Best Nursing Colleges 2026

Nursing is one of the few college majors where ranking really matters — not for prestige, but for clinical placement and NCLEX pass rates. The schools below all have CCNE accreditation, NCLEX pass rates above 90%, and strong teaching-hospital partnerships. Beyond the top 10 there are dozens of regionally strong BSN programs; this list focuses on national leaders.

#1
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Penn Nursing is the top-ranked undergraduate nursing program in the US. Direct-admit BSN. Clinical placement at HUP and CHOP is unmatched. Single-digit acceptance.
5.4% acceptance$68,686 in-state$68,686 out-of-stateFull profile →
#2
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
Nursing is graduate-only at JHU — but for those finishing a BSN elsewhere, Hopkins' MSN/DNP programs are the gold standard. (Listed here because it shapes the field even though there's no direct undergrad route.)
6.4% acceptance$65,230 in-state$65,230 out-of-stateFull profile →
#3
Duke University
Durham, NC
Accelerated BSN for second-degree students; competitive. Duke Health system provides clinical rotations across one of the top medical centers in the Southeast.
5.7% acceptance$68,758 in-state$68,758 out-of-stateFull profile →
#4
Emory University
Atlanta, GA
Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. Strong public health crossover, partnerships with the CDC and Emory Healthcare. BSN takes 2 years after pre-nursing coursework.
10.7% acceptance$64,280 in-state$64,280 out-of-stateFull profile →
#5
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
Pre-licensure MSN model — you enter as a graduate student after any bachelor's. Strongest second-career pathway on this list.
5.9% acceptance$67,498 in-state$67,498 out-of-stateFull profile →
#6
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
UCLA School of Nursing has one of the highest NCLEX pass rates in California. Clinical partnerships with Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, a top-10 US hospital.
8.6% acceptance$14,312 in-state$44,830 out-of-stateFull profile →
#7
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA
Consistently top-5 nationally for nursing. UW Medicine partnership for clinicals. Direct-admit BSN — extremely competitive.
39.2% acceptance$12,973 in-state$43,209 out-of-stateFull profile →
#8
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Top NIH-funded nursing school. UPMC clinical placement is one of the largest and most varied in the country. Strong undergraduate research opportunities.
57% acceptance$21,040 in-state$37,482 out-of-stateFull profile →
#9
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
Carolina's BSN is one of the strongest public nursing programs. NCLEX pass rate consistently above 95%. UNC Health partnership feeds direct hiring.
16.8% acceptance$9,021 in-state$38,562 out-of-stateFull profile →
#10
New York University
New York, NY
Rory Meyers College of Nursing. NYC clinical access is unrivaled — Bellevue, NYU Langone, Tisch. Direct-admit and accelerated options.
9.2% acceptance$62,796 in-state$62,796 out-of-stateFull profile →

How we ranked

We weigh NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate, CCNE accreditation, clinical placement quality (which hospitals partner with the school), faculty-to-student ratio in clinicals, and entry options (direct-admit BSN vs upper-division). We don't weigh graduate program rankings — this is an undergrad-focused list.

Last updated: November 2025. Live acceptance rates and tuition pulled from each college's most recent reporting.

Frequently asked

What's the difference between a BSN and an ADN?

BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) is a 4-year degree from a college or university. ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) is a 2-year community college program. Both qualify you to take the NCLEX and become an RN — but most hospitals now require or strongly prefer BSN for new hires, especially Magnet-status hospitals.

How important is the school's NCLEX pass rate?

Critical. Aim for schools with first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates above 90%. The schools on this list are all above 92%. Many lower-ranked nursing programs have pass rates below 80%, meaning a meaningful share of grads don't pass on the first try.

Should I apply to nursing programs as a freshman or transfer in later?

Direct-admit (apply as a freshman) is the surest path — competition for transfer slots is usually much higher. If a school you want is upper-division only (Emory, some UC campuses), plan to ace your pre-nursing prereqs.