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:
Arlington, Virginia, is part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metropolitan division. The area has the tenth-highest population of registered nurses (RNs) among U.S. metro areas. Because the nursing community is sizable in Virginia, aspiring nurses will find a number of top schools for nursing that offer a variety of unique degree pathways. For example, Marymount University offers three ways to secure a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree: a traditional four-year BSN, an accelerated BSN, and a hybrid online RN-to-BSN program.
A rewarding nursing career in Alexandria, Virginia, begins with a certificate or degree from an accredited nursing school. Fortunately, the city of more than 150,000 inhabitants is home to a number of accredited schools that offer nursing programs at all levels. For example, Global Health College offers preparation for several different nursing careers, while Saint Michael College of Allied Health has a flagship associate in applied science (AAS) degree.
Nursing Schools Almanac is proud to announce our inaugural RN-to-BSN Scholarship. We will award a $2,500 scholarship for a nursing student to pursue baccalaureate education through an RN-to-BSN program. Applicants should demonstrate:
- A track record of prior academic excellence in a prelicensure RN program
- A passion for leadership in nursing and the overall field of healthcare
We encourage applicants to read the competition guidelines on this page in their entirety before completing the online application.
Nursing Schools Almanac is proud to announce our third annual Aspiring Nurse Scholarship. We will award a $1,000 scholarship to an aspiring nurse who best demonstrates:
- A track record of academic excellence, particularly in science and mathematics
- A passion for the nursing profession and the overall field of healthcare
Competition eligibility
This scholarship competition is open to all U.S. high school seniors who plan to pursue college education in nursing, including LPN / LVN, ADN, and BSN programs.
Nursing Schools Almanac is proud to announce Hana Arega as the second annual recipient of the Aspiring Nurse Scholarship. Hana recently graduated from West Seattle High School. She is currently pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree at the University of Washington, where she is a member of the Class of 2020.
The U.S. is home to more than 150,000 advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). These professionals comprise the upper echelon of the nursing industry; all have graduate-level education, and many hold a doctorate. Approximately 110,000 of these APRNs are nurse practitioners. According to the International Council of Nurses, a nurse practitioner demonstrates the expert knowledge, complex decision-making skills, and clinical competencies for expanded nursing practice. Not surprisingly, nurse practitioners are very well compensated.
Nurse practitioners are the largest group of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), and their population is growing rapidly. Employment of nurse practitioners will increase 34 percent over the next ten years, driving the number of nurse practitioners from the current 110,000 to almost 150,000. They earn some of the highest salaries in the healthcare industry as well. The typical nurse practitioner earns approximately $93,000 per year, and the top quartile receives over $110,000 in annual pay.
Nurse practitioners are the nation’s largest group of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), with more than 110,000 licensed professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioner employment will increase by 34 percent over the coming decade, a growth rate much faster than average. Pay is very attractive as well. With a median annual salary of $93,000, nurse practitioners are among the highest-paid nurses in the healthcare field. Top performers can earn more than $110,000 per year.
The U.S. is home to more than 110,000 nurse practitioners (NPs). They represent the nation’s largest group of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), and the population is growing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, NP employment will increase 34 percent during the next decade, much faster than the average for all occupations. Salaries are impressive as well. Nurse practitioners earn a median annual salary of $92,670, with top-quartile pay in excess of $110,000 per year.
The U.S. is home to more than 150,000 advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Nurse practitioners (NPs) form the largest APRN specialty, with 110,000 professionals nationwide. Nurse practitioner employment will grow at a 34 percent clip over the next decade, fueled by federal health insurance reform and the demands of an aging Baby Boomer generation. However, this growth will also occur because APRNs are performing more services independently. Indeed, APRNs are increasingly recognized by the public as a source for primary healthcare. This is especially true in family practice.