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. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 520 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York 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.
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Stony Brook University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #2. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 367 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Stony Brook University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $117,350. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #3 spot 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. 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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New York University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 617 nursing degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from New York University generally make around $138,833. Typical student debt for the program is $25,500.
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Suny Downstate Medical Center is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #5. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Brooklyn. There were roughly 287 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Suny Downstate Medical Center in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Suny Downstate Medical Center earn around $122,575 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,023 to complete this degree.
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Suny At Binghamton placed #6 among the best nursing schools. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 237 nursing degrees were awarded at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Suny At Binghamton earn a median of $100,425 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,750.
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Hofstra University placed #7 among the best nursing schools. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 90 nursing degrees were awarded at Hofstra University in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Hofstra University earn a median of $132,442 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,848 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Hunter College earned the #8 position for nursing this year. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Cuny Hunter College graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 323 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $121,767 early in their careers. Cuny Hunter College graduates carry a median of $16,944 in student loans.
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Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 100% of students finish within six years. About 170 nursing degrees were awarded at Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing generally make around $106,754. Typical student debt for the program is $24,095.
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University At Buffalo landed the #10 spot 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. About 234 nursing degrees were awarded at University At Buffalo in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University At Buffalo earn around $110,839 in the first couple years of their career. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $26,117 in student loans.
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Adelphi University landed the #11 spot for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 380 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Adelphi University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Adelphi University earn around $124,565 in the first couple years of their career. Adelphi University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Cuny Lehman College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. Cuny Lehman College awarded about 218 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $125,790. Typical student debt for the program is $20,055.
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Cuny Kingsborough Community College placed #13 among the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 108 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Kingsborough Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $83,306 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,475 to complete this degree.
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Siena College came in at #14 for nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Loudonville, Siena College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 41 nursing degrees were awarded at Siena College in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $44,535 in their early career. Siena College graduates carry a median of $26,656 in student loans.
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Cuny Laguardia Community College earned the #15 position for nursing this year. Set in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public institution. About 86 nursing degrees were awarded at Cuny Laguardia Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Cuny Laguardia Community College generally make around $75,260. Cuny Laguardia Community College graduates carry a median of $10,632 in student loans.
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Suffolk County Community College earned the #16 position for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. About 150 nursing degrees were awarded at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Suffolk County Community College earn around $78,850 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,250 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College placed #17 among the best nursing schools. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College awarded about 147 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earn a median of $86,295 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,990.
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Long Island University C W Post Campus landed the #18 spot for nursing this year. Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Brookville. About 55% of students finish within six years. Long Island University C W Post Campus awarded about 700 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Long Island University C W Post Campus earn a median of $115,528 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
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Farmingdale State College landed the #19 spot for nursing this year. Farmingdale State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Farmingdale. Farmingdale State College graduates 57% of students within six years. About 87 nursing degrees were awarded at Farmingdale State College in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $103,508 in their early career. Farmingdale State College graduates carry a median of $21,646 in student loans.
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Nassau Community College placed #20 among the best nursing schools. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. There were roughly 149 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Nassau Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $81,214 in their early career. Nassau Community College graduates carry a median of $18,235 in student loans.
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Rockland Community College came in at #21 for nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Suffern, Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Rockland Community College awarded about 141 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Rockland Community College earn a median of $81,689 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,003.
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Le Moyne College placed #22 among the best nursing schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Syracuse. Le Moyne College graduates 73% of students within six years. There were roughly 128 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Le Moyne College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $95,374 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome placed #23 among the best nursing schools. Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Utica. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome awarded about 133 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome generally make around $97,415. Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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Cuny New York City College Of Technology landed the #24 spot for nursing this year. Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. About 21% of students finish within six years. Cuny New York City College Of Technology awarded about 141 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Cuny New York City College Of Technology earn around $103,611 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny New York City College Of Technology graduates carry a median of $10,400 in student loans.
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Suny Empire State College came in at #25 for nursing this year. Suny Empire State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. About 36% of students finish within six years. Suny Empire State College awarded about 133 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Suny Empire State College earn around $105,831 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,687.
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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), 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 · 117 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).
