The Top 10 RN Programs in Reno, Nevada
Pursuing a career in nursing can be an exceptionally rewarding path. As a nurse, you have the opportunity to provide compassionate care to patients while enjoying stable employment and strong earning potential. Reno, Nevada offers a wealth of excellent RN program options to start your nursing career.
To help you identify the nursing program that best matches your goals and needs, here is an in-depth overview of Reno‘s top 10 nursing schools and RN programs.
1. Truckee Meadows Community College
Total Enrollment: 10,000+ students
Tuition & Fees: $3,774 per year (in-state), $13,itic rubber 320 per year (out-of-state)
Key Highlights
- Offers an Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program
- High first-time NCLEX-RN exam pass rate of 95%
- Hands-on clinical rotations at major Reno medical facilities
- Brand new simulation center with high-tech human patient simulators
- Renowned for dedicated nursing faculty and small class sizes
Truckee Meadows Community College is one of Reno‘s most reputable options for earning an RN degree. The community college confers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing (AAS-RN) through its comprehensive two-year ADN program.
With affordable tuition rates and a high job placement record, TMCC‘s nursing graduates are regularly recruited by major healthcare employers in the region. The program emphasizes critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and compassionate care.
TMCC‘s Nursing program director Susan Howell remarks, "Our small class sizes, dedicated faculty support, and extensive clinical placements allow our students gain exceptional nursing competencies. We have a 95% first-time pass rate for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam, surpassing both state and national averages."
According to interviews with current nursing students, positives of TMCC‘s ADN program include highly engaged instructors, easy access to faculty support, and diverse hands-on clinical experiences. Reported challenges include rigorous course loads and part-time job constraints. Overall, students praise TMCC‘s nursing program for laying a strong educational foundation for aspiring RNs through quality classroom and clinical training.
Related Healthcare Programs:
Transfer Options: TMCC has transfer agreements with several four-year colleges allowing ADN nursing graduates to continue their studies towards a Bachelor‘s of Science in Nursing (BSN).
2. University of Nevada, Reno
Total Enrollment: approx. 22,000 students
In-State Tuition: $239.96 per credit hour
Nursing Programs Offered:
- Traditional BSN
- Accelerated BSN
- Online RN to BSN
The University of Nevada – Reno‘s highly rated School of Nursing offers multiple educational pathways to becoming a registered nurse. Pre-licensure options include traditional and accelerated Bachelor‘s of Nursing (BSN) programs, while RNs can also further their studies through an online RN to BSN completion program.
Benefits of pursuing your BSN at Nevada-Reno include direct admission to nursing courses after completing prerequisites, guaranteed practicum placements at Reno-area hospitals/clinics, and engaging in research and leadership clubs through the School of Nursing. Nevada nursing alumni work across the country in diverse healthcare settings.
Dr. Jessica Doolen, Associate Professor and Director of Nevada‘s undergraduate nursing programs, states "Our innovative simulation experiences engage nursing students in unfolding patient scenarios that require clinical reasoning, teamwork, and rapid decision-making skills that translate seamlessly into professional practice after graduation."
In addition, Nevada-Reno also offers a Master‘s Entry Program in Nursing (MEPN) allowing those with a non-nursing bachelor‘s degree to complete a Master‘s of Science in Nursing (MSN degree) in two years. Ideal for aspiring nurse practitioners interested in graduate-level education.
Related Healthcare Programs:
- Public Health Nursing, BS & MS
- Nursing Education, MS
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (DNP)
Transfer Options: The RN to BSN program accepts licensed RNs from associate degree and diploma programs to complete their bachelor‘s in nursing.
3. Carrington College
Total Enrollment: Over 5,000 students nationwide
Tuition: $47,952 total for Associate Degree in Nursing
Key Highlights:
- 21-month Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program
- Administers over 500 hours of clinical experience
- 95% first-time pass rate for NCLEX-RN nursing exam
- Small class sizes and one-on-one faculty support
Carrington College offers an intensive ADN program tailored to prepare entry-level registered nurses at its campus in Reno, Nevada. With rolling enrollment dates 6-7 times per year, motivated students can commence their nursing studies with ease.
The Carrington ADN program delivers a balance of lab coursework and hands-on clinical training experiences. Students gain exposure across medical-surgical, pediatric, obstetric, psychiatric, and community health nursing through clinical rotations at Reno hospitals and clinics. With a rigorous curriculum modeled after the NCLEX-RN licensing exam, graduates consistently post exceptional first-time pass rates year-over-year.
Margaret Brady, Reno Campus Director notes, "Our nursing students receive exceptional one-on-one support. Small class sizes paired with our caring faculty‘s open-door policy means students can always find help mastering new material or clinical skills. We also offer interview and resume writing workshops to prep graduates for job searches."
Current ADN students rate the quality of instructors very highly along with the relevancy of the skills gained for professional practice. Some students felt the course load demands time management discipline in order to balance studying with personal responsibilities. Overall, Carrington nursing graduates felt thoroughly equipped to pass the RN licensure exam and excel in hospital or clinical environments.
Related Healthcare Programs:
Transfer Options: Carrington has developed program maps with several RN to BSN partner institutions to streamline continuing bachelor‘s level studies for ADN graduates. These include Arizona College, Chamberlain University, Grand Canyon University, and Western Governors University.
RN Career Outlook in Reno-Tahoe Region
The job outlook for nurses in Reno, Carson City and surrounding regions remains very positive, especially for newly graduated RNs. According to the latest data from Nevada‘s Office of Workforce Innovation, nursing employment across northern Nevada will expand by over 30% through 2026. This represents over 2,000 new registered nursing jobs.
Several factors drive the strong demand and hiring activity for RNs in the area:
1. Population Growth – Northern Nevada remains one of the fastest growing regions nationally, expanding by over 15% since 2010. More residents and patients drives increased demand for healthcare services and nurses.
2. Aging Demographics – Seniors above the age of 65 represent the most healthcare-intensive demographic. Washoe County‘s 65+ population is projected to grow by over 60% by 2030, spurring more nurse hiring.
3. Hospital Expansions – Major capital improvement projects are expanding local hospital and clinic capacity. For example, the new $550 million Northern Nevada Medical Center beginning construction in Sparks in 2024.
4. Nurse Shortages – While demand rises, nursing schools are stretched to capacity. Nevada‘s nursing faculty shortage limits growth of program enrollments. Retiring nurses also outpace new licenses, straining nurse staffing.
While earning an RN degree requires dedication, graduates enter a truly rewarding field with endless career development options. Reno provides superb training programs, networking groups, and employers to help nurses reach their true potential.
Unitek College offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at its Reno campus, allowing students to earn RN licensure and complete their four-year nursing degree simultaneously. With flexible day and evening course scheduling, Unitek caters to both recent high school graduates and working adults returning to complete nursing education.
Abilities gained from Unitek‘s BSN curriculum include:
- Perform comprehensive patient health assessments
- Develop, implement and evaluate nursing care plans
- Administer medications and other treatments
- Coordinate care delivery with multidisciplinary teams
- Apply evidence-based practice to enhance outcomes
- Utilize critical thinking skills to address patient needs
- Demonstrate leadership capabilities
Unitek BSN students undertake clinical learning experiences across a spectrum of healthcare environments, including hospitals, ambulatory clinics, rehabilitation centers and community health organizations.
Dr. Mary Richardson, Unitek‘s Nursing Program Director shares, "Our graduates consistently cite the clinical skills preparation and leadership opportunities woven throughout our Bachelor‘s program as key advantages that helped them secure RN positions and excel as nursing professionals."
Career College of Northern Nevada (CCNN) offers a 20-month accredited Associate of Applied Science (RN) program to equip students for registered nursing roles in hospitals, private clinics or other healthcare settings. The curriculum blends classroom lectures with over 500 hours of clinical experience.
Course topics covered include:
- Fundamentals of Nursing
- Medical-Surgical Nursing
- Mental Health Nursing
- Maternal-Newborn Nursing
- Pediatric Nursing
CCNN maintains excellent career outcomes for nursing graduates year-after-year. Program positives highlighted by students feature small classes of just 12-15 students, easy access to instructors, and modern simulation labs supplementing clinical placements.
As the Director of Nursing Programs Lisa McGee notes, "Our learn-by-doing training methodology and balanced focus across all key aspects of nursing practice gives CCNN graduates a strong foundation to deliver excellent holistic care as compassionate nurses to meet diverse patient needs."
Related Healthcare Programs:
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Billing & Coding
- Pharmacy Technician
- Healthcare Administration
While Reno nursing schools produce quality graduates to meet regional employer demand, growth of program enrollments and seats remains constrained.
A chronic shortage of nursing faculty significantly impacts capacity across Nevada nursing programs. Reasons for the shortfall:
- 53% of nurse educators in Nevada approach retirement in the next 10 years
- Master‘s or Doctoral degrees required yet earn less than clinical nursing roles
- Difficult transition for bedside nurses to teach despite expertise
- Few doctoral-prepared candidates interested in teaching careers over clinical or research work
This shrinks the pipeline of new nursing professors, limiting instructional bandwidth to teach more enrolled students. Various higher education reforms could help bolster faculty ranks:
- Offering flexible part-time or shared teaching roles for expert nurses
- Creating faculty residencies or mentoring programs
- Exploring delivery models blending simulation and online learning
- Providing tuition assistance for MSN or PhD nurses pursuing part-time education
Without innovative approaches, nursing student numbers cannot expand quickly enough to meet future registered nurse demand.
Earning your RN degree opens the door to meaningful work helping and healing others in need. Reno offers high-caliber nursing programs tailored for students with diverse budgets and schedules.
From established universities to flexible technical colleges, future nurses can find the perfect fit to launch their career in this rewarding profession. Reach out to Reno nursing schools today to learn more!