Registered Nursing programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their registered nursing programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 2125 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for registered nursing students pursuing a degree.
Our analysis ranked Columbia University In The City Of New York the best school in the country for a degree in registered nursing. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 307 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $132,715 in their early career. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans.
Get the full registered nursing details for Columbia University In The City Of New York
A rank of #2 makes University Of St Thomas Minnesota one of the top schools for registered nursing. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 36 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $65,183 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,923 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from University Of St Thomas Minnesota
Yale University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in registered nursing, ranking #3. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 108 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Yale University earn a median of $113,472 early in their careers. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Yale University
Students looking for a strong registered nursing program will find one at The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Houston, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston is a moderately-sized public institution. The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston awarded about 276 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston generally make around $110,523. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Get the full registered nursing details for The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston
A rank of #5 makes California State University Long Beach one of the top schools for registered nursing. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. California State University Long Beach awarded about 63 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $143,563 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,661.
Read more about the registered nursing program at California State University Long Beach
San Diego State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Diego State University awarded about 31 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from San Diego State University earn around $100,221 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,875.
Get the full registered nursing details for San Diego State University
Stony Brook University earned the #7 position for registered nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 183 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Stony Brook University in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Stony Brook University earn around $126,792 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Stony Brook University
New York University placed #8 among the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from New York University generally make around $141,353. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full registered nursing details for New York University
University Of The Pacific came in at #9 for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 68% of students finish within six years. University Of The Pacific awarded about 39 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data 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.
See the full registered nursing program report for University Of The Pacific
Boston College earned the #10 position for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 56 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $111,763. Students borrow a median of $13,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full registered nursing details for Boston College
Johns Hopkins University placed #11 among the best registered nursing schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 280 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $84,697. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Johns Hopkins University
California State University Fullerton placed #12 among the best registered nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $193,133 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,375.
See the full registered nursing program report for California State University Fullerton
San Jose State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. 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 16 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from San Jose State University
Georgetown University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. Georgetown University awarded about 259 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $112,845 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,417 to complete this degree.
Get the full registered nursing details for Georgetown University
Emory University placed #15 among the best registered nursing schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Atlanta. Emory University graduates 91% of students within six years. About 350 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Emory University in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Emory University earn a median of $107,880 early in their careers. Emory University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Get the full registered nursing details for Emory University
San Francisco State University earned the #16 position for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 26 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $129,691 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,875 to complete this degree.
Get the full registered nursing details for San Francisco State University
Vanderbilt University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 30 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $109,840 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Vanderbilt University
Samuel Merritt University earned the #18 position for registered nursing this year. Samuel Merritt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Oakland. There were roughly 96 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Samuel Merritt University in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Samuel Merritt University earn a median of $141,819 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
See the full registered nursing program report for Samuel Merritt University
The University Of Texas Medical Branch landed the #19 spot for registered nursing this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Galveston. There were roughly 315 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas Medical Branch in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from The University Of Texas Medical Branch earn around $116,723 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full registered nursing details for The University Of Texas Medical Branch
University Of California San Francisco ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of California San Francisco is a mid-sized public university. About 136 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of California San Francisco in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of University Of California San Francisco earn a median of $138,842 early in their careers.
Read more about the registered nursing program at University Of California San Francisco
William Paterson University Of New Jersey placed #21 among the best registered nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Wayne, William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a large public institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. About 226 registered nursing degrees were awarded at William Paterson University Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of William Paterson University Of New Jersey earn a median of $122,569 early in their careers. William Paterson University Of New Jersey graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
Get the full registered nursing details for William Paterson University Of New Jersey
Quinnipiac University earned the #22 position for registered nursing this year. Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hamden. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. Quinnipiac University awarded about 278 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Quinnipiac University generally make around $116,250. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full registered nursing program report for Quinnipiac University
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Lubbock. About 941 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center earn around $110,624 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree.
See the full registered nursing program report for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #24 for registered nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of South Carolina Columbia awarded about 34 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $105,149 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250.
Read more about the registered nursing program at University Of South Carolina Columbia
University Of Connecticut earned the #25 position for registered nursing this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 107 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Connecticut in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from University Of Connecticut earn around $128,877 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from University Of Connecticut
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 · 2125 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).
