Best Schools for Nursing Science in the United States
Below are the best nursing science schools at the master’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Nursing Science
Columbia University In The City Of New York tops our 2026 ranking of the best nursing science schools. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 14 nursing science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing science program make about $132,715 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing science from Columbia University In The City Of New York
Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing science, ranking #2. 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 13 nursing science students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $109,840. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong nursing science program will find one at Touro University California, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Vallejo, Touro University California is a small private not-for-profit institution. Touro University California awarded about 16 nursing science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing science degree from Touro University California earn around $129,957 in the first couple years of their career. Touro University California graduates carry a median of $16,002 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Rhode Island one of the top schools for nursing science. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kingston. University Of Rhode Island graduates 72% of students within six years. About 26 nursing science degrees were awarded at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from University Of Rhode Island generally make around $109,305. Students borrow a median of $26,390 to complete this degree.
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Touro University Nevada came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best nursing science schools. Located in the city of Henderson, Touro University Nevada is a small private not-for-profit university. There were roughly 38 nursing science students who graduated with this degree at Touro University Nevada in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from Touro University Nevada generally make around $129,957. Typical student debt for the program is $16,002.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #6 position for nursing science this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 nursing science students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $102,721. Typical student debt for the program is $28,000.
More information about a degree in nursing science from Rutgers University New Brunswick
Monmouth University placed #7 among the best nursing science schools. Located in the suburb of West Long Branch, Monmouth University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 nursing science students who graduated with this degree at Monmouth University in the most recent data year. Nursing Science graduates of Monmouth University earn a median of $115,337 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing science from Monmouth University
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #8 position for nursing science this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 98 nursing science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $79,653. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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Wagner College came in at #9 for nursing science this year. Wagner College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Staten Island. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 77 nursing science students who graduated with this degree at Wagner College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from Wagner College generally make around $142,212. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing science from Wagner College
College Of Our Lady Of The Elms earned the #10 position for nursing science this year. Located in the suburb of Chicopee, College Of Our Lady Of The Elms is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 23 nursing science students who graduated with this degree at College Of Our Lady Of The Elms in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing science degree from College Of Our Lady Of The Elms earn around $83,775 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #11 spot for nursing science this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 nursing science students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $94,957. Students borrow a median of $19,651 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing science from The University Of Texas At Austin
Duquesne University landed the #12 spot for nursing science this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 216 nursing science degrees were awarded at Duquesne University in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing science program make about $94,344 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Texas Womans University earned the #13 position for nursing science this year. Texas Womans University is a large public school located in the city of Denton. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. About 19 nursing science degrees were awarded at Texas Womans University in the most recent year. Nursing Science graduates of Texas Womans University earn a median of $102,476 early in their careers. Texas Womans University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary placed #14 among the best nursing science schools. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 nursing science students who graduated with this degree at Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary generally make around $118,958. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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University Of Massachusetts Boston earned the #15 position for nursing science this year. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 42 nursing science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Boston in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing science degree from University Of Massachusetts Boston earn around $111,431 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,343 to complete this degree.
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Benedictine University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best nursing science schools. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Benedictine University awarded about 57 nursing science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing science program make about $101,583 in their early career. Benedictine University graduates carry a median of $17,188 in student loans.
See the full nursing science program report for Benedictine University
The University Of Texas At Tyler ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best nursing science schools. This large public university is located in the city of Tyler. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 14 nursing science degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Tyler in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing science degree from The University Of Texas At Tyler earn around $107,612 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Texas At Tyler graduates carry a median of $24,356 in student loans.
See the full nursing science program report for The University Of Texas At Tyler
University Of Kansas ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best nursing science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lawrence. University Of Kansas graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 nursing science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing science degree from University Of Kansas earn around $105,103 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
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Sacred Heart University came in at #19 for nursing science this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 13 nursing science students who graduated with this degree at Sacred Heart University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing science degree from Sacred Heart University earn around $110,138 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,200 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing science program report for Sacred Heart University
Florida Atlantic University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best nursing science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Boca Raton. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. Florida Atlantic University awarded about 10 nursing science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing science degree from Florida Atlantic University earn around $95,703 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,070 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing science from Florida Atlantic University
Rutgers University Camden landed the #21 spot for nursing science this year. Located in the city of Camden, Rutgers University Camden is a moderately-sized public university. Rutgers University Camden graduates 67% of students within six years. About 10 nursing science degrees were awarded at Rutgers University Camden in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing science program make about $102,721 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,000.
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University Of North Carolina At Greensboro ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best nursing science schools. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 nursing science students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent data year. Nursing Science graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $93,594 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,701 to complete this degree.
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Rush University landed the #23 spot for nursing science this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Rush University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. There were roughly 148 nursing science students who graduated with this degree at Rush University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing science program make about $81,862 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $31,206 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing science program report for Rush University
Fresno Pacific University placed #24 among the best nursing science schools. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 nursing science degrees were awarded at Fresno Pacific University in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing science degree from Fresno Pacific University earn around $132,057 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,596 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing science program report for Fresno Pacific University
University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences landed the #25 spot for nursing science this year. Set in the city of Little Rock, University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 34 nursing science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences in the most recent data year. Nursing Science graduates of University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences earn a median of $101,364 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing science from University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences
Rest of the Top 40 Nursing Science Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s nursing science ranking:
Other Nursing Science Degree Levels
Explore the best nursing science schools at other degree levels:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 176 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
