2026 Best Nursing Schools in Rhode Island
Nursing is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best nursing schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Nursing in Rhode Island
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall nursing education in Rhode Island.
Top Schools in Nursing
Leading the list is University Of Rhode Island, our #1 school for nursing. Set in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. University Of Rhode Island awarded about 300 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of Rhode Island earn around $95,762 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,390 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for University Of Rhode Island
Students looking for a strong nursing program will find one at Salve Regina University, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Newport, Salve Regina University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 77% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 151 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Salve Regina University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $78,876 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Salve Regina University
New England Institute Of Technology is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #3. Located in the suburb of East Greenwich, New England Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. There were roughly 122 nursing students who graduated with this degree at New England Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $80,051 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,799 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at New England Institute Of Technology
Community College Of Rhode Island came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Warwick, Community College Of Rhode Island is a large public university. Community College Of Rhode Island awarded about 232 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Community College Of Rhode Island generally make around $66,988. Community College Of Rhode Island graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans.
Get the full nursing details for Community College Of Rhode Island
A rank of #5 makes Rhode Island College one of the top schools for nursing. Rhode Island College is a large public school located in the suburb of Providence. Rhode Island College graduates 48% of students within six years. Rhode Island College awarded about 171 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Rhode Island College earn around $107,588 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full nursing details for Rhode Island College
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Notes and References
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 · 7 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
