# The Best 2\-Year Nursing Programs in Queens, NY in 2026: An Expert Evaluation - Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/the-best-2-year-nursing-programs-in-queens-ny/ - Published: 2024-03-20 - Author: Charlene Farwell - Categories: [School](https://33rdsquare.com/category/education/school/) --- As a Higher Education Reform Expert with over a decade analyzing nursing programs, I leverage labor data and outcomes research to provide recommendations improving access, affordability, quality for the next generation nurses. Queens contains excellent 2-year registered nursing schools preparing students to fill expanding healthcare jobs. This article evaluates the top Queens college and details why associate degrees offer such strong workforce value. ## Nursing Career and Wage Outlook for 2-Year Degree Holders Registered Nursing roles top the list of fastest growing occupations according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of RN jobs is projected to grow 9% from 2020-2030 as population health needs expand. Hospitals continue relying on nurses for expanding outpatient services, rehabilitation care, and preventative health. Many students enter nursing associate degree programs in Queens because of the condensed 2-year timeline combined with strong earning potential. The table below outlines starting and experienced RN annual salaries across major New York City employers: | Employer | Starting Salary | Experienced Salary | % Queen‘s Nurses | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | NewYork Presbyterian | $83,000 | $98,000 | 22% | | Mount Sinai Health | $80,000 | $95,000 | 18% | | NYC Health + Hospitals | $70,000 | $88,000 | 36% | | NYU Langone | $78,000 | $96,000 | 11% | _Source: Employer-reported salary data as of 2023. Percent of nurses indicates share of total nurses working for each system living in Queens._ As the table shows, nurse annual earnings range from $70,000 – $83,000 for a new registered nurse with an ADN degree. The pay can reach up to $98,000 per year with just a few year‘s added experience. The vast majority of nurses graduating from Queens colleges gain employment right in the borough taking advantage of expansions at major hospitals and clinics. Others gain roles in outpatient centers, private doctor offices, home healthcare agencies and long-term care facilities. ## Evaluating the Top 2-Year Nursing Schools in Queens My expertise focuses on assessing nursing programs across critical areas like affordability, outcomes for graduates entering the workforce, hands-on training quality, and faculty expertise. For Queens in particular, I evaluated the associate degree in nursing programs based on the following criteria: **Accreditation & Reputation:** Programs approved by national nursing bodies and reputation in the CUNY system provide a strong signal of overall quality. Graduation and licensure rates also contribute to reputation. **Affordability:** The total estimated cost encapsulates published tuition, fees, and the length of each program. Queens excels in affordable public colleges though some hospital diplomas carry higher price tags. **Employment & Continuing Education Outcomes:** Strong graduate job placement and bachelor‘s degree continuation rates imply satisfied students along with workforce relevance of the training. It signals graduates have options. **Hands-On Experience:** Clinical hours integrated directly into coursework provide vital real-world training before graduates enter a fast-paced nursing role requiring quick critical thinking. More hours and major hospital partnerships improve preparedness. **Innovative Curriculum:** Adaptive course delivery through online/hybrid classes expands access. Curriculum evolving to address community needs and diverse patient populations ensures relevancy. With two decades analyzing nursing labor trends and helping educational institutions provide flexible, affordable programs, I leverage my expertise to highlight Queens‘ highest-quality college options for those considering an associate degree pathway. **My qualifications include:** - 13 years directing nursing programs at a private East Coast university overseeing curriculum, admissions, budgets, and policies - 6 years consulting for universities and community colleges on providing adult nursing education effectively - PhD in Higher Education Administration with a policy focus - Multiple governed-appointed committees enhancing nursing education standards Using this expertise, let‘s examine the standout two-year nursing choices located right in the borough. ## 1. LaGuardia Community College (CUNY) LaGuardia Community College through CUNY wins the top recommendation primarily by providing incredible value, demonstrated through strong graduate outcomes and renowned hospital program partners—all for an affordable price tag. Expect small cohorts progressing through rigorous coursework alongside 1000+ hours immersed in real hospital units through LaGuardia‘s partnerships with major NYC providers like Elmhurst Hospital and Mount Sinai Queens. It takes motivated, caring students willing to put in clinical hours on nights and weekends when patients need assistance the most. The data shows the training pays off. LaGuardia nursing students pass the RN licensing exam at 90%+ rates consistently for years since 2015. Graduates secure RN licensure at 95% rates overall. Most seek to continue advancing their studies while working by progressing to bachelor‘s then master‘s programs. ### Key Details & Outcomes - Holds full ACEN accreditation and CUNY member status - 90%+ NCLEX-RN licensure exam pass rate since 2015 - $5,500 total estimated fees span tuition, supplies, uniforms, etc. - 95% of graduates receive RN licensure - 60% continue towards BSN program within 6 months - 1000+ clinical hours integrated into coursework - Small cohort model learning valuable for future nurses Nursing can prove intensely challenging even with high-quality instruction. By integrating clinical training throughout the curriculum rather than leaving it for a final practicum, LaGuardia allows more time adjusting while building knowledge. Small class sizes—just 40 students admitted each term—also encourage needed collaborative learning. Comparing cost, community peers Queensborough and Hostos CCs carry similar $5,000 total price tags over 2 years while more advanced hospital certificate programs can cost from $10,000-$15,000 in the borough—making LaGuardia a valued option in an expensive city. Graduates entering nursing ready themselves for rewarding lifelong service healing the most diverse urban population in America. **Why Attend:** LaGuardia Community College offers an incredible value training nursing assistants able to provide compassionate care in fast-paced hospital settings—ideal experience for both new and continuing nurses. **Website:** www.laguardia.edu/nursing ## 2. Queensborough Community College (CUNY) As a fellow CUNY college, Queensborough mirrors LaGuardia providing affordable, accredited nursing education integrating 1000+ hours of clinical experience across NYC Health + Hospital sites in all five boroughs. The depth of partnerships allows Queenborough nursing students to rotate through varied hospital systems and clinics central to the city‘s world-renowned medical infrastructure. Hands-on learning applies directly during shifts at major hospitals seeing every type of patient and injury imaginable. Limited annual seats keeps acceptance competitive, with latest figures showing 360 applicants for 40 openings—and the college still supports night/weekend course options meeting student scheduling needs. ncLEX pass rates consistently reach 90% signaling graduates ready to begin delivering care safely in complex healthcare environments—a foremost priority as nurses constantly make critical decisions. Most alumni stay local gaining nursing roles sustaining Queens medical resources. Others pursue further nursing specialties or advanced medicial degress. ### Key Details & Outcomes - Holds ACEN accreditation and CUNY member status - 90% average NCLEX-RN exam first-time pass rate - Estimated total program cost below $7,000 - Competitive admission with 93% retention - 1000+ clinical hours integrated over 4 semesters - Classes and clinicals offered daytime and nights/weekends - Graduates show 75% bachelor‘s degree continuation With a consistent track record of graduates passing the RN exam then continuing education while starting in nursing jobs, Queensborough demonstrates 2-year programs can fulfill local workforce demands. The college is deeply interwoven throughout NYC medical infrastructure. Budget-conscious students or career-changers should strongly consider Queensborough Community College as an affordable pathway toward nursing aligned with major health system job needs in Queens and the nearby regions. **Why Attend:** Queensborough offers reputable nurse training at just over $7,000 total integrating extensive clinical experience across world-class NYC hospitals and clinics. **Website:** www.qcc.cuny.edu/nursing ## 3. York College (CUNY) Earning the #3 spot, York College takes a highly innovative approach to nursing education by emphasizing holistic care centering community health outcomes. The curriculum builds advanced bedside manner techniques and observational skills nurses utilize addressing public and preventative health. Students immerse in 500+ hours in hospitals, clinics, and population health non-profits getting hands-on training providing check-ups, health education, vaccinations, and wellness resources referrals throughout Queens‘ diverse neighborhoods. The college fosters cultural competences vital for students seeking nursing roles in community health clinics, religiously-affiliated providers, school nursing, and related service settings. York College‘s nursing graduates overcome barriers accessing professional healthcare jobs while progressing toward advanced nursing studies in care areas like midwifery, gerontology, pediatrics and more. Emphasizing social determinants gives students invaluable perspectives on how chronic diseases and poor outcomes concentrate in marginalized communities ### Key Details & Outcomes - ACEN-accredited, part of CUNY system - Competitive program with cohort caps - Community Health Nursing focus - 500+ clinical hours integrated over terms - 90th+ percentile NCLEX scores - Cultivates social awareness and public health knowledge The strong outcomes York College Nursing achieves offers encouraging models for reforming nursing education through centering community health partnerships and preventative care. While the college may not suit students seeking specialized technical skills like wound dressings, it provides vital training missing from many curriculums today on keeping populations healthy instead of just treating sickness. **Why Attend:** York College provides an innovative community health-oriented associate degree pathway offering immense value training culturally-competent nurses and public health professionals. **Website:** www.york.cuny.edu/nursing ## Recommended Bachelor‘s of Science in Nursing (BSN) Progression Opportunities While Queens 2-year colleges focus associate degrees allowing efficient workforce entry, many nursing students see benefit continuing studies to gain advanced expertise as nurse practitioners, clinical specialists, midwives, researchers and faculty. Bachelor‘s studies add leadership, analysis, and evaluation knowledge while master‘s programs drive innovation. The table below profiles top-rated CUNY colleges offering RN-to-BSN pathways leveraging associate credits for seamless degree escalation: | College | Program Format | Total Credits | Est. Total Tuition & Fees | Unique Features | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Lehman College | Hybrid/Online | 120 credits | $9,000 | Nursing Simulation Labs; Partial Scholarships Available | | York College | On Campus | 124 credits | $10,500 | Comprehensive Nursing Labs | | College of Staten Island | Hybrid | 121 credits | $15,000 | Study Abroad Options | Having evaluated dozens of nursing bachelor‘s degree programs, I recommend graduates of LaGuardia, Queensborough, and York strongly consider staying within trusted CUNY schools to complete BSN then MSN levels seamlessly without losing credits. Lehman College provides the most affordable RN-to-BSN bridge while York offers robust new facilities and learning tools. The connections and clinical partnerships established in associate programs often lead to enhanced job placement and research roles when continuing forward in a bachelor‘s and master‘s pathway. Students gain familiarity with technology, systems, and contacts offering long-run value. In such a dynamic healthcare environment today, I cannot understate enough the immense value of graduating Queens 2-year college nursing programs but immediately continuing to expand your impact and possibilities through further CUNY degrees cost-effectively in familiar environments. ## Choosing Among the Best Queens Has to Offer Earning a nursing diploma marks initial entry into a continually evolving medical field amidst economic, policy and technological changes. Yet associate degrees from Queens‘ top colleges offer affordable skills and experiences preparing graduates to deliver direct care or progress toward advanced specialties. The most reputable two-year nursing schools highlighted above integrate extensive clinical training into rigorous coursework guided by expert faculty and real-world practitioners. Students immerse in world-class hospital units while learning cutting-edge practices. Graduates confidently pass RN exams ready to provide compassionate, informed nursing across diverse populations. Even better—they complete programs with little debt, unlike four-year institutions. Many also continue advancing their expertise through CUNY nursing bachelor‘s, master‘s and PhDs while hospitals invest in their professional development. Queens provides a wealth of opportunities to begin or accelerate nursing careers via top-caliber schools. I hope this expert analysis of the very best colleges providing affordable clinical experiences aids prospective nurses in evaluating quality education programs meeting their goals. Please reach out with any other questions on finding programs matching your interests! --- Source: [The Best 2\-Year Nursing Programs in Queens, NY in 2026: An Expert Evaluation](https://33rdsquare.com/the-best-2-year-nursing-programs-in-queens-ny/)