2021 Best Nursing Colleges for Non-Traditional Students
Finding the Best Nursing Schools for Non-Traditional Students
With 154,540 bachelor's degrees handed out in 2018-2019, nursing is the #2 most popular major in the United States.
This year's Best Nursing Colleges for Non-Traditional Students ranking analyzed 640 colleges that offered a bachelor's degree in nursing. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great nursing programs and a strong support system for non-traditional students.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the nursing program at the school, affordability, and presence of non-traditional students. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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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
The following schools top our list of the Best Nursing Colleges 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 city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a private for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
About 6.9% of Walden University students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. There are approximately 50,360 students at Walden University and they are all exclusively distance learners. About 29,283 of the students at Walden University are attending part time. Walden University does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
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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 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 school has a low student loan default rate of 7.4%. 466 of University of Providence students are exclusively distance learners. 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.
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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 suburb of Rockville Centre. Molloy not only placed well in our non-traditional rankings. It is also #1 on our Best Colleges for Nursing list.
About 2.8% of Molloy students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. Approximately 818 students take at least one class online at Molloy. There are roughly 1,834 part time students in attendance at Molloy. 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 very large private for-profit school located in the large city of Minneapolis.
About 6.8% of Capella University students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. All 37,171 students take classes exclusively online at Capella University. There are roughly 33,962 part time students in attendance at Capella University. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
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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 medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia. Thomas Jefferson University not only placed well in our non-traditional rankings. It is also #9 on our Best Colleges for Nursing list.
The student loan default rate at Thomas Jefferson University is lower than is typical, just 3.3% of students default in three years. Approximately 1,380 students take at least one class online at Thomas Jefferson University. 2,033 of Thomas Jefferson University students 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 fairly large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix.
About 5.6% of Grand Canyon University students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. 70,295 of Grand Canyon University students are exclusively distance learners. 72,917 of Grand Canyon University students are attending part time. Grand Canyon University does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
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Western Governors University earned the #7 spot in our 2021 rankings. WGU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City.
About 4.2% of WGU students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. There are approximately 121,437 students at WGU and they are all exclusively distance learners. 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 school has a low student loan default rate of 4.7%. There are approximately 12,655 students at Sac State that take at least one class online. There are roughly 6,435 part time students in attendance at Sac State. Sac State does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
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Gwynedd Mercy University earned the #9 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the suburb of Gwynedd Valley, Gwynedd - Mercy is a private not-for-profit college 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.
About 4.6% of Gwynedd - Mercy students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. 887 of Gwynedd - Mercy students are exclusively distance learners. About 402 of the students at Gwynedd - Mercy are attending part time. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
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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 took the #5 spot in our Best Colleges for Nursing rankings.
The school has a low student loan default rate of 3.0%. 2,345 of Azusa Pacific students are exclusively distance learners. 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 school 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.
About 8.6% of CSE students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. Approximately 203 students take at least one class online at CSE. About 469 of the students at CSE are attending part time. CSE does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
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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 students are part time. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
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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 fairly 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 students are part time. UT Arlington does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
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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 moderately-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. 1,584 of Adelphi students are attending part time. 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 of Holy Family students are exclusively distance learners. There are roughly 1,461 part time students in attendance at Holy Family. Holy Family does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
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Sonoma State University earned the #16 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the large 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.
The student loan default rate at SSU is lower than is typical, just 3.5% of students default in three years. Approximately 1,268 students take at least one class online at SSU. About 1,167 of the students at SSU are attending part time. SSU does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
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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 of Rivier students are exclusively distance learners. 1,211 students are 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 college 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.
About 2.6% of Cal State Fullerton students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. 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. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
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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 of UOPX - Arizona students are exclusively distance learners. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
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Thomas Edison State University earned the #20 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the small city of Trenton, TESU is a public college with a fairly 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. There are roughly 10,836 part time students in attendance at TESU. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
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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 large suburb of New Castle.
The school has a low student loan default rate of 8.1%. 7,750 students at Wilmington University are exclusively online. There are roughly 9,802 part time students in attendance at Wilmington University.
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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. 460 of Felician students are attending part time. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
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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 large 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. There are roughly 1,127 part time students in attendance at USJ. USJ does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
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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 large 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. There are approximately 1,791 students at Florida National University - Main Campus that take at least one class online. 1,357 of Florida National University - Main Campus students 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 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.
About 5.2% of Immaculata students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. Approximately 566 students take at least one class online at Immaculata. 1,430 students are part time. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Request InformationRest of the Top 50 Schools for Best Nursing Colleges for Non-Traditional Students
Remaining Award Winners
This section shows the rest of the schools awarded a Best Nursing Colleges for Non-Traditional Students badge. Showing in this list means the college 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 colleges 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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