September 12, 2025

by Lauren Ferguson

Ramapo College of New Jersey has been named the #2 nursing school in the Garden State, and a school that consistently demonstrates “superior nursing education and quality,” by Registerednursing.org.

“Ramapo College of New Jersey’s BSN program stands out with its exceptional NCLEX pass rates,” the organization wrote in its announcement.

An impressive 223 students who graduated from Ramapo and sat for the exam in 2023 and 2024 yielded a 100% pass rate. The national pass rate for the NCLEX is 78%, with New Jersey’s average pass rate slightly higher at 83%.

“With 119 students in the most recent cohort, the program offers comprehensive nursing education through a campus-based curriculum that partners with The Valley Hospital,” the announcement states. The organization also touts Ramapo’s nursing program for its clinical experience in top settings, generalist nursing preparation, collaboration with health professionals and focus on complex healthcare systems.

More than 1,600 students applied for a seat in the highly competitive Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, an increase of 21% over last year. To meet this rising demand and address the critical nursing shortage in New Jersey, the College recently expanded its nursing facilities and added faculty, supported in part by $4.5 million in legislative appropriations over the last three years, inclusive of $1 million this fiscal year for both nursing and life sciences, championed by Senator and Assistant Majority Leader Gordon Johnson and Assemblywoman Ellen Park, both representing District 37 (Englewood).

Ramapo nursing students have access to a state-of-the-art simulation lab.

Ramapo aims to train high-quality nurses to fill nursing shortages in New Jersey. The college recently graduated the first cohort of its Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. The innovative, full-time, program enables qualified candidates to complete degree requirements in only 16 months. It is beneficial to those with an undergraduate degree and interested in a career change into nursing, those currently working in healthcare and wish to become RNs with a BSN, and community college students with a non-nursing associate’s degree and want to earn a BSN. For candidates who might not have the necessary prerequisites, a bridge program that offers the required coursework for the ABSN is available.

To learn more about nursing at Ramapo College, including the BSN, RN to BSN, MSN, and DNP degree programs, visit ramapo.edu/nursing.