School 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 59 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best school nursing schools.
Where you study school nursing matters for your future. That is why we built our Best School Nursing Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best School Nursing Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
University Of Pennsylvania tops our 2026 ranking of the best school nursing schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 37 school nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. School Nursing graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $137,262 early in their careers. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $22,410 in student loans.
Get the full school nursing details for University Of Pennsylvania
Stony Brook University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in school nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Stony Brook. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 34 school nursing students who graduated with this degree at Stony Brook University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their school nursing degree from Stony Brook University earn around $117,350 in the first couple years of their career. Stony Brook University graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
Get the full school nursing details for Stony Brook University
Students looking for a strong school nursing program will find one at New York University, which ranked #3. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. New York University awarded about 21 school nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the school nursing program make about $138,833 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans.
Get the full school nursing details for New York University
Students looking for a strong school nursing program will find one at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 school nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Graduates of the school nursing program make about $91,969 in their early career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
Get the full school nursing details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Students looking for a strong school nursing program will find one at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 62 school nursing degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $125,565. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
Get the full school nursing details for Vanderbilt University
Duke University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best school nursing schools. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. About 43 school nursing degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $116,855. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the school nursing program at Duke University
Oregon Health And Science University earned the #7 position for school nursing this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Portland. About 10 school nursing degrees were awarded at Oregon Health And Science University in the most recent year. School Nursing graduates of Oregon Health And Science University earn a median of $111,045 early in their careers. Oregon Health And Science University graduates carry a median of $32,059 in student loans.
See the full school nursing program report for Oregon Health And Science University
Seton Hall University earned the #8 position for school nursing this year. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 11 school nursing students who graduated with this degree at Seton Hall University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their school nursing degree from Seton Hall University earn around $101,486 in the first couple years of their career. Seton Hall University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the school nursing program at Seton Hall University
University Of Rochester ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best school nursing schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Rochester. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 school nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rochester in the most recent data year. Students who receive their school nursing degree from University Of Rochester earn around $89,788 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
See the full school nursing program report for University Of Rochester
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #10 for school nursing this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 school nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the school nursing program make about $109,491 in their early career. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,920 in student loans.
Read more about the school nursing program at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #11 for school nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Indianapolis. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 school nursing students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis in the most recent data year. School Nursing graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $89,364 early in their careers. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis graduates carry a median of $28,408 in student loans.
Read more about the school nursing program at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Wayne State University landed the #12 spot for school nursing this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Wayne State University awarded about 15 school nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their school nursing degree from Wayne State University earn around $103,835 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,165 to complete this degree.
Read more about the school nursing program at Wayne State University
Maryville University Of Saint Louis ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best school nursing schools. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Maryville University Of Saint Louis graduates 66% of students within six years. About 48 school nursing degrees were awarded at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent year. School Nursing graduates of Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn a median of $103,656 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $29,881.
Read more about the school nursing program at Maryville University Of Saint Louis
Mgh Institute Of Health Professions landed the #14 spot for school nursing this year. Mgh Institute Of Health Professions is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. There were roughly 24 school nursing students who graduated with this degree at Mgh Institute Of Health Professions in the most recent data year. School Nursing graduates of Mgh Institute Of Health Professions earn a median of $93,210 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $32,000 to complete this degree.
See the full school nursing program report for Mgh Institute Of Health Professions
St Catherine University landed the #15 spot for school nursing this year. St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 school nursing students who graduated with this degree at St Catherine University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from St Catherine University generally make around $89,336. Typical student debt for the program is $32,610.
Read more about the school nursing program at St Catherine University
The ranking above is published 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 · 59 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).
