Nursing 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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 1080 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for nursing students pursuing a degree.
San Diego State University tops our 2027 ranking of the best nursing schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. San Diego State University awarded about 224 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $100,221. Students borrow a median of $18,875 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 166 nursing degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full nursing program report for San Jose State University
Stony Brook University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Stony Brook. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 393 nursing degrees were awarded at Stony Brook University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $94,853. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
See the full nursing program report for Stony Brook University
The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #4. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Houston. The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston awarded about 372 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston generally make around $82,043. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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Students looking for a strong nursing program will find one at University Of Washington Seattle Campus, which ranked #5. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 208 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $86,212. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pennsylvania placed #6 among the best nursing schools. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 431 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $80,943 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $24,945 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from University Of Pennsylvania
California State University Fullerton earned the #7 position for nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 310 nursing students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $103,028 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,375.
Read more about the nursing program at California State University Fullerton
California State University Northridge earned the #8 position for nursing this year. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 153 nursing students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $106,780 in their early career. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for California State University Northridge
California State University Chico landed the #9 spot for nursing this year. California State University Chico is a large public school located in the city of Chico. About 63% of students finish within six years. California State University Chico awarded about 107 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $113,181 in their early career. California State University Chico graduates carry a median of $20,125 in student loans.
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New York University placed #10 among the best nursing schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 583 nursing degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $111,360 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from New York University
Cuny Graduate School And University Center ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public school located in the city of New York. There were roughly 104 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $109,744 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,593.
See the full nursing program report for Cuny Graduate School And University Center
Suny Downstate Medical Center placed #12 among the best nursing schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Brooklyn. Suny Downstate Medical Center awarded about 210 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Suny Downstate Medical Center earn around $112,670 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,023 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Suny Downstate Medical Center
California State University Long Beach landed the #13 spot for nursing this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 195 nursing degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $100,178 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,661.
Read more about the nursing program at California State University Long Beach
California State University Sacramento came in at #14 for nursing this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 199 nursing students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $116,001 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for California State University Sacramento
California State University Monterey Bay ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Monterey Bay awarded about 78 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of California State University Monterey Bay earn a median of $117,088 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,489 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from California State University Monterey Bay
Suny At Binghamton placed #16 among the best nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. Suny At Binghamton graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 267 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $86,404. Typical student debt for the program is $23,750.
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The University Of Texas Medical Branch ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Galveston, The University Of Texas Medical Branch is a mid-sized public university. The University Of Texas Medical Branch awarded about 442 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $80,433 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from The University Of Texas Medical Branch
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center landed the #18 spot for nursing this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 1,134 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center generally make around $77,083. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
California State University Stanislaus placed #19 among the best nursing schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Turlock. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 142 nursing students who graduated with this degree at California State University Stanislaus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $119,356 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,450 to complete this degree.
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California State University East Bay ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. About 154 nursing degrees were awarded at California State University East Bay in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $124,392. Students borrow a median of $18,875 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #21 for nursing this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 304 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $75,458 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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University Of Delaware earned the #22 position for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. University Of Delaware graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 165 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Delaware in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $81,286 in their early career. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $26,522 in student loans.
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University Of California Irvine placed #23 among the best nursing schools. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 100 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $87,715 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,400.
See the full nursing program report for University Of California Irvine
California State University San Bernardino earned the #24 position for nursing this year. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 172 nursing students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from California State University San Bernardino generally make around $93,142. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete this degree.
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Boston College landed the #25 spot for nursing this year. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 165 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Boston College earn around $78,934 in the first couple years of their career. Boston College graduates carry a median of $13,250 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Boston College
Rest of the Top 50 Nursing Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong nursing education:
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 · 1080 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).
