Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, has been involved in the education of nurses since the early 1940s, when the Newark and Camden campuses offered courses in public health nursing. The nursing program at the Newark Campus, located in Ackerson Hall, was established in 1952 with funds allocated by Governor Alfred E. Driscoll.

In 1955, the School of Nursing received accreditation by the National League for Nursing. On March 6, 1956, the School of Nursing became the College of Nursing. Ella V. Stonsby, first director of the School of Nursing, was appointed the first dean of the college.

Supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, a program of graduate study at the master's level in psychiatric nursing was established in 1955; in 1974, master's programs in community health nursing, parent/child nursing, and medical/surgical nursing were added. A doctor of philosophy program in nursing was approved by the New Jersey Board of Higher Education in 1989.