25 Best Nursing Schools and Colleges in the U.S.

1 Columbia University in the City of New York

Located in the heart of New York City, Columbia University is one of the state’s oldest colleges. Students interested in pursuing a career in nursing can benefit from an extensive selection of program options at this prestigious college such as MSN, DNP, or PhD degrees. Students who would like to secure a master’s degree in nursing can choose from the Masters Direct Entry Program for non-nurse college graduates, the Masters in Nurse Anesthesia, and the Masters in Advanced Clinical Management and Leadership. In addition, there are several DNP programs for those interested in being a nurse practitioner or midwife. A Doctor of Philosophy is also available for those who see themselves as a nurse scientist. Columbia University nursing graduates report an annual income between $71,000 and $150,000 a year.

• Tuition:

  • In-State:$61,788

  • Out-of-State:$61,788

• Rank: #1

• Total Enrollment:31,077

• Graduation Rate:96%

• Diplomas Awarded:249

2 Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut, is home to Yale University School of Nursing, a top college offering full-time and part-time options for students. The college ensures that students are on the right track toward a nursing career with several unique graduate programs including the master of science in nursing, doctor of nursing practice, and doctor of philosophy. A Graduate Entry Prespecialty in Nursing program is also offered to students who would like to receive knowledge about basic nursing and clinical specialties. As of today, there are roughly 324 students enrolled in the college’s nursing programs. Students who graduate from these nursing programs can earn between $72,000 and $98,000.

• Tuition:

  • In-State:$55,500

  • Out-of-State:$55,500

• Rank: #2

• Total Enrollment:13,433

• Graduation Rate:97%

• Diplomas Awarded:118

3 University of Pennsylvania

At University of Pennsylvania, students are presented with several different nursing options including a traditional four-year bachelor’s, accelerated bachelor’s second degree, a direct entry BSN/MSN program, a wide variety of specialized MSN programs, a doctor of philosophy in nursing, and a doctor of nursing practice program. The university’s primary mission is to prepare students to achieve their career goals, whether they want to be a neonatal nurse practitioner, a registered nurse, a midwife, or to work in nurse education. Graduates of the University of Pennsylvania nursing programs can earn a starting salary of $82,960.

• Tuition:

  • In-State:$57,770

  • Out-of-State:$57,770

• Rank: #3

• Total Enrollment:25,860

• Graduation Rate:95%

• Diplomas Awarded:478

4 Duke University

Duke University, located in Durham, North Carolina, is praised for its commitment in developing the next generation of nursing leaders. The college offers an accelerated bachelor of science nursing program for students who already have an undergraduate degree in another discipline. Students can also choose to purse a master’s, doctorate, or PhD nursing degree. In these programs, students learn exceptional nursing skills in a variety of different settings including modern classrooms, simulation labs, and affiliated medical facilities. The average salary for a Duke University graduate is $84,000.

• Tuition:

  • In-State:$58,031

  • Out-of-State:$58,031

• Rank: #4

• Total Enrollment:16,606

• Graduation Rate:96%

• Diplomas Awarded:353

5 Boston College

Students attending Boston College can greatly benefit from this prominent institution as its goal is to help them achieve success in a multitude of healthcare careers, whichever they choose to pursue. Among the healthcare related programs offered at this excellent college include pre-licensure nursing programs and more advanced degrees including a master’s, and PhD nursing programs. Graduates of the Boston College Connell School of Nursing are qualified to serve in a variety of nursing roles in many different settings. The average salary of a Boston College graduate is $75,000.

• Tuition:

  • In-State:$57,910

  • Out-of-State:$57,910

• Rank: #5

• Total Enrollment:14,720

• Graduation Rate:92%

• Diplomas Awarded:109

6 University of California-Los Angeles

The University of California campus, located in Los Angeles, is a prestigious public university that offers more than 160 areas of study for undergraduate and graduate students. The college’s nursing program is a popular choice for students as it includes degree options such as a traditional four-year bachelor’s, a Masters Entry Clinical Nursing degree, Master of Science in Nursing, a PhD in Nursing, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice program. The UCLA School of Nursing boasts a total enrollment of almost 600 students. After graduating from the nursing program, these students go on to earn an average yearly income of $75,000.

• Tuition:

  • In-State:$13,240

  • Out-of-State:$42,994

• Rank: #6

• Total Enrollment:44,537

• Graduation Rate:91%

• Diplomas Awarded:227

7 Georgetown University

A private, not-for-profit college, Georgetown University has a total of 19,204 students enrolled. The college proudly offers almost 100 undergraduate and graduate programs with bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral nursing programs being among its top studies. The O’Neill Family Foundation Clinical Simulation Center is available to help students hone their nursing skills, whether they are training to become a registered nurse or a family nurse practitioner. Students graduating from Georgetown University state that they earn an average of $78,000 a year.

• Tuition:

  • In-State:$56,058

  • Out-of-State:$56,058

• Rank: #7

• Total Enrollment:19,204

• Graduation Rate:94%

• Diplomas Awarded:322

Check out all the rankings for nursing schools on University HQ.