New Jersey's long-term care sector alone employs thousands of LPNs, and the Newark-Jersey City corridor, home to Best LPN Programs in Jersey City, sits at the center of that demand. Within a 40-mile radius of downtown Newark, students can choose from community college certificate programs costing under $15,000 and private vocational schools that charge several times more, each with different timelines and schedule formats.
NCLEX-PN pass rates, graduate earnings, and net tuition vary enough across these options that comparing them side by side matters. Compare the local job market, program costs, licensure steps, and school-level outcome data before choosing. Jump straight to the program list →
Why Newark Is a Smart Place to Start an LPN Career
LPNs in Newark earn a reported median of $31.24 per hour as of mid-20261, and that figure holds even for new graduates2, which is unusual in healthcare where entry-level pay typically lags. That wage floor reflects a dense, competitive employer market across Essex County and the broader northern New Jersey corridor shaped by New Jersey LPN programs.
Where LPNs Actually Work in the Newark Metro
Hiring in 2025-2026 is visible across several tiers of employer:
- Hospital systems: RWJBarnabas Health (including Newark Beth Israel), Saint Michael's Medical Center, CareWell Health in East Orange, and Atlantic Health System post LPN roles across the metro.
- Long-term acute and post-acute care: Silver Lake Hospital hires experienced LPNs for day and night shifts, and Sinai Post Acute Nursing and Rehab Center in Newark has advertised $28.12 to $35 per hour for all-shift LPN roles.3
- Senior living and home care: Brookdale Senior Living in West Orange, Job Haines at Home in Montclair, and BAYADA pediatric home care round out the non-hospital side.
The commuter labor market extends naturally into Jersey City, Elizabeth, Paterson, East Orange, and Hackensack, so a Newark-based license serves you well beyond city limits.
Scope of Practice and the New York Question
New Jersey allows IV-certified LPNs to administer IV fluids under RN supervision, a scope broader than in some neighboring states. That Specialty Certification for LPNs makes NJ-licensed LPNs more competitive for hospital and LTACH roles.
New York City facilities are a short PATH ride away, and New Jersey participates in the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC). An NJ LPN license does not automatically transfer to New York; you would need to apply for NY licensure separately to work across the river.
Program Length, Schedule Options, and What LPN Programs Cost
One of the most common questions aspiring LPNs ask is what an LPN program actually costs in the Newark area. The answer depends heavily on the type of school. Community colleges typically charge a fraction of what private institutions charge, even though every program must meet the same New Jersey Board of Nursing clinical hour minimums. An accelerated track does not reduce total training hours. It simply compresses them into more hours per week, so be prepared for an intense schedule if you choose a shorter timeline. The net price figures below are institution-wide averages (including financial aid) reported to the U.S. Department of Education; your actual LPN program cost may differ, but the pattern holds: public community colleges are dramatically cheaper than private options.
| School | City | Sector | Program Length | Schedule Options | Published Tuition (In-State) | Published Tuition (Out-of-State) | Approx. Net Price (All Students) | Median Graduate Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County College | Newark, NJ | Public (Community College) | 12 months (48 weeks) | Day, Evening, Weekend, Hybrid | $5,384 (est. in-county at $139.66/credit) | $9,523 (est. out-of-county) | Not yet reported | Not yet reported |
| Hudson County Community College | Jersey City, NJ | Public (Community College) | 15 months | Day | $5,384 | $9,248 | $7,307 | $10,500 |
| UCNJ Union College | Cranford, NJ | Public (Community College) | 4 semesters | Day, Evening, Weekend clinical rotations | $5,280 | $9,500 | $8,257 | $15,091 |
| CUNY Hostos Community College | Bronx, NY | Public (Community College) | 12 months | Day | $5,254 | $8,134 | $5,297 | $8,442 |
| CUNY LaGuardia Community College | Long Island City, NY | Public (Community College) | 10 months | Day (fall start only) | $5,218 | $8,098 | $6,120 | $7,407 |
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College | New York, NY | Public (Community College) | 5 semesters | Day | $5,170 | $8,050 | $4,976 | $7,574 |
| CUNY Medgar Evers College | Brooklyn, NY | Public (4-Year) | 18 months | Day | $7,352 | $15,302 | $5,718 | $10,988 |
| Jersey College | Teterboro, NJ | Private (For-Profit) | 12 to 18 months | Day, Evening | Not published | Not published | $52,558 | $21,000 |
| Berkeley College (Woodland Park) | Woodland Park, NJ | Private (Nonprofit) | 60 weeks | Day, Evening | $29,800 | $29,800 | $27,100 | $23,251 |
| Mildred Elley (New York Campus) | New York, NY | Private (For-Profit) | Less than 2 years | Flexible scheduling | $17,926 | $17,926 | $25,431 | $19,000 |
LPN Salaries in the Newark-Jersey City Metro Area
LPN pay in the greater Newark-Jersey City metro area runs well above the national median, reflecting both the region's higher cost of living and strong demand for bedside nurses in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health agencies. The mean annual wage for LPNs across the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area reached approximately $68,520 as of the most recent BLS data, compared to a national mean near $59,730. Experienced LPNs working in specialty settings such as surgical centers or physician specialty offices can push into the 75th percentile and beyond.
NCLEX-PN Pass Rates and Graduate Earnings by School
A high NCLEX-PN pass rate signals that a program's curriculum, lab hours, and clinical rotations are actually preparing students for the licensing exam, but pairing that number with what graduates earn tells you whether the cost of LPN programs pays off quickly.
What the Latest NJ Data Shows
The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs publishes NCLEX-PN results by quarter rather than in a single annual report, so building a full-year picture requires combining multiple releases. From the most recent quarterly data available (2024), two programs within the Newark commuting area reported first-time pass rates:
- Berkeley College, Woodland Park: 100% first-time pass rate, though with only 1 candidate tested in that quarter.
- Best Care Training Institute, East Orange: 100% first-time pass rate across 9 candidates.
Those figures look excellent on the surface, but keep the sample sizes in mind. A single quarter with a handful of test-takers can swing a rate dramatically in either direction. For broader context, the 2023 statewide first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate for New Jersey-educated candidates was 80%, with 1,332 of 1,669 candidates passing. Any program consistently falling below that 80% threshold deserves scrutiny, and students should ask admissions staff directly whether a program has faced probation or approval conditions from the NJ Board of Nursing.
Graduate Earnings: A Gap in the Data
Program-level earnings data for LPN certificate completers is not yet available for most schools in the Newark area. That means you cannot currently compare, say, what a Holy Name graduate earns one year after completing the program versus a Hudson County Community College graduate. When this information becomes available, practicalnursing.org will incorporate it into school profiles.
Graduation Rates vs. Program Completion
One important distinction: the institution-wide graduation rates you see on federal data dashboards reflect all students across every program at a college, not just the LPN cohort. A community college may report a 25% overall graduation rate while its practical nursing track completes students at a much higher clip. Always ask the nursing department for its own program completion and attrition figures before drawing conclusions from campus-wide statistics.
Steps to LPN Licensure in New Jersey
New Jersey requires every LPN candidate to move through a defined sequence before practicing. The total out-of-pocket cost for board fees, testing, and fingerprinting runs roughly $463 to $467 depending on where you complete your prints. Processing times are not published by the Board, but applicants should plan for several weeks between submission and license issuance. As of 2026, New Jersey participates in the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), which means qualifying residents may hold a multistate license that authorizes practice in all other compact states.
Top LPN Programs for Newark Students
Below are the top LPN programs serving Newark students, ranked by federal completion data, accreditation status, and fit for local learners. Every campus listed is within commuting range of downtown Newark by car, NJ Transit, or PATH. Program-level earnings are not yet reported for these individual programs, so each card leans on institution-wide outcomes such as graduation rate and net price.
How we ranked these
- Median graduate debt loads
- Institution-wide graduation rates
- Accreditation and state approval
- Commute distance from Newark
- Program length and scheduling flexibility
- College Scorecard graduate earnings — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Internal program database
- Independent editorial research
- IPEDS institutional survey data from NCES covering graduation rates, retention rates and student-faculty ratios — nces.ed.gov
Holy Name Medical Center-Sister Claire Tynan School of Nursing
Holy Name's Sister Claire Tynan School of Nursing runs a 60-week, hospital-based practical nursing diploma in Englewood Cliffs, with clinical rotations split between long-term care and acute care settings. The curriculum is built on QSEN competencies, and graduates leave with 17 transferable credits earned through Saint Peter's University plus eligibility for LPN licensure. Starting in fall 2026, students can add online Rowan University general education and science courses while still enrolled, and an endowed scholarship fund provides additional aid. The school reports a 100% graduation rate for its small single cohort, and the campus sits roughly 20 miles north of downtown Newark.
- ACEN accredited and approved by the New Jersey Board of Nursing
- 60-week, campus-based diploma combining theory, skills lab, and clinicals
- Clinical placements in long-term care and acute care facilities
- QSEN competency-based curriculum
- 17 transferable college credits through Saint Peter's University
- Eligible to sit for LPN licensure after completion
- Fall 2026 dual enrollment adds online Rowan University coursework
Practical Nursing (LPN) Diploma — On-Campus
UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ
Union College's four-semester practical nursing certificate in Cranford pairs biological and social science coursework with skills lab practice and clinical rotations that can be scheduled on days, evenings, or weekends. The program is pursuing NLN CNEA accreditation and prepares graduates for entry-level roles in hospitals, long-term care, and community health settings. Admission requires CPR certification, up-to-date health documentation, and a criminal background check. The institution-wide graduation rate is about 35%, in line with many commuter community colleges, and the campus is roughly 12 miles southwest of downtown Newark.
- Four-semester practical nursing certificate
- Clinical rotations available on days, evenings, or weekends
- Blends biological and social science coursework with clinical practice
- Currently pursuing NLN CNEA accreditation
- Prepares graduates for the NCLEX-PN
- Admission requires CPR certification and a criminal background check
- Health documentation required before clinical placement
- Graduates work in hospitals, long-term care, and community health
Practical Nursing Certificate — On-Campus
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College
BMCC's practical nursing certificate is a 46-credit, five-semester sequence in lower Manhattan with structured clinical exposure beginning in the first semester and a transition-to-practice capstone at the end. Coursework covers parent-child, medical-surgical, and mental health nursing along with gerontology, pharmacology, and nutrition across the lifespan. Admission is competitive and requires prerequisite courses plus the HESI A2 entrance exam. The institution-wide graduation rate sits near 25%, and because this is a CUNY campus, New Jersey residents are billed at non-resident rates.
- 46-credit certificate completed over five semesters
- Clinical experience begins in the first semester
- Coursework in parent-child, medical-surgical, and mental health nursing
- Includes gerontology, pharmacology, and nutrition across the lifespan
- Transition to Practice capstone course
- HESI A2 entrance exam and prerequisite courses required
- Prepares students for the NCLEX-PN
Practical Nursing Certificate — On-Campus
CUNY LaGuardia Community College
LaGuardia's practical nursing certificate compresses training into 10 months and 48 credits, with a single fall cohort each year and a curriculum approved by the New York State Education Department. Teaching blends theory with clinical practice and is structured for adult learners coming back to school from a wide range of backgrounds. The campus in Long Island City is reachable from Newark by NJ Transit into Penn Station plus a short subway ride. New Jersey residents pay out-of-state CUNY tuition, which changes the cost picture compared with the published in-state net price.
- 10-month, 48-credit practical nursing certificate
- Single cohort start each year, in the fall
- Approved by the New York State Education Department
- Coursework covers health teaching and restorative care
- Cohort-based format designed for adult learners
- Prepares graduates for chronic and acute care settings
Practical Nursing Certificate — On-Campus
Best Care College
Best Care College is a small private school in East Orange, a few miles west of downtown Newark, offering a 52-week practical nursing program with 1,500 hours of academic and clinical coursework. Classes run on a trimester system capped at 40 students, with a 1:10 instructor-to-student ratio in clinicals and both day and evening options. Total program cost sits in the mid-to-high $20,000s, financial aid is available, and the application fee is $50. The fall 2026 cohort begins September 24, 2026, following pre-orientation and prep classes that start in late August.
- 52-week program with 1,500 academic and clinical hours
- Trimester system with four curriculum levels
- Total program cost in the mid-to-high $20,000s
- Maximum class size of 40 students
- 1:10 instructor-to-student ratio in clinicals
- Day and evening class options
- TABE assessment and criminal background check required
- IV certification and mental health certification courses offered
Licensed Practical Nursing Program, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus
Hudson County Community College
Hudson County Community College's 15-month practical nursing certificate in Jersey City covers nursing foundations, maternal child health, and complex care, finishing with a practical capstone. The program holds continued New Jersey Board of Nursing accreditation through 2033, reports a 90% job placement rate and an 82% licensure pass rate, and lets certificate holders apply directly to HCCC's RN program. Admission requires prerequisites and the TEAS entrance exam. The campus sits on Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and bus routes with PATH connections, so Newark students can commute without a car.
- 15-month practical nursing certificate
- Continued New Jersey Board of Nursing accreditation through 2033
- Reports a 90% job placement rate for graduates
- 82% licensure pass rate reported
- Capstone course required before completion
- TEAS entrance exam and prerequisite courses required
- Certificate holders can apply to HCCC's RN program
- Graduates work in nursing homes, hospitals, and clinics
Practical Nursing Certificate — On-Campus
CUNY Medgar Evers College
Medgar Evers College offers an 18-month, 39-credit certificate in practical nursing in central Brooklyn, built around intensive lab work and clinical rotations that include Maternal-Child Health and Psychosocial Nursing placements. Admission requires a high school diploma, prerequisite science courses completed within the last five years with a B-minus or better, and a competitive score on the NLN pre-entrance exam. The program reports a 100% licensure pass rate and roughly 90% job placement within six months of licensure. New Jersey residents pay non-resident CUNY tuition, and the campus is reachable from Newark by NJ Transit to Penn Station and then the subway.
- 18-month, 39-credit certificate in practical nursing
- Intensive lab work and supervised clinical practice
- Maternal-Child Health and Psychosocial Nursing rotations
- 2.7 GPA minimum with prerequisite courses required
- Science prerequisites must be completed within five years
- NLN pre-entrance exam required for admission
- Reports a 100% licensure pass rate and 90% job placement
- Financial aid available
Certificate in Practical Nursing — On-Campus
CUNY Hostos Community College
Hostos Community College runs a one-year, two-semester licensed practical nursing certificate in the South Bronx that mixes practical nursing courses with liberal arts study in English and the natural, social, and behavioral sciences. The program is approved by the New York State Education Department and requires prerequisite coursework, a 2.75 GPA, and a competitive ATI TEAS score. Two policies matter for Newark applicants: the TEAS must be taken at Hostos while enrolled there, and transfer students cannot enter directly into the clinical phase, so GPA and science coursework have to be established at the college first. Science courses older than five years are not accepted.
- One-year, two-semester licensed practical nursing certificate
- Approved by the New York State Education Department
- Combines practical nursing courses with liberal arts coursework
- ATI TEAS entrance exam required for admission
- 2.75 GPA minimum with prerequisite course requirements
- Science courses older than five years are not accepted
- TEAS must be taken at Hostos while enrolled there
- Transfer students cannot enter directly into the clinical phase
Licensed Practical Nursing Certificate — On-Campus
Jersey College
Jersey College's Teterboro campus offers a 12-to-18-month practical nursing diploma with day and evening class options and coursework in adult nursing, maternal and newborn care, pediatrics, and psychiatric nursing. The campus keeps extended hours Monday through Thursday and runs its own LPN-to-RN bridge program, so graduates can keep advancing without changing schools. The college reports a 99% licensure pass rate and more than 14,000 graduates nationwide, and it markets the Teterboro site specifically to northern New Jersey and the greater New York metro area. The institution-wide graduation rate is about 45%, and the campus is roughly 12 miles north of downtown Newark.
- 12-to-18-month practical nursing diploma
- Day and evening class options
- Campus open Monday through Thursday with extended hours
- Coursework in adult, maternal-newborn, pediatric, and psychiatric nursing
- In-house LPN-to-RN bridge program available
- Approved by the New Jersey Board of Nursing
- Reports a 99% licensure pass rate
- More than 14,000 graduates nationwide
LPN Program (Practical Nursing Diploma) — On-Campus
CUNY Bronx Community College
CUNY Bronx Community College offers a 45-credit licensed practical nursing certificate designed for working adults, with evening and weekend classes and an optional Nurse Aide Certification after the first semester. The practical nursing program is currently suspended because of faculty shortages and is not admitting new cohorts, so it appears here for completeness rather than as a live option for 2026. Newark students who were considering it should look at the other campuses in this list or at the New Jersey programs. The college reports an institution-wide graduation rate near 16%.
- 45-credit licensed practical nursing certificate
- Evening and weekend classes for working adults
- Nurse Aide Certification available after the first semester
- Prepares students for the NCLEX-PN
- Financial aid available
- Practical nursing program currently suspended due to staffing
Licensed Practical Nursing Certificate — On-Campus
How We Ranked These LPN Programs
The real tension in any LPN program ranking is between verifiable data and the lived experience that no dataset fully captures.
To rank Newark-area LPN programs, we leaned on publicly reported measures from the College Scorecard: net price after aid, graduation rates, program-level earnings, and federal student debt. We cross-checked approval status with the New Jersey Board of Nursing and pulled completion counts from IPEDS.
Two caveats matter here: - Institution-wide graduation rates: The figure you see is for the whole college, not the LPN program specifically. A strong college rate does not guarantee a strong LPN completion record. - Net price is an average: It reflects aid packages across many students, so your out-of-pocket cost may be higher or lower depending on your financial aid and enrollment intensity.
Where NCLEX-PN Pass Rates Fit
NCLEX-PN pass rates were researched separately from New Jersey Board of Nursing reports. We present them in their own section rather than folding them into the ranking algorithm, because pass rates can swing year to year and are not consistently reported across schools.
What the Ranking Does Not Count
This list intentionally excludes subjective reviews, campus amenities, and student satisfaction surveys. Those factors may matter for your day-to-day comfort, but they are not reliable enough to compare programs at scale. Use the ranking as a starting point, then visit campuses or speak with current students to test fit.
LPN-to-RN Bridge Programs and Job Outlook Near Newark
Thinking about becoming an RN after you're licensed as an LPN? Several schools within commuting distance of Newark offer a formal path through LPN to RN in New Jersey, and the pay jump makes the extra schooling worth mapping out early.
Bridge Options Worth Investigating
Essex County College runs a Nursing LPN Articulation Option (A.A.S.), a roughly 24-month track that awards 6 credits for prior LPN coursework once you clear Anatomy and Physiology I and II and the TEAS exam. Applications run July 15 through August 31. Passaic County Community College offers a similar A.A.S. LPN Mobility Option at its Passaic campus, also about 24 months, requiring a NACE I score of 70 or higher. Bergen Community College has historically listed an LPN-to-RN Mobility A.A.S. requiring a year of work experience and a 2.50 GPA, though that option was marked under revision as of 2021, so confirm current availability before applying. Felician University's Accelerated BSN (about 16 months) accepts LPNs through general transfer admission rather than a dedicated bridge. Across all of these, expect to hold an active NJ LPN license, meet prerequisite science coursework, and satisfy a minimum GPA.
Why the Bridge Pays Off
RNs in the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro earn roughly double what LPNs make in mean hourly wages, so an associate-level LPN-to-ADN bridge can meaningfully change your household budget within two years.
Where LPN Demand Is Headed
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects national LPN employment growth of about 2.6 to 3.0 percent through 2034, with roughly 54,400 annual openings driven largely by an aging population and expanding ambulatory care. Nursing care facilities, home health agencies, physician offices, and outpatient clinics remain the top hiring settings. In New Jersey, LPNs who hold IV certification or wound-care specialization typically command premium hourly rates in long-term care.
