North Dakota LPNs who bridge to an RN credential can expect a median salary jump of roughly $20,000 per year, yet only three accredited bridge pathways operate in the state: the University of Mary's LPN to BSN in Bismarck, the NDSCS LPN to RN associate degree in Wahpeton, and NDSU's LPN to BSN track in Fargo. That tight field simplifies the search but sharpens the stakes around cost, format, and timeline.
In-state tuition runs from under $6,000 per year at NDSCS to over $22,000 at the University of Mary, and completion timelines range from two semesters to six. Programs here are ranked by NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate, with completion rate and accreditation status as tiebreakers. North Dakota's membership in the Nurse Licensure Compact means a new RN license earned here carries multistate practice authority from day one.
Top NCLEX-RN Pass Rate LPN to RN/BSN Programs in North Dakota
North Dakota keeps a short list of accredited LPN to RN and LPN to BSN pathways, and the strongest of them post NCLEX-RN results well above the national average. In 2025, 92.9% of first-time, US-educated RN candidates from North Dakota passed on their first attempt, compared with 86.7% nationally. Each card below notes tuition, format, graduation rate, and what the school itself reports about outcomes.
How we ranked these
- Graduation rates at each institution
- NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates
- Program completion and retention
- Accreditation and state board approval
- Long-term graduate earnings
- NCLEX first-time pass rates published by the state boards of nursing — ncsbn.org
- IPEDS institutional survey data from NCES covering graduation rates, retention rates and student-faculty ratios — nces.ed.gov
- College Scorecard graduate earnings — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Internal program database
- Independent editorial research
University of Mary
The University of Mary is a private Catholic university in Bismarck, and its LPN to BSN track is one of the state's baccalaureate completion routes for licensed practical nurses. The program is CCNE accredited, spans two years, and is built as a blend: coursework is mostly online with about 26 days on campus, and clinical placements are arranged in the student's home community. Tuition and fees come to about $22,356 for the year for in-state and out-of-state students alike, and the school's overall graduation rate is roughly 67%. Institution-wide, graduates who are working and not enrolled earn a median of $60,909 ten years after entry.
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited
- $615 per credit
- Two-year program with a fall start
- 2.8 GPA minimum
- Blended format with up to 26 days on campus
- Clinical rotations arranged in your home community
- Prior learning credit and military benefits accepted
- Prepares graduates for Nurse Manager or Health Educator roles
Nursing (LPN to BSN), Associates — Hybrid
North Dakota State College of Science
North Dakota State College of Science is a public college in Wahpeton with a second nursing site in Fargo, which puts its LPN to RN bridge within reach for LPNs across the Red River Valley. Its Associate in Applied Science in Registered Nursing is ACEN accredited and approved by the North Dakota Board of Nursing, delivered through face-to-face classes in Wahpeton or Fargo or an online combination, and the college reports first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates at or above 80% for its students. Tuition and fees run about $5,974 for North Dakota residents and about $6,973 for out-of-state students, the school's graduation rate is roughly 55%, and institution-wide graduates working and not enrolled earn a median of $50,513 ten years after entry.
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredited
- 61 total credit hours
- 2.3 GPA minimum with prerequisite courses required
- Entrance exam required for admission
- Two-semester nursing sequence after prerequisites
- Face-to-face options in Wahpeton or Fargo, plus online delivery
- Point-based selection with holistic admission criteria
- IV therapy certification and criminal background check required
Registered Nursing (LPN to RN) AAS, Associates — Hybrid
North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University in Fargo runs an LPN to BSN track designed for practicing LPNs, with most coursework online and a part-time pace of about six credits per semester. Applicants finish general education prerequisites and four NLN validation exams, then complete a six-semester sequence that includes summers, with clinicals concentrated in the Fargo-Moorhead area. In fiscal year 2023-2024, 24 NDSU students took the NCLEX-RN for the first time and 96% passed; program-level 2024-2025 figures have not yet been published by the state board. In-state tuition and fees are about $11,110 a year and out-of-state about $15,764, nursing students pay a differential rate above standard undergraduate tuition, the university's graduation rate is roughly 64%, and institution-wide graduates earn a median of $62,203 ten years after entry.
- CCNE accredited
- Six-semester plan that includes summers
- Part-time pace of about six credits per semester
- Starts once a year in spring
- General education prerequisites required before admission
- Four NLN validation exams required for admission
- Clinicals in the Fargo-Moorhead area with a 5-6 week practicum
- Bachelor's coursework delivered primarily online
LPN to BSN Track — Hybrid
LPN to ADN vs LPN to BSN: Which Path Fits You?
If you are a working LPN in North Dakota weighing your bridge options, the decision usually comes down to speed versus long-term return on investment. An LPN to ADN program gets you to the NCLEX-RN faster and at lower cost, while an LPN to BSN program positions you for BSN-preferred employers and Magnet hospitals from day one. The good news: choosing ADN is not a one-way door. Many ADN graduates later complete an RN-to-BSN program on their own timeline.
How Long Does LPN to RN Take in North Dakota?
The real tradeoff is not just RN versus BSN; it is how many months you can stretch a program while working full-time instead of finishing faster. Your LPN license and prior coursework buy you a shortcut past the front-loaded fundamentals other students still have to take, but the two North Dakota pathways use that head start very differently.
NDSCS: The Faster ADN Bridge
At NDSCS, general education can be completed on your own timeline, but the college requires you to wrap it up within three semesters of starting the LPN to RN bridge program. The nursing sequence itself runs two days a week of classes and labs plus two clinical days weekly, and at least 16 of your final 24 credits must be NDSCS RN-required coursework, which keeps the bridge tight rather than dragging it into a full second associate degree. Full-time status at NDSCS means 12 or more credits in fall or spring, so most LPNs finishing gen eds ahead of time can move through the nursing portion in roughly two to three semesters. Summer terms are available (6 credits counts as full-time, with 9 recommended as a practical ceiling) but a summer nursing sequence isn't guaranteed every year, so confirm current scheduling directly with the program.
NDSU: The Slower, Online BSN Path
NDSU's LPN-to-BSN is built differently: it's an online, part-time design from the start, running about six nursing credits per semester across six semesters, including summers, for roughly 24 months total. With 40 to 60 transfer credits and up to 17 validation credits recognizing your LPN training, you're not repeating content, but the pacing is deliberately part-time rather than accelerated. There's no visible full-time fast-track option here, so LPNs hoping to finish the BSN in under two years should look elsewhere or plan to supplement with additional coursework.
Part-Time Reality for Working LPNs
If you're keeping a full patient load while studying, NDSCS lets you slow gen eds down (within that three-semester ceiling) while NDSU's structure is already part-time by design, making it the steadier choice if you're not chasing the fastest RN license possible.
Explore other North Dakota related topics
Related Articles
Tuition and Financial Aid for ND LPN Bridge Programs
Tuition for North Dakota's LPN to RN and LPN to BSN bridge programs ranges widely depending on institution type and residency status. The table below compares published tuition rates and estimated net price at each school. Beyond tuition, working LPNs in North Dakota have access to several financial aid channels: the ND Board of Nursing Nurse Education Scholarship (funded by license renewal fees, with roughly $100,000 distributed statewide in the 2024 to 2025 cycle), employer sponsored assistance from systems like Sanford Health and its Good Samaritan program, and federal Pell Grants. Sanford Health's Good Samaritan Educational Assistance program, for example, offers up to $15,000 for RN students who commit to a three year work obligation. Sanford also runs an LPN sponsorship program covering tuition, books, and expenses in exchange for a two year commitment, though whether this extends to LPN to RN bridge students specifically should be confirmed with the employer. CHI St. Alexius and Essentia Health may offer similar reimbursement, but current program details for 2026 have not been publicly confirmed. Rural hospitals participating in North Dakota's Rural Workforce Retention funding (approximately $10 million allocated in 2026 across 37 awards) may also reimburse LPN to RN education costs for their employees, so LPNs at Critical Access Hospitals should ask their administrators about available support.
| Program | Institution Type | In State Tuition | Out of State Tuition | Estimated Net Price | Pell Grant Recipients | Key Financial Aid Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDSCS LPN to RN (AAS) | Public (2 Year) | $5,974 | $6,973 | $11,261 | 52% | Most affordable option. Eligible for ND Board of Nursing scholarship. Sanford Health partnerships at this campus may cover program costs with a work commitment. |
| NDSU LPN to BSN | Public (4 Year) | $10,910 | $15,564 | $15,543 | 37% | Scholarships available through NDSU School of Nursing. Eligible for ND Board of Nursing scholarship. Six semester format allows continued employment. |
| University of Mary LPN to BSN | Private (Nonprofit) | $22,356 | $22,356 | $17,770 | 35% | Same rate for in state and out of state students. Net price after aid is closer to the public university range. Military benefits accepted. Prior learning credit may reduce total cost. |
Admission Requirements and How to Apply
Getting into an LPN to RN or LPN to BSN program in North Dakota means choosing the right LPN/LVN bridge program and clearing a specific set of academic, licensing, and paperwork hurdles before you ever sit in a classroom. Each school sets its own bar, and the numbers below reflect the 2025-2026 cycle, so double-check with the program directly before you build a timeline around them.
GPA and Academic Thresholds
NDSCS's Registered Nursing program (the ADN bridge route) sets a cumulative GPA floor of 2.25 based on high school or GED records. If you fall short of that, you can still qualify by completing 12 or more college credits while maintaining a 2.25 cumulative GPA.
NDSU's LPN to BSN track has reported a cumulative GPA requirement of 2.75, with a separate 3.0 minimum for nursing coursework specifically. NDSU's general catalog also lists a lower 2.00 institutional GPA floor elsewhere, so treat the 2.75/3.0 figures as the operative standard for nursing admission and confirm current numbers with the department before applying.
Prerequisite Coursework
NDSU applicants typically need anatomy and physiology (with labs), microbiology (with lab), English composition, a communications course, and developmental psychology completed with a C or better. NDSCS's pathway centers on a biology course with lab component. Both schools expect these completed, or in progress with a firm completion date, before your file moves to review.
Licensing and Background Checks
You'll need a current, unencumbered LPN license, either from North Dakota or another state, or documented eligibility to obtain one. NDSU has admitted applicants who aren't yet licensed on a probationary basis pending licensure. Both programs also require a background check, and NDSU's process includes separate vendor and fingerprinting fees that applicants pay directly.
Deadlines and Credit Transfer
NDSU's LPN to BSN application deadline has been reported as October 15 for the upcoming cohort. NDSCS runs its own application and supplemental program review on a separate timeline, so plan to apply well ahead of clinical seat deadlines. On transfer credit, LPN diploma graduates entering NDSU's BSN track generally need 60 or more transferable college credits already completed, either from prior coursework or NDSU's own bridge coursework, before advanced standing is granted. NDSCS evaluates LPN and CNA credentials individually, recognizing CNA vs LPN vs RN differences, as part of its admission review rather than through a fixed transfer table.
Online and Hybrid Options for Working LPNs in North Dakota
Working LPNs weigh flexibility against access every time they look at a bridge program, and in North Dakota that tension is especially sharp: the Dakota Nursing Program offers a fast nine-month ADN bridge, but it is tied to specific campuses and one application window rather than an open, fully online menu.
Where the Hybrid Model Stands Today
The Dakota Nursing Program consortium, made up of Bismarck State College, Dakota College at Bottineau, Lake Region State College, and Williston State College, does not publish a single fully online didactic track for the LPN-to-RN year at accredited LPN and RN programs. Some theory courses may be offered in online or hybrid sections, but working LPNs should confirm with campus coordinators whether each class is asynchronous, synchronous, or on campus before applying. Working LPNs enter the second year directly rather than repeating the practical nursing year, provided they hold an active, unencumbered U.S. LPN license. The shared ADN/LPN-to-RN application window runs from December 1 to March 5 for Fall 2026 entry. For Fall 2026, the consortium lists only BSC's Garrison, Hazen, and Hettinger sites as accepting bridge applications. BSC Bismarck, all Dakota College at Bottineau sites, all Lake Region State sites, and Williston State are listed as closed for that entry. This is not a "pick the campus closest to you" decision for every working LPN.
Clinical Placements and Simulation Requirements
Clinical rotations are not portable employer-site placements by default. They follow campus partner sites, which can vary by location. For example, Bismarck State has used Sakakawea Medical Center in Hazen, and Lake Region State has used Altru Health Systems Hospital in Grand Forks in past reporting years. The consortium has not published a complete, current clinical map for every bridge site, and local preceptor or employer-based placements are not consistently documented. Simulation lab requirements also vary by campus, so ask how many on-campus lab days the bridge year requires before you accept a seat.
Scheduling Around a Work Schedule
Public materials do not list standard evening or weekend clinical rotations for the bridge year, and the consortium does not promise a fully asynchronous online schedule. Working LPNs should assume a regular academic calendar unless their coordinator confirms otherwise, and should ask directly about any evening, weekend, or synchronous online options before choosing a site. The practical takeaway is that flexibility in North Dakota comes from choosing an open site that fits your geography and getting written confirmation of lab and clinical dates, not from a university-wide online self-paced model.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rates and Career Outcomes by Program
Comparing first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates across North Dakota's LPN-to-RN and LPN-to-BSN programs reveals meaningful differences in how well each school prepares its graduates. The national NCLEX-RN average serves as a useful benchmark. Program-level earnings data for these tracks are not yet reported, though the University of Mary lists median earnings of $81,220 at the institutional level (ten years post-enrollment). North Dakota's persistent rural healthcare workforce shortage means new RNs across the state can expect strong employment prospects regardless of which program they complete.
North Dakota RN Licensure and Nurse Licensure Compact
Passing the NCLEX-RN is only step one. Before you can practice, graduates register for the exam through Pearson VUE, submit an application to the North Dakota Board of Nursing, and clear a fingerprint-based background check, a requirement for every applicant regardless of program or degree level, including LPN to BSN Programs. A valid US Social Security number is also required; the Board does not accept an ITIN or Canadian SIN in its place.
Multistate Practice Through the Compact
North Dakota belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact, which matters more than it might seem at first glance. If you meet the Compact's uniform licensure requirements (an approved nursing program, a passed NCLEX, no disqualifying disciplinary history, and the background and Social Security checks noted above) you can apply for a multistate license. With that single credential, you can practice across all other compact states with no separate application, an advantage if you're near the South Dakota or Minnesota border, travel for agency work, or simply want flexibility later.
Renewal and Continuing Education
North Dakota RN licenses follow a two-year renewal cycle. Renewal requires 12 contact hours of continuing education, with no carryover of extra hours from one cycle to the next, though your very first renewal after initial licensure is exempt from the CE requirement. Renewal also depends on practice recency: 400 hours of RN practice within the preceding four years, documented through a Verification of Employment form, or completion of a board-approved refresher course if you've stepped away from bedside work.
Moving to North Dakota by Endorsement
Already-licensed LPNs and RNs relocating to North Dakota apply by endorsement rather than retaking the NCLEX, a path aligned with LPN/LVN Reciprocity for LPNs. This path carries a $170 application fee, the same 400-hour practice requirement, a background check, and license verification through Nursys. Building this into your timeline early avoids delays once you're ready to work.
