Registered Nursing is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their registered nursing programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1061 schools to find the best for registered nursing students.
Leading the list is Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences, our #1 school for registered nursing. Located in the rural area of Lancaster, Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit university. Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences graduates 69% of students within six years. About 198 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences earn around $47,496 in the first couple years of their career. Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,402 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences
City College Of San Francisco is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. City College Of San Francisco is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. City College Of San Francisco awarded about 67 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from City College Of San Francisco earn around $100,031 in the first couple years of their career. City College Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $10,332 in student loans.
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Pasadena City College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. About 97 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Pasadena City College in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Pasadena City College earn around $90,156 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,834 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes Fresno City College one of the top schools for registered nursing. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. About 214 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Fresno City College in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $91,961 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong registered nursing program will find one at Cuny Kingsborough Community College, which ranked #5. Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. There were roughly 132 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Kingsborough Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered 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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Riverside City College placed #6 among the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public institution. About 188 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Riverside City College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Riverside City College generally make around $89,869. Riverside City College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Riverside City College
College Of San Mateo earned the #7 position for registered nursing this year. This large public university is located in the city of San Mateo. College Of San Mateo awarded about 47 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete this degree.
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Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #8 for registered nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Rosa. There were roughly 110 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $100,800 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,700 to complete this degree.
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Butte College landed the #9 spot for registered nursing this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of Oroville. There were roughly 164 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Butte College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Butte College earn around $104,268 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,375 to complete this degree.
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Anne Arundel Community College landed the #10 spot for registered nursing this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Arnold. About 165 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Anne Arundel Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Anne Arundel Community College generally make around $59,894. Anne Arundel Community College graduates carry a median of $13,947 in student loans.
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College Of The Sequoias earned the #11 position for registered nursing this year. This large public university is located in the city of Visalia. There were roughly 151 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Sequoias in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $98,926. Students borrow a median of $16,152 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Laguardia Community College landed the #12 spot for registered nursing this year. This large public university is located in the city of Long Island City. There were roughly 87 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Laguardia Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Cuny Laguardia Community College earn around $75,260 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,632.
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Broward College landed the #13 spot for registered nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. Broward College awarded about 428 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Broward College generally make around $72,991. Students borrow a median of $13,886 to complete this degree.
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Capital Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. Capital Community College awarded about 505 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $76,364. Capital Community College graduates carry a median of $17,876 in student loans.
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Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College came in at #15 for registered nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. There were roughly 152 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College generally make around $86,295. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College graduates carry a median of $15,990 in student loans.
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Bakersfield College placed #16 among the best registered nursing schools. Bakersfield College is a very large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. Bakersfield College graduates 50% of students within six years. About 188 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Bakersfield College in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $86,312 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,419 to complete this degree.
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Solano Community College placed #17 among the best registered nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Solano Community College is a large public institution. About 44 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Solano Community College in the most recent year. Typical student debt for the program is $10,500.
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Cuny New York City College Of Technology came in at #18 for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 21%. About 121 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Cuny New York City College Of Technology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Cuny New York City College Of Technology generally make around $103,611. Typical student debt for the program is $9,000.
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Cuny College Of Staten Island placed #19 among the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 123 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Cuny College Of Staten Island in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Cuny College Of Staten Island generally make around $132,090. Cuny College Of Staten Island graduates carry a median of $17,391 in student loans.
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Miami Dade College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. About 689 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Miami Dade College in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Miami Dade College earn around $64,608 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,940 to complete this degree.
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Suny Westchester Community College came in at #21 for registered nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Valhalla, Suny Westchester Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 52 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Suny Westchester Community College in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Suny Westchester Community College earn a median of $57,520 early in their careers. Suny Westchester Community College graduates carry a median of $8,764 in student loans.
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Shoreline Community College earned the #22 position for registered nursing this year. Shoreline Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Shoreline. About 102 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Shoreline Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $78,850 in their early career. Shoreline Community College graduates carry a median of $16,334 in student loans.
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San Joaquin Delta College came in at #23 for registered nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Stockton. About 145 registered nursing degrees were awarded at San Joaquin Delta College in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of San Joaquin Delta College earn a median of $97,843 early in their careers. San Joaquin Delta College graduates carry a median of $6,382 in student loans.
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Lone Star College System landed the #24 spot for registered nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of The Woodlands. There were roughly 365 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Lone Star College System in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Lone Star College System generally make around $77,795. Lone Star College System graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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Valencia College landed the #25 spot for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public university. There were roughly 295 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Valencia College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Valencia College generally make around $70,422. Valencia College graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Registered Nursing Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s registered nursing ranking:
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 · 1061 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).
