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Most Popular Nursing Schools

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2023 Most Popular Nursing Schools

2,122 Colleges
$70,916 Avg Salary
$25,426 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing School for You

Nursing is the most popular major in the United States with 322,592 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.

There are so many nursing programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

The Most Popular Nursing Schools ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 2,122 schools in the United States to see which programs were the most popular for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Nursing program at each school on the list.

Check out the nursing programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the United States.

#1

Western Governors University

Salt Lake City, UT

Our 2023 rankings named Western Governors University the most popular school in the United States for nursing students. WGU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Salt Lake City.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at WGU accumulate an average of around $21,420 in student debt.

Read full report on Nursing at Western Governors University

Out of the 2,122 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Chamberlain University - Illinois landed the # 2 spot on the list. Chamberlain - Illinois is a very large private for-profit school located in the suburb of Addison.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Chamberlain - Illinois carry an average student debt load of $38,460. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $256, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at Chamberlain University - Illinois

#3

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, AZ

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Grand Canyon University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools list. Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Grand Canyon University take out is $24,999. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $198, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend The University of Texas at Arlington. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools list. Located in the city of Arlington, UT Arlington is a public college with a very large student population.

Nursing majors at UT Arlington take out an average of $25,989 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $142.

Read More…

#6

Capella University

Minneapolis, MN

Capella University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools list. Capella University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis.

On average, nursing graduates from Capella University take out $27,599 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Capella University

Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the distant town of Athens, OHIO Athens is a public school with a very large student population.

Nursing majors at OHIO Athens take out an average of $27,632 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $180.

Read More…

#8

Aspen University

Denver, CO

Aspen University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the large city of Denver, Aspen University is a private for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.

On average, nursing graduates from Aspen University take out $35,922 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

#9

Excelsior College

Albany, NY

With a ranking of #9, Excelsior College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students. Located in the small city of Albany, Excelsior College is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Excelsior College take out is $23,176.

Read More…

Maryville University of Saint Louis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville U is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

On average, nursing graduates from Maryville U take out $31,009 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $416, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at Maryville University of Saint Louis

With a ranking of #11, Rasmussen University - Florida did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students. Rasmussen University - Florida is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Ocala.

Nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Florida take out an average of $35,539 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $161, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at Rasmussen University - Florida Report

University of South Alabama landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. USA is a fairly large public school located in the city of Mobile.

Nursing majors at USA take out an average of $26,429 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $230, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at University of South Alabama Report

#13

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools list. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Ivy Tech Community College take out is $17,979.

Full Nursing at Ivy Tech Community College Report

With a ranking of #14, University of Phoenix - Arizona did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students. UOPX - Arizona is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Tempe.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at UOPX - Arizona take out is $28,204.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Phoenix - Arizona

West Coast University - Orange County did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the large city of Anaheim, West Coast University - Orange County is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at West Coast University - Orange County take out is $38,146. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $665.

Read full report on Nursing at West Coast University - Orange County

With a ranking of #16, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students. UC is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Cincinnati.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at UC accumulate an average of around $21,978 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $247, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Report

#17

Purdue University Global

Indianapolis, IN

Purdue University Global came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools ranking. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Purdue University Global accumulate an average of around $39,595 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $157.

Full Nursing at Purdue University Global Report

#18

Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the midsize city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale take out is $38,116. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $151.

Full Nursing at Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Report

University of Alabama at Birmingham ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools list. UAB is a very large public school located in the midsize city of Birmingham.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from UAB carry an average student debt load of $22,958. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $307, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Alabama at Birmingham

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in the city of Lubbock, TTUHSC is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at TTUHSC take out is $22,250. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $242.

Full Nursing at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Report

National University College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Bayamon, National University College is a private for-profit college with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at National University College take out is $14,252.

Read full report on Nursing at National University College

Southern New Hampshire University ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools list. SNHU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized suburb of Manchester.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from SNHU carry an average student debt load of $31,500.

Full Nursing at Southern New Hampshire University Report

University of North Carolina at Wilmington did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #23 on the list. UNCW is a large public school located in the medium-sized city of Wilmington.

Nursing majors at UNCW take out an average of $21,500 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $212.

Read More…

#24

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #24 on the list. Drexel is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Drexel carry an average student debt load of $31,000. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $596.

Read full report on Nursing at Drexel University

Frontier Nursing University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools ranking. Located in the rural area of Hyden, Frontier Nursing University is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Read More…

#29

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, KY
#30

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, PA
#31

Miami Dade College

Miami, FL
#33

Regis College

Weston, MA
#37

ECPI University

Virginia Beach, VA
#38

West Coast University - Los Angeles

North Hollywood, CA
#42

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN
#43

Simmons University

Boston, MA
#45

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA
#47

Miami Regional University

Miami Springs, FL
#50

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, TX

Remaining Award Winners

This section shows the rest of the colleges awarded a Most Popular Nursing Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 2122 different United States nursing schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
51 Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH
52 St Petersburg College Clearwater, FL
53 Azusa Pacific University Azusa, CA
54 Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH
55 New York University New York, NY
56 Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL
57 Texas Woman’s University Denton, TX
58 Purdue University Northwest Hammond, IN
59 Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FL
60 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
61 Jersey College Teterboro, NJ
62 Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY
63 Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio San Antonio, TX
64 The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL
65 Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL
66 Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ
66 The University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, TX
68 Duke University Durham, NC
69 Wilmington University New Castle, DE
69 Emory University Atlanta, GA
71 Adelphi University Garden City, NY
71 LIU Post Brookville, NY
73 Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay Saint Petersburg, FL
74 The University of West Florida Pensacola, FL
75 Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ
75 AmeriTech College - Draper Draper, UT
77 Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI
78 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL
79 Mississippi University for Women Columbus, MS
80 University of Miami Coral Gables, FL
81 University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL
82 University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette, LA
82 University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, CO
84 Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY
85 Oakland University Rochester Hills, MI
86 University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NM
87 Mercy College Dobbs Ferry, NY
88 Florida International University Miami, FL
89 University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE
90 Sacred Heart University Fairfield, CT
91 Northwestern State University of Louisiana Natchitoches, LA
92 Boise State University Boise, ID
93 George Washington University Washington, DC
94 Gaston College Dallas, NC
94 Pikes Peak Community College Colorado Springs, CO
96 Molloy College Rockville Centre, NY
97 East Carolina University Greenville, NC
98 Arizona State University - Skysong Scottsdale, AZ
99 University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC
100 Universidad Metropolitana San Juan, PR
101 Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Boston, MA
102 University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA
103 Augusta University Augusta, GA
104 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
105 Xavier University Cincinnati, OH
105 University of Massachusetts - Boston Boston, MA
105 Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences Lancaster, PA
105 Jacksonville University Jacksonville, FL
109 Oak Point University Chicago, IL
110 University of Michigan - Flint Flint, MI
111 Mount Carmel College of Nursing Columbus, OH
112 United States University San Diego, CA
113 Rasmussen University - Illinois Rockford, IL
114 California State University - Fullerton Fullerton, CA
114 Washington State University Pullman, WA
116 Spring Arbor University Spring Arbor, MI
117 The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX
117 Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD
117 The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, TX
120 Oregon Health & Science University Portland, OR
120 Denver College of Nursing Denver, CO
122 Regis University Denver, CO
123 University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville, AL
124 Florida SouthWestern State College Fort Myers, FL
124 University of Toledo Toledo, OH
126 Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL
127 Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, TN
128 Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN
129 National University La Jolla, CA
130 Delaware Technical Community College - Terry Dover, DE
131 Concordia University, Saint Paul Saint Paul, MN
132 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN
133 Creighton University Omaha, NE
134 Arizona State University - Tempe Tempe, AZ
135 Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FL
135 Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, CO
137 University of Memphis Memphis, TN
138 Marquette University Milwaukee, WI
138 Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College Saint Louis, MO
140 The College of Saint Scholastica Duluth, MN
141 Helene Fuld College of Nursing New York, NY
142 Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg, PA
143 Pace University - New York New York, NY
144 Florida National University - Main Campus Hialeah, FL
145 Herzing University - Madison Madison, WI
145 Valencia College Orlando, FL
145 Rush University Chicago, IL
148 Marian University Indianapolis, IN
149 Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL
150 University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, AR
151 University of Mississippi University, MS
152 Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PA
153 University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI
154 Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA
155 Laboure College Milton, MA
156 University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center Oklahoma City, OK
157 Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA
158 Butler Community College El Dorado, KS
159 Utica College Utica, NY
160 University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA
161 California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CA
161 Arkansas State University - Main Campus Jonesboro, AR
163 University of Missouri - Kansas City Kansas City, MO
164 Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT
165 Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL
165 Austin Community College District Austin, TX
167 Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, PA
167 Madonna University Livonia, MI
167 Nevada State College Henderson, NV
170 Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY
171 South Dakota State University Brookings, SD
171 University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC
173 Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, TX
173 Columbia Central University - Caguas Caguas, PR
175 University of Connecticut Storrs, CT
176 University of Kentucky Lexington, KY
176 Chamberlain University - Georgia Atlanta, GA
178 Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA
179 University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT
180 University of Louisville Louisville, KY
181 Towson University Towson, MD
181 Daytona State College Daytona Beach, FL
181 Union County College Cranford, NJ
184 University of Southern Indiana Evansville, IN
185 University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL
185 Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FL
187 University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI
187 Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland, OH
187 University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, MI
190 Illinois State University Normal, IL
191 Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans New Orleans, LA
192 Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO
193 Mercy College of Health Sciences Des Moines, IA
194 California State University - San Marcos San Marcos, CA
194 Holy Family University Philadelphia, PA
194 Baylor University Waco, TX
197 South Texas College McAllen, TX
197 The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Knoxville, TN
197 Georgetown University Washington, DC
200 Rivier University Nashua, NH
201 Trocaire College Buffalo, NY
201 Lehman College Bronx, NY
203 D’Youville College Buffalo, NY
204 California State University - Sacramento Sacramento, CA
204 University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI
206 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR
206 Rutgers University - Camden Camden, NJ
208 Gwynedd Mercy University Gwynedd Valley, PA
209 Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY
210 Villanova University Villanova, PA
211 Hondros College of Nursing Westerville, OH
211 State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota Bradenton, FL
213 Rockhurst University Kansas City, MO
214 Chamberlain University - Florida Jacksonville, FL
214 South College Knoxville, TN
216 Goodwin College East Hartford, CT
217 MGH Institute of Health Professions Boston, MA
218 Dixie State University Saint George, UT
218 St. John Fisher College Rochester, NY
220 Seattle University Seattle, WA
220 College of Mount Saint Vincent Bronx, NY
222 University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
222 University of Kansas Lawrence, KS
222 University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OH
225 West Coast University - Dallas Dallas, TX
225 Medical University of South Carolina Charleston, SC
227 Columbus State University Columbus, GA
228 University of Florida Gainesville, FL
228 Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH
230 Santa Fe College Gainesville, FL
230 Tarrant County College District Fort Worth, TX
230 Winston - Salem State University Winston-Salem, NC
233 University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VA
234 Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX
234 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI
236 James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA
237 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC
237 University of Iowa Iowa City, IA
239 Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA
239 Binghamton University Vestal, NY
239 Roseman University of Health Sciences Henderson, NV
242 University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO
243 Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MN
244 University of South Carolina - Upstate Spartanburg, SC
244 Bradley University Peoria, IL
244 Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN
247 Montana State University Bozeman, MT
248 Clemson University Clemson, SC
248 St Catherine University Saint Paul, MN
250 West Coast University-Miami Doral, FL
250 Wayne State University Detroit, MI
252 Samford University Birmingham, AL
253 EDP University - San Juan San Juan, PR
254 Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, ID
255 University of Rochester Rochester, NY
255 Delgado Community College New Orleans, LA
255 Winona State University Winona, MN
255 Troy University Troy, AL
259 Widener University Chester, PA
259 New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, NY
261 Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network Boston, MA
261 Pensacola State College Pensacola, FL
263 GateWay Community College Phoenix, AZ
263 Graceland University - Lamoni Lamoni, IA
265 West Virginia University Morgantown, WV
265 Stevenson University Stevenson, MD
267 The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences Cincinnati, OH
268 SUNY Delhi Delhi, NY
268 Cox College Springfield, MO
270 Auburn University Auburn, AL
271 Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL
272 George Mason University Fairfax, VA
273 Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH
274 Pasco-Hernando State College New Port Richey, FL
275 Hunter College New York, NY
275 California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson, CA
277 Albany State University Albany, GA
278 University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WA
279 Marshall University Huntington, WV
279 University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI
281 AdventHealth University Orlando, FL
281 University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, CO
283 Radford University Radford, VA
283 Middle Georgia State University Macon, GA
285 University of Missouri - St Louis Saint Louis, MO
285 University of Nevada - Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV
287 Lewis University Romeoville, IL
288 The College at Brockport Brockport, NY
288 Curry College Milton, MA
288 University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA
291 Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies Fayette, MO
291 San Diego State University San Diego, CA
291 Baker College Owosso, MI
294 University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MD
294 Chamberlain University - Texas Houston, TX
294 Polk State College Winter Haven, FL
294 Houston Baptist University Houston, TX
298 University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, MA
299 California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA
299 Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science Los Angeles, CA
301 Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City, UT
302 Nightingale College Salt Lake City, UT
303 The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX
303 University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO
305 Fairfield University Fairfield, CT
305 Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI
305 University of Nevada - Reno Reno, NV
308 Mercer University Macon, GA
309 California Baptist University Riverside, CA
310 DePaul University Chicago, IL
311 Suffolk County Community College Selden, NY
311 Mercy College of Ohio Toledo, OH
313 University of Southern Maine Portland, ME
313 Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA
313 Oklahoma City Community College Oklahoma City, OK
316 Concordia University, Texas Lakeway, TX
316 Hillsborough Community College Tampa, FL
316 El Paso Community College El Paso, TX
316 Union University Jackson, TN

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Nursing students that almost earned our Most Popular Nursing Schools award.

Rank College Location
320 Baptist Health System School of Health Professions San Antonio, TX
321 California University of Pennsylvania California, PA
321 MidAmerica Nazarene University Olathe, KS
323 Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC
323 Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA
323 Southern Adventist University Collegedale, TN
326 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI
326 Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, IN
326 Gonzaga University Spokane, WA
329 Community College of Rhode Island Warwick, RI
329 Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH
329 Barry University Miami, FL
332 University of North Alabama Florence, AL
332 San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TX
334 Georgia State University Atlanta, GA
334 Loma Linda University Loma Linda, CA
336 Viterbo University La Crosse, WI
336 Benedictine University Lisle, IL
336 Thomas Edison State University Trenton, NJ
339 Lamar University Beaumont, TX
339 Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais, IL
341 Washburn University Topeka, KS
342 Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, NC
343 North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, ND
343 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock, AR
345 La Salle University Philadelphia, PA
345 MSU Texas Wichita Falls, TX
345 EDP University - San Sebastian San Sebastian, PR
348 Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX
348 The Graduate Center, CUNY New York, NY
348 San Jose State University San Jose, CA
348 Jefferson State Community College Birmingham, AL
348 Mount Saint Mary’s University Los Angeles, CA
348 Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL
348 Clarkson College Omaha, NE
355 Belmont University Nashville, TN
355 University of North Georgia Dahlonega, GA
355 West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PA
358 Owens Community College Perrysburg, OH
358 Wallace State Community College, Hanceville Hanceville, AL
360 Felician University Lodi, NJ
361 Lewis - Clark State College Lewiston, ID
361 University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN
361 Chamberlain University - New Jersey North Brunswick, NJ
361 University of St Francis Joliet, IL
365 St Paul’s School of Nursing - Staten Island Staten Island, NY
365 Utah Valley University Orem, UT
365 Chamberlain University - Arizona Phoenix, AZ
368 Clarion University of Pennsylvania Clarion, PA
368 Mesa Community College Mesa, AZ
370 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
371 Ball State University Muncie, IN
371 University of West Georgia Carrollton, GA
371 Southwest Baptist University Bolivar, MO
371 Wagner College Staten Island, NY
375 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton, GA
375 Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa Wauwatosa, WI
375 Southwestern Oklahoma State University Weatherford, OK
375 Aurora University Aurora, IL
375 Ursuline College Pepper Pike, OH
375 California State University - East Bay Hayward, CA
375 Allen College Waterloo, IA
382 Tyler Junior College Tyler, TX
382 Wright State University - Main Campus Dayton, OH
384 John C Calhoun State Community College Tanner, AL
384 University of Saint Francis - Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN
384 St Paul’s School of Nursing - Queens Rego Park, NY
384 Delaware County Community College Media, PA
388 Saint Louis Community College Saint Louis, MO
388 SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University Brooklyn, NY
388 Amarillo College Amarillo, TX
388 Tulsa Community College Tulsa, OK
392 El Centro College Dallas, TX
392 Research College of Nursing Kansas City, MO
392 Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, LA
395 Bevill State Community College Jasper, AL
395 Metropolitan State University Saint Paul, MN
395 Fresno City College Fresno, CA
395 Universidad del Turabo Gurabo, PR
399 Northeastern University Boston, MA
399 Henry Ford College Dearborn, MI
401 Rhode Island College Providence, RI
401 University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY
401 Dominican College of Blauvelt Orangeburg, NY
401 Grayson College Denison, TX
405 College of Staten Island CUNY Staten Island, NY
405 Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TN
405 Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX
408 University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD
408 Lansing Community College Lansing, MI
408 Fairmont State University Fairmont, WV
408 HCI College West Palm Beach, FL
412 Idaho State University Pocatello, ID
412 Pima Community College Tucson, AZ
412 Linfield University - School of Nursing Portland, OR
415 Davenport University Grand Rapids, MI
415 Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PA
417 San Antonio College San Antonio, TX
417 Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay, WI
419 University of Central Arkansas Conway, AR
419 College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NV
419 University of Delaware Newark, DE
419 New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich, RI
423 King University Bristol, TN
423 San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA
423 Queens University of Charlotte Charlotte, NC

Nursing by Region

View the Most Popular Nursing Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

Nursing Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 266,651
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 16,104
Nursing Administration 9,838
Nursing Practice 7,992
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 5,092
Nursing Science 4,600
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 2,287
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 2,021
Nurse Anesthetist 1,936
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 1,883
Critical Care Nursing 773
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 563
School Nursing 553
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 509
Clinical Nurse Leader 444
Clinical Nurse Specialist 419
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 331
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 181
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing 57
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 53
Palliative Care Nursing 14
Forensic Nursing 14

Related Major Annual Graduates
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 84,274

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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