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2026 Best Registered Nursing Schools in Connecticut

13 Colleges in the United States
2,383 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded
$107,409 Avg Early-Career Salary

Registered Nursing is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best registered nursing schools.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Registered Nursing in Connecticut

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall registered nursing education in Connecticut.

Top Schools in Registered Nursing

1
Yale University crest
Yale University
New Haven, CT

No school ranked higher than Yale University this year for registered nursing. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. About 199 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Yale University earn around $133,137 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357. Get the full registered nursing details for Yale University

2

Quinnipiac University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 278 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Quinnipiac University in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Quinnipiac University earn a median of $116,250 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in registered nursing from Quinnipiac University

3
Fairfield University crest
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT

Fairfield University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Fairfield University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 187 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Fairfield University in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Fairfield University earn around $119,878 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full registered nursing program report for Fairfield University

4

University Of Connecticut is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 107 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Connecticut in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $117,021 early in their careers. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full registered nursing details for University Of Connecticut

5

Capital Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. About 474 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Capital Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Capital Community College earn around $76,364 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,876. More information about a degree in registered nursing from Capital Community College

6

Southern Connecticut State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public university. Southern Connecticut State University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 172 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Southern Connecticut State University in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Southern Connecticut State University earn a median of $100,616 early in their careers. Southern Connecticut State University graduates carry a median of $25,837 in student loans. More information about a degree in registered nursing from Southern Connecticut State University

7

Sacred Heart University came in at #7 for registered nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Sacred Heart University graduates 74% of students within six years. Sacred Heart University awarded about 253 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $107,149 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,200 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in registered nursing from Sacred Heart University

8

Charter Oak State College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of New Britain. Charter Oak State College graduates 100% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Charter Oak State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $62,864 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,584 to complete this degree. Read more about the registered nursing program at Charter Oak State College

9
University Of Hartford crest
University Of Hartford
West Hartford, CT

University Of Hartford earned the #9 position for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. University Of Hartford graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 57 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Hartford in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of University Of Hartford earn a median of $104,775 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,062. See the full registered nursing program report for University Of Hartford

10

Western Connecticut State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Danbury, Western Connecticut State University is a mid-sized public institution. Western Connecticut State University graduates 52% of students within six years. About 69 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Western Connecticut State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Western Connecticut State University generally make around $106,854. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. Read more about the registered nursing program at Western Connecticut State University

11

University Of Bridgeport placed #11 among the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Bridgeport, University Of Bridgeport is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 41% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 128 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Bridgeport in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of University Of Bridgeport earn a median of $89,752 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the registered nursing program at University Of Bridgeport

12

Central Connecticut State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Central Connecticut State University is a large public school located in the suburb of New Britain. Central Connecticut State University graduates 48% of students within six years. About 68 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Central Connecticut State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Central Connecticut State University earn around $180,640 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete this degree. See the full registered nursing program report for Central Connecticut State University

13
Saint Joseph College crest
Saint Joseph College
West Hartford, CT

Saint Joseph College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the city of West Hartford, Saint Joseph College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 102 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Saint Joseph College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $103,936 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,990. Get the full registered nursing details for Saint Joseph College

14
Goodwin College crest
Goodwin College
East Hartford, CT

Goodwin College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of East Hartford, Goodwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Goodwin College awarded about 260 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Goodwin College earn around $84,487 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $51,413 to complete this degree. Get the full registered nursing details for Goodwin College

View All Registered Nursing Rankings >

Notes and References

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 · 15 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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