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Explore and compare 201 MSN-CNS top-ranked, accredited schools across all 50 states and territories. Our directory combines verified NCLEX-RN pass rates, IPEDS tuition data, and CCNE/ACEN accreditation status with authentic insights from our allnurses community members. Rankings are based on our Ranking Methodology, a 100-point composite score across 6 weighted categories.
Last updated: May 16, 2026
Sources: U.S. Dept of Education / IPEDS / College Scorecard / Editorial Team
NOTE: Program offerings and tuition are subject to change. Verify details directly with the institution.
A top-ten nursing school, University of Pennsylvania is a private nonprofit institution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ranked #1 nationally. Annual in-state tuition is $68,686.
Accelerated-BSN, BSN, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert
Duke University ranks #2 nationally among nursing schools and is a private nonprofit institution in Durham, North Carolina. Annual in-state tuition is $68,758.
BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-AGNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert
Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland holds the #3 spot among the nation's nursing schools. Graduates earn a median of $87,555 within ten years.
BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-AGNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NL, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-BSN-Cert, Post-MSN-Cert
Ranked #4 in the nation, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a public institution in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It offers 14 nursing programs across various degree levels.
ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert
A top-ten nursing school, Emory University is a private nonprofit institution in Atlanta, Georgia ranked #7 nationally. Total enrollment is about 15,200 students.
ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NE, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE, PhD, Post-BSN-Cert, Post-MSN-Cert
University of Alabama in Huntsville in Huntsville, Alabama is a public institution ranked among the top 50 nursing schools. The acceptance rate is 69%.
ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NE, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert
Ranked #26 nationally, University of Detroit Mercy is a private nonprofit institution in Detroit, Michigan. Graduates earn a median of $71,030 within ten years.
BSN, BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert
One of the top 50 nursing schools in the country, Case Western Reserve University is a private nonprofit institution in Cleveland, Ohio. It offers 13 nursing programs across various degree levels.
BSN, BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-BSN-Cert, Post-MSN-Cert
University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota is a private nonprofit institution ranked among the top 50 nursing schools. The acceptance rate is 75%.
ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NE, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, PhD
One of the top 50 nursing schools in the country, Northern Kentucky University is a public institution in Highland Heights, Kentucky. It offers 15 nursing programs across various degree levels.
ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-AGNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NL, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert
Ranked #42 nationally, Samford University is a private nonprofit institution in Birmingham, Alabama. Annual in-state tuition is $40,150.
ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-AGNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert
Ranked #47 nationally, Bellin College is a private nonprofit institution in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Annual in-state tuition is $30,952.
BSN, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, Post-MSN-Cert
Ranked #46 nationally, Mount St. Joseph University is a private nonprofit institution in Cincinnati, Ohio. Graduates earn a median of $51,509 within ten years.
ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NL, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, PhD
One of the top 50 nursing schools in the country, Yale University is a private nonprofit institution in New Haven, Connecticut. It offers 7 nursing programs across various degree levels.
MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert
Ranked #50 nationally, Michigan State University is a public institution in East Lansing, Michigan. Annual in-state tuition is $16,458.
ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NE, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, PhD
University of California-Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California is a public institution with a 93% graduation rate and over 47,335 students. Annual in-state tuition is $15,203.
ABSN, BSN, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD
A public institution, University of Mississippi serves students in University, Mississippi. Annual in-state tuition is $9,772.
ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-BSN-Cert, Post-MSN-Cert
Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee is a private nonprofit institution with a 93% graduation rate and over 13,575 students. Annual in-state tuition is $67,498.
BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NE, DNP-NL, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert
University of San Francisco provides nursing education from its campus in San Francisco, California. Total enrollment is about 8,913 students.
ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-AGNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE, PhD, Post-BSN-Cert, Post-MSN-Cert
University of Rochester in Rochester, New York is a private nonprofit institution with a 87% graduation rate and over 11,946 students. The acceptance rate is 40%.
ABSN, BSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert
Sonoma State University provides nursing education from its campus in Rohnert Park, California. It offers 7 nursing programs across various degree levels.
ABSN, BSN, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, Post-MSN-Cert
Point Loma Nazarene University provides nursing education from its campus in San Diego, California. It offers 10 nursing programs across various degree levels.
ABSN, BSN, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, Post-MSN-Cert
With annual in-state tuition at $5,923, Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas is among the more affordable public options in the region. The school reports a 49% graduation rate.
ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-AGNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP
Bethel University provides nursing education from its campus in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Annual in-state tuition is $44,226.
ABSN, BSN, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, Post-MSN-Cert
Eastern Kentucky University provides nursing education from its campus in Richmond, Kentucky. The acceptance rate is 78%.
ABSN, ADN, BSN, BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-AGNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert
| # | School Name | Location | In-State | Completion Rate | Programs | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | $68,686 | 96.5% | 9 | |
| 2 | Duke University | Durham, NC | $68,758 | 96.2% | 12 | |
| 3 | Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD | $65,230 | 94.4% | 14 | |
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, MI | $17,736 | 93.2% | 14 | |
| 5 | Emory University | Atlanta, GA | $64,280 | 90.9% | 15 | |
| 6 | University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | $12,132 | 63.1% | 13 | |
| 7 | University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit, MI | $32,946 | 70.5% | 12 | |
| 8 | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH | $66,608 | 86.4% | 13 | |
| 9 | University of Mary | Bismarck, ND | $22,356 | 66% | 12 | |
| 10 | Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights, KY | $11,088 | 49.2% | 15 | |
| 11 | Samford University | Birmingham, AL | $40,150 | 78.4% | 13 | |
| 12 | Bellin College | Green Bay, WI | $30,952 | 75% | 5 | |
| 13 | Mount St. Joseph University | Cincinnati, OH | $38,150 | 52.9% | 11 | |
| 14 | Yale University | New Haven, CT | $67,250 | 97% | 7 | |
| 15 | Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI | $16,458 | 81.9% | 12 | |
| 16 | University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | $15,203 | 92.6% | 8 | |
| 17 | University of Mississippi | University, MS | $9,772 | 68.1% | 12 | |
| 18 | Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN | $67,498 | 92.7% | 12 | |
| 19 | University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | $60,492 | 72.8% | 15 | |
| 20 | University of Rochester | Rochester, NY | $67,080 | 87% | 10 | |
| 21 | Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park, CA | $8,624 | 60.1% | 7 | |
| 22 | Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | $46,250 | 74.8% | 10 | |
| 23 | Fort Hays State University | Hays, KS | $5,923 | 49.2% | 10 | |
| 24 | Bethel University | Saint Paul, MN | $44,226 | 75% | 9 | |
| 25 | Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond, KY | $10,320 | 49.5% | 14 |
