Best Colleges for Nursing (And How to Get In)
Why Nursing Is a Hot Major Right Now
Nursing is the backbone of U.S. care delivery (and employers continue hiring at scale. BLS shows Registered Nurses (RNs)) $93,600 median; +5% (2024–34) with ~189,000 openings/year, while APRNs (NP/CNM/CRNA), $132,050 median. AACN’s 2024–2025 national survey (published June 2025) reports broad enrollment increases across most program levels (including a +4.9% lift in entry‑level BSN enrollment to 267,889 students), signaling sustained interest and institutional capacity rebuilding.
What’s new for nursing applicants:
- NGN (Next‑Gen) NCLEX remains the licensure standard, pushing schools to expand simulation and clinical judgment training.
- Clinical placements and nurse residency pipelines are key differentiators; review hospital affiliations, preceptor ratios, and new‑grad residency support.
- Graduate pathways (BSN‑to‑DNP; post‑BSN APRN routes) continue expanding, often with hybrid formats and analytics/informatics tracks.
Top 10 Schools for Nursing (with source links)
Based on Niche’s 2026 Nursing rankings (latest as of Oct 2025); cross‑check with QS subject tables.
- University of Pennsylvania
- Duke University
- Emory University
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of Michigan. Ann Arbor
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
- University of Washington
- New York University (NYU)
- Johns Hopkins University
- The Ohio State University
Source: Niche, 2026 Best Colleges for Nursing Cross‑checks: QS 2025 Nursing
Admissions Overview for These Programs
- Academics: biology, chemistry, statistics, anatomy/physiology if offered.
- Clinical readiness: patient‑facing volunteering, CNA/EMT, or hospital internships.
- Licensure path: BSN → NCLEX‑RN; many systems prefer a BSN.
- For APRN goals: plan for graduate education (MSN/DNP) + national certification.
Best Careers You Can Pursue With This Major
- Registered Nurse (BSN/ADN + licensure): hospital, community, ambulatory, telehealth. $93,600 median; +5%.
- APRNs (NP/CNM/CRNA): primary care, anesthesia, women’s health, specialty clinics. $132,050 median.
- Leadership & informatics: clinical nurse leader/manager, educator, quality, health IT.
Where Nursing Grads Work (and Earn)
- Hospitals & health systems: med‑surg, ICU, periop, ED, outpatient.
- Community & public health: FQHCs, schools, home health, long‑term care.
- Specialties: oncology, cardiology, pediatrics, behavioral health.
How to Choose a Nursing Program (Beyond Rankings)
- Clinical placements: number/quality of sites, preceptor ratios, scheduling flexibility.
- Outcomes transparency: NCLEX first‑time pass rates, job offer rates, residencies.
- Learning infrastructure: simulation centers, skills labs, informatics coursework.
- Graduate pathways: BSN‑to‑DNP/APRN options; faculty research strengths.
How GoodGoblin Can Match You to These Schools
- Academic match: align GPA/prereqs to BSN/ABSN/entry‑MSN tracks.
- Program fit: flag clinical affiliations, residencies, and NCLEX outcomes.
- Outcomes & cost: combine College Scorecard with school‑reported metrics.
- Application plan: prereq mapping and licensure timeline.
Final Advice for Future Nursing Majors
- Get patient contact hours early (CNA/EMT/volunteer).
- Sharpen teamwork & documentation.
- Plan continuing education (BSN→MSN/DNP) in high‑demand specialties.
Sources (Quick List)
-
Niche, Best Colleges for Nursing
-
QS 2025, Nursing
-
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (selected):
-
AACN, Enrollment 2024–2025
