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The SUNY Niagara Registered Nurse degree program is committed to the education of registered professional nurses and the promotion of wellness in the community.
The Nursing program offers clinical experiences at hospitals, health care facilities, and community agencies in Niagara, Erie, and Orleans counties to provide students with important clinical experiences in all areas of health care.
Graduates of the program are eligible to take the National Council License Examination (NCLEX-RN) for registered nurses through the State Education Department. The Registered Nurse program has been accredited since 1976. The associate degree nursing program at SUNY Niagara is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA, 30326.The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate degree nursing program is continuing accreditation.View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program on the ACEN website.
The nursing program is registered by The State Education Department, Division of Professional Education 89 Washington Avenue, 2nd Floor, West Wing, Albany, NY 12234 518-486-2967, opprogs@nysed.gov.
All applications, forms, and transcripts to be in the ranking for Fall 2026 Nursing acceptance should be completed between September 1, 2025, and February 1, 2026.
The Aggregate NCLEX-RN pass rate for 2025 graduates is 95.65%.The completion rate (150% of time) for the 2022-2025 cohort is 42%.The completion rate (100% of time) for the 2023-2025 cohort is 32%.
Career information and opportunities
Nursing, A.A.S.
SUNY Niagara’s accredited Nursing A.A.S. prepares you to become a registered nurse. You’ll gain clinical experience at hospitals and health care agencies across Niagara, Erie and Orleans counties and be eligible for the NCLEX-RN exam.
Last updated: Oct. 22, 2026
What careers does a Nursing A.A.S. lead to?
What will I learn to do?
How much can I earn in Western New York?
Starting pay is what newer workers typically earn. Median means half of workers earn more and half earn less. Experienced RNs in the region earn about $111,280.
Western New York includes Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties. The median for all jobs in the region is about $51,360. Pay depends on the job, your experience, your education and the employer.
What is the job outlook in Western New York?
Across all jobs in Western New York, employment is expected to grow about 9%. Registered nursing has one of the largest numbers of yearly openings of any job in the region.
Where do registered nurses work?
Where will I get hands-on experience?
How do I get there?
New York State requires RNs who graduate from an associate degree program to earn a BSN within 10 years of their initial license.
How do graduates do?
Which courses prepare me?
Effective July 1, 2024, federal regulation requires institutions of higher education to make a determination whether a Title IV eligible academic program that leads to professional licensure or certification meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the U.S. State where the institution is located and the U.S. States where “distance education” students are located at the time of initial enrollment in the program, as well as U.S. States where the program is advertised as meeting such requirements, and if applicable, the U.S. State where students attest they intend to be licensed/certified.
The Nursing A.A.S. program at SUNY Niagara is registered by the New York State Education Department and thus meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification for New York State.
Through a good faith effort, and for the purpose of complying with the federal regulation, we have determined that Nursing A.A.S. program at SUNY Niagara, if successfully completed, is sufficient to meet the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the following U.S. States:
New York – https://www.registerednursing.org/nclex/
SUNY Niagara has made the determination that completion of the Nursing A.A.S. program is not sufficient to meet the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the following U.S. States:
North Carolina – https://www.ncbon.com/Texas – https://www.bon.texas.gov/
It is important to note that SUNY Niagara is not the licensure/certification authority in these U.S. States and cannot assess whether an individual candidate will be issued a license/certificate in these U.S. States and instead it is incumbent on each individual candidate to contact the licensure/certification authority in the applicable U.S. State for any further guidance on the requirements for licensure/certification requirements and application processes.
SUNY Niagara’s Registered Nursing program was ranked No. 4 in New York by Nursing Explorer in 2025, reflecting strong student performance, including high NCLEX-RN pass rates that meet rigorous ranking criteria. The program is selective and prepares students through clinical experiences in local hospitals and healthcare settings, helping graduates enter the workforce well prepared for professional practice.