Top Nursing Schools in Indiana: 18 Best Options For 2024

Considering starting or advancing your education as a nurse in The Hoosier State? Then you should check out these top nursing schools in Indiana!

Not only does the state feature a blend of rural and urban areas to study in, but it also has a fast-growing demand for nurses.

Better yet, Indiana nursing programs boast an exceptional overall NCLEX pass rate. In fact, of the 2,514 BSN graduates taking the exam for the first time in 2023, 2,297 passed. This makes Indiana’s statewide 2023 NCLEX pass rate an impressive 91.37%, surpassing the 90.17% national average.

Of course, even if you’re not looking to earn your BSN, there are tons of great options to explore to earn your ADN, MSN, or DNP.

So, in this article we’ll take a look at the best nursing schools in Indiana. If you’re not sure how to narrow down the myriad of options, this is the perfect place to start!

Table of Contents

18 Best Nursing Schools in Indiana

Unlike other sites covering the top nursing schools in Indiana, who provide unverifiable NCLEX pass rates, we collected official data from the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. 

Additionally, we provide direct links to each school’s degree offerings so you can learn if a particular program may be right for you.

Regardless of the type of degree or certificate you’re looking to earn, you’re sure to find some great options in the list below.

1. Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences, West Lafayette

Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences, West Lafayette logo

2. Purdue University Northwest College of Nursing

Purdue University Northwest College of Nursing logo

3. University of Indianapolis School of Nursing

University of Indianapolis School of Nursing logo

4. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College logo

5. Indiana University School of Nursing (IUPUI)

Indiana University School of Nursing (IUPUI) logo

6. Indiana State University School of Nursing

Indiana State University School of Nursing logo

7. Ball State University School of Nursing

Ball State University School of Nursing logo

8. Indiana University Kokomo School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions

Indiana University Kokomo School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions logo

9. Anderson University

Anderson University Indiana logo

10. Goshen College

Goshen College logo

11. Huntington University

Huntington University logo
  • Primary Location: Huntington, IN
  • Accreditation: CCNE
  • Format: On-campus only
  • Degrees Offered:
  • NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 100% (19/19)

12. Marian University Leighton School of Nursing

Marian University Leighton School of Nursing logo

13. Indiana Wesleyan University School of Nursing

Indiana Wesleyan University School of Nursing logo

14. Valparaiso University College of Nursing and Health Professions

Valparaiso University College of Nursing and Health Professions logo

15. University of Southern Indiana College of Nursing and Health Professions

University of Southern Indiana College of Nursing and Health Professions logo

16. University of Saint Francis

University of Saint Francis Indiana logo
  • Primary Location: Fort Wayne, IN
  • Accreditation: CCNE
  • Format: On-campus and hybrid options
  • Degrees Offered:
  • NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 97.9% (48/49)

17. Saint Mary’s College Department of Nursing Science

Saint Mary’s College Indiana logo

18. Bethel University

Bethel University Indiana logo
  • Primary Location: Mishawaka, IN
  • Accreditation: ACEN
  • Format: On-campus and online options
  • Degrees Offered:
    • Associate Degree in Nursing (on-campus)
    • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (on-campus)
    • RN to BSN (online)
    • Master of Science in Nursing with concentration in Nurse Educator or Nurse Administrator (online)
  • NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 100% (27/27)

What To Consider When Choosing Nursing Schools In Indiana

To ensure you’re considering nursing schools in Indiana that align with your goals, think about these key factors when making your choice:

  • Accreditation: Ensure the school provides a trustworthy education and meets the standards set by accreditation agencies. Fortunately, all of the schools on the list above are accredited by either the CCNE or ACEN.
  • Admission requirements: Understand what the school expects to assess your chances of admission into their program. Remember, schools will have different admission requirements for different programs.
  • Cost: Consider the tuition fees, materials, housing, and other expenses and evaluate how well it aligns with your budget. Also, keep in mind that the cost of graduate-level programs and private schools are typically higher than undergraduate programs and public schools.
  • Program format: Explore and choose a program that suits your needs, whether it be full-time, part-time, online, or on-campus.
  • Faculty: Research faculty credentials to understand the quality of mentorship the school can provide you.
  • Program length: Look into the length of the program you’re interested in to determine how it will affect your other commitments. You might also consider options like an accelerated BSN program if you already have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
  • Curriculum and clinical hours: Ensure the school provides a balanced curriculum with theory and hands-on training. If you want to pursue a particular specialty, make sure your desired program offers that course of study.
  • NCLEX-RN pass rates: If you’re entering an ADN or BSN program, check out how well graduates perform on the NCLEX. This percentage indicates how well the school prepares their students for licensure exams.

Is An Indiana Nursing School Right For You?

Whether you’re pursuing an ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP, or Post-Graduate Certificate, one of the nursing schools in Indiana we’ve listed above is sure to make a good fit. 

Additionally, the diversity in program formats—from traditional, on-campus to flexible, online options—caters to the needs of students with different commitments. 

With an impressive statewide NCLEX pass rate exceeding the national average, Indiana is a promising location to obtain a solid nursing education.

Of course, if you didn’t find quite what you were hoping for, you may also want to consider an online degree from outside The Hoosier State. To see some of these options, be sure to check out our rankings of the best online BSN programs and top online MSN programs.

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