Finding the Best Nursing Colleges: A Comprehensive Guide

The path to becoming a nurse demands significant dedication and effort. Given the increasing need for skilled and empathetic nurses, it's crucial to identify nursing programs that offer comprehensive training, accreditation, and a commitment to student success. These programs should prioritize stability and excellence in nursing education. Nursing education and licensure requirements vary by state and degree pathway.

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) can lead to a secure career, a well-compensated position, and opportunities for graduate studies. When evaluating the best nursing schools, factors such as the size of the nursing program relative to the overall institution, NCLEX pass rates, and median earnings within a few years of graduation are crucial.

Top Nursing Programs Across the Nation

Here's an overview of some of the top nursing programs, highlighting their unique strengths and offerings:

Emory University (Atlanta, GA): Emory is a global leader in nursing education and leadership. Emory nursing students spend the first two years of their college careers completing their liberal arts core-at either Emory’s Oxford or Atlanta campus-and at the beginning of their junior year will begin to take classes full-time at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. Emory works in collaboration with 500+ clinical partners to provide students with a multitude of opportunities to earn real-world experience. The institution is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Duke University School of Nursing (Durham, NC): DUSON is not only one of the best nursing schools in the nation, but also a global leader in nursing education, research, and clinical practice. DUSON is one of the top nursing schools engaged in National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded research-it received more than $8.4 million in 2021, positioning the school fifth in the nation in NIH funding. The institution is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Philadelphia, PA): Penn Nursing is highly regarded both nationally and globally. The QS World University Rankings by Subject position UPenn’s nursing program as the best in the world.
University of Michigan School of Nursing (Ann Arbor, MI): The University of Michigan School of Nursing aims to graduate nurses capable of delivering patient care that meets and surpasses the highest standards in health care. University of Michigan nursing students are afforded a variety of opportunities to gain hands-on experience, through both coursework and clinical experience. The institution is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
University of Washington School of Nursing (Seattle, WA): The BSN program at the University of Washington prepares students for professional nursing careers. Over the course of the two-year program, students build essential skills-beginning in the safe environment of the university’s Learning Lab, then in a supervised clinical setting. University of Washington students graduate with more than 1,000 hours of hands-on patient care experience obtained through more than 700 opportunities with partners like Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington Medical Center. The institution is regionally accredited by the None.
Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH): The Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Case Western Reserve University provides students with an experience that blends coursework in theory and practice with hands-on learning in real-world health care settings. Unlike other nursing schools, students at Case Western Reserve begin nursing-program-specific study early in their college careers. Nursing classes begin in the first semester and clinical placements start as early as the first month of the first semester-the earliest start of any program in the nation. The institution is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing (Chicago, IL): The University of Illinois at Chicago’s BSN program is a full-time, two-year program that incorporates face-to-face instruction and hands-on practical learning. To gain admission to the UIC nursing program, students must have already completed 57 credit hours of college-level coursework. Helping UIC stand out from other schools is its M. The institution is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Connell School of Nursing at Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA): Founded in 1947, Boston College’s Connell School of Nursing has been forging compassionate and competent nurses for three-quarters of a century. The curriculum for BSN students at BC combines classroom learning with clinical experiences and includes the study of everything from essentials in nursing to the liberal arts to the natural and social sciences. The BC BSN program is notable for its diversity, with 41% of students identifying as individuals of African, Hispanic, Asian, or Native American descent. The institution is regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing (New York, NY): The NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing is the second-largest private university college of nursing in the country. NYU nursing faculty are high-producing researchers who receive generous funding from private and public sectors (the university is one of the leading recipients of NIH funding). The college is home to both a traditional four-year bachelor’s program, as well as an accelerated 15-month program for students who’ve already earned a bachelor’s degree in another field.
Georgetown University School of Nursing (Washington, D.C.): The BSN program at the Georgetown University School of Nursing is a traditional four-year program infused with the Jesuit values of caring for the whole person-cura personalis-and serving the common good. Georgetown nursing students begin gaining hands-on clinical experience in the first year of study, tally more than 850 clinical hours by the time they graduate, and are able to gain further experience in a field of their choice through their senior nursing practice.
The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing (Austin, TX): The nursing program at UT Austin provides students with a course of study that is both theoretical and practical. The university’s curriculum prepares nursing students to work in a wide variety of clinical settings, or it can serve as a strong foundation in the pursuit of further degrees in the field of nursing. The institution is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
UCLA School of Nursing (Los Angeles, CA): The UCLA School of Nursing BSN program is a traditional four-year program with students starting in their freshman year (although some transfer students are accepted). The program is a UCLA-certified capstone major, which tasks fourth-year students with the planning and implementation of a clinically based scholarly project designed to improve the system of care provided to patients and their families. The institution is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri (Columbia, MO): One factor is the SOHNS’ high 97.4% NCLEX first-time pass rate. Another consideration is the school’s five-story simulation hospital known as S.H.A.R.E., which offers on-site, virtual, and extended-reality simulation opportunities in a variety of clinical, research, and educational settings. The institution is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Simmons University School of Nursing (Boston, MA): Simmons University School of Nurses trains its students to administer skillful, compassionate care through dedicated professors who also practice as nurses. Simmons has close relationships with a variety of renowned teaching hospitals and research facilities-such as Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital-which provides Simmons nursing students with the chance to participate in clinical rotations, attend talks, and pursue research and employment opportunities. The institution is regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Baltimore, MD): Although the University of Maryland, Baltimore Country doesn’t provide a BSN, it remains one of the best nursing schools in the country. UMBC’s Pre-Nursing program allows students to fulfill two years of prerequisites, providing the foundation to attend a two-year nursing program at another institution. The institution is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing (Chapel Hill, NC): The Shanghai Ranking of Academic Subjects positions UNC as the world’s seventh best school for nursing. UNC prepares students for a variety of careers in nursing-from working as a registered nurse to hospital administration to nursing education-as well as preparing them to pass the NCLEX (UNC students have a 98% first-time pass rate). The institution is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences at Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, TX): TCU’s Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences BSN program helps students develop their critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and decision-making skills through work in both the classroom and patient care settings. TCU nursing students gain valuable first-hand experience thanks to the school’s partnerships with regional health care systems and a professional nursing residency during the last semester. The institution is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
University of Florida College of Nursing (Gainesville, FL): The University of Florida (UF) College of Nursing prepares students for careers as nurses through a variety of educational and clinical experiences, as well as access to a wealth of expert nursing faculty and technological resources. The university recently renovated its Thomas M. and Irene B. Kirbo Innovation and Learning Laboratory, which provides students with a safe space to learn skills, take risks, and make mistakes. UF nursing students are able to gain considerable first-hand experience through the university’s partnership with UF Health and UF Health Jacksonville. The institution is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
University of Kentucky College of Nursing (Lexington, KY): Students at the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Nursing graduate with a strong foundation of nursing knowledge built through a combination of classroom, laboratory, and supervised clinical instruction. The university provides a multitude of opportunities to nursing students-it’s home to student organizations such as NSNA (National Student Nurses Association) and the Delta Psi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau (the international nursing honors society). The student-faculty ratio at the UK College of Nursing for undergraduate clinical groups is no more than one-to-eight, helping ensure students receive personalized attention. The college boasts a 97% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX exam and approximately half of its graduating classes have jobs prior to graduation. The institution is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Davis & Henley College of Nursing at Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, CT): Students at Sacred Heart University’s Davis & Henley College of Nursing build the skills and knowledge needed to provide high-quality care to patients in a variety of clinical settings. SHU is home to five state-of-the-art nursing labs and high-fidelity simulation labs, including a 24-bed lab where students build foundational nursing skills. SHU College of Nursing supports global education and provides students with the opportunity to travel and gain hands-on experience in countries such as Jamaica and Guatemala. The institution is regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (West Lafayette, IN): The Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences offers a four-year BSN program that includes three years of clinical placements. Over the course of four years, students are afforded a number of opportunities. The school is home to an abundance of student organizations sure to interest nursing students as well as a variety of experiential learning experiences. The institution is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies (Kansas City, MO): The UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies (SoNHS) BSN program trains responsible and accountable nurses who are able to think critically. There are two primary tracks for BSN students: a traditional four- to five-year program for students without a bachelor’s degree and an accelerated track for students with a degree in a discipline other than nursing. The institution is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
University of Minnesota School of Nursing (Minneapolis, MN): The BSN program at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing offers students a small college experience with the opportunities of a larger university. Thanks to considerable contributions-it ranks in the top 20 schools for NIH funding-University of Minnesota School of Nursing faculty leads innovative research and evidence-based projects with students, interdisciplinary colleagues, community partners, and clinical affairs. Equity and diversity are tenets of a Minnesota college experience and the school has received six consecutive Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Awards from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. The institution is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing (Pittsburgh, PA): The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing provides its BSN students with the knowledge needed to pursue their chosen career paths or succeed in graduate school. Pitt BSN students have the chance to gain firsthand clinical experience in a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, senior citizens centers, and long-term and acute care facilities. During BSN students’ senior year, they participate in a clinical course that provides a transition to clinical practice. The institution is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Seattle University College of Nursing (Seattle, WA): The Seattle University College of Nursing prepares compassionate professionals to serve the health care needs of the community. The BSN program is steeped in the Jesuit tradition and places importance on community outreach and service. The university’s 20,000-square-foot Clinical Lab is a big attraction for students and is equipped with realistic infant, child, and adult patient simulators-providing a safe environment for nursing students to gain experience. The Population Health Internship (PHI) is something that sets the University of Seattle apart from other BSN programs. The institution is regionally accredited by the None.
Elmhurst University Department of Nursing and Health Sciences (Elmhurst, IL): The Elmhurst University Department of Nursing and Health Sciences provides students with the real-world experience and personal mentoring needed to launch a successful nursing career. The institution is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
University of Tennessee (Knoxville, TN): There are a lot of factors that make the University of Tennessee one of the nation’s best nursing schools, like its human patient simulator, clinical practice laboratory, and technology-enhanced classrooms. Tennessee nursing students also acquire personal experience through clinical instruction at major hospitals, community clinics, health departments, and local schools. The institution is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Ohio State College of Nursing (Columbus, OH): The BSN program at the Ohio State College of Nursing is a four-year program that requires a year of prerequisite coursework. The institution is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
UVA School of Nursing (Charlottesville, VA): The UVA School of Nursing offers a traditional four-year BSN that commonly receives students straight from high school. Traditional BSN students can expect to take courses in subjects such as anatomy and physiology, growth and development, pharmacology, pathophysiology, leadership, and nursing practice. UVA nursing students will also conduct research-either individually or as part of a team-as undergraduates. The institution is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Walla Walla School of Nursing (College Place, WA): Walla Walla School of Nursing offers one bachelor’s degree: a BSN. Walla Walla University is a Seventh-Day Adventist institution of higher education and the school takes a faith-based perspective on patient care. Walla Walla nursing students can expect small classes and plenty of opportunities for faculty interaction. In 2021, Walla Walla nursing students had a first-time NCLEX pass rate of 93.54%, significantly better than that year’s national rate of 82.48%. The institution is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Additional Highly-Ranked Nursing Programs

Beyond the top 30, numerous other institutions offer excellent nursing programs. Here are some examples:

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Cedarville University
University of Iowa
Drexel University
Westminster College
University of Cincinnati
Auburn University
George Washington University
Seattle University
Marquette University
Augustana University
Stanbridge University
Ohio University
UCLA
Samford University
Purdue University
Fairfield University
Creighton University
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Binghamton University
University of Miami
Maryville University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Union University
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Ohio State University
University of Wisconsin in Madison
University of Florida
University of San Francisco
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Azusa Pacific University
University of Pittsburgh
Brigham Young University
Point Loma Nazarene University
Texas Christian University
University of Portland
Clemson University
Northeastern University

The Growing Demand for Nurses

The World Health Organization recognized the importance of nurses, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a significant increase in job openings for registered nurses in the coming years. Nurses with a BSN are expected to have better employment opportunities.

Nursing as a Career Path

Nursing offers stability, variety, and the satisfaction of caring for people. It requires an interest in healthcare, medicine, and patient care, along with a desire to help others.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Nursing School

Accreditation: Ensure the program is accredited.
NCLEX Pass Rates: Look for schools with high NCLEX pass rates.
Clinical Opportunities: Consider the availability of hands-on clinical experience.
Faculty: Research the qualifications and experience of the nursing faculty.
Program Options: Determine if the school offers the specific programs you're interested in (e.g., BSN, MSN, DNP).
Location and Cost: Evaluate the location and tuition costs to ensure they fit your needs.

Nursing Programs in North Dakota

North Dakota is projected to see increased growth for RN positions from 2020-2030, making it a compelling state for nurses to consider. Moreover, North Dakota nursing programs produce an above-average NCLEX pass rate.

How to Choose a Nursing Program in North Dakota

Choosing a nursing program can be time-consuming. Applicants should consider a variety of factors depending on their academic and professional goals. To make the selection process easier, prospective students should focus their research on tuition, program length, and financial aid offerings.

Learners should also make sure prospective programs can successfully prepare their students. They can do this by verifying that an institution is accredited and reviewing its average NCLEX scores and graduation rates. These numbers help indicate program quality.

Why Become a Nurse in North Dakota

Becoming a nurse in North Dakota comes with a variety of benefits. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects above-average growth for nursing positions in North Dakota from 2020-2030. This, coupled with North Dakota’s relatively high NCLEX-RN pass rate of 91.6%, makes the state a great location for nurses.

Read also: High School Diploma Jobs

The NLC makes it easier for nurses to qualify for state licensure with minimal paperwork. Nurses with an NLC license also do not have to pay license renewal fees, and they can provide telehealth care to patients across state lines.

Salary and Job Outlook for Nurses in North Dakota

Compared to other states, nurses in North Dakota earn slightly below-average wages. Registered nurses (RNs) earned an average annual salary of $71,200 as of May 2021, and nurse practitioners earned $112,720. These earnings fall below the national averages for each position.

Like most other states, North Dakota should see increased demand for nurses in the coming years. Jobs for registered nurses are projected to increase by 16.5% from 2020-2030. Nurse practitioners can expect a whopping 31.4% job growth in that time frame.

Highest-Paying Cities for Nurses in North Dakota

Nurses in North Dakota earn the highest salaries in the Bismarck (the state’s capital) and Fargo metro areas. Both of these cities are located more toward the southern border of the state, with Bismarck centrally located and Fargo on the eastern state line separating North Dakota from Minnesota.

Top-Paying Cities

Top Paying Metropolitan Areas	Median Salary for RNs
Fargo	$72,650
Bismarck	$70,740

Source: BLS, 2021

Steps to Becoming a Nurse in North Dakota

After fulfilling their academic requirements, undergraduate students need to pass the NCLEX-RN. Graduate students must gain certification through a nationally recognized certification organization in a specialty of their choosing.

Both RNs and APRNs must satisfy continuing education requirements to maintain licensure and continue working as a nurse in North Dakota.

RN Requirements

When becoming an RN in North Dakota, prospective nurses must first graduate from an accredited nursing program recognized by the state board of nursing. Graduates should earn either an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN).

Upon completing their undergraduate program, graduates must pass the NCLEX-RN exam and submit an application for licensure to the state. The application entails a $130 licensing fee.

RNs in North Dakota must renew their license every two years. To qualify for renewal, RNs must complete 12 contact hours within the licensing period and accumulate 400 hours of practice within the last four years. RNs who are pursuing licensure for the first time do not need to complete the contact hours during their first renewal period.

APRN Requirements

To become an APRN in North Dakota, nurses should hold an unencumbered RN license that allows them to practice in the state. They must also earn a master of science in nursing or a doctor of nursing practice and qualify for specialty certification through a national nursing certifying body.

When applying for their license, the application includes a $100 initial licensure fee and a $20 processing fee for applicants who answer “no” to the criminal history check question.

APRNs are obligated to renew their RN and certification licenses every two years. To be eligible for renewal, they must complete 12 contact hours during the renewal period and 400 hours of practice within the last four years. APRNs with prescriptive authority must also complete 15 hours of pharmacotherapy education every two years.

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