Nursing Education in Connecticut in 2024

This report, created by the Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce, Inc. (CCNW) in collaboration with the Connecticut Data Collaborative (CTData), provides information on the students and faculty at Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) pre-licensure education programs in Connecticut for the time period of January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024.

This report uses data from a statewide survey of RN (Registered Nurse) and LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) pre-licensure nursing education programs completed by program deans and directors. The data were collected and analyzed in 2025. This report also presents trends in enrollments, new student seat capacity, graduates, and attrition rates for pre-licensure nursing education programs from annual statewide surveys administered in 2017 through 2024. Finally, this report presents data on nursing licensure examination (NCLEX) pass rates as reported by the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Previous statewide RN and LPN pre-licensure nursing education reports can be accessed for calendar years 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023.

In 2024, there were thirty-one (31) accredited RN pre-licensure nursing program options in Connecticut:

• Seven (7) 2-year associate degree programs,

• Fourteen (14) 4-year baccalaureate programs, including one LPN to RN baccalaureate program,

• Eight (8) 12–15 month accelerated (2nd degree) baccalaureate programs, and

• Two (2) master's entry programs.

Between 2023 and 2024, one (1) associate degree program, Saint Vincent’s College at Sacred Heart University, closed. Four (4) new 4-year baccalaureate programs opened: one (1) program at Eastern Connecticut State University, one (1) program at Arizona College of Nursing, and two (2) programs at Albertus Magnus College, a traditional baccalaureate program and an LPN-to-BSN program.

Total RN Student Enrollments

A total of 7,869 students were enrolled in RN pre-licensure education programs across Connecticut during the 2024 calendar year:

• 1,946 (25%) were in an associate degree program, 

• 4,895 (62%) were in a baccalaureate degree program, 

• 843 (11%) were in an accelerated (2nd degree) baccalaureate program, and 

• 185 (2%) were in a master's entry degree program. 

Between 2023 and 2024, total student enrollment in pre-licensure RN programs increased by 5% (356 students).

• Associate degree program enrollment remained steady (0% increase), 

• Baccalaureate degree program enrollment increased by 3% (157 students), 

• Accelerated baccalaureate degree program enrollment increased by 27% (179 students), and 

• Master’s entry degree program enrollment increased by 8% (14 students). 

Since 2017, total RN student enrollment has increased by 32%. Although associate degree program enrollment declined over this time period, enrollment increased in baccalaureate, accelerated baccalaureate, and master’s entry RN programs: 

• Associate degree program enrollment has declined by 17% (395 students) since 2017, 

• Baccalaureate degree program enrollment has increased by 51% (1,658 students) since 2017,  

• Accelerated baccalaureate degree program enrollment has increased by 184% (546 students) since 2017, and 

• Master’s entry degree program enrollment has increased by 75% (79 students) since 2017. 

New RN Student Seat Capacity and Enrollments

Statewide, RN pre-licensure programs had 3,334 seats open for new student enrollments in the 2024 calendar year (399 more seats than in 2023). A total of 3,051 new students enrolled in RN programs in 2024, filling 92% of the available seat capacity. Of these new RN pre-licensure students,  

• 900 (29%) enrolled in an associate degree program, 

• 1,475 (48%) enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program, 

• 560 (18%) enrolled in an accelerated (2nd degree) baccalaureate program, and 

• 116 (4%) enrolled in a master's entry degree program. 

The charts below show how new student seat capacity and new student enrollments by degree type for RN pre-licensure programs have changed from 2017 through 2024. 

For baccalaureate and accelerated baccalaureate programs, both new student seat capacity and new student enrollments increased substantially between 2023 and 2024. From the prior year, new student seat capacity increased in baccalaureate programs by 16% (228 seats) and in accelerated baccalaureate programs by 22% (119 seats). New student enrollments increased by 15% in baccalaureate programs (193 seats) and by 19% in accelerated baccalaureate programs (91 seats) from the prior year. Four (4) new baccalaureate programs enrolled students in 2024, and both baccalaureate and accelerated baccalaureate programs received funding to expand their enrollment in 2024. 

There has been a positive trend in enrollments in these programs since 2017, although the increase in enrollments has not kept pace with the increase in capacity. In both types of programs, the gap between new seat capacity and new enrollments increased most notably in the years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In baccalaureate programs, the percentage of unfilled seats increased from 5% in 2020 to 10-12% in 2021 through 2024. In accelerated baccalaureate programs, the percentage of unfilled seats increased from 5% in 2020 to 16% in 2024.  

For associate degree programs, both new student seat capacity and new enrollments remained stable between 2023 and 2024. In 2024, new student enrollment was over capacity by 1% (five seats). Associate degree programs have filled nearly all seats available for new students in each year since 2019.  

New student seat capacity in master’s entry programs decreased by 32% between 2022 and 2023, but increased by 45% between 2023 and 2024 to return to 2022 levels. In 2024, just 7% of master’s entry seats were left unfilled, the lowest percentage of unfilled seats since 2020. 

New RN Student Capacity, Enrollments, and Utilization Rates by Program

The tables below provide the new student seat capacity, enrollments, and percent of capacity that was filled at each RN pre-licensure education program in 2024, reported separately by type of degree. Note that some RN programs filled more than 100% of their available seats because admitted students are not guaranteed a spot in the clinical portion of the nursing program, to account for expected student attrition prior to beginning clinical experiences, and/or due to readmitted and transfer students. 

Funding to Expand RN Program Enrollment

In 2024, 16 RN programs received funds from at least one source to expand their student enrollment:  

• 13 programs received funds from Connecticut Health Horizons, 

• 6 programs received funds from healthcare partners, and 

• 2 programs received federal funding. 

In total, this funding resulted in 253 additional students that were able to enroll across all pre-licensure RN programs, representing 8% of new enrollment, including: 

• 32 additional students in associate degree programs (4% of new enrollment), 

• 99 additional students in baccalaureate degree programs (7% of new enrollment), and 

• 122 additional students in accelerated baccalaureate programs (22% of new enrollment). 

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Between 2023 and 2024, the total number of students who graduated from an RN pre-licensure program decreased slightly from 2,181 to 2,111 (-3%). The number of RN program graduates in 2024 was still 22% higher than in 2017.  

• The percentage of all RN program graduates who had completed an associate degree program decreased from 34% in 2023 to 28% in 2024. Prior to 2024, the number of graduates from associate degree programs had held relatively steady since 2017. 

• The percentage who had completed a four-year baccalaureate degree program remained steady between 2023 and 2024, but has increased from 38% in 2017 to 45% in 2024. 

• The percentage who had completed an accelerated baccalaureate degree program increased from 17% in 2023 to 23% in 2024, after remaining relatively steady between 2017 and 2023. 

• The percentage who had completed a master’s entry program slowly decreased from 6% in 2017 to 4% in 2024. 

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Across all RN pre-licensure programs, there was a 4% student attrition rate during the 2024 calendar year. This rate was calculated by dividing the number of students who withdrew from RN programs during the year by the total number of students who were enrolled at any time during the calendar year. 

In all years, RN associate degree programs showed the highest attrition rates. However, the 6% attrition rate in 2024 was the lowest rate recorded since 2017.  

Baccalaureate degree programs had a 3% attrition rate in 2024. Attrition rates in these programs have remained fairly stable since 2017, with a momentary peak at 6% in 2023. Accelerated baccalaureate degree programs had attrition rates below 5% in each year, with an attrition rate of 4% in 2024. Finally, attrition rates in master’s entry degree programs were generally below 5% in all years (with the exception of 2019) and were at 1% in 2024.

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Three institutions provided LPN pre-licensure training in Connecticut in 2024 and are included in this report: Lincoln Technical Institute, Porter & Chester Institute, and Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health. As of the end of 2024, these institutions were operating six day programs and two evening programs across six towns.  

Total LPN Student Enrollment

New LPN Student Seat Capacity and Enrollments

In 2024, a total of 923 seats were available for new LPN pre-licensure students and 808 new LPN students enrolled, representing an 88% utilization rate for new LPN student seats across all programs.  

New LPN Student Capacity, Enrollments, and Utilization Rates by Program

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In order to practice nursing in Connecticut, RN and LPN program graduates need to pass the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Examination (NCLEX). RNs take the NCLEX-RN, and LPNs take the NCLEX-PN. 

First-time candidate exam pass rates are made available through the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) for each RN and LPN program in the state. Data in the chart and tables below were retrieved from CT DPH in June 2025 for 2022 through 2025 data, while 2021 data was retrieved in November 2024. NCLEX exam pass rates may be updated by DPH after this report was published based on corrected candidate information. The most up-to-date NCLEX exam pass rates data are available from CT DPH. 

The chart to the right shows the average of the program-level pass rates by program type. In this chart, each program is weighted equally. Thus, these averages do not take into account the number of graduates of each program who took the NCLEX that year. These averages also include students who attended programs that are now closed.

Annual NCLEX pass rates include exams taken from May 1 of the prior year through April 30 of the reporting year. For example, 2024-2025 NCLEX results include exams taken between May 1, 2024 and April 30, 2025. Note that the timeline of the pass rate data does not line up with the timeline of the Annual Nursing Education Survey, which covers calendar years from January 1 through December 31. 

Average NCLEX pass rates for RN programs were between 86% and 93% for all degree types in 2024-2025. Average RN program pass rates decreased slightly across all program types between 2023-24 and 2024-25, following increases from 2022-23 to 2023-24. 

LPN programs had lower average NCLEX pass rates in all years, ranging from a high of 73% in 2020-21 to a low of 59% in 2023-24. However, there was wide variability in LPN program pass rates, from 0% to 100% in 2024-25 (see the table below). Furthermore, most LPN programs included in these average pass rates are no longer in operation. NCLEX pass rates for these programs may reflect a small number of graduates who took the NCLEX in each reporting period. Among the eight (8) LPN programs that were in operation during the 2024 calendar year, the average NCLEX pass rate in 2024-25 was 85%. 

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Below, we report the demographic characteristics of students enrolled in pre-licensure nursing education programs in Connecticut in 2024. This is a change from previous reports, in which we reported student demographics as of December 31 of the reporting year.  

We report data separately by degree type for RN programs (Associate, Baccalaureate, Accelerated Baccalaureate, and Master’s Entry). Students in pre-licensure LPN programs receive a certificate upon completion. 

Students by Race and Ethnicity

For RN pre-licensure programs: 

• Overall, the majority of RN students identified as white (61%), followed by Hispanic/Latino (17%), Black or African American (13%), Asian (6%), and other race/ethnicity categories (4%).  

• The percentage of RN students identifying as White ranged from 48% in associate degree programs to 68% in baccalaureate degree programs. 

• The percentage of RN students identifying as Hispanic or Latino ranged from 12% in accelerated baccalaureate degree programs to 23% in associate degree programs.  

• The percentage of RN students identifying as Black or African American ranged from 9% in baccalaureate degree programs to 20% in associate degree programs.  

• The percentage of RN students identifying as Asian ranged from 5% in baccalaureate and associate degree programs to 12% in master’s entry degree programs.  

In contrast, only 14% of LPN pre-licensure students identified as White. More than half of LPN students (56%) identified as Black or African American, and 22% identified as Hispanic/Latino. Only 2% of LPN pre-licensure students identified as Asian. 

Students by Gender

Students by Age

For RN programs overall, 70% of students were under 25 years old and 82% were under 30 years old. However, the age ranges of RN pre-licensure students varied widely by degree type. 

• Students enrolled in baccalaureate degree programs had by far the youngest age distribution, with 94% being under 25 years old. For all other RN degree types, fewer than 50% of enrolled students were under 25 years old. 

• Among RN programs, students enrolled in associate degree programs were most likely to be at least 30 years old (53%), followed by accelerated baccalaureate programs (25%) and master’s entry programs (21%). 

LPN students also tended to be older, with 23% of enrolled students being under 25 years old, and 51% being at least 30 years old. 

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Below, we report characteristics of the faculty employed at pre-licensure nursing education programs in Connecticut in 2024. 

Funding to Expand Nursing Program Faculty

In 2024, sixteen (16) RN programs received funds from at least one source to expand their faculty and staff: 

• 14 programs received funds from Connecticut Health Horizons, and 

• 3 programs received funds from healthcare partners. 

These funds resulted in the hiring of 29 additional full-time faculty and 26 part-time faculty, including: 

• 8 part-time faculty in associate degree programs, 

• 11 full-time and 14 part-time faculty in baccalaureate degree programs, and 

• 18 full-time and 4 part-time faculty in accelerated baccalaureate degree programs. 

The following sections report the characteristics of nursing program faculty who were employed between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024. The totals therefore differ from the total number of faculty employed as of December 31, 2024, which is reported above.

Educational Attainment of Nursing Program Faculty

Nursing Program Faculty by Age

RN Program Faculty

In 2024, 55% of Connecticut’s full-time faculty in RN pre-licensure programs were at least 50 years old and 24% were at least 60 years old. 

Part-time faculty in RN pre-licensure programs tended to be younger than full-time faculty. In 2024, 61% of part-time RN program faculty were under 50 years old. 

LPN Program Faculty

In 2024, 54% of full-time faculty in LPN pre-licensure programs in Connecticut were at least 50 years old and 39% were at least 60 years old. 

Among part-time LPN pre-licensure program faculty in Connecticut, 44% were at least 50 years old and 20% were at least 60 years old. 

Nursing Program Faculty by Gender

As in prior years, in 2024 the overwhelming majority of faculty at RN and LPN pre-licensure programs, both full- and part-time, identified as female.  

• Just 7% of full-time and part-time RN faculty identified as male. 

• Just 10% of full-time LPN faculty and 6% of part-time LPN faculty identified as male. 

Nursing Program Faculty by Race/Ethnicity

RN Program Faculty

In 2024, 80% of the 357 full-time faculty at RN pre-licensure programs whose race was reported identified as White, 7% as Black or African American, 5% as Hispanic/Latino, and 4% as Asian. 

Among the 617 part-time RN program faculty whose race was reported, 70% identified as White, 13% as Black or African American, 11% as Hispanic/Latino, and 4% as Asian. 

LPN Program Faculty

In 2024, 75% of the 40 full-time faculty at LPN pre-licensure programs identified as White, 15% as Black or African American, 8% as Hispanic/Latino, and 3% as Asian. 

The greatest racial/ethnic diversity was present among part-time faculty at LPN pre-licensure programs. Among the 152 part-time LPN program faculty whose race was reported, 57% identified as White, 26% as Black or African American, 11% as Hispanic/Latino, and 3% as Asian. 

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Below, we compare the racial and ethnic breakdown of nursing program students and faculty in RN and LPN pre-licensure programs. Percentages for faculty are calculated across both part-time and full-time faculty. 

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Connecticut’s nursing workforce future depends on our shared ability to adapt, innovate, and advocate. Building on the data and trends outlined in this report, the Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce (CCNW) recommends the following actions to strengthen and sustain the nursing education-to-practice pipeline statewide:

1. Advance State-Level Advocacy for Innovation and Evidence-Based Practice

CCNW urges continued advocacy with state partners to modernize nursing education regulations and align them with current and emerging evidence-based standards. This includes championing updated policies that support clinical innovation, simulation expansion, and alternative pathways to licensure and practice readiness. By maintaining active dialogue with legislators, regulators, and workforce agencies, we can ensure that Connecticut’s nursing education system remains agile and responsive to both workforce needs and learner realities.

2. Foster Collaboration and Build Strong Coalitions

No single institution can meet the workforce challenge alone. CCNW calls for renewed collaboration among nursing programs, healthcare systems, policymakers, and community partners to build a united coalition committed to innovation in nursing education. Through shared data, coordinated strategies, and collective investment, Connecticut can amplify its impact and ensure that every nursing student and educator benefits from a cohesive, well-supported ecosystem.

3. Invest in Mentorship and Sponsorship for Growth and Equity

Mentorship and sponsorship must become foundational elements of Connecticut’s nursing education and workforce strategy. Intentional programs that connect students, new graduates, and early-career faculty with experienced professionals can accelerate growth, retention, and leadership development. Special focus should be placed on supporting nurses from underrepresented and marginalized communities, cultivating a workforce that reflects and serves Connecticut’s increasingly diverse population.

4. Sustain and Expand Funding for Faculty and Clinical Innovation

To fully realize these goals, continued investment is needed to support faculty recruitment, retention, and development, as well as creative clinical education models. Funding streams such as Connecticut Health Horizons have proven successful in expanding capacity; sustaining and scaling such initiatives is essential for long-term system transformation.

A Call to Collective Action

The Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce remains steadfast in its commitment to leading these efforts with transparency, collaboration, and vision. As educators, policymakers, and healthcare leaders, we have both the opportunity and responsibility to shape the future of nursing together. By advancing innovation, fostering inclusive mentorship, and advocating for forward-thinking policy, we can ensure that Connecticut’s nursing workforce is not only prepared for today’s challenges but boldly equipped for tomorrow’s possibilities.

For more information, contact Dr. Tina Loarte-Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce, at Tina@CTCenterForNursingWorkforce.com.