The nursing program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we built our Best Nursing Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Nursing School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Nursing Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this 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.
University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in nursing. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Southern California awarded about 67 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of Southern California earn around $136,250 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at University Of Southern California
A rank of #2 makes San Diego State University one of the top schools for nursing. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 231 nursing degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $100,221 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,875.
More information about a degree in nursing from San Diego State University
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates 77% of students within six years. There were roughly 36 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $65,183. Typical student debt for the program is $23,923.
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Yale University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 199 nursing degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Yale University earn a median of $133,137 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
See the full nursing program report for Yale University
A rank of #5 makes Columbia University In The City Of New York one of the top schools for nursing. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 520 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $138,848 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
More information about a degree in nursing from Columbia University In The City Of New York
The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston earned the #6 position for nursing this year. Located in the city of Houston, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston is a moderately-sized public university. About 500 nursing degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston earn a median of $123,774 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Get the full nursing details for The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #7 spot for nursing this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 493 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $137,262 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,410 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #8 among the best nursing schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 143 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in nursing from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
California State University Fullerton placed #9 among the best nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 361 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 $156,309 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,375 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for California State University Fullerton
San Jose State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 179 nursing degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
Read more about the nursing program at San Jose State University
Stony Brook University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Stony Brook. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 367 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Stony Brook University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Stony Brook University earn around $117,350 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
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California State University Long Beach came in at #12 for nursing this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 306 nursing students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $129,036 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,661.
Read more about the nursing program at California State University Long Beach
Cuny Graduate School And University Center came in at #13 for nursing this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public university. There were roughly 152 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn around $109,744 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny Graduate School And University Center graduates carry a median of $16,593 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from Cuny Graduate School And University Center
California State University Northridge ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 125 nursing degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from California State University Northridge earn around $106,780 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from California State University Northridge
California State University Chico came in at #15 for nursing this year. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. California State University Chico awarded about 97 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $113,181 early in their careers. California State University Chico graduates carry a median of $20,125 in student loans.
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Johns Hopkins University placed #16 among the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 547 nursing degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $105,622 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
Read more about the nursing program at Johns Hopkins University
Boston College came in at #17 for nursing this year. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. Boston College awarded about 240 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Boston College earn around $95,349 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
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 222 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $121,757 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,800 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at University Of California Los Angeles
New York University earned the #19 position for nursing this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 617 nursing students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $138,833 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans.
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University Of California Irvine landed the #20 spot for nursing this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 95 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $87,466 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,400.
See the full nursing program report for University Of California Irvine
California State University Sacramento placed #21 among the best nursing schools. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 245 nursing degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $109,889 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 355 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $107,063 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans.
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California State University San Bernardino landed the #23 spot for nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Bernardino. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 147 nursing degrees were awarded at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $93,142 in their early career. California State University San Bernardino graduates carry a median of $18,116 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from California State University San Bernardino
University Of The Pacific came in at #24 for nursing this year. Set in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. University Of The Pacific graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 39 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of The Pacific in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of The Pacific generally make around $77,022. Typical student debt for the program is $23,514.
Read more about the nursing program at University Of The Pacific
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center landed the #25 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 1,142 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center earn around $113,144 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
Get the full nursing details for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Rest of the Top 50 Nursing Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s nursing ranking:
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 · 2207 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).
