Clinical Nurse Specialist programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 46 schools to find the best for clinical nurse specialist students.
The school you choose for clinical nurse specialist can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Clinical Nurse Specialist Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Clinical Nurse Specialist Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Clinical Nurse Specialist Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Clinical Nurse Specialist in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the clinical nurse specialist degrees they offer, see the list below.
New York University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in clinical nurse specialist. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 clinical nurse specialist students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates of New York University earn a median of $138,833 early in their careers. New York University graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in clinical nurse specialist from New York University
University Of San Francisco is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in clinical nurse specialist, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 140 clinical nurse specialist students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse specialist degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $127,760. University Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full clinical nurse specialist program report for University Of San Francisco
A rank of #3 makes Worcester State University one of the top schools for clinical nurse specialist. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Worcester. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 26 clinical nurse specialist students who graduated with this degree at Worcester State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their clinical nurse specialist degree from Worcester State University earn around $75,249 in the first couple years of their career. Worcester State University graduates carry a median of $26,849 in student loans.
Read more about the clinical nurse specialist program at Worcester State University
A rank of #4 makes Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis one of the top schools for clinical nurse specialist. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis awarded about 12 clinical nurse specialist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the clinical nurse specialist program make about $89,364 in their early career. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis graduates carry a median of $28,408 in student loans.
Read more about the clinical nurse specialist program at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
University Of Detroit Mercy came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best clinical nurse specialist schools. University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Detroit. University Of Detroit Mercy graduates 67% of students within six years. About 14 clinical nurse specialist degrees were awarded at University Of Detroit Mercy in the most recent year. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates of University Of Detroit Mercy earn a median of $95,228 early in their careers. University Of Detroit Mercy graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans.
Get the full clinical nurse specialist details for University Of Detroit Mercy
Jacksonville University came in at #6 for clinical nurse specialist this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Jacksonville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 clinical nurse specialist students who graduated with this degree at Jacksonville University in the most recent data year. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates of Jacksonville University earn a median of $97,066 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the clinical nurse specialist program at Jacksonville University
Robert Morris University came in at #7 for clinical nurse specialist this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Moon Township. About 66% of students finish within six years. Robert Morris University awarded about 24 clinical nurse specialist degrees in the most recent data year. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates of Robert Morris University earn a median of $85,290 early in their careers. Robert Morris University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in clinical nurse specialist from Robert Morris University
Universidad Adventista De Las Antillas landed the #8 spot for clinical nurse specialist this year. Universidad Adventista De Las Antillas is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mayaguez. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. There were roughly 11 clinical nurse specialist students who graduated with this degree at Universidad Adventista De Las Antillas in the most recent data year. Graduates of the clinical nurse specialist program make about $52,622 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,065 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in clinical nurse specialist from Universidad Adventista De Las Antillas
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 46 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).
