Best Nursing Schools in the United States

Last updated on January 27th, 2024 at 11:26 am

The Best Nursing Schools Found in the United States.

The United States is in desperate need of skilled nurses. When deciding on a nursing school and degree program to become a registered nurse (RN), the nursing school and degree program you pick will impact your future career. It is critical to evaluate aspects such as reputation, NCLEX pass rate, tuition, acceptance rate, program quality, accreditation, and location while picking the top nursing programs in the United States. 

With approximately 1,000 bachelor programs to choose from, selecting the best of the best is a challenging endeavor.

Continue reading this article to find out more about the best nursing schools in the United States.

Duke University.

The Duke University School of Nursing is a varied community of academics, clinicians, and researchers. They are notable for promoting nursing science in global concerns and supporting academic nursing practice. Duke alumni are educational excellence leaders.

Duke University, widely regarded as one of the world’s premier research institutions, provides some of the best nursing programs. Duke’s School of Nursing only provides one undergraduate nursing degree option: an expedited BSN.

To be eligible for this program, candidates must first have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing. On the other hand, the curriculum takes 16 months to finish, needs just 58 credits, and students must complete 800 hours of clinical practice before graduating.

The program’s outcomes are also quite excellent. Duke alumni are among the top, with annual tuition of $23,241 each semester and an NCLEX Pass Rate of 98.39 percent. At any level, admission to the Duke University School of Nursing is competitive. Duke University has a 19% overall acceptance rate.

Duke University is likely most recognized for its graduate programs, which include several MSN and Ph.D. degrees. Nurses who aspire to become nurse anesthetists should know that Duke has one of the best nurse anesthesia programs in the country.

Georgetown University.

Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., one of the country’s oldest private universities, features a well-established and well-respected nursing department. Students pay $58,503 for a year of tuition. However, the institution has a 100% NCLEX pass rate.

The BSN program is direct admission, which means that current high school students find out if they’ve been accepted before beginning at Georgetown. The overall admittance rate at the university is barely 17%. As a result, it is one of the country’s more selective programs.

BSN students will have completed over 882 hours of clinical practice at sites around Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area by the time they graduate. Georgetown University also has an honors program for BSN students.

Graduate students at Georgetown can also choose from a variety of nursing programs. The university offers an outstanding MSN in nurse-midwifery/health women’s nurse practitioner that takes little more than two years to finish.

Those seeking a DNP can avoid a master’s degree by enrolling in the BSN-DNP programs, accessible in both part-time and full-time formats.

John Hopkins University.

Johns Hopkins University is ranked first in Best Master’s Nursing Schools and second in Best Doctor of Nursing Practice Nursing Schools.

Graduate nursing programs are sometimes accompanied by extensive research, and John Hopkins University is widely regarded as the world’s top research university. The prestigious university does not provide undergraduate nursing degrees, but it does offer an MSN for non-nursing majors.

Anyone with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing subject can pursue the MSN, and graduates do well on the NCLEX. Admission rates are lower than at other colleges due to the large number of applications submitted. Johns Hopkins University has an overall admission rate of 18%.

A year of education costs $58,048, and John Hopkin has a 92.31 percent NCLEX pass rate.

Many nurses pursue a DNP at John Hopkins after earning their MSN and gaining professional experience in clinical settings. The institution offers 13 distinct DNP programs, each of which leads to a different employment conclusion.

New York University.

New York Institution, based in New York City, is a global university with students from 133 different countries. With campuses located in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, students travel from worldwide to pursue a top-tier education.

Annual tuition for full-time undergrad students is $56,500. Nursing students at NYU have various undergraduate choices, including a regular BSN degree, a second-degree transfer BSN, an RN-BSN, and an expedited 15-month BSN. All alternatives produce excellent results, with recent graduates achieving an NCLEX pass rate of 99 percent.

Of course, a top-ranked college has a plethora of excellent graduate programs. Nurses can pursue one of two master’s degrees, a DNP or a Ph.D. Graduate students can additionally specialize in their education.

University of Pennsylvania.

The University of Pennsylvania, founded in 1740, is one of the country’s oldest universities. The institution has an excellent 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio, which is ideal for nursing students seeking individualized education. Only 25-30% of the applicant pool are admitted.

As a nursing student at the University of Pennsylvania, students’ academic experiences are coupled with clinical experiences and strong liberal arts and science backgrounds.

Penn’s BSN students learn in a cutting-edge simulation lab, and they participate in a mentorship program to boost their experience learning. Penn also runs several study-abroad programs for undergraduate students. Tuition for a year begins at $53,166 for undergraduate students. The university, on the other hand, has an NCLEX pass rate of 94.83 percent.

Penn also provides MSN and DNP program, with popular specialties such as nurse-midwifery, nurse anesthesia, and two pediatric care pathways. Additional administrative graduate degrees are available for individuals seeking leadership roles and post-graduate certificate programs for MSN-prepared nurses.

Penn has four outstanding institutions and provides demanding programs. Penn has been a premier research university in a variety of subjects for almost two centuries, as evidenced by the number of patents it receives on a regular basis. It has world-class academic, scientific, and sporting facilities.

University of Michigan.

The University of Michigan, located in the campus town of Ann Arbor, is one of the top places to get an undergraduate degree. The BSN degree builds on over 100 years of nursing education experience at the University of Michigan, and over 13,000 U-M nursing alumni work worldwide.

In-state tuition for upper-division undergrad coursework is $28,317 per year. The university has a 98.95 percent NCLEX pass rate. The institution provides two admission choices for first-year students: direct entry and a sophomore transfer program. The University of Michigan is one of the most challenging public colleges in the United States to get admission to, with an acceptance rate of roughly 23%.

The MSN program at U-M is among the top in the country, with concentrations offered in eight distinct areas. Each of the eight specializations leads to a specific APRN post, and MSN graduates consistently achieve near-perfect pass rates on every exam.

The MSN program integrates instruction at U-Practical M’s Learning Center with clinical placements at several clinical locations around the area. If students choose to further their studies, they can pursue the same courses at the Ph.D. level.

University of California, Los Angeles.

The University of California, Los Angeles, is well-known for generating high-caliber graduates who go on to become leaders in their areas. It is one of the most significant higher education institutions in the West. For entering freshmen, the nursing program has a 2% admission rate. Despite the fact that about 3,000 students sought a position this year, the institution only admitted 51 freshmen and 11 transfers.

Nursing courses in the university’s BSN degree program set the groundwork for either a rewarding nursing profession or the pursuit of a master’s degree.

UCLA’s MSN programs are widely regarded as among the best in the country. Each MSN degree program leads to an APRN specialty while stressing leadership, an excellent mix for nurses wishing to develop their careers. MSN students select a sub-specialty in the discipline after selecting a population specialty.

Annual in-state tuition is $16,545.69, while out-of-state tuition is $46,299.69. The university has a 97.73 percent NCLEX pass rate.

UCLA is a campus that provides practically everything to its students. UCLA features probably the top athletic programs in the country, an ideal campus in Westwood, California, lovely weather, outstanding academics, and a thriving campus community that cares for students and alumni’ present and future needs.

University of Washington.

The University of Washington, located in Seattle, offers various unique perks to nursing students. In-state tuition is $12,076 USD per year.

It is no secret that the nursing program is one of, if not the, most competitive majors at the University of Washington. With an admission rate of roughly 10%, hundreds of students are left dissatisfied, disillusioned, or shattered. However, this difference is resolvable.

All students must complete clinical in dozens of locations around the area, including top-ranked facilities such as Seattle Children’s Hospital. Second, nursing students can choose from innovative programs such as the expedited BSN with early DNP admission, ideal for non-nursing graduates who wish to obtain their doctorate soon.

While the institution offers a regular BSN, there is no MSN option; nevertheless, U.W. offers 11 DNP courses that lead to APRN positions such as pediatric clinical nurse specialist, nurse-midwifery, and adult gerontology acute care.

Most DNP programs last three years, and students finish with more than enough clinical experience to sit for certification examinations. The university has a 94.04 percent NCLEX pass rate.

The University of Washington is a world-class public research university. They are characterized by their unwavering optimism and confidence in possibilities. Graduate students have been discovered to have connections to others, both close and far. They instill a desire in students to face obstacles and make progress.

Emory University.

Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, is a wonderful choice for nursing students at any level. It is home to one of the world’s greatest healthcare systems.

For undergraduate nurses, the prestigious private institution offers three options:

• A direct-entry BSN for current high school students
• A sophomore entrance for present Emory or Oxford College students
• A transfer program for individuals with at least 60 credits

Emory also offers a variety of graduate-level programs for both existing nurses and non-nursing students. The MSN-prelicensure degree leads to R.N. certification, while regional accreditation clearance is still pending.

Full-time undergrad students pay annual tuition of $53,070. Emory’s acceptance rate is 19%, making admissions extremely competitive.

The other authorized MSN programs led to nine other APRN jobs. All MSN programs are full-time and part-time options, allowing nurses to continue working while pursuing their graduate degrees. Emory holds an NCLEX pass rate of 96.26 percent.

Emory nursing students acquire a worldwide perspective through the Lillian Carter Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility’s comprehensive study abroad and travel education possibilities. Emory nursing students can participate in global nursing programs offered by the Lillian Carter Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility, which provide experience working with underprivileged people all around the world.

University of Maryland.

The University of Maryland, located in Baltimore, is a pioneer in innovation and research. Annual in-state tuition for undergrad BSN students is $9,446. In comparison, out-of-state yearly tuition is $38,882.

Every year, the institution educates approximately 41,000 students, and its proximity to Washington, D.C., makes it excellent for nursing students and prospective nurses.

The BSN program at U.M. focuses on nursing leadership and teaches students in cutting-edge facilities. The degree can be completed in as short as two years, but students must first finish two years of introductory courses.
Nurses who want to become APRNs should enroll in one of U.M.’s DNP programs.

Nurse anesthesia, newborn nurse practitioner, and psychiatric mental health nursing are the main specialties for DNPs. The institution also offers various graduate-level nursing degrees that are ideal for nurses interested in leadership, research, or administration positions.

This university has an NCLEX pass rate of 86.67%. The university has a 14 percent admittance rate and a 93 percent graduation rate.

At the University of Maryland, there is something for everyone. The University of Maryland, as a flagship institution, aims to improve every student’s learning experience on several levels! The University of Maryland’s diversity contributes to its vibrant campus culture by drawing students from over 79 countries.

References

2021 Rankings: The 100 Best Nursing Schools in the United States | NursingSchoolsAlmanac.com. (2021). Www.Nursingschoolsalmanac.Com