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Accredited Public Nursing Schools 2026

Explore and compare 1,275 PUBLIC 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.

Public Fairfax, VA

One of the larger institutions in the state, George Mason University is a public school in Fairfax, Virginia with over 39,766 students. The acceptance rate is 87%.

7 Nursing Programs Available

BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE, MSN-NL, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert

W

Public Scottsbluff, NE

With annual in-state tuition at $3,840, Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, Nebraska is among the more affordable public options in the region. The school reports a 34% graduation rate.

ADN Program Available

Public Tifton, GA

With annual in-state tuition at $3,268, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia is among the more affordable public options in the region. It offers 3 nursing programs across various degree levels.

3 Nursing Programs Available

ADN, BSN, RN-BSN

Public Houston, TX

One of the larger institutions in the state, University of Houston is a public school in Houston, Texas with over 47,980 students. The acceptance rate is 74%.

4 Nursing Programs Available

BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE

Public Chula Vista, CA

With annual in-state tuition at $1,344, Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California is among the more affordable public options in the region. It offers 2 nursing programs across various degree levels.

2 Nursing Programs Available

ADN, LPN

Public Wilmington, NC

Based in Wilmington, North Carolina, University of North Carolina Wilmington is a public institution. Total enrollment is about 18,800 students.

11 Nursing Programs Available

BSN, BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-AGNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, Post-MSN-Cert

C

Public Grand Island, NE

With annual in-state tuition at $3,360, Central Community College in Grand Island, Nebraska is among the more affordable public options in the region. Graduates earn a median of $39,429 within ten years.

ADN Program Available

Public Poughkeepsie, NY

With annual in-state tuition at $5,670, Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, New York is among the more affordable public options in the region. Graduates earn a median of $43,929 within ten years.

ADN Program Available

Public Parkersburg, WV

With annual in-state tuition at $4,612, West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg, West Virginia is among the more affordable public options in the region. Graduates earn a median of $35,171 within ten years.

3 Nursing Programs Available

ADN, BSN, RN-BSN

Public Baton Rouge, LA

With annual in-state tuition at $4,321, Baton Rouge Community College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is among the more affordable public options in the region. The school reports a 21% graduation rate.

ADN Program Available

C

Public Beeville, TX

With annual in-state tuition at $4,776, Coastal Bend College in Beeville, Texas is among the more affordable public options in the region. It offers 2 nursing programs across various degree levels.

2 Nursing Programs Available

ADN, LPN

J

Public Watertown, NY

A public institution, Jefferson Community College serves students in Watertown, New York. Graduates earn a median of $39,991 within ten years.

ADN Program Available

Public Burlington, VT

University of Vermont provides nursing education from its campus in Burlington, Vermont. Annual in-state tuition is $19,058.

9 Nursing Programs Available

BSN, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-AGNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-FNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert

Public Kingston, RI

A public institution, University of Rhode Island serves students in Kingston, Rhode Island. Annual in-state tuition is $16,942.

12 Nursing Programs Available

BSN, BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-BSN-Cert, Post-MSN-Cert

Public Juneau, AK

A public institution, University of Alaska Southeast serves students in Juneau, Alaska. Annual in-state tuition is $7,056.

2 Nursing Programs Available

ADN, BSN

K

Public East Liverpool, OH

Kent State University at East Liverpool is a smaller public institution in East Liverpool, Ohio with about 1,196 students. Annual in-state tuition is $7,492.

ADN Program Available

Public Fresno, CA

With annual in-state tuition at $1,334, Fresno City College in Fresno, California is among the more affordable public options in the region. Graduates earn a median of $37,361 within ten years.

2 Nursing Programs Available

ADN, LPN

Public Tuscaloosa, AL

One of the larger institutions in the state, The University of Alabama is a public school in Tuscaloosa, Alabama with over 40,846 students. Annual in-state tuition is $12,180.

12 Nursing Programs Available

BSN, BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-AGNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NL, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, PhD

S

Public Lincoln, NE

With annual in-state tuition at $3,690, Southeast Community College Area in Lincoln, Nebraska is among the more affordable public options in the region. Total enrollment is about 10,800 students.

ADN Program Available

Public New York, NY

With annual in-state tuition at $5,170, CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College in New York, New York is among the more affordable public options in the region. The school reports a 25% graduation rate.

ADN Program Available

Public Salt Lake City, UT

One of the larger institutions in the state, University of Utah is a public school in Salt Lake City, Utah with over 36,894 students. The school reports a 64% graduation rate.

12 Nursing Programs Available

BSN, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-AGNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NL, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert

I

Public Spindale, NC

With annual in-state tuition at $2,030, Isothermal Community College in Spindale, North Carolina is among the more affordable public options in the region. Total enrollment is about 1,918 students.

ADN Program Available

U

Public Cincinnati, OH

One of the larger institutions in the state, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus is a public school in Cincinnati, Ohio with over 45,026 students. The acceptance rate is 85%.

16 Nursing Programs Available

ADN, BSN, BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NE, DNP-PMHNP, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-BSN-Cert, Post-MSN-Cert, RN-BSN

Public Sacramento, CA

One of the larger institutions in the state, California State University-Sacramento is a public school in Sacramento, California with over 31,943 students. The school reports a 55% graduation rate.

5 Nursing Programs Available

BSN, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP

Public Columbia, MO

One of the larger institutions in the state, University of Missouri-Columbia is a public school in Columbia, Missouri with over 31,543 students. The acceptance rate is 78%.

7 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert

# School Name Location In-State Completion Rate Programs Compare
451 George Mason University Fairfax, VA $14,220 69.9% 7
452 Western Nebraska Community College Scottsbluff, NE $3,840 34.5% 1
453 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton, GA $3,268 94% 3
454 University of Houston Houston, TX $9,717 64.1% 4
455 Southwestern College Chula Vista, CA $1,344 31.4% 2
456 University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, NC $7,277 72.5% 11
457 Central Community College Grand Island, NE $3,360 43.6% 1
458 Dutchess Community College Poughkeepsie, NY $5,670 28.2% 1
459 West Virginia University at Parkersburg Parkersburg, WV $4,612 9.1% 3
460 Baton Rouge Community College Baton Rouge, LA $4,321 21% 1
461 Coastal Bend College Beeville, TX $4,776 15.5% 2
462 Jefferson Community College Watertown, NY $6,264 26.7% 1
463 University of Vermont Burlington, VT $19,058 77.2% 9
464 University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI $16,942 71.4% 12
465 University of Alaska Southeast Juneau, AK $7,056 82.9% 2
466 Kent State University at East Liverpool East Liverpool, OH $7,492 97.4% 1
467 Fresno City College Fresno, CA $1,334 23.5% 2
468 The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL $12,180 73.5% 12
469 Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE $3,690 28.6% 1
470 CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College New York, NY $5,170 24.9% 1
471 University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT $9,620 64.2% 12
472 Isothermal Community College Spindale, NC $2,030 50.9% 1
473 University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, OH $13,976 71.8% 16
474 California State University-Sacramento Sacramento, CA $8,018 55.1% 5
475 University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO $14,837 75.7% 7
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