Nursing School Rankings: How to Find Top Nursing Programs
Registered nurse topped ''U.S. News and World Report's'' list of best jobs in 2012. Aspiring nurses can earn a diploma, associate's degree or bachelor's degree in nursing, and those who wish to become advanced practice nurses need to complete at least a master's degree program. Graduates of a nursing program must pass the NCLEX-RN to obtain licensure and become registered nurses.
Leading Nursing Programs
1. Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland
Johns Hopkins University, a research-focused school, opened in 1876. As of 2012, Johns Hopkins was ranked 13th among U.S. News and World Report's National Universities. The Princeton Review named Johns Hopkins as a Best Northeastern College and a Best Value College - Private in 2012.
Johns Hopkins administers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Master's degree students can choose from program options such as health systems management, public health nursing, midwifery, pediatric primary care, geriatric primary care, family primary care and clinical nurse specialist. Nurses can complete the clinical nurse specialist and the health systems management programs online. Students can also consider a Ph.D. or a DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) program.
2. University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia
Founded in 1740 originally as a charity school, the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) became home to the American colonies' first medical school in 1765. Benjamin Franklin played a role in developing the school, and the institution's associated with eleven signers of the U.S. Constitution. U.S. News and World Report ranked Penn fifth on its National Universities list in 2012. The Princeton Review declared Penn as a Best Northeastern College and a Best Value College - Private in 2012.
The University of Pennsylvania offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 18 master's degree programs in nursing and a Ph.D. in nursing. Penn also offers accelerated nursing degree programs, such as the BSN second-degree program, the BSN/MSN program and the BSN/Ph.D. program.
3. Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut
Yale received a school charter in 1701 and a nursing charter in 1923. Yale ranked third on U.S. News and World Report's National Universities ranking in 2012. In addition, Yale was named a Best Northeastern College and a Best Value College - Private, according to The Princeton Review in 2012.
Students can choose from master's and doctoral degree programs in nursing. Nurses pursuing a master's degree program can specialize in pediatric nursing, psychiatric nursing, midwifery, gerontology, advanced practical nursing and nursing management. Doctoral students can choose from such fields of study as health care policy and politics, environmental health, palliative care, chronic illness and community-based interventions. Yale also offers a unique degree program allowing students to complete a joint master's degree in nursing and divinity.
Colleges with Good Nursing Programs
| School Name | Distinction | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Case Western Reserve University | U.S. News ranked graduate nursing school 15th in the nation in 2011 | Cleveland, OH |
| Columbia University | Most long-running, uninterrupted nurse midwifery program in the nation | New York, NY |
| Duke University | Came in seventh in U.S. News ranking of graduate nursing schools in 2011 | Durham, NC |
| Georgetown University | Operates the O'Neill Family Foundation Clinical Simulation Center which allows nurses to practice real-life nursing scenarios | Washington, D.C. |
| Johns Hopkins University | Ranked first on U.S. News' best graduate nursing programs in 2011 | Baltimore, MD |
| University of Iowa | Graduate geriatric nursing program ranked second by U.S. News in 2011 | Iowa City, IA |
| University of North Carolina | First nursing school to institute a nurse practitioner program in 1970 | Chapel Hill, NC |
| University of Pennsylvania | Pediatric nursing graduate program ranked first by U.S. News in 2011 | Philadelphia, PA |
| University of Washington | Encourages nursing students to participate in study-abroad programs | Seattle, WA |
| Yale University | Ranked first on the U.S. News Best Graduate Mental Health Nursing Program in 2011 | New Haven, CT |
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23 Popular Schools
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 21 years of age or older and have completed some college or 24 years of age or older and a high school graduate for a Bachelor's degree
- Masters degree applicants must have a Bachelors degree
- Doctorate degree applicants must have a Masters degree
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Doctorate
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Bachelor
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- BS in Nursing - General
- BS in Health Studies - General
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Master
- Bachelor
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Associate
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- AS in Health Science
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Alabama (1 campus)
- Arkansas (2)
- Arizona (6)
- California (26)
- Colorado (3)
- Columbia (D.C.) (1)
- Florida (6)
- Georgia (5)
- Hawaii (2)
- Idaho (1)
- Indiana (1)
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (2)
- Michigan (2)
- Minnesota (1)
- Missouri (3)
- New Mexico (1)
- Nevada (2)
- Ohio (1)
- Oklahoma (1)
- Oregon (1)
- Pennsylvania (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- Tennessee (2)
- Texas (8)
- Virginia (1)
- Washington (1)
- Wisconsin (1)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
- Doctorate
- Master
- Bachelor
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Associate
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- AA in Health Care Administration
- AA in Health Care Administration - Electronic Health Records
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- Associate of Arts Foundations in Health Care Administration
- Associate of Arts Foundations in Health Care Administration/Medical Records
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- Non-Degree
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Master
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- MS in Nursing - Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- MS in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner
- MBA and MS in Nursing - Leadership in Health Care Systems
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- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
- Currently not accepting applicants from Minnesota or Tennessee
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Master
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- RN to MSN in Nursing - Nurse Administrator
- RN to MSN in Nursing - Nurse Educator
- RN to MSN in Nursing - Nursing Informatics
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- Bachelor
- Associate
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must have either two or more years of college or active military status if you are under 24 years of age
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Doctorate
-
Master
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- BSN in RN-to-BSN/MSN Combined Option (CCNE-accredited)
- MSN in Diabetes Nursing
- MSN in Nurse Educator
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- MSN in Nursing Leadership and Administration
- MSN in RN-to-MSN Diabetes Nursing
- MSN in RN-to-MSN General Nursing
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- Bachelor
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Associate
- Non-Degree
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must live within close proximity to school locations
- Must be graduated from high school by 2011
School locations:
- Arizona (1 campus)
- Florida (1 campus)
- Georgia (1)
- New Jersey (1)
- New York (4)
- Texas (2)
Classroom-Based Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate.
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Master
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- Master of Science - Nursing
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- Master of Science in Education - Allied Health Teaching and Leadership
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Bachelor
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- RN to BSN
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- BS in Health Science
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School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
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Bachelor
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- Bachelor in Nursing
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