How to Choose the Best Nursing School in the US for Your Career Goals
Nursing is a rewarding and challenging profession that can make a difference in people’s lives. Nurses are in high demand in many countries, and they can work in various settings, such as hospitals, clinics, schools, and communities. Nurses can also specialize in different areas, such as pediatrics, geriatrics, oncology, and mental health.
If you are interested in becoming a nurse, you need to choose a nursing school that suits your career goals and aspirations. There are many factors to consider when choosing a nursing school, such as the accreditation, reputation, curriculum, faculty, facilities, and cost of the school. You also need to consider the admission requirements, the duration, and the outcomes of the program.
To help you make an informed decision, we have compiled a list of the 9 best nursing schools in the US for undergraduate students. These schools are ranked based on their academic excellence, research impact, and student satisfaction. They also offer various programs and opportunities for students who want to pursue a nursing career.
9 Best Nursing Schools in the US for Undergraduate Students
- Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing: Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing is one of the oldest and most prestigious nursing schools in the US. The school was established in 1889 and has been consistently ranked among the top nursing schools in the country and the world. The school offers a range of programs, from pre-licensure to doctoral degrees, as well as online options, post-degree opportunities, and nursing prerequisites. The school also has four research centers that focus on aging, nursing research, intervention research, and health disparities research. The school is known for its innovative and rigorous curriculum, its diverse and talented faculty, and its state-of-the-art facilities. The school admits about 200 students per year for its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, which is a two-year full-time program that prepares students for the nursing licensure exam and the nursing practice. The school also offers an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, which is a 13-month full-time program for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field and want to switch to nursing. The school has a high graduation rate and a high pass rate for the licensure exam. The school also has a strong alumni network and a career center that helps students find jobs and internships. To apply for the BSN or ABSN program, you need to have a high school diploma or equivalent, a minimum GPA of 3.0, and a minimum SAT score of 1170 or ACT score of 24. You also need to submit your transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. The application deadline is January 1, 2024. You can visit the official website [here] to apply.
- Duke University School of Nursing: Duke University School of Nursing is another leading nursing school in the US. The school was founded in 1931 and has been recognized as a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing. The school offers a variety of programs, from bachelor’s to doctoral degrees, as well as certificate and continuing education programs. The school also has several research centers and institutes that focus on areas such as health innovation, global health, population health, and nursing education. The school is known for its high-quality and flexible curriculum, its distinguished and supportive faculty, and its modern and spacious facilities. The school admits about 120 students per year for its Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, which is the only undergraduate program offered by the school. The ABSN program is a 16-month full-time program for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field and want to pursue a nursing career. The program covers the core nursing courses and clinical rotations, as well as electives and capstone projects. The program prepares students for the nursing licensure exam and the nursing practice. The school has a high graduation rate and a high pass rate for the licensure exam. The school also has a career services office that helps students find jobs and mentorship. To apply for the ABSN program, you need to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, a minimum GPA of 3.2, and a minimum GRE score of 297 or MAT score of 410. You also need to complete the prerequisite courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, statistics, nutrition, and human development. You also need to submit your transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. The application deadline is October 15, 2023. You can visit the official website [here] to apply.
- University of Washington: The University of Washington School of Nursing is one of the best Undergraduate Nursing Schools in the United States. The school offers two undergraduate programs: the traditional two-year full-time Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program for applicants who have earned a Bachelor’s degree already and are looking for a second career in the field.
- University of Pennsylvania: The School of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania which is commonly referred to as Penn Nursing is an undergraduate and graduate institution. At the undergraduate level, the school offers traditional and Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs. Penn Nursing is one of the best nursing schools with 15 master’s programs including nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, and certified registered nurse anesthetist program.
The school is the only Ivy League institution to offer a baccalaureate nursing program. Penn also offers a PhD program.
- University of Michigan: The University of Michigan School of Nursing is one of the best undergraduate nursing schools in the US. The school seeks to create academically and culturally diverse students who possess a genuine interest in contributing to the changing world of health care. The school combines learning in the University’s Clinical Learning Centre with different clinical sites across the region.
- New York University: When searching for the best undergraduate nursing schools, the New York University School of Nursing comes to light. NYU offers undergraduate and graduate programs. NYU offers nursing students many undergraduate options with a traditional BSN degree, second-degree transfer BSN, RN-BSN, and Accelerated BSN. Students come from around the world to earn quality education in the field.
- University of California Los Angeles: The UCLA School of Nursing’s mission is to prepare nurses and scholars to lead and transform nursing care in a rapidly changing, diverse, and complex healthcare environment through academic excellence and superior clinical practice. The school is one of the nation’s highest research-funded schools.
The UCLA School of Nursing offers five degree programs: Bachelor of Science (for undergraduates), Master’s Entry Clinical Nurse, Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Philosophy (for individuals who wish to pursue a research trajectory), and Doctor of Nursing Practice.
UCLA is known for producing high-caliber graduates. The School of Nursing is ranked among the best undergraduate nursing schools in the United States.
- Emory University: The School of Nursing at Emory University awards the BSN, MSN, MN, DNP, and Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing(PhD). The Nursing School is called Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing named after the wife of the long-time president of the Coca-Cola Company.
Two of the school’s nursing specialties: pediatrics and midwifery, were highly ranked in U.S. News. Home to one of the world’s best healthcare systems, Emory University School of Nursing is among the best undergraduate nursing schools.
- University of Maryland: The School of Nursing at the University of Maryland aims to remove barriers to clinical and translational research by providing high-quality, cost-effective informatics, biostatics, clinical resources, mentorship, and other core services that will support clinical research, community engagement, ethics and regulatory science, pilot projects and the development of novel technologies.
The school supports groundbreaking research that enhances the field of nursing and influences modern health care. The university has plenty of graduate-level nursing degrees for nurses interested in leadership or administrative positions.