2024 Rankings: The 100 Best Public Nursing Schools in the United States

Over the past decade, the UCSF School of Nursing has received more research funding from the National Institutes of Health than any other nursing school. The university’s master of science in nursing program offers more than a dozen tracks, including several clinical nurse specialist and nurse practitioner roles. In addition, UCSF conducts a master’s entry program in nursing (MEPN) which prepares non-nurses for initial licensure. MEPN graduates have achieved an outstanding 94% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination over the past decade. The university also offers an online master of science in healthcare administration and interprofessional leadership (MS-HAIL), a doctor of nursing practice degree, and PhD tracks in both nursing and sociology.

The University of Washington School of Nursing has been a top-rated nursing school by U.S. News & World Report for twenty years. UW offers the full breadth of nursing degrees: traditional and accelerated BSN programs, an MS in clinical informatics and patient-centered technologies, a PhD in nursing science, and 11 DNP tracks. Students can also pursue graduate certificates in areas ranging from palliative care to nurse-midwifery. UW’s graduating BSN class of 130-150 students annually has passed the NCLEX exam at a strong 93% first-try rate over the past decade.

The LSU Health School of Nursing is an NLN Center of Excellence for promoting the pedagogical expertise of faculty. Undergraduate students can select from a traditional four-year BSN, an RN-to-BSN degree completion program, and the Career Alternative RN Education (CARE) pathway. The CARE BSN is designed for individuals who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. The university’s prelicensure BSN students have averaged a 97% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade; indeed, the pass rate consistently exceeded 95% in every single year. At the graduate level, LSU Health offers two MSN specializations (clinical nurse leader, nurse educator), an impressive 11 distinct DNP concentrations, and the unique Doctor of Nursing Science degree program.

The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) currently enrolls nearly 2,000 nursing students. The university has received a top-ten ranking from U.S. News & World Report in at least ten different nursing specialty areas. UMSON also places #13 in NIH nursing research funding over the past decade. The school graduates approximately 300 prelicensure BSN students and another 100 direct entry MSN students annually. These individuals have passed the NCLEX exam at an impressive 89% first-attempt rate over the past decade. UMSON has 154 faculty members (136 of whom are fulltime), engages with more than 700 faculty associates and clinical preceptors, and offers students access to four organized research centers.

The University of Michigan School of Nursing (UMSN) offers the #8 MSN program and the #14 DNP program in the country according to U.S. News & World Report. The school’s nursing administration, adult-gerontology nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, and nursing informatics specialties are all ranked in the top ten nationally. At the undergraduate level, BSN students have achieved strong NCLEX pass rates, as high as 97% in some recent quarters. In addition to a wide range of nursing courses, the school provides innovative opportunities like its Global Health Concentration. Students benefit from state-of-the-art clinical simulation labs and partnerships with some of the best preceptors in the country.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) is located in the renowned Texas Medical Center. The School of Nursing offers bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), master of science in nursing (MSN), doctor of philosophy in nursing (PhD), and doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degrees. UTHealth currently enrolls more than 1,000 nursing students, and it confers over 400 undergraduate and graduate nursing degrees annually. BSN students have earned a National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) pass rate of 96% for the past decade.

The UF College of Nursing is home to Florida’s oldest doctoral nursing program. The university also launched the state’s first nurse practitioner program and its first BSN-to-PhD track. Currently, the University of Florida offers BSN, ABSN, and RN-to-BSN programs to approximately 700 undergraduate students. Graduates of the BSN program have passed the NCLEX-RN exam at a remarkable 93% first-time rate over the past decade. The College of Nursing also educates approximately 300 graduate nursing students, providing BSN and MSN entry points to both its DNP and PhD programs. Specialty tracks are offered in five nurse practitioner fields.

The UCLA School of Nursing has earned numerous national accolades. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks the school among the top 25 nationwide for graduate nursing studies. UCLA is also ranked #12 in NIH research funding for nursing schools over the past decade. Approximately 600 nursing students are enrolled across the university’s BSN, MSN, and PhD programs. The MSN program offers a direct-entry track for non-nurses which leads to CNL certification, as well as numerous advanced practice tracks in various NP and CNS specialties. UCLA students are well-prepared for licensure: the school’s BSN graduates have achieved an 87% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past decade, while direct-entry MSN candidates have scored an 89% first-time NCLEX pass rate.

East Carolina University has garnered four consecutive Center of Excellence designations from the National League for Nursing. The ECU College of Nursing offers traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, and RN-to-BSN pathways, plus the innovative Eastern North Carolina Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses program. This initiative dually admits students to ECU and one of six local community colleges that partner with the university. The College of Nursing graduates approximately 250 prelicensure BSN students each year, with a phenomenal 97% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past seven years. ECU also offers a breadth of graduate nursing options including MSN, DNP, and PhD programs.

The UTMB School of Nursing is frequently ranked among the top twenty-five online graduate nursing programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report. In-person nursing students have access to the university’s new Health Education Center, which features a 77-bed simulated hospital and five floors of cutting-edge simulation facilities. The school’s prelicensure BSN program graduates more than 300 students annually, with a phenomenal 98% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past four years. UTMB also leads RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP, and PhD programs. Seven MSN tracks are available including clinical nurse leader, family nurse practitioner, neonatal nurse practitioner, and nurse educator. The university’s online DNP program is designed for working nurses, with eight semesters of study and a manageable load of just two courses per semester.

The UT Austin School of Nursing is consistently ranked among the top 25 in the nation for its graduate nursing programs by U.S. News & World Report. The school also ranks among the top 25 universities in nursing research funding by the National Institutes of Health. UT Austin enrolls approximately 800 students across a wealth of nursing programs, including traditional BSN, ADN-to-BSN, traditional and alternate-entry MSN, traditional and alternate-entry PhD, and DNP options. The school produces approximately 120 prelicensure BSN and 60 prelicensure MSN graduates annually. BSN students have passed the NCLEX licensure exam at a 94% first-try rate over the past decade, while MSN graduates have averaged a 95% rate over the same timeframe.

Founded in 1942, UConn’s School of Nursing is the only research-focused nursing university in New England. The school has earned an NLN Center of Excellence designation and ranks among the top twenty public universities in the United States. Moreover, its Homer D. Babbidge Library is considered among the nation’s thirty best research resources, housing over 2.5 million volumes in its ever-expanding database. The School of Nursing provides bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. UConn graduates over 200 students each year from its BSN programs, which include a traditional four-year offering on the Storrs campus and accelerated pathways in four cities. Collectively, these BSN students have achieved a strong NCLEX pass rate of 93% over the past decade.

Established in 1924, the UW Madison School of Nursing enrolls more than 1,000 students across its undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. The school graduates approximately 150 prelicensure BSN students annually, who have averaged a stellar NCLEX pass rate of 98% over the past three years. Graduate students can pursue either type of doctoral degree (DNP, PhD) as well as four certificate programs (clinical nurse specialist, nurse educator, psychiatric mental health, school nursing). The school’s new Signe Skott Cooper Hall has state-of-the-art simulation labs and research facilities. Adjacent is the Health Sciences Learning Center that brings students together across the disciplines of nursing, medicine, and pharmacy. Nursing students also have access to leading facilities in Madison for their clinical practice and research.

The University of Virginia School of Nursing was recently ranked among the top four percent of nursing schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers an impressive breadth of program options including prelicensure BSN, RN-to-BSN, seven distinct MSN tracks, two DNP entry points, and a PhD in nursing science. UVA graduates a prelicensure BSN class of approximately 90 students each spring. These candidates have averaged a 91% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure examination over the past decade. UVA’s direct-entry clinical nurse leader students have performed even better on the licensure exam, with a 93% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. Several recent CNL cohorts have scored a perfect 100% pass rate.

The University of Kansas School of Nursing has twice been designated an NLN Center of Excellence for enhancing student learning and professional development. The university also ranks among the top 25 public nursing schools nationwide in terms of National Institutes of Health research funding. KU School of Nursing offers a notable breadth of programs including advanced practice clinical, leadership, and nurse educator certificates; traditional BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, and DNP degrees; and a PhD program in nursing, the only one of its kind in the region. Traditional BSN graduates have averaged a strong 91% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam over the past decade.

UMass Medical School is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the leading medical schools in the nation for primary care education. UMMS’s graduate school of nursing, accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, offers master’s degrees, post-master’s certificates, and doctoral degrees. It stands out as the only publicly funded nursing school in the commonwealth with a sole focus on graduate education. It is no surprise, then, that their direct entry MSN program has boasted an exceptional NCLEX pass rate of 94% over the past decade.

The College of Nursing at the University of Iowa is a Big Ten nursing school, hailed as a national leader in gerontology, nursing service administration, pediatric nursing practice, and nurse anesthesia. Indeed, the university frequently receives top-ten national rankings in all four of these specializations. UI College of Nursing offers a full slate of graduate programs including DNP and PhD degrees, seven different post-graduate certificates, and an MSN with clinical nurse leader focus. At the undergraduate level, the college produces approximately 130 BSN candidates annually. These students have passed the NCLEX licensure examination at a rate of 94-98% an amazing seven years in a row.

In 1965, the University of Colorado (CU) College of Nursing instituted the first nurse practitioner and school nurse programs in the United States. In 2005, the college became one of the first seven schools in the nation to launch the new DNP program. Today, the College of Nursing enrolls approximately 1,000 students across a wide breadth of nursing degree and certificate programs. Undergraduates can pursue five BSN pathways: traditional, honors, accelerated, an integrated community college partnership, and RN-to-BSN. For an astonishing twelve years in a row, the college’s 200-plus annual BSN graduates have passed the NCLEX exam at a 91% or higher rate. At the graduate level, CU offers eleven MSN specialty tracks, a distance-accessible PhD program, a DNP degree with a public health nursing (PHN) focus, and a dual DNP/MPH track.

Founded 50 years ago, University of Delaware’s School of Nursing is focused on increasing the cultural and ethnic diversity of nurses in the state. In fact, the school received a three-year grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration in 2014 towards this effort. Roughly 150-180 students graduate from UD’s BSN program each year, achieving a first-time NCLEX pass rate of 88% over the past decade. The school places an emphasis on learning experiences and students have access to well-equipped simulation labs, including the Clinical Critical Care Lab and the Clinical Maternal Child Lab.

Purdue University’s School of Nursing is part of the College of Health and Human Sciences. The school enrolls 550 undergraduates in its traditional and second-degree BSN programs, as well as 50 graduate students in its MSN and DNP programs. Purdue’s graduating BSN class has passed the NCLEX exam at a strong rate of 94% over the past decade. Nursing students can take advantage of unique facilities including the Center for Nursing History, Ethics, Human Rights, and Innovations; the Center for Nursing Education and Simulation; and the Nursing Center for Family Health. They can also seize the opportunity to study in four international locations.

The UTHSC College of Nursing offers students a breadth of options at both the baccalaureate and doctoral levels. Undergraduates can pursue either a 12-month accelerated second degree or an RN-to-BSN completion pathway. Over the past decade, the accelerated BSN program has scored a phenomenal 98% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure examination. Doctoral candidates have several options. UTHSC’s DNP program has nurse practitioner concentrations in adult-gerontology acute care, family nursing, neonatal nursing, pediatric acute care, pediatric primary care, and psychiatric-mental health nursing. PhD and dual DNP/PhD programs are also available.

George Mason’s College of Health and Human Services houses the forty-year-old School of Nursing. The school has produced so many successful graduates that one in three nurses practicing in the DC metropolitan area is a GMU alumnus. Baccalaureate pathways include traditional BSN, accelerated second degree BSN, RN-to-BSN, and two co-enrollment programs. Over the past decade, prelicensure BSN students have averaged an 86% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure examination. GMU also offers MSN concentrations for aspiring nurse educators, nurse practitioners, and nursing administrators; an RN-to-MSN bridge program; post-master’s certificates for aspiring nurse educators and family psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners; and both types of doctoral nursing degrees (DNP and PhD).

The School of Nursing at James Madison University has a number of unique offerings for nursing students, including international study abroad opportunities in Costa Rica, Spain, Tanzania, and Malta. JMU offers a broad range of nursing programs, from traditional BSN and RN-to-BSN pathways to MSN and DNP degrees. A chronic illness minor is also available. Undergraduates have posted a 94% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure exam over the past decade, including a stellar 98% pass rate in 2020. JMU’s graduate nursing students can pursue concentrations in clinical nurse leader, nurse administrator, nurse midwifery, and three nurse practitioner roles (adult-gerontology primary care, family, psychiatric-mental health).

The VCU School of Nursing boasts a state-of-the-art Clinical Learning Center with a skills lab and two intensive care simulation suites. The center was recognized in 2010 as a Laerdal Center of Educational Excellence. VCU also provides nursing students with 45,000 square feet of classrooms, auditoriums, and research laboratories. The university offers three BSN pathways (traditional, accelerated, RN completion), five MSN concentrations, and both doctoral nursing degrees (DNP and PhD). VCU graduates approximately 150 prelicensure BSN students each year, who have passed the NCLEX exam at an impressive 93% first-try rate over the past decade.

The University of Missouri’s Sinclair School of Nursing (SSON) is a member of one of the most comprehensive healthcare networks in Missouri, including the School of Health Professions, the School of Medicine, and University of Missouri Health Care. SSON educates nurses at all levels through its traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, online RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP, and PhD degree programs. At the undergraduate level, SSON produces 150-200 prelicensure BSN graduates annually. These students have passed the NCLEX-RN exam at an exceptional rate of 94% over the past decade.

The College of Nursing at the University of Arizona consistently ranks among the top 50 graduate nursing schools in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report. The college currently enrolls well over 1,000 nursing students, and its prelicensure graduates have posted excellent first-time pass rates on the NCLEX exam. For example, BSN graduates have passed the licensure exam at a 95% rate over the past decade, while graduates of the MSN for entry into the profession of nursing (MEPN) program have scored a 93% pass rate since inception. The University of Arizona has online offerings for students in the RN-to-MSN, DNP, and PhD pathways. Graduate certificates are also available for aspiring NPs in the fields of family health, adult-gerontology acute care, pediatric care, and psychiatric-mental health.

University at Buffalo’s School of Nursing has educated nurses for over 75 years. The school provides a traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, RN-to-BSN bridge, master’s in nursing leadership, DNP program, and PhD program. The latter two are available in a distance learning format. The university graduates about 120 new nurses from its BSN program each year, and these students have passed the NCLEX exam at a 91% rate over the past ten years. UB School of Nursing students can access a varied list of clinical partners including a major cancer center, several comprehensive healthcare providers, a hospice center, and a veterans’ medical center.

The CSULB School of Nursing graduates 100-200 new nurses annually through its prelicensure BSN program, which features both traditional and second-degree pathways. These students have enjoyed a stellar 97% NCLEX exam pass rate over the past ten years. CSULB also offers an RN-to-BSN completion program and a broad range of MSN degrees and graduate nursing certificates. MSN students can specialize in one of six nurse practitioner fields, advanced public health nursing, or nursing and health systems executive management. Certificates are also available for six NP roles: adult-gerontology acute care, adult-geriatric, family, pediatric, psychiatric-mental health, and women’s health.

The UNC Wilmington School of Nursing has 1,000 current students and more than 2,100 alumni in North Carolina alone. Undergraduates can pursue a traditional prelicensure BSN, an online RN-to-BSN program, or a unique Bachelor of Science in Clinical Research degree – one of just four such programs in the United States. UNC Wilmington’s prelicensure BSN students have enjoyed a strong 95% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. The school’s graduate offerings include an MSN with family nurse practitioner and nurse educator tracks, a Master of Science in Clinical Research & Product Development degree, and a DNP program with post-BSN and post-MSN pathways.

Penn State’s College of Nursing offer an experience grounded in a student-centered environment with low student-to-faculty ratios. The college’s graduating BSN class of 150-250 students consistently performs very well on the NCLEX exam, with a pass rate as high as 99% in 2017. Undergraduates can study abroad in four international locations to observe different healthcare and nursing education systems. Penn State also offers a breadth of master’s and doctoral nursing degrees, and the school’s Center for Nursing Research provides consulting services for quantitative and analytical work.

The Department of Nursing at UNH’s College of Health and Human Services offers several nursing pathways including a traditional four-year BSN degree, a direct-entry MSN program, an MSN degree with three tracks, and an online DNP program. Students from the traditional BSN program have scored a 94% NCLEX exam pass rate over the past eight years, while their counterparts in the direct-entry MSN program have achieved a 96% pass rate over the same time period. The MSN curriculum offers specializations in clinical nurse leader, evidence-based nursing, and family nurse practitioner. The school also offers post-master’s certificates in family nurse practitioner and psychiatric mental health.

The University of Alabama is home to the Capstone College of Nursing (CCN), which educates nearly 1,800 students in total. More than 1,240 students are enrolled in CCN’s traditional BSN program. Graduates of this program have performed extremely well on the NCLEX-RN exam, posting a 95% pass rate over the past eight years. Another 170 CCN students take advantage of the school’s unique RN mobility program, which includes RN-to-BSN and RN-to-BSN-to-MSN options. The rest are enrolled in MSN, DNP, and doctorate in nursing education (EdD) programs. CCN’s MSN programs prepare nurses for APRN, CNL, and case management roles.

Ball State University’s nursing department focuses intensely on the use of information technology. Twice designated a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing, Ball State’s MSN program is the eleventh-largest such online offering in the country. In fact, the department archives all graduate courses for easy access. The traditional BSN program graduates approximately 150 candidates each year, with an impressive NCLEX pass rate of 92% over the past decade. Nursing students can use Ball State’s recently updated Simulation and Information Technology Center on campus.

ASU’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation is consistently ranked among the top 50 in the nation for its graduate nursing programs by U.S. News & World Report. Graduate study is offered at the master’s and doctoral levels, with specializations that include informatics, nursing education, several nurse practitioner roles, and healthcare innovation. The college also provides traditional BSN, post-baccalaureate BSN, and online RN-to-BSN pathways. More than 200 prelicensure students graduate each year, and they have maintained a 92% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. In addition, ASU partners with MaricopaNursing to offer the Concurrent Enrollment Program, which allows students to enroll simultaneously in an associate of applied science (AAS) program and ASU’s BSN program.

The UT College of Nursing enrolls approximately 750 students across its academic programs. Seventy percent of these students pursue a BSN degree through one of three pathways: a traditional four-year program, an accelerated 12-month option, or an RN-to-BSN completion program. UT’s prelicensure BSN graduates are well-prepared for the NCLEX exam, with a 94% first-time pass rate over the past decade and an exceptional 98% or better first-time pass rate in each of the past three years. The remaining thirty percent of nursing students pursue an MSN, DNP, or PhD degree. UT’s graduate nursing department offers concentrations for aspiring nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, and nursing administrators. Students have the opportunity to participate in the school’s International Outreach Program, which includes an immersive service mission to Costa Rica.

Graduating its first class of 22 in 1970, the UW Oshkosh College of Nursing has since graduated approximately 6,000 nurses. It offers students a range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including an innovative, predominantly online accelerated bachelor of science in nursing. Each year, approximately 200 prelicensure BSN students pass the NCLEX exam at a consistently high rate of 92-99%. UW Oshkosh’s clinical nurse leader graduate program has also maintained a stellar 100% pass rate on the Commission on Nurse Certification CNL certification exam since 2009. The school provides students evidence-based hands-on clinical training, with opportunities for international study in South America and India.

The Rutgers School of Nursing became the fourth school on the Rutgers Camden campus in 2011, but their experience in nursing education extends almost forty years. Undergraduates can pursue a traditional prelicensure BSN, an accelerated second degree, or an RN-to-BSN pathway with both on-campus and online tracks. BSN graduates have performed well on the NCLEX licensure examination; for example, 93% of graduates have passed the exam on their first attempt over the past three years. BSN-prepared graduate students can pursue a DNP in two nurse practitioner specializations (family and adult-gerontology primary care), while MSN-prepared nurse practitioners can enroll in a post-master’s DNP track. Rutgers nursing students have access to clinical learning at more than a dozen prominent organizations in the area.

The College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines at the University of North Dakota has a 100-year history of educating nurses. The college offers four different pathways for students seeking an undergraduate degree: traditional on-campus BSN, accelerated BSN, LPN-to-BSN, and RN-to-BSN. The school graduates approximately 120-150 students annually across its prelicensure BSN programs, and these individuals frequently pass the NCLEX exam at a rate of 95% or higher. Indeed, three recent classes have scored a perfect 100% NCLEX pass rate. MSN students can pursue specialties ranging from family nurse practitioner to nurse educator. The college also offers both terminal degrees in the field: a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) and a PhD in nursing.

UH Manoa’s School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene (SONDH) is the only Hawaiian nursing school ranked by U.S News & World Report for its online MSN program. UH Manoa is also Hawaii’s only doctoral and research-intensive university. SONDH offers five BSN pathways including a traditional program for current university students, a high school direct entry option, and three RN-to-BSN programs. Graduate students can pursue an MSN, DNP, or PhD degree, again with multiple pathways including non-nursing bachelor’s, post-BSN, and post-MSN. Prelicensure students consistently pass the NCLEX exam at solid rates: over the past eight years, BSN graduates achieved an 86% pass rate and direct-entry MSN graduates achieved an 84% pass rate.

In its mission to address the healthcare needs of Ohioans, Kent State University offers nursing programs at several sites in Northeast Ohio. The ADN program graduates 200-250 new nurses annually at regional campuses in Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, and Tuscarawas. The prelicensure BSN program graduates another 400-500 students per year at the main campus in Kent and regional campuses in Geauga, Salem, Stark, and Trumbull. Kent State students consistently perform well on the NCLEX licensure exam, scoring an 86% ADN pass rate and an 89% BSN pass rate over the past decade. Graduate nursing students can select from four online tracks and five hybrid (mix of in-person and online) tracks in the MSN program. Kent State also offers a joint MSN/MBA degree and both types of doctoral nursing degrees. The university boasts clinical experiences with more than 350 partners and a 99.6% job placement rate within six months of graduation.

The FSU College of Nursing launched Florida’s first nationally accredited baccalaureate nursing degree program. Today, the college offers the latest BSN options, including an accelerated second-degree program and a Veterans BSN that started in January 2016. The College of Nursing produces over 100 prelicensure BSN graduates each year, and these students have passed the NCLEX-RN exam at a strong 93% rate over the past decade. FSU graduate students can pursue an MSN, DNP, or graduate certificate in popular specializations like nurse educator, nurse leader, and psychiatric-mental health. The vast majority of graduate instruction is delivered online.

Upstate Medical University’s College of Nursing strives to meet the needs of RNs in the Syracuse and Central New York area. In 1959, to address the region’s nursing shortfall, Upstate Medical University launched an ADN program that educated more than 500 registered nurses over the next two decades. Today, Upstate Medical University is one of the longest-established upper-division nursing schools in the region. It offers an RN-to-BSN degree completion program, three MSN tracks, two post-master’s advanced certificates, and a part-time MSN-to-DNP program.

Viewing nursing as a science and an art, University of Vermont’s Department of Nursing lays heavy emphasis on behavioral, natural, and nursing sciences. The school integrates interdisciplinary education with clinical experience and gives students an opportunity to study public health in international locations. Its BSN students have averaged a 92% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure examination since 2015, including a stellar 99% pass rate in 2017. UVM’s graduate nursing programs include an MSN degree with a clinical nurse leader focus, a DNP curriculum with two nurse practitioner tracks (adult-gerontology and family), and a unique direct-entry pathway for DNP students with a bachelor’s degree or higher in a non-nursing discipline.

SJSU’s Valley Foundation School of Nursing offers several education pathways. Undergraduates may pursue a traditional BSN, an RN-to-BSN completion program, or the unique post-baccalaureate Wound & Ostomy Education Program. The latter option prepares WOC nurses for certification by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board. SJSU graduates 80-120 prelicensure BSN students annually, who have enjoyed an impressive 90% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. At the graduate level, SJSU offers an MSN degree with two specialty areas (nurse educator, family nurse practitioner) and a post-master’s DNP pathway. The cohort-based DNP program is conducted primarily online, with one mandatory on-campus meeting at the start of each semester.

Augusta University’s College of Nursing takes full advantage of the university’s Medical College of Georgia and the 350-plus clinical training sites of its teaching hospitals. This provides nursing students the opportunity to gain experience in the full spectrum of medicine, from tertiary/quaternary care hospitals to small-town solo practices. The College of Nursing offers three BSN pathways (traditional, accelerated, RN-to-BSN), two MSN-CNL pathways (direct-entry, BSN-prepared), a breadth of DNP specializations (adult gerontology, anesthesia, executive, family, pediatric, psychiatric mental health), and a nursing PhD program. Graduates of all programs enjoy some of the nation’s highest exam pass rates. For example, BSN graduates have achieved an 88% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade, while direct-entry MSN graduates have achieved a 91% NCLEX pass rate during that timeframe.

The UNC School of Nursing offers online and on-campus programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Undergraduate options include traditional BSN, second-degree BSN, and RN-to-BSN completion programs. UNC’s prelicensure BSN students have earned remarkably strong and consistent scores on the NCLEX licensure exam, passing at a rate between 88% and 98% for 13 consecutive years. Graduate students can pursue certification as an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner or a family nurse practitioner through the university’s MSN degree, post-MSN certificate, or DNP degree programs. The School of Nursing also offers clinical nurse leader (MSN) and nursing education (certificate or PhD) emphases.

The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis offers several different nursing education pathways. Options include a master’s entry program in nursing with PHN certification, a traditional MSN program with leadership and FNP tracks, and a nursing science and healthcare leadership PhD. Graduates of the master’s entry program are qualified to take the NCLEX-RN licensure examination. Students in the FNP specialization have the option to enroll in a dual-track pathway which prepares them simultaneously for the professions of family nurse practitioner and physician assistant. These are the only FNP and physician assistant programs where students learn together to practice collaboratively with clinicians in a variety of settings.

Tennessee Tech University is home to the Whitson-Hester School of Nursing. Undergraduate offerings include a traditional four-year BSN, an accelerated second bachelor’s degree, and an RN-to-BSN degree completion pathway. TTU graduates approximately 100 prelicensure BSN students annually, and they have passed the NCLEX exam at a stellar rate of 97% over the past decade. In fact, the 2018 and 2020 graduating BSN classes achieved a 99% NCLEX pass rate. TTU offers several MSN specializations online including family nurse practitioner, nursing administration, and nursing education. The school’s DNP program is conducted in consortium with East Tennessee State University. The two institutions jointly deliver concentrations in executive leadership and five nurse practitioner fields.

UCCS’s Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing & Health Sciences has one of the top online MSN programs in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. The program prepares students as primary care nurse practitioners, with two population foci: adult-gerontology and family. UCCS also offers an online DNP degree and four BSN pathways: traditional, accelerated, RN-to-BSN, and dual enrollment. The college graduates approximately 100 prelicensure BSN students each year, achieving an impressive NCLEX-RN pass rate of 91% since 2012.

FAU’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing educates 1,600 students across its three campuses in Boca Raton, Davie, and Harbor Branch. The college offers four undergraduate pathways: traditional BSN, freshmen direct admission, accelerated BSN, and RN-to-BSN. The prelicensure tracks graduate approximately 100 BSN students annually, with a 92% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX exam over the past decade. At the graduate level, FAU offers both DNP and PhD programs, plus a rich breadth of MSN specializations including administration, holistic nursing, education, clinical nurse leader, and two nurse practitioner roles. Indeed, FAU has the largest graduate nursing enrollment of any university in Florida.