Best 2-Year Nursing Programs in New York (ASN & ADN Online)

New York has multiple 2-year nursing programs that can help launch your healthcare career, with rewarding jobs in family nursing practice, mental health nursing, surgical nursing, pediatric care, and elderly patient care. Nursing education is affordable and accessible if you know where to apply. This article will introduce you to some of the best 2-year nursing programs in the State of New York.

What Is a 2-Year Nursing Program?

Two-year nursing programs offer the most common way to become a nurse and gain entry-level employment. They train nursing students in crucial subjects, including pharmacology, emergency nursing care, holistic wellness, and other nursing fundamentals. Although two years is the typical length for traditional programs, there are fast-track options to complete an associate degree and obtain licensure even sooner.

Associate of Science in Nursing

Although some nurses become registered nurses (RNs) by completing a four-year degree (e.g., a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or BSN), you can earn your nursing license and entry-level work by earning just an associate degree right after high school. The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) is one of the three most common academic tracks for new nurses. You can enroll in an ASN program at most community colleges with an accredited nursing school.

Associate Degree in Nursing

The other two popular options for nurses are the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and the Associate of Applied Science (AAS). Both require you to take several pre-nursing and health science courses along with various general education requirements in other subjects, such as the liberal arts, English composition, or social sciences. The core courses in these programs include classes such as physiology, microbiology, introductory nursing, and eventually clinical rotations.

Are There Online 2-Year Nursing Degrees in New York?

Yes, there are a few online nursing programs, which we will describe in our list below. Many successful RNs begin their careers this way before taking the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) exam and earning their nursing licenses.

Best 2-Year ASN and ADN Programs in New York

Here are several institutions that can help you fulfill the educational requirements for nurses in New York. This list includes accredited nursing schools, which prepare students for state licensure.

1. CUNY LaGuardia Community College

CUNY LaGuardia Community College has a hybrid AAS degree with roughly 96% of students taking at least one online course. It has a first-time pass rate of 98% among graduates from the program. In 2023, it placed 100% of graduates into nursing employment or a BSN program.

• Estimated tuition cost: $4,800 total tuition
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

2. CUNY Bronx Community College

CUNY Bronx Community College offers a two-year AAS for nursing majors in New York. It promotes seven important learning outcomes for its graduates, focusing on evidence-based practice, compassionate patient-centered care, and utilizing nursing informatics and technologies for superior healthcare service. The program also seeks to develop critical thinking among leadership-oriented future nurses.

• Estimated tuition cost: $4,800 total tuition
• Accreditation: ACEN

3. Finger Lakes Community College

Finger Lakes Community College has a 64-credit-hour degree, featuring almost all online courses at an affordable tuition rate. This program offers full-time and part-time options and exposes students to a broad range of courses, such as medical terminology, first aid, lifespan development, and other aspects of practical nursing. Some graduates also use this program to earn and apply transfer credit into other medical fields like respiratory therapy or radiography.

• Estimated tuition cost: $207 per credit hour
• Accreditation: ACEN

4. Excelsior University

Excelsior University's AAS program trains three specific nursing roles: licensed practical nurse (LPN), licensed vocational nurse (LVN), and paramedic. This competency-driven program involves eight-week sessions of fully online nursing courses. The degree requires 65 credit hours, including general education, pre-nursing prerequisites, core courses, and university courses.

• Estimated tuition cost: $550 per credit hour
• Accreditation: ACEN

5. SUNY Delhi

SUNY Delhi offers a pre-nursing licensure AAS, fully accredited by ACEN and registered with the New York State Education Department. It features small classes, state-of-the-art simulators for hands-on practice, and everything else you need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam. The nursing school also has other fully online programs for earning a BSN or master's degree.

• Estimated tuition cost: $295 per credit hour
• Accreditation: ACEN

6. CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College

CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College's College of Nursing offers an AAS degree with specializations in emergency/trauma nursing, pediatrics, anesthesia, gerontology, public health, and more. Many of the core courses are available online, but the program also requires an externship. Many students use their externship's clinical experiences as a stepping stone to their first nursing jobs in New York City (NYC).

• Estimated tuition cost: $4,800 total tuition
• Accreditation: ACEN

7. CUNY Queensborough Community College

CUNY Queensborough Community College, located on Long Island, offers an AAS degree with some online courses for students who are ready to apply scientific methods and critical thinking to their future nursing endeavors. One of its primary objectives is to train students to use analytical reasoning and digital technology to evaluate evidence and make smart decisions in emergency nursing and other specializations.

• Estimated tuition cost: $4,800 total tuition
• Accreditation: ACEN

How We Rank Schools

We'd like to explain how we rank each school of nursing in New York. Each program must hold a valid accreditation, take two years or fewer to complete, and have a solid program reputation.

• Accreditation: These nursing schools receive accreditation from either ACEN or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
• Program length: This list shows programs you can complete within about two years.
• Program reputation: The rankings include high-quality nursing programs that have a good standing with the New York State Education Department and the state's many health care institutions in NYC, Albany, Long Island, and Upstate.

FAQs About 2-Year Nursing Programs in New York

Check out these frequently asked questions regarding New York's ADN degrees, online ADN programs, and online ASN programs. This addresses whether two-year degrees are valuable, which are the fastest, and which are the easiest.

Is a 2-Year Nursing Degree Worth It?

Yes, they are worth it for many successful RNs who have used them to obtain important credentials and secure employment. The schools on our list have high first-time pass rates for the NCLEX-RN exam and permit students to pursue their education either full-time or part-time through in-person or distance-learning nursing courses.

What Is the Fastest RN Program in New York?

There are some fast-track programs that let you complete your nursing degree within 15 to 16 months. The University of Rochester has a program you can finish within 12 months, whereas Pace University claims you can complete its RN program in just 11 months.

What Is the Easiest Nursing School in New York?

If you would like to find the easiest schools in New York, then it helps to identify those with flexible admission requirements. You can also search the web for their acceptance rates. Generally, the nursing schools with the highest acceptance rates are community colleges.

How Much Does a 2-Year Nursing Program Cost?

New York is one of the more expensive states for nursing education, but the tuition costs vary by institution. Typical program costs range between $5,000 and $20,000. You can offset many of these expenses by applying for financial aid at most schools.

What Should I Look For in an Online ADN Program in New York?

There are several ways to earn an ADN through reputable nursing schools online in New York. Your primary concern should be to attend an accredited program with affordable tuition rates, hands-on faculty mentorship, and a variety of nursing competencies.

Discover Nursing Programs

You can use the resources on Learn.org to discover the best nursing programs anywhere in the country. This includes associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and other professional nursing credentials.