Top Undergraduate Nursing Schools in the US
Penn, Michigan, Duke, NYU, and UCLA are the strongest undergraduate nursing programs in the US based on NCLEX outcomes, clinical placement access, and CCNE accreditation.
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Penn is the oldest university-based nursing school in the US, founded in 1886. The BSN curriculum integrates clinical rotations through Penn Medicine from the first year, giving students early access to one of the country’s leading academic medical centers. Penn graduates are consistently among the most recruited by top hospital systems nationally.
University of Michigan School of Nursing
Michigan’s simulation facilities are among the most advanced of any nursing program in the US, allowing students to practise high-acuity scenarios under supervision before entering live clinical settings. Clinical partnerships with Michigan Medicine provide placements across a Level I trauma center and a full academic health system.
Duke University School of Nursing
Duke integrates leadership and evidence-based practice into the BSN curriculum from the first year rather than reserving them for upper-division coursework. Clinical placements at Duke University Hospital give students access to a major academic medical center in the Southeast, and NCLEX first-time pass rates are consistently strong.
New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing
NYU’s location in New York City means clinical placements cover a range of patient populations, hospital systems, and community health settings that most programs outside major metros cannot offer. Students rotate through public, private, and specialty facilities across the five boroughs.
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Nursing
UCLA’s nursing program has a strong public health and community nursing focus, with clinical placements through UCLA Health and partner facilities serving Los Angeles County’s diverse population. Its public health curriculum is one of the most developed of any BSN program on this list.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing
UNC Chapel Hill consistently produces strong NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates and has a community health curriculum built around the UNC Health system. In-state tuition makes it one of the most affordable top-ranked BSN programs in the country.
Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Emory is one of the few undergraduate nursing programs with a structured global health component, giving students the option to complete internationally focused rotations. Clinical partnerships include Emory Healthcare and proximity to CDC headquarters, which shapes the public health curriculum in ways most programs cannot replicate.
Georgetown University School of Nursing
Georgetown’s Jesuit tradition informs a holistic nursing model that emphasises patient-centred care and ethical practice alongside clinical training. The MedStar Health clinical network gives students access to Washington, DC’s major hospital system throughout the program.
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Ohio State University College of Nursing
Ohio State combines strong NCLEX-RN outcomes with a patient-centred care model grounded in evidence-based practice. Clinical placements at the OSU Wexner Medical Center provide access to a large academic health system with Level I trauma designation.
University of Florida College of Nursing
UF College of Nursing offers one of the lowest in-state tuition rates of any program in this guide without significantly reducing clinical access. Clinical placements run through UF Health, the flagship academic health system in northern Florida, with a strong community outreach curriculum.
Top Graduate Nursing Schools in the US
Duke, Penn, and Johns Hopkins lead the graduate nursing rankings in the US, offering the strongest NP, DNP, and PhD outcomes nationally. If you are choosing a BSN program with graduate school in mind, read this section alongside the undergraduate section to identify schools with a clear pipeline from BSN to MSN. If you are already at the application stage, our nursing essay examples show what competitive nursing applications look like across program types.
Duke University School of Nursing
Duke’s graduate programs are built around advanced clinical practice and leadership, with NP tracks across multiple specialties and a DNP program consistently ranked among the top nationally for outcomes-based research.
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Penn offers dual-degree MSN options and NP tracks across multiple specialties. The school’s research output in nursing science is among the highest of any program in the US, and Penn Medicine provides a consistent clinical advantage for students in advanced practice tracks.
Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Emory’s graduate programs focus on global health and healthcare policy, with MSN concentrations in family NP, adult-gerontology NP, and nurse midwifery. Students have access to CDC-affiliated research through faculty partnerships in Atlanta.
University of Michigan School of Nursing
Michigan offers interdisciplinary graduate nursing tracks in nurse practitioner, nurse midwifery, and nursing leadership, supported by Michigan Medicine’s research infrastructure. The PhD program has particular depth in health disparities and population health.
New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing
NYU’s graduate programs specialise in urban health, with clinical placements across New York City’s public and private hospital systems. Specialisations include pediatric NP and adult-gerontology acute care NP.
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Nursing
UCSF is one of the top nursing research institutions in the world, with faculty who have led advances in oncology nursing, HIV and AIDS care, and health equity research. Graduate programs are highly competitive and research-intensive.
Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
Johns Hopkins combines globally recognised research infrastructure with clinical placements at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the US. DNP and PhD graduates are among the most recruited for leadership roles nationally.
Yale School of Nursing
Yale’s graduate nursing programs emphasise research and advanced clinical practice with NP and nurse educator specialisations. Smaller cohorts mean closer faculty mentorship and more direct access to research opportunities than most programs on this list.
Columbia University School of Nursing
Columbia offers a DNP and a PhD in nursing, both supported by clinical placements across New York City’s hospital network. The DNP suits students who want to combine clinical leadership with health systems research.
University of Washington School of Nursing
UW’s graduate programs have deep clinical partnerships with UW Medicine across the Pacific Northwest and particular strength in rural and underserved community health nursing, a differentiator for students planning careers outside major metro areas.
You now have a complete picture of the top undergraduate and graduate nursing programs in the US. The next step for most students is the personal statement, and that is where applications are won or lost. Our nursing school personal statement writing service pairs you with a writer who knows nursing admissions and delivers a complete draft within 24 hours, formatted to your target school’s requirements.
Top Accelerated Nursing Schools in the US
UCSF, Columbia, and Duke are the strongest accelerated nursing programs in the US, offering 12 to 16-month BSN tracks with competitive NCLEX outcomes and clinical placements at major teaching hospitals.
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Nursing
UCSF’s accelerated BSN is one of the most selective in the country. The 12-month program combines rigorous clinical training at UCSF Medical Center with intensive NCLEX preparation. Admission is limited and requirements are strict, so confirm prerequisites before applying.
Columbia University School of Nursing
Columbia’s ABSN provides clinical placements across New York City’s largest hospital systems and combines coursework with leadership development from the start. The 15-month format offers a direct pipeline to Columbia’s own DNP or PhD programs after licensure.
Duke University School of Nursing
Duke’s accelerated program builds on the same leadership-integrated curriculum as its traditional BSN track. The 16-month format balances intensity with enough time to develop clinical confidence, and NCLEX outcomes for accelerated graduates are consistently strong.
University of Michigan School of Nursing
Michigan offers two accelerated BSN tracks depending on prerequisite completion, both with access to Michigan Medicine simulation labs. The flexible program length makes it more accessible than programs with a fixed single-track format.
New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing
NYU’s 15-month ABSN focuses on urban and community health with placements across New York City’s public and private healthcare settings. Strong NCLEX outcomes and proximity to major healthcare employers make it a practical choice for students staying in New York.
Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
At 12 months, Emory’s accelerated program is one of the shortest on this list without sacrificing clinical depth. The global health component gives career changers with international backgrounds a relevant differentiator for applications to international or public health nursing roles after graduation.
Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing
Boston College consistently produces some of the highest NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates of any accelerated program in New England. The 16-month program includes clinical placements across the Boston hospital system, one of the most concentrated clusters of teaching hospitals in the country.
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Penn’s 18-month ABSN is the longest on this list and the most research-integrated. Clinical placements through Penn Medicine include a Level I trauma center and several specialty hospitals, providing a breadth of acuity that shorter accelerated programs cannot match.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing
UNC Chapel Hill’s accelerated program is among the most affordable of the top-ranked options, with in-state tuition for North Carolina residents. The program emphasises NCLEX preparation and provides community clinical rotations alongside hospital placements.
University of Southern California (USC)
USC’s 16-month ABSN gives career changers access to clinical placements at Keck Medical Center and partner facilities across Los Angeles. The program is well-connected to Southern California’s healthcare job market, with strong post-graduation employment rates in the region.
What Criteria Were Used to Rank These Schools?
The schools in this guide were ranked on NCLEX-RN pass rates, clinical placement quality, CCNE accreditation, academic reputation, faculty qualifications, and graduate employability.
- NCLEX-RN pass rates: the most direct measure of how well a program prepares students for licensure. Strong programs consistently exceed the national first-time pass rate average.
- Clinical placement quality: determines the breadth and acuity of patient care experience before graduation. Schools with major teaching hospital partnerships give students access to higher-acuity cases and more varied patient populations.
- Accreditation: every school in this guide is CCNE accredited, the standard recognised by most state boards, graduate programs, and hospital employers. If a program you are considering is not CCNE accredited, verify ACEN accreditation before applying.
- Academic reputation and research output: matters most if you are planning a graduate or doctoral track. Research-active faculty bring current clinical evidence into coursework.
- Faculty qualifications: active clinician-researchers produce better-prepared graduates than teaching-only faculties at comparable institutions.
- Graduate employability: placement rates and alumni network strength within regional and national healthcare systems affect how quickly you find a position after graduation.
How to Choose a Nursing School?
The right nursing school depends more on what you plan to do with your degree than on any composite ranking. Here is a practical framework for narrowing your list.
Choose an Accelerated Program
Accelerated programs are your route. Prioritise program length, prerequisite requirements, and the clinical placement setting. UCSF (12 months), Emory (12 months), and UNC Chapel Hill (12 to 16 months) are the fastest routes to licensure. Columbia and Duke are stronger options if you want a built-in pipeline to graduate study after qualifying.
Start with Graduate Program Rankings
Start with graduate program rankings alongside BSN rankings. Duke, Penn, and Johns Hopkins have the strongest NP and DNP outcomes nationally. Where possible, apply to a BSN program affiliated with a graduate school where you also plan to study, since internal admissions pipelines can simplify the transition.
Prioritise PhD Program Depth and Research-Active Faculty
UCSF, Penn, Johns Hopkins, and Michigan have the deepest PhD programs and the most research-active faculty. Graduate research funding is more available at these schools than at teaching-focused institutions.
Choose UNC Chapel Hill, Ohio State, or University of Florida
UNC Chapel Hill and Ohio State offer in-state tuition at the BSN level that no private program on this list can match. The University of Florida is the strongest option for Florida residents wanting a well-resourced program at low cost. Students choosing based on cost are also strong candidates for financial aid: our scholarship essay writing guide covers how to write a competitive scholarship application.
Choose NYU, Columbia, or Georgetown
NYU, Columbia, and Georgetown place students in urban hospital environments covering more patient populations and specialty settings than programs in smaller markets. For students interested in underserved and rural populations, UW is the strongest option.
Nursing School Comparison at a Glance
The table below shows which of the top nursing schools in the US offer BSN, graduate, and accelerated programs, their accreditor, and the student profile each program suits best.
| School | BSN | Graduate (MSN/DNP/PhD) | Accelerated | Accreditor | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes | Yes (18 mo) | CCNE | Research, NP track |
| Duke University | Yes | Yes | Yes (16 mo) | CCNE | Leadership, DNP |
| UCSF | No | Yes | Yes (12 mo) | CCNE | Research, fast-track |
| Johns Hopkins | No | Yes | No | CCNE | Research, leadership |
| University of Michigan | Yes | Yes | Yes (12 to 18 mo) | CCNE | Simulation, NP |
| NYU Rory Meyers | Yes | Yes | Yes (15 mo) | CCNE | Urban clinical, DNP |
| Emory University | Yes | Yes | Yes (12 mo) | CCNE | Global health, fast-track |
| Columbia University | No | Yes | Yes (15 mo) | CCNE | DNP, NYC clinical access |
| UNC Chapel Hill | Yes | No | Yes (12 to 16 mo) | CCNE | Affordability, NCLEX rates |
| Yale School of Nursing | No | Yes | No | CCNE | Small cohort, research NP |
| Georgetown University | Yes | No | No | CCNE | Holistic model, DC network |
| Ohio State University | Yes | No | No | CCNE | Affordability, NCLEX rates |
| University of Florida | Yes | No | No | CCNE | Affordability, community |
| Boston College | No | No | Yes (16 mo) | CCNE | NCLEX outcomes, Boston |
| USC | No | No | Yes (16 mo) | CCNE | LA job market, fast-track |
You now have a ranked view of the strongest nursing programs in the country across every program type. The harder part is getting in. If your personal statement is next, CollegeEssay.org’s nursing writers specialise in nursing school applications, so give them your target school, your background, and your word count, and they will handle the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions About Top Nursing Schools in the US
