Finding top-notch accredited nursing degree programs in Maine isn’t as difficult as you may think. Despite being just our nation’s 41st most populous state with 1.3 million residents, Maine has nearly as many educational offerings as pine trees at 30 higher learning institutions. Since its the “Vacationland,” Maine could be the ideal setting for outdoor lovers wishing to study nursing while exploring the state’s rocky coastline and forested mountains. As the demand for registered nurses grows by 19 percent over the next decade, nursing graduates can expect favorable job prospects. The 14,460 RNs currently working in Maine earn an average annual salary of $63,320, so your degree will certainly pay off. The following are the five bachelor’s degree programs available for future nursing professionals like you in Maine.
Husson University
School of Nursing
Nestled on a wooded 200-acre suburban campus in Bangor within just 30 miles from Penobscot Bay in northern Maine, Husson University is a comprehensive four-year private institution enrolling around 3,000 students annually. Featuring an average class size of just 21, Husson also offers certain undergraduate and graduate programs at its satellite locations in Westbrook and Presque Isle. Enrollment has grown by at least five percent every year since 2000. The CCNE-accredited School of Nursing has over 100 years of experience in preparing caring, committed, and competent nurses for meeting the health needs of all people.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
From a holistic approach, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Husson is designed to produce highly skilled healthcare professionals with in-depth knowledge on the patients they’re caring for. The entry-level 120-credit curriculum places an emphasis on clinical excellence, self-reflection, experiential learning, leadership, and transformative medicine. Building on a liberal arts core, the program makes certain nurses have the evidence-based strategies to promote wellness for individuals, groups, families, and whole populations. Starting in the sophomore year, nurses will spend a significant amount of time in the school’s state-of-the-art simulation facilities practicing on high-fidelity mannequins. There’s also a RN-to-BSN option for registered nurses to transfer up to 90 qualifying credits.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
1 College Circle
Bangor, ME 04401
(207) 941-7058
brawng@husson.edu
http://www.husson.edu/undergraduate-nursing
University of Maine
School of Nursing
First established in 1865, the University of Maine is the state’s major flagship public land-grant research institution educating more than 11,000 students from its beautiful 660-acre rural campus along the banks of the Stillwater River in Orono. As one of just 16 colleges listed on the Princeton Review’s “Green Honor Roll” for sustainability, UMaine is currently ranked as the 173rd best university and 97th top public school in America by the U.S. News and World Report. Also recognized as the country’s 102nd best nursing school, the School of Nursing has the state’s oldest baccalaureate program for producing the next generation of nurse leaders.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Available in four-year pre-licensure format, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing at UMaine will equip undergraduate students with the knowledge and skills necessary for promoting patient safety in the rapidly evolving and diverse healthcare industry of the 21st century. During the first two years, nurses will build their critical thinking and decision-making skills with liberal arts coursework. Then, students advance into introductory nursing and physical science coursework to better understand the fundamentals of human health. Experiential learning is important, so the program offers clinical rotations at facilities like Eastern Machine Medical Center, Acadia Hospital, and St. Joseph’s Hospital. For degree completion and qualification for the NCLEX-RN examination, students must have at least 121 semester credits.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
5724 Dunn Hall
Orono, ME 04469
(207) 581-2592
nursing@maine.edu
https://umaine.edu/nursing/undergraduate-program/
University of Maine at Fort Kent
Division of Nursing
Nestled on a 54-acre rural campus in the Saint John Valley near the Quebec border, the University of Maine at Fort Kent is a comprehensive senior public liberal arts institution granting English and French degree programs for just over 1,000 students. Named one of Princeton Review’s “Best in the Northeast” for nine straight years, UMaine Fort Kent is currently honored by the U.S. News and World Report as the 37th best regional college, 13th top public school, and 12th best university for veterans in the North. The Division of Nursing is accredited by the CCNE to provide a wellness-focused curriculum that equips nurses with the professional competency to serve in rural health settings.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Consistently earning one of New England’s highest NCLEX-RN pass rates, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at UMaine Fort Kent is dedicated to building upon the liberal arts for preparing well-rounded professional nurses who serve our complex global society. Within the 130-credit curriculum, students will progress through courses on biology, psychology, health assessment, nutrition, chemistry, human development, microbiology, pharmacology, physiology, healthcare policy, family health, rural medicine, mental health, transcultural care, and nursing leadership. Clinical practicum starts in the freshman year for plenty of hands-on learning. BSN students also have access to Maine’s only NeoNatal Simulator. Fort Kent provides Online RN to BSN and Accelerated BSN programs too.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
23 University Drive
Fort Kent, ME 04743
(207) 834-7609
umfkadm@maine.edu
https://www.umfk.edu/nursing/
University of Southern Maine
School of Nursing
As a multi-campus comprehensive senior public metropolitan research institution, the University of Southern Maine serves more than 9,800 students from its main 142-acre urban campus in Portland as well as its satellite locations in Gorham, Lewiston, and online from anywhere. Boasting a student-faculty ratio of 15:1, USM is noted as one of Princeton Review’s “Best in the Northeast” and one of Forbes’ “America’s Best Value Colleges.” With the state’s highest first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate at 90%, the School of Nursing has the mission of providing exemplary educational programs rooted in community service to develop caring, compassionate nursing professionals.
B.S. in Nursing
Consisting of at least 120 credits, the B.S. in Nursing program at USM is structured for undergraduate students who are just beginning their nursing practice and wish to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination in Maine or any other state. The program is focused on giving students the fundamental generalist nursing knowledge to obtain leadership in hospitals, clinics, physician offices, public health agencies, schools, nursing homes, outpatient centers, and more. After the general education core, students will join a cohort group to progress through nursing coursework on the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health. Future nurses will spend their junior year completing clinical rotations in Portland and Lewiston. It’s also possible for USM students to follow the Accelerated or RN to BS degree tracks.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
71 Bedford Street
Portland, ME 04103
(207) 780-4505
son@usm.maine.edu
http://usm.maine.edu/nursing/bs-nursing
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine
Department of Nursing
With a close-knit community of around 2,400 students, Saint Joseph’s College of Maine is a private co-educational Roman Catholic liberal arts institution located on a stunning 474-acre rural campus in Standish along the banks of Sebago Lake just 18 miles from Portland. As the state’s sole Catholic college originally founded in 1912 by the Sisters of Mercy, SJC welcomes students of all faiths into its over 40 values-centered programs. The Department of Nursing is committed to meeting Maine’s evolving healthcare needs by producing registered and advanced practice nurses who can attend to the details of quality patient treatment.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Offered in a traditional on-campus or convenient online format, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at SJC develops upon the rigorous liberal arts foundation to provide undergraduate students with a solid foundation for nursing care. Fully accredited by the CCNE, the highly respected program allows students to start nursing coursework in their freshman year and gain hands-on clinical training beginning as sophomores. The program places a strong emphasis on holistic care to ensure nurses can restore health for individuals, families, and communities. Carrying on the Mercy tradition, the 120-credit curriculum trains professional nurses in accordance with Christian humanism. Graduates are qualified to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination after successfully completing their semester-long senior nursing internship.
Accreditations
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
278 Whites Bridge Road
Standish, ME 04084
(207) 892-6766
edelano@sjcme.edu
https://www.sjcme.edu/academics/programs/bs-nursing/oncampus/
To become an RN in Maine, you’ll need to spend at least two years in post-secondary education with an associate’s degree in nursing or higher. Finding entry-level positions without experience can be difficult though, so it’s typically advised that aspiring RNs earn their bachelor’s. Not only will a BSN degree allow you to take the NCLEX-RN exam and start building your nursing career, but it’ll also qualify you for attending graduate school. A bachelor’s is the perfect stepping stone for a master’s and its slew of advanced practice nursing options. Let your professional nursing potential soar into leadership by attending one of these accredited nursing degree programs in Maine.
