Community College of Rhode Island Nursing: Programs, NCLEX & PBHS Admissions (2026)
CCRI operates Rhode Island’s only public associate-degree (ADN) and practical nursing (PN) programs across Knight (Warwick), Liston (Providence), Newport, and Flanagan (Lincoln) sites, using competitive Performance-Based Health Science (PBHS) admissions. This guide summarizes official tuition tables, HESI A-2 requirements, and licensure exam outcomes published on CCRI nursing pages—confirm every detail before you apply.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
CCRI emphasizes that it is the state’s only public ADN and PN pipeline, with day and evening/week cohorts spread across four main campuses—so many Rhode Islanders can train close to home before entering a Providence–Warwick clinical market that includes Lifespan, Care New England, and community hospitals across the state.
Overview & Why Students Choose Community College of Rhode Island
Headquartered at the Knight Campus in Warwick, CCRI anchors public pre-licensure nursing education for the state: graduates earn either the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) through the ADN track or a Practical Nursing diploma through the PN track. (Throughout this guide we use ADN for the associate RN program, per NurseOnShift’s site-wide convention.) Nursing courses blend classroom instruction with simulation and hospital/community clinical experiences; CCRI publicly cautions accepted students to plan for roughly 55–60 hours per week of class, clinical, and study time once the nursing sequence begins.
Admission is not “open”—both tracks use the Performance-Based Health Science (PBHS) competitive point system, capped seating, and HESI A-2 minimum scores, so meeting minimums does not guarantee a seat.
CCRI’s Associate Degree Nurse and Practical Nurse program overview pages publish annual NCLEX pass rate tables. The most recent first-time NCLEX-RN rate shown there is 84.81% (2025 column), following 91.29% (2024) and 75.00% (2023)—cohorts vary year to year. For NCLEX-PN, CCRI lists 90.00% (2025), 91.84% (2024), and 88.00% (2023). Confirm the latest figures with CCRI and cross-check licensure exam statistics using the Rhode Island Department of Health nursing portal (licensure and program oversight).
Reasons students choose CCRI nursing
Only public ADN & PN in Rhode Island
CCRI states explicitly that it runs the state’s sole public associate RN and practical nursing programs—an important price and access story for residents weighing private alternatives.
Multi-campus clinical access
Day options at Knight, Liston, and Newport plus evening/weekend rotations at Knight and Flanagan put clinical training within reach across the Providence metro, Newport County, and northern Rhode Island.
ACEN continuing accreditation
Both the ADN (multi-campus) and PN (Knight) programs hold Continuing Accreditation decisions from ACEN, with the next evaluation visit scheduled for Fall 2027 per CCRI disclosures.
Transparent outcome tables
CCRI publishes NCLEX, completion, and job-placement metrics on its RN and PN overview pages—useful for applicants who want to read cohort trends directly from the institution.
Defined ladder pathways
Students can progress from CNA training through the CNA-to-LPN Bridge (2021-era CCRI CNAs onward, per CCRI) or pursue LPN-to-RN after licensure, keeping licensure goals within one public system.
Nursing Programs Offered
CCRI’s Department of Nursing lists the following pre-licensure pathways for students seeking Rhode Island LPN or RN licensure eligibility. CCRI does not award BSN or graduate nursing degrees—plan to transfer to a four-year partner if you intend to complete a bachelor’s after licensure.
Pre-licensure (RN)
Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)
Four-semester RN preparation delivered in day cohorts (Knight, Liston, Newport) and evening/weekend cohorts (Knight, Flanagan). Graduates receive the Associate of Science in Nursing and meet Rhode Island educational requirements for NCLEX-RN eligibility, per CCRI’s federal disclosure.
LPN-to-RN option
Licensed practical nurses who complete the listed prerequisites may apply through PBHS for the ADN track designed for working LPNs; refer to CCRI’s LPN-to-RN admissions guide for timing, coursework, and documentation.
Pre-licensure (LPN)
Practical Nursing (PN) diploma
Warwick day program spanning three semesters with NCLEX-PN outcomes posted on CCRI’s PN overview page. ACEN lists the program at the Knight campus.
CNA-to-LPN Bridge Option
CCRI describes this option for students who earned CNA certification through CCRI beginning in 2021 to present; consult the dedicated bridge admission guide for eligibility.
CCRI states that students may not simultaneously pursue multiple nursing program applications—acceptance into one track invalidates the other. Choose ADN, LPN-to-RN, or PN before you apply.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
According to the Associate Degree Nurse Program overview on CCRI’s website, the college’s self-reported first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates were 75.00% (2023), 91.29% (2024), and 84.81% (2025). We cite CCRI’s published table verbatim because Rhode Island’s public nursing licensure portal did not return a machine-readable pass-rate worksheet during automated retrieval for this review—readers should still verify the newest cohort with both CCRI and the Rhode Island Department of Health nursing resources.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN pass rate (2023) | 75.00% (CCRI Associate Degree Nurse Program page) |
| NCLEX-RN pass rate (2024) | 91.29% |
| NCLEX-RN pass rate (2025) | 84.81% |
| Source | CCRI Associate Degree Nurse Program. Confirm current data with CCRI and Rhode Island nursing regulatory resources. |
NCLEX-PN (Practical Nursing)
CCRI’s PN overview lists first-time NCLEX-PN pass rates of 88.00% (2023), 91.84% (2024), and 90.00% (2025).
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-PN pass rate (2023–2025) | 88.00% · 91.84% · 90.00% |
| Source | CCRI Practical Nurse Program Overview |
NCLEX percentages move with each graduating class. A higher or lower year (for example the ADN 75% 2023 figure versus 91.29% in 2024) is why NurseOnShift always recommends confirming the latest rates and test-taker counts with CCRI and your state licensing authority.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Clinical nursing programs involve background checks, immunization rules, and strict eligibility for clinical agencies—requirements that can affect international or foreign-educated applicants differently. Use this checklist, then confirm every item with CCRI’s admissions and international student services teams and the Rhode Island Department of Health nursing licensure resources.
- English-language proficiency: Ask CCRI’s International Student Office which exams (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, etc.) and minimum scores apply to PBHS programs.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: Determine whether WES, CGFNS, or another evaluator is required for prerequisites completed outside the U.S.
- Rhode Island licensure pathway: For candidates educated abroad, confirm RN or LPN licensure-by-examination steps, CGFNS/VisaScreen needs, and any additional Rhode Island Board documentation.
- Immigration & visa status: Clarify whether F-1 students can access required clinical rotations and whether coursework is offered at a CBP-compliant credit load.
This information is guidance only—not legal advice. Policies change; verify with CCRI and Rhode Island regulatory authorities.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
CCRI admits nursing students through Performance-Based Health Science (PBHS)—a points-based, limited-seat process. Completing prerequisites and HESI benchmarks makes you eligible to apply, but CCRI states plainly that qualified applicants are denied each cycle because capacity is fixed.
ADN application timeline
| Entry Term | Application window | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fall ADN | Feb 1 – Mar 31 | PBHS application via CCRI directions; day cohorts Liston/Providence, Knight/Warwick, Newport; evening/weekend Knight & Flanagan (Lincoln). |
| Spring ADN | Aug 1 – Sep 30 | Same campus mix; CCRI says applications submitted anytime inside the window are treated equally. |
PN application timeline (example: Fall 2026)
CCRI’s PN admission guide lists a May 1 – May 31 application period for Fall 2026 with the Warwick day cohort; confirm future years on the current PN guide.
Prerequisites & testing highlights
- HESI A-2 (Reading, Math, Vocabulary/General Knowledge, Grammar): CCRI requires 70% or better on each section for PN applicants; the ADN FAQ references the same exam with limits of two attempts before a three-month wait.
- ADN prerequisites (CCRI FAQ): BIOL 2201 (or BIOL 1010 + BIOL 1020 pathway), ENGL 1010, and PSYC 2010 each at “C” or better, with repeat rules and six-year science recency windows.
- PN prerequisites: Includes ENGL 1010, anatomy/physiology coursework per CCRI’s guide, minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA to apply, plus the broader CCRI placement rules (Accuplacer/SAT/ACT/high school GPA) described in the PN admission PDF.
- CNA: CCRI’s 2026 ADN admission guide states a CNA license is not required while testing-platform issues persist.
- COVID-19 vaccination: ADN applicants must have completed the primary vaccine series (and boosters when eligible) before final acceptance.
- Background checks: Clinical partners require clean BCIs through CastleBranch; review CCRI’s published BCI policy before committing.
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | Not publicly disclosed; CCRI documents that qualified applicants are not admitted when seats are full. |
| Minimum GPA | PN: cumulative 2.0 to apply; ADN: point scale rewards higher grades in prerequisites. |
| Standardized test | HESI A-2 required (not TEAS). CCRI multiple-measures placement may also use Accuplacer/SAT/ACT for college readiness. |
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
CCRI’s Bursar publishes Winter & Spring 2026 rates. Rhode Island residents pay the in-state column; nearby non-residents may qualify for the regional rate depending on CCRI’s residency determination.
| Metric | Value (Spring 2026, CCRI Bursar) |
|---|---|
| Part-time general tuition | $245 per billing credit (in-state); $366 regional; $728 out-of-state—plus per-credit fees (student activity, learning resource, technology, commuting/parking, campus service). |
| Full-time flat tuition (12+ credits) | $2,687 in-state general tuition per semester vs. $4,029 regional and $7,603 out-of-state, plus bundled fees shown on the Bursar grid. |
| Nursing-specific extras | CCRI’s nursing tuition page lists additional program expenses (textbooks ~$1,607, technology/ExamSoft, uniforms, CastleBranch health clearance, NCLEX review fee ~$350, etc.). |
| Source | CCRI Winter & Spring 2026 Tuition and Fees; CCRI Nursing Tuition & Fees; CCRI estimated Cost of Attendance. |
Tuition is subject to change when the Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education approves new rates—recheck the Bursar site each semester.
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
The tables below are copied from CCRI’s public nursing overview pages—always confirm methodology (for example how “job placement” is defined) with the Department of Nursing before comparing schools.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN (ADN) | 75.00% (2023); 91.29% (2024); 84.81% (2025)—per CCRI Associate Degree Nurse Program page. |
| NCLEX-PN (PN) | 88.00% (2023); 91.84% (2024); 90.00% (2025)—per CCRI Practical Nurse Program page. |
| ADN program completion (4 semesters) | CCRI lists 63.00%, 61.0%, and 50.5% across the three annual columns on its RN overview table—confirm labels and cohort definitions directly with CCRI. |
| ADN job placement (school-reported) | 91.0% (2022); 64.0% (2023); 55.0% (2024). Placement and NCLEX can trend differently—verify interpretation with CCRI Career Services. |
| PN job placement (school-reported) | CCRI lists 100.00% (2022), 91.0% (2023), and 94.0% (2024). Confirm current methodology with CCRI before treating any single year as typical. |
| Source | RN program outcomes; PN program outcomes. |
Is Community College of Rhode Island the Right Fit for You?
Choose CCRI if you want a state-supported, clinically intense ADN or PN experience inside Rhode Island’s public college system. Reconsider if you need guaranteed admission, unconstrained online flexibility, or a BSN without transferring.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Are Rhode Island residents (or eligible for regional tuition) seeking the lowest published credit rates among public options.
- Can commit to 55–60 hours per week during nursing semesters and accept clinical assignments across the state.
- Thrive in high-stakes testing environments (HESI A-2 benchmarks plus rigorous science prerequisites).
- Want an ACEN-accredited ADN/PN ladder without paying private-college tuition.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Expect automatic admission once prerequisites are complete—PBHS denies qualified applicants when seats fill.
- Cannot meet vaccination or background-check requirements used by Rhode Island clinical partners.
- Need a fully online pre-licensure program (CCRI nursing requires face-to-face labs and clinicals).
- Want a BSN completion without later transferring to URI, RIC, or another university partner.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Rhode Island’s compact geography concentrates tertiary care in Providence while community hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and long-term care sites in Newport, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, and Warwick supply breadth for ADN clinical rotations. Major systems recruiting CCRI graduates historically include Lifespan (Rhode Island Hospital, The Miriam, Hasbro Children’s, Newport, etc.), Care New England (Women & Infants, Kent, Butler), and South County Health, alongside VA and community mental-health agencies. Exact affiliation agreements rotate; confirm active sites with CCRI clinical coordinators.
| Facility / system | Relevance to CCRI students |
|---|---|
| Lifespan facilities | High-volume acute care and specialty units in Providence and Newport—common destinations for med-surg and specialty rotations. |
| Care New England / Kent Hospital | Suburban acute care proximate to Knight Campus in Warwick. |
| Community & rural hospitals | Western Rhode Island and Newport County sites round out experiences outside the capital. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Nursing students split time among lecture halls, high-fidelity simulation labs, and off-site clinical agencies. CCRI markets “cutting-edge simulation” alongside faculty who maintain active clinical practice. Support services include the free Tutoring Center, TRiO/academic coaching, Starfish scheduling, and the compliance workflows managed through CastleBranch and CCRI Health Services. Student life is necessarily leaner than at a residential university—expect commuter schedules, evening labs for working adults, and strong reliance on cohort peers for study groups.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Primary campus
- Warwick, RI (Knight Campus)
- Address
- 400 East Ave., Warwick, RI 02886-1807, US
- Main telephone
- (401) 825-1000
- Nursing contacts
- CCRI Department of Nursing — contact page
- PBHS applications
- Performance-Based Health Science application hub
- Website
- ccri.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Visit the official CCRI nursing site and open the ADN or PN admission guide for your entry term.
- Compare your transcripts against CCRI prerequisite codes (BIOL 2201, ENGL 1010, PSYC 2010 for ADN, etc.).
- Schedule the HESI A-2 after prerequisites—CCRI requires ≥70% on each scored section for PN and uses the same exam for ADN per the nursing FAQ.
- Call PBHS admissions (401-825-2288 for Knight/Liston/Flanagan per CCRI PN guide) with campus-specific questions.
- Download CastleBranch instructions early so health and background milestones do not delay conditional acceptance.
- Shadow an RN or LPN to confirm which licensure level matches your career timeline before you commit (you cannot hold parallel nursing applications).
- Add the correct PBHS deadline (February/March, August/September, or May PN window) to your calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Community College of Rhode Island a respected choice for nursing?
CCRI is Rhode Island’s only public ADN and PN educator, both tracks hold ACEN Continuing Accreditation, and the college publishes NCLEX tables on its RN/PN overview pages (for example 84.81% first-time NCLEX-RN in 2025 and 90% NCLEX-PN in 2025, each CCRI-reported). Confirm the newest cohort with CCRI and Rhode Island licensing authorities.
Does Community College of Rhode Island require TEAS or HESI for nursing?
CCRI uses the HESI A-2 exam—not TEAS—for PBHS nursing applicants. The PN guide requires 70% or better on each section (Reading, Math, Vocabulary/General Knowledge, Grammar), and the ADN FAQ references the same exam with retest policies.
What prerequisites does CCRI’s ADN track require?
Per CCRI’s ADN FAQ you need BIOL 2201 (or the 1010/1020 sequence) with a C or better, ENGL 1010 (C or better), and PSYC 2010 (C or better), subject to repeat limits and six-year recency rules for science courses.
When are Community College of Rhode Island nursing application deadlines?
ADN: February 1–March 31 for fall starts and August 1–September 30 for spring. Practical nursing uses a different cycle—for Fall 2026 CCRI listed May 1–May 31 in the PN admission guide. Always verify the PDF dated for your entry year.
How much is tuition at Community College of Rhode Island for nursing prerequisites?
Nursing courses pay the same general tuition tiers as other credits: $245 per billing credit in-state (part-time grid) for Winter/Spring 2026, plus mandatory fees; regional and out-of-state columns are higher. See CCRI’s Spring 2026 tuition schedule.
What is the NCLEX pass rate for CCRI’s ADN program?
CCRI’s Associate Degree Nurse Program overview lists first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates of 75.00% (2023), 91.29% (2024), and 84.81% (2025). Cohorts differ—confirm the latest numbers with CCRI and cross-check public state data when available.
Can I apply to both the ADN and PN programs at CCRI?
No. CCRI policy says applicants must pick a single pathway; acceptance into one program invalidates the other application, so decide whether you are pursuing LPN or RN before you submit PBHS materials.
Does CCRI offer an online pre-licensure nursing degree?
No. Pre-licensure nursing requires on-campus labs and in-person clinicals; CCRI does offer extensive online general-education coursework, but you should plan for substantial face-to-face hours once admitted.
Where do CCRI nursing students complete clinicals?
Clinical sites span Rhode Island’s hospitals and community agencies; assignments depend on cohort campus (Warwick, Providence, Newport, Lincoln). CCRI states that rotations demand up to 55–60 hours per week including study time—confirm specific facilities with the clinical coordinator after acceptance.
References
- CCRI Department of Nursingccri.edu/nursing
- CCRI Associate Degree Nurse Program (NCLEX table)RNprogramoverview.html
- CCRI Practical Nurse Program (NCLEX-PN table)PNprogramoverview.html
- CCRI ADN Admission Guidelinesadmissionguide.html
- CCRI Practical Nursing Admission GuidelinesPNadmissionguide.html
- CCRI ADN Admission FAQadmissionsfaq.html
- CCRI Winter & Spring 2026 Tuition and Feesspring-tuition-fees.html
- CCRI Nursing Tuition & Fees (program extras)Tuition_and_Fees.html
- Rhode Island Department of Health — Nurses / licensurehealth.ri.gov/for/nurses
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)ncsbn.org
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nursesbls.gov/ooh
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, focusing on PBHS admissions criteria, ACEN accreditation language, Spring 2026 tuition figures, and alignment between CCRI-published NCLEX tables and on-page summaries.
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 CCRI and Rhode Island nursing regulatory authorities.
Published: 2026-03-31 · Last reviewed: March 31, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy