Nursing Degrees & Schools / Best Schools Wyoming
With its beautiful national parks and natural wonders, Wyoming is a state full of unique sights. From hot springs to towering rock formations, and Old West history with modern amenities, the Equality State is a popular choice for many adventurers. Wyoming also offers enticing opportunities for those pursuing a higher education, especially in nursing. As a nursing student seeking professional development, this beautiful state with its top colleges is a great choice.
Though you may still be deciding which nursing program is right for your career goals, Wyoming’s nursing school offers a variety of options such as online courses, bridge programs, and accelerated learning. You can even pursue a nursing career in Wyoming after graduation, to further enjoy the state’s natural beauty and its competitive salaries and benefits.
In this blog, we’ll be discussing Wyoming’s top nursing school, and what you need to know to decide how to start your journey.
Wyoming’s top nursing programs:
1. University of Wyoming – Score 100
NCLEX Pass Rate: 80.95%
In-state tuition: $4,800.00
Out-of-State tuition: $19,950.00
The University of Wyoming was founded in 1886, and the campus is surrounded by the rugged Rocky Mountains. This institution is nationally recognized as a land-grant research facility, and it has over 12,000 students enrolled each year.
The nursing school was founded in 1951, and over the years it has grown into the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing. With their Student Nurses Association and many nursing scholarships, the University of Wyoming provides numerous helpful resources for their nursing students and alumni. Their focus on advancements in healthcare, especially in rural areas, has brought many students from around the world to this university. The graduation rate is 60%.
The CCNE accredited programs for nursing students are:
| School | Graduation Rate | In State Annual Tuition | Out of State Annual Tuition | NCLEX Pass Rate | Accreditation | Nursing Programs | Score | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wyoming | 60.00% | $4,800.00 | $19,950.00 | 80.95% | Yes | BSN, MSN, DNP, PhD | 100 | 1 |
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How to choose the right nursing program
While there are many nursing degree options to choose from, it’s important to find the right university for your career goals. Making your selection will involve considering the location, tuition costs, NCLEX exam and graduation rates, and the programs they can offer you.
Location
Since Wyoming is the 10th largest state in the country, finding a school with the right location will be crucial. As a nursing student, you want to make sure the commute is reasonable, especially from campus to your nursing labs and clinicals. Do they offer online courses that can save your travel time? Consider every option to make your college experience easier.
Tuition
When attending college, it’s vital to stay on top of your finances. In-state tuition can be a smart financial choice, if you’re a Wyoming resident. Student debt weighs heavily on many, but there are affordable options to consider such as scholarships and grants, and FAFSA’s student loans. You may even be eligible for loan forgiveness programs once you graduate, since you’ll be working in healthcare.
NCLEX pass rate
A university’s NCLEX pass rate is another statistic to research before applying. Nursing students will need to take and pass the NCLEX in order to become licensed, so this data will help to determine a university’s credibility. Good pass rates typically demonstrate a level of care for students’ success, along with any extra exam preparation they may offer.
Programs offered
Knowing which school you want to attend is largely dependent on what your career aspirations are. As a nursing student, you want to be certain that the right programs will be offered for your degree, especially if you’re transferring from another school or pursuing an advanced degree. Make sure your credits will carry over so that you can graduate successfully, with all the right courses and skills you need for your future job.
Graduation rate
A school’s graduation rate is the percentage of students who complete their degree within 4-6 years. This is a great way to measure a school’s track record, since it can solidify their status and success rates. High graduation rates are something to look for while finding the right institution for you.
Next steps
When making the decision on where to pursue your education, it’s most important to determine which factors mean the most to you. Financial costs, location, and future job prospects are something to think about, especially in Wyoming. The school above is the state’s top choice, but you should research nearby universities to see what they can offer as well.
Once you’ve graduated, you want to think of your next steps. Finding a job with your new degree is key, and Incredible Health has helpful resources to get your nursing career kickstarted. Do you have the right licensing and certifications for Wyoming? This is important to know, especially if you’re coming from out-of-state.
After graduation, continue your learning and skill-building with Wyoming’s free CEU courses. These courses will help to provide you with the right certifications and tools to succeed in nursing.
You can also turn to other healthcare professionals for advice, helpful tips, and other answers about nursing in Wyoming.
Once you start looking for a job, come to us here at Incredible Health. We can connect you with employers just waiting to hire you!
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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.
We used data from:
- University webpages
- (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
- University of Wyoming uwyo.edu Accessed August 15, 2022.
- Image from Canva.com
