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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 209 schools to find the best for registered nursing students.
No school ranked higher than The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston this year for registered nursing. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Houston. The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston awarded about 276 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston earn around $123,774 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in registered nursing, ranking #2. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 941 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center earn around $113,144 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
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Students looking for a strong registered nursing program will find one at The University Of Texas Medical Branch, which ranked #3. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Galveston. About 315 registered nursing degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas Medical Branch in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from The University Of Texas Medical Branch earn around $98,578 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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Texas A And M University College Station came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 235 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $98,675 in the first couple years of their career. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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A rank of #5 makes Baylor University one of the top schools for registered nursing. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 330 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Baylor University in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $94,615 early in their careers. Baylor University graduates carry a median of $26,975 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #6 for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 117 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $85,026 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $19,651 in student loans.
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Texas Christian University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fort Worth. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 232 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Texas Christian University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $133,545. Texas Christian University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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University Of St Thomas Texas landed the #8 spot for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 297 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Texas in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $83,793 in their early career. University Of St Thomas Texas graduates carry a median of $24,607 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Arlington landed the #9 spot for registered nursing this year. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public school located in the city of Arlington. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 2,468 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Arlington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from The University Of Texas At Arlington earn around $106,807 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,182.
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University Of Arizona ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tucson. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 367 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arizona in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $96,470 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from University Of Arizona
Arizona State University placed #11 among the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Arizona State University awarded about 544 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $96,796 in their early career. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans.
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Lone Star College System earned the #12 position for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public university. Lone Star College System awarded about 529 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Lone Star College System earn a median of $77,795 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,938 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Lone Star College System
University Of Houston ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 84 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Houston in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $85,740 in their early career. University Of Houston graduates carry a median of $26,283 in student loans.
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Texas Womans University earned the #14 position for registered nursing this year. This large public university is located in the city of Denton. About 49% of students finish within six years. Texas Womans University awarded about 456 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Texas Womans University earn around $111,254 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Texas Womans University
Pima Community College earned the #15 position for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. Pima Community College awarded about 149 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Pima Community College earn around $73,629 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
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Northern Arizona University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 405 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Northern Arizona University in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Northern Arizona University earn around $88,824 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,276 to complete this degree.
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Sam Houston State University earned the #17 position for registered nursing this year. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Sam Houston State University awarded about 147 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $82,463 in their early career. Sam Houston State University graduates carry a median of $26,504 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for Sam Houston State University
Lee College landed the #18 spot for registered nursing this year. Lee College is a large public school located in the city of Baytown. There were roughly 39 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Lee College in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Lee College earn a median of $72,164 early in their careers. Lee College graduates carry a median of $14,750 in student loans.
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El Centro College landed the #19 spot for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. About 288 registered nursing degrees were awarded at El Centro College in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $70,630 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,187.
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Tarrant County College District ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fort Worth. There were roughly 268 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Tarrant County College District in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $72,069 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,610.
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Texas A And M International University landed the #21 spot for registered nursing this year. This large public university is located in the city of Laredo. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 119 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Texas A And M International University in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $95,761 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750.
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Brazosport College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Lake Jackson. About 33 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Brazosport College in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $32,746 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Tyler ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 647 registered nursing degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Tyler in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $98,109 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,356 to complete this degree.
Read more about the registered nursing program at The University Of Texas At Tyler
The University Of Texas Pan American came in at #24 for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. The University Of Texas Pan American graduates 51% of students within six years. About 212 registered nursing degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas Pan American in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $101,468. Typical student debt for the program is $11,674.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from The University Of Texas Pan American
South Texas College landed the #25 spot for registered nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of McAllen. About 20% of students finish within six years. About 238 registered nursing degrees were awarded at South Texas College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $75,733. South Texas College graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for South Texas College
Rest of the Top 50 Registered Nursing Schools
These schools also placed among the best for registered nursing this year:
This list is compiled 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 · 209 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).
