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 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 267 schools to find the best for registered nursing students.
Our analysis ranked Columbia University In The City Of New York the best school in the country for a degree in registered nursing. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 304 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $138,848. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Columbia University In The City Of New York
Students looking for a strong registered nursing program will find one at University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 211 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $137,262 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,410.
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Students looking for a strong registered nursing program will find one at Stony Brook University, which ranked #3. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 182 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Stony Brook University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $117,350. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong registered nursing program will find one at Cuny Graduate School And University Center, which ranked #4. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public institution. Cuny Graduate School And University Center awarded about 97 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $109,744 in their early career. Cuny Graduate School And University Center graduates carry a median of $16,593 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong registered nursing program will find one at Suny Downstate Medical Center, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Suny Downstate Medical Center is a mid-sized public institution. Suny Downstate Medical Center awarded about 116 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Suny Downstate Medical Center earn around $122,575 in the first couple years of their career. Suny Downstate Medical Center graduates carry a median of $22,023 in student loans.
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Johns Hopkins University earned the #6 position for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 260 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $105,622 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Johns Hopkins University
New York University came in at #7 for registered nursing this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 474 registered nursing degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from New York University earn around $138,833 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete this degree.
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Georgetown University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best registered nursing schools. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 243 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $131,652 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,417.
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Suny At Binghamton landed the #9 spot for registered nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Vestal. Suny At Binghamton graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 235 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $100,425. Typical student debt for the program is $23,750.
See the full registered nursing program report for Suny At Binghamton
University Of Delaware came in at #10 for registered nursing this year. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. About 82% of students finish within six years. University Of Delaware awarded about 173 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from University Of Delaware earn around $98,506 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $26,522 in student loans.
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University Of Maryland Baltimore ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best registered nursing schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Baltimore. There were roughly 568 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland Baltimore in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore generally make around $96,694. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
See the full registered nursing program report for University Of Maryland Baltimore
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #12 position for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 312 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $108,083. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans.
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Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing came in at #13 for registered nursing this year. Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 100% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 214 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $106,754 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,095.
See the full registered nursing program report for Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing
George Washington University came in at #14 for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 185 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $107,851 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete this degree.
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William Paterson University Of New Jersey landed the #15 spot for registered nursing this year. William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a large public school located in the suburb of Wayne. About 44% of students finish within six years. About 691 registered nursing degrees were awarded at William Paterson University Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from William Paterson University Of New Jersey generally make around $107,413. William Paterson University Of New Jersey graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
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University Of Maryland University College earned the #16 position for registered nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Adelphi. About 20% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 191 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland University College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $92,323 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,084 to complete this degree.
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University At Buffalo ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. University At Buffalo awarded about 196 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from University At Buffalo earn around $110,839 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,117 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from University At Buffalo
Towson University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best registered nursing schools. Towson University is a very large public school located in the city of Towson. Towson University graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 251 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Towson University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Towson University earn around $80,344 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,378 to complete this degree.
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University Of Scranton earned the #19 position for registered nursing this year. University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 65 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Scranton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from University Of Scranton generally make around $110,446. University Of Scranton graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Hofstra University earned the #20 position for registered nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit university. Hofstra University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 33 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Hofstra University in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $132,442 in their early career. Hofstra University graduates carry a median of $24,848 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Hofstra University
Villanova University came in at #21 for registered nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 245 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Villanova University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $105,829. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Cuny Kingsborough Community College earned the #22 position for registered nursing this year. 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. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Cuny Kingsborough Community College generally make around $83,306. Students borrow a median of $8,475 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #23 among the best registered nursing schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 299 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $98,377 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,500.
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Cuny Hunter College came in at #24 for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. Cuny Hunter College graduates 57% of students within six years. About 169 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Cuny Hunter College earn around $121,767 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,944 to complete this degree.
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Drexel University came in at #25 for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. There were roughly 570 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Drexel University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Drexel University earn around $123,645 in the first couple years of their career. Drexel University graduates carry a median of $30,750 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Registered Nursing Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong registered nursing education:
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 · 267 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).
