Best Online Nursing Programs in Ruston, LA (2026)

Ruston, Louisiana has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs, with tuition ranging from $4,109 to $24,496 per year for indexed programs. Ruston has a population of about 22,224. Median household income is $32,765 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 42.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Louisiana, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $222,130 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Nursing Schools to Ruston

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer nursing programs near Ruston, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Ruston city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Ruston. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Louisiana Delta Community College

Monroe, LA 35.3 miles from Ruston BOC Score 41.3
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 30%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $30,438
Avg net price $7,702/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 48

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College

Minden, LA 36.7 miles from Ruston BOC Score 56.4
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $32,503
Avg net price $9,256/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 27

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Bossier Parish Community College

Bossier City, LA 58.8 miles from Ruston BOC Score 42.3
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 22%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $34,502
Avg net price $10,706/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 75

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Natchitoches, LA 60.7 miles from Ruston BOC Score 45.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 46%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $47,021
Avg net price $13,606/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 71%
  • Programs offered: 39

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Central Louisiana Technical Community College

Alexandria, LA 85.2 miles from Ruston BOC Score 57.4
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $29,558
Avg net price $5,702/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 25

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Infinity College

Lafayette, LA 162.1 miles from Ruston BOC Score 86.3
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 84%
Avg net price $230/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 9

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

SOWELA Technical Community College

Lake Charles, LA 163.0 miles from Ruston BOC Score 49.8
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 50%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $32,303
Avg net price $7,525/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 33

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

South Louisiana Community College

Lafayette, LA 163.6 miles from Ruston BOC Score 40.6
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 30%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $31,432
Avg net price $12,564/yr
Tuition
In‑state$4,210
Out‑of‑state$4,210
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 49

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Louisiana schools on the Louisiana nursing page.


Nursing Wages Near Ruston

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Louisiana, statewide)
Registered Nurse$80,230
Licensed Practical Nurse$57,470
Nurse Anesthetist$222,130
Nurse Midwife$119,280
Nurse Practitioner$125,600
Nursing Assistant$30,510

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Ruston at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population22,224Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$32,765Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+42.9%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Nursing-related employment in Lincoln County1,061 workers, 21 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Ruston-Area Cities With Nursing Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited nursing schools are near Ruston, LA?

Accredited schools offering nursing programs near Ruston are listed on this page, ranked by BOC Score and distance from the city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data on every site update, so it stays current as programs open and close.

What are the highest-paying nursing roles in Louisiana?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles in Louisiana are: Nurse Anesthetist ($222,130), Nurse Practitioner ($125,600), Nurse Midwife ($119,280). Wages for Ruston workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Monroe instead of Ruston?

Monroe, LA is 32.6 miles from Ruston and has its own set of local nursing programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Ruston an affordable place to study nursing?

Ruston’s median household income of $32,765 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Ruston while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Louisiana public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.


Learn More About Nursing Programs

Other Programs Available in Ruston

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Ruston:

Data verified: July 23, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.