2025 Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools
Ranked #2 in popularity,
nursing is one of the most sought-after master's degree programs in the nation. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.
In 2025, College Factual analyzed 456 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 49,855 master's degrees in nursing during the <nil> academic year.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
Choosing a Great Nursing School for Your Master's Degree
The nursing master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality nursing program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:
Overall Quality Is a Must
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Average Early-Career Salaries
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. After all, your master's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
Other Factors We Consider
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
- Major Focus - How much a school focuses on nursing students vs. other majors.
- Major Demand - The number of nursing students who choose to seek a master's degree at the school.
- Educational Resources - The amount of money and other resources allocated to students while they are pursuing their degree. These resources include such things as number of students per instructor and education expenditures per student.
- Student Debt - How easy is it for nursing to pay back their student loans after receiving their master's degree.
- Accreditation - Whether a school is regionally accredited and/or accredited by a recognized nursing related body.
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for nursing students working on their master's degree.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools list to help you make the college decision.
Best Schools for Master’s Students to Study Nursing in the United States
Learn about the top ranked colleges and universities for nursing students seeking a a master's degree. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
25 Top Schools for a Master's in Nursing
It's hard to beat University of Pennsylvania if you want to pursue a master's degree in nursing. Located in the city of Philadelphia, UPenn is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.
Those nursing students who get their master's degree from University of Pennsylvania receive $4,460 more than the standard nursing student.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of Pennsylvania
It's hard to beat Samuel Merritt University if you want to pursue a master's degree in nursing. Located in the city of Oakland, Samuel Merritt University is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.
Master's recipients from the nursing program at Samuel Merritt University make $30,897 more than the typical graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Samuel Merritt University
Every student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in nursing has to check out New York University. Located in the city of New York, NYU is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.
Those nursing students who get their master's degree from New York University earn $30,431 more than the typical nursing graduate.
More information about a master’s in nursing from New York University
Duke University is a wonderful decision for students interested in a master's degree in nursing. Located in the city of Durham, Duke is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.
Soon after graduating, nursing master's recipients generally make around $109,702 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Duke University
Located in the large city of Atlanta, Emory is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.
Students who graduate with their master's from the nursing program report average early career income of $107,880.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Emory University
Located in the large city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Students who graduate with their master's from the nursing program report average early career earnings of $112,065.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of California - Los Angeles
UofSC is a fairly large public university located in the city of Columbia.
Soon after graduation, nursing master's recipients usually make an average of $105,149 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of South Carolina - Columbia
Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.
Those nursing students who get their master's degree from Drexel University make $6,369 more than the average nursing student.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Drexel University
Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.
Master's recipients from the nursing major at Villanova University make $14,495 more than the typical college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Villanova University
Located in the town of Storrs, UCONN is a public university with a very large student population.
Those nursing students who get their master's degree from University of Connecticut earn $17,955 more than the average nursing graduate.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of Connecticut