Clinical Nurse Leader degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools to find the best for clinical nurse leader students.
The clinical nurse leader program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Clinical Nurse Leader Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Clinical Nurse Leader Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is University Of San Francisco, our #1 school for clinical nurse leader. University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 163 clinical nurse leader degrees were awarded at University Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Graduates of the clinical nurse leader program make about $127,760 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in clinical nurse leader from University Of San Francisco
Samuel Merritt University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in clinical nurse leader, ranking #2. Set in the city of Oakland, Samuel Merritt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Samuel Merritt University awarded about 22 clinical nurse leader degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse leader degree recipients from Samuel Merritt University generally make around $132,722. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Read more about the clinical nurse leader program at Samuel Merritt University
University Of San Diego came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best clinical nurse leader schools. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of San Diego graduates 84% of students within six years. University Of San Diego awarded about 39 clinical nurse leader degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their clinical nurse leader degree from University Of San Diego earn around $124,795 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete this degree.
See the full clinical nurse leader program report for University Of San Diego
Charles R Drew University Of Medicine And Science came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best clinical nurse leader schools. Set in the suburb of Los Angeles, Charles R Drew University Of Medicine And Science is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 30% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 41 clinical nurse leader students who graduated with this degree at Charles R Drew University Of Medicine And Science in the most recent data year. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates of Charles R Drew University Of Medicine And Science earn a median of $132,827 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,250.
Read more about the clinical nurse leader program at Charles R Drew University Of Medicine And Science
Rowan University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best clinical nurse leader schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glassboro. Rowan University graduates 67% of students within six years. About 58 clinical nurse leader degrees were awarded at Rowan University in the most recent year. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates of Rowan University earn a median of $102,156 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in clinical nurse leader from Rowan University
University Of Rochester placed #6 among the best clinical nurse leader schools. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of Rochester graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 clinical nurse leader students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rochester in the most recent data year. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $89,788 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
Get the full clinical nurse leader details for University Of Rochester
Capella University came in at #7 for clinical nurse leader this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. About 20% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 141 clinical nurse leader students who graduated with this degree at Capella University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their clinical nurse leader degree from Capella University earn around $107,183 in the first couple years of their career. Capella University graduates carry a median of $27,826 in student loans.
More information about a degree in clinical nurse leader from Capella University
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois placed #8 among the best clinical nurse leader schools. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a very large private for-profit school located in the suburb of Addison. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 clinical nurse leader students who graduated with this degree at Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois in the most recent data year. Students who receive their clinical nurse leader degree from Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois earn around $109,135 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $39,146.
See the full clinical nurse leader program report for Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois
Pacific Lutheran University came in at #9 for clinical nurse leader this year. Located in the suburb of Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 30 clinical nurse leader students who graduated with this degree at Pacific Lutheran University in the most recent data year. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates of Pacific Lutheran University earn a median of $91,961 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full clinical nurse leader details for Pacific Lutheran University
Curry College placed #10 among the best clinical nurse leader schools. Curry College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Milton. About 51% of students finish within six years. Curry College awarded about 19 clinical nurse leader degrees in the most recent data year. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates of Curry College earn a median of $96,366 early in their careers. Curry College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in clinical nurse leader from Curry College
Gwynedd Mercy College landed the #11 spot for clinical nurse leader this year. Located in the suburb of Gwynedd Valley, Gwynedd Mercy College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 12 clinical nurse leader degrees were awarded at Gwynedd Mercy College in the most recent year. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates of Gwynedd Mercy College earn a median of $82,372 early in their careers. Gwynedd Mercy College graduates carry a median of $35,500 in student loans.
Read more about the clinical nurse leader program at Gwynedd Mercy College
Clinical Nurse Leader is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 11 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
