2023 Best Nursing Schools
It's not easy to decide which nursing program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Also there are many trade schools and bpptcamp that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Best Nursing Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 1,633 schools in the United States to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Wake Forest University to be the best school for nursing students in the United States.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,222 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $644 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Wake Forest University graduates make an average of $55,309 annually.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Vincent College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools list.
Degree recipients from Saint Vincent accumulate an average of $26,112 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $392 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Saint Vincent, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $49,935 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means University of Providence is a great place for nursing students.
On average, students take out $21,640 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, University of Providence graduates make an average of $49,532 annually.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means University of Southern California is a great place for nursing students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,661 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $489 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, USC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $65,044 during the early year of their career.
The excellent programs at Linfield University - Online and Continuing Education helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the United States.
On average, students take out $30,181 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $346 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Linfield OCE, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,998 during the early years of their career.
Full Linfield University - Online and Continuing Education Report
Vanderbilt University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools ranking.
Degree recipients from Vanderbilt accumulate an average of $14,392 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $644 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Vanderbilt, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $66,962 during the early years of their career.
Ottawa University - Phoenix came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,724 in student loans.After graduating from Ottawa University - Phoenix, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,260 during the early years of their career.
Excelsior College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,421 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Excelsior College graduates make an average of $58,705 annually.
Texas Wesleyan University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,326 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Texas Wesleyan graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,325 during the early year of their career.
California State University - Monterey Bay ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,303 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $190 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, CSUMB graduates make an average of $43,457 annually.
Read full report on California State University - Monterey Bay
Mount Marty University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,631 in student loans.After graduating from Mount Marty, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $80,285 during the early years of their career.
Duke University landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
Degree recipients from Duke accumulate an average of $19,762 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $727. During the early years of their career, Duke graduates make an average of $71,290 annually.
Aspen University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools list.
Degree recipients from Aspen University accumulate an average of $36,338 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Aspen University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $83,891 during the early years of their career.
University of Pennsylvania did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #14 on the list.
Degree recipients from UPenn accumulate an average of $17,262 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $547 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UPenn graduates make an average of $81,207 annually.
The Graduate Center, CUNY came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools ranking.
Degree recipients from The Graduate Center accumulate an average of $20,379 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from The Graduate Center, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $61,344 during the early years of their career.
Bushnell University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools ranking.
Degree recipients from Bushnell University accumulate an average of $30,261 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Bushnell University graduates make an average of $57,591 annually.
Ottawa University - Kansas City came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,724 in student loans.After graduating from Ottawa University - Kansas City, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $47,843 during the early years of their career.
University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #18 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools list.
Degree recipients from UW - Madison accumulate an average of $20,865 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $336 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UW - Madison graduates make an average of $50,802 annually.
Texas A&M University - College Station came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools ranking.
Degree recipients from Texas A&M College Station accumulate an average of $19,847 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $304, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Texas A&M College Station, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $57,177 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #20, Ramapo College of New Jersey did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
Degree recipients from Ramapo College accumulate an average of $22,964 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $376, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Ramapo College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,404 during the early years of their career.
Ottawa University - Milwaukee did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #21 on the list.
On average, students take out $31,813 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Ottawa University - Milwaukee graduates make an average of $50,885 annually.
With a ranking of #22, University of California - Davis did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
On average, students take out $14,449 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $281. Once they receive their degree, UC Davis graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,065 during the early year of their career.
Madison Area Technical College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools list.
On average, students take out $19,738 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Madison College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,202 during the early year of their career.
Sonoma State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools ranking.
On average, students take out $19,130 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $267 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, SSU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,865 during the early year of their career.
Wagner College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #25 on the list.
On average, students take out $26,358 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $423 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Wagner graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $62,835 during the early year of their career.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Nursing Schools in the United States
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Rest of the Top 15% Best Nursing Schools in the United States
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best nursing schools ranking:
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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