2024 Best Colleges for Registered Nursing

If you’re searching for the best colleges and universities for Registered Nursing, you’re in the right place. Below is a list of all universities in the US offering a Registered Nursing degree or major, along with earnings after graduation, average student loan debt, acceptance rate and more. Read More

We rigorously analyzed a host of variables to determine what colleges and universities offer the best Registered Nursing programs in America. The list includes 1053 programs and you can sort by average salary, debt, acceptance rate and more to hone in on the the best programs for you.

If you’re still wondering whether Registered Nursing is the right field of study for you, check out our guide to majoring in Registered Nursing: what you can do with the major, how much you’ll make, and more.

For the purposes of these rankings we prioritized earnings after graduation 6 years and 10 years out for students that majored in Registered Nursing. Please note that earnings are one metric of success that can be used to judge a Registered Nursing program, but are by no means the best or only option. However, because this variable is provided by the vast majority of universities offering Registered Nursing we used it as the primary method or ordering the best universities for Registered Nursing.

By scrolling all the way through the list you’ll find every college or university that offers a Registered Nursing in America.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Best Universities offering Registered Nursing Majors and Degrees

What is the best university for majoring in Registered Nursing?

California State University-East Bay is the best university for majoring in Registered Nursing based on earnings data. On average, graduates from California State University-East Bay earned an average of $113,585 2 years after graduating.

What is the cheapest university for majoring in Registered Nursing?

Aspen University is the cheapest university for majoring in Registered Nursing based on the Department of Education tuition data. On average, students pay $3,750 to attend Aspen University.

What is the most expensive university for majoring in Registered Nursing?

Columbia University in the City of New York is the most expensive university for majoring in Registered Nursing based on the Department of Education tuition data. On average, students pay $53,000 to attend Columbia University in the City of New York.

Show Less

Sort By:

#1 Best College for Registered Nursing
Average Salary $113,585
Average Debt $17,312
Program Size 397
California State University-East Bay
4 Year
Hayward, CA
California State University-East Bay, located in Hayward, CA has 397 students majoring in Registered Nursing. On average, graduates earn $113,585.
Acceptance Rate 74%
Undergraduates 4,631 students
Tuition $6,564
0
Slide this button to indicate your GPA
4.0
My GPA
#2 Best College for Registered Nursing
Average Salary $111,769
Average Debt $18,663
Program Size 227
San Francisco State University
4 Year
San Francisco, CA
Video Rating
San Francisco State University, located in San Francisco, CA has 227 students majoring in Registered Nursing. On average, graduates earn $111,769.
Acceptance Rate 68%
Undergraduates 7,146 students
Tuition $6,476
0
4.0
My GPA
#3 Best College for Registered Nursing
Average Salary $111,730
Average Debt $19,910
Program Size 870
Samuel Merritt University
4 Year
Oakland, CA
Samuel Merritt University, located in Oakland, CA has 870 students majoring in Registered Nursing. On average, graduates earn $111,730.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 709 students
Tuition N/A
0
4.0
My GPA
#4 Best College for Registered Nursing
Average Salary $110,878
Average Debt N/A
Program Size 9
Stanbridge University
4 Year
Irvine, CA
Stanbridge University, located in Irvine, CA has 9 students majoring in Registered Nursing. On average, graduates earn $110,878.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 71 students
Tuition N/A
0
4.0
My GPA
#5 Best College for Registered Nursing
Average Salary $110,432
Average Debt $15,253
Program Size 139
Sonoma State University
4 Year
Rohnert Park, CA
Sonoma State University, located in Rohnert Park, CA has 139 students majoring in Registered Nursing. On average, graduates earn $110,432.
Acceptance Rate 77%
Undergraduates 2,461 students
Tuition $7,330
0
4.0
My GPA
#6 Best College for Registered Nursing
Average Salary $110,135
Average Debt $10,409
Program Size 71
Pacific College
4 Year
Costa Mesa, CA
Pacific College, located in Costa Mesa, CA has 71 students majoring in Registered Nursing. On average, graduates earn $110,135.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 41 students
Tuition N/A
0
4.0
My GPA
#7 Best College for Registered Nursing
Average Salary $108,495
Average Debt $16,823
Program Size 501
California State University-Sacramento
4 Year
Sacramento, CA
California State University-Sacramento, located in Sacramento, CA has 501 students majoring in Registered Nursing. On average, graduates earn $108,495.
Acceptance Rate 67%
Undergraduates 7,636 students
Tuition $6,872
0
4.0
My GPA
#8 Best College for Registered Nursing
Average Salary $106,421
Average Debt $8,793
Program Size 117
California State University-Monterey Bay
4 Year
Seaside, CA
California State University-Monterey Bay, located in Seaside, CA has 117 students majoring in Registered Nursing. On average, graduates earn $106,421.
Acceptance Rate 49%
Undergraduates 1,895 students
Tuition $6,119
0
4.0
My GPA
#9 Best College for Registered Nursing
Average Salary $106,421
Average Debt $25,482
Program Size 100
Mercy College
4 Year
Dobbs Ferry, NY
Video Rating
N/A
Mercy College, located in Dobbs Ferry, NY has 100 students majoring in Registered Nursing. On average, graduates earn $106,421.
Acceptance Rate 66%
Undergraduates 2,512 students
Tuition $18,076
0
4.0
My GPA
#10 Best College for Registered Nursing
Average Salary $101,815
Average Debt $26,011
Program Size 395
University of San Francisco
4 Year
San Francisco, CA
Video Rating
University of San Francisco, located in San Francisco, CA has 395 students majoring in Registered Nursing. On average, graduates earn $101,815.
Acceptance Rate 64%
Undergraduates 3,307 students
Tuition $42,634
0
4.0
My GPA
#11 Best College for Registered Nursing
Average Salary $101,072
Average Debt $38,477
Program Size 29
Helene Fuld College of Nursing
4 Year
New York, NY
Helene Fuld College of Nursing, located in New York, NY has 29 students majoring in Registered Nursing. On average, graduates earn $101,072.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 18 students
Tuition N/A
0
4.0
My GPA
#12 Best College for Registered Nursing
Average Salary $100,849
Average Debt $18,085
Program Size 73
Fresno Pacific University
4 Year
Fresno, CA
Fresno Pacific University, located in Fresno, CA has 73 students majoring in Registered Nursing. On average, graduates earn $100,849.
Acceptance Rate 63%
Undergraduates 1,223 students
Tuition $27,954
0
4.0
My GPA
#13 Best College for Registered Nursing
Average Salary $100,404
Average Debt $17,227
Program Size 67
CUNY Medgar Evers College
4 Year
Brooklyn, NY
CUNY Medgar Evers College, located in Brooklyn, NY has 67 students majoring in Registered Nursing. On average, graduates earn $100,404.
Acceptance Rate 99%
Undergraduates 558 students
Tuition $6,680
0
4.0
My GPA
#14 Best College for Registered Nursing
Average Salary $100,128
Average Debt $16,540
Program Size 258
University of Providence
4 Year
Great Falls, MT
University of Providence, located in Great Falls, MT has 258 students majoring in Registered Nursing. On average, graduates earn $100,128.
Acceptance Rate N/A
Undergraduates 245 students
Tuition N/A
0
4.0
My GPA
#15 Best College for Registered Nursing
Average Salary $99,447
Average Debt $19,712
Program Size 204
California State University-Stanislaus
4 Year
Turlock, CA
California State University-Stanislaus, located in Turlock, CA has 204 students majoring in Registered Nursing. On average, graduates earn $99,447.
Acceptance Rate 71%
Undergraduates 2,334 students
Tuition $6,704
0
4.0
My GPA
Other Major Rankings
Best Registered Nursing Programs by State
Most Popular Major Rankings