What are the best schools for a nursing degree?
The best schools for nursing are the well-equipped schools that prepare students to graduate as registered nurses (RN) or Bachelor of Science, Nursing (BSN).
Thinking about how you can start a career as a registered nurse (RN)?
The nursing school and degree program you select play a major role in your future career.
Of recent, the United States requires qualified nurses to boost their health care system.
A report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts the number of nursing jobs to rise by 12 percent from 2018-2028.
This figure grows rapidly than the national average.
Top 10 Best Schools for Nursing Degree in 2022
We’ve carefully researched the best schools to achieve your dream career of being a registered nurse (RN). They include the following:
1. University of Michigan
You can undertake an undergraduate program at the University of Michigan.
It is situated in the college town of Ann Arbor.
The BSN degree has over 100 years of nursing education experience.
And about 13,000+ U-M nursing alumni ply their trade around the globe.
The University of Michigan has two options for admission: a sophomore transfer program and a direct entry admission for first-year students.
Its MSN program is one of the best schools for nursing and comprises eight different fields.
All eight specialties have their distinct APRN position.
And most MSN graduates tend to have a near-perfect pass rate on annual examinations set by the board.
MSN students are provided with practical experiences in U-M’s Clinical Learning Center with several clinical sites across the area.
You may proceed for a doctorate program in the same field upon graduation with an MSN.
Annual Tuition (In-State students): $7,779 and Out-of-State Tuition: $25,600
- NCLEX Pass Rate: 98.95 Percent
- Traditional Learning: Yes
- Online Learning: Yes
- Accelerated: No
- Bridge: No
Read Also: Best Nursing Schools In Europe-University Rankings 2022
2. University of California, Los Angeles
This university is recognized as one of the best institutions of higher learning in the West.
University of California Los Angeles produces intellectual graduates who are masters in their various specializations.
Its BSN degree program enables you to enjoy a fulfilling nursing career.
And you can choose to further your education and obtain a master’s degree.
UCLA’s MSN programs are among the best schools for a nursing degree.
All MSN specialties have their distinct APRN position.
After choosing a clinical specialty, MSN students then pick a sub-specialty in the field and study.
The University of California Los Angeles also undertakes a DNP program that takes two years to complete.
And it’s usually in a hybrid format.
Annual Tuition (In-State students): $13,239 and Out-of-State Tuition: $42,993
- NCLEX Pass Rate: 97.73 Percent
- Traditional Learning: Yes
- Online Learning: No
- Accelerated: No
- Bridge: No
3. University of Washington
It’s situated in Seattle and UW has numerous benefits for all nursing students.
Here, all students are asked to complete clinical at several places across the region, not excluding high-ranked hospitals like Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Also, each student can choose enriching courses like the accelerated BSN with early admission in DNP.
This is suitable for non-nursing graduates who are eager to obtain their doctoral degrees ASAP.
Although UW has a traditional BSN, it doesn’t have an MSN program.
This university has 11 DNP specialties that lead to APRN roles like nurse-midwifery, pediatric clinical nurse specialist, and adult gerontology acute care.
The duration of its DNP program is three years.
And students tend to gain more clinical experience that can help them pass their certification exams in a sitting.
Annual Tuition (In-State students): $11,465 and Out-of-State Tuition: $38,166
- NCLEX Pass Rate: 94.04 Percent
- Traditional Learning: Yes
- Online Learning: No
- Accelerated: Yes
- Bridge: No
4. University of Maryland
UM is a prestigious university that thrives in research and innovation.
It is situated in Baltimore.
The University of Maryland can accommodate 41,000 students annually.
Nursing students are taught in campuses closer to Washington D.C. and other major cities.
University of Maryland’s BSN program talks more about nursing leadership.
And the state-of-the-art facilities are used to provide students with practical experiences.
Students need to complete introductory courses for two years before undergoing another two years to obtain a BSN degree.
Prospective nurses vying for APRNs will have to undertake UM’s DNP programs.
Specialties like neonatal nurse practitioner, nurse anesthesia, and psychiatric mental health nursing are studied in its DNP programs.
UM has several graduate-level nursing degrees for nurses who have a passion for research, leadership, or administrative roles.
Annual Tuition (In-State students): $10,819 and Out-of-State Tuition: $38,886
- NCLEX Pass Rate: 86.67 Percent
- Traditional Learning: Yes
- Online Learning: Yes
- Accelerated: No
- Bridge: No
5. New York University
Located in New York City, NYU is a prestigious university with students from 133 countries in the world.
It also has campuses in Shanghai and Abu Dhabi.
Undergraduate nursing students in NYU are provided with options in a traditional BSN degree, second-degree transfer BSN, RN-BSN, and accelerated 15-month BSN program.
All categories produce excellent outcomes with current graduates securing a 99 percent NCLEX pass rate.
Since New York University is a highly ranked university, it has numerous graduate programs.
It’s one of the best schools for nursing professionals.
Nurses can make choices from any of these master’s programs.
A Ph.D. or a DNP graduate student has several fields to specialize in.
- Annual Tuition: $53,308
- NCLEX Pass Rate: 89.8 Percent
- Traditional Learning: Yes
- Online Learning: No
- Accelerated: Yes
- Bridge: No
6. John Hopkins University
Graduate nursing programs are associated with numerous research.
And this makes John Hopkins University the best university in the world with intensive research programs.
This prestigious university doesn’t offer undergraduate programs in nursing but it has MSN for non-nursing majors.
Individuals who must have completed a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field can apply for admission into the MSN program.
Most of its graduates perform excellently well in their NCLEX annual exams.
Upon completion of an MSN program and enjoying practical experiences in clinical settings.
Most nurses can proceed to earn a DNP at John Hopkins University.
The university offers 13 different DNP options where you can earn a specific career.
- Annual Tuition: $55,350
- NCLEX Pass Rate: 92.31 Percent
- Traditional Learning: No
- Online Learning: Yes
- Accelerated: No
- Bridge: No
Read Also: Cheapest Masters Degree In The USA
7. Georgetown University
Located in Washington, D.C. and it’s the oldest private university in the country.
It is one of the best schools for nursing and has a high reputation.
High school students can only enroll in the BSN program through direct entry.
Upon completion of the program, all BSN graduates must have done 850 hours of clinical experience at sites across Washington, D.C., and the surrounding vicinity.
Georgetown University makes provision for honor degrees for BSN students.
You can enjoy quality nurse-midwifery/women’s health nurse practitioner in the Georgetown graduate program.
It takes a minimum of two years to earn an MSN degree.
If you prefer a DNP, you can enroll in the BSN-DNP program instead of enrolling in a master’s program.
Its BSN-DNP program is available part-time and full-time.
- Annual Tuition: $58,503
- NCLEX Pass Rate: 100 Percent
- Traditional Learning: Yes
- Online Learning: Yes
- Accelerated: No
- Bridge: No
8. University of Pennsylvania
Established in 1740 and it’s one of the oldest institutions in the country.
The University of Pennsylvania has an excellent student-to-faculty ratio (6:1) and it’s ideal for prospective nursing students.
It’s one of the best schools for nursing programs in the USA.
UP’s BSN students use the state-of-art simulation lab for practical experiences.
This university also offers various study abroad programs for students pursuing undergraduate programs.
The University of Pennsylvania has MSN and DNP programs for graduate students with main specializations like nurse anesthesia, nurse-midwifery, two pediatric care routes.
People who love leadership roles can enroll in the administrative graduate program.
- Annual Tuition: $57,770
- NCLEX Pass Rate: 94.83 Percent
- Traditional Learning: Yes
- Online Learning: Yes
- Accelerated: Yes
- Bridge: No
9. Duke University
This university is recognized as one of the best schools for nursing programs.
They are research-oriented.
There is only one degree choice for students pursuing undergraduate programs which is the accelerated BSN course.
Before enrollment, students have to first complete a non-nursing bachelor’s program.
You’re required to complete the 58 credit units to earn the non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
Nursing students undergoing this program enjoy 800 hours of practical clinical experiences before graduating.
The program has excellent outcomes.
Duke University is best recognized for graduate programs like multiple MSN and doctoral programs.
If you love nurse anesthesia, then Duke is the best place for study.
- Annual Tuition: $60,408
- NCLEX Pass Rate: 98.39 Percent
- Traditional Learning: Yes
- Online Learning: Yes
- Accelerated: Yes
- Bridge: No
10. Emory University
Located in Georgia and provides excellent nursing programs at any level.
Emory University of Atlanta, Georgia is one of the best health care systems in the world.
Emory University has three specializations for undergraduate nurses.
This includes the direct-entry program for recent high school students.
A sophomore entry for recent Emory or Oxford College students, and a transfer program with people having a minimum of 60 credits.
It’s home to different graduate-level programs for recent nurses and non-nursing students.
Students with an MSN-pre licensure degree can earn an RN certification, but the program is still to be fully accredited.
Others MSN programs are fully accredited and give rise to different 9 APRN positions.
Its MSN program is available part-time and full-time respectively.
- Annual Tuition: $53,070
- NCLEX Pass Rate: 96.26 Percent
- Traditional Learning: Yes
- Online Learning: No
- Accelerated: Yes
- Bridge: No
Others Best Schools for Nursing Degree
The following schools are superb in the nursing program but came close to our top 10 list:
- University of Illinois, Chicago
- University of Texas (Austin, Texas)
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut
The following schools lost out on our top 10 rankings, but they’re still superb:
- The University of Illinois in Chicago
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of Texas (Austin, Texas)
- Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut)
- Boston College (Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts)
- Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio
- Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana)
- University of Florida (Gainesville, Florida)
- Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio)
- University of Pittsburgh
Final Thought on Best Schools for Nursing Degree
We’ve also outlined some colleges that offer RN-BSN online programs that may interest you. They include:
Walden University, Minneapolis, MN
Its RN-BSN online programs offer a quality standard of learning as all teaching staffs possess a doctorate degree.
Walden University, Minneapolis is being accredited by CCNE.
Admission is open to all except RI, NY, OR, OK, ID, NH, AK, SD, and MA
Capella University, Minneapolis, MN
RN-BSN online degree program at Capella University is suitable for working nurses. People prefer using FlexPath for study in their online nursing program.
This helps them complete their tasks with ease and also regulate their own deadlines.
Individuals using FlexPath tend to complete their RN-BSN program in 36 weeks.
Its study cost depends on transfer credits and how fast you’re able to assimilate the course works.
Capella’s online RN-BSN program is accredited by CCNE and enrollment is open to all students.
Purdue University Global, West Lafayette, Indiana
They provide a rapid and more affordable way to achieve your dreams of becoming a nurse.
Purdue University Global isn’t expensive as you can enjoy your nursing program at a low cost.
This university is accredited by CCNE and has an 81 percent rate in NCLEX. Purdue University Global accepts enrolment from all students except IL, IA, and WI.
Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Arizona
Its RN-to-BSN program is suitable for working RN’s.
At GCU, you can obtain a BSN degree within 12 months with a maximum of 90 credit units.
In GCU’s online program, you can study in your leisure time.
And also enjoy healthy relationships with your colleagues and instructors through an online forum.
GCU is being accredited by CCNE and accepts students nationwide.
Students can also study Bachelor of Science in Public Health at this university.
Having known these top 10 best schools for nursing degrees in the US, why delay in achieving your dream career?
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