program and science GPA, a TEAS exam score, a letter of recommendation on official letterhead, and a resume. Applicants are limited to two attempts at the program. In-state tuition is $7,344 per year versus $23,520 out-of-state. The graduation rate of 53% reflects the demands of the curriculum and the urban commuter student population GSU serves. With an enrollment of nearly 35,000 students, the college offers access to Atlanta's dense hospital and community-agency network for clinical rotations. The Hakia Score is 81.8, tied with GC&SU for the highest among this group of Georgia programs. The national median salary for registered nurses is $97,550 per year per the BLS OEWS.

GSU is the right fit for a prepared, self-directed student who wants a large-university setting in a major metro, access to a broad clinical network, and one of the lowest in-state tuition rates in this ranking. The 53% graduation rate and strict two-attempt application limit mean students should enter with their prerequisites solid and GPA well above the 3.0 floor.

University of West Georgia's Tanner Health School of Nursing (UWGTHSON) offers a pre-licensure BSN on two campuses: Carrollton and Newnan. Both run a four-semester nursing curriculum for students who have never held an RN license. The program is CCNE accredited and prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN. Admission requires a minimum program GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, calculated across all applicable core coursework including repeat attempts. UWG accepts applications for fall starts between March 1 and May 1, and for spring starts between July 1 and September 1, with rolling decisions released in June and October respectively.

The cost case for UWG is straightforward: in-state tuition is $4,488 per year, the lowest in this Georgia ranking group. Out-of-state tuition is $16,200. The university-wide admit rate is 52%, and the graduation rate is 43%. That graduation figure is the tradeoff: UWG enrolls students with a lower minimum GPA floor than some peers, and persistence through the nursing curriculum reflects that. The program earned a Hakia Score of 78.1. With 14,337 enrolled students, UWG is a mid-sized institution with regional clinical affiliates spanning the west Georgia corridor. Registered nurses nationally earn a median of $97,550 per year.

UWG fits cost-conscious Georgia residents who meet the 2.75 GPA floor and want two campus options with a manageable commute west of Atlanta. The lower tuition makes the financial risk of a selective nursing cohort more manageable, but prospective students should weigh the 43% graduation rate as an honest signal of program difficulty relative to preparation requirements.

University of North Georgia's Department of Nursing offers two distinct paths to a BSN. The Traditional Track is for first-time degree seekers completing prerequisites before a four-semester nursing sequence, available in-person across four campuses: Dahlonega, Gainesville, Cumming, and Blue Ridge. The Accelerated Track (ABSN) targets students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor's or graduate degree and delivers the BSN in four consecutive semesters (15 months) in a hybrid format at the Gainesville campus. Both tracks require a minimum 3.0 GPA and a HESI A2 entrance exam with a minimum 75% cumulative score and at least 66% in each subsection. Both use rolling acceptance with defined application windows.

UNG's program page reports that 92.54% of graduates pass the NCLEX on their first attempt, and that 83.92% complete the program on time in four semesters. These are among the strongest stated outcomes in this Georgia group. In-state tuition is $4,373 per year, the lowest in this ranking. Out-of-state tuition is $15,885. The university-wide admit rate is 68% and the graduation rate is 37%, which reflects the broader undergraduate population rather than the nursing cohort specifically. Enrollment is 19,291. UNG earned a Hakia Score of 76.3. The national median wage for registered nurses is $97,550 per year according to the BLS OEWS.

UNG is the strongest value option in this ranking for two specific students: Georgia residents who want the lowest available tuition with documented NCLEX outcomes, and degree-holders in other fields who need an accelerated route to RN licensure in 15 months. The multi-campus traditional track also gives students in north Georgia geography flexibility that most programs cannot match.

Georgia Southern University offers a traditional BSN completed in 124 credit hours, available in person at both the Statesboro Campus and the Armstrong Campus in Savannah. The program uses a dual-admission model: students must apply to the university and then separately to the School of Nursing. Coursework covers anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, adult, pediatric, women's health, mental health, and community nursing, and every student completes a clinical practicum and a capstone project before sitting for the NCLEX-RN. Simulation training takes place in the 8,193-square-foot St. Joseph's/Candler Nursing Suite on the Armstrong Campus and comparable labs in Statesboro.

The numbers cut both ways. At an 88% admit rate, Georgia Southern is accessible, but the 55% graduation rate signals that the competitive secondary admission and rigorous sequencing wash out a meaningful share of students who initially enroll. In-state tuition sits at $4,488, which is among the lowest price points for a four-year BSN in Georgia; out-of-state students pay $16,200. The program earned a Hakia Score of 75.8, ranking it 9th among Georgia BSN programs on this list. The school's own page reports that in most years more than 85% of candidates pass the NCLEX-RN on the first attempt, with the Class of 2023 hitting 93%. National median pay for registered nurses is $97,550 per year, according to BLS OEWS data.

This program suits in-state students who want an affordable path to a BSN with real dual-campus flexibility and strong employer connections, including placement at Emory Healthcare, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and Memorial Health. Students willing to navigate the two-step admission and commit to the full 124-credit sequence will find competitive simulation facilities and a built-in clinical network throughout coastal Georgia and the South.

Valdosta State University's College of Nursing and Health Sciences offers a traditional BSN requiring 120 credit hours, delivered entirely in person in Valdosta, Georgia. The program is approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing and CCNE-accredited, covering a sequenced curriculum built around holism, caring, competence, health, and teaching and learning. Students with a completed bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field may qualify for the Accelerated B.S.N. Program for Second Degree Students, giving career-changers a faster on-ramp to licensure. Simulation training occurs in METI Simulation Labs, which the program describes as supporting clinical judgment and critical thinking through simulated patient encounters.

At a 72% admit rate, Valdosta State is selective relative to some Georgia public programs but still broadly accessible. The graduation rate of 42% is the sharpest tradeoff here: fewer than half of enrolled students complete the degree, which matters when planning timelines and financial commitment. In-state tuition matches Georgia's public-university benchmark at $4,488; out-of-state students pay $16,200. The program's Hakia Score is 72.6, placing it 10th in this Georgia ranking. Valdosta State enrolls roughly 10,262 students total, making it a mid-size institution where nursing students have access to community health-care partners throughout the Valdosta region. Registered nurses nationally earn a median of $97,550 per year per BLS OEWS.

This program fits students who want CCNE accreditation, a traditional campus setting in South Georgia, or an accelerated second-degree pathway, and who are prepared for a rigorous curriculum with a meaningful attrition rate. The broad career track list on the program page, from labor and delivery to trauma nursing to nurse anesthetist, reflects the wide scope the degree is designed to support.