Top 100 - Nursing Schools in the US

The Top 100 nursing schools for 2023 rankings below represent those nursing schools in the US that have consistently demonstrated a superior level of dedication to excellence in nursing education. Our rankings are based on four criteria: Affordability, Accessibility, Academic Quality, and NCLEX-RN board exam pass rates.

Rank	School Name	Tuition (In-state)	Board Exam Pass Rate	Acceptance Rate	Student Body
	University of Missouri–Columbia Columbia, MO	$9,433	Top 10%	81.5%	34,700
	University of Iowa Iowa City, IA	$8,079	Top 10%	78%	30,100
	Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MO	$7,058	Top 5%	97.2%	34,000
	University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT	$7,835	Top 10%	82.6%	32,400
	Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN	$7,679	Top 20%	97.4%	11,500
	Truman State University Kirksville, MO	$7,374	Top 10%	73%	6,253
	Missouri Southern State University Joplin, MO	$5,416	Top 5%	96.2%	5,420
	Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CA	$7,276	Top 10%	81.9%	9,020
	University of Louisiana–Monroe Monroe, LA	$6,963	Top 10%	91%	8,545
	Brigham Young University–Provo Provo, UT	$5,000	Top 10%	54.9%	34,400
	Nicholls State University Thibadaux, LA	$7,234	Top 10%	92%	6,600
	University of Tennessee Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN	$7,554	Top 10%	76%	11,660
	University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette, LA	$5,374	Top 5%	60%	16,687
	Emporia State University Emporia, KS	$5,614	Top 5%	72%	5,870
	University of Nevada–Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV	$6,570	Top 20%	88%	27,400
	University of Southern Indiana Evansville, IN	$6,600	Top 5%	72%	10,500
	University of Kansas Lawrence, KS	$10,200	Top 20%	92.3%	27,100
	Northwestern Oklahoma State University Alva, OK	$5,050	Top 5%	72%	2,300
	Metropolitan State University St. Paul, MN	$6,650	Top 20%	96.7%	8,170
	California State University–Sacramento Sacramento, CA	$6,700	Top 10%	69.7%	28,500
	Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LA	$7,150	Top 20%	70.8%	11,343
	North Dakota State University Fargo, ND	$7,240	Top 20%	83.5%	14,430
	University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO	$7,300	Top 5%	79%	13,740
	California State University–Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA	$6,400	Top 10%	67%	21,800
	New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM	$6,200	Top 30%	80%	17,650
	Ohio State University–Columbus Columbus, OH	$10,040	Top 20%	64%	56,400
	Langston University Langston, OK	$4,300	Top 5%	63%	1,740
	Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, LA	$5,300	Top 10%	89%	15,602
	University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO	$6,800	Top 30%	89%	12,520
	South Dakota State University Brookings, SD	$7,832	Top 30%	92%	12,580
	University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke, NC	$5,300	Top 20%	72%	6,300
	Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY	$7,540	Top 20%	60%	15,970
	Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN	$7,100	Top 20%	82%	13,770
	East Carolina University Greenville, NC	$5,880	Top 20%	62%	26,950
	California State University–San Marcos San Marcos, CA	$7,060	Top 10%	62%	10,360
	University of Vermont Burlington, VT	$15,750	Top 20%	77%	13,100
	University of Kentucky Lexington, KY	$10,110	Top 20%	67%	28,000
	Indiana University–Kokomo Kokomo, IN	$6,680	Top 20%	70.4%	3,720
	St. Cloud State University St. Cloud, MN	$7,480	Top 30%	89.7%	16,460
	University of New Hampshire Durham, NH	$16,500	Top 20%	77.9%	15,300
	University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI	$7,360	Top 20%	68.5%	13,400
	Illinois State University Normal, IL	$12,573	Top 20%	74%	17,200
	University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OK	$5,092	Top 30%	78.9%	17,200
	Fitchburg State College Fitchburg, MA	$8,985	Top 10%	72.1%	6,888
	Georgia College & State University Milledgeville, GA	$8,790	Top 20%	66.3%	6,400
	University of Memphis Memphis, TN	$7,900	Top 20%	64.7%	22,200
	University of South Alabama Mobile, AL	$8,150	Top 30%	87.2%	14,600
	West Virginia University Morgantown, WV	$6,450	Top 50%	85.1%	29,700
	Northwestern State University of Louisiana Natchitoches, LA	$6,300	Top 30%	84.9%	9,450
	Louisiana State University–Alexandria Alexandria, LA	$4,600	Top 20%	61.1%	2,400
51	California State University–Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA	$6,792	Top 10%	67%	8,720
52	Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH	$7,712	Top 30%	86.7%	13,800
53	Worcester State University Worcester, MA	$8,157	Top 5%	68.1%	6,200
54	California State University–Stanislaus Turlock, CA	$6,664	Top 30%	72.2%	8,900
55	Ball State University Muncie, IN	$9,300	Top 20%	61.2%	21,000
56	University of South Carolina–Columbia Columbia, SC	$10,800	Top 20%	60.6%	31,300
57	Morehead State University Morehead, KY	$7,500	Top 50%	84.5%	11,100
58	Southern Utah University Cedar City, UT	$5,924	Top 5%	57.2%	8,300
59	Weber State University Ogden, UT	$4,800	Top 50%	100%	26,500
60	Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg, PA	$8,582	Top 20%	67.6%	9,950
61	University of Maryland–College Park College Park, MD	$9,200	Top 20%	46.8%	37,200
62	University of Washington Seattle, WA	$12,383	Top 20%	59%	42,500
63	University of Evansville Evansville, IN	$10,000	Top 10%	80%	34,000
64	Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY	$8,722	Top 50%	92.3%	21,100
65	Saint Mary's College Notre Dame, IN	$34,600	Top 5%	84.8%	1,450
66	University of Florida Gainesville, FL	$6,263	Top 50%	44.1%	49,900
67	Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL	$2,760	Top 50%	100%	17,800
68	Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana, PA	$9,100	Top 20%	61%	15,400
69	Radford University Radford, VA	$9,026	Top 30%	76.4%	9,500
70	Metropolitan State College of Denver Denver, CO	$6,400	Top 30%	71.3%	23,300
71	University of Colorado–Denver Denver, CO	$7,500	Top 50%	75.9%	22,400
72	University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL	$6,380	Top 20%	52%	16,201
73	University of Louisville Louisville, KY	$9,750	Top 30%	76.3%	21,300
74	Auburn University Auburn University, AL	$9,880	Top 50%	77.4%	16,500
75	California State University–Chico Chico, CA	$8,900	Top 50%	79.2%	16,470
76	Clemson University Clemson, SC	$13,400	Top 20%	57.9%	20,770
77	Washburn University Topeka, KS	$5,780	Top 50%	95.5%	7,200
78	Lamar University Beaumont, TX	$9,050	Top 50%	88.3%	14,300
79	West Texas A&M University Canyon, TX	$6,990	Top 30%	69.4%	7,900
80	Valparaiso University Valparaiso, IN	$34,760	Top 5%	79.6%	4,080
81	University of Central Florida Orlando, FL	$6,300	Top 20%	62.5%	59,760
82	Rutgers Camden Regional Campus Camden, NJ	$13,430	Top 20%	80%	6,350
83	Murray State University Murray, KY	$6,840	Top 50%	82.2%	10,800
84	Wichita State University Wichita, KS	$6,927	Top 50%	95.2%	14,890
85	Temple University Philadelphia, PA	$14,400	Top 30%	67.2%	36,700
86	Indiana University Southeast New Albany, IN	$6,700	Top 30%	77.9%	6,900
87	University of Nevada–Reno Reno, NV	$6,150	Top 50%	83%	18,230
88	University of Texas–El Paso El Paso, TX	$7,020	Top 50%	99.8%	22,800
89	University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM	$7,300	Top 50%	64.6%	29,000
90	University of Massachuetts–Amherst Amherst, M	$13,258	Top 30%	62.6%	28,200
91	Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TN	$7,160	Top 50%	85.7%	10,600
92	Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY	$8,400	Top 5%	46.7%	15,630
93	Missouri Western State University St. Joseph, MO	$6,500	Top 50%	100%	6,060
94	Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, KS	$5,850	Top 50%	79.3%	7,480
95	Louisiana College Pineville, LA	$14,520	Top 20%	73.9%	1,260
96	Indiana University South Bend South Bend, IN	$6,800	Top 30%	57.3%	8,500
97	Richard Stockton College of New Jersey Galloway, NJ	$12,000	Top 5%	57.3%	8,400
98	Winston-Salem State University Salem, MA	$8,050	Top 20%	69.3%	9,400
99	Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma, WA	$36,530	Top 5%	73.6%	3,470
100	Texas State University–San Marcos San Marcos, TX	$9,200	Top 50%	76.6%	34,200

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With over 700 bachelor nursing degree programs offered in the United States, finding and selecting the right program can be a daunting task. It's important that prospective nursing students do their due diligence to determine which programs are a good match for their needs and career ambitions. When selecting a nursing school there are several factors you should consider.

However, before you can decide which nursing school is going to serve your career objective, you have to know what your career objectives are. Do you want to start as a licensed practice nurse (LPN)? If so, you can get started with a diploma or associate degree from an accredited program. However, if you want to launch your career as a registered nurse (RN) you'll want to earn either an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or preferably a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), which will allow you further your education down the road.

Some of the general factors to consider when selecting a nursing program, once you've determined which degree path to pursue, include the following:

Nursing school specialties. Certain schools offer specific degrees and specialties. If your goal is to become a registered nurse, then you'll want to research accredited schools that provide associate and bachelor degree programs that will prepare you to pass the NCLEX exam. If you want to become a nurse practitioner, then you'll want to find schools that offer specific programs in the nursing specialty you're interested in.
Accreditation. Earning your nursing degree at an accredited program will ensure you receive an education that meets industry standards. There are general nursing education accrediting organizations as well as associations that offer nursing accreditation for specialized education programs. Nursing school accrediting organizations include The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), which accredits all levels of nursing education, The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), which accredits only bachelor's and master's level nursing degrees, The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), which accredits nurse anesthesia programs, and The American College of Nurse-Midwives Division of Accreditation (ACNM), which, as its name suggests, accredits midwifery education programs.
NCLEX examination pass-rates. At the end of the day, if you want to become a licensed registered nurse (RN), you have to pass the NCLEX examination. When selecting a nursing program, you'll want to find out what percentage of a school's students typically pass this exam. Ask the school for the past 5 to 10 years of NCLEX exam pass rates of their students. A school with a high pass rate is a good indicator that they prepare their students well.
Tuition. The cost of tuition for attending a nursing program can vary dramatically from school to school. Financial aid and assistance also varies between schools. Attending a more expensive nursing program doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get a better education or higher paying job. The average rate of tuition per semester for full-time instate students is roughly $860 to $1,020.
Clinical rotations. Does the program you're considering provide a substantial amount of clinical rotation time? Do the clinical rotations provide hands-on experience? Are the clinical placements varied? If not, you may want to consider a different program. The best place to find out about the quality of a program's clinical rotations is from previous students.
Size of school. Size doesn't necessarily need to be a determinant in your decision making process–but it is something to consider. Do you prefer smaller schools where you receive more personal attention, or the intellectual stimulation of a larger institution, such as a four-year college or university. There's no right or wrong answer, it's just a matter of personal preference.
Class size. When researching prospective programs, you'll want to find out about the student-to-faculty ratio. The student-to-faculty ratio is a good indicator of how much personalized attention you can expect to receive in the classroom and in clinical instruction. While it doesn't really matter how large the classes are for your prerequisite courses, when it comes to your core nursing courses and clinical rotations, smaller class sizes are better.
Location of school. Location is a factor to consider when selecting any college or university to attend. If location is a factor for you, you'll want to limit your search the region where you want to study. Earning your nursing degree in area where you want to work once you graduate can also be advantageous. You can start your job search while you're still finishing your degree and the school you attend may have established relationships with employers in the area.