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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 309 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for nursing students pursuing a degree.
No school ranked higher than Columbia University In The City Of New York this year for nursing. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 96% of students finish within six years. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 520 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $138,848 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the top schools for nursing. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 493 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $137,262 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,410 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes Pennsylvania State University Main Campus one of the top schools for nursing. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 143 nursing degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
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Stony Brook University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Stony Brook. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 367 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Stony Brook University in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $117,350 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
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Cuny Graduate School And University Center came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public university. About 152 nursing degrees were awarded at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn around $109,744 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,593 to complete this degree.
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Johns Hopkins University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 547 nursing degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $105,622 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
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New York University came in at #7 for nursing this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 617 nursing students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of New York University earn a median of $138,833 early in their careers. New York University graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans.
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Suny Downstate Medical Center landed the #8 spot for nursing this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Suny Downstate Medical Center is a mid-sized public institution. About 287 nursing degrees were awarded at Suny Downstate Medical Center in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Suny Downstate Medical Center earn around $122,575 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,023.
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Georgetown University placed #9 among the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 361 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $131,652. Students borrow a median of $17,417 to complete this degree.
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Suny At Binghamton came in at #10 for nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Vestal. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 237 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $100,425. Typical student debt for the program is $23,750.
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University Of Maryland Baltimore ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore is a moderately-sized public university. University Of Maryland Baltimore awarded about 765 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of Maryland Baltimore earn around $96,694 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Maryland Baltimore graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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University Of Delaware landed the #12 spot for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. University Of Delaware graduates 82% of students within six years. About 173 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Delaware in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $98,506 early in their careers. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $26,522 in student loans.
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William Paterson University Of New Jersey placed #13 among the best nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Wayne, William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a large public university. About 44% of students finish within six years. William Paterson University Of New Jersey awarded about 680 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $107,413 in their early career. William Paterson University Of New Jersey graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the city of New Brunswick. About 84% of students finish within six years. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 447 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $108,083. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans.
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Hofstra University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 90 nursing degrees were awarded at Hofstra University in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Hofstra University earn around $132,442 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,848.
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Cuny Hunter College came in at #16 for nursing this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. Cuny Hunter College graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 323 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $121,767. Cuny Hunter College graduates carry a median of $16,944 in student loans.
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Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing earned the #17 position for nursing this year. Located in the city of New York, Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 100%. There were roughly 170 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing generally make around $106,754. Typical student debt for the program is $24,095.
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University Of Scranton earned the #18 position for nursing this year. Set in the city of Scranton, University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Scranton awarded about 105 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of Scranton generally make around $110,446. University Of Scranton graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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West Chester University Of Pennsylvania ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 228 nursing students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
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George Washington University placed #20 among the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 437 nursing degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $107,851 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,500.
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University At Buffalo ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 234 nursing degrees were awarded at University At Buffalo in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $110,839 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,117.
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Towson University placed #22 among the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. Towson University graduates 70% of students within six years. About 264 nursing degrees were awarded at Towson University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $80,344. Students borrow a median of $23,378 to complete this degree.
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Adelphi University earned the #23 position for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Adelphi University awarded about 380 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $124,565 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #24 position for nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus awarded about 342 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $98,377. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans.
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University Of Maryland University College earned the #25 position for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public institution. University Of Maryland University College graduates 20% of students within six years. About 155 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland University College in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of Maryland University College earn around $92,323 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Maryland University College graduates carry a median of $19,084 in student loans.
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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. 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 · 309 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).
