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.
College Factual analyzed 283 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best nursing schools.
Our analysis ranked Columbia University In The City Of New York the best school in the country for a degree in nursing. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 458 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $138,848 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
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Students looking for a strong nursing program will find one at University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 452 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $137,262 early in their careers. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $22,410 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong nursing program will find one at Stony Brook University, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Stony Brook. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Stony Brook University awarded about 393 nursing degrees 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. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
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Cuny Graduate School And University Center is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #4. This large public university is 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. Nursing graduates of Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn a median of $109,744 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,593.
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Suny Downstate Medical Center came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Suny Downstate Medical Center is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Brooklyn. About 210 nursing degrees were awarded at Suny Downstate Medical Center in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Suny Downstate Medical Center earn a median of $122,575 early in their careers. Suny Downstate Medical Center graduates carry a median of $22,023 in student loans.
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Johns Hopkins University earned the #6 position for nursing this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 505 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $105,622 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
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New York University landed the #7 spot for nursing this year. 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. New York University awarded about 625 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from New York University earn around $138,833 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,500.
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Georgetown University earned the #8 position for nursing this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 272 nursing degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Georgetown University earn around $131,652 in the first couple years of their career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $17,417 in student loans.
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Suny At Binghamton placed #9 among the best nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Vestal. Suny At Binghamton graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 286 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 $100,425. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete this degree.
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University Of Delaware earned the #10 position for nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Newark. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 179 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Delaware in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $98,506 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,522 to complete this degree.
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University Of Maryland Baltimore placed #11 among the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore is a moderately-sized public institution. About 715 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland Baltimore in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore generally make around $96,694. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #12 spot for nursing this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 440 nursing degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn around $108,083 in the first couple years of their career. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans.
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Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing placed #13 among the best nursing schools. Located in the city of New York, Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit university. About 100% of students finish within six years. About 214 nursing degrees were awarded at Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing earn a median of $106,754 early in their careers. Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing graduates carry a median of $24,095 in student loans.
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George Washington University landed the #14 spot for nursing this year. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 367 nursing degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $107,851 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete this degree.
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William Paterson University Of New Jersey earned the #15 position for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Wayne, William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a large public institution. William Paterson University Of New Jersey graduates 44% of students within six years. William Paterson University Of New Jersey awarded about 726 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $107,413 in their early career. William Paterson University Of New Jersey graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
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University Of Maryland University College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Adelphi. University Of Maryland University College graduates 20% of students within six years. About 191 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland University College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of Maryland University College generally make around $92,323. University Of Maryland University College graduates carry a median of $19,084 in student loans.
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University At Buffalo came in at #17 for nursing this year. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 265 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University At Buffalo in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $110,839 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,117.
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Albany Medical College landed the #18 spot for nursing this year. Set in the city of Albany, Albany Medical College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Albany Medical College awarded about 24 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Albany Medical College earn a median of $238,461 early in their careers.
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Towson University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Towson University is a very large public school located in the city of Towson. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 255 nursing degrees were awarded at Towson University in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $80,344 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,378.
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University Of Scranton ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Scranton awarded about 90 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of Scranton earn around $110,446 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Scranton graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Hofstra University placed #21 among the best nursing schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Hempstead. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 131 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Hofstra University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $132,442. Students borrow a median of $24,848 to complete this degree.
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Villanova University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. Villanova University awarded about 290 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Villanova University earn around $105,829 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Cuny Kingsborough Community College placed #23 among the best nursing schools. Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. About 132 nursing degrees were awarded at Cuny Kingsborough Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Cuny Kingsborough Community College earn around $83,306 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny Kingsborough Community College graduates carry a median of $8,475 in student loans.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #24 position for nursing this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 366 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $98,377 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Hunter College came in at #25 for nursing this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Cuny Hunter College graduates 57% of students within six years. About 307 nursing degrees were awarded at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Cuny Hunter College earn around $121,767 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,944.
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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. 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 · 283 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).