Private Nursing Schools: How to Choose the Right One
Private nursing schools range from nonprofit colleges to for-profit career schools, and each type comes with different tradeoffs on cost, admission flexibility, and scheduling. The licensing board doesn’t care which kind you attend. What matters is that the program is board-approved and, for career mobility, accredited by CCNE or ACEN.
Sponsored School(s)
Nursing school: public or private. It makes no difference to the state licensing board. Both types produce graduates who sit for the same NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN. What differs is the path to get there: the cost, the timeline, the admission process, and what you’re signing up for when you enroll. If you’re weighing a private program, here’s what you actually need to know.
Types of Private Nursing Schools
Private nursing schools aren’t a single category. They split into two meaningful groups: nonprofit private colleges and for-profit (proprietary) schools. Faith-based institutions are a subset of the nonprofit category. Schools in networks such as the Catholic Health Association often integrate their mission into curricula, though clinical and licensing requirements are the same as elsewhere.
For-profit schools are run as businesses. That shapes everything from how they recruit students to how they structure programs. The best ones build efficient, well-supported programs designed for working adults. The weaker ones prioritize enrollment over outcomes. The difference matters, and it shows up in NCLEX pass rates and outcome data. Many institutions participating in federal financial aid programs are required to provide disclosures on program costs, debt, earnings, and outcomes. Review any available data before committing.
Nonprofit private colleges occupy a middle ground. They don’t have the tax-subsidized cost of a state university, but they’re also not optimizing for shareholder returns. Program quality at this level varies as much as it does anywhere else, so the same scrutiny applies.
Admission and Timeline Advantages
The most common reason prospective nurses choose a private school over a public one isn’t about academics. It’s about getting in, and getting in now.
RN programs at community colleges can be difficult to enter. Many schools limit cohort sizes and use competitive selection processes or weighted lotteries to manage demand. Getting a seat can mean completing all prerequisites well in advance, applying for one of two annual cohorts, and still not being guaranteed a spot. For students who need to start earning sooner, or who’ve already been waiting, that timeline is a real barrier.
Private schools, particularly for-profit ones, tend to have more seats and more flexible entry points. They may allow prerequisites to be completed alongside nursing coursework rather than before it, and some will confirm enrollment before requiring any pre-nursing coursework at all. The process is often less competitive because there isn’t a fixed number of seats driving a cutoff.
That flexibility has a cost. It shifts more of the selection work onto the student. A school that admits more freely puts more of the burden of staying enrolled and succeeding on the individual. Students considering this path should look closely at NCLEX pass rates, graduation rates, and what support services actually exist before enrolling.
Cost and Credit Transfer
Private schools are generally more expensive than comparable public options, though costs vary by program and degree level. Tuition at nonprofit private colleges can run significantly higher than in-state community college rates, and for-profit schools often carry higher per-credit costs as well. Federal financial aid, including Pell Grants and subsidized loans, is available at schools that meet eligibility requirements, but it rarely covers the full gap.
Before enrolling anywhere, review any available outcome and debt data the school provides. Many institutions participating in federal financial aid programs are required to provide disclosures regarding program costs, debt, earnings, and outcomes. It’s one of the more useful data points available. It indicates whether graduates are actually getting jobs in the field and earning enough to service any debt they took on.
Credit transfer is the other major cost factor that students underestimate. Credits earned at a for-profit school don’t always transfer to public universities or nonprofit colleges. If your goal is eventually an RN-to-BSN completion program or an MSN, you need to know upfront whether the credits from your initial program will count. Ask the school directly, and get the answer in writing.
Scheduling and Format
Flexibility in scheduling is a genuine advantage private schools offer, especially at the for-profit level. These programs were built for working adults, and the structure reflects that. Self-paced options, continuous enrollment, cohort-free progression, and online coursework are more common than at traditional state schools, though the gap has narrowed as public institutions have expanded online offerings.
Smaller class sizes are another feature of many private programs. Whether that translates into better outcomes depends on instructor quality and the availability of clinical placements, not on class size alone. But for students who found large state university environments hard to navigate, a smaller program can make a practical difference.
Accreditation and Quality Standards
Every prelicensure nursing program in the country must be approved by the state board of nursing in the state where it operates. Board approval is the minimum standard. Without it, graduates can’t sit for the NCLEX. Most state boards monitor NCLEX pass rates as part of ongoing program approval and oversight, though specific standards vary by state.
Program-level accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) is a separate, higher bar. These are the two primary programmatic accreditors for nursing programs. CCNE accredits ADN and BSN programs at the baccalaureate level and above. ACEN covers a wider range, including diploma and associate programs. Neither is required for initial licensure, but both matter if you plan to continue your education. Many RN-to-BSN completion programs and MSN programs require applicants to hold a degree from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program. Check this before enrolling if advanced practice is on the table.
Institutional accreditation is separate from programmatic accreditation and remains important for credit transfer and graduate school admission. Some institutions accept transfer credits more readily from certain accreditors than others, so it’s worth checking directly with any school you plan to transfer into before you commit.
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
How to Evaluate Any Private Program
The type of school matters less than the specific program. A well-run for-profit school with strong NCLEX pass rates and solid clinical placements is a better choice than a poorly run nonprofit. The data points to look at are the same regardless of school type: NCLEX pass rates, graduation rates, any available outcome and debt disclosures, accreditation status, and whether the clinical hours requirement meets your state board’s standard.
Talk to recent graduates if you can. Ask them whether clinical placements were adequate in number and quality, whether advisors were accessible, and whether the program prepared them for the exam. Schools that invest in student success show it in those conversations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it matter to the state licensing board whether I attended a private or public nursing school?
No. State boards of nursing issue licenses based on whether a graduate completed a board-approved program and passed the NCLEX, not on whether the school was public or private, nonprofit or for-profit. What the board cares about is program approval status, not ownership structure.
Are private nursing schools accredited?
Some are, some aren’t. Accreditation by CCNE or ACEN is generally not required for initial licensure in most states, but it may affect eligibility for graduate education, employment opportunities, military service, and licensure mobility. Always verify accreditation status directly with the accrediting body, not just the school’s website.
Will my credits transfer if I attend a for-profit nursing school?
Not necessarily. Credits from for-profit schools may not transfer to public universities or nonprofit colleges, depending on the institution’s accreditation and the policies of the school you’re transferring into. If you expect to transfer or continue your education, ask about credit transferability before enrolling and get written confirmation from the school you plan to transfer into, not just the school you’re leaving.
How do I evaluate whether a private nursing school is worth the cost?
Look at the NCLEX pass rates, graduation rates, and any available outcome and debt disclosures. Many institutions participating in federal financial aid programs are required to provide these. Compare the total cost against in-state public options. Factor in time-to-completion. A faster timeline has real value if it gets you into the workforce sooner. If the school can’t produce clear data on outcomes, that’s a signal.
What’s the difference between CCNE and ACEN accreditation?
Both are recognized programmatic accreditors for nursing programs. CCNE, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, focuses on baccalaureate and graduate programs. ACEN, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, covers a broader range, including diploma, associate, baccalaureate, and graduate programs. Either credential signals that the program meets national quality standards and is likely to be recognized by employers and graduate schools.
Key Takeaways
- Board approval is what counts for licensure — Every state board of nursing approves programs independently. Private or public doesn’t affect eligibility to sit for the NCLEX.
- CCNE or ACEN accreditation matters for what comes next — If you plan to pursue an RN-to-BSN or graduate degree, program accreditation from one of the two primary programmatic accreditors affects your options.
- Private schools offer real admission advantages — More available seats and flexible entry timelines are legitimate reasons to consider a private program, especially when public options have long waits or limited cohorts.
- Credit transfer isn’t guaranteed — Credits from for-profit schools may not transfer. Verify before enrolling, particularly if further education is a goal.
- Evaluate programs on outcomes data — NCLEX pass rates, graduation rates, and any available outcome and debt disclosures are the most reliable signals of program quality across all school types.
Use the tool below to compare approved nursing programs by state, including program type, accreditation status, and application details.