New Jersey's 18 county colleges deliver affordable LPN training with access to two of the best hospital markets in the country — New York City and Philadelphia. Bergen Community College, Passaic County CC, Camden County College, and Middlesex College serve the state's major regions. RWJBarnabas Health, Hackensack Meridian, and Virtua recruit from community college programs. NOT an NLC state, but NJ LPNs earn among the highest salaries nationally.
🏫 Community College = Best Value🏥 Local Clinical Placement💰 From ~$6K✅ Accredited Programs
If you're researching LPN programs in New Jersey, the state's 18 county colleges should be at the top of your list — and New Jersey's geographic position between New York City and Philadelphia gives community college graduates access to two of the largest hospital markets in the country. Bergen Community College and Passaic County Community College serve North Jersey with direct access to NYC-area hospitals. Middlesex College and Raritan Valley CC cover Central Jersey. Camden County College and Atlantic Cape CC serve South Jersey with Philadelphia hospital access across the Delaware River. RWJBarnabas Health (New Jersey's largest health system), Hackensack Meridian Health, and Virtua Health all recruit directly from NJ's county college nursing programs. New Jersey LPN salaries rank among the highest nationally — reflecting the state's high cost of living but also its proximity to premium hospital markets. Private LPN programs charge $20,000–$35,000 for the same Board-approved curriculum that county colleges deliver at a fraction of the cost. No NJ Board-approved LPN program finishes in under 10 months. New Jersey is NOT an NLC compact state — your license works only in NJ — but the state's massive healthcare market and proximity to NYC/Philly mean you rarely need to look elsewhere.
🔄 Need More Flexibility? Compare Online & Evening Programs
Community colleges are the best deal — but they often have waitlists, limited seats, and 1–2 start dates per year. If you need evening/weekend classes, multiple start dates, or online coursework with clinicals arranged near you, these accredited programs fill that gap. Sponsored listings — schools pay to appear.
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~$8K
Avg. Program Cost
10–12
Months (Fastest)
$71K+
Avg. NJ LPN Salary
NCLEX-PN
Licensure Exam
How Community College LPN Programs Work in New Jersey
New Jersey's community college LPN programs run 10–14 months depending on full-time or part-time enrollment. Here's what to expect:
Accelerated full-time: Classes and clinicals 4–5 days/week, 10–12 month completion
Hybrid/online theory: Study lectures at home, attend clinicals on set days — still 11–14 months
Evening/weekend tracks: Designed for working adults, typically 14–18 months
Community colleges in New Jersey offer some of the most affordable paths — often under $8,000 total tuition for in-district students. Private nursing schools cost more but sometimes offer faster schedules and more flexible clinical placement.
Accredited LPN Schools in New Jersey
All schools listed are accredited and approved by the New Jersey Board of Nursing. Verify current enrollment status directly with each school.
Bergen CC
📍 Paramus
HybridCommunity College
Length: 12 monthsFormat: Online theory + local clinicalsCost: ~$8,200Clinical: Bergen County hospitals
Camden County College
📍 Blackwood
HybridCommunity College
Length: 12 monthsFormat: Online theory + local clinicalsCost: ~$7,400Clinical: Camden County
Middlesex College
📍 Edison
HybridCommunity College
Length: 12 monthsFormat: Online theory + local clinicalsCost: ~$7,800Clinical: Middlesex County
New Jersey LPN Licensure Requirements
Requirement
Detail
Governing Body
New Jersey Board of Nursing
Program Accreditation
Must be state board-approved
Minimum Clinical Hours
400 hours
Licensure Exam
NCLEX-PN (Pearson VUE)
Background Check
Required prior to clinical placement
CPR Certification
Required before clinical start
Drug Screening
Required by most clinical partner facilities
Immunizations
Per program/facility requirements
🔄 Can't Get Into a Community College Program? Compare Alternatives
Waitlisted? Need evening classes or a different start date? These programs offer flexible schedules and online options with local clinicals. Sponsored listings.
Sponsored listings — schools pay to appear. By submitting, you agree to receive information from schools that match your interests.
LPN Salary in New Jersey
Licensed Practical Nurses in New Jersey earn an average of $71,300/year ($34.28/hour) according to the BLS. Salaries vary by city, experience, and work setting.
Newark: $74,200/year
Jersey City: $73,800/year
Trenton: $70,400/year
Top employers: Skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, hospitals, physician offices
Community colleges cost a fraction of private programs, deliver the same Board-approved curriculum and clinical hours, and often have equal or better NCLEX-PN pass rates. They also place you at local hospitals where you'll likely work after graduation. The only downside: waitlists and limited start dates. If you can get a seat, a community college is almost always the best choice.
The fastest accredited programs run about 10–12 months for full-time students. Some accelerated tracks at technical colleges can get close to 10 months, but you'll be in class and clinicals nearly every day. Part-time or hybrid programs typically take 14–18 months.
Community college programs often run $4,000–$12,000 for in-district students. Private and nationally accredited programs can range from $18,000–$35,000. Financial aid, grants, and employer tuition assistance may be available.
After graduating from an approved program and applying through the New Jersey Board of Nursing, you schedule your NCLEX-PN exam through Pearson VUE. Testing centers are located in major New Jersey cities.
Hybrid programs that combine online theory with in-person clinicals are legitimate and approved by state boards. However, any program claiming to be 100% online with no clinical requirement is not accredited and will not qualify you for NCLEX-PN or licensure.
⚠️ Data Disclaimer: Salary figures, tuition costs, program lengths, and school information are gathered from publicly available sources and intended as general guidance. Program availability, accreditation, and tuition are subject to change — verify details with the school and New Jersey Board of Nursing before enrolling. This page may contain affiliate links.
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