If you’re looking for a fulfilling and challenging career, you might consider the nursing field. The three primary nursing roles – certified nursing assistant (CNA), licensed practical nurse (LPN), and registered nurse (RN) – all entail caring for patients in times of acute need.

Nursing assistants help patients with daily needs, like eating, bathing, or using the restroom. LPNs perform more complex procedures like cleaning medical equipment, monitoring catheters, and recording a patient’s vital signs. RNs have the most autonomy; they dispense many types of medication and work in tandem with doctors to direct a patient’s care.

Any nursing role requires a license to practice in New Jersey. CNAs must pass a state certification test, while LPNs and RNs complete a rigorous national examination, the NCLEX. The time required to prepare for these exams varies dramatically by role. CNA certificate programs take just a few weeks or months of focused study. An LPN certificate requires 12 to 18 months of study to complete, while an RN diploma or degree will entail two to four years of fulltime enrollment.

Aspiring nurses in the Trenton area of New Jersey can seek employment with major local healthcare providers like Capital Health and the Princeton HealthCare System. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Trenton’s CNAs earn a median annual salary of $26,000. Local LPNs earn $52,000 annually, and the city’s RNs receive $71,000 in annual pay.

To help those pursuing a nursing career in Trenton, we’ve profiled below all of the accredited local nursing programs.

Trenton nursing schools by NCLEX score

Thomas Edison State University
111 West State Street | Trenton, New Jersey 08608
  • Accelerated Second Degree BSN: 95.7% NCLEX pass rate (2013 through 2020)
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • MSN: Nurse Educator
  • MSN: Nursing Administration
  • MSN: Nursing Informatics
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nurse Educator
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Administration
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Informatics
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
The College of New Jersey
2000 Pennington Road | Ewing, New Jersey 08628
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 93.3% NCLEX pass rate (2013 through 2020)
  • LPN-to-BSN Bridge Program
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Post-Master's Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Jersey College - Ewing
1001 Spruce Street, Suite Seven | Ewing Township, New Jersey 08638
  • Certificate in Practical Nursing: 92.3% NCLEX pass rate (2016 through 2020)
  • Associate Degree in Nursing: 87.5% NCLEX pass rate (2014 through 2020)
St. Francis Medical Center School of Nursing
601 Hamilton Avenue | Trenton, New Jersey 08629
  • Diploma in Nursing: 90.9% NCLEX pass rate (2013 through 2020)
Mercer County Community College
1200 Old Trenton Road | West Windsor, New Jersey 08550
  • Associate Degree in Nursing: 86.1% NCLEX pass rate (2013 through 2020)
Rider University
2083 Lawrenceville Road | Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648
  • RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
School Program NCLEX score Time period
Thomas Edison State University Accelerated Second Degree BSN 95.7% 2013 to 2020
Doctor of Nursing Practice
MSN: Nurse Educator
MSN: Nursing Administration
MSN: Nursing Informatics
Master of Science in Nursing
Post-Master's Certificate: Nurse Educator
Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Administration
Post-Master's Certificate: Nursing Informatics
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
The College of New Jersey Bachelor of Science in Nursing 93.3% 2013 to 2020
LPN-to-BSN Bridge Program
MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
Master of Science in Nursing
Post-Master's Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Jersey College - Ewing Certificate in Practical Nursing 92.3% 2016 to 2020
Associate Degree in Nursing 87.5% 2014 to 2020
St. Francis Medical Center School of Nursing Diploma in Nursing 90.9% 2013 to 2020
Mercer County Community College Associate Degree in Nursing 86.1% 2013 to 2020
Rider University RN-to-BSN Degree Completion
Category: 
New Jersey