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Most Popular Nursing Schools

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2023 Most Popular Nursing Schools

2,122 Colleges
$70,916 Avg Salary
$25,426 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing School for You

In 2020-2021, 322,592 degrees and certificates were awarded to nursing students, making the major the most popular in the country.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which healthcare program is right for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Healthcare Degree Search has created its Most Popular Nursing Schools ranking. This report analyzed 2,122 schools in the United States to see which ones were the most popular programs for healthcare students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Nursing program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for nursing majors pursuing a .

#1

Western Governors University

Salt Lake City, UT

Our analysis found Western Governors University to be the most popular school for nursing students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Located in the large suburb of Salt Lake City, WGU is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at WGU take out is $21,420.

Read More…

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Chamberlain University - Illinois. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools list. Located in the suburb of Addison, Chamberlain - Illinois is a private for-profit college with a very large student population.

On average, nursing graduates from Chamberlain - Illinois take out $38,460 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $256.

Read full report on Nursing at Chamberlain University - Illinois

#3

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, AZ

Out of the 2,122 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Grand Canyon University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit college with a very large student population.

Nursing majors at Grand Canyon University take out an average of $24,999 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $198.

Full Nursing at Grand Canyon University Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas at Arlington. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Schools list. UT Arlington is a fairly large public school located in the city of Arlington.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from UT Arlington carry an average student debt load of $25,989. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $142, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at The University of Texas at Arlington Report

#6

Capella University

Minneapolis, MN

Capella University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools ranking. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a private for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Capella University accumulate an average of around $27,599 in student debt.

Read More…

Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. OHIO Athens is a very large public school located in the distant town of Athens.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from OHIO Athens carry an average student debt load of $27,632. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $180, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at Ohio University - Athens Campus

#8

Aspen University

Denver, CO

Aspen University ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools list. Aspen University is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in the large city of Denver.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Aspen University accumulate an average of around $35,922 in student debt.

Read More…

#9

Excelsior College

Albany, NY

Excelsior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #9 on the list. Excelsior College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Albany.

Nursing majors at Excelsior College take out an average of $23,176 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Nursing at Excelsior College Report

Maryville University of Saint Louis came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools ranking. Maryville U is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Saint Louis.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Maryville U accumulate an average of around $31,009 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $416.

Full Nursing at Maryville University of Saint Louis Report

Rasmussen University - Florida did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in the city of Ocala, Rasmussen University - Florida is a private for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Rasmussen University - Florida carry an average student debt load of $35,539. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $161.

Read More…

With a ranking of #12, University of South Alabama did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students. Located in the city of Mobile, USA is a public school with a large student population.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from USA carry an average student debt load of $26,429. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $230.

Read full report on Nursing at University of South Alabama

#13

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. Ivy Tech Community College is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Indianapolis.

Nursing majors at Ivy Tech Community College take out an average of $17,979 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Nursing at Ivy Tech Community College Report

University of Phoenix - Arizona came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools ranking. Located in the city of Tempe, UOPX - Arizona is a private for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

Nursing majors at UOPX - Arizona take out an average of $28,204 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Phoenix - Arizona

With a ranking of #15, West Coast University - Orange County did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students. West Coast University - Orange County is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Anaheim.

Nursing majors at West Coast University - Orange County take out an average of $38,146 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $665, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools list. Located in the city of Cincinnati, UC is a public school with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at UC take out is $21,978. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $247.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

#17

Purdue University Global

Indianapolis, IN

Purdue University Global ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools list. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Purdue University Global is a public college with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Purdue University Global take out is $39,595. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $157, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at Purdue University Global Report

#18

Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale.

Nursing majors at Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale take out an average of $38,116 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $151, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Report

University of Alabama at Birmingham did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Birmingham, UAB is a public college with a fairly large student population.

On average, nursing graduates from UAB take out $22,958 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $307.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Alabama at Birmingham

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools ranking. TTUHSC is a moderately-sized public school located in the large city of Lubbock.

Nursing majors at TTUHSC take out an average of $22,250 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $242, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

National University College ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools list. National University College is a very large private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Bayamon.

Nursing majors at National University College take out an average of $14,252 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

Southern New Hampshire University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools ranking. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Manchester, SNHU is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population.

On average, nursing graduates from SNHU take out $31,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Nursing at Southern New Hampshire University Report

University of North Carolina at Wilmington ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools list. Located in the city of Wilmington, UNCW is a public college with a large student population.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from UNCW carry an average student debt load of $21,500. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $212.

Read More…

#24

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Philadelphia, Drexel is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

On average, nursing graduates from Drexel take out $31,000 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $596, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at Drexel University

Frontier Nursing University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #25 on the list. Frontier Nursing University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hyden.

Read More…

#29

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, KY
#30

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, PA
#31

Miami Dade College

Miami, FL
#33

Regis College

Weston, MA
#37

ECPI University

Virginia Beach, VA
#38

West Coast University - Los Angeles

North Hollywood, CA
#42

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN
#43

Simmons University

Boston, MA
#45

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA
#47

Miami Regional University

Miami Springs, FL
#50

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, TX

Additional Award Winners

This section shows the remainder of the schools awarded a Most Popular Nursing Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 2122 different United States nursing schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
51 Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH
52 St Petersburg College Clearwater, FL
53 Azusa Pacific University Azusa, CA
54 Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH
55 New York University New York, NY
56 Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL
57 Texas Woman’s University Denton, TX
58 Purdue University Northwest Hammond, IN
59 Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FL
60 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
61 Jersey College Teterboro, NJ
62 Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY
63 Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio San Antonio, TX
64 The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL
65 Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL
66 Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ
66 The University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, TX
68 Duke University Durham, NC
69 Emory University Atlanta, GA
69 Wilmington University New Castle, DE
71 LIU Post Brookville, NY
71 Adelphi University Garden City, NY
73 Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay Saint Petersburg, FL
74 The University of West Florida Pensacola, FL
75 AmeriTech College - Draper Draper, UT
75 Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ
77 Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI
78 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL
79 Mississippi University for Women Columbus, MS
80 University of Miami Coral Gables, FL
81 University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL
82 University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, CO
82 University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette, LA
84 Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY
85 Oakland University Rochester Hills, MI
86 University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NM
87 Mercy College Dobbs Ferry, NY
88 Florida International University Miami, FL
89 University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE
90 Sacred Heart University Fairfield, CT
91 Northwestern State University of Louisiana Natchitoches, LA
92 Boise State University Boise, ID
93 George Washington University Washington, DC
94 Pikes Peak Community College Colorado Springs, CO
94 Gaston College Dallas, NC
96 Molloy College Rockville Centre, NY
97 East Carolina University Greenville, NC
98 Arizona State University - Skysong Scottsdale, AZ
99 University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC
100 Universidad Metropolitana San Juan, PR
101 Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Boston, MA
102 University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA
103 Augusta University Augusta, GA
104 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
105 Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences Lancaster, PA
105 Jacksonville University Jacksonville, FL
105 University of Massachusetts - Boston Boston, MA
105 Xavier University Cincinnati, OH
109 Oak Point University Chicago, IL
110 University of Michigan - Flint Flint, MI
111 Mount Carmel College of Nursing Columbus, OH
112 United States University San Diego, CA
113 Rasmussen University - Illinois Rockford, IL
114 California State University - Fullerton Fullerton, CA
114 Washington State University Pullman, WA
116 Spring Arbor University Spring Arbor, MI
117 The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, TX
117 Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD
117 The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX
120 Oregon Health & Science University Portland, OR
120 Denver College of Nursing Denver, CO
122 Regis University Denver, CO
123 University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville, AL
124 Florida SouthWestern State College Fort Myers, FL
124 University of Toledo Toledo, OH
126 Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL
127 Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, TN
128 Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN
129 National University La Jolla, CA
130 Delaware Technical Community College - Terry Dover, DE
131 Concordia University, Saint Paul Saint Paul, MN
132 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN
133 Creighton University Omaha, NE
134 Arizona State University - Tempe Tempe, AZ
135 Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FL
135 Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, CO
137 University of Memphis Memphis, TN
138 Marquette University Milwaukee, WI
138 Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College Saint Louis, MO
140 The College of Saint Scholastica Duluth, MN
141 Helene Fuld College of Nursing New York, NY
142 Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg, PA
143 Pace University - New York New York, NY
144 Florida National University - Main Campus Hialeah, FL
145 Valencia College Orlando, FL
145 Rush University Chicago, IL
145 Herzing University - Madison Madison, WI
148 Marian University Indianapolis, IN
149 Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL
150 University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, AR
151 University of Mississippi University, MS
152 Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PA
153 University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI
154 Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA
155 Laboure College Milton, MA
156 University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center Oklahoma City, OK
157 Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA
158 Butler Community College El Dorado, KS
159 Utica College Utica, NY
160 University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA
161 Arkansas State University - Main Campus Jonesboro, AR
161 California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CA
163 University of Missouri - Kansas City Kansas City, MO
164 Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT
165 Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL
165 Austin Community College District Austin, TX
167 Madonna University Livonia, MI
167 Nevada State College Henderson, NV
167 Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, PA
170 Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY
171 University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC
171 South Dakota State University Brookings, SD
173 Columbia Central University - Caguas Caguas, PR
173 Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, TX
175 University of Connecticut Storrs, CT
176 University of Kentucky Lexington, KY
176 Chamberlain University - Georgia Atlanta, GA
178 Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA
179 University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT
180 University of Louisville Louisville, KY
181 Union County College Cranford, NJ
181 Towson University Towson, MD
181 Daytona State College Daytona Beach, FL
184 University of Southern Indiana Evansville, IN
185 University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL
185 Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FL
187 Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland, OH
187 University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI
187 University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, MI
190 Illinois State University Normal, IL
191 Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans New Orleans, LA
192 Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO
193 Mercy College of Health Sciences Des Moines, IA
194 Baylor University Waco, TX
194 California State University - San Marcos San Marcos, CA
194 Holy Family University Philadelphia, PA
197 South Texas College McAllen, TX
197 Georgetown University Washington, DC
197 The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Knoxville, TN
200 Rivier University Nashua, NH
201 Trocaire College Buffalo, NY
201 Lehman College Bronx, NY
203 D’Youville College Buffalo, NY
204 California State University - Sacramento Sacramento, CA
204 University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI
206 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR
206 Rutgers University - Camden Camden, NJ
208 Gwynedd Mercy University Gwynedd Valley, PA
209 Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY
210 Villanova University Villanova, PA
211 Hondros College of Nursing Westerville, OH
211 State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota Bradenton, FL
213 Rockhurst University Kansas City, MO
214 Chamberlain University - Florida Jacksonville, FL
214 South College Knoxville, TN
216 Goodwin College East Hartford, CT
217 MGH Institute of Health Professions Boston, MA
218 St. John Fisher College Rochester, NY
218 Dixie State University Saint George, UT
220 College of Mount Saint Vincent Bronx, NY
220 Seattle University Seattle, WA
222 University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
222 University of Kansas Lawrence, KS
222 University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OH
225 West Coast University - Dallas Dallas, TX
225 Medical University of South Carolina Charleston, SC
227 Columbus State University Columbus, GA
228 Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH
228 University of Florida Gainesville, FL
230 Winston - Salem State University Winston-Salem, NC
230 Santa Fe College Gainesville, FL
230 Tarrant County College District Fort Worth, TX
233 University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VA
234 Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX
234 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI
236 James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA
237 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC
237 University of Iowa Iowa City, IA
239 Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA
239 Roseman University of Health Sciences Henderson, NV
239 Binghamton University Vestal, NY
242 University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO
243 Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MN
244 Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN
244 Bradley University Peoria, IL
244 University of South Carolina - Upstate Spartanburg, SC
247 Montana State University Bozeman, MT
248 Clemson University Clemson, SC
248 St Catherine University Saint Paul, MN
250 West Coast University-Miami Doral, FL
250 Wayne State University Detroit, MI
252 Samford University Birmingham, AL
253 EDP University - San Juan San Juan, PR
254 Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, ID
255 Winona State University Winona, MN
255 Delgado Community College New Orleans, LA
255 University of Rochester Rochester, NY
255 Troy University Troy, AL
259 New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, NY
259 Widener University Chester, PA
261 Pensacola State College Pensacola, FL
261 Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network Boston, MA
263 GateWay Community College Phoenix, AZ
263 Graceland University - Lamoni Lamoni, IA
265 West Virginia University Morgantown, WV
265 Stevenson University Stevenson, MD
267 The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences Cincinnati, OH
268 Cox College Springfield, MO
268 SUNY Delhi Delhi, NY
270 Auburn University Auburn, AL
271 Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL
272 George Mason University Fairfax, VA
273 Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH
274 Pasco-Hernando State College New Port Richey, FL
275 California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson, CA
275 Hunter College New York, NY
277 Albany State University Albany, GA
278 University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WA
279 Marshall University Huntington, WV
279 University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI
281 AdventHealth University Orlando, FL
281 University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, CO
283 Middle Georgia State University Macon, GA
283 Radford University Radford, VA
285 University of Missouri - St Louis Saint Louis, MO
285 University of Nevada - Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV
287 Lewis University Romeoville, IL
288 The College at Brockport Brockport, NY
288 Curry College Milton, MA
288 University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA
291 Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies Fayette, MO
291 Baker College Owosso, MI
291 San Diego State University San Diego, CA
294 University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MD
294 Polk State College Winter Haven, FL
294 Chamberlain University - Texas Houston, TX
294 Houston Baptist University Houston, TX
298 University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, MA
299 Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science Los Angeles, CA
299 California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA
301 Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City, UT
302 Nightingale College Salt Lake City, UT
303 The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX
303 University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO
305 University of Nevada - Reno Reno, NV
305 Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI
305 Fairfield University Fairfield, CT
308 Mercer University Macon, GA
309 California Baptist University Riverside, CA
310 DePaul University Chicago, IL
311 Suffolk County Community College Selden, NY
311 Mercy College of Ohio Toledo, OH
313 Oklahoma City Community College Oklahoma City, OK
313 Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA
313 University of Southern Maine Portland, ME
316 El Paso Community College El Paso, TX
316 Concordia University, Texas Lakeway, TX
316 Union University Jackson, TN
316 Hillsborough Community College Tampa, FL

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Nursing Schools award.

Rank College Location
320 Baptist Health System School of Health Professions San Antonio, TX
321 California University of Pennsylvania California, PA
321 MidAmerica Nazarene University Olathe, KS
323 Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC
323 Southern Adventist University Collegedale, TN
323 Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA
326 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI
326 Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, IN
326 Gonzaga University Spokane, WA
329 Barry University Miami, FL
329 Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH
329 Community College of Rhode Island Warwick, RI
332 San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TX
332 University of North Alabama Florence, AL
334 Loma Linda University Loma Linda, CA
334 Georgia State University Atlanta, GA
336 Benedictine University Lisle, IL
336 Thomas Edison State University Trenton, NJ
336 Viterbo University La Crosse, WI
339 Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais, IL
339 Lamar University Beaumont, TX
341 Washburn University Topeka, KS
342 Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, NC
343 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock, AR
343 North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, ND
345 EDP University - San Sebastian San Sebastian, PR
345 MSU Texas Wichita Falls, TX
345 La Salle University Philadelphia, PA
348 The Graduate Center, CUNY New York, NY
348 Mount Saint Mary’s University Los Angeles, CA
348 Jefferson State Community College Birmingham, AL
348 Clarkson College Omaha, NE
348 Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX
348 Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL
348 San Jose State University San Jose, CA
355 Belmont University Nashville, TN
355 West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PA
355 University of North Georgia Dahlonega, GA
358 Owens Community College Perrysburg, OH
358 Wallace State Community College, Hanceville Hanceville, AL
360 Felician University Lodi, NJ
361 Chamberlain University - New Jersey North Brunswick, NJ
361 University of St Francis Joliet, IL
361 University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN
361 Lewis - Clark State College Lewiston, ID
365 Chamberlain University - Arizona Phoenix, AZ
365 St Paul’s School of Nursing - Staten Island Staten Island, NY
365 Utah Valley University Orem, UT
368 Mesa Community College Mesa, AZ
368 Clarion University of Pennsylvania Clarion, PA
370 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
371 University of West Georgia Carrollton, GA
371 Wagner College Staten Island, NY
371 Southwest Baptist University Bolivar, MO
371 Ball State University Muncie, IN
375 California State University - East Bay Hayward, CA
375 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton, GA
375 Southwestern Oklahoma State University Weatherford, OK
375 Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa Wauwatosa, WI
375 Allen College Waterloo, IA
375 Aurora University Aurora, IL
375 Ursuline College Pepper Pike, OH
382 Wright State University - Main Campus Dayton, OH
382 Tyler Junior College Tyler, TX
384 Delaware County Community College Media, PA
384 St Paul’s School of Nursing - Queens Rego Park, NY
384 University of Saint Francis - Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN
384 John C Calhoun State Community College Tanner, AL
388 Saint Louis Community College Saint Louis, MO
388 Amarillo College Amarillo, TX
388 SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University Brooklyn, NY
388 Tulsa Community College Tulsa, OK
392 El Centro College Dallas, TX
392 Research College of Nursing Kansas City, MO
392 Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, LA
395 Fresno City College Fresno, CA
395 Bevill State Community College Jasper, AL
395 Metropolitan State University Saint Paul, MN
395 Universidad del Turabo Gurabo, PR
399 Northeastern University Boston, MA
399 Henry Ford College Dearborn, MI
401 Rhode Island College Providence, RI
401 University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY
401 Dominican College of Blauvelt Orangeburg, NY
401 Grayson College Denison, TX
405 Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX
405 College of Staten Island CUNY Staten Island, NY
405 Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TN
408 Lansing Community College Lansing, MI
408 HCI College West Palm Beach, FL
408 Fairmont State University Fairmont, WV
408 University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD
412 Pima Community College Tucson, AZ
412 Linfield University - School of Nursing Portland, OR
412 Idaho State University Pocatello, ID
415 Davenport University Grand Rapids, MI
415 Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PA
417 Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay, WI
417 San Antonio College San Antonio, TX
419 University of Central Arkansas Conway, AR
419 College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NV
419 New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich, RI
419 University of Delaware Newark, DE
423 Queens University of Charlotte Charlotte, NC
423 King University Bristol, TN
423 San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA

Nursing by Region

View the Most Popular Nursing Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

One of 30 majors within the healthcare area of study, nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.

Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 266,651
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 16,104
Nursing Administration 9,838
Nursing Practice 7,992
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 5,092
Nursing Science 4,600
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 2,287
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 2,021
Nurse Anesthetist 1,936
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 1,883
Critical Care Nursing 773
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 563
School Nursing 553
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 509
Clinical Nurse Leader 444
Clinical Nurse Specialist 419
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 331
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 181
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing 57
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 53
Palliative Care Nursing 14
Forensic Nursing 14

Related Major Annual Graduates
Health & Medical Administrative Services 89,359
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 84,492
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 84,274
Allied Health Professions 82,308
Public Health 40,596

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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