Nursing degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 226 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for nursing students pursuing a degree.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in nursing. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. University Of St Thomas Minnesota awarded about 36 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn around $65,183 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,923.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 356 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $87,395 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
University Of Kansas came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. About 69% of students finish within six years. University Of Kansas awarded about 279 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $105,103 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Nebraska Medical Center came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Omaha. About 418 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska Medical Center in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $96,559 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from University Of Nebraska Medical Center
Students looking for a strong nursing program will find one at Saint Louis University Main Campus, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 284 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Saint Louis University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus generally make around $84,374. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Creighton University came in at #6 for nursing this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Omaha. About 83% of students finish within six years. Creighton University awarded about 338 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Creighton University generally make around $96,152. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Creighton University
University Of Iowa placed #7 among the best nursing schools. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 310 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $96,368. Typical student debt for the program is $24,811.
More information about a degree in nursing from University Of Iowa
Bellevue University earned the #8 position for nursing this year. Bellevue University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bellevue. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 52 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Bellevue University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $61,548 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,852.
See the full nursing program report for Bellevue University
Winona State University came in at #9 for nursing this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Winona. Winona State University graduates 56% of students within six years. About 287 nursing degrees were awarded at Winona State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $101,220 in their early career. Winona State University graduates carry a median of $26,252 in student loans.
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University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 377 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $92,946 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
Read more about the nursing program at University Of Missouri Columbia
University Of North Dakota ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. This large public university is located in the city of Grand Forks. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. University Of North Dakota awarded about 296 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of North Dakota earn around $153,282 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,792.
See the full nursing program report for University Of North Dakota
Capella University came in at #12 for nursing this year. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 20% of students finish within six years. About 8,953 nursing degrees were awarded at Capella University in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Capella University earn a median of $107,183 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,826 to complete this degree.
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Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #13 for nursing this year. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 401 nursing degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Minnesota State University Mankato earn around $90,983 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,257 to complete this degree.
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Missouri State University Springfield came in at #14 for nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Springfield. Missouri State University Springfield graduates 58% of students within six years. About 226 nursing degrees were awarded at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $132,297 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,631.
More information about a degree in nursing from Missouri State University Springfield
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Located in the town of Winona, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota graduates 66% of students within six years. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota awarded about 20 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Saint Marys University Of Minnesota generally make around $156,340. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota graduates carry a median of $40,188 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Saint Marys University Of Minnesota
Iowa State University landed the #16 spot for nursing this year. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. Iowa State University awarded about 15 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $53,900 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,495.
More information about a degree in nursing from Iowa State University
Central Community College landed the #17 spot for nursing this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Grand Island. About 60 nursing degrees were awarded at Central Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $64,945 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,805 to complete this degree.
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The College Of Saint Scholastica ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. The College Of Saint Scholastica is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Duluth. The College Of Saint Scholastica graduates 70% of students within six years. About 323 nursing degrees were awarded at The College Of Saint Scholastica in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $94,855 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
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Rochester Community And Technical College placed #19 among the best nursing schools. Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rochester. Rochester Community And Technical College awarded about 109 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Rochester Community And Technical College earn a median of $70,020 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,500.
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Rockhurst University landed the #20 spot for nursing this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Kansas City. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 189 nursing degrees were awarded at Rockhurst University in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $87,778 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Northwest Missouri State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. This large public university is located in the town of Maryville. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 66 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Missouri State University in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of $42,939 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,585 to complete this degree.
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Metropolitan Community College Area placed #22 among the best nursing schools. Located in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public university. Metropolitan Community College Area awarded about 62 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area generally make around $68,874. Students borrow a median of $17,882 to complete this degree.
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Maryville University Of Saint Louis landed the #23 spot for nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 918 nursing degrees were awarded at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn around $103,656 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,881.
More information about a degree in nursing from Maryville University Of Saint Louis
Concordia University Saint Paul landed the #24 spot for nursing this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. About 313 nursing degrees were awarded at Concordia University Saint Paul in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Concordia University Saint Paul earn around $73,235 in the first couple years of their career. Concordia University Saint Paul graduates carry a median of $36,940 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Concordia University Saint Paul
Clarkson College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best nursing schools. Clarkson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 316 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Clarkson College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Clarkson College earn around $99,917 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,289.
More information about a degree in nursing from Clarkson College
Rest of the Top 50 Nursing Schools
These schools also placed among the best for 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 · 226 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).
