2023 Most Popular Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools
Finding the Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree 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.
The Most Popular Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking is one of many tools that Healthcare Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 1,160 schools in the United States to see which ones were the most popular bachelor's degree 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.
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2023 Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Nursing Bachelor's Degree Colleges.
Top 25 Most Popular Schools for a Bachelor's in Nursing
Our analysis found Western Governors University to be the most popular school for nursing students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the United States. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, WGU is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
Of the 10,730 students majoring in nursing at WGU, 11% are male and 89% are female.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from WGU carry an average student debt load of $24,473.
The in-demand bachelor’s degree programs at Chamberlain University - Illinois helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Addison, Chamberlain - Illinois is a private for-profit college with a very large student population.
Women make up 89% of the nursing majors at the school.
Nursing majors at Chamberlain - Illinois take out an average of $37,103 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's 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
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Grand Canyon University is a great place for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit school with a very large student population.
About 89% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 11% are male.
Nursing majors at Grand Canyon University take out an average of $28,120 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $198.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means The University of Texas at Arlington is a great place for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. UT Arlington is a very large public school located in the large city of Arlington.
Women make up 86% of the nursing majors at the school.
On average, nursing graduates from UT Arlington take out $28,521 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $142, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Capella University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Located in the large city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a private for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
Of the 3,199 students majoring in nursing at Capella University, 10% are male and 90% are female.
Nursing majors at Capella University take out an average of $28,936 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
Ohio University - Athens Campus came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking. OHIO Athens is a fairly large public school located in the town of Athens.
About 86% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 14% are male.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from OHIO Athens carry an average student debt load of $30,722. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $180, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #7, Aspen University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Aspen University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Denver.
Women make up 88% of the nursing majors at the school.
On average, nursing graduates from Aspen University take out $33,836 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
West Coast University - Orange County did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #8 on the list. West Coast University - Orange County is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Anaheim.
About 80% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 20% are male.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at West Coast University - Orange County take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $38,539. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $665, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Southern New Hampshire University ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Manchester, SNHU is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
Of the 945 students majoring in nursing at SNHU, 10% are male and 90% are female.
Nursing majors at SNHU take out an average of $32,255 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
National University College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree nursing programs. National University College is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Bayamon.
Of the 919 students majoring in nursing at National University College, 24% are male and 76% are female.
On average, nursing graduates from National University College take out $19,007 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree nursing programs. TTUHSC is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Lubbock.
Women make up 86% of the nursing majors at the school.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at TTUHSC take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $24,106. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $242, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Nursing at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Report
With a ranking of #13, University of Phoenix - Arizona did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the large city of Tempe, UOPX - Arizona is a private for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
Of the 876 students majoring in nursing at UOPX - Arizona, 12% are male and 88% are female.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at UOPX - Arizona take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $30,625.
Read full report on Nursing at University of Phoenix - Arizona
University of North Carolina at Wilmington came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the midsize city of Wilmington, UNCW is a public college with a large student population.
About 90% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 10% are male.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at UNCW take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $23,602. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $212.
Full Nursing at University of North Carolina at Wilmington Report
West Coast University - Los Angeles landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Located in the large city of North Hollywood, West Coast University - Los Angeles is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Women make up 76% of the nursing majors at the school.
Nursing majors at West Coast University - Los Angeles take out an average of $38,539 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $665, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #16, University of Central Florida did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the suburb of Orlando, UCF is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Of the 772 students majoring in nursing at UCF, 12% are male and 88% are female.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at UCF take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $23,351.
Read full report on Nursing at University of Central Florida
With a ranking of #17, West Coast University - Ontario did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the city of Ontario, West Coast University - Ontario is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Women make up 80% of the nursing majors at the school.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from West Coast University - Ontario carry an average student debt load of $38,539. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $665, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
The University of Texas at Tyler came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking. UT Tyler is a moderately-sized public school located in the medium-sized city of Tyler.
Of the 630 students majoring in nursing at UT Tyler, 16% are male and 84% are female.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from UT Tyler carry an average student debt load of $24,673. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $164, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Galen College of Nursing - Louisville ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Galen College of Nursing - Louisville is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Louisville.
Of the 623 students majoring in nursing at Galen College of Nursing - Louisville, 11% are male and 89% are female.
On average, nursing graduates from Galen College of Nursing - Louisville take out $43,752 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $123, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
American Sentinel University ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Aurora, American Sentinel University is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
About 91% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 9% are male.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at American Sentinel University take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $26,198.
With a ranking of #21, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. IUPUI is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Indianapolis.
About 88% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 12% are male.
While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at IUPUI accumulate an average of around $29,663 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $189.
Read full report on Nursing at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Purdue University Northwest did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #22 on the list. Purdue Northwest is a medium-sized public school located in the large suburb of Hammond.
Women make up 85% of the nursing majors at the school.
Nursing majors at Purdue Northwest take out an average of $27,233 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $152.
With a ranking of #23, East Tennessee State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the small city of Johnson City, ETSU is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Women make up 85% of the nursing majors at the school.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from ETSU carry an average student debt load of $26,540. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $176.
Read full report on Nursing at East Tennessee State University
Drexel University ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
About 89% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 11% are male.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Drexel take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $30,671. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $596, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Northern Arizona University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #25 on the list. Located in the small city of Flagstaff, NAU is a public school with a fairly large student population.
About 87% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 13% are male.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from NAU carry an average student debt load of $26,964. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $161.
Rest of the Top 50 Most Popular Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools
Additional Award Winners
This list represents the rest of the schools awarded a Most Popular Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 1160 different United States nursing schools we analyzed.
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 Bachelor's Degree Schools award.
Nursing by Region
View the Most Popular Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
Nursing Related Majors
One of 30 majors within the healthcare area of study, nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.
Nursing Concentrations
Most Popular Related Majors
| 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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