ALEXANDRIA, La. (11/25/2025) – LSUA’s LPN to Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program has been ranked among the top LPN-to-RN programs in Louisiana by EduMed, a national resource for students pursuing online or hybrid degrees in nursing, allied health, and medical careers. EduMed’s annual rankings highlight programs that deliver exceptional value by combining affordability, academic rigor, flexibility, and strong student support, standards that only a select group of institutions nationwide meet.
In its newly released guide, “LPN to RN Online Programs in Louisiana: Guide to Top Schools,” LSUA ranks #3 statewide for its LPN-to-ASN track. EduMed emphasizes the growing need for flexible, accessible nursing programs that enable working LPNs to advance their careers. Across Louisiana, hybrid LPN-to-RN pathways have become a critical workforce solution, blending online coursework with local, hands-on clinical experience. For busy professionals balancing work and family responsibilities, these programs provide a direct, efficient route to RN licensure and significantly higher earning potential.
EduMed also highlights LSUA’s exceptional NCLEX-RN outcomes, noting a 100% first-time pass rate among LPN students in 2023 and 2024, which is a clear marker of program quality and student readiness for professional practice. With in-demand RN roles offering a median salary of $76,650 in Louisiana, 53% higher than the median for LPNs, the LPN-to-RN transition represents one of the most impactful career advancement steps in the state’s healthcare sector. Job growth remains strong, with more than 2,800 annual openings for RNs across Louisiana.
Director of the School of Nursing
Sarita James, PhD, RN, CNE, LSUA’s Director of the School of Nursing, said, “The LPN-ASN program was intentionally designed around the realities of the LPN demographic in our region: working adults, parents, and caregivers who are deeply rooted in their communities and committed to advancing their professional practice. These LPNs bring a rich clinical experience and strong work ethic while facing real-life challenges such as distance, time, financial constraints, and family responsibilities. Our program exists to help reduce those barriers. We are proud to offer a pathway for the LPN that is accessible, successful, and affordable. It reflects our mission to serve central Louisiana by investing in the people who are already caring for individuals in our communities while strengthening the healthcare workforce in our region.”
Current LPNS may complete the program in as few as three semesters of clinical coursework after successful completion of prerequisites and competency testing. The hybrid model includes online offerings for select prerequisites paired with on-campus nursing courses and clinical placements throughout Rapides Parish. Students benefit from ACEN accreditation, Louisiana State Board of Nursing approval, personalized advising, and the opportunity to earn up to seven nursing credits through competency testing, accelerating progress based on prior LPN experience.
As LSUA continues to expand its healthcare offerings, the university remains committed to helping meet Louisiana’s critical nursing workforce needs by preparing confident, highly qualified clinicians who can make an immediate impact in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care settings across the region.
For more information about LSUA’s LPN-to-ASN program, visit www.lsua.edu/nursing.
Written by Adam Lord
Photo credit – Nathan Parish
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