12 Best LPN-to-RN Programs in New Jersey – (Online & Campus-Based)


Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

Why should you consider pursuing an LPN-to-RN track if you’re a licensed practical nurse in New Jersey? Because you’ll earn a much higher salary, have many more employment opportunities, and experience a higher degree of job satisfaction as a registered nurse than you will as an LPN in the Garden State. If you’ve wondered, “What are the best LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey?” here’s some good news: Your LPN experience will count towards your nursing program credits at many schools. Keep reading for more information about the 12 best LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey for 2025.



RECOMMENDED ONLINE NURSING SCHOOLS

TOP 3 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD TRANSITION FROM LPN-TO-RN IN NEW JERSEY


There’s no denying that returning to school after working as a licensed practical nurse in New Jersey for a few years is challenging. But if you love nursing and are eager to expand your scope of practice, an LPN-to-RN program in the Garden State will fit your needs perfectly. Here are three reasons why you should make that transition from licensed practical nurse to registered nurse:

1. More money:

In New Jersey, the average salary of a registered nurse is 56 percent higher than the average salary of a licensed practical nurse. Note that this is merely the average salary differential: Many exceptionally high-paying specialties like travel nursing or oncology nursing only offer LPNs minimal opportunities. If you’re interested in making more money, an RN position beats an LPN position hands down—and many LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey will allow you to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam in a single year.

2. Expanded scope of practice:

Registered nurses are trained to think critically and integrate research-backed evidence into their nursing practice, which enables them to function more autonomously than licensed practical nurses. While some LPNs may do assessments and teach patients, they can only perform these tasks in a limited manner and then only if the protocols in effect at the facility where they’re working allow them to. Registered nurses in New Jersey, on the other hand, routinely perform patient assessments, participate in patient education, and develop sophisticated nursing care plans because their enhanced scope of practice permits them to carry out more complex nursing duties.

3. Employment opportunities:

While employment opportunities for RNs and LPNs are expected to increase by roughly the same percentage over the next 10 years (approximately 8.5 percent), there are many more individual job listings for registered nurses than there are for licensed practical nurses. New Jersey has 5,240 job openings for RNs every year compared to 1,380 job openings for LPNs. In addition to the availability of jobs, there’s also a greater diversity in the types of jobs that are open to RNs.



HOW LONG ARE LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN NEW JERSEY?


LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey can take 10 months to two years to complete if you enroll full-time. While full-time enrollment is the only completion option most of the two-year schools advertise, a handful of schools—for example, Rowan College of South Jersey—note in the fine print you’ll have up to three years to finish their program, which suggests that at least some students don’t take a full course load every semester.

At 10 months, Capital Health’s LPN-to-RN Track is the shortest program this article looks at. Eastwick College-Ramsey offers two completion options for full-time students: Aspiring RNs who enroll in daytime classes will complete the program in 18 months, while aspiring RNs who enroll in evening classes will complete the program in 21 months.



HOW MUCH DO LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN NEW JERSEY COST?


Tuition for LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey ranges from approximately $10,000 to approximately $41,000. And some students may not have to pay anything. If, for example, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form you fill out at Ocean County College shows sufficient financial need, you may qualify for Pell grants, NJ STARS, and institutional financial aid sufficient to pay your entire LPN-to-RN tuition.

Generally speaking, New Jersey community colleges offer the least expensive LPN-to-RN programs. Since local property taxes provide a significant portion of the funding for New Jersey-based community colleges, students who are county residents will pay less tuition than out-of-county or out-of-state residents. Even so, community college tuition is comparatively affordable even for non-residents. At Salem Community College, for example, residents of Salem County pay tuition of $11,940 for the LPN-to-RN program. In contrast, New Jersey residents who live outside Salem County pay $13,860, and students from other states pay $19,200. (Residents of nearby Delaware get a break and only pay $16,020.)

Diploma nursing programs in New Jersey commonly charge higher tuition for LPN-to-RN programs than community colleges do. At Holy Name School of Nursing, for example, the LPN-to-RN Pathway program will set you back $37,798.00.



WHAT IS THE TYPICAL COURSEWORK FOR LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN NEW JERSEY?


Most LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey offer a bridge class for transitioning LPNs that functions as a gateway into the school’s traditional nursing program. Only one of the programs on this list, Ocean County College, doesn’t offer any kind of LPN bridge class. Rather, it allows students to prove their suitability for RN-oriented coursework by testing out of an introductory nursing class.

Students who pass the LPN bridge class successfully will be offered a place in the college’s traditional nursing program. Atlantic Cape Community College, for example, offers an LPN Nursing Transition course each fall. If you pass that class successfully, you’ll join the cohort enrolled in the traditional nursing track. This curriculum contains three components: general education courses, core nursing classes, and clinical rotations. General education courses include anatomy, physiology, English composition, and introductory classes in psychology, chemistry, and psychology. Core nursing classes include nursing management, nursing trends and issues, technological competence, and a four-semester course exploring basic nursing principles such as physical assessments, nursing care plans, critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and accountability.

The only program on this list that does not funnel LPNs into an existing RN program is the 15-month LPN-to-RN track at Trinitas School of Nursing. Each course in Trinitas’s program has been specifically customized to meet LPNs’ learning needs. Students enrolled in this curriculum will take general education, science, and humanities courses at one of Union College’s campuses. They will take core nursing courses at Trinitas School of Nursing, including a class on nursing core concepts, a class on health and physical assessment, a leadership and management seminar, and classes focusing on the care of specific patient populations such as medical/surgical patients, children, women, families, mentally ill patients, and patients with complex, multi-issue health difficulties.



WHAT IS THE TYPICAL CLINICAL TRAINING FOR LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN NEW JERSEY?


Clinical rotations can be one of the biggest challenges for New Jersey-based LPNs transitioning to the RN role. LPNs have a great deal of clinical experience, of course, but they are limited in the types of tasks they are legally allowed to perform, and working within an expanded scope of practice may take some getting used to.

During clinicals, you’ll work with a clinical instructor on a unit in a hospital or a long-term care facility. You’ll be assigned to a different patient each day and responsible for that patient’s entire care, including nursing care plan, orders, medications, health history, and discharge planning.

According to the National League of Nursing, it is increasingly difficult for New Jersey nursing schools—particularly small nursing schools—to secure clinical sites in acute care settings. This has led many nursing schools to replace clinical hours with time spent in a simulation lab while community colleges such as Atlantic Cape Community College place LPN-to-RN students at long-term care facilities, community health agencies, as well as hospitals. As part of its promotional outreach, Eastwick College-Ramsey notes that it guarantees clinical rotations at local hospitals.

Diploma schools are often the nursing programs that can provide the broadest and most varied types of clinical training. Capital Health, for example, schedules clinical rotations at the Capital Health Regional Medical Center’s various units.



WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN NEW JERSEY?


Admission requirements for LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey are relatively standard. Passaic County Community College, for example, requires LPN-to-RN program applicants to have a valid New Jersey LPN license, a reference letter from a current employer or LPN program director, transcripts from an LPN program showing a cumulative grade point average of “B” or higher, the completion of general education prerequisites with a grade of “C” or higher, and a score of at least 70 percent on the Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam (NACE.)

At Essex County College, applicants to the LPN-RN Articulation Program are required to take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam instead of the NACE exam. Essex County College also requires a background check, a negative drug check, current CPR certification, and health clearance per internal college guidelines. In other respects, Essex County College’s admission requirements are similar to Passaic County Community College’s.



WHAT ARE THE BEST LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN NEW JERSEY (ONLINE AND CAMPUS-BASED)?

Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 12 best campus-based and online LPN-to-RN Programs in New Jersey.


1. Jersey College - Teterboro & Ewing


Jersey College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Why is Jersey College’s 75-credit LPN-to-RN bridge track one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey? Because Jersey College accommodates the needs of working LPNs by offering evening classes that meet from 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm Mondays through Thursdays. Daytime classes are available, too.

Jersey College’s rigorous curriculum builds upon skills you’ve already acquired as a licensed nursing professional. You’ll take college-level classes in English, math, biology, and the social sciences to fulfill your general education requirements as well as courses oriented specifically to the nursing process, such as “Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing,” “Care of Women and Children,” and “Psychiatric Nursing.” You’ll also participate in clinical experiences with Jersey College’s practicum partners. Plan on spending between three and six hours a day on homework and other academic activities.

The length of time it will take you to complete this program will depend upon how many classes you can take each semester and whether you can transfer credits from previous academic coursework. Most students can complete this LPN-to-RN program in New Jersey in six semesters (15 months.) You’ll graduate with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN.)


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Jersey College LPN-to-RN Students

• Jersey College incorporates NCLEX-RN preparation into its LPN-to-RN bridge curriculum.
• Jersey College allows students enrolled in its LPN-to-RN bridge track to pay their tuition in installments, and it does not charge interest on these installment payments.
• Jersey College offers its LPN-to-RN bridge track in Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, as well as in New Jersey.


2. Ocean County College - Toms River


Ocean County College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Ocean County College’s Career Mobility Nursing Program is qualitatively different from most LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey. It isn’t a traditional LPN-to-RN bridge program at all. Rather, it’s a kind of advanced placement strategy designed to give LPNs enrolled in the college’s traditional nursing program a leg up.

The Career Mobility Nursing Program is not a sequence of classes but a set of criteria that includes completing the college’s general education requirements with a grade of “C” or higher and passing the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS.) If you meet these criteria, you’ll be approved to challenge the final exam for an introductory nursing class that focuses on the core components of nursing practice. If your challenge is successful, you’ll receive nine credits toward completing the nursing program’s 73-credit curriculum.

Most students can complete Ocean County College’s nursing program in two years. You’ll graduate with an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Nursing. Note that completion of the Career Mobility Nursing Program does not guarantee acceptance into Ocean County College’s traditional nursing program.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Ocean County College LPN-to-RN Students

• You must have at least six months of professional LPN experience to apply to Ocean County College’s Career Mobility Nursing Program,
• This LPN-to-RN program in New Jersey is only open to Ocean County, New Jersey residents.


3. Raritan Valley Community College - Branchburg


Raritan Valley Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Raritan Valley Community College’s Practical Nurse to Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing (PNAD) program consists of a six-week transition course (summer semester) followed by two semesters of clinical nursing courses (fall and spring semesters.) Once this coursework is complete, PNAD students progress into Raritan Valley’s traditional nursing program curriculum. The entire course sequence comprises 68 credits: 53 class credits and 15 transfer credits from your previous LPN education. All classes are taught at Raritan Valley Community College’s campus in Branchburg, New Jersey.

You should be able to finish Raritan Valley Community College’s PNAD program in a single year. The transition course teaches the basics of nursing assessment and nursing care plan development. The clinical nursing courses must be taken in sequence, and depending upon space availability, you may be assigned to either day or evening classes. As with most other LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey offered through community colleges, you’ll graduate with an AAS degree in Nursing.

To qualify for admission into this LPN-to-RN program in New Jersey, you must have graduated from an LPN program with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher. You must hold current LPN licensure in New Jersey and have at least six months of professional LPN experience.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Raritan Valley Community College LPN-to-RN Students

• Students who live or work in Somerset or Hunterdon Counties are prioritized for admission into this program.
• Students must earn grades of “C” or higher in all nursing and science courses to stay in the program.
• Students are responsible for carrying their own liability insurance to cover Raritan Valley Community College’s clinical rotations.
• You’ll be able to transfer your AAS Nursing degree credits seamlessly to Kean University’s BSB program should you choose to continue your nursing education.


4. Salem Community College - Carneys Point


Salem Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Are you an LPN looking for a fast and comparatively affordable way to become a registered nurse? Salem Community College offers a 60-credit program for licensed practical nurses that will enable you to earn an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Nursing in just one year, so you’ll be qualified to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. All courses are taught at Salem Community College’s campus in Carneys Point.

In addition to general education classes and courses in anatomy, physiology, and science, you’ll take core nursing courses that focus on nursing leadership, global health, and diversity. You’ll practice new clinical skills like NG placement, IV starts, and blood draws in Salem Community College’s simulated lab and hone them in practice settings like long-term care facilities or community clinics.

Admission into this LPN-to-RN program in New Jersey is a two-step process. First, you’ll have to submit an application to Salem Community College as a Health Science major; then, you’ll have to create and submit a portfolio for consideration by the nursing program. Courses begin in June and end in May the following year. This is one of the few LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey that does not stipulate a minimum GPA for acceptance. Acceptance depends upon TEAS test scores and your background check.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Salem Community College LPN-to-RN Students

• Salem Community College has an open admissions policy—meaning that if you pass the TEAS test and your nursing portfolio contains all required documentation, you will get into this program.
• Salem Community College is the smallest institution in the New Jersey community college system, which allows it to offer highly personalized career development services.


5. Eastwick College-Ramsey - Ramsey


Eastwick College-Ramsey LPN-to-RN Program Details: Eastwick College understands how difficult it can be for working LPNs to take their careers to the next level, so the school offers students their choice of daytime or evening classes. The daytime track takes 18 months to complete, while the evening track takes 21 months.

This accelerated program consists of 17 classes for 95 quarter credits. The curriculum focuses on the specific skills and training you will need to transition successfully to your new RN role. Coursework includes classes such as “Review of Principles of Medication Administration & Dosage Calculation,” “Complex Health Concepts,” and “Concepts of Healthcare Management.” Eastwick also devotes an entire class to NCLEX-RN preparation to maximize your chances of passing that examination on your first try.

Eastwick College really stands out in the quality of its clinical rotations. Eastwick’s LPN-to-RN program is one of the few in northeastern New Jersey that guarantees all students will be able to secure a clinical spot and a preceptor. You’ll graduate from this LPN-to-RN program in New Jersey with an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Eastwick College-Ramsey LPN-to-RN Students

• Eastwick College LPN-to-RN program is also offered at its campus in Hackensack, New Jersey.
• Eastwick has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program if LPN-to-RN graduates want to continue their professional development.
• Eastwick waives its TEAS test admission requirement for applicants who attained a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher during their LPN studies.


6. Rowan College of South Jersey - Gloucester & Cumberland


Rowan College of South Jersey LPN-to-RN Program Details: Rowan College of South Jersey’s LPN-to-RN program essentially consists of a single class during the winter semester that explores the differences between the LPN and RN scopes of practice. Upon completing this class, you will then progress to a more traditional nursing curriculum that includes “Nursing I, II, III, and IV” and “Nursing Global Issues and Trends.”

If you’re a full-time student, you should be able to complete RCSJ’s LPN-to-RN program in four semesters (two years.) However, you’ll have up to three years to complete the program from the time you take the initial LPN-to-RN class. This is one of the few online LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey.

Although Rowan College of South Jersey has an open admissions policy, its LPN-to-RN track is a selective admissions program—meaning that as one of your admission requirements, you’ll need to convince the admissions committee of your suitability for the nursing profession by preparing and submitting a portfolio. Graduates of this LPN-to-RN program in New Jersey receive Associate in Applied Science in Nursing degrees.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Rowan College of South Jersey LPN-to-RN Students

• Clinical rotations take place at acute, long-term, and community healthcare agencies throughout southern New Jersey.
• Rowan College of South Jersey is part of the Rowan University system. Rowan University offers a degree completion program for RNs who’ve graduated with an associate degree from Rowan College of South Jersey, allowing those RNs to earn a BSN.


7. Atlantic Cape Community College - Mays Landing


Atlantic Cape Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Atlantic Cape Community College doesn’t have a discrete LPN-to-RN program as such. Instead, applicants with LPNs are considered for advanced placement in the community college’s traditional nursing program, contingent upon completing a year of college-level anatomy and physiology and an LPN Nursing Transition course with a grade of C or better.

The 8-credit LPN Nursing Transition course focuses on the nursing process and physical assessment and is taught in the fall semester. The 40-credit traditional nursing program begins in the spring. Its curriculum includes classes like “Nursing I, II, III, and IV,” “Nursing Management,” and “Nursing Trends and Issues.” To graduate from Atlantic Cape Community College, you’ll also have to take 24 credits of general education classes. Your clinical rotations will occur at acute, long-term, and community healthcare agencies throughout Mays Landing, Hamilton Township, and Atlantic City.

You’ll have up to three years to complete this program, but most students are able to complete it in two. Classes are taught on Atlantic Cape Community College’s campus in Mays Landing. You’ll graduate with an Associate in Applied Science in Nursing degree.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Atlantic Cape Community College LPN-to-RN Students

• Atlantic Cape Community College is one of the few LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey that does not require applicants to take the TEAS test, although you can submit your scores if you want your application to be more competitive.
• Admission to this LPN-to-RN program in New Jersey is highly competitive, and you must apply separately to Atlantic Cape Community College and the nursing program.
• Residents of Cape May and Atlantic Counties are given priority in the application process.
• Atlantic Cape Community College maintains transfer affiliations with Rutgers University-Camden School of Nursing, Thomas Edison State University, and the University of Phoenix that allows Atlantic Cape ASN graduates to continue with BSN studies at a reduced tuition rate.


8. Passaic County Community College - Paterson


Passaic County Community College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Passaic County Community College’s nurse education program offers an LPN Mobility Option that prepares licensed practical nurses to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. For admission into this program, you must have a high school diploma; hold LPN licensure in New Jersey; complete college-level courses in chemistry, inorganic chemistry, anatomy, physiology, psychology, and English composition with a grade of C or higher; and score 70 percent or higher on the National League for Nursing’s Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam (NACE).

If accepted into this LPN-to-RN program in New Jersey, you’ll take a transition course in the spring semester that will introduce you to RN-level nursing processes within cultural, ethnic, economic, and legal contexts. Then you’ll join the nursing cohort and continue with a 70-credit curriculum that includes general education courses, core nursing classes, and clinical rotations. You should be able to finish your studies in four semesters. Classes are taught on the Passaic County Community College Campus in Patterson during the daytime.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Passaic County Community College LPN-to-RN Students

• Passaic County Community College also offers its LPN Mobility Option at Sussex County Community College, though this option is only open to residents of Sussex County.
• Passaic County Community College’s clinical rotation partners include St. Joseph’s Wayne Hospital, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, St. Mary’s Hospital, Mountainside Hospital, and St. Michael’s Medical Center.


9. Essex County College - Newark


Essex County College LPN-to-RN Program Details: Are you looking for an LPN-to-RN program in New Jersey that will only take two years to complete? Essex Community College’s LPN Articulation Model is one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey. Two LPN-specific courses in the fall and spring semesters will introduce you to the essential information a licensed practical nurse needs to know to bridge the gap between the LPN and RN roles. Once those are complete and you’ve taken the prerequisite 14 credits of general education, you’ll receive eight credits and enter the traditional 35-credit nursing program in the fall. You’ll graduate with an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree.

Essex County College has an open admissions policy, but admission into its LPN Articulation Model is highly competitive. You must apply separately to Essex County College and its nursing program. If you meet preliminary admission requirements, you’ll be invited to apply to take the TEAS test. Your application will then be ranked based on criteria that include your TEAS scores and your grade point average as an LPN student.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Essex County College LPN-to-RN Students

• Essex County College’s nursing program is one of the few LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey that meets the educational licensing requirements for RN licensure in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
• Essex County College has articulation agreements in place with New York University, New Jersey City University, St. Peter’s College, Felician College, Kean University, Rutgers University, Seton Hall University, and William Paterson University that allow graduates of its nursing program to transfer most or all of their credits toward a BSN degree.


10. Holy Name School of Nursing - Englewood Cliffs


Holy Name School of Nursing LPN-to-RN Program Details: The Holy Name School of Nursing is the educational arm of the Holy Name Medical Center, which serves Bergen County, New Jersey. One of the advantages of choosing this LPN-to-RN program in New Jersey is that it will simplify the clinical rotation process since all student nurse clinical rotations take place at the Medical Center.

Holy Name’s LPN-to-RN Pathway program consists of a single class that teaches licensed practical nurses the fundamentals that differentiate the LPN scope of practice from the RN scope of practice, focusing on the nursing process, critical thinking skills, and medication calculations among other things. The class is offered in the fall semester and meets one four-hour evening session a week for 10 weeks. If you pass the course successfully, you will be awarded nine credits and enter the RN nursing program in January. This program is four semesters long, and you’ll graduate with a Diploma in Nursing from Holy Name and an Associate of Applied Science degree in Health Science.

Before you can be admitted into the LPN-to-RN track, you must complete all prerequisite science and general education courses. You’ll also need to pass the TEAS test with a minimum score of 60 percent.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Holy Name School of Nursing LPN-to-RN Students

• Holy Name has partnership agreements in place that will allow you a seamless transition should you choose to continue your nursing education by pursuing a BSN at St. Peter's University, Montclair State University, Bloomfield College, Thomas Edison State University, William Paterson University, or Grand Canyon University.
• Holy Name administers a financial award—the Marie Jensen Memorial Scholarship—specifically for students entering its LPN-to-RN track.


11. Capital Health - Trenton


Capital Health LPN-to-RN Program Details: Capital Health’s LPN-to-RN program is an advanced placement track that enables licensed practical nurses to complete a two-year nursing program in 10 months. It’s widely regarded as one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey. The program is a collaboration between the Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton and Mercer County Community College. Upon graduation, you’ll earn a nursing diploma from Capital Health and an Associate in Science degree from Mercer County Community College.

To be accepted into this LPN-to-RN program in New Jersey, you must have current New Jersey licensure as an LPN and at least one year of clinical experience in an acute care, sub-acute, long-term, or rehab practice setting. Preference is given to candidates who’ve already completed the prerequisite 30 general education credits.

Upon successful completion of an LPN transition course that covers fundamentals like critical thinking, cultural diversity, nursing care plans, and discharge planning, you’ll receive 16 credits toward completion of the 44-credit nursing program. All clinical rotations will take place at the Capital Health Regional Medical Center. Depending upon facility availability, clinical rotations may need to be scheduled on the 3 pm to 11 pm evening swing shift or on weekends.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Capital Health LPN-to-RN Students

• Capital Health offers a three-year nursing option open to LPNs who prefer to attend school part-time.
• Capital Health has an agreement with Grand Canyon University and Thomas Edison University that allows nursing graduates to transfer most of the credits they earned while pursuing their education at the Capital Health School of Nursing toward a BSN degree.


12. Trinitas School of Nursing - Elizabeth


Trinitas School of Nursing LPN-to-RN Program Details: The Trinitas School of Nursing is associated with RWJBarnabas Health, a network of independent providers that comprises the most extensive healthcare system in New Jersey. Its LPN-to-RN track is a collaboration between the nursing school and Union College, and you must apply separately to each institution. The program begins each fall and takes 15 months to complete. You’ll need to complete 33 general education credits before Trinitas will accept you into the LPN-to-RN track.

This LPN-to-RN program in New Jersey is substantively different from most LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey in that you will not be taking a bridge course and entering a traditional nursing program. Instead, the entire 32-credit nursing curriculum is customized for LPN students who want to pursue this professional development opportunity. Clinical rotations occur at healthcare facilities that are part of the RWJBarnabas Health network. The program is simply top-notch in every way. You’ll graduate with a Diploma in Nursing from the Trinitas School of Nursing and an Associate in Science degree from Union College.


Must-Know Highlights For Potential Trinitas School of Nursing LPN-to-RN Students

• The Trinitas School of Nursing is committed to helping educationally disadvantaged students, non-traditional students, and students who are seeking a second career meet their educational goals.
• The National League of Nursing has recognized the Trinitas School of Nursing as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education four times, most recently for 2020-2024.
• Every member of Trinitas’s nursing faculty holds a Certified Nurse Educator credential.
• Students who want to continue their nursing studies can complete their BSNs through the Trinitas School of Nursing’s affiliations with Kean University, Thomas Edison University, and St. Elizabeth University.


VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY



WHAT IS THE STARTING SALARY FOR NEW GRADUATES OF LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN NEW JERSEY?


Graduates of LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey can expect to make $76,650 at their first job after they’ve finished school. This amounts to $36.85 an hour, $1,474 a week, or $6,390 a month.

Hourly$36.85
Weekly$1,474
Monthly$6,390
Annual$76,650
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



WHAT IS THE AVERAGE SALARY FOR GRADUATES OF LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN NEW JERSEY?


On average, RNs who’ve attended an LPN-to-RN program in New Jersey earn $96,670 a year. This is equivalent to $46.48 an hour, $1,859 a week, or $8,060 a year. LPN-to-RN program graduates in New Jersey typically reach this milestone in their ninth year of practice as registered nurses.

Hourly$46.48
Weekly$1,859
Monthly$8,060
Annual$96,670
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



HOW MUCH DOES THE AVERAGE SALARY GROW WITH EXPERIENCE FOR GRADUATES OF LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN NEW JERSEY?


As you attain more experience, you grow more efficient as an RN and can care for greater numbers of patients at a time who are affected by more complex health issues. Graduates of LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey with one to four years of experience make 7 percent more than new graduates, while their colleagues with five to nine years of experience make 28 percent more. With 20 or more years of experience, New Jersey-based LPNs who’ve gone on to get their RN licenses make salaries that are 54 percent higher than the salaries they made when they were starting.

Level of Experience Hourly Weekly Monthly Annual
Entry-Level $36.85 $1,474 $6,390 $76,650
1-4 Years of Experience $39.51 $1,580 $6,850 $82,180
5-9 Years of Experience $47.16 $1,886 $8,170 $98,090
10-19 Years of Experience $50.55 $2,022 $8,760 $105,150
20 Years or More Experience $56.80 $2,272 $9,850 $118,150
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



LPN VS. RN SALARY IN NEW JERSEY: HOW MUCH MORE CAN YOU EARN AS AN RN?


Registered nurses in New Jersey make salaries that are 56 percent higher than LPN salaries.

RN Average
Annual Salary
LPN Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
$96,670 $61,990 +$34,680 +55.94%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



METRO WISE LPN VS. RN SALARY IN NEW JERSEY: HOW MUCH MORE CAN YOU EARN AS AN RN?


The salary differential between RNs and LPNs is highest in the Atlantic City-Hammonton Metropolitan Area, where it’s 58 percent. In Ocean City, the differential is 47 percent, while in Trenton, the Garden State’s capital, it’s 52 percent.

Metro RN Average
Annual Salary
LPN Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
Atlantic City-Hammonton $88,520 $55,920 +$32,600 +58.30%
Ocean City $85,050 $57,760 +$27,290 +47.25%
Trenton $91,570 $60,280 +$31,290 +51.91%
Vineland-Bridgeton $88,330 $57,690 +$30,640 +53.11%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



LPN VS. RN JOB OUTLOOK IN NEW JERSEY: WHO HAS A BETTER JOB OUTLOOK?


Employment opportunities in New Jersey for both LPNs and RNs are expected to grow by approximately 8.5 percent over the next 10 years. However, more jobs will be available for RNs in a wider variety of practice settings, which gives them a better job outlook overall.

Occupation Employment New Employment
Growth (2020-2030)
2020 2030 Number %
LPN 15,850 17,200 +1,350 +8.52%
RN 83,660 90,850 +7,190 +8.59%
(Source: Careeronestop.org)



LPN VS. RN JOB OPENINGS IN NEW JERSEY: WHO HAS MORE JOB OPENINGS?


There are more annual job openings for RNs than for LPNs in New Jersey: 5,240 compared to 1,380.

Occupation New Replacement Annual Job Openings
(New + Replacement)
LPN 135 1,245 1,380
RN 719 4,521 5,240
(Source: Careeronestop.org)



BONUS! IS AN LPN-TO-RN PROGRAM WORTH IT IN NEW JERSEY?


From a strictly financial point of view, attending an LPN-to-RN program in New Jersey is a worthwhile investment. The tuition for such programs ranges from approximately $10,000 to roughly $40,000, but if you’re accepted by a community college, and you’re eligible for financial aid, your education may be completely free.

As an RN at an entry-level job, you will earn $76,650 annually, which is significantly higher than the average salary of $61,990 that LPNs earn after several years of experience. And your average salary of $96,670 as an RN will be 56 percent higher than an LPN’s average salary.



MY FINAL THOUGHTS


Is completing the educational requirements for RN licensure in New Jersey a good thing to do if you’re already working professionally as a licensed practical nurse? This is a highly personal decision that will depend upon your lifestyle commitments, whether you can afford to go back to school, and whether you’re the type of person who can handle the stress involved with earning another degree.

If you love nursing and want to move into a nursing role that offers you greater autonomy and a far greater choice of practice settings, though, enrolling in an LPN-to-RN program in the Garden State is an excellent move that’s worth the sacrifice. The information we’ve offered here on the 12 best LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey for 2025 should help you answer the question, “What are the best LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey?”



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY OUR EXPERT


1. WHO ACCREDITS LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN NEW JERSEY?

New Jersey-based LPN-to-RN programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE.)



2. HOW MANY ACCREDITED LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS ARE THERE IN NEW JERSEY?

There are 14 accredited LPN-to-RN programs in New Jersey.

14


3. HOW MUCH MORE CAN I MAKE PER HOUR AFTER COMPLETING MY LPN-TO-RN IN NEW JERSEY?

Once you complete your LPN-to-RN studies, you can expect to earn $46.48 an hour—$16.58 more per hour than what LPNs earn.

RNLPNDifference
$46.48$29.80+$16.68


4. HOW MUCH MORE CAN I MAKE PER MONTH AFTER COMPLETING MY LPN-TO-RN IN NEW JERSEY?

As a New Jersey graduate from an LPN-to-RN track, you’ll make $8,060 a month—which is $2,890 more than an LPN earns in a month.

RNLPNDifference
$8,060$5,170+$2,890


5. HOW MUCH MORE CAN I MAKE PER YEAR AFTER COMPLETING MY LPN-TO-RN IN NEW JERSEY?

On average, once you become an RN in New Jersey, you’ll make $96,570 a year—which is $34,680 more than your average salary had you remained an LPN.

RNLPNDifference
$96,670$61,990+$34,680


6. LPN-TO-RN SALARY IN NEW JERSEY VS. LPN-TO-RN SALARY IN THE NATION: WHO EARNS MORE?

Graduates of LPN-to-RN bridge programs in New Jersey earn 9 percent more than graduates of those programs do on average throughout the U.S.

Average New Jersey
LPN-to-RN Annual Salary
Average National LPN-to-RN
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
$96,670$89,010+$7,660+8.61%


Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.



Best LPN to RN Programs in other States
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