If you’re in Georgia and studying for your ADN is on your mind, then you will have plenty of options and a wealth of opportunities when you graduate. Demand for Registered Nurses (RNs) is high in the Peach State, driven by a growing and aging population and large numbers of existing RNs nearing retirement age.
Featured Programs
Albany Technical College
Albany Technical College is located in south-west Georgia. The ASN program has a competitive admission process, and students are selected based on college course grades, pre-admission test scores, completion of required nursing program coursework, and qualifications related to academic and professional potential. Applicants must possess a minimum GPA of 2.75 and achieve a passing score on the ATI TEAS examination.
The curriculum for the two-year associate level nursing program focuses on developing nurses who demonstrate critical thinking/ problem-solving skills, integrity, accountability, a theoretical knowledge base, refined psychomotor skills, and a commitment to life-long learning.
Graduates from the program receive an Associate of Science in Nursing degree and are eligible to sit the NCLEX-RN licensure examination. Check the Georgia Board of Nursing’s approved-programs list for the program’s current pass rate and accreditation status, since these are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Albany’s associate degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing.
1704 S Slappey Blvd
Albany, GA 31701
229-430-3500
Website: https://www.albanytech.edu/academics/areas-of-study/healthcare-technology/773-nursing
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College at Bainbridge
ABAC at Bainbridge was formed from the merger of two state colleges in early 2018 and incorporates both the former Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and the former Bainbridge State College.
The ADN program at ABAC consists of 74 credit hours and can be completed in six semesters. Both a traditional track and an advanced placement track for qualifying Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) are available. The curriculum is organized to provide essential, sequenced learning experiences and emphasizes caring behaviors, communication, critical thinking, nursing process, client-centeredness, and professionalism.
ABAC’s associate degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing.
2500 E Shotwell Street
Bainbridge, GA 39819
229-248-2500
Website: https://www.abac.edu/nursing
Gordon State College
Gordon State College is part of Georgia’s state university system and the aim of the nursing program is to prepare entry-level nurses for their first career experience. Gordon’s two campuses feature state of the art classes and labs, individualized attention and apartment-style housing.
Gordon offers a three-year ASN degree which typically leads directly to a career in healthcare. Entry requirements for the program include the ATI TEAS, which replaced the Kaplan Nursing Admission Test as Gordon’s entrance exam in Summer 2024. Gordon sets no minimum TEAS score and admits competitively, so a stronger score improves your standing rather than clearing a fixed cut-off. The curriculum aims to deliver generalist-trained graduates who are ready to provide nursing services in a wide range of healthcare settings. ASN students at Gordon are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam when they graduate. Verify the program’s current pass rate against the Georgia Board of Nursing’s published list rather than relying on a general claim. The Gordon State College ASN Program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing.
419 College Drive
Barnesville, GA 30204
678-359-5555
Website: https://www.gordonstate.edu/academics/school-nursing-health-sciences/index.html
Gwinnett Technical College
ADN students at Gwinnett Technical College must first apply and be accepted into the Interdisciplinary Studies degree program with a concentration of Healthcare Management. Students complete three semesters of core courses and must maintain a GPA above 3.0 before transitioning to the nursing program for a further four semesters. In addition to the traditional nursing option, Gwinnett College offers both a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Bridge and a Paramedic Bridge program option. The curriculum for all three programs aims to provide a strong generalist foundation in the practice of nursing.
All ADN program graduates are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Check the program’s current pass rate on the Georgia Board of Nursing’s approved-programs list before applying. Gwinnett Technical College is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing.
5150 Sugarloaf Pkwy
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
770-962-7580
Website: https://gwinnetttech.edu/nursing-sciences-division/registered-nursing-adn/
West Georgia Technical College
West Georgia Technical College is the state’s third largest technical college. The ADN program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing. Applicants to the ADN program are required to take the ATI TEAS exam for competitive selection and receive additional credit in the selection progress for previous clinical experience, and/or completion of the Nurse Aide certification program.
70% of students at West Georgia Technical College successfully complete the ADN program within nine semesters of the time from entry into the program. ADN graduates are eligible to sit the NCLEX-RN examination to obtain their state license. Confirm the program’s current NCLEX-RN pass rate via the Georgia Board of Nursing’s approved-programs list.
13017 GA Highway 34 East
Franklin, GA 30217
706-948-0250
Website: https://www.westgatech.edu/program-explorer/nursing-allied-health-sciences/registered-nursing/
Studying for your Associate Degree in Georgia
The basic requirement for RN status in Georgia is an associate degree (ADN). As a result, these types of courses are very popular across the state with over 25 ADN programs available, the majority being delivered by local technical and community colleges. While program lengths vary, aspiring ADN students can complete their nursing studies, sit the NCLEX-RN examination to obtain a state license, and find a job as an RN within a minimum of just two years.
Georgia’s NCLEX-RN performance sits close to the national figure rather than well above it. Among first-time, US-educated candidates in 2025, 86.0% of Georgia candidates passed (4,704 of 5,468), against a national rate of 86.7%, so the state ran about 0.7 points below national, not several points above. Within Georgia the associate-degree cohort passed at 85.4% and the baccalaureate cohort at 86.4%, a gap of one point. Pass rates vary far more between individual programs than between degree types, so check the rate for the specific program you are considering on the Georgia Board of Nursing’s approved-programs list.
Many ADN graduates in Georgia will go on to extend their studies and will choose to pursue a BSN or MSN at a later stage in their careers. In addition, since January 2018, RNs licensed in Georgia are able to apply for a multi-state license that will enable them to practice in the 40-plus jurisdictions that have signed up to the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC).
What Georgia RNs earn
Georgia registered nurses earned a median of $93,550 a year in May 2025, against a national RN median of $97,550 – so the state runs roughly $4,000 below the national figure. The spread inside Georgia is wide: the lowest-paid 10% of RNs earned $68,920 or less, while the top 10% earned $128,640 or more.
| Percentile | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $68,920 | $68,940 |
| 25th | $79,090 | $80,330 |
| Median (50th) | $93,550 | $97,550 |
| 75th | $106,330 | $112,350 |
| 90th | $128,640 | $137,470 |
Location matters more than the statewide median suggests. Metro Atlanta is the only Georgia market paying above the national median – Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell RNs earned a median of $100,490, about $17,000 more than the typical figure outside it. Augusta-Richmond County ($87,760), Savannah ($86,760), and Macon-Bibb County ($85,070) form a middle tier, while Valdosta ($74,360) and Warner Robins ($78,980) sit at the lower end. The rural nonmetropolitan areas cluster near $79,000-$85,000.
These figures cover all registered nurses in the state, not ADN graduates specifically. Georgia employers generally set starting pay by role, unit, and shift differential rather than by degree type, so an ADN-prepared new graduate and a BSN-prepared new graduate on the same unit typically start close together. The degree gap tends to show up later, in access to magnet hospitals, charge and management roles, and graduate study, which is one reason many Georgia ADN nurses complete an RN-to-BSN bridge while working.
Benefits of Associate Degree Programs
Associate degree programs allow for an earlier entry to the nursing workforce than bachelors programs. This enables graduates to quickly build up their working experience and to offset the cost of their studies more quickly. The quality of teaching for ADN programs that are delivered by community and technical colleges is also frequently noted as a benefit. Community colleges actively recruit faculty with extensive real-world practical experience. This enhances the relevance of the learning for students and may help to prepare them more effectively for entry to the workplace.
Accreditation and Licensing in Georgia
Educational institutions use accrediting organizations to demonstrate that their programs meet and achieve educational standards. Two accreditors work at the associate level: the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), which accredits nursing programs at every level from practical nursing through the practice doctorate, and the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA), recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and accrediting the same full range of program types.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is often named alongside them, and it should not be: CCNE accredits only baccalaureate, graduate, and residency or fellowship programs. No ADN program holds CCNE accreditation, in Georgia or anywhere else, so a two-year program advertising it has either misstated its status or is describing accreditation held by a bachelor’s program at the same institution. In practice, the great majority of Georgia ADN programs are ACEN-accredited.
Program approval in Georgia is managed by the Georgia Board of Nursing, which publishes a current list of approved RN education programs together with each program’s accreditation status and next scheduled site visit. Board approval and programmatic accreditation are separate things: Board approval is what makes a program’s graduates eligible to sit the NCLEX-RN in Georgia, while ACEN or NLN CNEA accreditation is a voluntary quality review layered on top of it. Check both for any program you are considering, using the school’s own site and the Board’s published list.
In addition to educational institutions requiring approval and licensure, RNs must obtain an individual license in order to practice in the state. ADN graduates obtain a license by passing the NCLEX-RN examination at the end of their program of study.
Overview of Associate Degree Programs in Georgia
A shortage of nurse educators means that places in ADN programs across the state are in high demand, entry can be very competitive and there are waitlists for some programs. Applicants are often required to have pre-requisite college-level courses in Biology, English, Psychology, Chemistry, Communications, and Math with a minimum GPA in the 2.75-3.0 range; some longer-duration programs include these courses within the curriculum. In addition, applicants may be required to sit additional admissions tests such as the Kaplan Nursing Admission Test or the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) and may be expected to demonstrate previous clinical experience as a Nursing Aide or similar.
There are a number of different ways of referring to associate degrees in nursing. These include ADN, for Associate Degree in Nursing; AN, for Associate of Nursing; ASN, for Associate of Science in Nursing; and AAS, for Associate of Applied Science in Nursing. As long as the granting institution’s program is approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing, graduates of all of these types of associate degrees are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN examination and obtain a license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state. Programmatic accreditation at this level comes from ACEN or NLN CNEA, not from CCNE, which accredits only baccalaureate and higher programs.
Choosing an Associate Degree Program in Georgia
Many community colleges, universities and technical schools across the state offer an ADN program. The most critical factor in choosing an institution is that its program is approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing and accredited by ACEN or NLN CNEA. After this has been confirmed, other factors to consider include:
- The type of educational institution and the quality of the teaching
- Curriculum and educational philosophy
- Pre-requisite courses
- Waitlists and length of program
- Clinical hours and where these take place
- Program outcomes such as NCLEX-RN pass rates compared to the state and national figures, student course completion rates, student satisfaction rates, and graduate hiring data
- Tuition and additional costs
References
- Georgia Board of Nursing, “Approved Registered Nursing (RN) Education Programs,” Georgia Secretary of State, revised January 2026.
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics,” Research Brief Vol. 96, June 2026 (Table 8, first-time US-educated candidates by jurisdiction and degree type).
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, “ACEN Accreditation Manual: Standards and Criteria for Associate Programs.”
- NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation, “Accreditation Standards for Nursing Education Programs,” National League for Nursing.
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, “Standards for Accreditation of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Programs,” American Association of Colleges of Nursing. CCNE approved a revised 2026 edition of these Standards on 7 July 2026, realigning them with the AACN Essentials (2026 edition); the 2024 Standards remain in effect through 31 December 2026 and the 2026 Standards take effect 1 January 2027 (CCNE press release, https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/CCNE/CCNE-Press-Release-2026-Education-Standards.pdf).
- U.S. Department of Education, “Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs,” recognized nursing accrediting agencies.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141),” May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered Nurses,” projections 2025-2035.
- O*NET OnLine, “Wages for Registered Nurses (29-1141.00), Georgia,” state and metropolitan percentile wage data, BLS May 2025 OEWS.
- Gordon State College, “Admission Test Requirement,” Department of Nursing – ATI TEAS required, effective Summer 2024.