Registered Nursing is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 254 schools to find the best for registered nursing students.
No school ranked higher than San Diego State University this year for registered nursing. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Diego State University awarded about 231 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $100,221 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,875 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong registered nursing program will find one at California State University Fullerton, which ranked #2. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. About 310 registered nursing degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $156,309. Typical student debt for the program is $17,375.
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San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in registered nursing, ranking #3. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 173 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year.
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California State University Long Beach is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in registered nursing, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 237 registered nursing degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $129,036 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,661 to complete this degree.
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California State University Northridge is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. California State University Northridge graduates 57% of students within six years. About 125 registered nursing degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from California State University Northridge earn around $106,780 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
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California State University Chico earned the #6 position for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 97 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at California State University Chico in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from California State University Chico generally make around $113,181. Students borrow a median of $20,125 to complete this degree.
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California State University Sacramento earned the #7 position for registered nursing this year. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 245 registered nursing degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $109,889. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from California State University Sacramento
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 350 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $107,063. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans.
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California State University San Bernardino came in at #9 for registered nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Bernardino. About 55% of students finish within six years. California State University San Bernardino awarded about 147 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $93,142 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,116.
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University Of The Pacific ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. University Of The Pacific graduates 68% of students within six years. About 39 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of The Pacific in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of University Of The Pacific earn a median of $77,022 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,514 to complete this degree.
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California State University East Bay ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. California State University East Bay graduates 48% of students within six years. There were roughly 150 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $124,392 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,875 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from California State University East Bay
University Of San Francisco ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Francisco. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 266 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $127,760 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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California State University Monterey Bay came in at #13 for registered nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 52 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at California State University Monterey Bay in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $117,088 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,489 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from California State University Monterey Bay
San Francisco State University came in at #14 for registered nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 207 registered nursing degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $123,612 early in their careers. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $16,875 in student loans.
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California State University Stanislaus landed the #15 spot for registered nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Turlock, California State University Stanislaus is a large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 132 registered nursing degrees were awarded at California State University Stanislaus in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of California State University Stanislaus earn a median of $128,257 early in their careers. California State University Stanislaus graduates carry a median of $23,450 in student loans.
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Sonoma State University came in at #16 for registered nursing this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 94 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Sonoma State University in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Sonoma State University earn a median of $135,306 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,750.
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City College Of San Francisco ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public institution. City College Of San Francisco awarded about 77 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. Typical student debt for the program is $10,332.
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Roseman University Of Health Sciences ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Henderson, Roseman University Of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit institution. There were roughly 307 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Roseman University Of Health Sciences in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Roseman University Of Health Sciences generally make around $85,166. Students borrow a median of $27,448 to complete this degree.
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Samuel Merritt University placed #19 among the best registered nursing schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Oakland. There were roughly 567 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Samuel Merritt University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $132,722 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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California State University Dominguez Hills ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public institution. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 219 registered nursing degrees were awarded at California State University Dominguez Hills in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from California State University Dominguez Hills earn around $119,692 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,750.
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Fresno City College placed #21 among the best registered nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. There were roughly 243 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Fresno City College in the most recent data 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.
See the full registered nursing program report for Fresno City College
University Of California San Francisco landed the #22 spot for registered nursing this year. University Of California San Francisco is a mid-sized public school located in the city of San Francisco. About 145 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of California San Francisco in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $138,842 in their early career.
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University Of Washington Bothell Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Bothell. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. University Of Washington Bothell Campus awarded about 135 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from University Of Washington Bothell Campus generally make around $100,878. University Of Washington Bothell Campus graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans.
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University Of Nevada Reno ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Reno. University Of Nevada Reno graduates 61% of students within six years. University Of Nevada Reno awarded about 193 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from University Of Nevada Reno generally make around $117,180. University Of Nevada Reno graduates carry a median of $20,813 in student loans.
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Washington State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Pullman. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 346 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Washington State University in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Washington State University earn a median of $103,901 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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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), 2026 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 · 254 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).
