Qualifying as a nurse in the United States is possible via multiple options. One option is to start with an associate degree, which can pave the path for an entry-level position.
Other options include studying for a Bachelor of Nursing Science or, the more popular choice, finishing an undergraduate degree and following up with a Master’s in Nursing in a nursing school.
The top schools for nursing in the USA include the same ones you would expect for medical studies in general. They are highly selective and offer excellent facilities and opportunities for research as well as practical learning.
If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a nurse, here is a guide to the top nursing schools in the United States.
Top Schools Offering Nursing Programs in the U.S.
1. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University is overwhelmingly the best nursing school in the United States, with its research centers and expert medical researchers and professors being amongst the most respected in the country and worldwide.
JHU School of Nursing was established in 1889, making it one of the oldest schools of nursing in the country. Its mission is to improve the health of individuals and diverse communities locally and globally through leadership and excellence in nursing education, research, practice, and service.
Admission to the school is highly selective, with thousands of applicants from around the world competing for a spot. If you are registering as an international student, you will need to submit TOEFL scores to provide proof of your English language level.
The Master of Science in Nursing program offers three options depending on your existing experience and knowledge: an Entry to Nursing Program option for those who have a bachelor’s degree in another discipline, an MSN in Healthcare Organizational Leadership for those who have an undergraduate degree in nursing, or an MSN coupled with an MBA.
2. Duke University
Located in Durham, NC, Duke University is another one of the top universities in the United States. It offers several types of programs, among which the most popular is an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
The 16-month program for BSN is aimed at students who already have an undergraduate degree but have decided to pursue nursing as a career. Duke focuses heavily on a mix of educational excellence, diversity, contributions to community health, global impact, clinical practice, and engagement with the university after graduation.
This combination makes them the second most popular and second-best nursing and medical school in the United States. Its unique program allows students to become highly skilled nurses quickly.
Beyond the classroom and clinical practice environment, students can expect to fully take advantage of additional research and performance centers at Duke University. These include focused research centers such as the Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence or the Institute for Educational Excellence.
3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing offers an entire range of nursing programs, allowing students to take their first steps towards a nursing career or return to education after acquiring relevant experience and looking to improve on particular aspects.
Carolina Nursing boasts many top rankings among U.S. medical institutions, the most important of which is being one of the best nursing schools in the United States.
The School of Nursing is also intensely dedicated to research and is well-known for studies on chronic illness prevention. It is one of the few schools in the U.S. to house a biobehavioral laboratory, which studies biobehavioral measures and physiological parameters.
4. University of Pennsylvania
Penn Nursing is located in Philadelphia and forms part of the University of Pennsylvania network. It is a well-regarded and well-funded nursing school offering undergraduate programs as well as various master’s and Ph.D. opportunities for further study.
Prospective nurses can study for their BSN either on a regular track or as an accelerated program. There are also 15 master’s programs, and students can earn joint degrees at the University of Pennsylvania.
It is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the proximity of other world-class universities, such as the Wharton School, in conjunction with which you can earn a Bachelor of Science in Economics.
5. Emory University
Named after Nell Hodgson Woodruff, wife of the Coca-Cola Company’s president, Robert W. Woodruff, the School of Nursing at Emory University celebrates her studies there and her support for nursing causes throughout her life.
This top nursing school in the USA is based in Atlanta, GA, and is renowned for specializations in pediatrics and midwifery. It grants all levels of degrees, from BSNs to doctoral degrees.
The BSN program is run for over four full years as an undergraduate program aimed at high school students looking to train for a nursing career. For the BSN program, you also have the option to enroll at Oxford College under the Emory umbrella – a more intimate college with the opportunity to develop leadership skills in a smaller setting, while Emory is better suited for more independent students.
Emory also offers a suite of accelerated learning programs to suit various career backgrounds. You can study for a distance-accelerated BSN lasting only 52 weeks or pursue a Master of Nursing in 15 months, leading to the pre-licensure stage.
Finally, Emory offers lots of research and specialization options in its various centers of excellence.
A nursing job is a challenging yet rewarding profession that can allow one to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. That’s why enrolling in the best nursing schools in the USA can help international students gain access to state-of-the-art medical facilities and have genuine clinical experience, which will help them grow exponentially for a fulfilling career in the nursing industry.
We hope that this article on the best nursing schools in the United States was helpful. If you are interested in knowing more information like this, check out our Study in the USA Page and the Available Programs in the USA for International Students!
