Vermont Nursing Schools And Programs

Vermont nursing schools post above-average NCLEX pass rates, and the state is one of the few that requires hospitals to publish their nurse-staffing ratios. That gives you a real tool for comparing employers before you take a job. This guide covers the accredited programs, how to get licensed, and what to expect for pay and demand.

Nursing Schools in Vermont

Vermont is a small state with few nursing programs, so the choice usually comes down to degree level and location. An associate degree (ADN) has easier admissions and gets you to the NCLEX in about two years. A bachelor's (BSN) takes four years but opens more doors, especially if you plan to move into advanced practice or leadership later.

The University of Vermont in Burlington offers a 124-credit BSN with a focus on caring for diverse and special-needs populations. The program requires 594 hours of supervised clinical instruction. Clinical practicums begin sophomore year, move into acute-care rotations junior year, and end with a 126-hour senior practicum in a chosen specialty such as pediatrics or geriatrics.

• Program: Bachelor of science in nursing
• Campus: Burlington, VT
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $683 per credit for residents; $1,720 per credit for nonresidents
• Admission requirements: High school transcript (one year of biology and chemistry, four years of math through pre-calculus), ACT or SAT scores
• Minimum time commitment: 36 months
• Onsite requirements: Yes
• NCLEX-RN pass rate: 95% first-time
• Median earnings two years after graduation: $61,875 (College Scorecard)

Castleton University, a public school in Castleton, offers a BSN as either a four-year track or a transition track. Transfer nursing courses require a grade of B- or higher. Students with more than 30 transfer credits can finish in three years, and the pre-licensure track lets you complete RN requirements before finishing the rest of the BSN.

• Program: Bachelor of science in nursing
• Campus: Castleton, VT
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $493 per credit for residents; $1,200 per credit for nonresidents
• Admission requirements: High school transcript, minimum 3.0 GPA with a B- or higher in science and math, SAT 500 or ACT 21 minimum
• Minimum time commitment: Four years (fewer than 30 transfer credits)
• Onsite requirements: Yes
• NCLEX-RN pass rate: 91.3% first-time
• Median earnings two years after graduation: $63,855 (bachelor's), $58,221 (associate), per College Scorecard

Vermont Technical College in Randolph offers an ADN that qualifies you for RN licensure and uses a 1+1+2 career-ladder format with three exit points: practical nursing, ADN leading to RN licensure, and BSN. You can stop at any point or continue, and re-enter later if you leave.

• Program: Associate degree in nursing
• Campus: Bennington, Brattleboro, Randolph Center, and Williston, VT
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $596 per credit for residents; $1,139 per credit for nonresidents
• Admission requirements: Transcripts of all college credit. Applicants with fewer than 18 college credits must submit a high school transcript showing algebra I, lab chemistry, and lab biology (or college anatomy and physiology I).
• Minimum time commitment: 24 months
• Onsite requirements: Yes
• NCLEX-RN pass rate: 92.7% first-time
• Median earnings two years after graduation: $56,544 (College Scorecard)

How to Choose a Program

Weigh total cost and aid, the NCLEX pass rate (a proxy for how well a program prepares you), and the graduation rate. Admission requirements, reputation, and commute or schedule also matter. If you are looking at an online program, confirm the school will help you secure local clinical placements. This guide lists only accredited programs, since accreditation drives both quality and your eligibility for licensure and aid.

Why Become a Nurse in Vermont

Vermont requires hospitals to publish their nurse-staffing ratios, which helps you size up a potential employer before you sign on. It is also a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so a Vermont multistate license lets you practice across compact states. Unusually, Vermont renews licenses based on active practice hours rather than continuing education, which means less paperwork at renewal.

Salary and Job Outlook

Vermont RNs earn a mean of about $88,000 a year, below the national RN median of $93,600 (BLS, May 2024). Nurse practitioners earn less than the national NP median of $132,050. Vermont's cost of living runs above the national average, with a MERIC index around 117, so factor that in when you compare offers against other states.

Job growth for both roles trails the national pace, though NP demand still outpaces most occupations. Burlington and South Burlington, the state's only sizable metro and home to most large employers, anchor the top of the pay range.

Steps to Becoming a Nurse in Vermont

Like every state, Vermont requires you to graduate from an approved program, pass the relevant exam (NCLEX for RNs, board certification for advanced practice), and clear a criminal background check, which Vermont has recently been phasing in.

RN requirements

Graduate from an ADN or BSN program, pass the NCLEX-RN, and complete the background check. If you studied outside Vermont, have your school send transcripts to the Board. The application fee is $60. Vermont joined the Nurse Licensure Compact in February 2022, so you can apply for a multistate license.

APRN requirements

Earn an MSN or DNP, pass the relevant board exam, and hold a valid Vermont RN license. You must submit official transcripts documenting graduate coursework in advanced pathophysiology, advanced assessment, and pharmacotherapeutics. With fewer than 24 months and 2,400 hours of APRN experience, you need a collaborative provider agreement. Like RNs, APRNs renew on active practice hours rather than continuing education.