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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 562 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for nursing students pursuing a degree.
No school ranked higher than Emory University this year for nursing. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Atlanta. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 758 nursing degrees were awarded at Emory University in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Emory University earn a median of $98,673 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #2. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 463 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $125,565 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
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University Of Florida is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 365 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $90,433 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,934 to complete this degree.
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Duke University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 545 nursing degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Duke University earn around $116,855 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Miami one of the top schools for nursing. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Miami awarded about 472 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $116,541 in their early career. University Of Miami graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans.
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George Mason University landed the #6 spot for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 318 nursing students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $99,718 in their early career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans.
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Wake Forest University came in at #7 for nursing this year. Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 nursing degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $202,919. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
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Valencia College landed the #8 spot for nursing this year. Located in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public university. About 448 nursing degrees were awarded at Valencia College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Valencia College earn around $82,087 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,954.
See the full nursing program report for Valencia College
Clemson University came in at #9 for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. About 268 nursing degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Clemson University earn around $85,508 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
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James Madison University earned the #10 position for nursing this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. James Madison University awarded about 289 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $87,152 in their early career. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $21,347 in student loans.
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Broward College placed #11 among the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward College is a very large public university. Broward College awarded about 506 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Broward College earn around $76,063 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,364.
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Miami Dade College landed the #12 spot for nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Miami. About 977 nursing degrees were awarded at Miami Dade College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $77,383. Miami Dade College graduates carry a median of $13,220 in student loans.
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University Of South Carolina Columbia placed #13 among the best nursing schools. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates 79% of students within six years. University Of South Carolina Columbia awarded about 472 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of South Carolina Columbia earn around $103,138 in the first couple years of their career. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 307 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $91,154 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,026.
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University Of North Carolina At Wilmington came in at #15 for nursing this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates 71% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington awarded about 953 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $83,408 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
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Florida State University came in at #16 for nursing this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. About 422 nursing degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $127,776. Typical student debt for the program is $19,546.
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Florida International University placed #17 among the best nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. Florida International University awarded about 384 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $96,525. Students borrow a median of $18,895 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Florida placed #18 among the best nursing schools. University Of North Florida is a large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 416 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of North Florida in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of $116,277 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete this degree.
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Elon University earned the #19 position for nursing this year. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 44 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Elon University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $50,463 in their early career. Elon University graduates carry a median of $21,619 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from Elon University
The University Of Alabama ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. About 601 nursing degrees were awarded at The University Of Alabama in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from The University Of Alabama earn around $103,352 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,006.
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University Of Mary Washington earned the #21 position for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 48 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Mary Washington in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of University Of Mary Washington earn a median of $76,013 early in their careers. University Of Mary Washington graduates carry a median of $16,910 in student loans.
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University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #22 spot for nursing this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 697 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $105,610. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,452 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #23 for nursing this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 225 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $95,753. Typical student debt for the program is $25,044.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #24 position for nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 267 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $98,628 in their early career. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $15,130 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from University Of Virginia Main Campus
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 350 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Virginia Commonwealth University earn around $128,772 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates carry a median of $26,250 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Nursing Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s nursing ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 562 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).
