Top Nursing Schools in Indiana: 18 Best Options For 2024 (2024)

• Nurse Luke
• Last Updated: March 14, 2024

Considering starting or advancing your education as a nurse in The Hoosier State? Then you should check out these top nursing schools in Indiana!

Not only does the state feature a blend of rural and urban areas to study in, but it also has a fast-growing demand for nurses.

Better yet, Indiana nursing programs boast an exceptional overall NCLEX pass rate. In fact, of the 2,514 BSN graduates taking the exam for the first time in 2023, 2,297 passed. This makes Indiana’s statewide 2023 NCLEX pass rate an impressive 91.37%, surpassing the 90.17% national average.

Of course, even if you’re not looking to earn your BSN, there are tons of great options to explore to earn your ADN, MSN, or DNP.

So, in this article we’ll take a look at the best nursing schools in Indiana. If you’re not sure how to narrow down the myriad of options, this is the perfect place to start!

18 Best Nursing Schools in Indiana

Unlike other sites covering the top nursing schools in Indiana, who provide unverifiable NCLEX pass rates, we collected official data from the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency.

Additionally, we provide direct links to each school’s degree offerings so you can learn if a particular program may be right for you.

Regardless of the type of degree or certificate you’re looking to earn, you’re sure to find some great options in the list below.

1. Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences, West Lafayette

• Primary Location: West Lafayette, IN
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Format: Undergraduate programs are on-campus; graduate-level programs are hybrid
• Degrees Offered:
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (16-month program for those with a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree)
  • Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner MSN
  • Family Nurse Practitioner MSN
  • Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner MSN
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner MSN
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN to DNP or MSN to DNP)
  • PhD in Nursing
  • Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate
  • Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate
  • Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate
• NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 96.3% (160/166)

2. Purdue University Northwest College of Nursing

• Primary Location: Hammond, IN
• Accreditation: ACEN
• Format: On-campus and online options (all are on-campus unless otherwise noted below)
• Degrees Offered:
  • Traditional BSN with concentration in Professional Nursing
  • Accelerated BSN (for those with a non-nursing baccalaureate degree)
  • Online RN to BSN
  • Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist MSN
  • Nurse Executive MSN (online)
  • Family Nurse Practitioner MSN
  • Nurse Educator MSN (online)
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (fully on-campus or online with a one-week summer intensive)
  • Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Post-Master’s Certificate
  • Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate
  • Nurse Educator Post-Master’s Certificate (online)
• NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 89.6% (130/145)

3. University of Indianapolis School of Nursing

• Primary Location: Indianapolis, IN
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Format: On-campus and online options (all are online unless otherwise noted below)
• Degrees Offered:
  • Traditional BSN (on-campus)
  • On-campus Accelerated BSN (for those with a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree)
  • Online Accelerated BSN (for those with a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree)
  • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner MSN
  • Nursing and Health Systems Leadership MSN
  • Nursing Education MSN
  • Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner MSN
  • Primary Care Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner MSN
  • Nurse Leader Graduate Certificate
  • Nurse Educator Graduate Certificate
  • Post-MSN DNP
  • Executive DNP (for BSN nurses with a non-nursing Master’s degree)
  • Clinical Expert DNP (for nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists)
  • BSN to DNP
• NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 90.9% (101/111)

4. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

• Primary Location: St. Mary’s, IN
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Format: On-campus and online options
• Degrees Offered:
  • Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (on-campus)
  • Paramedic to BSN (online)
  • Family Nurse Practitioner MSN (on-campus or online)
  • Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate (on-campus or online)
• NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 100% (20/20)

5. Indiana University School of Nursing (IUPUI)

• Primary Location: Indianapolis, IN
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Format: On-campus, online, and hybrid options
• Degrees Offered:
  • Traditional BSN (on-campus)
  • Honors-track BSN (on-campus)
  • Second-degree Accelerated BSN (on-campus)
  • RN to BSN (online)
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner MSN (hybrid)
  • Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist MSN (online, with some on-campus lab days)
  • Family Nurse Practitioner MSN (format not specified)
  • Nursing Education MSN (online)
  • Nursing Leadership in Health Systems MSN (online)
  • Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist MSN (online, with some on-campus lab days)
  • Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner MSN (hybrid)
  • Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner MSN (format not specified)
  • Executive Leadership DNP (format not specified)
  • Advanced Clinical Track DNP (format not specified)
  • Teaching in Nursing Post-MSN Certificate (online)
  • Post-MSN Graduate Certificate in one of eight specialities (online or hybrid)
• NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 84.4% (49/58)

6. Indiana State University School of Nursing

• Primary Location: Terre Haute, IN
• Accreditation: ACEN
• Format: Mostly online, with some on-campus and hybrid options
• Degrees Offered:
  • Traditional BSN (on-campus)
  • Second Degree Accelerated BSN (hybrid/online)
  • LPN to BSN (online)
  • Family Nurse Practitioner MSN (online)
  • Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner MSN (online)
  • BSN to DNP with Family Nurse Practitioner Speciality (online)
  • Post-Master’s DNP (online)
• NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 91% (173/190)

7. Ball State University School of Nursing

• Primary Location: Muncie, IN
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Format: All online, except the traditional BSN
• Degrees Offered:
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (on-campus)
  • RN to BSN
  • Master of Science in Nursing with concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, or Nurse Administrator
  • Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate
• NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 93.2% (138/148)

8. Indiana University Kokomo School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions

• Primary Location: Kokomo, IN
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Format: All on-campus, with the exception of the online RN to BSN program
• Degrees Offered:
  • Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • RN to BSN (online)
  • Second Degree BSN
  • Post-Baccalaureate Certification with concentration in Nursing Administration or Nursing Education (format not specified)
  • Nursing Administration MSN
  • Nursing Education MSN
  • Family Nurse Practitioner MSN
• NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 94.3% (84/89)

9. Anderson University

• Primary Location: Anderson, IN
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Format: On-campus and online options
• Degrees Offered:
  • Traditional BSN (on-campus)
  • RN to BSN (online)
  • Second-Degree Accelerated BSN (on-campus)
• NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 88.1% (37/42)

10. Goshen College

• Primary Location: Goshen, IN
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Format: On-campus and online options
• Degrees Offered:
  • Traditional BSN (on-campus)
  • RN to BSN (online)
  • Family Nurse Practitioner MSN (on-campus)
• NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 91.3% (21/23)

11. Huntington University

• Primary Location: Huntington, IN
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Format: On-campus only
• Degrees Offered:
  • Traditional BSN
  • Accelerated BSN (13-month program for those with a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree)
• NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 100% (19/19)

12. Marian University Leighton School of Nursing

• Primary Location: Indianapolis, IN
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Format: On-campus, online, and hybrid options
• Degrees Offered:
  • Traditional BSN (on-campus)
  • Accelerated BSN (on-campus or online)
  • RN to BSN (online)
  • Family Nurse Practitioner DNP (hybrid)
  • Nurse Anesthesia DNP (hybrid)
• NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 82.1% (156/190)

13. Indiana Wesleyan University School of Nursing

• Primary Location: Marion, IN
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Format: On-campus and online options
• Degrees Offered:
  • Traditional BSN (on-campus)
  • RN to BSN (on-campus or online)
  • RN to Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner MSN (online)
  • RN to Health Systems Leadership MSN (online)
  • RN to Nursing Education MSN (online)
  • Post-MBA Health Systems Leadership MSN (online)
  • Nursing Education MSN (online)
  • Health Systems Leadership MSN (online)
  • Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner MSN (on-campus or online)
  • Primary Care Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner MSN (on-campus or online)
  • Health Systems Leadership MSN/MBA (online)
  • BSN to Family Nurse Practitioner DNP (online)
  • BSN to Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP (on-campus or online)
  • Systems Leadership DNP (online)
  • Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate (on-campus or online)
  • Health Systems Leadership Post-Graduate Certificate (online)
  • Nursing Education Post-Graduate Certificate (online)
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate (online)
• NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 93.5% (87/93)

14. Valparaiso University College of Nursing and Health Professions

• Primary Location: Valparaiso, IN
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Format: On-campus and online options
• Degrees Offered:
  • Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (on-campus)
  • Accelerated BSN (on-campus)
  • RN to BSN (online)
  • BSN to DNP (online)
  • Post-Master’s DNP (online)
• NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 91.4% (96/104)

15. University of Southern Indiana College of Nursing and Health Professions

• Primary Location: Evansville, IN
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Format: Mostly online, with the exception of the traditional BSN program
• Degrees Offered:
  • Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (on-campus)
  • RN to BSN
  • ASN to BSN (online dual enrollment program for Ivy Tech students)
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner MSN
  • Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist MSN
  • Family Nurse Practitioner MSN
  • Healthcare Systems Leadership MSN
  • Nursing Education Leadership MSN
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner MSN
  • Post-MSN Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • BSN to Adult Geriatric Acute Nurse Practitioner DNP
  • BSN to Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner DNP
  • BSN to Family Nurse Practitioner DNP
  • BSN to Organizational and Systems Leadership DNP
  • BSN to Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner DNP
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Nurse Practitioner Post-MSN Certificate
  • Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Post-MSN Certificate
  • Family Nurse Practitioner Post-MSN Certificate
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-MSN Certificate
• NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 99.1% (113/114)

16. University of Saint Francis

• Primary Location: Fort Wayne, IN
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Format: On-campus and hybrid options
• Degrees Offered:
  • Associate Degree in Nursing (on-campus)
  • LPN to ADN (on-campus)
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (on-campus)
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice with concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, or Leadership (hybrid)
  • Post-Graduate Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, or Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (hybrid)
• NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 97.9% (48/49)

17. Saint Mary’s College Department of Nursing Science

• Primary Location: Notre Dame, IN
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Format: On-campus and online options
• Degrees Offered:
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Direct-Entry Master of Science in Nursing (on-campus)
  • Family Nurse Practitioner DNP (online)
  • Geriatric Neuropsychiatry DNP (online)
• NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 93.6% (44/47)

18. Bethel University

• Primary Location: Mishawaka, IN
• Accreditation: ACEN
• Format: On-campus and online options
• Degrees Offered:
  • Associate Degree in Nursing (on-campus)
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (on-campus)
  • RN to BSN (online)
  • Master of Science in Nursing with concentration in Nurse Educator or Nurse Administrator (online)
• NCLEX Pass Rate (2023): 100% (27/27)

What To Consider When Choosing Nursing Schools In Indiana

To ensure you’re considering nursing schools in Indiana that align with your goals, think about these key factors when making your choice:

• Accreditation: Ensure the school provides a trustworthy education and meets the standards set by accreditation agencies. Fortunately, all of the schools on the list above are accredited by either the CCNE or ACEN.
• Admission requirements: Understand what the school expects to assess your chances of admission into their program. Remember, schools will have different admission requirements for different programs.
• Cost: Consider the tuition fees, materials, housing, and other expenses and evaluate how well it aligns with your budget. Also, keep in mind that the cost of graduate-level programs and private schools are typically higher than undergraduate programs and public schools.
• Program format: Explore and choose a program that suits your needs, whether it be full-time, part-time, online, or on-campus.
• Faculty: Research faculty credentials to understand the quality of mentorship the school can provide you.
• Program length: Look into the length of the program you’re interested in to determine how it will affect your other commitments. You might also consider options like an accelerated BSN program if you already have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
• Curriculum and clinical hours: Ensure the school provides a balanced curriculum with theory and hands-on training. If you want to pursue a particular specialty, make sure your desired program offers that course of study.
• NCLEX-RN pass rates: If you’re entering an ADN or BSN program, check out how well graduates perform on the NCLEX. This percentage indicates how well the school prepares their students for licensure exams.

Is An Indiana Nursing School Right For You?

Whether you’re pursuing an ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP, or Post-Graduate Certificate, one of the nursing schools in Indiana we’ve listed above is sure to make a good fit.

Additionally, the diversity in program formats—from traditional, on-campus to flexible, online options—caters to the needs of students with different commitments.

With an impressive statewide NCLEX pass rate exceeding the national average, Indiana is a promising location to obtain a solid nursing education.

Of course, if you didn’t find quite what you were hoping for, you may also want to consider an online degree from outside The Hoosier State. To see some of these options, be sure to check out our rankings of the best online BSN programs and top online MSN programs.