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Best Nursing Schools in the U.S. (2026 List)

JD
Julia de RaadtFebruary 1, 2026
outstanding nursing programs

25 Best Nursing Schools in 2026

1. University of Pennsylvania

2. Duke University

3. Johns Hopkins University

4. Emory University

5. University of Michigan

6. Georgetown University

7. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)

9. New York University (NYU)

10. University of Pittsburgh

11. University of Washington

12. University of Iowa

13. University of Wisconsin–Madison

14. University of Texas at Austin

15. Case Western Reserve University

16. University of Virginia (UVA)

17. University of Maryland, Baltimore

18. University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

19. Indiana University Bloomington

20. Boston College Connell School of Nursing

21. Villanova University M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing

22. Rush University

23. Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

24. Columbia University School of Nursing

25. University of Rochester School of Nursing

More Top-Ranked Nursing Schools (26–100)

 School NameLocationNCLEX Pass RateTuition (Average)Acceptance RateAccreditation
26University of FloridaGainesville, FL92%$28,659 (Out-of-state)23%Yes
27Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OH95%$34,989 (Out-of-state)53%Yes
28University of Illinois ChicagoChicago, IL94%$33,508 (Out-of-state)71%Yes
29University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN92%$32,52075%Yes
30University of MiamiMiami, FL91%$57,40019%Yes
31University of KentuckyLexington, KY93%$30,680 (Out-of-state)94%Yes
32University of KansasLawrence, KS91%$28,034 (Out-of-state)93%Yes
33University of ArizonaTucson, AZ90%$35,30787%Yes
34University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA92%$53,47272%Yes
35University of TennesseeKnoxville, TN90%$31,66445%Yes
36University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT94%$39,89455%Yes
37Texas Christian UniversityFort Worth, TX91%$57,99047%Yes
38University of South CarolinaColumbia, SC91%$33,928 (Out-of-state)65%Yes
39University of OklahomaNorman, OK90%$27,06981%Yes
40University of Colorado DenverDenver, CO89%$36,24667%Yes
41University of Massachusetts AmherstAmherst, MA93%$35,472 (Out-of-state)60%Yes
42University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL89%$32,96077%Yes
43Clemson UniversityClemson, SC91%$39,50243%Yes
44Loyola University ChicagoChicago, IL94%$50,26072%Yes
45Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL90%$21,67325%Yes
46George Washington UniversityWashington, D.C.93%$64,23041%Yes
47University of DelawareNewark, DE94%$36,090 (Out-of-state)74%Yes
48Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI90%$40,72687%Yes
49University of MissouriColumbia, MO91%$29,00582%Yes
50DePaul UniversityChicago, IL92%$45,85579%Yes
51University of North FloridaJacksonville, FL91%$23,89071%Yes
52University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT89%$31,84086%Yes
53Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA92%$66,1805%Yes
54University of Nebraska Medical CenterOmaha, NE91%$29,380 (Out-of-state)58%Yes
55Baylor UniversityWaco, TX90%$54,43241%Yes
56Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA91%$57,13681%Yes
57Texas A&M UniversityCollege Station, TX90%$38,96944%Yes
58Creighton UniversityOmaha, NE92%$44,52467%Yes
59Louisiana State UniversityBaton Rouge, LA89%$28,05276%Yes
60Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, WI91%$49,75087%Yes
61Arizona State UniversityTempe, AZ88%$28,33690%Yes
62University of Nevada, Las VegasLas Vegas, NV89%$24,48684%Yes
63University of North Carolina GreensboroGreensboro, NC89%$24,53792%Yes
64University of South FloridaTampa, FL91%$17,32447%Yes
65Gonzaga UniversitySpokane, WA92%$52,09078%Yes
66University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE90%$26,86279%Yes
67Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY90%$28,37544%Yes
68University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR89%$25,16880%Yes
69Xavier UniversityCincinnati, OH89%$44,43083%Yes
70University of HawaiiHonolulu, HI87%$34,21883%Yes
71University of MississippiOxford, MS88%$25,76096%Yes
72University of OregonEugene, OR87%$36,78586%Yes
73University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY88%$28,41078%Yes
74Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilanti, MI89%$29,73684%Yes
75Texas Tech University Health Sciences CenterLubbock, TX88%$25,85069%Yes
76University of Central FloridaOrlando, FL91%$22,46741%Yes
77Illinois State UniversityNormal, IL88%$27,10982%Yes
78Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick, NJ91%$32,18967%Yes
79Seton Hall UniversitySouth Orange, NJ89%$49,90076%Yes
80West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV89%$26,56886%Yes
81University of DenverDenver, CO89%$57,80063%Yes
82University of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NM87%$23,29296%Yes
83Seattle UniversitySeattle, WA89%$52,29082%Yes
84SUNY Downstate Medical CenterBrooklyn, NY88%$19,99046%Yes
85University of WyomingLaramie, WY88%$22,49097%Yes
86University of North DakotaGrand Forks, ND89%$21,56081%Yes
87University of MontanaMissoula, MT87%$27,18093%Yes
88University of South DakotaVermillion, SD88%$24,58093%Yes
89University of ToledoToledo, OH87%$30,79096%Yes
90Appalachian State UniversityBoone, NC88%$22,68080%Yes
91University of HoustonHouston, TX87%$28,81968%Yes
92SUNY BuffaloBuffalo, NY88%$28,70572%Yes
93University of VermontBurlington, VT87%$43,89073%Yes
94University of MemphisMemphis, TN87%$25,37891%Yes
95Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsville, TX88%$21,13084%Yes
96California State University FullertonFullerton, CA88%$18,78060%Yes
97University of Nevada, RenoReno, NV87%$24,47289%Yes
98Wright State UniversityDayton, OH88%$20,49696%Yes
99Missouri State UniversitySpringfield, MO88%$23,50091%Yes
100Old Dominion UniversityNorfolk, VA87%$30,28096%Yes

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