Nursing

NDSCS offers Practical Nursing, Registered Nursing (A.A.S. degree) and Registered Nursing (LPN to RN degree). These are selective enrollment programs and applicants must meet specific criteria for selection.

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Are you a student who is interested in a Practical or Registered Nursing program at NDSCS? Find out how to visit NDSCS at NDSCS.edu/Visit or register to attend a SEE NDSCS Day
Are you a school counselor or instructor interested in bringing a group of students to NDSCS to learn more about Practical and Registered Nursing? Find out more about our Program Visit Days

Academic Options

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Practical Nursing (Diploma)
Practical Nursing (A.A.S. degree)

The Practical Nursing program is for students who are interested in pursuing a career in nursing or wish transfer to an associate or bachelor’s program for nursing.

  • Type: DIploma
  • Locations: Fargo, Wahpeton
  • Cluster: Health Science


» View Program Information & Admission Requirements

 

Registered Nursing (A.A.S. degree)
Registered Nursing (A.A.S. degree)

The two-year Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Registered Nursing program is available to applicants wishing to become a Registered Nurse.

  • Type: A.A.S. degree
  • Locations: Wahpeton
  • Cluster: Health Science


» View Program Information & Admission Requirements

 

Registered Nursing (LPN to RN degree)
Registered Nursing (A.S.N. degree)

The Associate in Science in Nursing program is available to Licensed Practical Nurses who wish to continue their nursing education and become a Registered Nurse.

  • Type: A.A.S. in Nursing or A.S.N. degree
  • Locations: Wahpeton
  • Cluster: Health Science


» View Program Information & Admission Requirements

 

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Public Notice of Upcoming Accreditation Review Visit by the ACEN

Practical Nursing (Associate in Applied Science degree) 

The two-year curriculum awards an Associate in Applied Science degree in Practical Nursing. Graduates have excellent opportunity for immediate entry into the health profession and/or transfer to an associate or bachelor’s program in nursing.

ACEN Seal-Color

The Practical nursing program at North Dakota College of Science located in Wahpeton ND is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Practical nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.

The Practical nursing program at North Dakota College of Science at the Fargo campus located in Fargo ND is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Practical nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.

The Practical nursing program at North Dakota College of Science has full approval from the North Dakota Board of Nursing (NDBON)
919 South 7th Street, Suite 504, Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 328-9777

NDSCS Practical Nursing Program Data
Year Pass Rate Placement Rate Completion Rate
2021-22 81.48% TBA 78%
2020-21 69.05% 92.5% 85%
2019-20 75% 100% 94%
2018-19 95.83% 100% 71%

Pass Rate: First time NCLEX-PN pass rate
Placement Rate: Graduates who are employed within one year of graduation. Placement Rate includes employment and continuing education data.
Completion Rate: Accepted students who attended the first day of class and graduated from the program.

Practical Nursing Program and Student Learning Outcomes

Registered Nursing (Associate in Applied Science degree) - Two-Year RN

This two-year Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Registered Nursing program is available to applicants wishing to become a Registered Nurse. As a nursing student and graduate from NDSCS, you will have many opportunities for growth and development as a professional nurse. Employment opportunities to begin your career are immediately available in multiple areas of practice. In addition, graduates will have the opportunity for transfer to an institution to obtain your Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing.

ACEN Seal

The Registered nursing program at North Dakota College of Science located in Wahpeton ND is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Registered nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.

The Registered nursing program at North Dakota College of Science has full approval from the North Dakota Board of Nursing (NDBON)
919 South 7th Street, Suite 504, Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 328-9777

NDSCS Registered Nursing Program Data
Year Pass Rate Placement Rate Completion Rate
2021-22 81.48% TBA 78%
2020-21 69.05% 92.5% 85%
2019-20 80% 100% 94%
2018-19 100% 100% 71%

Pass Rate: First time NCLEX-RN pass rate
Placement Rate: Graduates who are employed within one year of graduation. Placement Rate includes employment and continuing education data.
Completion Rate: Accepted students who attended the first day of class and graduated from the program.

Registered Nursing Program and Student Learning Outcomes

Registered Nursing (Associate in Science in Nursing degree) - LPN to RN

This one-year program is available to licensed practical nurses with an Associate in Science in Nursing degree (ASN) who wish to continue their nursing education and become a Registered Nurse. Graduates have an excellent opportunity for immediate employment and/or transfer to a baccalaureate or masters program for nursing.

ACEN Seal

The Registered nursing program at North Dakota College of Science located in Wahpeton ND is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Registered nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.

The Registered nursing program at North Dakota College of Science has full approval from the North Dakota Board of Nursing (NDBON)
919 South 7th Street, Suite 504, Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 328-9777

Registered Nursing Program and Student Learning Outcomes

RN to BSN Dual Acceptance Program

NDSCS to NDSU BSN Degree Progression Options with direct admit option
Click here to learn about North Dakota State University's RN to BSN Program.

Click here to learn about Minnesota State University Moorhead's RN to BSN Program.

 

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Associate in Science in Nursing (RN) Graduates from 2022-23 Academic Year
Graduates Registered Avg. Beginning Annual Salary Reported High Annual Salary Placement Rate
19 $67659 $82555 100%
Practical Nursing Graduates from 2022-23 Academic Year
Graduates Registered Avg. Beginning Annual Salary Reported High Annual Salary Placement Rate
22 $46176 $54080 100%
Registered Nursing (ASN) Graduates from 2022-23 Academic Year
Graduates Registered Avg. Beginning Annual Salary Reported High Annual Salary Placement Rate
14 $67855 $83200 100%
Nursing department

NDSCS Launches New Practical Nursing Diploma and Accelerated RN Program to Address Industry Needs and Boost Career Opportunities

08-24-2023
North Dakota State College of Science, a leading educational institution committed to providing exceptional healthcare programs, is pleased to announce the launch of its new Practical Nursing Diploma starting in the spring of 2024.

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Nursing checking patient's eyes

NDSCS Nursing program graduates achieve notable success

08-02-2023
NDSCS is excited to announce that the Spring 2023 two-year Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Registered Nurse graduating cohort achieved a 100% first time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination [for] Registered Nurses).

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Nurses working on a pediatric patient

NDSCS Nursing Programs are Granted Continuing Accreditation

05-15-2023
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) has formally granted continuing accreditation to the North Dakota State College of Science Registered Nursing and Practical Nursing programs.

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NDSCS logo

Four NDSCS students nominated for North Dakota Academic All-State Team

01-25-2023
Four students from the North Dakota State College of Science have been nominated for the 2023 North Dakota Academic All-State Team, which recognizes the academic achievements of community college students.

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Nursing department

NDSCS is accepting applications for its Practical Nursing program in Fargo

09-30-2022
North Dakota State College of Science is accepting applications for students interested in enrolling in the Practical Nursing program at NDSCS-Fargo. The deadline for submitting an application and all selection criteria is October 15, 2022.

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NDSCS Arch

NDSCS Registered Nursing programs receive Initial Accreditation from ACEN

05-29-2018
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) has formally granted initial accreditation to the NDSCS Registered Nursing programs.

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Practical Nursing students

NDSCS Practical Nursing cohort achieves 100% first-time pass rate on national exam

05-29-2018
The NDSCS Practical Nursing Southeast North Dakota cohort achieved a 100% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).

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NDSCS Registered Nursing program to accept new students annually beginning in fall 2019

Old Main in winter
12-13-2017

North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) announced today that the College will start a new class of Associate in Applied Science Registered Nursing (AAS RN) students every fall beginning in 2019. The additional class starts will produce 22 nursing students annually, an action that directly addresses the region’s nursing workforce shortage. NDSCS will soon begin seeking additional nursing instructors to meet the existing and expanded instructional needs of the department.

NDSCS began the AAS RN program in August 2017 with a cohort group of 22 students who will graduate in May 2019. NDSCS offers two nursing program options in addition to the AAS RN program: the Associate in Applied Science degree in Practical Nursing with a new class beginning each fall and spring semester, and a Registered Nursing (Associate in Science in Nursing) program for qualified AAS Licensed Practical Nurses to obtain their Registered Nursing degree, with a new class starting every fall semester.

The projected employment in 2024 for registered nurses in the state of North Dakota is 10,442, a 2.2% annual percentage change from 2014, with 403 estimated annual openings.* In the past year, 166 nursing job openings were posted on the NDSCS job website, with 41 of those openings in North Dakota. There are more than 500 Registered Nursing job openings posted on the Job Service North Dakota website.

Registered Nursing graduates from the 2016-17 academic year reported a 100% placement rate, while Practical Nursing graduates had a 97% placement rate.* NDSCS nursing graduates typically achieve a first time-pass rate of 94-100% when taking their National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

Additional information about NDSCS nursing programs can be found online at ndscs.edu/nursing, or by calling 701.671.2981. Individuals interested in joining NDSCS as a nursing instructor should direct inquiries to the Human Resources department on the Wahpeton campus at 701.671.2903.

*Data Sources:
Labor Market Information Center, Job Service North Dakota, Projections Unit
NDSCS 2017 Placement Report (ndscs.edu/placement)