2023 Best Nursing Schools in the United States
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.
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. Wake Forest University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that handed out 2,979 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $78,115 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $702, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Wake Forest University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $55,309 during the early years of their career.
The excellent programs at Saint Vincent College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the United States. Located in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 412 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $52,490 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $436, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Saint Vincent graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $49,935 during the early year of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Providence. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools list. University of Providence is a private not-for-profit institution located in Great Falls, Montana. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 391 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $24,621 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, University of Providence graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $49,532 during the early year of their career.
The excellent programs at University of Southern California helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the United States. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 18,134 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $73,962 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $546, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, USC graduates make an average of $65,044 annually.
With a ranking of #6, Vanderbilt University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Vanderbilt is located in Nashville, Tennessee and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5,142 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Vanderbilt accumulate an average of $47,515 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 $760 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Vanderbilt graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $66,962 during the early year of their career.
Ottawa University - Phoenix landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and it awarded 389 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Ottawa University - Phoenix accumulate an average of $29,121 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Ottawa University - Phoenix graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,260 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #8, Excelsior University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Excelsior University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Albany, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4,461 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Excelsior University accumulate an average of $20,049 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Excelsior University graduates make an average of $58,705 annually.
Texas Wesleyan University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools list. Fort Worth, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 516 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $47,265 in student loans.After graduating from Texas Wesleyan, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,325 during the early years of their career.
California State University - Monterey Bay landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. CSUMB is located in Seaside, California and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,220 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,147 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $200, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from CSUMB, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,457 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on California State University - Monterey Bay
Mount Marty University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools list. Located in Yankton, South Dakota, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 198 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Mount Marty accumulate an average of $63,778 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.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.
With a ranking of #12, Duke University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Duke is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Durham, North Carolina. It awarded 6,863 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Duke accumulate an average of $79,632 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 $591 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Duke, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $71,290 during the early years of their career.
Aspen University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools list. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the medium-sized private for-profit school handed out 2,208 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Aspen University accumulate an average of $26,014 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Aspen University graduates make an average of $83,891 annually.
With a ranking of #14, University of Pennsylvania did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. UPenn is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 10,067 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $66,363 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $529 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UPenn graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $81,207 during the early year of their career.
The Graduate Center, CUNY came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools ranking. The Graduate Center is a medium-sized public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 2,945 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $27,546 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, The Graduate Center graduates make an average of $61,344 annually.
With a ranking of #16, Bushnell University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Bushnell University is a very small private not-for-profit school located in Eugene, Oregon that handed out 236 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,086 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Bushnell University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $57,591 during the early year of their career.
Ottawa University - Kansas City ranked #17 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools list. Overland Park, Kansas is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 185 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Ottawa University - Kansas City accumulate an average of $26,604 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Ottawa University - Kansas City graduates make an average of $47,843 annually.
University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, the large public school handed out 17,447 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,074 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $400. 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. Located in College Station, Texas, the large public school awarded 20,117 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $29,452 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $397, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Texas A&M College Station graduates make an average of $57,177 annually.
Ramapo College of New Jersey ranked #20 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools list. Mahwah, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,463 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $23,083 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $360, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Ramapo College graduates make an average of $42,404 annually.
With a ranking of #21, Ottawa University - Milwaukee did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Located in Brookfield, Wisconsin, the very small private not-for-profit school handed out 79 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $29,766 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Ottawa University - Milwaukee graduates make an average of $50,885 annually.
University of California - Davis came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools ranking. UC Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12,064 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UC Davis accumulate an average of $30,764 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 $305 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UC Davis graduates make an average of $46,065 annually.
Madison Area Technical College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Madison College is located in Madison, Wisconsin and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3,280 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $15,784 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 did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in Rohnert Park, California, the medium-sized public school handed out 2,454 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,290 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $332 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.
With a ranking of #25, Wagner College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Wagner is a private not-for-profit institution located in Staten Island, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 554 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Wagner accumulate an average of $33,656 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 $686 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.
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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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