Idaho is a great state to be a nurse. Known for its rugged beauty, the Gem State offers a variety of nursing programs. Registered nurses have plenty of opportunities for professional advancement as well. With so many choices, this post serves as a guide to help you navigate the landscape of Idaho nursing education.
Choosing a nursing program may feel stressful and confusing. To help, Incredible Health created a list of the best nursing programs in the state of Idaho.
1. Brigham-Young University-Idaho Score: 72.50
NCLEX Pass Rate: 92.22%
Annual in-state tuition: $4,416
Brigham-Young University has a high graduation rate of 86%. They also have a high job placement rate with most students securing a job before graduation. Their program teaches students hands-on skills, with a focus on caring and compassion.
The experienced faculty share their knowledge and compassion for nursing with their students through in-person classes, clinicals, and simulation coursework.
This school offers a pre-licensure BSN program. This helps students “develop strong clinical reasoning skills, integrity, and leadership.” These skills provide the groundwork for excellent patient care.
CCNE-accredited programs offered:
2. Lewis-Clark State College Score: 62.50
NCLEX Pass Rate: 94.87%
Annual in-state tuition: $6,982
Annual out-of-state tuition: $20,238
The state college’s BSN program is very competitive. All courses in the BSN program are held in-person with hands-on learning opportunities. Their RN to BSN program is offered online and students can complete the degree in as a little as nine months. The current graduation rate for Lewis-Clark State College is 38%.
What sets this college apart is its focus on preparing nurses to become “engaged citizens, advocates, and lifelong learners.” This is a great way to arm nurses with the skills they need to provide patients with the best care possible. This includes using best practices learned through continuing education.
The CCNE-accredited school offers:
- BSN
- RN to BSN
3. Boise State University Score: 60
NCLEX Pass Rate: 91.53%
Annual in-state tuition: $8,060
Annual out-of-state tuition: $24,980
The University’s program boasts a state-of-the-art simulation lab where students can practice their nursing skills. They also offer an exceptional student/faculty ratio of 8:1. Their DNP program focuses on leadership development. Depending on your program of focus, courses are available in-person, hybrid, or fully online. Their graduation rate is 47%.
BSU helps students build strong partnerships with health care facilities. They also help expand clinical experience opportunities. Providing key introductions to potential employers is also a great service this university offers.
These are the CCNE-accredited programs offered:
4. Idaho State University Score: 55
NCLEX Pass Rate: 84.25%
Annual in-state tuition: $7,872
Annual out-of-state tuition: $25,326
Idaho State University’s programs focus on preparing nurses to improve the health of rural and diverse populations. The school also focuses on research initiatives. They help students apply new nursing knowledge to improve population health in communities locally and globally. The graduation rate is 44%.
Idaho State has the John William Jackson Fund which awards students with $2,000 scholarships in order to help ease the burden of student debt.
The CCNE-accredited school offers hybrid online and in-person programs including:
- BSN
- Accelerated BSN
- MSN
- DNP
- PhD
| School | Rank | In-state tuition | Out-of-state tuition | Accredited | NCLEX pass rate | Graduation rate | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brigham-Young, Idaho | 1 | $4,416 (member) | $8,832 (non-member) | Yes | 92.22% | 68% | BSN |
| Lewis-Clark State College | 2 | $6,982 | $20,238 | Yes | 94.87% | 38% | BSN, RN-BSN |
| Boise State University | 3 | $8,060 | $24,980 | Yes | 91.53% | 47% | BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, DNP |
| Idaho State University | 4 | $7,872 | $25,326 | Yes | 84.25% | 44% | BSN, ABSN, MSN, DNP, Ph.D. |
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How to choose the right nursing program
When entering the nursing profession, there are different career paths to choose from. You want to think about what education you’ve already completed, where you want to live, cost of the program, and what each degree allows you to do.
Location
The location of the school is an important consideration as you may want to live close by. Each program may have an in-person component. Consider your proximity to the school when doing your research.
Tuition
There is a wide range of how much your nursing education will cost. This is based on whether you will pay in-state or out-of-state tuition. Often students come to nursing as a second career, which means they also bring other student debt with them. Fortunately for nurses, there are several different ways you can receive school loan repayment or even loan forgiveness after graduation. You can also look at the salaries to see if it will provide what you need to cover expenses.
NCLEX pass rate
The NCLEX exam is a big focus of undergraduate nurses. It is the next step between completing the degree and working as a nurse. Each school reports the percent of their nursing students who passed the exam. The program should not only teach you about nursing theory and practice, but also prepare you to pass the NCLEX. Idaho’s Board of Nursing can also guide you through the process of obtaining your license.
Programs offered
When choosing a nursing school, you want to ensure they offer the right programs to meet your academic needs. Most schools offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program to prepare you to sit for the NCLEX exam. 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, you can see if the school offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
Graduation rate
Consider graduation rates of each program to guide your decision. After getting accepted into a program, your next focus will shift to graduation. This rate is determined based on the percent of undergraduate students who complete their program in 4-6 years.
Next steps
After you’ve gathered all the info you need about program types and schools, it’s time to apply. 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: graduate 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.
We used data from:
- University webpages
- Idaho State Board of 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
- “Boise State University School of Nursing Programs.” boisestate.edu/nursing. Accessed April 13, 2022
- “Brigham Young University-Idaho Department of Nursing.” byui.edu/nursing. Accessed April 14, 2022.
- “Idaho State University School of Nursing.” isu.edu/nursing/. Accessed April 14, 2022.
- “Lewis-Clark State College BSN Nursing Degree.” lcsc.edu/nursing/nursing-bsn. Accessed April 13, 2022.
- “Licensure Application Types.” ibn.idaho.gov. Accessed April 13, 2022.
- Photo by knowlesgallery on iStock
