Wyoming is the least densely populated state in the country – about 580,000 residents spread across 98,000 square miles of high plains, mountains, and rangelands. That geography defines everything about nursing in Wyoming. Healthcare facilities are widely dispersed, travel between communities can be substantial, and critical access hospitals in small towns like Cody, Thermopolis, and Torrington are essential infrastructure for populations with no nearby alternatives. Wyoming implemented the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact on January 19, 2018, giving its nurses broad interstate practice flexibility – and a nursing education system anchored by the University of Wyoming and a network of community colleges has developed an innovative shared curriculum (ReNEW) specifically designed to create a seamless ADN-to-BSN pipeline. Here is what you need to know about nursing programs, costs, and careers in Wyoming.
| Quick facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Program types available | CNA, LPN, ADN, BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP |
| Average tuition range (in-state) | $2,500–$22,000 depending on program type and institution |
| NLC compact status | Implemented compact state since January 19, 2018 |
| State board of nursing | Wyoming State Board of Nursing – 130 Hobbs Avenue, Suite B, Cheyenne, WY 82002 |
| Primary nursing accreditors | CCNE, ACEN |
NLC compact membership
Wyoming is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), administered nationally by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Wyoming was not among the four states that founded the original compact in 2000; it came in through the enhanced NLC, which took effect in Wyoming on January 19, 2018. Nurses holding unencumbered Wyoming licenses who maintain Wyoming as their primary state of residence can practice in the 40 states where the compact is implemented without obtaining additional state licenses.
Wyoming’s compact position is unusually strong, and the detail that makes it so is easy to miss. All six states bordering Wyoming – Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho – are implemented compact states, every one of them since January 19, 2018. Few states in the country can say that; Wisconsin, for comparison, is a compact member surrounded by three neighbors its multistate license does not reach. For a Wyoming nurse, that means a single multistate license covers the entire regional labor market: Denver and Fort Collins to the south, Billings to the north, Salt Lake City to the west, and the Rapid City and Scottsbluff markets to the east. Cross-border commuting, travel contracts, and interstate telehealth all work without a second license anywhere on Wyoming’s perimeter.
A multistate license does not reduce the bar for initial licensure. Applicants must still complete an approved nursing education program, pass the NCLEX-RN (or NCLEX-PN for practical nurses), and meet all Wyoming State Board of Nursing requirements.
For a complete overview of how compact licensure works across states, see our nursing license by state guide.
Types of nursing programs available
Wyoming’s nursing education system is built around two tiers: the University of Wyoming’s Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing at the top, and a network of community colleges providing ADN pathways across the state. The ReNEW (Revolutionizing Nursing Education in Wyoming) curriculum is the state’s most distinctive feature – a shared curriculum developed jointly by Wyoming’s community colleges and UW, allowing ADN graduates from participating colleges to transfer seamlessly into UW’s BSN Completion program.
| Program type | Typical length | Estimated total cost (in-state) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNA certificate | 4–6 weeks | $500–$2,000 | Community colleges, healthcare employers |
| LPN certificate | 12–18 months | $4,000–$8,000 | Available through some community colleges |
| ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) | 2 years | $5,000–$8,000 | Community colleges; ReNEW curriculum at most programs |
| BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) | 4 years | $18,000–$22,000 | University of Wyoming (only in-state BSN) |
| ReNEW BSN Completion | 2 years post-ADN | $12,000–$16,000 | UW’s seamless ADN-to-BSN bridge for ReNEW graduates |
| RN-to-BSN bridge | 12–18 months | $12,000–$18,000 | UW; for RNs from non-ReNEW programs |
| MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) | 2–3 years post-BSN | $25,000–$40,000 | University of Wyoming |
| DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) | 3–4 years post-BSN | $35,000–$55,000 | University of Wyoming |
Wyoming’s community college ADN programs are among the most affordable in the country. Tuition at institutions like Central Wyoming College, Western Wyoming Community College, and Eastern Wyoming College runs $2,500–$3,500 per year, making the full two-year ADN accessible for $5,000–$8,000. The ReNEW curriculum then provides a clear and affordable pathway to the BSN at UW. For a full breakdown of ADN vs BSN tradeoffs, see our ADN degree guide.
Nursing programs in Wyoming
University of Wyoming – Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing (Laramie)
UW’s Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing is the state’s only institution offering a pre-licensure BSN program, making it the top of Wyoming’s nursing education hierarchy. CCNE-accredited across its BSN, MSN, and DNP programs. The traditional BSN admits approximately 48 students per year – it is competitive for its size, with classes held in Laramie but clinical rotations that may extend to Cheyenne and other regional facilities.
The BSN Completion program serves two populations: ReNEW graduates from Wyoming community colleges (seamless transfer with advanced standing) and licensed RNs from non-ReNEW ADN programs who complete the bridge curriculum. At the graduate level, UW offers MSN tracks in nursing education, administration, and clinical specializations, plus a DNP program. In-state tuition for the BSN Completion and RN-to-BSN runs approximately $6,600 per year for residents, making UW’s graduate ladder one of the most affordable BSN-to-MSN pathways in the Mountain West.
UW’s BSN pass rates have varied year to year, as small cohorts do: published program outcomes across recent years range from roughly 81% to 100%. In the 2025 NCSBN data, Wyoming’s baccalaureate cohort as a whole passed at 85.1% on 47 candidates. Ask the school for its three most recent years rather than relying on any single figure.
Central Wyoming College (Riverton)
One of Wyoming’s largest and most established ADN programs, with ACEN accreditation. Central Wyoming College’s ADN requires a competitive 2.5 GPA and TEAS exam passage for admission. Riverton’s location in the Wind River Basin puts graduates near Wyoming Medical Center in Casper (roughly 90 miles east) and regional facilities serving the Wind River Indian Reservation – a community with significant healthcare workforce needs. CWC’s participation in the ReNEW curriculum ensures graduates can transfer into UW’s BSN Completion seamlessly.
Western Wyoming Community College (Rock Springs)
ACEN-accredited ADN program in southwestern Wyoming. Western Wyoming’s ADN has posted NCLEX first-attempt pass rates ranging from 90–97% between 2022 and 2024 – among the strongest ADN programs in the state. Rock Springs is a hub for the Sweetwater County healthcare market. The program uses the ReNEW shared curriculum, making BSN completion at UW straightforward for graduates who want to advance.
Eastern Wyoming College (Torrington and Douglas)
ACEN-accredited ADN program serving southeastern Wyoming from campuses in Torrington and Douglas. Eastern Wyoming College draws students from the agricultural communities of Goshen and Converse counties – areas where local healthcare facilities depend almost entirely on graduates from this program. The ReNEW curriculum applies here as well. Tuition at Eastern Wyoming College is among the lowest in the state, making it a highly cost-effective RN entry point for students in that region.
Casper College (Casper)
Casper College offers an ADN program serving Natrona County – Wyoming’s second-largest population center. Casper’s Wyoming Medical Center is the state’s second-largest hospital and the primary referral facility for central Wyoming. Casper College’s ADN graduates have strong direct pathways into Wyoming Medical Center and Banner Health system positions in the region. ACEN-accredited and part of the ReNEW consortium.
Laramie County Community College (Cheyenne)
ACEN-accredited ADN program in the state capital and its largest city. LCCC serves the Cheyenne metro and the southeast corner of Wyoming. Cheyenne Regional Medical Center and the Francis E. Warren Air Force Base healthcare system are the primary clinical affiliates and employers. LCCC’s location in Cheyenne, just 100 miles north of Denver, gives graduates access to Colorado’s larger nursing job market – particularly useful for compact-state holders.
Northwest College (Powell)
Serves the Bighorn Basin and northwest Wyoming with an ACEN-accredited ADN. Powell is remote by most standards – 75 miles east of Yellowstone – and Cody Regional Health is the primary clinical affiliate. Northwest College graduates often remain in northwest Wyoming, where healthcare staffing is chronically limited.
Admission requirements
Community college ADN programs generally require a minimum 2.5 GPA on prerequisite science coursework – anatomy and physiology I and II, microbiology, statistics, and English composition. Most Wyoming programs use the ATI TEAS for admissions assessment; competitive scores typically fall above the 60th–70th percentile. Programs at Casper College, Western Wyoming, and LCCC are competitive – early application and strong prerequisite performance matter.
University of Wyoming BSN admission is the most selective nursing program in the state. With approximately 48 seats per year, the program evaluates cumulative GPA (minimum 2.5, competitive at 3.2+), science prerequisite performance, healthcare experience, and essays. Students who want to strengthen their candidacy often complete CNA certification and gain paid clinical experience before applying.
ReNEW BSN Completion at UW requires completion of the shared ADN curriculum through a participating community college plus an active RN license. This is the most direct and affordable path to a BSN in Wyoming for students who enter through community college.
For a complete picture of what programs expect, see our nursing school GPA requirements guide and nursing school prerequisites guide. If your GPA is below typical thresholds, our low GPA nursing schools guide covers programs with more flexible admission criteria.
Nursing school cost in Wyoming
Wyoming offers some of the lowest nursing education costs in the Mountain West. Community college ADN programs charge $2,500–$3,500 per year in tuition, putting the full two-year ADN at $5,000–$8,000 – before financial aid. UW’s in-state tuition for the BSN Completion and RN-to-BSN programs runs approximately $6,600 per year, making the BSN upgrade remarkably affordable for Wyoming residents.
The traditional four-year BSN at UW has a higher tuition for its full undergraduate residential cost – estimated at $17,000–$22,000 per year all-in when including housing and fees on the Laramie campus. But even at that level, it is below average for public flagship universities nationally.
Wyoming has no state income tax, and the Wyoming Community College Commission offers state-funded financial aid programs. Federal FAFSA-based aid, the Wyoming Nurse Education Grant, and healthcare employer partnerships – particularly through Wyoming Medical Center and Banner Health – provide additional support. For a structured guide to financing nursing education, see our nursing school FAFSA guide.
RN salary in Wyoming
According to the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, the median annual wage for registered nurses in Wyoming is $83,760. That sits meaningfully below the national RN median of $97,550 – roughly $13,800 less – so the common framing of Wyoming as a high-wage nursing state does not hold up against the current data. The percentile spread runs from $65,770 at the 10th percentile and $77,890 at the 25th, up to $101,100 at the 75th and $107,350 at the 90th.
The shape of that spread matters as much as the median. Wyoming’s statewide 90th percentile of $107,350 is low by national standards, which means the state offers comparatively little wage upside for senior and specialty nurses across most of its geography. What Wyoming offers instead is a low cost of living, no state income tax, and hiring packages at remote facilities that add signing bonuses, relocation assistance, and loan repayment on top of base wage.
Cheyenne is the exception to all of that, and the gap is far wider than Wyoming’s small size suggests. Cheyenne’s RN median of $94,540 runs $10,780 above Casper’s $83,760 – a 13% premium, not a rounding difference – and Cheyenne is the only Wyoming metro paying above the state median. Its 90th percentile of $130,230 sits nearly $23,000 above the statewide 90th, so the early-ceiling problem is a non-Cheyenne phenomenon rather than a uniform feature of the state. The remaining areas cluster tightly and low: the western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area at $84,050, Casper at $83,760, and the eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area at $81,300. Cheyenne’s proximity to the Colorado Front Range labor market is the most plausible driver, and for a nurse weighing where to build a Wyoming career it is the single most consequential location decision available.
The table below maps roles onto the actual May 2025 percentile bands for Wyoming rather than onto general expectations.
| Role | Setting | Annual salary (Wyoming, May 2025 basis) |
|---|---|---|
| New graduate RN | Hospital, med-surg | $65,800–$78,000 (10th–25th percentile) |
| Experienced RN (3–5 years) | Hospital, specialty | $84,000–$101,000 (median–75th percentile) |
| ICU / ED RN | Acute care | $95,000–$107,000 (75th–90th percentile) |
| NP (Family) | Primary care / rural health | $116,000–$143,000 (25th–75th percentile; state median $132,200) |
| LPN | Long-term care, clinic | $58,800–$70,800 (25th–75th percentile; state median $63,460) |
The LPN row deserves particular attention if you are weighing an LPN certificate against an ADN. Wyoming’s LPN median of $63,460 is only modestly below the national LPN median of $64,400, but it sits more than $20,000 under the state’s RN median – which is the clearest financial argument for the two-year ADN pathway the state’s community colleges make so affordable.
Wyoming has too few nurse anesthetists for BLS to publish a reliable state estimate, so no Wyoming-specific CRNA figure is quoted here; the national CRNA median is $236,590. Travel contract rates are set by agencies rather than reported in OEWS and vary too widely by season and facility to give a dependable range.
Wyoming’s major healthcare employers are Wyoming Medical Center (Casper), Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, Banner Health (which operates Wyoming’s largest hospital network), and Monument Health (South Dakota-based but with Wyoming facilities). Critical access hospitals in communities like Cody, Sheridan, and Rawlins rely heavily on local nursing graduates and active recruitment of compact-state nurses.
NCLEX pass rates
Wyoming performs well against the country as a whole. In 2025, 276 of 304 first-time, US-educated Wyoming candidates passed the NCLEX-RN, a state pass rate of 90.8% against a national rate of 86.7% – 4.1 points above national, and among the stronger state results in that year’s data (NCSBN, 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics, Table 8).
Within that total, the state’s tiers diverge sharply, and the direction may surprise you. Wyoming’s associate-degree candidates passed at 91.8% (236 of 257), while baccalaureate candidates passed at 85.1% (40 of 47) – slightly below the national figure. Read the second number with care rather than as a verdict: 47 candidates is a small cohort, and a handful of individual results moves a rate that size by several points, which is exactly why single-year comparisons between programs of very different sizes mislead. The durable finding is that Wyoming’s community college ADN tier, which produces the large majority of the state’s new RNs, is performing strongly and consistently.
Wyoming’s regulatory standard is structured differently from most states, and the difference is worth knowing. Where Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin all fix a numeric floor at 80%, the Wyoming State Board of Nursing sets a relative benchmark: under WSBN Rules Chapter 6, a program that fails to maintain a pass rate at or above the national pass rate must submit a written plan to evaluate and improve graduate performance, with the rate calculated annually over both a one-year period and a revolving two-year period. Because the benchmark moves with the national figure, it tightened in years when the national rate was above 90% and loosened when the national rate fell to 86.7% in 2025. A Wyoming program can therefore be in good regulatory standing at a pass rate that would trigger formal remediation in a fixed-floor state, and the reverse is also possible in a strong national year.
When evaluating any program, request three-year rolling averages rather than relying on a single year, and ask specifically whether the program has been required to file an improvement plan with the board. The WSBN publishes NCLEX results by education program on its website going back to 2015. For context on how to interpret these numbers, see our NCLEX pass rates by state guide.
Career outlook
Wyoming’s nursing job market is defined by structural scarcity. The state’s small and dispersed population means fewer facilities, but each facility is critical – and unfilled positions create gaps with no nearby backup. Rural critical access hospitals throughout the state struggle to recruit and retain RNs, and the Wyoming Hospital Association has identified nursing workforce sustainability as a top strategic priority.
The state’s compact membership helps attract nurses from other states for both permanent and travel positions. Wyoming’s oil-linked economy has historically meant higher-than-average wages across many sectors – nursing included – and the state’s outdoor lifestyle and low cost of living relative to wages make it attractive to nurses who want a specific quality of life.
Bureau of Labor Statistics projections show continued growth in registered nursing employment nationally, and Wyoming’s structural factors – aging population, geographic isolation, limited nursing school capacity – suggest sustained hiring pressure. For nurses interested in rural or frontier nursing, Wyoming offers some of the most authentic frontier practice environments in the country.
Health Professional Shortage Areas in Wyoming qualify for NHSC loan repayment, and the state has extensive HPSA coverage. Nurses willing to commit to rural and underserved facilities can access significant debt relief alongside the intangible benefits of frontier healthcare practice.
For admission strategy guidance, see our nursing school acceptance rates guide and how to get into nursing school with a low GPA.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wyoming an NLC compact state?
Yes. Wyoming implemented the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact on January 19, 2018. RNs and LPNs with unencumbered Wyoming licenses who maintain Wyoming as their primary state of residence have multistate practice privileges across the 40 states where the compact is implemented – including all six states bordering Wyoming.
Which nursing school in Wyoming has the best NCLEX pass rates?
Wyoming’s programs are small enough that year-to-year rankings shift substantially, so no single program holds a durable claim to the top spot. Statewide, Wyoming’s 2025 first-time pass rate was 90.8%, with the associate-degree tier at 91.8% and the baccalaureate tier at 85.1%. The Wyoming State Board of Nursing publishes results by education program on its website, and comparing three consecutive years there is more informative than any one program’s headline number.
How long does it take to become an RN in Wyoming?
A community college ADN through the ReNEW curriculum takes approximately two years after prerequisites. The traditional four-year BSN at UW takes four years. The ReNEW BSN Completion program at UW takes an additional two years for ADN graduates who completed the shared curriculum, producing a BSN in approximately four years total with the community college entry point.
What is the average RN salary in Wyoming?
The May 2025 OEWS estimates put the median annual wage for registered nurses in Wyoming at $83,760, about $13,800 below the national RN median of $97,550. The state’s 10th percentile is $65,770 and its 90th percentile is $107,350, so the ceiling for senior and specialty nurses is lower across most of Wyoming than in most states. Cheyenne is the clear exception, with a metro median of $94,540 and a 90th percentile of $130,230 – well above every other area in the state. Against that, Wyoming has no state income tax and a low cost of living, and rural and critical access hospital positions often include signing bonuses and loan repayment that improve total compensation.
References
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics,” Research Brief Vol. 96, June 2026. Table 8, first-time US-educated candidates by jurisdiction and degree type.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, “Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), Wyoming,” May 2025 estimates, released 15 May 2026.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, “Nurse Practitioners (SOC 29-1171), Wyoming,” May 2025 estimates.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, “Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (SOC 29-2061), Wyoming,” May 2025 estimates.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Registered Nurses,” employment projections 2024–2034.
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) Map and Implementation Dates,” NurseCompact.com.
- Wyoming State Board of Nursing, Rules and Regulations, Chapter 6, “Standards for Nursing Education Programs,” Section 3 (annual reports and testing pass rate) and Section 4 (approval and denial of nursing education programs).
- Wyoming Nurse Practice Act, Wyo. Stat. § 33-21-122 (board rulemaking authority).
- Wyoming State Board of Nursing, NCLEX results by education program, wsbn.wyo.gov/education.
- Health Resources and Services Administration, National Health Service Corps loan repayment program and Health Professional Shortage Area designations.
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, accredited program directory, ccneaccreditation.org.
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, accredited program search, acenursing.org.