What Is the #1 Nursing School in the US?
There are many nursing schools, but what's the #1 nursing school in the U.S? That's a hard question to answer, so check out the top nursing programs across the country.
Nursing is one of the most popular fields of study and one of the most in-demand career fields in the country. To become a nurse, you'll need to attend a nursing school.
But what's the #1 nursing school in the U.S.? Keep reading to discover the country's top nursing programs.
What Is the #1 Nursing School in the U.S.?
It's nearly impossible to choose the #1 nursing school in the United States because there are hundreds of nursing schools in the country and everyone has different metrics for what they consider best.
However, nursing programs at Duke University and Emory University are consistently ranked as the top schools year after year.
Top Nursing Schools in the U.S.
There are many excellent nursing schools across the United States. We've listed ten of the best below in alphabetical order.
1. Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university in Cleveland, Ohio. It offers nursing programs through its Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) provides students with over 1,000 hours of clinical practice, beginning their first semester.
Students in this program have a five-year pass rate of 94.4% on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nursing (NCLEX-RN).
The university also offers a Master of Nursing degree for new nurses, a Master of Science in nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) for nurse practitioners, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in nursing.
2. Duke University
Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina. Its School of Nursing offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs in nursing.
The BSN program is an accelerated, 16-month program for students who already have a bachelor's degree. The program has a five-year NCLEX-RN pass rate of 92.95%.
At the graduate level, the school offers an MSN degree with nurse practitioner majors and healthcare systems majors, DNP programs, and a Ph.D. in nursing.
3. Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in Atlanta, Georgia. It offers nursing programs through its Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing.
Students can join the BSN program once they've completed their prerequisite general education courses. This program has a four-year pass rate of 90.62% on the NCLEX-RN.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and DNP degrees are available in fields of nursing practice including adult/gerontology, family care, pediatrics, and psychiatric mental health. A DNP in nurse anesthesia and a PhD in nursing are also available.
4. Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private Jesuit research university in Washington, D.C. Its School of Nursing offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs.
The BSN program offers over 850 clinical and lab hours as well as study abroad opportunities. The NCLEX-RN pass rate is typically over 96%.
At the graduate level, the school offers a nursing entry master's program as well as nursing practice master's programs in specialties like family practice and women's health. It also offers a DNP in nurse anesthesia and a Ph.D. in nursing.
5. New York University
New York University is a private research university in New York City. It offers nursing programs through its Rory Meyers College of Nursing.
The BSN is available in a traditional, four-year format or an accelerated format for students who already have bachelor's degrees in other fields. The five-year average for the first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is 89.82%.
The MSN program offers fields like clinical research, family nursing practice, nurse midwifery, and pediatric nursing practice. A DNP is also available, as is a PhD in nursing research and theory development.
6. Ohio State University
The Ohio State University is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. Its College of Nursing offers pre-nursing, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs.
The BSN program takes four years to complete and requires 121 credits, including multiple opportunities for electives. The program typically has a first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate of over 95%.
The MSN program offers nine concentrations, including neonatal nursing practice, family nursing practice, and women's health nursing practice. A DNP, Doctor of Nursing Education (DNE) and Ph.D. in nursing are also available.
7. University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university in Los Angeles, California. It offers multiple nursing programs through its School of Nursing.
In the final year of the BSN program, students get to plan and implement a clinically-based scholarly project designed to improve the system of care provided to patients and their families.
The college has a first-time pass rate average of 91.42% over the last five years.
The MSN program offers four specialties: adult/gerontology acute care, adult/gerontology primary care, family care, and pediatric care. The school also offers a DNP and Ph.D. in nursing.
8. University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Its School of Nursing offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs.
The BSN program offers students more than 1,000 hours of hands-on clinical experience. It boasts a 99% NCLEX-RN pass rate.
The MSN program offers half a dozen nursing practice specialties, as well as a major in leadership, analytics, and innovation. Students can also earn a DNP or a PhD in nursing.
9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs through its School of Nursing.
Multiple pathways are available for the BSN program, including a traditional 4-year pathway, an accelerated pathway for those with bachelor's degrees, and a military pathway.
The first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate has averaged 95.03% over the last five years.
At the master's level, students can major in nursing practice with specialties in adult/gerontology primary care, family care, pediatric primary care, and psychiatric-mental health, or major in healthcare leadership and administration.
A DNP and a PhD in nursing are also available.
10. University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Its school of nursing offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.
The BSN program can be completed as a traditional four-year program, an accelerated program, or a registered nurse to BSN program. The most recent class had an NCLEX-RN pass rate of 97.4%.
The MSN program offers seven specialties, including clinical nurse leader, neonatal nursing practice, and pediatric care. Additionally, students can pursue a DNP or PhD.
Find a Nursing School Today
While it's impossible to pick the #1 nursing school in the U.S., there are many excellent nursing programs across the country. Check out the top-rated programs listed above to find the perfect nursing school for you today.