Leading the list is University Of Southern California, our #1 school for nursing. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 67 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $136,250. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #2. 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. About 446 nursing degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $132,715. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
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University Of St Thomas Minnesota is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #3. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 77% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 36 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $65,183. Typical student debt for the program is $23,923.
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Yale University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #4. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. About 96% of students finish within six years. Yale University awarded about 108 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $113,472 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
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The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Houston, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 470 nursing students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $110,523 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pennsylvania placed #6 among the best nursing schools. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 207 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $115,382 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,410.
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University Of California Los Angeles placed #7 among the best nursing schools. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 162 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $112,065. Students borrow a median of $20,800 to complete this degree.
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California State University Long Beach ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 63 nursing students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $143,563. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $18,661 in student loans.
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San Diego State University landed the #9 spot for nursing this year. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 nursing students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $100,221 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,875 to complete this degree.
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Stony Brook University placed #10 among the best nursing schools. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 344 nursing degrees were awarded at Stony Brook University in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Stony Brook University earn around $126,792 in the first couple years of their career. Stony Brook University graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
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Cuny Graduate School And University Center earned the #11 position for nursing this year. Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public school located in the city of New York. About 15 nursing degrees were awarded at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $109,744 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,593 to complete this degree.
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New York University came in at #12 for nursing this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 167 nursing students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from New York University generally make around $141,353. New York University graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans.
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University Of The Pacific earned the #13 position for nursing this year. University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. University Of The Pacific awarded about 39 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of The Pacific earn around $77,022 in the first couple years of their career. University Of The Pacific graduates carry a median of $23,514 in student loans.
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Boston College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 145 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $111,763 in their early career. Boston College graduates carry a median of $13,250 in student loans.
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Johns Hopkins University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 526 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $84,697. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
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California State University Fullerton placed #16 among the best nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Fullerton awarded about 71 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $193,133 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,375.
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San Jose State University landed the #17 spot for nursing this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 22 nursing degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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Georgetown University landed the #18 spot for nursing this year. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 292 nursing degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $112,845. Typical student debt for the program is $17,417.
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University Of San Francisco ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 165 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $125,983 early in their careers. University Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Emory University came in at #20 for nursing this year. Emory University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Atlanta. About 91% of students finish within six years. Emory University awarded about 482 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Emory University generally make around $107,880. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Suny Downstate Medical Center earned the #21 position for nursing this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Suny Downstate Medical Center is a mid-sized public institution. Suny Downstate Medical Center awarded about 136 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $132,479 in their early career. Suny Downstate Medical Center graduates carry a median of $22,023 in student loans.
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Wake Forest University placed #22 among the best nursing schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 37 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $202,919 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree.
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San Francisco State University earned the #23 position for nursing this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. San Francisco State University awarded about 26 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from San Francisco State University earn around $129,691 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,875.
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Vanderbilt University placed #24 among the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 444 nursing degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $109,840 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
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Samuel Merritt University placed #25 among the best nursing schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Oakland. About 239 nursing degrees were awarded at Samuel Merritt University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Samuel Merritt University generally make around $141,819. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Nursing Schools
These schools also placed among the best for nursing this year:
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 · 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).
