Best Online Nursing Programs in Paterson, NJ (2026)
Paterson, New Jersey has a population of about 157,660. The city’s median household income is $53,766 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 12.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 196 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Paterson, with tuition ranging from $4,757 to $38,705 per year for indexed programs. In the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Practitioner at a median $152,790 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Nursing Schools to Paterson
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 196 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Paterson. Distances are calculated from Paterson city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passaic County Community College | Paterson, NJ | 0.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Berkeley College-Woodland Park | Woodland Park, NJ | 1.8 mi | $28,600 - $38,702 | – |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey | Wayne, NJ | 2.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Montclair State University | Montclair, NJ | 4.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Bergen Community College | Paramus, NJ | 4.6 mi | $4,757 - $15,317 | – |
| Felician University | Lodi, NJ | 4.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lincoln Technical Institute-Paramus | Paramus, NJ | 5.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Jersey College | Teterboro, NJ | 6.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Eastwick College-Hackensack | Hackensack, NJ | 6.7 mi | $16,913 - $38,705 | – |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | Teaneck, NJ | 7.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all New Jersey schools on the New Jersey nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Paterson
Paterson is part of the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area (BLS area code 35620). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to New Jersey statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $113,490 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $100,790 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $72,800 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $64,654 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | N/A | NJ statewide | – |
| Nurse Midwife | $138,980 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $123,428 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $152,790 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $135,693 |
| Nursing Assistant | $47,810 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $42,460 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 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.
Paterson at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 157,660 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $53,766 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 12.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 112.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Paterson-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Elmwood Park, NJ – 2.3 mi away (20,295 pop)
- Fair Lawn, NJ – 2.8 mi away (33,453 pop)
- Clifton, NJ – 3.6 mi away (85,845 pop)
- Garfield, NJ – 3.7 mi away (31,876 pop)
- Passaic, NJ – 4.3 mi away (70,635 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Paterson, NJ?
Our directory has 196 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Paterson. The closest is Passaic County Community College in Paterson, NJ (0.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus (7.1 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Paterson?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Paterson are: Nurse Practitioner ($152,790), Nurse Midwife ($138,980), Registered Nurse ($113,490). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with New Jersey statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Elmwood Park instead of Paterson?
Elmwood Park, NJ is 2.3 miles from Paterson 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 Paterson an affordable place to study nursing?
Paterson’s median household income of $53,766 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Paterson while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and New Jersey 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.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; 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.