Best institutions to study Pre-Nursing Studies
A program that prepares individuals for admission to a professional program in Nursing.
73 U.S. institutions graduated 2,938 Pre-Nursing Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.1105, a specialization of Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (CIP 51.11).
About Pre-Nursing Studies programs
A program that prepares individuals for admission to a professional program in Nursing.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Pre-Nursing Studies program is designed to prepare individuals for admission to a professional nursing program. This pathway is ideal for students who aspire to pursue a career in nursing but need foundational knowledge and skills before entering a more advanced nursing curriculum. With a focus on health professions and related programs, this program serves as a stepping stone for future nurses.
Students in the Pre-Nursing Studies program will gain essential knowledge and skills necessary for success in nursing. Coursework typically includes subjects related to health sciences, patient care, and nursing fundamentals, providing a comprehensive foundation for further nursing education.
Credentials awarded
What Pre-Nursing Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree2,273 graduates / yr · 52 institutions77%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year485 graduates / yr · 7 institutions17%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years109 graduates / yr · 10 institutions3.7%
- Bachelor's degree35 graduates / yr · 5 institutions1.2%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years22 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.7%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate14 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.5%
Graduates over time
Pre-Nursing Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,753 |
| 2013 | 2,092 |
| 2014 | 1,751 |
| 2015 | 1,960 |
| 2016 | 1,983 |
| 2017 | 1,946 |
| 2018 | 2,723 |
| 2019 | 2,546 |
| 2020 | 2,356 |
| 2021 | 2,489 |
| 2022 | 2,966 |
| 2023 | 3,052 |
| 2024 | 2,731 |
| 2025 | 2,938 |
Top 50 institutions for Pre-Nursing Studies, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South College Knoxville, TNPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 954 | 42% | $20,346 | — |
| 2 | Trident Technical College Charleston, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 318 | 30% | — | — |
| 3 | Tulsa Community College Tulsa, OKPublicAssociate's | 200 | 28% | — | $30,605 |
| 4 | Georgia Military College Milledgeville, GAPublicAssociate's | 190 | 38% | — | $23,759 |
| 5 | Holmes Community College Goodman, MSPublicAssociate's | 119 | 39% | — | $21,326 |
| 6 | East Mississippi Community College Scooba, MSPublicAssociate's | 89 | 48% | — | — |
| 7 | Grayson College Denison, TXPublicAssociate's | 87 | 40% | — | — |
| 8 | Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Orangeburg, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 77 | 32% | — | — |
| 9 | Connors State College Warner, OKPublicAssociate's | 68 | 36% | — | — |
| 10 | Copiah - Lincoln Community College Wesson, MSPublicAssociate's | 65 | 50% | — | — |
| 11 | Northeast Community College Norfolk, NEPublicAssociate's | 53 | 56% | — | $32,840 |
| 12 | University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, AKPublicAssociate's | 50 | 30% | — | $83,933 |
| 13 | Greenfield Community College Greenfield, MAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 49 | 31% | — | — |
| 14 | National Park College Hot Springs, ARPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 46 | 35% | — | $61,828 |
| 15 | Edgecombe Community College Tarboro, NCPublicAssociate's | 44 | 37% | — | — |
| 16 | Three Rivers College Poplar Bluff, MOPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 41 | 33% | — | $30,736 |
| 17 | Temple College Temple, TXPublicAssociate's | 26 | 32% | — | — |
| 18 | Butler Community College El Dorado, KSPublicAssociate's | 25 | 32% | — | — |
| 19 | Navajo Technical University Crownpoint, NMPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 25 | 12% | — | — |
| 20 | Galveston College Galveston, TXPublicAssociate's | 24 | 33% | — | — |
| 21 | La Sierra University Riverside, CAPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 22 | 60% | $26,504 | — |
| 22 | Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown, NCPublicAssociate's | 21 | 31% | — | — |
| 23 | Hill College Hillsboro, TXPublicAssociate's | 20 | 32% | — | — |
| 24 | Coahoma Community College Clarksdale, MSPublicAssociate's | 18 | 41% | — | $21,070 |
| 25 | Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville, NCPublicAssociate's | 16 | 24% | — | — |
| 26 | Arkansas State University - Mountain Home Mountain Home, ARPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 15 | 44% | — | — |
| 27 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 40% | — | — |
| 28 | Missouri Baptist University Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 14 | 48% | $25,407 | — |
| 29 | Gaston College Dallas, NCPublicAssociate's | 14 | 63% | — | — |
| 30 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OHPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 14 | 87% | $27,976 | — |
| 31 | Midlands Technical College West Columbia, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 18% | — | $30,101 |
| 32 | South Plains College Levelland, TXPublicAssociate's | 14 | 29% | — | — |
| 33 | Rose State College Midwest City, OKPublicAssociate's | 13 | 20% | — | — |
| 34 | University of Northwestern - St Paul Saint Paul, MNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 12 | 68% | $23,114 | — |
| 35 | Western Texas College Snyder, TXPublicAssociate's | 11 | 53% | — | — |
| 36 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicBachelor's | 10 | 75% | — | — |
| 37 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 10 | 68% | — | — |
| 38 | Northeastern Technical College Cheraw, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 21% | — | — |
| 39 | Manor College Jenkintown, PAPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 9 | 26% | $19,082 | — |
| 40 | Truckee Meadows Community College Reno, NVPublicAssociate's | 8 | 32% | — | — |
| 41 | Columbia College Columbia, MOPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 7 | 42% | $23,247 | — |
| 42 | Durham Technical Community College Durham, NCPublicAssociate's | 6 | 45% | — | — |
| 43 | Johnson University Knoxville, TNPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 6 | 57% | $19,333 | — |
| 44 | Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Branch Community College Ruidoso, NMPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 6 | 29% | — | — |
| 45 | St. Thomas University Miami Gardens, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 48% | $25,464 | — |
| 46 | Little Big Horn College Crow Agency, MTPublicAssociate's | 5 | 11% | — | — |
| 47 | Western Nebraska Community College Scottsbluff, NEPublicAssociate's | 5 | 37% | — | — |
| 48 | James Sprunt Community College Kenansville, NCPublicAssociate's | 5 | 48% | — | — |
| 49 | Piedmont Community College Roxboro, NCPublicAssociate's | 5 | 20% | — | — |
| 50 | Lubbock Christian University Lubbock, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 51% | $25,162 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Health/Medical Preparatory Programs field (CIP 51.11) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 25 states & territories
Where Pre-Nursing Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Health/Medical Preparatory Programs programs offered there.
Other Health/Medical Preparatory Programs specializations
The 10 other 6-digit CIP codes under Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (CIP 51.11).
- Health/CIP 51.1199
Medical Preparatory Programs 3,642 graduates / yr110 institutions - Pre-Medicine/CIP 51.1102
Pre-Medical Studies 1,641 graduates / yr111 institutions - Pre-Physical Therapy StudiesCIP 51.1109258 graduates / yr33 institutions
- Pre-Pharmacy StudiesCIP 51.1103225 graduates / yr30 institutions
- Pre-Physician AssistantCIP 51.1111135 graduates / yr12 institutions
- Pre-Occupational Therapy StudiesCIP 51.1107105 graduates / yr18 institutions
- Pre-Dentistry StudiesCIP 51.110159 graduates / yr12 institutions
- Pre-Art TherapyCIP 51.1110partial data18 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Pre-Chiropractic StudiesCIP 51.1106limited data2 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Pre-Optometry StudiesCIP 51.1108limited data2 graduates / yr1 institutions
Common questions
What degree do I earn in Pre-Nursing Studies?+
You can earn an Associate's degree, or other awards depending on your program duration.
How many colleges offer this program?+
There are 73 colleges across the U.S. that offer the Pre-Nursing Studies program.
What is the typical duration of this program?+
The program can vary in length, with options for awards of at least 12 weeks to less than 2 academic years.
How many graduates complete this program each year?+
Approximately 2,938 students graduate from Pre-Nursing Studies programs each year in the U.S.
What is the CIP code for Pre-Nursing Studies?+
Pre-Nursing Studies is CIP 51.1105 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (CIP 51.11). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals for admission to a professional program in Nursing.
How many institutions offer Pre-Nursing Studies programs?+
73 U.S. institutions reported Pre-Nursing Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 25 states & territories, awarding 2,938 credentials in the year. That is 32.6% of all Health/Medical Preparatory Programs graduates.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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