Explore Rhode Island’s Best Nursing Schools: Online and Campus
Career opportunities are plentiful in the growing healthcare field for educated and trained nurses in Rhode Island. Explore program spotlights, find the best nursing schools in Rhode Island, and learn what it’s like to be a nurse in the state.
People living in Rhode Island are like those in any other state in the U.S. They want access to great healthcare that helps them live longer, better lives. To make this happen, the state will need to increase the number of nurses practicing over the next few years, especially those that truly understand the healthcare challenges of Rhode Island residents. According to the Rhode Island Department of Health, the state’s two most common chronic and costly conditions are high blood pressure and diabetes. The state requires compassionate and skilled nurses at all education levels to treat and combat these conditions and the various illnesses that occur because of them.
Learn about the variety of programs available at nursing schools in Rhode Island, licensing requirements in the state, salaries, and job growth. Take a look at which schools made it onto our list by reading on.
The Best Nursing Schools in Rhode Island
Nursing schools in Rhode Island may offer similar degree levels and program basics, but beyond that, they vary in almost every other way. Nursing programs in the state represent a wide range in price, flexibility, and how courses are administered. Taking time to research several programs and seeing how they measure up to your personal career goals and learning style is the best way to make a nursing school decision.
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, Rhode Island
Public
Salve Regina University
Newport, Rhode Island
Private
New England Institute of Technology
East Greenwich, Rhode Island
Private
Types of Nursing Programs Available in Rhode Island
Whether you have never taken a nursing class before or you already have your RN licensure, there are many nursing program options at nursing schools in Rhode Island to support you in the next step of your career. The state’s nursing schools have everything from initial LPN courses to full programs for earning your doctorate. These programs show the range of options available to you today.
Pre-Licensure Nursing Programs in Rhode Island
ADN Programs
If you aren’t interested in a four-year college degree but want the job security of being a registered nurse, you can get your associate degree in nursing. This 18-month to two-year program, available at a few nursing schools in Rhode Island, prepares students for taking their nursing exams with coursework in the sciences and patient care clinicals.
Examples of Rhode Island Nursing Schools with This Program
Traditional BSN Programs
If you want to have the traditional four-year college experience complete with in-person learning and student activities, one of these nursing schools in Rhode Island programs may be for you. You’ll get the opportunity to earn general education credits as well as focused nursing credits. This is for you if you’ve never earned a degree or held a nursing license.
Examples of Rhode Island Nursing Schools with This Program
Accelerated BSN Programs
If you already have a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field, you may be eligible to add on nursing courses and get a BSN on an accelerated schedule. Students who have earned all the general education credits required for a bachelor’s degree in another subject may be able to get their degree in two-three years, taking 12 credits per semester.
Example of Rhode Island Nursing School with This Program
Nursing Bridge Programs in Rhode Island for Current Nurses
LPN to RN and LPN to BSN Programs
If you are a student with LPN licensure, you’ll just need to take a few more classes at one of the nursing schools in Rhode Island to earn your RN degree and certification. Schools with this option can help you get your bachelor’s degree faster and get you on your way to earning more or even prepare you for graduate school.
Examples of Rhode Island Nursing Schools with This Program
RN to BSN Programs
With many of the core nursing courses completed, registered nurses are good candidates to continue their education and earn their bachelor’s degree. Additional coursework in general studies, as well as advanced nursing theory, is typically required. Expect to have around 37 credits transferred into the program, with an additional 45 credits or more required for graduation.
Examples of Rhode Island Nursing Schools with This Program
RN to MSN Programs
Master’s degrees in nursing offer more upward mobility and opportunities for better pay, but not every student wants to earn their bachelor’s degree and then their master’s. With an RN to MSN degree program, registered nurses are given credit for courses already taken and can continue through the graduate school coursework without stopping for a BSN first. Currently, no nursing schools in Rhode Island offer this program.
Advanced Nursing Programs in Rhode Island
MSN Programs
If you already have your bachelor’s degree and an active registered nurse license, one of the traditional MSN programs in Rhode Island may be for you. With advanced coursework and the opportunity to work alongside top-tier professors, graduates of these programs could go on to get their Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) designation.
Examples of Rhode Island Nursing Schools with This Program
DNP and PhD Doctoral Programs
A nursing doctoral program puts you in the driver’s seat for a career in teaching, advanced nursing care, or nursing leadership. You could choose to enter a doctorate of nursing program or get your PhD. Both offer incredible opportunities to explore all that healthcare has to offer, as well as the highest salary ranges.
Examples of Rhode Island Nursing Schools with This Program
Post-Graduate Certificates
If you’ve already earned your advanced degree but want to continue refining your skills in niche areas of medicine, a post-graduate certificate program may be for you. Specialties range and include nursing managers, patient care and service quality, and gerontology/acute care. Earning a certificate can make you more attractive to hiring managers for top nursing positions.
Examples of Rhode Island Nursing Schools with This Program
Inside Scoop: Online Nursing Programs in Rhode Island
Some nursing programs in Rhode Island offer flexible online learning while still requiring the hands-on experience nurses need to be their best in every situation. Students with RN licenses and at least associate degrees are more likely to find programs that will give them largely online experiences compared to students entering the field from a non-related degree program.
Clinicals are also a big part of any nursing program. While coursework and tests may happen online, expect to spend at least some of your clinical hours with patients in real-life scenarios where in-person learning happens. You may find other students in these non-traditional programs to be working or taking care of families while going through school.
Affordable Nursing Education in Rhode Island
Students pursuing a nursing degree should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see which grants and loans they qualify for. Most schools require a FAFSA application to be considered for scholarships and grants, so even if you don’t think you’ll qualify for federal aid, filling it out can help you access much-needed resources based on your income and assets. Each school also has a financial aid page detailing scholarships specific to their students. Some are available to all, while a few may include funds specifically for those in the nursing program. Our nursing scholarship guide can help you find more money for school as you continue your education, and our comprehensive financial aid guide gives additional tips for success.
How to Meet Rhode Island RN Licensing Requirements
Because nurses are medical professionals responsible for many detailed and crucial tasks in the healthcare system, they’ll need to have both a quality education and the proper licensure to stay compliant with Rhode Island’s nursing board. Some steps to becoming a nurse are similar to what’s required in other states, but the board of nursing will always have the most updated information for those seeking licensure and working to keep it.
Step #1: Complete an Accredited RN Degree Program
You will need to have attended a school recognized by the Rhode Island Nursing Board before applying for a nursing license. It must be accredited for the license you are pursuing (RN or LPN), and you must have transcripts showing your progress.
Step #2: Apply for Residency
If you plan on living in Rhode Island while you work, be sure to get your proof of address and driver’s license showing you live there.
Step #3: Submit Your Application for Licensure
Applications can be submitted online, with supporting documents mailed to the licensure office. The fee for RNs is $135, and LPNs is $45.
Step #4: Show Your Transcripts
If you haven’t gotten your nursing license before, you must have the school of nursing you attended send official transcripts to the board of nursing with the graduation date and type of degree you earned. Digital transcripts won’t be accepted.
Step #5: Take and Pass the NCLEX-RN
Once your transcripts have been received and you register with the NCSBN, you will be cleared to take the NCLEX-RN exam. It costs around $300-$350. A passing grade is required to continue the process of getting your nursing license.
Step #6: Get Your Background Check
All nurses in Rhode Island must apply to the Office of the Attorney General for their fingerprint-supported national background check. The fee is $35 and must be completed in person. Your records will show if you pass, but you do not mail the results to the health department.
Step #7: Show Your Out-Of-State License
If you get your nursing license by endorsement, you do not need to take the exam again or show transcripts. You must request verification from all the other state boards where you received a license. Nurses from California and Pennsylvania must ask that the verification be sent directly to the Rhode Island Nursing Board, but nurses from all other states can use the system at www.NURSYS.com.
Step #8: Keep License Current with Continuing Education Requirements
Continuing education requirements may change, so check in often to see what classes or workshops you need to prove you are meeting standards. The board of nursing keeps these updated on its website.
Rhode Island Nursing Job and Salary Outlook
As you consider whether to pursue a nursing career, you want as much information as possible to help you make a decision. The data we compiled below may provide the answer. In Rhode Island, the pay for registered nurses ranges from $69,350 to $116,510, with an average salary of $94,840. In specific areas of the state, the salary potential may vary slightly. For example, in the Providence-Warwick region, the salary range is $69,350 to $122,990, with an average of $93,790. In addition to pay, you may be wondering about the challenge of finding a job. Below, you will also find information about the growth of the profession. In Rhode Island, there will be a 6.50% increase in jobs, equating to 740 new positions created yearly. Nationwide, there will be a 5.60% increase in jobs, or 193,100 positions created.
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $69,350 | $94,840 | $116,510 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $69,350 | $93,790 | $122,990 |
Source: Registered Nurses, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
| Area | Curr. Jobs | Proj. Jobs | New Jobs | Growth % | Avg. Ann. Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 3,172,500 | 3,349,900 | 177,400 | 5.60% | 193,100 |
| Rhode Island | 11,920 | 12,700 | 780 | 6.50% | 740 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.