Aaniiih Nakoda College Nursing: Programs, NCLEX & Requirements (2026)
On the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Harlem, Montana, Aaniiih Nakoda College offers one pre-licensure pathway—the Associate of Science Grow Our Own Nursing Program—grounded in Aaniiih and Nakoda lifeways and the Medicine Wheel Paradigm. NCLEX-RN figures below come from the Montana Board of Nursing NCLEX report; program details from ancollege.edu/nursing. Confirm tuition, deadlines, and admission tests with the college.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Aaniiih Nakoda College trains nurses through a single “Grow Our Own” associate program that weaves Medicine Wheel teachings and community lifeways into clinical preparation for rural and frontier practice—while publishing a structured prerequisite + four-semester nursing sequence (44 nursing credits, 495 clinical hours) on its official nursing page.
Overview & Why Students Choose Aaniiih Nakoda College
Aaniiih Nakoda College (ANC) is a tribally controlled college on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in north-central Montana. Its sole nursing pathway—the Associate of Science Grow Our Own Nursing Program—is designed to graduate registered nurses who can serve local and regional communities with culturally grounded, holistic care. After two semesters of prerequisites, students enter four semesters of nursing coursework totaling 44 nursing credits, 495 clinical hours, and 150 lab hours, per the college’s published curriculum.
According to the Montana Board of Nursing NCLEX pass rate tables, the most recent first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for Aaniiih Nakoda College was 83.33% (2024, 6 first-time test takers). Montana’s aggregate first-time pass rate in the same report was 92.60%. Small cohorts can shift year to year; confirm current rates with the Board and the school.
Reasons students choose ANC
Culturally grounded nursing education
Learning outcomes on the nursing page explicitly tie care to the Medicine Wheel Paradigm and Aaniiih and Nakoda lifeways—a differentiator for students seeking community-connected practice.
Transparent curriculum map
ANC publishes semester-by-semester prerequisite and nursing course lists (2025–2026 program of study), so you can plan transfer credits and prerequisites methodically.
ACEN-accredited ASN program
The college states the associate nursing program holds ACEN accreditation (initial accreditation) and is approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing; the institution is accredited by NWCCU.
Rural & frontier clinical focus
The mission emphasizes preparing nurses for rural, frontier environments aligned with students’ home communities.
Nursing Programs Offered
The official nursing page lists one nursing degree: the Associate of Science Grow Our Own Nursing Program. The college labels the nursing curriculum as ASN (44 nursing credits). There is no separate LPN, BSN, MSN, or DNP program on that page—only this pre-licensure associate pathway to RN licensure.
Pre-licensure
Associate of Science in Nursing (Grow Our Own)
Prerequisites (two semesters) include general education and sciences—for example American Indian Studies, Aaniiih or Nakoda language, college algebra, chemistry, anatomy & physiology, microbiology, psychology, sociology, nutrition, and writing, per the published plan. Nursing semesters cover fundamentals, pharmacology, gerontology, maternal/child, adult health, mental health, complex care, management, and a capstone preparing for NCLEX. Total published nursing credits: 44, with 495 clinical hours and 150 lab hours.
Post-licensure & graduate
Not listed on the nursing page reviewed for this guide. Students who become RNs typically pursue RN-to-BSN at another institution after licensure.
Program scope and course titles above are taken from ancollege.edu/nursing as of this review. If the catalog changes, confirm the current plan of study with the nursing department.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
According to the Montana Board of Nursing publication Registered Nursing NCLEX Pass Rates Per Calendar Year (PDF), first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for Aaniiih Nakoda College were:
- 2024: 83.33% (6 first-time test takers)
- 2023: 100% (1 first-time test taker; small cohort)
- 2022: 41.67% (12 first-time test takers)
- 2021: N/A in the Board table (no first-time testers listed for that year)
- 2020: 50.00% (6 first-time test takers)
For the same 2024 calendar year, the report lists Montana’s aggregate first-time pass rate as 92.60% (689 first-time test takers statewide) and the national rate as 91.16%—both from the same Board PDF. Because ANC’s cohorts are small, annual percentages can move sharply; confirm the latest cohort with the Montana Board of Nursing and the college.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass (2024) | 83.33% (6 first-time testers; Montana Board of Nursing) |
| Montana aggregate (2024, same report) | 92.60% first-time (689 testers statewide) |
| Source | Montana Board of Nursing — NCLEX pass rates (PDF). Confirm current data with the Board and Aaniiih Nakoda College. |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort. Always confirm the latest pass rates with the Montana Board of Nursing and the school.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Aaniiih Nakoda College’s public nursing page does not detail every international-student or foreign-educated nurse policy in the sections reviewed for this guide. Montana’s nursing licensure rules (English proficiency, transcripts, NCLEX eligibility) still apply at the state level.
- English-language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS or alternatives) for admission and clinical clearance.
- Transcript / credential evaluation (e.g., WES or board-approved evaluators) if coursework was completed outside the U.S.
- Montana Board of Nursing: NCLEX-RN eligibility, background checks, and any additional steps for internationally educated applicants.
- Visa & clinical placement: whether the program can support your immigration status for required clinical hours.
This section is general guidance, not legal advice. Verify with Aaniiih Nakoda College admissions, financial aid, and the Montana Board of Nursing.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
General college admission to ANC requires an application, transcripts, $10 application fee, immunization records, and—if applicable—tribal enrollment documentation, per the Admissions page. The nursing program uses a separate nursing application PDF (linked from the nursing page as the 2026–2028 application). The public nursing page reviewed here does not publish a minimum GPA, TEAS/HESI cut score, or class size in a single table—treat those details as Not publicly disclosed on that page and confirm with the nursing department.
Application timeline
| Item | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing application | PDF linked from ancollege.edu/nursing (2026–2028 cycle referenced in filename) | Confirm the active form and deadlines with Lynette Svingen (contact below). |
| General admission | Online application via ANC admissions | Application not complete until required documents are received (per admissions page). |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (nursing) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Typical GPA range | Not publicly disclosed on the nursing page reviewed |
| TEAS / HESI | Not publicly disclosed on the nursing page reviewed |
| Clinical clearance | Expect immunizations and health requirements typical of clinical programs; confirm the full list with nursing. |
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Tuition & fees: A current per-credit tuition schedule was not located on the Financial Aid or related pages reviewed for this guide. Use Not publicly disclosed for exact rates here; contact the Financial Aid Office for the official schedule.
Financial aid: ANC participates in federal aid (FAFSA) and lists scholarships and resources on its financial aid page. The college also references tuition waivers through the Registrar’s office (inquire in Nakoda Hall).
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Tuition / fees (published on pages reviewed) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Next step | Financial Aid: mejohnson@ancollege.edu · (406) 353-3909; general (406) 353-2607 |
| Source | Aaniiih Nakoda College — Financial Aid. Confirm current amounts before enrolling. |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
NCLEX-RN: See the NCLEX-RN Pass Rate section for Montana Board of Nursing figures. Employment: Not publicly disclosed on the pages reviewed for this guide; ask the college whether it publishes graduate employment surveys.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time (2024) | 83.33% (6 testers; Montana Board of Nursing PDF) |
| Job placement / employment | Not publicly disclosed on the pages reviewed |
| Source | Montana Board of Nursing NCLEX report (PDF) |
Is Aaniiih Nakoda College the Right Fit for You?
ANC fits students who want a small tribal college setting, a single ASN pathway to RN licensure, and culturally grounded coursework aligned with Fort Belknap communities and northern Montana health needs.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Value Medicine Wheel teachings and community lifeways integrated with nursing science.
- Plan to stay in rural or frontier Montana (or return home) after licensure.
- Want a clearly mapped prerequisite + nursing sequence published on the college website.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need a BSN or ABSN without transferring after the ASN.
- Expect a large urban teaching hospital ecosystem for every rotation—Harlem is a small reservation community.
- Require fully online pre-licensure nursing; the published plan is campus-based with clinical and lab hours.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Harlem sits on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in north-central Montana. Regional care includes Indian Health Service–supported facilities and community providers on and near the reservation; larger hospitals (for example in Havre or Great Falls) may appear in some rotations depending on program contracts. The college does not publish a full affiliate list in the sections reviewed for this guide—confirm active clinical sites with the nursing department.
| Setting | Details |
|---|---|
| Tribal & community health | Fort Belknap Indian Community and IHS-related services are central to local care; students train in rural and frontier contexts. |
| Regional demand | Montana continues to recruit RNs in rural areas; graduates may work in tribal, community, or statewide systems—confirm opportunities with employers and the Board. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Aaniiih Nakoda College is a small residential campus environment on the reservation. The nursing curriculum emphasizes hands-on clinical experience (495 clinical hours) and lab time (150 hours) alongside coursework in Nakoda Hall and related facilities. Student life includes campus events and cultural programming; specifics change by semester—see the college’s main site for current activities.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus
- Harlem, MT (Fort Belknap Indian Reservation)
- Address
- 269 Blackfeet Avenue-Agency, P.O. Box 159, Harlem, MT 59526, US
- Main telephone
- (406) 353-2607
- Nursing department
- lsvingen@ancollege.edu · (406) 353-3931 (Lynette Svingen)
- Financial aid
- mejohnson@ancollege.edu · (406) 353-3909
- General email
- info@ancollege.edu
- Website
- ancollege.edu
Official links
Your next steps checklist
- Review the full nursing curriculum and download the current nursing application (PDF linked on that page).
- Complete general admission to ANC and gather transcripts, immunizations, and tribal enrollment documentation if applicable (Admissions).
- Email or call the nursing department to confirm prerequisites, any entrance testing, and application deadlines for your target cohort.
- File the FAFSA and meet with Financial Aid about federal aid, scholarships, and tuition waivers.
- Bookmark the Montana Board of Nursing NCLEX report for outcome trends.
- Plan for travel to assigned clinical sites in northern Montana as directed by the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What nursing degree does Aaniiih Nakoda College offer?
Aaniiih Nakoda College offers one pre-licensure program: the Associate of Science Grow Our Own Nursing Program (ASN), which includes prerequisites plus 44 nursing credits with clinical and lab hours. It does not list BSN, MSN, or DNP on its public nursing page.
What was the NCLEX-RN pass rate for Aaniiih Nakoda College in 2024?
According to the Montana Board of Nursing calendar-year tables, the first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 83.33% in 2024 (6 first-time test takers). Confirm newer cohorts with the Board and the college.
Is the Aaniiih Nakoda College nursing program accredited?
The college states the associate nursing program is accredited by ACEN (initial accreditation) and approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing; the institution is accredited by NWCCU. Verify current status with ACEN, NWCCU, and the Board.
How much is tuition at Aaniiih Nakoda College?
A published per-credit schedule was not located on the financial aid pages reviewed for this guide. Contact Financial Aid at 406-353-3909 or mejohnson@ancollege.edu for current rates.
Does Aaniiih Nakoda College require TEAS for nursing admission?
The public nursing page reviewed for this guide does not specify TEAS or HESI. Confirm entrance exams with the nursing department.
Where is Aaniiih Nakoda College located?
The campus is in Harlem, Montana, on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Mailing address: 269 Blackfeet Avenue-Agency, P.O. Box 159, Harlem, MT 59526.
Who should I contact about the Aaniiih Nakoda College nursing program?
Lynette Svingen: lsvingen@ancollege.edu, 406-353-3931 (per the nursing page).
What makes the Grow Our Own Nursing Program different?
The program integrates Aaniiih and Nakoda lifeways and the Medicine Wheel Paradigm into nursing education and emphasizes rural and frontier practice. See ancollege.edu/nursing.
References
- Aaniiih Nakoda College — Nursing programancollege.edu/nursing
- Aaniiih Nakoda College — Financial aidancollege.edu/financialaid
- Aaniiih Nakoda College — Admissionsancollege.edu/admissions
- Montana Board of Nursing — NCLEX pass rates (PDF)boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov
- Montana Board of Nursing — Educationboards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/nursing/education
- ACEN — search programsacenursing.org/search-programs
- National Council of State Boards of Nursingncsbn.org
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, for NCLEX alignment with the Montana Board of Nursing PDF, program list alignment with ancollege.edu/nursing, and tuition/cost sourcing.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; always verify with Aaniiih Nakoda College and the Montana Board of Nursing.
Published: March 27, 2026 · Last reviewed: March 27, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy