Registered Nursing programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 333 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best registered nursing schools.
Leading the list is University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, our #1 school for registered nursing. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 193 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $91,969 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
See the full registered nursing program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 217 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $91,063 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,455.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top schools for registered nursing. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 211 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $92,233 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
A rank of #4 makes Loyola University Chicago one of the top schools for registered nursing. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 322 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $111,912. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. About 367 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $87,290. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from University Of Illinois At Chicago
Illinois State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 253 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $90,432 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,075 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Illinois State University
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #7 for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 525 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $90,970 early in their careers. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,240 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
Case Western Reserve University placed #8 among the best registered nursing schools. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 90 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $112,484. Students borrow a median of $26,580 to complete this degree.
See the full registered nursing program report for Case Western Reserve University
Marquette University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 392 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Marquette University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Marquette University earn around $86,752 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Marquette University
Michigan State University came in at #10 for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 225 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $89,879. Students borrow a median of $28,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Michigan State University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edwardsville. About 55% of students finish within six years. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 331 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn around $118,455 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,043 to complete this degree.
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Benedictine University earned the #12 position for registered nursing this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Lisle. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 33 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Benedictine University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Benedictine University generally make around $90,860. Benedictine University graduates carry a median of $17,188 in student loans.
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College Of Lake County landed the #13 spot for registered nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. College Of Lake County awarded about 71 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $72,472 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,005 to complete this degree.
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Gateway Technical College placed #14 among the best registered nursing schools. This large public university is located in the city of Kenosha. Gateway Technical College awarded about 169 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Gateway Technical College earn a median of $68,134 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
See the full registered nursing program report for Gateway Technical College
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #15 among the best registered nursing schools. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 404 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn around $109,491 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,920 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Ohio University Main Campus placed #16 among the best registered nursing schools. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. About 1,273 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $80,108 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,778.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Ohio University Main Campus
Lewis University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 81 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Lewis University in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $90,066 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Toledo came in at #18 for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public university. University Of Toledo graduates 58% of students within six years. About 293 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Toledo in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $76,736 early in their careers. University Of Toledo graduates carry a median of $22,400 in student loans.
Read more about the registered nursing program at University Of Toledo
Moraine Park Technical College earned the #19 position for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Moraine Park Technical College awarded about 106 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Moraine Park Technical College earn around $66,776 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,025.
See the full registered nursing program report for Moraine Park Technical College
University Of Southern Indiana landed the #20 spot for registered nursing this year. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. About 48% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 79 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern Indiana in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $91,255 in their early career. University Of Southern Indiana graduates carry a median of $25,089 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire landed the #21 spot for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 125 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $87,284. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of St Francis earned the #22 position for registered nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. University Of St Francis graduates 67% of students within six years. University Of St Francis awarded about 129 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from University Of St Francis generally make around $94,166. Students borrow a median of $30,700 to complete this degree.
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Xavier University landed the #23 spot for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Xavier University awarded about 305 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Xavier University earn around $78,516 in the first couple years of their career. Xavier University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois came in at #24 for registered nursing this year. This very large private for-profit university is located in the suburb of Addison. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois graduates 42% of students within six years. There were roughly 9,802 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois generally make around $109,135. Typical student debt for the program is $39,146.
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University Of Dayton landed the #25 spot for registered nursing this year. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 15 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $56,077. University Of Dayton graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for University Of Dayton
Rest of the Top 50 Registered Nursing Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s registered nursing ranking:
This ranking is produced 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 · 333 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).
