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.
College Factual analyzed 214 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best registered nursing schools.
Our analysis ranked University Of St Thomas Minnesota the best school in the country for a degree in registered nursing. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 36 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn around $65,183 in the first couple years of their career. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 196 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $87,395. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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University Of Kansas is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 187 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from University Of Kansas earn around $105,103 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Nebraska Medical Center is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in registered nursing, ranking #4. Located in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska Medical Center is a mid-sized public university. University Of Nebraska Medical Center awarded about 359 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Medical Center generally make around $96,559. University Of Nebraska Medical Center graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Saint Louis University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in registered nursing, ranking #5. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 261 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Saint Louis University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Saint Louis University Main Campus earn around $84,374 in the first couple years of their career. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Creighton University placed #6 among the best registered nursing schools. Creighton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 280 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Creighton University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Creighton University generally make around $96,152. Creighton University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for Creighton University
University Of Iowa landed the #7 spot for registered nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Iowa City. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 232 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Iowa in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from University Of Iowa earn around $96,368 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,811.
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Winona State University landed the #8 spot for registered nursing this year. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 213 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Winona State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Winona State University earn around $101,220 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,252.
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University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #9 for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 335 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from University Of Missouri Columbia earn around $92,946 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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University Of North Dakota came in at #10 for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 254 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of North Dakota in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $153,282 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,792 to complete this degree.
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Capella University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. Roughly 20% of students complete a degree within six years here. Capella University awarded about 7,779 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Capella University earn around $107,183 in the first couple years of their career. Capella University graduates carry a median of $27,826 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Capella University
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This large public university is located in the city of Mankato. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Minnesota State University Mankato awarded about 383 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $90,983. Students borrow a median of $25,257 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Minnesota State University Mankato
Missouri State University Springfield placed #13 among the best registered nursing schools. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 149 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $132,297 early in their careers. Missouri State University Springfield graduates carry a median of $26,631 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for Missouri State University Springfield
Iowa State University came in at #14 for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Iowa State University graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Iowa State University earn around $53,900 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,495.
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Central Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 60 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Central Community College in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Central Community College earn a median of $64,945 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,805.
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The College Of Saint Scholastica landed the #16 spot for registered nursing this year. The College Of Saint Scholastica is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Duluth. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 281 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at The College Of Saint Scholastica in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $94,855 in their early career. The College Of Saint Scholastica graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
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Rochester Community And Technical College landed the #17 spot for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 109 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Rochester Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Rochester Community And Technical College generally make around $70,020. Rochester Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans.
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Rockhurst University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rockhurst University awarded about 154 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Rockhurst University generally make around $87,778. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Northwest Missouri State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwest Missouri State University awarded about 66 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $42,939 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,585.
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Metropolitan Community College Area came in at #20 for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. Metropolitan Community College Area awarded about 62 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $68,874 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,882.
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Maryville University Of Saint Louis placed #21 among the best registered nursing schools. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 159 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $103,656 in their early career. Maryville University Of Saint Louis graduates carry a median of $29,881 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Maryville University Of Saint Louis
Concordia University Saint Paul landed the #22 spot for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. There were roughly 313 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Saint Paul in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered 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.
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Clarkson College came in at #23 for registered nursing this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Omaha. Clarkson College graduates 36% of students within six years. About 147 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Clarkson College in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $99,917 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,289.
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Washburn University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Washburn University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Topeka. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 130 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Washburn University in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Washburn University earn around $98,985 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete this degree.
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Rasmussen College Minnesota came in at #25 for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit university. About 452 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Rasmussen College Minnesota in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Rasmussen College Minnesota earn a median of $77,596 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $34,866 to complete this degree.
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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. 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 · 214 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).
