2021 Best Nursing Colleges for Non-Traditional Students
Finding the Best Nursing Schools for Non-Traditional Students
Nursing is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 2nd of all the majors we analyze. In 2018-2019, 154,540 bachelor's degrees were awarded to students with this major.
This year's Best Nursing Colleges for Non-Traditional Students ranking looked at 640 colleges that offer a bachelor's in nursing. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent nursing programs, but they also offer a lot of support to non-traditional students.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as affordability, and overall quality of the nursing program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Nursing Schools for Non-Traditional Students list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
2021 Best Nursing Schools for Non-Traditional Students in the United States
Check out the nursing programs at these schools if you want to see which ones are the best for non-traditional students.
Top 25 Nursing Schools for Non-Traditional Students
Walden University has taken the #1 spot in this year's nursing ranking for non-traditional students. Located in the large city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a private for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
The student loan default rate at Walden University is lower than is typical, just 6.9% of students default in three years. All 50,360 students take classes exclusively online at Walden University. There are roughly 29,283 part time students in attendance at Walden University. Walden University does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
Full Nursing at Walden University Report
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University of Providence landed the #2 spot in our 2021 best nursing schools for non-traditional students. Located in the city of Great Falls, University of Providence is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population. University of Providence also claimed a spot on our Best Colleges for Nursing list. It's in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
The student loan default rate at University of Providence is lower than is typical, just 7.4% of students default in three years. 466 students at University of Providence are exclusively online. About 521 of the students at University of Providence are attending part time. University of Providence does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
Full Nursing at University of Providence Report
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Molloy College landed the #3 spot in our 2021 best nursing schools for non-traditional students. Molloy is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Rockville Centre. In addition to being on our best for non-traditional students list, Molloy has also earned the #1 rank in our Best Colleges for Nursing ranking.
The school has a low student loan default rate of 2.8%. There are approximately 818 students at Molloy that take at least one class online. 1,834 students are part time. Molloy does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
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Capella University earned the #4 spot in our 2021 rankings. Capella University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the large city of Minneapolis.
The school has a low student loan default rate of 6.8%. All 37,171 students take classes exclusively online at Capella University. 33,962 of Capella University students are attending part time. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Full Nursing at Capella University Report
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Thomas Jefferson University landed the #5 spot in our 2021 best nursing schools for non-traditional students. Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia. Thomas Jefferson University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our Best Colleges for Nursing list.
About 3.3% of Thomas Jefferson University students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. Approximately 1,380 students take at least one class online at Thomas Jefferson University. About 2,033 of the students at Thomas Jefferson University are attending part time.
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The #6 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Grand Canyon University. Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit school located in the large city of Phoenix.
The student loan default rate at Grand Canyon University is lower than is typical, just 5.6% of students default in three years. 70,295 students at Grand Canyon University are exclusively online. 72,917 students are part time. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
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Western Governors University earned the #7 spot in our 2021 rankings. WGU is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Salt Lake City.
The school has a low student loan default rate of 4.2%. All 121,437 students take classes exclusively online at WGU. WGU does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
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California State University - Sacramento earned the #8 spot in our 2021 rankings. Sac State is a fairly large public school located in the city of Sacramento. On top of its placing in our non-traditional rankings, Sac State also did well on our Best Colleges for Nursing list. It's in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis.
The student loan default rate at Sac State is lower than is typical, just 4.7% of students default in three years. Approximately 12,655 students take at least one class online at Sac State. About 6,435 of the students at Sac State are attending part time. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
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Gwynedd Mercy University earned the #9 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the large suburb of Gwynedd Valley, Gwynedd - Mercy is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population. In addition to being on our bet for non-traditional students list, Gwynedd - Mercy is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Nursing list.
The school has a low student loan default rate of 4.6%. 887 of Gwynedd - Mercy students are exclusively distance learners. 402 of Gwynedd - Mercy students are attending part time. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
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Azusa Pacific University earned the #10 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population. Azusa Pacific also made our Best Colleges for Nursing list, coming in at #5.
About 3.0% of Azusa Pacific students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. 2,345 students at Azusa Pacific are exclusively online. 2,901 students are part time. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
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College of Saint Elizabeth landed the #11 spot in our 2021 best nursing schools for non-traditional students. Located in the suburb of Morristown, CSE is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. CSE excels when it comes to major quality. It's ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Nursing list.
The school has a low student loan default rate of 8.6%. There are approximately 203 students at CSE that take at least one class online. There are roughly 469 part time students in attendance at CSE. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
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The #12 spot in this year's ranking belongs to California State University - East Bay. Cal State East Bay is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Hayward.
The school has a low student loan default rate of 5.4%. There are approximately 6,927 students at Cal State East Bay that take at least one class online. 3,742 of Cal State East Bay students are attending part time. Cal State East Bay does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
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The University of Texas at Arlington comes in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in the city of Arlington, UT Arlington is a public college with a very large student population. On top of its placing in our non-traditional rankings, UT Arlington also did well on our Best Colleges for Nursing list. It's in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis.
The school has a low student loan default rate of 5.8%. 18,425 students at UT Arlington are exclusively online. 24,029 of UT Arlington students are attending part time. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
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Adelphi University landed the #14 spot in our 2021 best nursing schools for non-traditional students. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population. Adelphi also took the #4 spot in our Best Colleges for Nursing rankings.
The student loan default rate at Adelphi is lower than is typical, just 4.2% of students default in three years. Approximately 1,314 students take at least one class online at Adelphi. There are roughly 1,584 part time students in attendance at Adelphi. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
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Our rankings recognize Holy Family University as the #15 school in this year's rankings. Holy Family is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia. Holy Family excels when it comes to major quality. It's ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Nursing list.
About 5.7% of Holy Family students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. 486 students at Holy Family are exclusively online. 1,461 of Holy Family students are attending part time. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
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Sonoma State University earned the #16 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, SSU is a public college with a moderately-sized student population. In addition to being on our bet for non-traditional students list, SSU is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Nursing list.
About 3.5% of SSU students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. There are approximately 1,268 students at SSU that take at least one class online. 1,167 of SSU students are attending part time. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
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Rivier University comes in at #17 in this year's ranking. Rivier is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Nashua.
The student loan default rate at Rivier is lower than is typical, just 4.2% of students default in three years. 750 students at Rivier are exclusively online. 1,211 of Rivier students are attending part time. Rivier does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
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California State University - Fullerton earned the #18 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the large suburb of Fullerton, Cal State Fullerton is a public school with a very large student population. Cal State Fullerton excels when it comes to major quality. It's ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Nursing list.
The student loan default rate at Cal State Fullerton is lower than is typical, just 2.6% of students default in three years. Approximately 12,133 students take at least one class online at Cal State Fullerton. There are roughly 9,948 part time students in attendance at Cal State Fullerton. Cal State Fullerton does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
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University of Phoenix - Arizona landed the #19 spot in our 2021 best nursing schools for non-traditional students. UOPX - Arizona is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the large city of Tempe.
94,472 students at UOPX - Arizona are exclusively online. UOPX - Arizona does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
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Thomas Edison State University earned the #20 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the city of Trenton, TESU is a public college with a large student population.
About 7.1% of TESU students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. 10,836 of TESU students are exclusively distance learners. 10,836 students are part time. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
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Our rankings recognize Wilmington University as the #21 school in this year's rankings. Wilmington University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of New Castle.
About 8.1% of Wilmington University students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. 7,750 of Wilmington University students are exclusively distance learners. 9,802 of Wilmington University students are attending part time.
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The #22 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Felician University. Felician is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Lodi.
Approximately 707 students take at least one class online at Felician. About 460 of the students at Felician are attending part time. Felician does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
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University of Saint Joseph landed the #23 spot in our 2021 best nursing schools for non-traditional students. USJ is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Hartford. On top of its placing in our non-traditional rankings, USJ also did well on our Best Colleges for Nursing list. It's in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in that analysis.
The school has a low student loan default rate of 2.5%. Approximately 342 students take at least one class online at USJ. About 1,127 of the students at USJ are attending part time. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
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Florida National University - Main Campus landed the #24 spot in our 2021 best nursing schools for non-traditional students. Located in the suburb of Hialeah, Florida National University - Main Campus is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
The student loan default rate at Florida National University - Main Campus is lower than is typical, just 7.1% of students default in three years. Approximately 1,791 students take at least one class online at Florida National University - Main Campus. About 1,357 of the students at Florida National University - Main Campus are attending part time.
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The #25 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Immaculata University. Immaculata is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Immaculata. Immaculata excels when it comes to major quality. It's ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Nursing list.
The school has a low student loan default rate of 5.2%. Approximately 566 students take at least one class online at Immaculata. 1,430 students are part time. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Full Nursing at Immaculata University Report
Request InformationRest of the Top 50 Schools for Best Nursing Colleges for Non-Traditional Students
Remaining Award Winners
This list represents the rest of the colleges awarded a Best Nursing Colleges for Non-Traditional Students badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 640 different United States nursing schools we analyzed.
Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great schools for non-traditional students studying Nursing that almost earned our Best Nursing Colleges for Non-Traditional Students award.
Nursing by Region
View the best for non-traditional students Nursing schools in a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
Non-Traditional Student Rankings in Majors Related to Nursing
Nursing is one of 34 different types of Health Professions programs to choose from.
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Allied Health Professions | 50,338 |
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 48,644 |
| Public Health | 34,192 |
| Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services | 30,460 |
| Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions | 27,972 |
View All Nursing Related Majors >
Notes and References
Footnotes
*Avg Cost is for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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 the rest 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).
- Veteran-specific data can be found at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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