4 Best (1-YEAR) ADN Online Programs


Written By: Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA

Looking for new career options? An associate degree in nursing (ADN) could be your gateway to exciting new employment in the healthcare field. With an online ADN program, you won’t have to give up your job or sacrifice your personal obligations for your educational goals. You can fit your ADN studies around your existing commitments and be ready to work as a registered nurse in just 16 months or less. Trying to figure out what are the best 12-16 month online ADN programs? We’ve made it easy for you to find out by assembling the guide below to the 4 best 12-16 month ADN online programs.

(Please note, currently, no 1-year ADN online programs are being offered. To provide our readers with the next fastest alternative option for our rankings, we have evaluated online ADN programs that can be completed in 12-16 months.)



RECOMMENDED ONLINE NURSING SCHOOLS

What are the Best (12-16 MONTH) ADN Online Programs in the Nation?

(Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 4 best 12-16 month ADN online programs in the nation. You can complete these programs in 12-16 months.)


1. Jefferson Community and Technical College - Louisville, KY


Program Length: 4 Semesters


About The School: Jefferson Community and Technical College is home to one of the nation’s best 12–16 month ADN online programs. The school’s mission is to “transform lives and communities through educational excellence in an inclusive environment that opens doors for all students.”

Program Details: Jefferson Community and Technical College admits students to its 16-month ADN online program in the spring and fall semesters each year. In this program, you will complete 62 to 66 credits. The curriculum consists of general education courses, technical courses, and clinical practicums. You will begin the program with courses such as Medical Microbiology, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and General Psychology. You will complete the program with technical courses focused on problem-solving and critical-thinking skills and clinicals.


Clinical Training: The program includes 765 clinical contact hours. Your clinical practicum experiences will occur in various settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, physicians’ offices, and public health settings. All clinicals are completed under the direct supervision of clinical faculty or approved clinical preceptors.


How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The ADN online program at Jefferson Community and Technical College is designed to be completed in four semesters of full-time study.


Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission to the ADN online program at Jefferson, you must enroll in the college and take the HESI A2 Entrance Exam. You must provide a copy of your high school transcript and transcripts from any post-secondary school you have attended. Also, all candidates are required to attend a pre-admission conference.


Why Choose This Program

• Jefferson Community and Technical College reports low attrition rates for students enrolled in the online 16-month ADN program. This is a good indicator that students do well and are satisfied with the education provided at the school.
• Graduates of the program consistently exceed national averages for NCLEX-RN pass rates among first-time testers.
• Jefferson CTC is a military-friendly school dedicated to helping military service members, military veterans, and their families gain access to services and resources to help them reach their academic goals.


2. University of Charleston - Charleston & Beckley, WV


Program Length: 16 Months


About The School: Another of our featured 12-16 month ADN programs online is offered at the University of Charleston. The school admits students to the program each semester, making it possible for you to begin your studies at a time best suited for you.

Program Details: The program is a 61-credit pathway. Courses are delivered in a hybrid format that combines traditional face-to-face encounters on campus and at least 49% of the coursework completed online. The 16-month online ADN program includes laboratory simulations to prepare you for clinical practice. Lab simulations are completed in the university’s high-fidelity simulation lab on campus.


Clinical Training: In the University of Charleston’s ADN program, you will complete clinicals in various settings. You will have opportunities to practice in Medical-Surgical, Mental Health, Obstetric, Pediatric, and Public Health settings.


How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You can complete the program offered at the University of Charleston in 16 months or four consecutive semesters.


Admission Requirements: The first step in being admitted to the 16-month online ADN program at the University of Charleston is to apply and be accepted to the university. You must provide a copy of your high school diploma, GED, or TASC, and copies of any high school or university transcripts. Candidates must have a minimum of 2.0 cumulative grade point average and score 60% or higher on the TEAS Nursing Entrance Exam.


Why Choose This Program

• At the University of Charleston, you will experience individualized attention from faculty and preceptors. In the classroom, labs, and clinicals, the school promotes low student-to-teacher ratios, with no more than a 10:1 ratio.
• The university has more than 50 years of experience educating nurses, a true testament of dedication to the nursing profession!
• The University of Charleston offers a diverse group of program faculty with decades of combined experience in various nursing specialties. You will benefit by learning from their experiences and become prepared to take and pass the NCLEX-RN and begin your career as a registered nurse.


3. Northcentral Technical College - Wausau, WI


Program Length: 4 Terms


About The School: Northcentral Technical College offers another top-rated 12-16 month ADN program online. The program has two start dates each year, one in the spring and one in the fall. Program faculty at NTC will help you develop the knowledge and skills you need to communicate collaboratively using multiple resources, integrate theoretical knowledge into clinical decision-making, and develop your personal nursing identity, reflecting quality nursing standards, integrity, and responsibility.

Program Details: The program at NTC features a 69-credit curriculum. Beginning in the first term, you will set a foundation for nursing theory by learning about nursing fundamentals, pharmacology, and written communication. As the program progresses, you will build upon the foundational knowledge by studying topics such as Introduction to Clinical Care Management, Nursing Complex Health Alterations, Microeconomics, and Nursing Clinical Transition.


Clinical Training: Like other online 12-16 month ADN programs, the program offered at Northcentral Technical College includes several opportunities for hands-on learning in the clinical setting. You will work with program faculty and preceptors in settings such as physicians’ offices, outpatient clinics, hospitals, long-term and assisted living facilities, and community and public health clinics.


How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The Northcentral Technical College program is a four-term program designed for full-time study.


Admission Requirements: The nursing program at Northcentral Technical College uses a competitive admissions process. There are two ways to gain entry into nursing courses. Applicants for both options must submit official high school and any college/university transcripts, have an ACT composite score of 18 or higher, and take the Accuplacer exam.

To qualify for Option 1, you must be enrolled in or have completed the courses Nursing Assistant (CNA) and General Anatomy and Physiology, have a grade of "C" or better, and take the HESI A2 exam and score at least 75%. Option 2 requires you to have a post-secondary cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher and complete the courses Nursing Assistant, General Anatomy and Physiology, Advanced Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, and General Chemistry, each with a grade of at least "C." Once the required courses for the option of your choice are completed, you will complete and submit a petition form for admission to the nursing program.


Why Choose This Program

• Although the admission process is competitive, there is no waitlist. What this means is that if you meet the criteria for admission, you may be able to begin your studies sooner rather than later.
• Northcentral Technical College offers job placement assistance to students in the 1-year ADN program. Most graduates report being employed full-time as RNs within six months of graduating and passing the NCLEX-RN.
• NTC works with students to find as many grant or scholarship opportunities as possible. For example, the Collaboration of Wisconsin Rural Investment in Community Healthcare Grant is one grant that has been offered to students previously, and that is set to be renewed.


4. Community College of Baltimore County - Baltimore, MD


Program Length: 4 Semesters


About The School: Community College of Baltimore Country offers another excellent 16-month online ADN program. The program is available in a blended online format consisting of synchronous and asynchronous online didactic coursework, in-person labs, and direct patient care clinical practicums. Students are admitted to the program twice per academic year in the spring and fall semesters.

Program Details: The ADN program features a 70-credit curriculum that includes 34 credits of general education coursework and 36 credits of nursing courses. You will participate in theoretical, clinical, and high-fidelity laboratory studies designed to help you prepare for your role as part of the interdisciplinary healthcare team as a registered nurse.


Clinical Training: Clinical training begins in the laboratory, where you will participate in simulated patient-care experiences in a safe, controlled environment. The program also includes three clinical courses, which include clinical practicum hours. Clinicals are designed to help increase your knowledge of patient-centered care and integrate critical thinking and decision-making skills.


How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You can complete the online ADN program at the Community College of Baltimore County in four semesters or 16 months.


Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission to the 16-month online ADN program at Community College of Baltimore County, you must first complete an application through the Central Application Service known as CCBC CAS and be accepted to the school. You need to create an account on the school website to complete the application. After being accepted to the college, you must apply to the nursing program.

All candidates must provide copies of official transcripts from any college or university they have attended. You must submit official TEAS scores for evaluation. TEAS scores for RN admission should be proficient or higher for the Composite Score and 69% or higher for the Reading component. If additional information or supplemental documents are needed, you will be notified via email.


Why Choose This Program

• Community College of Baltimore County boasts having graduated the most undergraduate nursing students than any other college or university in Maryland. This is a solid indication that the school provides a quality program.
• Graduates of the ADN 16-month online program report high satisfaction rates regarding faculty expertise and support, quality of the curriculum, and clinical experiences.


VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY


Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA
Darby Faubion is a nurse and allied health instructor with over 20 years of clinical experience. Her work history includes clinical experience in pediatrics, mental health, addiction and behavioral disorders, geriatrics, wound management, and communicable disease. Darby has worked in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health and hospice agencies. Darby also has experience as a nursing and allied health educator at both community college and university levels. Her love for nursing and nursing education led to her becoming a test-taking strategist and NCLEX prep coach.