Critical Care Nursing degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 53 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for critical care nursing students pursuing a degree.
Where you study critical care nursing matters for your future. To help, we created our Best Critical Care Nursing 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 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.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Our analysis ranked New York University the best school in the country for a degree in critical care nursing. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 49 critical care nursing students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, critical care nursing degree recipients from New York University generally make around $138,833. Typical student debt for the program is $25,500.
More information about a degree in critical care nursing from New York University
A rank of #2 makes Vanderbilt University one of the top schools for critical care nursing. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 53 critical care nursing students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University 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. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
Get the full critical care nursing details for Vanderbilt University
Students looking for a strong critical care nursing program will find one at University Of South Carolina Columbia, which ranked #3. 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 35 critical care nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the critical care nursing program make about $103,138 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in critical care nursing from University Of South Carolina Columbia
Seton Hall University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in critical care nursing, ranking #4. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 31 critical care nursing degrees were awarded at Seton Hall University in the most recent year. Critical Care Nursing graduates of Seton Hall University earn a median of $101,486 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full critical care nursing details for Seton Hall University
University Of Rochester came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best critical care nursing schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Rochester. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 14 critical care nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Rochester in the most recent year. Students who receive their critical care nursing degree from University Of Rochester earn around $89,788 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Rochester graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
See the full critical care nursing program report for University Of Rochester
Molloy College earned the #6 position for critical care nursing this year. Molloy College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rockville Centre. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 critical care nursing degrees were awarded at Molloy College in the most recent year. Graduates of the critical care nursing program make about $137,197 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
See the full critical care nursing program report for Molloy College
Winona State University came in at #7 for critical care nursing this year. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. Winona State University graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 critical care nursing students who graduated with this degree at Winona State University 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. Typical student debt for the program is $26,252.
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Grand Canyon University landed the #8 spot for critical care nursing this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. About 86 critical care nursing degrees were awarded at Grand Canyon University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, critical care nursing degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $115,226. Typical student debt for the program is $25,500.
More information about a degree in critical care nursing from Grand Canyon University
Maryville University Of Saint Louis ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best critical care nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. There were roughly 92 critical care nursing students who graduated with this degree at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent data year. Critical Care Nursing graduates of Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn a median of $103,656 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $29,881.
Get the full critical care nursing details for Maryville University Of Saint Louis
Barry University placed #10 among the best critical care nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Miami, Barry University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 critical care nursing degrees were awarded at Barry University in the most recent year. Students who receive their critical care nursing degree from Barry University earn around $115,809 in the first couple years of their career. Barry University graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
Get the full critical care nursing details for Barry University
Youngstown State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best critical care nursing schools. This large public university is located in the city of Youngstown. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 critical care nursing students who graduated with this degree at Youngstown State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, critical care nursing degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $106,008. Youngstown State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full critical care nursing details for Youngstown State University
Herzing University Madison earned the #12 position for critical care nursing this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Madison. Herzing University Madison graduates 22% of students within six years. Herzing University Madison awarded about 10 critical care nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Critical Care Nursing graduates of Herzing University Madison earn a median of $90,021 early in their careers. Herzing University Madison graduates carry a median of $37,747 in student loans.
More information about a degree in critical care nursing from Herzing University Madison
Universidad Metropolitana came in at #13 for critical care nursing this year. 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%. There were roughly 41 critical care nursing students who graduated with this degree at Universidad Metropolitana in the most recent data year. Critical Care Nursing graduates of Universidad Metropolitana earn a median of $25,256 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,824 to complete this degree.
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
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 53 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).
