No school ranked higher than City College Of San Francisco this year for nursing. City College Of San Francisco is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. About 77 nursing degrees were awarded at City College Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from City College Of San Francisco earn around $100,031 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,332 to complete this degree.
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Fresno City College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. About 243 nursing degrees were awarded at Fresno City College in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $91,961 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes Riverside City College one of the top schools for nursing. Set in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 171 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Riverside City College in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Riverside City College earn a median of $89,869 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
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Pasadena City College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #4. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. There were roughly 80 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Pasadena City College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $90,156 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,834.
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A rank of #5 makes Santa Rosa Junior College one of the top schools for nursing. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 97 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $100,800 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,700.
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College Of San Mateo landed the #6 spot for nursing this year. This large public university is located in the city of San Mateo. There were roughly 42 nursing students who graduated with this degree at College Of San Mateo in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $12,831.
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Cuny Kingsborough Community College came in at #7 for nursing this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public institution. About 108 nursing degrees were awarded at Cuny Kingsborough Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Cuny Kingsborough Community College earn around $83,306 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,475.
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Butte College came in at #8 for nursing this year. Set in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public institution. About 118 nursing degrees were awarded at Butte College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Butte College earn around $104,268 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,375.
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Shoreline Community College earned the #9 position for nursing this year. Shoreline Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Shoreline. There were roughly 128 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Shoreline Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Shoreline Community College earn around $78,850 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,334 to complete this degree.
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Broward College landed the #10 spot for nursing this year. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward College is a very large public university. There were roughly 385 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Broward College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $72,991 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,886.
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College Of Southern Nevada placed #11 among the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public institution. About 181 nursing degrees were awarded at College Of Southern Nevada in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from College Of Southern Nevada generally make around $77,082. Typical student debt for the program is $13,125.
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Capital Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Capital Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New Britain. There were roughly 474 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Capital Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Capital Community College earn around $76,364 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,876 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Laguardia Community College earned the #13 position for nursing this year. Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public school located in the city of Long Island City. There were roughly 86 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Laguardia Community College in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Cuny Laguardia Community College earn a median of $75,260 early in their careers. Cuny Laguardia Community College graduates carry a median of $10,632 in student loans.
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Suffolk County Community College landed the #14 spot for nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Selden. About 150 nursing degrees were awarded at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $78,850 early in their careers. Suffolk County Community College graduates carry a median of $17,250 in student loans.
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Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. There were roughly 147 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earn around $86,295 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,990.
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Mt San Antonio College came in at #16 for nursing this year. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Mt San Antonio College awarded about 116 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $92,486 early in their careers. Mt San Antonio College graduates carry a median of $13,718 in student loans.
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Lone Star College System landed the #17 spot for nursing this year. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. There were roughly 326 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Lone Star College System in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Lone Star College System earn around $77,795 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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Valencia College came in at #18 for nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Orlando. About 305 nursing degrees were awarded at Valencia College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Valencia College generally make around $70,422. Typical student debt for the program is $17,750.
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Nassau Community College landed the #19 spot for nursing this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Garden City. There were roughly 149 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Nassau Community College in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $81,214 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,235.
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Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania came in at #20 for nursing this year. Set in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 58 nursing degrees in the most recent data year.
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Modesto Junior College earned the #21 position for nursing this year. Modesto Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Modesto. About 92 nursing degrees were awarded at Modesto Junior College in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Modesto Junior College earn a median of $99,339 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,279 to complete this degree.
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Solano Community College came in at #22 for nursing this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfield. Solano Community College awarded about 37 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete this degree.
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Rockland Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Suffern. There were roughly 141 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Rockland Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $81,689 in their early career. Rockland Community College graduates carry a median of $18,003 in student loans.
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Bakersfield College earned the #24 position for nursing this year. Bakersfield College is a very large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. Bakersfield College graduates 50% of students within six years. Bakersfield College awarded about 192 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $86,312 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,419.
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Santa Ana College earned the #25 position for nursing this year. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. Santa Ana College awarded about 86 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $98,493 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,739 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Nursing Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong nursing education:
This ranking is produced 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 · 2207 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).