10 Best Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Programs in 2023

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A career in nursing can be rewarding as you'll get to spend your time helping those in need by providing excellent care. Still, looking into a nursing career can feel overwhelming since you can choose many degree programs and pathways to achieve your goal.

Becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN) is a significant first step, and to help you make it, we've compiled the 10 best programs and other facts and statistics about the degree and the jobs you may seek after graduating.

What Is an LPN?

An LPN is a type of nurse that has typically spent one year earning their practical nursing degree. In comparison, a registered nurse (RN) typically spends between two and four years earning a professional nursing degree.

After completing an LPN program, students must complete the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) to obtain their license and begin their nursing career.

Roles will vary, but LPNs can be responsible for observing patients, feeding patients, giving injections, and sometimes performing procedures.

LPNs work under the direction of physicians and registered nurses and help maintain concise communication between patients and families and their medical staff. 

LPN Program Prerequisites and Requirements

To begin an LPN program, students must pass a criminal background check and have either received their high school diploma or completed their GED. Once accepted, one year of coursework combined with supervised clinical practice in patient care before completing the diploma program can be expected.

During an LPN program, students can anticipate taking the following courses: 

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Psychology
• Medical Terminology
• First Aid
• Physical Education
• Food and Nutrition
• Child Growth and Development 

They will also need to complete various clinical competencies to show their abilities in providing adequate patient care.

LPN programs will all have similar completion requirements with the goal of successfully passing the NCLEX-PN, but there are usually different pathways to get there. Programs often offer hybrid or online classes to accommodate students' various schedules.

Related: 10 Fastest Registered Nurse (RN) Programs in 2023

Education Beyond an LPN 

Some programs offer students the opportunity to further their education while completing an LPN program. Others offer bridge programs like an LPN to RN or LPN to BSN bridge. In these programs, coursework and credit hours taken during the LPN program apply to the RN or BSN degree the student plans to obtain.

When researching LPN programs, students should ensure accreditation. Look for a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The U.S. Department of Education recognizes both of these accrediting bodies.

Best LPN Programs in 2023

The following schools have been selected based on allnurses' methodology of surveying our readers to understand what they value most while selecting schools with the addition of NCLEX pass rates, graduation rates, student-faculty ratio, price, mode, duration, and admission rates of hundreds of the most prominent nursing schools in the United States.

1. Holmes Community College

Located in Goodman, Mississippi, Holmes Community College's main campus offers a traditional LPN program and two accelerated LPN to RN programs for those wanting to further their education. The LPN program provides a full-time track, evening and weekend options, and a hybrid option. 

• Price: $4,050/Total 
• Mode: Hybrid
• Duration: 12 months

2. Ozarka College

LPN classes at Ozarka College in Melbourne, Arkansas, start in January or August, following an 18-month program. The school accepts applications from September 1st to November 1st for the January program start, while applications from February 1st to April 1st are accepted for the August class start. 

• Price: $2,160-$4,512/Total 
• Mode: Hybrid
• Duration: 18 months

3. South Georgia Technical College

South Georgia Technical College offers its LPN program at the Americus campus and their Crisp County campus. Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent and acceptable SAT or ACT scores or acceptable scores on the college's placement exam.

• Price: $3,000-$6,000/Total 
• Mode: Hybrid
• Duration: 5 terms

4. Florida Gateway College

Located in Lake City, Florida, Florida Gateway College's LPN program begins each Spring term and offers an LPN-RN bridge program for students interested in furthering their careers. The college reports that NCLEX-PN first-time pass rates are consistently above state and national rankings.

• Price: $2,369-$9,473/Total 
• Mode: Hybrid
• Duration: 12 months

5. Miami Dade College

Miami Dade College's LPN program in Miami, Florida, is on the medical campus. They offer an accelerated track where students can complete the program in three semesters. Miami Dade College graduates have a 98% employment rate after program completion.

• Price: $4,098.60/Total 
• Mode: In-person
• Duration: 12 months

6. Lake Area Technical College

Watertown, South Dakota's Lake Area Technical College offers four paths for LPN students. These include a full-time online option, a part-time online option, and a full-time and part-time on-campus option. The full-time opportunities begin in August and are 11 months long, while the part-time options start each January and take 18 months to complete.

• Price: $2,728.00/Semester
• Mode: Hybrid
• Duration: 11-18 months

7. Carl Sandburg College

Located in Galesburg, Illinois, Carl Sandburg College offers an LPN to RN transition program that helps students prepare for the opportunity to apply for the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program at the college. LPN students can begin applying between October 1st and March 1st for the fall semester start date. 

• Price: $7,140-$7,952/Total
• Mode: Hybrid
• Duration: 12 months

8. Southern Crescent Technical College

Griffin, Georgia, is home to Southern Crescent Technical College. Their LPN programs begin in the fall and Spring terms. Grading standards once admitted to the program are strict, and students must maintain a minimum grade of C to progress to the next course. 

• Price: $2,400-$4,800/Total 
• Mode: Hybrid
• Duration: 5 Terms

9. Palm Beach State College

The 12-month program at Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, has a Spring term start date. Students can apply the 11 credit hours obtained during the LPN coursework towards an ADN at the college.

• Price: $2,424-$8,712/Total
• Mode: Hybrid
• Duration: 12 months

10. Ashland Community and Technical College

Located in Ashland, Kentucky, Ashland Community and Technical College offers an LPN to RN bridge program for students interested in furthering their education and career. The LPN program is three semesters long with a fall start. 

• Price: $8,550/Total 
• Mode: Hybrid
• Duration: 12 months

Salary Expectations of LPN in 2023

An LPN can work in many fields and settings after completing their program and becoming licensed. Many LPNs work in healthcare facilities such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and physician offices, while some LPNs serve as in-home providers, providing care to patients in their homes.

Salary expectations will vary depending on what field an LPN works in. In 2021, the median salary for an LPN was $48,070 per year. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment to grow by about 6% from 2021 to 2031.

Salary expectations will also vary depending on the geographical region due to the differences in living costs.

FAQ and Additional Readings

Q: How are LPNs and CNAs different?

LPNs and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) are integral to patient care in and out of the hospital setting. The most significant difference is that LPNs are licensed nurses, and CNAs are not.

CNAs help patients with daily functions such as eating, dressing, and bathing. LPNs can perform basic nursing functions, like medication administration and updating medical records. 

Related: Registered Nurse: What Is an RN, Salary, and How to Become One

Q: Are LPNs in demand in the United States?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, LPNs are in high demand across the United States. They expect employment in the profession to grow at least 6% over the next ten years, with estimates of about 58,800 LPN job openings each year.

Q: How long does going from an LPN to an RN take?

Many schools and programs now offer options for LPNs to participate in bridge programs. This option typically means they can use some of their credit hours obtained during their LPN program to satisfy some requirements for the RN program.

The time it takes to complete will vary depending on your situation and the program you choose, but students can usually accomplish this in about two years. There are many great ADN RN programs for LPNs to look into when they are ready to pursue this degree.