2026 Most Popular Online Nursing Schools
There are 53 schools that offer a degree in Nursing mostly online. The most popular online schools, by student demand, are below:
Finding the Most Popular Online Nursing School for You
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for Nursing students. You’re no longer limited to schools in your local area, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.
The Most Popular Online Nursing Schools ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 53 schools in the United States to see which mostly-online Nursing programs were the most popular. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with mostly-online programs.
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2026 Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in the United States
The colleges and universities below are the most popular for Nursing majors pursuing an online degree.
Top 25 Most Popular Online Nursing Schools
Our 2026 rankings named Chamberlain University-Illinois the most popular online school in the U.S. for Nursing majors. Chamberlain University-Illinois is a private for-profit school located in Addison, IL. Roughly 92% of this program’s degrees are awarded to online students. This school awarded 13,367 degrees in Nursing in the most recent reporting year. About 90% of the students earning this degree here are women. Early-career graduates of the school earn a median salary of $83,585. Full Nursing at Chamberlain University-Illinois Report
Capella University landed the #2 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Online Nursing Schools ranking. Located in Minneapolis, MN, this is a private for-profit institution. About 100% of degrees in Nursing here are earned online. During the most recent year for which we have data, 8,953 people earned their degree in Nursing from this school. About 89% of the students earning this degree here are women. Early-career graduates of the school earn a median salary of $79,233. Read More…
Western Governors University landed the #3 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Online Nursing Schools ranking. Western Governors University is a private nonprofit school located in Salt Lake City, UT. About 100% of degrees in Nursing here are earned online. During the most recent year for which we have data, 7,799 people earned their degree in Nursing from this school. Women make up 89% of the Nursing students at the school. Early-career graduates of the school earn a median salary of $74,978. Read full report on Nursing at Western Governors University
Grand Canyon University comes in at #4 on our 2026 list of the most popular online colleges for Nursing majors. Located in Phoenix, AZ, this is a private for-profit institution. About 90% of degrees in Nursing here are earned online. During the most recent year for which we have data, 5,116 people earned their degree in Nursing from this school. About 87% of the students earning this degree here are women. Early-career graduates of the school earn a median salary of $62,543. Full Nursing at Grand Canyon University Report
Walden University landed the #5 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Online Nursing Schools ranking. Located in Minneapolis, MN, this is a private for-profit institution. About 100% of degrees in Nursing here are earned online. During the most recent year for which we have data, 4,948 people earned their degree in Nursing from this school. Women make up 85% of the Nursing students at the school. The median salary of the school’s graduates early in their careers is $76,759. Read More…
Aspen University comes in at #6 on our 2026 list of the most popular online colleges for Nursing majors. Aspen University is a private for-profit school located in Phoenix, AZ. About 67% of degrees in Nursing here are earned online. This school awarded 1,999 degrees in Nursing in the most recent reporting year. Women make up 89% of the Nursing students at the school. The median salary of the school’s graduates early in their careers is $78,528. Read full report on Nursing at Aspen University
West Coast University-Orange County comes in at #7 on our 2026 list of the most popular online colleges for Nursing majors. West Coast University-Orange County is a private for-profit school located in Anaheim, CA. Roughly 86% of this program’s degrees are awarded to online students. During the most recent year for which we have data, 1,760 people earned their degree in Nursing from this school. About 80% of the students earning this degree here are women. Early-career graduates of the school earn a median salary of $95,294. Read full report on Nursing at West Coast University-Orange County
University of South Alabama landed the #8 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Online Nursing Schools ranking. University of South Alabama is a public school located in Mobile, AL. Roughly 83% of this program’s degrees are awarded to online students. During the most recent year for which we have data, 1,440 people earned their degree in Nursing from this school. About 89% of the students earning this degree here are women. The median salary of the school’s graduates early in their careers is $46,120. Full Nursing at University of South Alabama Report
Purdue University Global comes in at #9 on our 2026 list of the most popular online colleges for Nursing majors. Purdue University Global is a public school located in West Lafayette, IN. About 91% of degrees in Nursing here are earned online. This school awarded 1,160 degrees in Nursing in the most recent reporting year. About 88% of the students earning this degree here are women. The median salary of the school’s graduates early in their careers is $45,209. Full Nursing at Purdue University Global Report
Frontier Nursing University comes in at #10 on our 2026 list of the most popular online colleges for Nursing majors. Frontier Nursing University is a private nonprofit school located in Versailles, KY. About 100% of degrees in Nursing here are earned online. This school awarded 1,021 degrees in Nursing in the most recent reporting year. Women make up 94% of the Nursing students at the school. Early-career graduates of the school earn a median salary of $106,311. Full Nursing at Frontier Nursing University Report
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus comes in at #11 on our 2026 list of the most popular online colleges for Nursing majors. Located in Cincinnati, OH, this is a public institution. Roughly 61% of this program’s degrees are awarded to online students. This school awarded 1,014 degrees in Nursing in the most recent reporting year. Women make up 87% of the Nursing students at the school. The median salary of the school’s graduates early in their careers is $53,819. Read More…
University of North Carolina Wilmington comes in at #12 on our 2026 list of the most popular online colleges for Nursing majors. University of North Carolina Wilmington is a public school located in Wilmington, NC. About 60% of degrees in Nursing here are earned online. This school awarded 960 degrees in Nursing in the most recent reporting year. About 92% of the students earning this degree here are women. The median salary of the school’s graduates early in their careers is $44,355. Read More…
University of Phoenix-Arizona comes in at #13 on our 2026 list of the most popular online colleges for Nursing majors. Located in Phoenix, AZ, this is a private for-profit institution. About 100% of degrees in Nursing here are earned online. This school awarded 935 degrees in Nursing in the most recent reporting year. Women make up 87% of the Nursing students at the school. Early-career graduates of the school earn a median salary of $52,226. Full Nursing at University of Phoenix-Arizona Report
Maryville University of Saint Louis comes in at #14 on our 2026 list of the most popular online colleges for Nursing majors. Maryville University of Saint Louis is a private nonprofit school located in Saint Louis, MO. About 93% of degrees in Nursing here are earned online. During the most recent year for which we have data, 918 people earned their degree in Nursing from this school. Women make up 91% of the Nursing students at the school. Early-career graduates of the school earn a median salary of $63,561. Read full report on Nursing at Maryville University of Saint Louis
Nightingale College landed the #15 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Online Nursing Schools ranking. Nightingale College is a private for-profit school located in Salt Lake City, UT. Roughly 100% of this program’s degrees are awarded to online students. During the most recent year for which we have data, 912 people earned their degree in Nursing from this school. About 88% of the students earning this degree here are women. The median salary of the school’s graduates early in their careers is $68,158. Read full report on Nursing at Nightingale College
Weber State University comes in at #16 on our 2026 list of the most popular online colleges for Nursing majors. Weber State University is a public school located in Ogden, UT. Roughly 71% of this program’s degrees are awarded to online students. This school awarded 842 degrees in Nursing in the most recent reporting year. About 85% of the students earning this degree here are women. Early-career graduates of the school earn a median salary of $54,227. Read full report on Nursing at Weber State University
Excelsior University landed the #17 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Online Nursing Schools ranking. Located in Albany, NY, this is a private nonprofit institution. About 100% of degrees in Nursing here are earned online. During the most recent year for which we have data, 838 people earned their degree in Nursing from this school. About 86% of the students earning this degree here are women. The median salary of the school’s graduates early in their careers is $68,971. Full Nursing at Excelsior University Report
United States University comes in at #18 on our 2026 list of the most popular online colleges for Nursing majors. United States University is a private for-profit school located in San Diego, CA. Roughly 67% of this program’s degrees are awarded to online students. During the most recent year for which we have data, 821 people earned their degree in Nursing from this school. About 83% of the students earning this degree here are women. Early-career graduates of the school earn a median salary of $116,503. Read full report on Nursing at United States University
Texas Woman's University comes in at #19 on our 2026 list of the most popular online colleges for Nursing majors. Texas Woman's University is a public school located in Denton, TX. About 57% of degrees in Nursing here are earned online. During the most recent year for which we have data, 783 people earned their degree in Nursing from this school. About 92% of the students earning this degree here are women. Early-career graduates of the school earn a median salary of $53,225. Full Nursing at Texas Woman's University Report
Southern New Hampshire University comes in at #20 on our 2026 list of the most popular online colleges for Nursing majors. Located in Manchester, NH, this is a private nonprofit institution. Roughly 100% of this program’s degrees are awarded to online students. During the most recent year for which we have data, 759 people earned their degree in Nursing from this school. Women make up 88% of the Nursing students at the school. Early-career graduates of the school earn a median salary of $54,644. Read More…
South University-Savannah Online comes in at #21 on our 2026 list of the most popular online colleges for Nursing majors. Located in Savannah, GA, this is a private for-profit institution. About 100% of degrees in Nursing here are earned online. This school awarded 737 degrees in Nursing in the most recent reporting year. Women make up 84% of the Nursing students at the school. Early-career graduates of the school earn a median salary of $55,439. Read full report on Nursing at South University-Savannah Online
Liberty University landed the #22 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Online Nursing Schools ranking. Located in Lynchburg, VA, this is a private nonprofit institution. About 71% of degrees in Nursing here are earned online. This school awarded 619 degrees in Nursing in the most recent reporting year. About 89% of the students earning this degree here are women. Early-career graduates of the school earn a median salary of $44,414. Read More…
Post University comes in at #23 on our 2026 list of the most popular online colleges for Nursing majors. Located in Waterbury, CT, this is a private for-profit institution. About 100% of degrees in Nursing here are earned online. This school awarded 585 degrees in Nursing in the most recent reporting year. Women make up 89% of the Nursing students at the school. Early-career graduates of the school earn a median salary of $47,677. Read full report on Nursing at Post University
University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center landed the #24 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Online Nursing Schools ranking. Located in Oklahoma City, OK, this is a public institution. Roughly 67% of this program’s degrees are awarded to online students. This school awarded 526 degrees in Nursing in the most recent reporting year. Women make up 89% of the Nursing students at the school. Early-career graduates of the school earn a median salary of $53,164. Read More…
East Carolina University comes in at #25 on our 2026 list of the most popular online colleges for Nursing majors. Located in Greenville, NC, this is a public institution. About 92% of degrees in Nursing here are earned online. This school awarded 506 degrees in Nursing in the most recent reporting year. About 90% of the students earning this degree here are women. Early-career graduates of the school earn a median salary of $44,602. Read More…
Rest of the Top Most Popular Online Nursing Schools
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that also deliver this program mostly online.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, NC |
| 52 | Clarkson College | Omaha, NE |
| 53 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette, LA |
Most Popular Online Nursing by Region
View the Most Popular Online Nursing Schools ranking for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| New England |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Great Lakes |
| Plains States |
| Southeast |
| Southwest |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Far Western US |
More Nursing Rankings
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the Most Popular Online Nursing Schools ranking, along with other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
Majors Related to Nursing
Nursing Concentrations
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 256,965 |
| Family Practice Nursing | 14,847 |
| Nursing Practice | 9,206 |
| Nursing Administration | 7,911 |
| Mental Health Nursing | 4,379 |
| Nursing Science | 4,245 |
| Nursing Research & Other | 4,125 |
| Adult Health Nursing | 2,457 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 1,960 |
| Public Health Nursing | 1,505 |
| Geriatric Nursing | 641 |
| Critical Care Nursing | 596 |
| Nurse Midwifery | 559 |
| School Nursing | 441 |
| Clinical Nurse Leader | 434 |
| Women’s Health Nursing | 323 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist | 321 |
| Surgical Nursing | 190 |
| Maternal & Neonatal Nursing | 160 |
| ER/Trauma Nursing | 57 |
| Environmental Health Nursing | 22 |
| Forensic Nursing | 21 |
| Palliative Care Nursing | 7 |
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 99,987 |
| Allied Health Professions | 90,379 |
| Health/Medical Admin Services | 90,166 |
| Allied Health Services | 80,693 |
| Public Health | 41,086 |
References
*The average salary above is for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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