Critical Care Nursing is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their critical care nursing programs.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best critical care nursing schools.
Where you study critical care nursing matters for your future. That is why we built our Best Critical Care Nursing 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.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Critical Care Nursing 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.
Best Schools for Critical Care Nursing 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 critical care nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Stony Brook University, our #1 school for critical care nursing. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Stony Brook. About 76% of students finish within six years. Stony Brook University awarded about 13 critical care nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their critical care nursing degree from Stony Brook University earn around $117,350 in the first couple years of their career. Stony Brook University graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in critical care nursing from Stony Brook University
New York University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best critical care nursing schools. 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. New York University awarded about 53 critical care nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their critical care nursing degree from New York University earn around $138,833 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans.
Read more about the critical care nursing program at New York University
A rank of #3 makes Vanderbilt University one of the top schools for critical care nursing. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Vanderbilt University awarded about 30 critical care nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their critical care nursing degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $125,565 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
See the full critical care nursing program report for Vanderbilt University
Students looking for a strong critical care nursing program will find one at University Of South Carolina Columbia, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates 79% of students within six years. University Of South Carolina Columbia awarded about 16 critical care nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, critical care nursing degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $103,138. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
Get the full critical care nursing details for University Of South Carolina Columbia
A rank of #5 makes Molloy College one of the top schools for critical care nursing. Set in the suburb of Rockville Centre, Molloy College is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 21 critical care nursing students who graduated with this degree at Molloy College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the critical care nursing program make about $137,197 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
Get the full critical care nursing details for Molloy College
Seton Hall University landed the #6 spot for critical care nursing this year. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 critical care nursing students who graduated with this degree at Seton Hall University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their critical care nursing degree from Seton Hall University earn around $101,486 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in critical care nursing from Seton Hall University
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus landed the #7 spot for critical care nursing this year. Set in the town of Durham, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 10 critical care nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of New Hampshire Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, critical care nursing degree recipients from University Of New Hampshire Main Campus generally make around $111,076. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the critical care nursing program at University Of New Hampshire Main Campus
Winona State University came in at #8 for critical care nursing this year. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Winona State University awarded about 16 critical care nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their critical care nursing degree from Winona State University earn around $101,220 in the first couple years of their career. Winona State University graduates carry a median of $26,252 in student loans.
More information about a degree in critical care nursing from Winona State University
Grand Canyon University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best critical care nursing schools. Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 105 critical care nursing students who graduated with this degree at Grand Canyon University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their critical care nursing degree from Grand Canyon University earn around $115,226 in the first couple years of their career. Grand Canyon University graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans.
Read more about the critical care nursing program at Grand Canyon University
Maryville University Of Saint Louis earned the #10 position for critical care nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 42 critical care nursing degrees were awarded at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent year. Graduates of the critical care nursing program make about $103,656 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,881 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in critical care nursing from Maryville University Of Saint Louis
Youngstown State University came in at #11 for critical care nursing this year. This large public university is located in the city of Youngstown. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 critical care nursing degrees were awarded at Youngstown State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, critical care nursing degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $106,008. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full critical care nursing details for Youngstown State University
Barry University landed the #12 spot for critical care nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Barry University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. Barry University awarded about 22 critical care nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Critical Care Nursing graduates of Barry University earn a median of $115,809 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
Get the full critical care nursing details for Barry University
Herzing University Madison landed the #13 spot for critical care nursing this year. Located in the city of Madison, Herzing University Madison is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Herzing University Madison graduates 22% of students within six years. About 23 critical care nursing degrees were awarded at Herzing University Madison in the most recent year. Critical Care Nursing graduates of Herzing University Madison earn a median of $90,021 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $37,747.
Get the full critical care nursing details for Herzing University Madison
Universidad Metropolitana placed #14 among the best critical care nursing schools. Universidad Metropolitana is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Juan. The six-year graduation rate is 30%. About 25 critical care nursing degrees were awarded at Universidad Metropolitana in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, critical care nursing degree recipients from Universidad Metropolitana generally make around $25,256. Universidad Metropolitana graduates carry a median of $16,824 in student loans.
Read more about the critical care nursing program at Universidad Metropolitana
Critical Care Nursing 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. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 14 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).
