For our 2024 rankings, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac collected data on nearly 3,000 nursing schools and campuses throughout the United States. We evaluated each school on three dimensions:
Our mission at Nursing Schools Almanac is to provide aspiring nurses a detailed, comprehensive, and analytical resource for selecting their future nursing school. An integral part of this effort is our annual rankings of the best nursing schools in the country.
To provide a complete view, we collected a wealth of data on nearly 3,000 nursing schools and campuses nationwide. We then assessed each of these institutions on three critical dimensions.
For our 2024 rankings, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac collected data on nearly 3,000 nursing schools and campuses throughout the United States. More than 1,800 of the institutions surveyed were public, including community and technical colleges, four-year colleges, and universities. We evaluated each school on three dimensions:
For our 2024 rankings, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac collected data on nearly 3,000 nursing schools and campuses throughout the United States. More than 1,100 of the institutions surveyed were private, including vocational and career schools, liberal arts colleges, and universities. We evaluated each school on three dimensions:
For our 2024 rankings, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac collected data on nearly 3,000 nursing schools and campuses throughout the United States. We included the following states within our New England rankings: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. We evaluated each nursing school in the region on three dimensions:
Search for nursing schools and programs in your state:
The Houma-Thibodaux metropolitan area of Louisiana has its fair share of nursing professionals. They work in roles ranging from certified nursing assistant (CNA) to certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Many of these professionals earned their degree or certificate at a local school, such as Nicholls State University or Fletcher Technical Community College.
The Hickory, North Carolina, metropolitan area – locally dubbed the “Unifour” – is home to more than 7,000 nursing professionals. Some of the most common roles are registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), and certified nursing assistant (CNA). Most nurses in Hickory earned their degree or diploma at a local college or university. The region is flush with top nursing schools, including Lenoir-Rhyne University, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, Catawba Valley Community College, and Western Piedmont Community College.
The first step towards a successful nursing career is a degree or certificate from an accredited school. Harrisonburg, Virginia, has you covered. The city of more than 53,000 residents has a number of accredited nursing schools that offer programs at all levels.
Healthcare is one of the most active industries in Texas. There are more than 600 hospitals in the state with over 80,000 licensed beds. The state is also home to more than 360,000 nurses working in roles from entry-level to advanced. Some of the most common roles are registered nurse (RN), licensed vocational nurse (LVN), and certified nursing assistant (CNA).
Nursing is one of the largest professions in Louisiana. The state is home to more than 90,000
nurses across a broad range of roles, including certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), and certified nursing assistant (CNA). Each nursing role carries a distinct set of responsibilities and licensure requirements.
Healthcare is one of the largest employment sectors in Texas. There are 630 hospitals in the state, with 83,000 licensed beds. Grand Prairie, Texas, is part of Dallas County, which has the second-highest number of hospitals in the state. Although the healthcare sector here offers many opportunities for aspiring nurses, local hospitals and healthcare centers are very selective. This means that aspiring nurses need the right education to compete.
A successful nursing career in Garland, Texas, begins with a degree, diploma, or certificate from an accredited nursing school. The city of Garland, located almost entirely within Dallas County, offers access to a number of local schools with highly regarded nursing programs. For example, CE Global Health Education Network offers a certified nursing assistant (CNA) training program. Dallas Nursing Institute has licensed vocational nursing (LVN), associate’s degree in nursing (ADN), and bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) programs.
The metropolitan area surrounding Gainesville, Georgia, is home to more than 3,000 nurses. Many of these healthcare professionals earned their degree or certificate at a local nursing school like Brenau University, North Georgia Nursing Academy, or Woodruff Medical Training and Testing. Collectively, these schools offer programs ranging from a brief certified nursing assistant (CNA) training course to a four-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree.
Healthcare is a rapidly growing area of employment in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and nursing is one of the fastest-growing occupations in this sector. The Fort Smith metropolitan area is home to 30 nurse practitioners (NPs), 2,200 registered nurses (RNs), 1,000 licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and almost 1,800 certified nursing assistants (CNAs). Though plentiful, nursing jobs in the Fort Smith area are competitive. Earning a degree, diploma, or certificate from a top local nursing school will help you stand out from the crowd.
Nursing is the largest profession in California. The state is home to more than 430,000 nurses who fill a broad range of healthcare and medical roles. The three most common nursing roles, both in the state of California and the city of Fontana, are registered nurse (RN), licensed vocational nurse (LVN), and certified nursing assistant (CNA).