If you love helping others, want variety in your work day, and want diverse opportunities, nursing can be a fulfilling and rewarding career. And, nurse practitioners are one of the fast growing occupations right now with a 45% growth rate (between 2022-32)!
For the purposes of this list, we not only considered the overall excellence of the school (the schools must be in our top 500), but also the prevalence of the nursing major relative to other programs on campus. That means we highlight schools where nursing is among the most popular programs as well as schools that excel in graduating a large number of nurses each year.
If you think becoming a nurse is the right path for you, consider attending one of the top 25 best nursing schools in the US.
Top 25 Best Nursing Schools
Emory University received 32,000 applications last year and had an acceptance rate of just 11%. It has a strong 95% first year retention rate, 83% four year graduation rate, and 9 to 1 student to faculty ratio. There are nine academic divisions in this school including Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Rollins School of Public Health, and others.
Location
Atlanta, GA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
14,841
Molloy was founded as the Molloy Catholic College for Women in 1955. Although men started to be accepted into the school’s nursing program in 1972, the school would not become fully co-educational until 1982. Molloy College became Molloy University in 2022. Although the school is still co-educational today, more women attend Molloy than men (71% women to 29% men). The most popular major among undergraduates is Registered Nursing.
Location
Rockville Centre, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
4,807
The most popular major at the University of Portland (UP) is Registered Nursing, followed by Biology/Biological Sciences. Nearly all students attending UP receive grant aid and institutional grants, $33,657 and $31,075 respectively on average. Their School of Nursing & Health Innovations was established in 1892 with the St. Vincent Hospital, which is still associated with UP today.
Location
Portland, OR
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,793
Adelphi University was founded as Adelphi College in 1896, becoming a university in 1963. Its motto is Vita Sine Litteris Mors Est, which is Latin for, “Life without learning is death.” Graduates have gone on to have careers in politics, acting, professional sports, writing, music, and more. Adelphi’s School of Nursing was created in 1943 to help meet the demand for nurses during World War II.
Location
Garden City, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
7,252
St. John Fisher University was founded as the St. John Fisher College in 1948 as a men’s college. It became co-educational in 1971. Registered Nursing is, by far, the most popular major at the university. The Wegmans School of Nursing offers online RN and BSN programs to undergraduates, master’s in Nursing and Mental Health Counseling, and a doctorate in Nursing Practice.
Location
Rochester, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,621
Gonzaga University’s campus is on 152 acres right alongside the Spokane River. A Catholic University, the school is named after the Jesuit saint Aloysius Gonzaga. The university accepts 76% of applicants and has a solid 93% first year retention rate. 87% of students will go on to graduate within six years. Part of the West Coast Conference, top varsity sports include Basketball, Soccer, and Baseball.
Location
Spokane, WA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
7,253
Fairfield University receives over 15,000 applications each year and accepts about 45% of applicants. Composed of 5 different schools, the most popular majors among students are Registered Nursing, Finance, and Marketing. There are 35 buildings on campus, including 3 manor houses that were on the original estates.
Location
Fairfield, CT
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
6,019
Saint Anselm College is the third oldest Catholic college in New England, having been founded in 1889. The school has been the site of presidential policy speeches from John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon as well as several national presidential debates. Registered Nursing is by far the most popular major at the school and 100% of students receive some sort of grant aid.
Location
Manchester, NH
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,977
Partnered with Saint John’s University for men, the College of Saint Benedict is exclusively for women. The school got its start in 1913 with only six students. Today, resources are shared between the two campuses, a partnership that began in 1955. They have an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, 89% first year retention rate, and 74% four year graduation rate.
Location
Saint Joseph, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,470
Yale University got its start in 1701 under the name Collegiate School, getting its current name in 1718. Their motto, “lux et veritas,” means “light and truth” in Latin. The university is made up of fourteen schools including the undergraduate college, twelve professional schools, and the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Yale’s acceptance rate is just 5%.
Location
New Haven, CT
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
14,776
Founded in 1881, the school would become the first coeducational Catholic university in the world in 1909. Eleven schools and colleges can be found at the Milwaukee campus, but the school also features more than 68 doctoral and master’s degree programs. Top areas of study include Biomedical Sciences, Registered Nursing, and Finance.
Location
Milwaukee, WI
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
11,167
The most popular major at Xavier University for undergraduates is Registered Nursing, followed by Marketing/Marketing Management, Finance, and Psychology. Affiliated with Roman Catholicism, it is the sixth oldest Catholic university in the United States. It was founded in 1831 as Athenaeum, receiving its current name in 1930. Athletes are known as the Xavier Musketeers, and they compete in the Big East Conference.
Location
Cincinnati, OH
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
6,114
Villanova University is the oldest Catholic university in Pennsylvania. It’s also the only Augustinian university in the country. The school still has deep religious roots and the administration is led by priests. Their motto is “Veritas, Unitas, Caritas” or “Truth, Unity, Charity.” Jill Biden and Howie Long are two famous alumni who have attended Villanova.
Location
Villanova, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
10,383
Wagner College is a Liberal Arts college in the Grymes Hill community. The school has an 83% acceptance rate and almost all students (100%) receive grant aid. The most popular major at Wager by far is Registered Nursing. Other majors pursued include Business Administration, Drama/Theater Arts, and Physician Assistant.
Location
Staten Island, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,949
Though the school seal features two lions, Carroll College’s mascot is actually a St. Bernard named Halo. Student athletes compete as the Fighting Saints in sports like track, basketball, and soccer. The campus is located near Mt. Helena. Registered Nursing is the most popular major, followed by Health Services/Health Sciences and Biology.
Location
Helena, MT
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,168
A private Jesuit research university, Georgetown University was founded as the Georgetown College in 1789 by Bishop John Carroll. It’s the oldest Catholic institution of higher education in the country and offers over 40 different majors. Past graduates include Bill Clinton, Lyndon B. Johnson, senators, representatives, and other leading politicians.
Location
Washington, DC
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
20,984
Ohio University’s most popular major among undergraduates is Registered Nursing. Nearly 8x the amount of students select Registered Nursing over the next highest major, Psychology. A public research university, it was the first university chartered by an Act of Congress and also the first university to be chartered in Ohio. OU was chartered in 1787 and established in 1804, opening for its first students in 1809.
Location
Athens, OH
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
24,145
Creighton College was founded in 1878, and split to become two schools in 1958: Creighton University and Creighton Preparatory Schools. Registered Nursing is the most popular major among undergraduates, followed by Finance, Biology, and Research and Experimental Psychology. 100% of students receive institutional grant aid from Creighton University, $26,051 on average.
Location
Omaha, NE
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
8,397
The University of North Carolina Wilmington, also known as UNC Wilmington or UNCW, was founded in 1947 as Wilmington College. Its initial focus was educating World War II veterans, but it would become a four-year college in 1963 and part of the UNC system in 1969. The most popular majors among undergraduates are Registered Nursing and Business Administration and Management.
Location
Wilmington, NC
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
17,843
Columbia has a very selective acceptance rate of 4%, accepting only 2,500 students out of 57,600 applicants. Top choices in regards to majors include Computer Science, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Political Science and Government. It’s the oldest institution of higher education in the state, founded before the Declaration of Independence.
Location
New York City, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
34,782
Johns Hopkins University was founded in 1876 and named for its first benefactor. Known as the first research university in the country, its motto in Latin is, “veritas vos liberabit,” or “the truth will set you free.” The Blue Jays men’s lacrosse team plays in the Big Ten Conference and has over 40 national titles. The two most popular majors are Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology and Public Health.
Location
Baltimore, MD
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
31,275
Methodists and Quakers founded Duke University in 1838. The school has produced 50 Rhodes Scholars, three Turing Award winners, and 15 Noble laureates. Known as the Blue Devils, the university’s colors are Duke blue and white. The top majors among students include Computer Science, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, and Public Policy Analysis.
Location
Durham, NC
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
18,023
The second oldest Jesuit university in the country, SLU is also the oldest university west of the Mississippi. Although they are based in St. Louis, they also have a campus in Madrid, Spain. The school boasts a low 9 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and a high 87% first year retention rate. Registered Nursing, Law, and Medicine are popular majors.
Location
St. Louis, MO
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
15,755
Commonly called NYU, you can find this university in the heart of Manhattan. They have a relatively low acceptance rate of 9%. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies is the top major, but Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Research and Experimental Psychology, and Registered Nursing are not far behind. The school has produced a number of famous alumni including Martin Scorsese, Jack Dorsey, Robert Muller III, and Alec Baldwin.
Location
New York City, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
59,144
Quinnipiac University receives over 21,000 applications each year and accepts about 77% of applicants. Top majors at the school include Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences and Registered Nursing. Quinnipiac is 1 of only 17 nursing schools to offer programs endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation.
Location
Hamden, CT
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
8,788
What is a Nursing School?
Nursing schools are educational institutions and programs that provide training and education for individuals who wish to become nurses. They can offer a wide range of programs to help students prepare for different careers in nursing, including entry-level and advanced positions. Depending on the program, the school may offer Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) programs, Licensed Practice Nurse (LPN) programs, associate degrees in nursing (ADN), bachelors degrees in nursing (BSN) and more.
Depending on your desired career, becoming a nurse can take anywhere from a few months (for CNA certification) to several years (for bachelor’s degrees). Most student nurses will go onto become Registered Nurses (RN), which usually requires an associate’s degree.
Career Projections for Nurses
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Degree: Associates or other certificates
- Median Annual Wages: $59,740
- Projected Career Growth through 2030: + 5%
Registered Nurse (RN)
- Degree: Bachelor’s (4-year)
- Median Annual Wages: $86,000
- Projected Career Growth through 2030: + 6%
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Degree: Masters
- Median Annual Wages: $121,000
- Projected Career Growth through 2030: + 38%
Is a Nursing School Right for You?
When it comes to nursing school, you first need to consider your aspirations. Not all nursing schools offer the same programs, so it’s important to think about your desired career. If you want to become a CNA, you can attend a school that prepares you for CNA certification. If you want to become an RN, you will need to go to a college that offers an associate’s degree in nursing.
Before jumping into a career in nursing, it’s important to consider the pros and cons of attending nursing school and pursuing a job after graduation. You will need an interest in healthcare, medicine, and patient care. You’ll also need a desire to help others and a passion for making a difference in people’s lives. Nursing programs also generally require problem-solving skills, empathy, communication skills, compassion, physical stamina, resilience, and attention to detail.
Becoming a nurse can be extremely rewarding. Nurses are also currently in high demand, which helps with job security. There’s a low risk of unemployment. Plus, there are a variety of specializations, which can help you pursue your interests in the field.
Interested in any of these best nursing programs? Check out College Raptor’s free match tool to see if they’re a good fit for you!
Methodology
Colleges are ranked based on a combination of factors, including graduation rates, campus diversity, endowment per student, and other data as reported via the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the most recently available enrollment year. Some colleges may have been excluded from rankings based on certain criteria, including specialization and classification. Learn about our full methodology.
