Registered Nursing programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their registered nursing programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2125 schools to find the best for registered nursing students.
Our analysis ranked City College Of San Francisco the best school in the country for a degree in registered nursing. Located in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public university. About 77 registered nursing degrees were awarded at City College Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from City College Of San Francisco generally make around $100,031. Typical student debt for the program is $10,332.
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Fresno City College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. Fresno City College awarded about 243 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $91,961. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Fresno City College
A rank of #3 makes Riverside City College one of the top schools for registered nursing. Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public university. Riverside City College awarded about 171 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered 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 registered nursing, ranking #4. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Pasadena City College awarded about 80 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $90,156 early in their careers. Pasadena City College graduates carry a median of $12,834 in student loans.
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Santa Rosa Junior College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in registered nursing, ranking #5. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. There were roughly 97 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $100,800 in their early career. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,700 in student loans.
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College Of San Mateo ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This large public university is located in the city of San Mateo. About 42 registered nursing degrees were awarded at College Of San Mateo in the most recent year. Typical student debt for the program is $12,831.
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Cuny Kingsborough Community College placed #7 among the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 108 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Kingsborough Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Cuny Kingsborough Community College generally make around $83,306. Students borrow a median of $8,475 to complete this degree.
See the full registered nursing program report for Cuny Kingsborough Community College
Butte College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public institution. There were roughly 118 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Butte College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $104,268 in their early career. Butte College graduates carry a median of $15,375 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Butte College
Shoreline Community College landed the #9 spot for registered nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Shoreline, Shoreline Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 128 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Shoreline Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $78,850 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,334 to complete this degree.
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Broward College placed #10 among the best registered nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. About 385 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Broward College in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $72,991 in their early career. Broward College graduates carry a median of $13,886 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Broward College
College Of Southern Nevada landed the #11 spot for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public university. There were roughly 181 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at College Of Southern Nevada in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from College Of Southern Nevada generally make around $77,082. College Of Southern Nevada graduates carry a median of $13,125 in student loans.
Read more about the registered nursing program at College Of Southern Nevada
Capital Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Capital Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New Britain. There were roughly 474 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Capital Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $76,364 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,876 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Capital Community College
Cuny Laguardia Community College earned the #13 position for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public university. About 86 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Cuny Laguardia Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $75,260 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,632 to complete this degree.
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Suffolk County Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. About 150 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Suffolk County Community College earn around $78,850 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,250.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Suffolk County Community College
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College placed #15 among the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 147 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered 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 earned the #16 position for registered nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Walnut. About 116 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $92,486 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,718 to complete this degree.
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Lone Star College System placed #17 among the best registered nursing schools. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. About 326 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Lone Star College System in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $77,795 in their early career. Lone Star College System graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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Valencia College placed #18 among the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public institution. About 305 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Valencia College in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Valencia College earn a median of $70,422 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete this degree.
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Nassau Community College landed the #19 spot for registered nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public university. Nassau Community College awarded about 149 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Nassau Community College generally make around $81,214. Typical student debt for the program is $18,235.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Nassau Community College
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania graduates 56% of students within six years. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 42 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year.
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Modesto Junior College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public institution. Modesto Junior College awarded about 92 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Modesto Junior College earn a median of $99,339 early in their careers. Modesto Junior College graduates carry a median of $11,279 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for Modesto Junior College
Solano Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Solano Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fairfield. There were roughly 37 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Solano Community College in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete this degree.
See the full registered nursing program report for Solano Community College
Rockland Community College came in at #23 for registered nursing this year. Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Suffern. About 141 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Rockland Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Rockland Community College generally make around $81,689. Students borrow a median of $18,003 to complete this degree.
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Bakersfield College came in at #24 for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield College is a very large public university. Bakersfield College graduates 50% of students within six years. Bakersfield College awarded about 192 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Bakersfield College earn a median of $86,312 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,419 to complete this degree.
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Santa Ana College came in at #25 for registered nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Ana. Santa Ana College awarded about 86 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $98,493. Santa Ana College graduates carry a median of $16,739 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Registered Nursing Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong registered nursing education:
This list is compiled 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 · 2125 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).
