Best Colleges for Nursing in 2025–26

30 colleges with strong nursing programs, ranked by size and selectivity.

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, AZ

78.9% acceptance$17,850 in-state

Ohio State University

Columbus, OH

53% acceptance$12,485 in-state

University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL

40.1% acceptance$6,368 in-state

Rutgers University

New Brunswick, NJ

66% acceptance$16,592 in-state

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA

99% acceptance$22,465 in-state

University of Cincinnati

Cincinnati, OH

76% acceptance$13,424 in-state

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH

60.6% acceptance$13,244 in-state

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, GA

69.2% acceptance$5,808 in-state

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA

90.5% acceptance$7,470 in-state

University of South Florida

Tampa, FL

43.2% acceptance$6,410 in-state

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA

46.3% acceptance$7,350 in-state

University of South Carolina

Columbia, SC

68% acceptance$13,178 in-state

University of Tennessee

Knoxville, TN

78% acceptance$13,264 in-state

The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL

76.7% acceptance$12,180 in-state

Northern Virginia Community College

Annandale, VA

$5,891 in-state

The University of Texas at Arlington

Arlington, TX

79.9% acceptance$11,950 in-state

University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

Cincinnati, OH

85.3% acceptance$13,976 in-state

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Edinburg, TX

94.2% acceptance$9,987 in-state

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA

94% acceptance$8,018 in-state

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA

84.6% acceptance$8,410 in-state

SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY

49% acceptance$10,556 in-state

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY

92.9% acceptance$13,502 in-state

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, AZ

89.6% acceptance$13,009 in-state

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA

83.6% acceptance$11,283 in-state

University of Illinois Chicago

Chicago, IL

77.4% acceptance$14,338 in-state

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA

95.3% acceptance$7,350 in-state

Washington State University

Pullman, WA

86.6% acceptance$13,391 in-state

The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX

99.9% acceptance$9,744 in-state

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA

71.5% acceptance$14,250 in-state

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY

74.2% acceptance$10,936 in-state

How to choose a nursing program

Accreditation matters most — look for CCNE or ACEN accredited programs. Check NCLEX pass rates (above 90% is strong). Consider whether you want a traditional BSN or an accelerated program. Clinical placement quality and hospital partnerships are crucial.

Common career paths for nursing graduates

Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Anesthetist, Public Health Nurse

Scholarships for nursing students

There are scholarships specifically for students studying nursing. Search our database to find awards you qualify for.

Find nursing scholarships →
Compare collegesCheck your chancesNet price calculatorBrowse all colleges

KidToCollege is free to use and editorially independent. Data sourced from public records including IPEDS, Common Data Sets, College Board and FAFSA.gov. Always verify deadlines and requirements directly with institutions. Not a guarantee of admission or financial aid.