Registered Nursing degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 110 schools to find the best for registered nursing students.
Leading the list is Columbia University In The City Of New York, our #1 school for registered 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. About 381 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $138,848 early in their careers. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans.
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A rank of #2 makes Stony Brook University one of the top schools for registered nursing. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. Stony Brook University awarded about 183 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Stony Brook University earn around $117,350 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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Students looking for a strong registered nursing program will find one at Cuny Graduate School And University Center, which ranked #3. Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public school located in the city of New York. Cuny Graduate School And University Center awarded about 138 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Cuny Graduate School And University Center generally make around $109,744. Cuny Graduate School And University Center graduates carry a median of $16,593 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong registered nursing program will find one at New York University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. New York University awarded about 460 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of New York University earn a median of $138,833 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete this degree.
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Suny Downstate Medical Center came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Suny Downstate Medical Center is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Suny Downstate Medical Center awarded about 109 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Suny Downstate Medical Center earn a median of $122,575 early in their careers. Suny Downstate Medical Center graduates carry a median of $22,023 in student loans.
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Suny At Binghamton ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 190 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered 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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Cuny Hunter College came in at #7 for registered nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. Cuny Hunter College graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 157 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Cuny Hunter College earn around $121,767 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny Hunter College graduates carry a median of $16,944 in student loans.
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Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing came in at #8 for registered nursing this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing graduates 100% of students within six years. There were roughly 170 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing earn around $106,754 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,095.
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University At Buffalo placed #9 among the best registered nursing schools. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 168 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University At Buffalo in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from University At Buffalo earn around $110,839 in the first couple years of their career. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $26,117 in student loans.
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Adelphi University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 328 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Adelphi University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Adelphi University generally make around $124,565. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Cuny Lehman College earned the #11 position for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cuny Lehman College awarded about 170 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $125,790 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,055.
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Cuny Kingsborough Community College earned the #12 position for registered nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Brooklyn. There were roughly 108 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Kingsborough Community College in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Cuny Kingsborough Community College earn a median of $83,306 early in their careers. Cuny Kingsborough Community College graduates carry a median of $8,475 in student loans.
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Siena College earned the #13 position for registered nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Loudonville, Siena College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 41 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Siena College in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Siena College earn around $44,535 in the first couple years of their career. Siena College graduates carry a median of $26,656 in student loans.
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Cuny Laguardia Community College landed the #14 spot for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 86 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Laguardia Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $75,260 in their early career. Cuny Laguardia Community College graduates carry a median of $10,632 in student loans.
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Suffolk County Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Selden. About 150 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $78,850 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,250 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College placed #16 among the best registered nursing schools. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. About 147 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $86,295 in their early career. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College graduates carry a median of $15,990 in student loans.
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Long Island University C W Post Campus earned the #17 position for registered nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 395 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Long Island University C W Post Campus in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Long Island University C W Post Campus earn a median of $115,528 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
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Farmingdale State College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Farmingdale, Farmingdale State College is a large public institution. Farmingdale State College graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 87 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Farmingdale State College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Farmingdale State College generally make around $103,508. Typical student debt for the program is $21,646.
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Nassau Community College landed the #19 spot for registered nursing this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Garden City. About 149 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Nassau Community College in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $81,214 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,235 to complete this degree.
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Rockland Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Suffern, Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Rockland Community College awarded about 141 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data 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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Le Moyne College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Syracuse, Le Moyne College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 73% of students finish within six years. Le Moyne College awarded about 93 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Le Moyne College earn around $95,374 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome came in at #22 for registered nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Utica, Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome is a mid-sized public institution. Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome graduates 55% of students within six years. Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome awarded about 23 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $97,415 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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Cuny New York City College Of Technology came in at #23 for registered nursing this year. Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. The six-year graduation rate is 21%. About 141 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Cuny New York City College Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Cuny New York City College Of Technology earn around $103,611 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny New York City College Of Technology graduates carry a median of $10,400 in student loans.
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Suny Empire State College placed #24 among the best registered nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. There were roughly 102 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Suny Empire State College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Suny Empire State College earn around $105,831 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,687 to complete this degree.
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University Of Rochester came in at #25 for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 152 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rochester in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from University Of Rochester earn around $89,788 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Rochester graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Registered Nursing Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s registered nursing ranking:
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 · 110 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).
