Delaware is home to thousands of nurses. Also called the First State, Delaware boasts five nursing schools offering many programs to choose from. There are different ways to enter the nursing profession and for registered nurses to obtain professional advancement. With so many choices, this post serves as a guide to help you navigate the landscape of nursing education.
Finding the right nursing school can be overwhelming as there are several paths to becoming a nurse. However, accelerated degree programs and bridge programs are offered to nursing students that can significantly reduce the amount of time spent in school.
Choosing a nursing program may feel stressful and confusing. To help, we’ve created a list of the best nursing programs in the state of Delaware.
In this post, we will cover:
- Top Nursing Schools in Delaware
- How to choose the right program for you
Top Nursing Schools in Delaware
1. University of Delaware– Score 74
NCLEX Pass Rate: 87.03%
In-state tuition: $12,980
Out-of-State tuition: $34,840
The University of Delaware School of Nursing is the top nursing school in the state, offering bachelors to doctorate programs. Students can take a variety of elective nursing courses. The graduation rate is 80%.
The CCNE accredited programs for nursing students are:
2. Delaware Technical Community College, Dover -Score 62
NCLEX Pass Rate: 85.42%
In-state tuition: $4,575
Out-of-State tuition: $11,437.50
Delaware Technical Community College’s Dover Campus offers an Associates degree program and a bridge RN to BSN program for nursing students. The associates program can be completed in five semesters with an accelerated option. The bridge program is offered online with two clinical rotations designed for registered nurses to advance their knowledge and credentials by completing their BSN.
This MSCHE accredited school offers the following programs for nursing students:
- ADN
- RN to BSN
3. Wilmington University -Score 58
NCLEX Pass Rate: n/a
In-state tuition: $11,700
Out-of-State tuition: $12,960
Wilmington University supports its nursing students by offering hybrid, online, and traditional classroom options. Each of the CCNE accredited programs focuses on delivering rigorous academics at an affordable rate while offering flexibility for working nurses. Their graduation rate is 48%.
The school offers the following programs for nursing students:
- RN to BSN
- MSN
- DNP
- DNP with Post Master’s Certificate
- DNP + MBA
- PhD, DNSc to DNP
4. Delaware State University -Score 54
NCLEX Pass Rate: 77.78%
In-state tuition: $7,038
Out-of-State tuition: $16,960
Delaware State University Wesley College of Health and Behavioral Sciences has SMART classrooms and simulation labs. They emphasize real-world experience with robust clinicals and fieldwork. The MSN programs can be completed entirely online. The programs are accredited by ACEN.
This ACEN accredited school offers the following programs for nursing students:
- Nursing, BS
- MSN
5. Beebe Healthcare -Score 52
NCLEX Pass Rate: 85.71%
In-state tuition: $6,400
Out-of-State tuition: $6,400
The Beebe Healthcare Margaret H. Rollins School of Nursing partners with the University of Delaware, Wilmington University, and Wesley College to provide accelerated options for nurses to obtain their BSN quickly and easily. Their programs follow a hybrid model with online and in-person learning. The program is located in beautiful Lewes, Del.
The ACEN accredited school offers the following programs for nursing students:
- RN to BSN
| School | Rank | In-state-tuition | Out-of-state tuition | Accredited | NCLEX pass rate | Graduation rate | Programs offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Delaware | 1 | $12,980 | $34,840 | Yes | 87.03% | 80% | BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, DNP, Ph.D. |
| Delaware Technical Community College-Terry | 2 | $4,575 | $11,437.50 | Yes | 85.42% | 23% | RN-BSN, ADN |
| Wilmington University | 3 | $11,700 | $12,960 | Yes | 48% | RN-BSN, MSN, DNP | |
| Delaware State University | 4 | $7,038 | $16,960 | Yes | 77.78% | 41% | BSN, MSN |
| Beebe Healthcare | 5 | $6,400 | $6,400 | Yes | 85.71% | BSN |
Expert advice from nurses like you
Join the free Incredible Health Nurse Community to get career advice, support, and tips from experienced fellow nurses.
How to choose the right nursing program
There are several paths to consider when entering the nursing profession. You want to think about what education you already completed, where you want to live, cost, and what each degree allows you to do.
Location
Between city life and beautiful beaches, there is a lot to decide when picking the right nursing school in Delaware. Although many programs have hybrid or online options, you will likely be on campus for some amount of time. To balance schoolwork and outside life, choose a program with an easy commute.
Tuition
Money talks! Determine whether you will be paying in-state or out-of-state tuition when choosing a program. Many nurses take out federal loans through FAFSA to help pay for school. Often students come to nursing as a second career, which means they also bring previous student debt with them. Fortunately for nurses, there are several different ways you can receive school loan repayment or even loan forgiveness after graduation.
NCLEX scores
In order to be a registered nurse, you will need to pass the NCLEX exam. Each school reports the percentage of its nursing students who passed the exam. This is important to review. The program should not only teach you about nursing theory and practice but also prepare you to pass the NCLEX exam.
Programs offered
When choosing the right nursing school, you want to ensure they offer the right programs to meet your academic needs. Most schools offer a BSN program to prepare you to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam to be a registered nurse. You may also want to consider what additional programs they offer if you are interested in advancing your education beyond a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Graduation rate
Consider the graduation rates of each program to guide your decision. The graduation rate is determined based on the percent of undergraduate students who complete their program in 4-6 years.
Next Steps
Choosing the right school is a daunting process. We’ve done some of the heavy lifting for you but there are still major decisions to make.
After you’ve gathered all the info you need, it’s time to apply. Yikes! All the hard work is worth it, right? Just remember, nursing school is not easy, but it can be one of the most rewarding decisions you ever make. You’ve got this!
Once you start looking for a job, let us help. We can connect you with employers just waiting to hire you!
Methodology
In order to determine the best nursing schools in a state, Incredible Health compared the top schools among five categories: graduation rate, tuition, NCLEX pass rate, accreditation, and the number of nursing programs offered.
Each metric was scored on a 100-point scale with 100 representing the highest total for that category. Then we compiled the individual scores to get an overall score.
Sources we used data from:
- University webpages
- State board of registered nursing
- U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings.
Sources
- “Federal Student Aid.” studentaid.gov. Accessed March 30, 2022.
