ADN programs: associate degree in nursing cost and requirements

Quick answer: An ADN (associate degree in nursing) is a college degree, usually offered by community colleges, that qualifies you to take the NCLEX-RN and become a registered nurse. Programs typically run about 60–72 credits, with prerequisites first and then roughly two years of nursing courses and supervised clinicals. Average in-district tuition and fees at public two-year colleges are $4,150 a year (College Board, 2025–26). In 2025, 86.1% of first-time US-educated associate degree graduates passed the NCLEX-RN, against 87.6% for BSN graduates (NCSBN).

ADN programs are the most common way into registered nursing. Of the 192,916 first-time, US-educated candidates who sat the NCLEX-RN in 2025, 89,549 (46%) came from associate degree programs, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Many of those nurses keep studying after licensure. The NCSBN’s 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey found that 34.2% of RNs entered the profession through an associate degree, but only 22.8% still hold the ADN as their highest nursing qualification. The gap between those two figures is the share who went on to a bachelor’s degree or higher.

An ADN is a good option if you want to become an RN at a lower cost than a four-year degree. If you’re weighing the two degrees against each other, our ADN vs BSN comparison breaks down cost, timeline, salary and long-term career ceiling, and our guide on whether an associate degree in nursing is worth it walks through the return on investment.

What is an ADN?

An ADN is an associate-level nursing degree that prepares you to sit the NCLEX-RN, obtain a license in the state where you plan to practice, and start work as an entry-level registered nurse. You will see it under several names. ADN, ASN (associate of science in nursing), AAS in nursing (associate of applied science) and AD nursing all describe the same RN-qualifying degree; the label depends on how the college classifies its associate programs.

Licensed graduates of associate, bachelor’s and diploma programs all generally qualify for entry-level staff nurse positions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, although employers, particularly hospitals, may require a bachelor’s degree. An ADN also gives you the base of knowledge and clinical skills you need to move on to a BSN while you work.

What can you do with an associate degree in nursing?

You can become an RN and start earning an RN salary. Within the clinical environment, you can administer medication, assess and monitor patients, discuss symptoms and treatment plans with physicians and patients, and help shape and deliver each patient’s plan of care. Many ADN nurses then begin an RN-to-BSN program while working and start exploring specialties.

Where can you work with an ADN?

Registered nurses with an ADN work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, surgery centers, nursing homes, schools, home health and community settings.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 59% of RNs work in hospitals (state, local or private). Ambulatory healthcare services, a category covering physicians’ offices, home healthcare and outpatient care centers, account for 19%. Nursing and residential care facilities employ 6%, government 5% and educational services 3%.

ADN program admission requirements

Requirements vary by school, and admission to many community college ADN programs is competitive, so meeting the minimum does not guarantee a place. Most programs ask for:

A high school diploma or GED, plus college placement in English and math
Prerequisite courses, usually anatomy and physiology I and II, microbiology, English composition, psychology and a college-level math course, often with a minimum grade of C in each (see our full guide to nursing prerequisites)
A minimum GPA, most often 2.5 to 3.0 across prerequisites or overall
An entrance exam, most commonly the ATI TEAS or HESI A2, with some schools using the NLN PAX (our TEAS guide explains how scores are used)
A background check, drug screen, immunization records and CPR certification before clinical placements begin

Competitive programs rank applicants with a points system built from prerequisite grades, entrance exam scores, and extras such as CNA certification or healthcare work experience. If your GPA falls below the typical threshold, see our guides to low GPA nursing schools and the easiest nursing schools to get into.

How long do ADN programs take?

ADN programs are built around about two years of nursing coursework, but the total time to licensure is usually longer. Prerequisites alone can take one to two semesters if you are starting from scratch, and some programs have waitlists. The Bureau of Labor Statistics now describes ADN and ASN degrees as typically taking four years to complete, the same figure it gives for a BSN, so check the real timeline at the school you are considering rather than relying on the two-year label.

Part-time and evening tracks stretch the nursing sequence further. Our guide to how long nursing school takes compares every route side by side.

ADN curriculum

ADN programs commonly total around 60–72 credits, and the exact count varies by school. Most require the college’s general education core before or alongside the nursing sequence. That core usually includes:

English composition
Communications
Psychology and human growth and development
Sociology
Biology and chemistry
Human anatomy and physiology
Microbiology
Statistics or college algebra

The nursing sequence then covers:

Fundamentals of nursing and the nursing profession
Nursing health assessment
Pharmacology
Medical-surgical nursing
Maternal-newborn nursing
Pediatric nursing
Psychiatric and mental health nursing
Community health nursing
Professional issues and leadership in nursing

Clinical hours

Clinical hours, or supervised hands-on patient care, are the core of any ADN program. Programs typically require 500 to 750 clinical hours across the curriculum. There is no national accreditor minimum, since ACEN, the main accreditor for associate-level nursing programs, sets no clinical-hour floor, so the binding requirement comes from your state board of nursing. California’s Board of Registered Nursing, for instance, mandates 500 direct patient care hours in a board-approved setting, with at least 30 hours in each of five specialty areas. Check the requirement in the state where you intend to be licensed rather than assuming a national standard exists. Our guide to nursing school clinical hours requirements breaks the numbers down by program type.

Clinical hours mean supervised direct patient care. Skills labs, simulation and volunteering may appear on a program’s schedule, but they are counted separately and most state boards cap how much simulation can substitute for time on a real unit.

How much do ADN programs cost?

Community college ADN programs are the lowest-cost route to an RN license. Average published tuition and fees at public two-year colleges were $4,150 a year for in-district students in 2025–26, according to the College Board’s Trends in College Pricing. Out-of-district and out-of-state students pay more, and private and for-profit ADN programs can cost several times that figure.

Tuition is only part of the bill. Budget separately for:

Nursing program fees, which often cover clinical placement, simulation and standardized testing
Textbooks, uniforms, a stethoscope and other equipment
Background checks, drug screens and immunizations
The NCLEX-RN registration fee, currently $200 and rising to $350 from February 1, 2027 (NCSBN)
Your state board of nursing’s license application fee

Federal Pell Grants, state grants, and employer tuition assistance can cover much of a community college ADN. Our nursing school cost guide compares ADN, BSN and accelerated program costs in detail.

ADN salary and job outlook

Once you are licensed, you are paid as an RN. The national median wage for registered nurses was $97,550 in May 2025 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 29-1141). BLS projects RN employment to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 180,800 openings a year on average. Most of those openings come from replacing nurses who retire or change occupations, which keeps hiring volume high.

NCLEX-RN pass rates for ADN graduates

Every ADN graduate must pass the NCLEX-RN before practicing as a registered nurse. In 2025, first-time US-educated associate degree candidates passed at 86.1% (77,061 of 89,549), compared with 87.6% for baccalaureate candidates and 86.7% for all first-time US-educated candidates, according to NCSBN’s 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics.

Pass rates vary widely between individual programs, so ask any school you are considering for its first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate over the last three years. Our guide to NCLEX pass rates by state shows how results differ across the country.

ADN program accreditation: ACEN and CNEA

Your ADN program must be approved by your state board of nursing for you to sit the NCLEX-RN. Accreditation is a separate, voluntary review, but it matters when you later apply to RN-to-BSN or graduate programs, many of which expect a degree from an accredited nursing program.

Two national accreditors cover associate degree nursing programs:

ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing) accredits practical, diploma, associate, baccalaureate, master’s and clinical doctorate programs, and is recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
NLN CNEA (National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation) accredits programs from practical/vocational and associate degree through doctoral level. The US Department of Education maintained its recognition of CNEA in 2026.

CCNE, the other major nursing accreditor, covers baccalaureate, graduate and nurse residency or fellowship programs, so you will not see it listed for an ADN. You can check any school in the US Department of Education’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs, and our nursing school accreditation guide explains what each accreditor’s status means for you.

Are there online ADN programs?

A significant portion of an ADN can be completed online. Most general education and nursing theory courses are available in online or hybrid formats, but labs, simulation and clinical rotations must be done in person, so no ADN is fully online.

ADN-to-BSN: continuing your education

Many ADN nurses use the degree as a stepping stone. An RN-to-BSN program gives you credit for your ADN coursework and RN license, and most are designed for working nurses, with online coursework and part-time schedules. Some community colleges also partner with universities on dual enrollment or concurrent ADN-to-BSN tracks. See our roundup of online RN-to-BSN programs to compare options.

What if I’m already a medical assistant, CNA or LPN?

Some schools offer a medical assistant to ADN path, and many offer LPN-to-ADN programs that give credit for prior practical nursing coursework and clinical hours. If you already hold a CNA or LPN credential, see our guides on CNA-to-RN bridge programs and LPN-to-RN bridge programs for the fastest routes into RN licensure. Whichever route you take, confirm the program is approved by your state board of nursing.

ADN programs by state

For states not listed above, use our nursing schools by state directory to find approved ADN programs near you.

Frequently asked questions

What is an ADN in nursing?

An ADN is an associate degree in nursing, a college degree that qualifies you to take the NCLEX-RN and become a registered nurse. It is offered mainly by community and technical colleges and may be called an ASN or AAS in nursing.

Is an ADN the same as an RN?

No. The ADN is the degree, and RN is the license. After earning an ADN you must pass the NCLEX-RN and be licensed by your state board of nursing before you can work as a registered nurse.

How long does an ADN program take?

The nursing sequence usually takes about two years of full-time study, but prerequisites, waitlists and part-time schedules often push the total to three years or more. The Bureau of Labor Statistics describes ADN and ASN degrees as typically taking four years to complete.

How much does an associate degree in nursing cost?

Average in-district tuition and fees at public two-year colleges were $4,150 a year in 2025–26, according to the College Board. Add nursing program fees, books, uniforms, background checks and the $200 NCLEX-RN registration fee.

Do ADN graduates pass the NCLEX-RN at lower rates than BSN graduates?

Slightly. In 2025, 86.1% of first-time US-educated associate degree candidates passed the NCLEX-RN, compared with 87.6% of baccalaureate candidates, according to NCSBN.

What accreditation should an ADN program have?

The program must be approved by your state board of nursing. National accreditation from ACEN or NLN CNEA, both recognized by the US Department of Education, also makes it easier to transfer into RN-to-BSN and graduate programs later.

Sources and references

National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics,” Research Brief Vol. 96, June 2026, Table 1 and Table 8 (first-time, US-educated NCLEX-RN candidates by degree type), ncsbn.org.
Smiley, R. A., Kaminski-Ozturk, N., Reid, M., et al., “The 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey,” Journal of Nursing Regulation, Vol. 16, No. 1 (Supplement), 2025, pp. S1–S88. Source for the share of RNs whose initial credential was an associate degree (34.2%) versus the share still holding the ADN as their highest qualification (22.8%), based on responses from 744,714 RNs.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Registered Nurses”: education paths and program length, employer settings, May 2025 median wage, and 2025–2035 employment projections.
College Board, Trends in College Pricing 2025: average published tuition and fees at public two-year in-district institutions, 2025–26.
NCSBN, NCLEX fees and payment: US registration fee of $200 and the $350 fee effective February 1, 2027.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), “About ACEN”: program types accredited and recognition by the US Department of Education and CHEA.
National League for Nursing, “U.S. Department of Education Maintains NLN CNEA Status as Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agency for Nursing Education,” July 8, 2026: CNEA program levels including associate degree.
California Board of Registered Nursing, prelicensure program clinical requirements (500 direct patient care hours, 30 hours minimum in each of five specialty areas).
US Department of Education, Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs: the federal tool for verifying that a school and its nursing program are accredited.
AACN, “CCNE Accreditation”: CCNE’s scope of baccalaureate, graduate and residency/fellowship programs.
ATI, TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills): one of the standardized entrance exams referenced in the admission requirements.