Best ADN Programs in the Northeast Region

Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org

How Many Schools from the Northeast Region were Evaluated for our Rankings?

We evaluated a total of 536 schools offering nursing programs in the Northeast.

Ranking Methodology: How Were the Best ADN Programs in the Northeast Region Ranked?

We evaluated 216 ADN programs in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. To be ranked, an ADN program had to be approved by its state board of nursing and have an average first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate of 80% or higher from 2022 to 2025.

Each program was scored out of 100 points. Passing the NCLEX-RN counts most, because graduates must pass this exam to work as registered nurses.


Each measure is scored against other programs in the region, then weighted and added up. Programs are ranked from the highest total score to the lowest.

Data sources: State boards of nursing, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), College Scorecard, and the ACEN and NLN CNEA accreditation directories. The Editorial Rating also draws on schools’ own websites and public announcements from nursing organizations and healthcare employers. All data comes from public sources. Schools cannot pay to be included or ranked higher.

Data updated: October 2026

15 Best ADN Programs in the Northeast Region for 2027

1. Hagerstown Community College - Hagerstown, MD

Hagerstown Community College’s fast-paced ADN program in Maryland allows you to complete your education much faster as compared to the traditional route of training. This is possible as you can get started by taking some of the ADN coursework while you are still in high school. This planning not only allows for an early career start but also help you save some money on tuition cost. Hagerstown’s nurse training includes extensive hands-on practice sessions at its simulation lab where you receive individualized attention to perfect nursing skills.

2. Cecil College - North East, MD

Cecil College has been addressing the educational needs of Cecil County since 1968. With the goal of improving community health, the college offers a two-year ADN program that can be a prudent first step towards the rewarding field of nursing. The college designs its curriculum to produce competent entry-level nurses who are compassionate caregivers. The 70-credit coursework not only makes you eligible for the NCLEX-RN but transfer agreement with regional colleges and universities, will easily allow you to move to a four-year college, should you aspire higher education.

3. Rowan College of South Jerse - Sewell, NJ

Rowan College’s Gloucester County campus has been providing students with robust education without burning a hole in the pocket. The recent merger of this campus with the Cumberland County College makes it the first dual community college campus in the region. This collaboration gives you the benefit of having access to many more cost-saving incentives, scholarships, and internships. Being one of the best ADN programs in the Northeast, the college has 75 program partnerships with other institutions that allow you to transfer your associate degree credits to any university you prefer if you wish to study further on graduating.

4. CT State Community College Three Rivers - Norwich, CT

CT State Community College Three Rivers in the Northeast prepares you with critical thinking abilities, communication skills, and a professional attitude to become a vital member of a healthcare team. Over the past three years, the college has reported all of its ADN graduates finding suitable placements within six months of graduation. The flexible scheduling options provide different learning possibilities for nursing students who come from diverse backgrounds. Upon graduation, you will be able to effectively plan and provide patient care in a variety of healthcare environments.

5. Ocean County College - Toms River, NJ

If you’re looking forward to launching yourself into the fulfilling yet challenging world of nursing then you might want to think about Ocean County College’s ADN curriculum as an option. In addition to the traditional nursing coursework, the college offers an ‘on-site online nursing program’ that allows you to complete a major part of your education online. Besides, there is also a career mobility nursing program specially designed for aspiring LPNs who wish to study further and earn an associate degree. Regardless of the track you enroll in, you graduate with evidence-based nursing skills that have been made thorough by a combination of didactic and practical learning.

6. Manchester Community College - Manchester, NH

If you are seeking financial assistance to make your education affordable, then you must know that 65% of students enrolled at Manchester Community College receive financial aid. Learning here is made effective through hands-on experiences at its advance simulation labs where you hone skills under the direction of its able faculty. Manchester's partnership with Franklin Pierce University provides you the advantage of finishing your bachelor’s degree coursework in as little as one year after completing your associate. Admission into this program is selective, so to enhance your odds ensure you complete human anatomy & physiology I & II with a minimum grade “C” before the application deadline.

7. Northampton Community College - Bethlehem, PA

Through Northampton Community College’s ADN program, you can find employment in extended care facilities, hospitals, home healthcare, armed services, private duty nursing, and state & federal healthcare facilities. The strategic location of the campus in Lehigh Valley makes it within the reach of New York City, Allentown, and Philadelphia. The college’s small-sized classroom and an accomplished faculty create an enriching environment of learning and building upon professional as well as personal skills that help in career growth.

8. Anne Arundel Community College - Arnold, MD

Being the largest single-campus community college of Maryland, Anne Arundel Community College has won many national, state, and regional awards and provides one of the finest ADN programs in the Northeast. Interestingly, the college has recently started offering several online programs such as morning yoga, fall and winter vegetable gardening, group guitar, and Spanish, German and English classes that you can pursue to attain personal enrichment, in addition to the regular nursing coursework. Furthermore, through its student services, you will receive the required support such as tutoring, academic advising, placement testing, and basic skills preparation. On completion of your ADN curriculum, should you aspire to further your education, you can also transfer up to 60 credits towards baccalaureate nursing programs.

9. Lakes Region Community College - Laconia, NH

Lakes Region Community College is a non-profit school that trains you to deliver legal, ethical, and safe patient-centric care. The college has the lowest tuition fees in New Hampshire that provides you a fruitful college experience without worrying about years of debt. Besides, it has constantly achieved a 100% job placement for its ADN graduates over the past few years. Its ADN program teaches you to efficiently alongside a multi-professional healthcare team by employing the essentials of leadership, management, and communication.

10. Montgomery County Community College - Blue Bell, PA

If you are glancing through the ADN programs in the Northeast area of the country then you can enroll in Montgomery County Community College where you will be learning in the classroom, clinical environs, and simulation suites. To make the most out of your journey here you can participate in the school’s various events, including athletics, student clubs, and arts & cultural activities that help in networking and diversifying your skillset. Upon graduating you be able to incorporate knowledge and skills of humanities and sciences in meeting the healthcare needs of patients in a variety of medical facilities.

11. CT State Community College Naugatuck Valley - Waterbury & Danbury, CT

If you want your career in nursing to take off then you should consider CT State Community College Naugatuck Valley’s associate program as one of your options. The course which is among the college’s top enrolled programs is also a highly ranked nursing program in the state of Connecticut. It prepares you to work effectively in long term care, acute care, and outpatient care nursing. Affordable education, a close-knit environment, and student-friendly policies ensure you graduate as a skilled nurse and a lifelong learner without accumulating a large amount of student debt.

12. Allegany College of Maryland - Cumberland, MD

With salaries soaring up and opportunities constantly improving the demand for trained nurses is on the rise. By signing up for Allegany College of Maryland’s ADN program you can have access to a dynamic yet affordable education that is delivered to you by its experienced faculty. The program trains you in various specialties, including pediatrics, critical care, psychiatric, emergency care, obstetric, and medical-surgical nurse, thereby preparing you to offer patient care in varied clinical settings. The college also helps in financing your education by providing student loans, scholarships, grants, tuition waivers, and student employment opportunities to eligible candidates.

13. Community College of Allegheny County - Pittsburgh, PA

The Community College of Allegheny County was founded in 1966 and today, its ADN curriculum has become the preferred choice for nursing students in Pittsburgh. Moreover, the college also seems to be popular among students coming from the armed forces as it accounts for the largest veteran student population in PA. The college supports your goals through student services in the form of job-related counseling and mentoring. Also, it offers an online platform called ‘student lingo’ where you can attend several face-to-face video workshops and skill-enhancing seminars that promote personality development and personal enrichment. Upon graduating from its hands-on nursing curriculum, you will be job-ready to work in the dynamic medical field.

14. Eastern Maine Community College - Bangor, ME

If you are looking to graduate from one of the well-known ADN programs in the Northeast region, then Eastern Maine Community College must be high on your list. The college offers affordable nursing education that emphasizes hands-on learning. Small-sized classes and a supportive learning environment which includes free tutoring services help you reach academic goals. As a nursing graduate, you will demonstrate the use of evidence-based knowledge while offering patient-centric nursing care. What’s more with the college’s articulation agreements with several colleges and universities in the region you can seamlessly transfer credits towards a bachelor’s degree.

15. Massachusetts Bay Community College - Framingham, MA

Founded in 1961, Massachusetts Bay Community is highly ranked in the state of Massachusetts for the quality nursing education it offers. The college is known for its ‘value-added salary outcomes’, where graduates report earning higher than the investment they make on tuition fees. The main mission of this ADN program is to prepare students from varied backgrounds to implement safe and effective nursing care practices within the advancing healthcare system. Its comprehensive curriculum is taught not only using classroom lectures but also through several hospital visits, field trips, and clinical practicums in medical facilities located in the metro west zones.




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