10 Best Utah Nursing Schools

10 Best Utah Nursing Schools

The best Utah nursing schools offer a variety of accredited programs for both new nurses and RNs pursuing more advanced degrees. These Utah nursing schools are committed to developing a robust curriculum and otherwise supporting nursing students. If you are interested in becoming a nurse in Utah, a quality nursing school offers online classes for some or all of the lecture classes.

Accredited nursing schools offer many different kinds of programs and specializations. Therefore, it’s important for students to take their time and consider all the factors such as their future goals and how much of a commitment they can make.

Featured Programs

There are many different nursing schools that offer faster or slower pacing. For example, there are one-year programs in many community colleges that allow students to earn their nursing diploma LPN designation. Those wishing to become registered nurses as quickly as possible can spend 18 to 24 months completing their associate degree in nursing.


How We Ranked The Best Nursing Programs Utah

Nursing School Hub features only reputable, accredited nursing schools in our ranking of the best nursing schools in Utah. Nurses want a degree with real value, so we have ranked each program by tuition rates, student reviews, and graduate salaries with data from IPEDS and Niche.


1. Brigham Young University

The Brigham Young University College of Nursing focuses on providing a bachelor of science in nursing with a faith-based nursing education that advances the science of nursing and healthcare. BYU also offers a Family Nurse Practitioner degree program. The BYU nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. In addition, graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN. Graduates will demonstrate practical nursing skills and provide compassionate care to patients and provide high-quality health care. The BSN and MS in Nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Brigham Young University (BYU) is a private research university sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The school has a space-grant affiliation and a Carnegie Research Classification of R2: Doctoral Universities with High Research Activity. BYU has 179 undergraduate majors, 62 master’s degree programs, and 26 doctoral degree programs. BYU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

Programs: BSN, MSN

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2. University of Utah

The College of Nursing at the University of Utah offers multiple nursing programs and degree options that lead to students earning their BS in Nursing. An early assurance program allows college seniors and first-year college students to begin their nursing education. At the same time, the pre-licensure track enables unlicensed healthcare workers to earn a nursing license. Nurses with an ADN can take the online RN to BS track to achieve their BSN, and an RN to BS express pathway gives second semester RN students to get their BSN. 

The University of Utah (U of U or UofU) is a public research university with a space-grant affiliation. It has a Carnegie Research Classification of R1: Doctoral Universities with Very high research activity. The University of Utah also has a healthcare system with four hospitals, including Huntsman Cancer Institute and the University of Utah Hospital. U of U has 150 academic departments organized into 17 colleges and schools that cover all primary academic pursuits. 

Programs: Online RN-BSN, BSN, MSN, PhD, DNP-PhD

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3. Nightingale College

The nursing program at Nightingale College is available nationwide and is also one of the best nursing programs in Utah. Nightingale offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), RN-to-BSN, and a Master of Science in Nursing Education (MSN Ed). Most of the nursing coursework is completed online. In addition to online classes, the Nightingale nursing degree programs require Supervised On-ground Field Experience (SOFE) areas for students to earn their clinical rotation hours. The SOFE Utah locations include Salt Lake City, Provo, Logan, and St George. Students can earn their BSN in as little as 32 months through an accelerated degree program. Nightingale prepares students to sit for the NCLEX-RN, apply for licensure during their studies, and graduate with a complete understanding of nursing concepts. 

Nightingale College is a private, for-profit college that prepares nurses to improve their nursing skills and healthcare delivery. It’s a nursing-only school with accreditation from the Accrediting Bureau of Health Schools (ABHES) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).  

Programs: PN diploma, BSN, RN-BSN, ABSN, MSN

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4. Utah State University

The Department of Nursing at Utah State University is one of the best nursing programs in Utah. The school offers four nursing degree programs: Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse, BSN, and an online-only RN to BSN. In addition, the RN pre-licensure program is a two-semester program that teaches students how to work with patients’ healthcare needs in various settings. Some of the areas of study include mental health, medical-surgical, family health nursing, pharmacology, and more. Utah State nursing graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and qualify as entry-level nurses upon graduation. In addition, students who complete their Associate of Applied Science in Nursing can continue to the RN to BSN completion program. 

Utah State University (USU or Utah State) is a public land-grant and space-grant affiliation university part of the Utah System of Higher Education. It has a Carnegie Research Classification of R2. It has produced seven Rhodes Scholars and one Nobel Prize winner, with many students winning other prestigious awards. Utah State offers 159 undergraduate degrees, 83 master’s level degrees, and 41 doctoral degrees. USU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

Programs: LPN, ASN, RN-BSN, BSN

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5. Westminster College

The School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Westminster College offers some of the best nursing programs in Utah. The BSN and RN-to-BS degrees are for nurses who want to earn an undergraduate degree. The BSN program prepares students to meet the healthcare needs of patients and engage in the life-long professional development of their skills. Graduates of the BSN program are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN and enter into a post-graduate degree program to further their education. In addition, the RN-to-BSN program teaches working professionals how to become leaders in nursing and respond appropriately to the community’s healthcare needs and the management of nursing staff. The Nursing programs are approved by the Utah State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Westminster College is a private school located in Salt Lake City. The school offers 34 undergraduate degrees, pre-med, pre-law, and pre-dental programs. It also offers 13 graduate degrees in areas that include Accounting, Business Administration, Public Health, and more. The school was founded in 1875 with supervision from the First Presbyterian Church of Salt Lake City. Westminster College separated its official ties with the church but retained a loose affiliation with the USA Presbyterian Church. The school’s sports teams participate in the NCAA Division II – Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.  Westminster College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

Programs: RN-BSN, BSN

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6. Ameritech College of Healthcare

The Ameritech College of Healthcare offers some of the best nursing programs in Utah. Four popular nursing degree programs are the Associate of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and a Master of Science in Nursing. All degree programs offer students the opportunity to graduate in less time than is typically needed for a degree program. In addition, graduates have a high pass rate of the NCLEX-RN. Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field can transfer 60 credits into the accelerated program and earn a BSN in as little as 20 months.

Ameritech College of Healthcare’s Associate of Science Nursing (ASN) program has been granted programmatic accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The Ameritech College of Healthcare BSN and graduate degrees are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Additionally, Ameritech College of Healthcare is a private college located in Provo, Utah. The school offers multiple nursing degree programs and is accredited by The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). 

Programs: ASN, BSN, ABSN, RN to BSN, BSN-MSN, MSN direct entry, BSN-MSN

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7. Snow College

The nursing program at Snow College teaches students how to become caring and competent nurses qualified to take the NCLEX-RN exam upon graduation. Students in the ASN program learn about the history of the nursing profession to better understand their role in healthcare, learn about advances in medicine, and engage in life-long learning after graduation. The curriculum encourages students to use their critical thinking skills and make educated decisions that help improve patient outcomes. 

Snow College is a public community college and is part of the Utah System of Higher Education. Snow offers certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees in software engineering and commercial music. It enrolls around 5,500 students each academic year. Many graduates have gone on to play for major sports teams and entered into politics. The school features eight varsity teams. 

Programs: ASN

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8. Southern Utah University

The Department of Nursing at Southern Utah University prepares students to work as licensed nurses and successfully enter graduate school. The program focuses on providing a sound learning experience with an emphasis on cultural sensitivity. Students learn how to engage their critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities and make ethical decisions when working with patients. The school offers state-of-the-art health care equipment for students to learn on and varied clinical practicum opportunities for a broad educational experience. Southern Utah offers an LPN to BSN, Online RN to BSN, and an HP (Health Professional) to BSN degree. The BSN at Southern Utah University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Southern Utah University (SUU) is a public university and is part of the Utah System of Higher Education. The school offers over 140 undergraduate degrees and 19 graduate programs. Also, SUU enrolls over 11,000 students each academic year. It has many notable alumni who play in major sports leagues, the performing arts, and politics. The school’s athletic teams participate in the NCAA Division I FCS – Big Sky Conference. 

Programs: LPN to BSN, Online RN to BSN, HP (Health Professional) to BSN

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9. Utah Valley University

The nursing program at Utah Valley University features a BSN program that prepares students to advance their careers in nursing and eventual entry into graduate nursing programs. The BSN program requires students to complete an ASN degree before entry or be licensed RN. In addition, students must complete 30 credit hours of residency at UVU. Upon graduation, students will be able to practice nursing in most types of health care settings. 

Utah Valley University (UVU) is a public university and part of the Utah System of Higher Education. It offers 54 certificate programs, 65 associate degrees, 91 bachelor’s degrees, 11 master’s degrees, and 34 online programs. In addition, Utah Valley features schools of Business, Arts, and Education along with colleges of Humanities and Social Services, Health and Public Service, Science, Engineering and Technology, and a University College for uncategorized programs. Its athletics teams participate in the NCAA Division I – WAC. 

Programs: ASN, RN-BSN, MSN, MTECH-LPN to ASN with BSN Completion

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10. Weber State University

The Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing at Weber State University offers entry-level to doctorate nursing degrees. Webber State‘s Associate of Science Degree in Nursing (ADN) prepares students for entry-level clinical practice. Upon completing the program’s first year, students can take the NCLEX-PN exam to gain licensure as a practical nurse and take the NCLEX-RN exam after graduation. Students can then move on to bachelor’s degree, graduate, and doctoral level degrees. The RN-BSN curriculum takes 2 to 3 semesters to complete. Courses are in a hybrid format with online learning and five campus visits per semester. Or, students can take the program entirely online if they qualify.

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) has two emphases in Educator or Executive. Classes cater to working professionals and take 12 months to complete online. Additionally, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is the highest practice-focused degree in nursing. It prepares nurses to be experts in specialized advanced practice nursing. Weber State is part of the Utah public System of Higher Education. The school offers over 250 certificate and undergraduate degree programs throughout its seven colleges. Its main campus is located in Ogden but has multiple satellite campuses located around the region. Weber State University is also a pioneer in online education for the Utah System of Higher Education. 

Programs: ADN, PN-RN, RN-BSN, MSN Educator, MSN Executive, Post MSN Graduate Certificates, DNP – Nurse Practitioner, and DNP – Leadership

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How Do I Choose a Nursing School in Utah?

How Do I Choose a Nursing School in Utah?

It’s important to get to know the different nursing schools in Utah and what each has to offer. With more than 30 nursing schools in Utah, this could take some time and research. The best nursing school in Utah will have the appropriate accreditation from one of the major nursing accreditation boards.

Accredited nursing schools in Utah will have credentials from one of three major accrediting agencies:

RNs often decide to get a four-year degree to give them better job opportunities or help them specialize in various fields. It typically takes four years to go full-time, but some programs offer accelerated options for those who already have a degree in another field. Many nursing specialties require a master’s degree that takes two to three years to complete.

Prior to committing to a program, potential nursing students should look through the class schedules to make sure that the program they choose helps them meet their career goals. Many working professionals opt for online classes even if they have to take their practicums at a local health care facility, hospital, or another venue.


How is the Job Market for Nurses in Utah?

Despite the overall demand for health care workers in the United States, the number of postings for registered nurse jobs in Utah has actually gone down. Over the past several years, there has been an overall decline in job listings for registered nurses in Utah. According to the Department of Workforce Services, the number of job listings online has steadily declined after peaking at 3,010 listings.

Although nurse jobs in Utah have decreased, there’s still a demand for more than 800 nurses each ear. For example, nurse practitioner jobs in Utah demand highly trained nurses who have gone through postgraduate studies to meet the demanding requirements of a nurse practitioner.

Registered nurse jobs in Utah include general practitioners such as registered nurses and specializations such as neonatal nursing, trauma nursing, geriatric nursing, and surgical nursing. Graduates looking for nurse jobs in Utah should consider joining a professional organization to help them network and find mentors in the field. This is especially true of specializations such as nurse practitioner jobs in Utah.


How Much Do Nurses Make in Utah?

Nursing salaries in Utah ranges are a bit lower than in the country as a whole. However, a registered nurse salary in Utah still offers a lucrative living for those who would enjoy this type of work.

Registered nurses in Utah make an average of $70,000 per year for an hourly rate of $33.83. The lowest 10% of RNs make $55,000 while the top 10% make more than $92,000. This is somewhat lower than the national average of $75,000 per year.

Most nurses have other reasons for entering the field besides earning a good nursing salary in Utah. Passion and commitment start with a good education at an online or on-campus nursing school in Utah. Students who want to earn a registered nurse’s salary in Utah engage in their classwork and look for opportunities to make an impact.


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