Heavily rooted in the Mormon faith, the state of Utah has a population of roughly 3.5 million people as of July 2025 and is one of the fastest-growing states in the country. While the state as a whole is deeply rooted in the political aspect of the governing body, the state is also known for professional sports teams such as the Utah Jazz as well as the Real Salt Lake MLS soccer team in addition to the six Division I universities that compete in NCAA sporting events. Although the state economy is driven by tourism, mining, healthcare is a significant contributor too which gives way to many good nursing schools in Utah.
Nursing education in Utah
There are several colleges and universities to choose from when opting for secondary education. With various levels of degree programs available earning a Master’s, Bachelor’s, Doctoral, and Ph.D. can easily be done given the fact that there are several financial aid programs where students can get a scholarship to cover educational expenses.
Some of the most traditional colleges and universities located within the state include the University of Utah at Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College, as well as several other research universities and private nonprofit educational institutions.
Becoming a licensed nurse (no matter what specified area) is the most important step before being hired at employers such as University of Utah Health, Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, and many of the other healthcare facilities throughout the state. Utah registered nurses earned a median of $84,600 a year as of May 2025, below the national RN median of $97,550, and the state employed about 27,420 registered nurses.
Featured programs
Brigham Young University College of Nursing
Brigham Young University is a private non-profit university entirely owned and guided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The ethos, beliefs, and practices of the university including required religious education courses; devotional assemblies; and a restrictive honor code for students, strongly reflect this affiliation. Approximately 99% of the student body are members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints.
The baccalaureate nursing program at BYU is accredited by CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education). Undergraduates embark upon a traditional BSN program and benefit from access to up-to-date simulation labs and exposure to the technology and software in use in clinical practice. Students undertake an average of 12 clinical hours per week during the six semesters of their upper-division coursework and these take place in a variety of urban and rural hospital, home, and community settings. An MSN program leading to certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner may also be pursued at the university.
Provo, UT 84602
801-422-4636
Website: http://www.byu.edu
University of Utah College of Nursing
Established in 1850, the University of Utah is a public research and teaching university located in Salt Lake City. Academic options at the College of Nursing include bachelor’s, master’s, post-master’s certificates, and both the research doctorate (PhD) and the clinical doctorate (DNP), the latter with several specialty emphases. Programs are accredited by CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education).
The curriculum at an undergraduate level is designed to offer a broad and generalist overview covering the care of individuals, families, and populations across the lifespan (infant to geriatric) and across the healthcare continuum (health promotion to the care of the acute and chronically ill). Key themes include developing evidence-based practice, advocacy, and collaboration as an integral member of the healthcare team.
10 South 2000 East
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
801-581-3414
Website: https://nursing.utah.edu
Weber State University Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing
Weber State University was founded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Weber Stake Academy in 1889. However, in 1931 the college passed into the ownership of the state of Utah and is now a public university. The Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing sits within Weber State’s Dumke College of Health Professions, and all of its degree programs and post-master’s certificates are accredited by ACEN.
Aspiring nursing students may undertake an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, or a DNP, or pursue bridge courses from practical nursing to ADN and from RN to BSN. Master’s degree concentrations are available in Education, Executive, and Nurse Practitioner. Post-master’s certificates are also available.
Marriott Health Building Room 420
3875 Stadium Way Dept. 3903
Ogden, UT 84408
801-626-6000
Website: https://www.weber.edu/nursing/
Westminster University School of Nursing and Health Sciences
Westminster is a private non-denominational, liberal arts institution located in the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City. It was founded in 1875 as the Salt Lake Collegiate Institute and was known as Westminster College until fall 2023, when the board of trustees renamed it Westminster University. The 27-acre campus is notable for its architecture and natural setting, and enrollment sits at roughly 1,150 students across undergraduate and graduate programs. Nursing sits within the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Published rankings shift year to year, so check the current edition directly rather than relying on a figure quoted second-hand.
The baccalaureate, master’s, and DNP nursing programs are accredited by CCNE. The Doctor of Nursing Practice-Nurse Anesthesia program holds separate accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). Note that the nurse anesthesia credential is now a doctorate rather than the master’s (MSNA) it once was: as of 2022 all entry-level nurse anesthesia programs award a practice doctorate.
The pre-licensure upper-division BSN program features a four-semester curriculum, a flipped classroom environment with students receiving learning material before coming to class so that they come prepared to discuss, clinical rotations in both inpatient and outpatient settings, and outreach and service opportunities in under-served communities.
Graduate options include the Doctor of Nursing Practice, the Doctor of Nursing Practice-Nurse Anesthesia, and a Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner. Program offerings change, so confirm the current list with the university before applying.
1840 South 1300 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84105
801-832-2200
Website: https://westminsteru.edu
Utah Board of Nursing approved schools
The Utah Board of Nursing approves prelicensure nursing programs in the state. Approval is what makes graduates eligible for licensure; it is separate from the voluntary programmatic accreditation listed below, which comes from ACEN or CCNE. Program offerings and accreditation status both change, so confirm current details with the Division of Professional Licensing and with the school before applying. The list below covers the four institutions profiled above and is not the Board’s complete roster.
Brigham Young University College of Nursing
- Location: Provo, Utah
- Programs: BSN, MSN (Family Nurse Practitioner)
- Founded: university founded 1875
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: nursing.byu.edu
University of Utah College of Nursing
- Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
- Programs: BSN, MSN, DNP, PhD
- Founded: university founded 1850
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Website: nursing.utah.edu
Weber State University Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing
- Location: Ogden, Utah
- Programs: ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP
- Founded: university founded 1889
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Website: www.weber.edu/nursing
Westminster University School of Nursing and Health Sciences
- Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
- Programs: BSN, MSN, DNP, DNP-Nurse Anesthesia
- Founded: university founded 1875 (renamed from Westminster College in 2023)
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); the nurse anesthesia program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)
- Website: westminsteru.edu
Related guide
For admissions requirements, program costs, and how to choose the right program, read our full guide to Nursing schools in Utah: top programs, costs, and licensing.