Best RN Programs in Puerto Rico (2026 Rankings)

NUC University's Northbridge campus offers a hybrid Bachelor of Science in Nursing that runs 120 credits over approximately 36 months. The program combines theory, laboratory sessions, and supervised clinical internships starting in year one. First-year clinical work covers nursing fundamentals simulations and mental health and psychiatric rotations. Year two moves into maternal-newborn, pediatric, and adult and geriatric populations, with community and family nursing in the final stage. Delivered in English, the program is designed for students who want a direct, structured path to RN licensure as a generalist nursing professional.

NUC carries a Hakia Score of 83.1, the highest among Puerto Rico programs in this ranking. In-state tuition is $11,885 per year and out-of-state tuition is $13,048. The graduation rate is 54%. With total university enrollment exceeding 30,000, this is a large-scale institution where the curriculum is tightly sequenced rather than selective by cohort. The hybrid format offers scheduling flexibility while still meeting the required clinical hours. For national salary context, registered nurses earn a median of $97,550 per year according to BLS OEWS data.

Core courses include anatomy and physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, mental health nursing, community health nursing, nursing research, and leadership and management in nursing. Graduates qualify to sit for the NCLEX and can work in hospitals, clinics, medical offices, senior centers, or through independent contract arrangements in any health setting.

The nursing program at Universidad del Sagrado Corazon in Santurce prepares students for generalist RN practice with an emphasis on humanistic, moral, and spiritual values in patient care. The program page describes a curriculum covering nursing fundamentals, medical-surgical nursing, maternity, pediatrics, mental health and psychiatry, community nursing, leadership, management, and research. The school operates a modern simulation and skills laboratory and incorporates distance education modalities alongside in-person instruction.

Sagrado Corazon holds a Hakia Score of 83.1, tied for the top spot in this Puerto Rico ranking. Tuition is $5,040 per year for all students, in-state and out-of-state alike, making it one of the most affordable private nonprofit options on the island. The admit rate is 58% and the graduation rate is 52%. Total enrollment is 5,037, meaning students get a mid-sized campus environment with more direct faculty access than at larger institutions. The program targets learners who want a values-centered curriculum in a private nonprofit setting without paying private-school tuition premiums.

Graduate competencies are framed around evidence-based practice, health informatics, quality improvement, patient safety, and interprofessional collaboration. The curriculum is aligned with the competencies outlined in the AACN Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice. Registered nurses nationally earn a median of $97,550 per year per BLS OEWS data. Graduates qualify to sit for the NCLEX for licensure in Puerto Rico and the United States.

The University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing that prepares graduates as generalist nurses with biopsychosocial care competencies. The program page describes learning objectives around leadership, evidence-based practice, effective communication, health informatics, ethical decision-making, and cultural competence. Graduates are qualified to work in Puerto Rico and the United States and are prepared to continue into specialized or advanced degree programs.

UPR Arecibo carries a Hakia Score of 81.2. In-state and out-of-state tuition are both $5,024 per year, reflecting the public university flat-rate structure. The admit rate is 59% and the graduation rate is 52%. Total enrollment is 2,704, which makes this a smaller campus with tighter cohort sizes. The program publishes explicit outcome benchmarks on its page: it targets an 80% NCLEX first-attempt pass rate for all examinees in any 12-month period and aims for 70% graduate employment within 12 to 24 months of graduation. These are stated program targets, not verified third-party figures.

Clinical placements are distributed across nine named facilities including Hospital Metropolitano Dr. Cayetano Coll y Toste in Arecibo, Hospital Comunitario el Buen Samaritano in Aguadilla, Hospital San Carlos Borromeo in Moca, Manatí Medical Center Dr. Otero López, Hospital Doctors Center in Manatí, Hospital Susoni in Arecibo, Hospital Wilma N. Vázquez in Vega Baja, Hospital Pediátrico in San Juan, and Hospital San Juan Capestrano. That geographic spread gives students exposure to a range of care settings across the region. National median salary for registered nurses is $97,550 per year per BLS OEWS data.

The University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez Department of Nursing runs the oldest BSN program in Puerto Rico's public university system, established as a generic baccalaureate program in 1970 after an earlier ADN program launched in the 1960s. The program page states it was accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) beginning in 1982 and has since been accredited continuously by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) through 2013 and onward. These are the program's own reported accreditation claims. The program prepares nurses for health promotion, illness prevention and management, rehabilitation, and end-of-life care across diverse populations.

UPRM carries a Hakia Score of 80.8. Tuition is $5,024 per year for all students. The admit rate is 57% and the graduation rate is 49%. With 10,618 enrolled students, UPRM is the largest campus in this Puerto Rico ranking, offering access to a broader university infrastructure alongside the nursing department. The lower graduation rate relative to peers is worth noting for prospective students. End-of-program learning outcomes emphasize leadership, interprofessional collaboration, critical thinking, ethical and legal practice, evidence-based decision making, and culturally sensitive holistic care.

Students graduating from UPRM are eligible to sit for the NCLEX and are prepared for practice across multiple healthcare settings. The program's stated mission targets preparation at all levels of healthcare delivery and contribution to public health policy. National median salary for registered nurses is $97,550 per year per BLS OEWS data.

Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Guayama offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing accredited by CCNE. The program is structured across lower and upper levels, building from foundational scientific and humanistic knowledge into advanced clinical practice across diverse health settings. Students progress through competencies in leadership, evidence-based practice, information management, and interprofessional collaboration, with clinical rotations in real care scenarios at multiple points throughout the curriculum.

The program enrolls 2,487 students across the Guayama campus and carries a Hakia Score of 79.8, ranking it fifth among Puerto Rico BSN programs in this analysis. Graduation rate sits at 44%, and the program admits 36% of applicants, making it selective relative to many island programs. At $4,968 in-state tuition (the same rate for all students, as Puerto Rico campuses typically carry a single rate), it is one of the lower-cost accredited BSN options available. This combination of selectivity and low cost makes it a strong fit for academically prepared students who need to minimize debt. Registered nurses nationally earn a median of $97,550 per year according to BLS.

The curriculum explicitly maps student outcomes to the AACN Essentials of Baccalaureate Education, covering organizational leadership, scholarship for evidence-based practice, patient care technology, healthcare policy, and interprofessional communication. The structured lower-to-upper progression ensures students are exposed to structured clinical scenarios before advancing to independent clinical judgment roles.

Dewey University's Juana Diaz campus offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Ciencias en Enfermería) alongside an associate-level nursing program (Ciencias de Enfermería) and a graduate-level MSN with a specialty in Mental Health and Psychiatry. The campus spans 64,382 square feet inside an industrial park and includes dedicated nursing labs alongside biology, anatomy, and microbiology facilities. The BSN program is one of several health sciences offerings at this compact regional campus.

With a Hakia Score of 78.9 and a graduation rate of 73%, this is the strongest completion-rate program in this group. Only 265 students are enrolled campus-wide, which means smaller cohorts and more direct faculty access than at larger institutions. Tuition is $7,080 for all students. No admit rate data was available in this dataset, so selectivity cannot be compared directly. For students prioritizing completion over cost, the 73% graduation rate is the key number: it is 29 percentage points above the next closest program in this set. Nationally, registered nurses earn a median of $97,550 per year per BLS data.

The scraped campus page focuses on facilities and community life rather than detailed curriculum outcomes. It does confirm the BSN program exists alongside the associate and MSN tracks, and highlights lab infrastructure for nursing students. Prospective students should verify accreditation status and specific admission requirements directly with the campus, as the page does not detail those elements.

Columbia Central University-Caguas (operating as Northbridge University - Columbia Central) offers a 125-credit Bachelor of Science in Nursing designed to be completed in 36 months on the standard curricular sequence. The program is built around clinical rotations with real patients in diverse health settings, with the explicit goal of preparing students for the Puerto Rico nursing board exam (reválida) under Ley 254. ACEN accreditation covers not only the Caguas campus but also Bayamón, Arecibo, Escorial, Mayagüez, Ponce, and Río Grande campuses, as well as an online division. The program page states ACEN granted Continuous Accreditation for eight years, valid through fall 2029. An RN-to-BSN option is also listed among the accredited offerings.

The Hakia Score is 78.4, placing it seventh in this Puerto Rico ranking. Graduation rate is 56% and tuition is $7,600 for all students. No admit rate figure was available. The 36-month program length and multi-campus footprint give students flexibility in where they complete coursework, a practical advantage for island residents. Clinical practice requirements are extensive and clearly spelled out: students must present criminal background checks, health certificates, CPR certification, hepatitis B vaccination series, COVID and influenza vaccines, and drug testing before beginning clinical components. Nationally, BLS reports registered nurses earn a median of $97,550 per year.

The program's objectives are explicitly NCLEX-preparation focused, with curriculum structured around evidence-based practice, holistic and humanistic care, critical thinking, and cultural sensitivity. For students who want ACEN-accredited credentials, multi-campus access, and a clear path to the Puerto Rico licensure exam within three years, this program is a practical choice, though its $7,600 tuition is the highest in this group.

The University of Puerto Rico-Humacao BSN program (housed within the RCM UPR Nursing School) is a 127-credit, four-year program delivered across two phases. The first two years cover general studies, basic sciences, and mathematics at any UPR campus or accredited private university. Students are then admitted to the Nursing School for years three and four, which concentrate on theoretical and clinical nursing courses. Admission to the upper division may occur by articulated transfer, regular transfer, readmission, reclassification, or transfer from a private institution, making this an accessible pathway for students already in the UPR system.

The program's own page reports an 87% graduation rate for the 2021-2022 cohort and a 98.5% nursing board (NCLEX) pass rate for 2020-2021. These are program-reported figures, not independently verified by Hakia, but they are specific and dateable, which gives them more weight than generic claims. Admission to the upper division requires a minimum GPA of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale with selection criteria weighted 45% General Index, 45% Science and Math Index, and 10% interview score. The dataset records a 55% admit rate and $5,024 tuition (same for all students), placing it among the more affordable public options. Hakia Score is 78.2. Nationally, BLS data puts the registered nurse median at $97,550 per year.

The BSN curriculum maps graduate outcomes across three domains: competent practitioner (nursing process, clinical skills, patient care technologies), research skills (evidence-based practice, scientific reasoning), and critical thinking (clinical judgment, self-evaluation, creative problem solving). For students already enrolled in the UPR system, the articulated transfer path means the first two years can be completed at a lower-cost UPR campus before joining the nursing school, reducing overall program cost further.

Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing built around three pillars: autonomous care delivery, leadership and care coordination, and professional commitment to nursing standards. The program page describes a curriculum designed around diverse and flexible study modalities, preparing graduates to work across individual, family, and community settings. The BSN develops competencies in clinical assessment, therapeutic intervention, critical thinking, and health informatics, all grounded in a humanistic care framework that the program explicitly names as central to its mission.

The Ponce campus is selective: only 34% of applicants are admitted. The graduation rate sits at 41%, which reflects the rigor of a clinical nursing curriculum in a private nonprofit institution. Tuition is $4,968 regardless of residency status, making cost predictable for students across Puerto Rico and the mainland. With an enrollment of 2,925, the campus offers some program scale without becoming a mass-throughput operation. The Hakia Score of 77.7 places Ponce 9th among RN programs on the island, reflecting that balance of selectivity and cost. Registered nurses nationally earn a median of $97,550 per year according to the BLS OEWS.

This program fits students who want a mission-driven BSN at a private institution with accessible tuition and real admission standards. The interdisciplinary and leadership emphasis signals preparation for charge-level and coordination roles, not just bedside entry.

Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo offers both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Bachillerato en Ciencias de Enfermería) and an Associate of Science in Nursing (Grado Asociado en Ciencias en Enfermería), giving students two entry points into the nursing profession at the same campus. The BSN program holds accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), with the most recent board decision granting continuing accreditation. The program runs out of Building E with dedicated nursing labs on the second floor and a separate simulation center in room E-107, staffed by skills development technicians available six days a week.

Arecibo admits 38% of applicants, slightly less selective than its Ponce sibling, and carries a 39% graduation rate. Tuition is $4,968 with no in-state/out-of-state differential. The campus enrolls 2,624 students. The Hakia Score of 77.1 places Arecibo 10th among Puerto Rico RN programs, one slot below Ponce and separated by only 0.6 points. That ACEN accreditation is load-bearing: it qualifies graduates for federal financial aid, ensures the curriculum meets national nursing education standards, and is the credential boards look for when verifying program legitimacy. Nationally, registered nurses earn a median of $97,550 per year per the BLS OEWS.

Arecibo is the right fit for students who want a formally accredited BSN with lab and simulation infrastructure, an associate-degree pathway for faster licensure eligibility, and the same low flat tuition as the rest of the Inter American system. The ACEN continuing accreditation removes a key risk that haunts some regional nursing programs.