Top 10 Best Nursing Schools in Utah

Attending an accredited nursing program in Utah will help you land your dream nursing job in the Beehive State. Nurse.org put together a list of the top nursing schools in Utah to help you choose the right program for you.

Top 10 Nursing Schools in Utah

This is a panel-reviewed selection based on a number of factors, including,

• Reputation
• NCLEX pass rate
• Tuition
• Acceptance rate, when available
• Only ACEN or CCNE-accredited schools are eligible 

Our selection panel includes 4 Registered Nurses with over 55 years of combined nursing experience and 7 nursing degrees.

• Tracy Everhart, MSN, RN, CNS
• Tyler Faust, MSN, RN
• Kathleen Gaines MSN, RN, BA, CBC
• Leah Helmbrecht, BSN, RN

Because nursing careers take different forms, the top 10 Utah nursing schools are ranked in no particular order.

1. Southern Utah University

Annual In-State Tuition: $6,006 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 95.83%

Traditional: Yes

Online: Yes

Accelerated: Yes

Bridge: Yes

Utah isn’t home to many large campuses, but Southern Utah University’s 12,000+ on-campus students match plenty of larger schools. SUU is near various state and national parks, making it the perfect spot for outdoor enthusiasts. Nursing students have two options at SUU: a pre-licensure track and an RN to BSN. The pre-licensure track only accepts 30 applicants per semester, and they accept applicants twice a year, so this program can be competitive but rewarding.  Unfortunately, there are no graduate level programs available at SUU but the BSN program is a great foundational program for students. 

2. Joyce University of Nursing & Health Sciences (Formally - Ameritech College)

Annual Tuition: $12,068 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 77.78%

Traditional: Yes

Online: Yes

Accelerated: Yes

Bridge: No

Joyce University of Nursing & Health Sciences, formally known as Ameritech College of Healthcare only has a few degrees to choose from. Anyone interested in a BSN will need to complete the RN to BSN track, an online program that can be completed in less than a year. If students complete the associate of science in nursing (ASN) they should be on-track to enroll in the RN to BSN. It’s an unorthodox way to earn a BSN, but you could finish the bachelor’s in just 32 months. 

3. Eagle Gate College

Annual Tuition: $23,288 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 66.06%

Traditional: Yes

Online: Yes

Accelerated: Yes

Bridge: Yes

For the past 40 years, Eagle Gate College has been offering quality healthcare programs. This Murray-based school offers several high quality nursing programs:

• Medical Assisting
• Practical Nursing
• BSN
• RN to BSN
• MSN
• Direct Entry MSN

Eagle Gate says students can complete 80% of the BSN without having to deal with a waitlist, and the entire BSN can be finished in three years. Current RNs or students with previous college experience can transfer credits in to cut the length of the program even more. 

4. Utah State University

Annual In-State Tuition: $9,228 | Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $24,802  |NCLEX Pass Rate: 89.66%

Traditional: Yes

Online: Yes

Accelerated: Yes

Bridge: Yes

Located in Northern Utah, Utah State University is unassuming at first glance. However, USU was recently ranked as one of the top public universities in the nation, and the mountain ranges that surround campus provide plenty to see and do. USU’s traditional BSN program can be completed at the Logan campus. This four-year program prepares students for the NCLEX-RN, and if the most recent test-taking class demonstrates anything, it’s that USU more than prepares you to take and pass the NCLEX.

5. Provo College

Annual Tuition: $17,112 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 70.99%

Traditional: Yes

Online: Yes

Accelerated: Yes

Bridge: No

Another small school that focuses entirely on healthcare, Provo College has campuses in Provo, Layton, and Murray. Similar to the BSN offered by Eagle Gate College, Provo College’s BSN can be finished 80% online. The entire degree is offered in a hybrid format, so students are required to complete at least some of their education on-campus and online. Provo boosts no waitlists, no prerequisite courses, and caters to working adults with their convenient scheduling options. 

6. Brigham Young University

Annual Latter-day Saint Tuition: $6,304 | Annual Non-Latter-day Saint Tuition: $12,608 |NCLEX Pass Rate: 96.95%

Traditional: Yes

Online: Yes

Accelerated: Yes

Bridge: No

Perhaps the most well-known school in Utah is Brigham Young University. Founded in the traditions of the Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter-day Saints, BYU is home to over 34,000 students, making it one of the largest private schools in the US.  At a low price and with a high NCLEX pass rate, BYU’s BSN program is sure to draw plenty of applicants. Interestingly, students can work part-time while earning their BSN, something that most schools discourage. That work can help cover tuition costs, too. 

7. Roseman University

Annual Tuition: $36,297 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 98.55%

Traditional: No

Online: Yes

Accelerated: Yes

Bridge: Yes

Roseman University offers several programs to nursing students including, 

• Accelerated BSN
• Veteran to BSN Pathway
• MSN in FNP
• RN to BSN
• DNP

Roseman’s Veteran to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (VBSN) admissions pathway offers Veteran students the opportunity for transfer of military experiential credit for applicable prerequisites and/or identified nursing courses. The accelerated BSN program is offered either entirely on-line or as a hybrid online program. 

8. University of Utah

Annual In-State Tuition: $9,002 | Annual Out-of-State Tuition: $30,488 |  NCLEX Pass Rate: 90%

Traditional: Yes

Online: Yes

Accelerated: Yes

Bridge: No

The University of Utah has gained national attention for being part of the elite PAC-12 athletics conference, and the academics often go overlooked. However, programs like the BSN are among the best in the region. BSN students have multiple tracks to choose from: a traditional pre-licensure track, and online RN to BSN, and a Nursing Early Assurance Program, designed for high school students to enter directly into the nursing school. The University of Utah also has the only nursing Ph.D. program in the state and is associated with a research-intensive medical academic center covering a six-state region.

9. Western Governors University*

Annual Tuition: $7,452 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 91.55%

Traditional: Yes

Online: Yes

Accelerated: Yes

Bridge: No

Originally founded in Lake City, Utah, Western Governors University has since exploded online, offering various online and in-person programs to students across the US. Even the pre-licensure BSN can be completed partially online and partially at campuses in Salt Lake Valley or Southern Utah. Each location has specific hospitals that students will study at, so students may want to pick a location based on the hospitals. 

10. Westminster College

Annual Tuition: $39,382 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 88.46%

Traditional: Yes

Online: No

Accelerated: Yes

Bridge: No

Based in Salt Lake City, Westminster College is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Utah. As a private school, students will need to pay higher tuition, although this can be reduced with financial aid. The traditional BSN program uses an innovative flipped classroom environment, meaning students will receive all their learning materials prior to class. When students show up to class, they’ll be ready to actively participate in discussions.  All nursing classes are capped at 24 students making it an ideal learning environment for students. 

Nurse Salary and Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 

• Utah nurses earn an annual mean wage of $72,790. 
• Utah employs 15.28 nurses per 1,000 residents, one of the lowest rates in the nation. 

Yes, Utah is one of the lowest employers of nurses per capita in the US. However, nurses are still in high demand across the nation, Utah included. Also, Utah is part of the Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact (eNLC), so RNs in Utah are automatically eligible to work in states that are also part of the compact license.

While the annual mean wage is slightly lower than the national average, the sheer size of California and the wages offered (an annual mean wage of $124,000), Utah is actually one of the higher-paying states. 

Next Steps

If you’ve decided that Utah is the place to earn your BSN, then it’s time to move forward with applying to schools. Always apply to multiple schools, both public and private. Most nursing programs are incredibly competitive, so you’ll want to increase your chances of getting into an excellent nursing school.

Once you’ve picked some schools you’re interested in, you should:

Contact each school’s admissions offices. The admissions office will walk you through the application process. Some schools have different application processes, so contact the admission’s office of each school you plan on applying to. The admissions office can answer any questions you have about that school's admission process.

Make sure you meet the nursing school requirements. College admissions and nursing school admissions can be wildly different. Typically, nursing schools have stricter requirements, and entry into a college doesn’t guarantee entry into a nursing program (unless the school says otherwise). You may need to take extra courses, have a higher GPA, or even have extracurriculars to get accepted. Personal essays and letters of recommendation aren't uncommon, either.

Submit your application(s). Once you know what you need and you’ve verified you’re eligible for the school and nursing program, all that’s left is to gather your materials and send them in for review! Materials you’ll need to send include:

• High school transcript (GPA)
• ACT and/or SAT scores
• College entrance essay(s)
• Letter(s) of recommendation

Additional materials may also be required by a school or nursing program. Make sure you’re prepared ahead of time so you meet the application deadline!

Important Considerations When Comparing Schools

Unfortunately, comparing colleges can be incredibly difficult. Schools try to make themselves as unique as possible to attract potential students like you. The good news is that you might be able to find a school that meets each and every want and need you have. If no such school exists, find the one that checks the most boxes on your list. 

When comparing schools, you should consider things like:

• Annual tuition and total program cost (these can be different)
• Financial aid, scholarships, and grants offered
• Cost of living
• Distance from hospitals (how long will commuting for clinicals take?)
• Acceptance rate (both for the school and the nursing program)
• Length of the program (accelerated or traditional)
• Type of program (traditional or online)
• Unique aspects to each program (online, accelerated, etc.)
• School accreditation (regional and national)
• Program length of time

Why you should care about the nursing program’s accreditation  

Accreditation is a school’s way of proving the academic quality of its programs. Accreditation is offered by accrediting bodies, and schools must prove that their academics meet each body’s standards. Generally speaking, a regionally accredited school is held to higher standards than nationally accredited schools. Also, don’t apply to a school unless its nursing program is accredited.

The two nursing accreditation organizations to look for are

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

If you earn a degree from an unaccredited school, you may have trouble securing federal financial aid and finding work as a nurse after graduation. Furthermore, if you plan on attending a graduate or doctoral program, a prerequisite is a BSN from an accredited nursing program. 

Getting a License in Utah

As part of the Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact (eNLC), Utah’s requirements for nurses must meet eNLC standards. This means submitting fingerprints, passing a background check, and, most importantly, taking and passing the NCLEX-RN. 

To get a license in Utah, you’ll need to:

• Take and pass the NCLEX-RN
• Pass a criminal background check, submit your fingerprints, and pay an application fee
• Apply online through the Utah Department of Commerce Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing

After earning a degree, you’ll have to complete continuing education (CE) credits to maintain your license. However, that’s down the road, and you should be focused on earning your BSN first!

Conclusion 

Utah may not be the best state for employing nurses or getting a high wage, but thousands of nurses enjoy a career in Utah. Utah has some nationally recognized schools that have excellent BSN programs, along with a few innovative and non-traditional programs. Once you become licensed in Utah, your license will work in most states thanks to the eNLC.

References:

BLS

Utah Department of Commerce Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing

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