Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State University (VTSU) graduated 414 nurses into the health care workforce this year. Consistent with its ongoing, multi-year nursing program expansion, the university enrolled 713 nursing students this academic year, 90% of whom are Vermont residents hailing from every county in the state. This year, approximately 92% of VTSU’s nursing graduates tested for licensure in Vermont, with outstanding NCLEX pass rates (see below), directly contributing to their local communities and addressing the state’s critical shortage of licensed nurses.
“Vermont needs more nurses, and VTSU is delivering them,” said VTSU President Dave Bergh. “We’ve built an incredible program that is accessible statewide and whose graduates are directly and immediately impacting the health care needs of their local communities. These graduates deserve both our congratulations on their achievement and our thanks for stepping into this essential field.”
VTSU’s Nursing Program offers credentials and degrees from the certificate to Masters level and is available in 12 communities around Vermont and online, providing an accessible and affordable option for Vermonters to pursue a health care career. There are multiple ways to access a degree in the program, where the median student age is 30. These include a traditional 4-year Bachelor’s degree program at the Castleton campus and a laddered credential option, available statewide, during which students earn stackable credentials and degrees and can work their way through the program or enter the workforce with a credential or degree after achieving milestones along the way.
In the laddered credential option, called 1+1+2, the Practical Nursing (PN) certificate is earned after three semesters of coursework and leads to Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) licensure. The second year of the program, the Associate of Science in Nursing (ADN) program, leads to Registered Nurse (RN) licensure. The third and fourth years lead to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and are offered online. Additionally, the newer Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is offered online and prepares learners to become a clinical nurse leader (CNL) or a certified nurse educator (CNE).
In addition to the Associate, Bachelor, and Master of Science in Nursing students who graduated in May, the Practical Nursing program held four graduation ceremonies around the state this weekend, celebrating the graduates of the first step in the laddered program.
Jennifer Spika graduated from the Bennington program this weekend. “Choosing the VTSU PN program was an easy decision for me,” she noted. “It has a strong reputation, a supportive learning environment, and it’s located right in my community, which allowed me to stay connected to my family and local roots while pursuing my goals. I feel incredibly fortunate that I’ve had a strong support system around me - my husband, my daughters, my mother, and my mother-in-law, who all stepped in and helped make this possible.”
In addition to the rigorous academics of the nursing program, Jennifer worked part-time in an architectural office and cared for her three elementary and middle school aged kids.
“One of the things I appreciated most was its location and accessibility,” she added. “I also valued the variety of clinical opportunities we were given. Being exposed to different settings and patient populations helped me explore many areas of nursing and gain a broader understanding of the profession. Most of all, I liked that the program challenged me more than anything I’ve ever done. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow, not just as a future nurse, but as a person. I learned a lot about my resilience and my capabilities.”
Like many of VTSU’s nursing students, Jennifer was called to meaningful work and a strong desire to make a difference in people’s lives. She had earned a bachelor’s degree previously and worked for nearly 20 years as a professional in an architectural office. “This shift to nursing represents a major career change for me—one that feels deeply purposeful. While I’m technically starting over in a new field, I bring with me a lot of transferable skills and life experience. I committed to investing in this new path because I know it’s the right fit for me,” she said.
Jennifer plans to continue on in the ADN program this fall, begin working as a nurse, and then eventually consider earning her BSN.
“Many of our PN students opt to continue for a second year in the program,” observed Caitlin Stover, Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences at VTSU. “That flexibility is the real beauty of this program. You can continue for the second year (and then the third and fourth), or you can enter the workforce. Our programs are designed to set students up for success in this incredibly demanding field and either path a student chooses, they are furthering themselves and their career prospects as they gain valuable education and experience. Additionally, virtually all of our students pass their NCLEX licensure exams on the first try and well above national averages, which is a testament to exceptional education provided by our dedicated and passionate faculty and staff.”
NCLEX Pass Rates
- NCLEX-RN (Registered Nurse):
100% pass rate
All 46 students passed on their first time sitting for the exam
76% of these students sat for licensure in Vermont
- ADN (Associate of Science in Nursing):
92% pass rate
154 students sat for the exam and 142 passed on the first attempt
90% of these students sat for licensure in Vermont
- NCLEX-PN (Practical Nurse):
99% pass rate
161 students sat for NCLEX-PN and 160 passed on the first sit
99% of these students sat for licensure in Vermont
Additional information on VTSU’s nursing programs may be found here: https://vermontstate.edu/academics/schools-departments/school-of-nursing-health-sciences/
Graduation photos, courtesy of Ben DeFlorio Photography, are available at this link.
ABOUT VERMONT STATE UNIVERSITY
Vermont State University provides a high-quality, flexible, and affordable education for students seeking associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, certificates, and in-demand professional credentials. The university builds upon a history of public higher education in Vermont dating back to 1787. More information about Vermont State University can be found here: https://vermontstate.edu/
6.23.2025. Randolph, VT – Vermont State University
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