10 Best ADN Programs in New York – (2-Year RN Programs)
Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH (Introduction), and Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org (School Profiles)
Want to jumpstart a nursing career in the Empire State? Most ADN programs in New York State take two years or less to complete, so you’ll be out there earning a professional salary while your colleagues in more extended programs are still in school. With an associate degree in nursing, your salary will average $100,130 a year, and your employment prospects—already outstanding—are projected to rise by 17 percent within the next 10 years. Many of your ADN credits will be fully transferable should you decide to pursue a bachelor’s or graduate degree in nursing in the future. Sound good? Keep your eyes on this page to learn more about the 10 best ADN programs in New York State.
What Are The Best ADN Programs In New York (Online And Campus)?
Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 10 best nursing schools for ADN programs in New York. You can complete most of these programs in 2 years.
1. Cayuga Community College - Auburn
Program Details: Cayuga Community College offers one of the best ADN programs in New York. The program is a comprehensive curriculum that prepares students for diverse roles in nursing. The ADN coursework comprises 64 credits and includes general education and nursing courses. Students are taught topics such as the fundamentals of patient care, health assessment, mental health nursing, community health nursing, and psychology. The program also teaches you about the trends in nursing, pharmacology, and family nursing.
Admission Requirements: To qualify for this 2-year nursing program in New York, you must have a high school diploma and a GPA of at least 2.5. The program also requires the completion of courses in Algebra, Chemistry, and Math. To complete the admission requirements, you must be prepared to submit all your transcripts along with a TEAS score.
Why Choose This Program
• Cayuga Community College’s ADN students consistently pass the exam with high pass rates on the NCLEX-RN exam.• Cayuga Community College’s ADN students complete their clinical training at some of the well-known healthcare sites. The healthcare sites include Auburn Community Hospital, Veterans Medical Center, Hutchings Psychiatric Center, and Cayuga County Health Department, to name a few.
• Cayuga Community College’s ADN program transfers to other four-year institutions, where students can pursue advanced degrees in nursing.
2. LaGuardia Community College - Long Island City
Program Details: If you want to enter the field of nursing, LaGuardia Community College offers an excellent ADN program. Among the best 2-year nursing programs in New York, the ADN coursework comprises 23 credits in common-core and 43 credits in nursing core courses. The nursing core courses teach you topics such as community health, general microbiology, fundamentals of nursing, psychiatric mental health nursing, med-surgical nursing, and parent-child health nursing. Students also learn about nursing leadership and management.
Admission Requirements: To be eligible for admission, you must have a high school diploma or GED with a GPA of at least 2.75. This 2-year nursing program in New York also requires the completion of prerequisites such as general psychology, chemistry, and human biology.
Why Choose This Program
• LaGuardia Community College’s ADN program reports a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam.• LaGuardia Community College’s ADN program transfers to leading four-year colleges such as Lehman College, NY Institute of Technology, and Hunter College, to name a few.
• LaGuardia Community College’s ADN program prepares you for a variety of positions in diverse healthcare settings.
3. SUNY Erie State University of New York - Buffalo
Program Details: A well-rounded curriculum, SUNY Erie State University of New York’s ADN prepares you for the complex challenges of healthcare. The 64-credit coursework includes courses such as health promotion, physical assessment, anatomy & physiology, health promotion & disease prevention, microbiology, and pharmacology. This ADN program in New York also includes lab training, after which towards the end of the program students complete a clinical practicum.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for SUNY Erie State University of New York’s ADN program, you must have a high school diploma or a GED. Further, a grade of at least C is required in the required science courses. The program’s admission process also requires an entrance exam score.
Why Choose This Program
• SUNY Erie State University of New York’s ADN program not only boasts of an excellent pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam but also takes pride in the excellent placement rate of its nursing graduates.• SUNY Erie State University’s ADN program is affordable and allows students to obtain high-quality skills in nursing without breaking the bank.
• SUNY Erie State University’s ADN program offers seamless transfer opportunities into several leading BSN programs in New York.
4. Queensborough Community College - Bayside
Program Details: Another one of the well-known ADN programs in New York, Queensborough Community College’s ADN program integrates general education and nursing courses to provide students with a broad professional skillset. Queensborough Community College’s ADN program emphasizes culturally competent care for the state’s diverse patient populations. The program requires completion of 65 credits. The nursing core courses mainly focus on safe & effective nursing care.
Admission Requirements: If you are interested in applying for Queensborough Community College’s ADN program, then to qualify, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent. This ADN program in New York also requires a minimum GPA of 2.5. Other admission requirements include submission of your ATI TEAS score and all your official transcripts.
Why Choose This Program
• Queensborough Community College’s nursing program was founded in 1967 and since then the program has produced competent nursing professionals who are committed to compassionate patient care.• Queensborough Community College’s ADN program provides students with a variety of clinical experiences in acute and community healthcare settings.
• Queensborough Community College’s ADN program offers flexible scheduling with day and evening class options.
5. Suffolk County Community College - Selden
Program Details: Leading to a career as a registered nurse, Suffolk County Community College’s ADN program is an excellent launchpad to a successful career in nursing. The curriculum is designed to cover several topics such as fundamentals of nursing, anatomy & physiology, psychology, child health nursing, maternal & child health nursing, and adult physical health nursing. Students must complete a 65-credit coursework, after which they are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam.
Admission Requirements: To apply for Suffolk County Community College’s ADN program, you must have a high school diploma with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Applicants for this 2-year nursing program in New York must also be prepared to submit their official transcripts and ATI TEAS exam scores. Additionally, completion of prerequisites is required with a minimum grade of C.
Why Choose This Program
• Suffolk County Community College’s ADN program provides a seamless transfer to several four-year institutions.• Suffolk County Community College’s ADN program offers student-centric education in a supportive learning environment.
• Suffolk County Community College’s ADN program maintains ties with some of the top clinical sites in the area to provide ADN students with exceptional clinical experiences.
6. Rockland Community College - Suffern
Program Details: Rockland Community College’s ADN program prepares graduates to work in a variety of healthcare settings. Students are provided with theoretical and clinical training to improve patient outcomes for the state’s diverse patient populations. The ADN curriculum comprises a total of 64 credits, including topics such as anatomy & physiology, nursing fundamentals, mental health nursing, psychology, and maternal child health nursing. The program also includes an NCLEX review course.
Admission Requirements: To be eligible for this 2-year nursing program in New York, you must have a high school diploma with a GPA of at least 2.5. The program also requires you to have completed prerequisite courses such as biology, chemistry, and Math with a minimum grade of C. The program also requires the submission of TEAS exam scores and all your official transcripts.
Why Choose This Program
• Rockland Community College offers one of the best ADN programs in New York. The program stands out for recording some of the highest pass rates on the NCLEX-RN exam.• Rockland Community College’s ADN program has consistently reported some of the highest placement rates in New York.
• Rockland Community College’s ADN program provides students with a broad range of clinical experiences at clinical sites across the state.
7. Hudson Valley Community College - Troy
Program Details: Hudson Valley Community College’s commitment to serving the health needs of the community is reflected in the high standards of ADN education it provides. This 2-year nursing program in New York not only prepares graduates for an immediate transition to the nursing workforce but also lays a strong foundation for advanced nursing degrees. The coursework covers topics such as anatomy & physiology, nursing concepts, pharmacology, healthcare ethics, and general psychology.
Admission Requirements: Hudson Valley Community College’s program is selective in its admission process. To qualify for admission, you must have a high school diploma or GED. The program also requires completion of science prerequisites with a minimum grade of C. To complete the admission requirements, you must submit your TEAS exam score and all your official transcripts.
Why Choose This Program
• Hudson Valley Community College’s ADN program offers flexible study plans with full-time and part-time options. On a full-time basis, you can graduate within just two years, whereas the part-time coursework will take four years to complete.• Hudson Valley Community College’s ADN program is offered by an experienced faculty who bring their expert insights to the classroom and clinical rotations.
• Hudson Valley Community College’s ADN program provides excellent clinical training. ADN students first practice clinical skills at the state-of-the-art simulation lab, after which they are provided with clinical experiences at some of the region’s largest healthcare centers.
8. St. Peter's Health Partners - Albany
Program Details: At St. Peter's Health Partners, ADN students are groomed to become highly skilled professional nurses. The program leads to the NCLEX-RN exam and fully prepares you for the complex challenges of patient care. Among all the other ADN programs in New York, the program stands out for offering excellent clinical training and well-rounded didactic coursework. The program emphasizes critical thinking, interprofessional communication, and clinical judgment. To graduate, students must complete a total of 64 credits.
Admission Requirements: For prospective applicants who are interested in this ADN program in New York, a high school diploma or GED is required. Further, a GPA of at least 2.5 and completion of prerequisite courses with a grade of at least C is required.
Why Choose This Program
• ADN students at St. Peter's Health Partners can seamlessly transition to a BSN program at partner four-year institutions such as Sage, SUNY Poly, SUNY Empire State College, Maria College, and Siena College, to name a few.• The ADN program, St. Peter's Health Partners boasts of excellent first-time pass rates on the NCLEX-RN exam.
• Because the ADN program is offered by St. Peter’s Health Partners, one of the most comprehensive non-profit healthcare centers, students enjoy some of the most enriching clinical experiences in an array of specialties and healthcare services.
9. Orange County Community College - Middletown
Program Details: Orange County Community College’s ADN program is designed for aspiring nurses who want to obtain high-quality skills and knowledge in nursing. The program comprises a total of 63 credits in general education and nursing courses. Some of the topics covered include nursing fundamentals, pharmacology, physical & mental illness, and an introduction to psychology.
Admission Requirements: For admission into this 2-year nursing program in New York, you must have a high school diploma or GED. Also, completion of prerequisite courses in English, Math, physiology, biology, and chemistry are required. The program also requires the submission of a TEAS exam score and all your official transcripts.
Why Choose This Program
• Orange County Community College’s ADN program proudly enjoys the distinction of being the country’s first ADN program.• Orange County Community College’s ADN students are provided with a range of clinical experience in healthcare settings such as hospitals, long-term care, med-surgical, and mental health nursing, to name a few.
• Orange County Community College’s ADN program is taught by highly qualified and diverse faculty who bring their rich experiences to the ADN classroom.
10. Niagara County Community College - Sanborn
Program Details: Niagara County Community College’s ADN program offers a comprehensive curriculum that comprises theoretical lectures, lab training, and clinical rotations. The coursework includes topics such as anatomy & physiology, pharmacology, and nursing care for individuals across the lifespan. Students obtain proficiency in various concepts related to nursing such as mental health nursing, maternal/child nursing, community nursing, and nursing leadership & management. Upon completion of this ADN program in New York, students are fully prepared to take the NCLEX-RN.
Admission Requirements: Because Niagara County Community College’s ADN program is counted among the reputable 2-year nursing programs in New York, admission into the program is a competitive process. To be considered, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent. The program also requires completion of prerequisites in sciences with a minimum grade of C. Submission of a TEAS exam score may also be required.
Why Choose This Program
• Niagara County Community College’s ADN program reports an excellent pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam.• Niagara County Community College’s ADN students complete their clinical experiences in diverse healthcare settings located in Niagara, Erie, and Orleans counties.
• Niagara County Community College’s ADN program reports a promising graduation rate, having most students satisfied with the quality of education they are receiving.
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