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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.

Top Public Nursing Schools Public Los Angeles, CA

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.

8 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD

With annual in-state tuition at $5,278, Snead State Community College in Boaz, Alabama is among the more affordable public options in the region. The school reports a 49% graduation rate.

ADN Program Available

Top Public Nursing Schools Public Grand Forks, ND

Based in Grand Forks, North Dakota, University of North Dakota is a public institution. The school reports a 63% graduation rate.

10 Nursing Programs Available

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

Top Public Nursing Schools Public Cupertino, CA

With annual in-state tuition at $1,571, De Anza College in Cupertino, California is among the more affordable public options in the region. The school reports a 67% graduation rate.

ADN Program Available

Top Public Nursing Schools Public Morgantown, WV

West Virginia University is a public institution in Morgantown, West Virginia. Total enrollment is about 23,600 students.

10 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE, PhD

Top Public Nursing Schools Public University, MS

A public institution, University of Mississippi serves students in University, Mississippi. Annual in-state tuition is $9,772.

12 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-BSN-Cert, Post-MSN-Cert

Top Public Nursing Schools Public Raymond, MS

With annual in-state tuition at $4,250, Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi is among the more affordable public options in the region. Total enrollment is about 8,859 students.

ADN Program Available

Top Public Nursing Schools Public Lake Charles, LA

McNeese State University is a public institution in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Graduates earn a median of $46,453 within ten years.

13 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, ADN, BSN, BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE, Post-MSN-Cert, RN-BSN

Top Public Nursing Schools Public Lexington, KY

One of the larger institutions in the state, University of Kentucky is a public school in Lexington, Kentucky with over 34,709 students. Annual in-state tuition is $13,502.

10 Nursing Programs Available

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

I

With annual in-state tuition at $3,420, Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Mississippi is among the more affordable public options in the region. The school reports a 48% graduation rate.

ADN Program Available

N

Top Public Nursing Schools Public Rainsville, AL

With annual in-state tuition at $5,040, Northeast Alabama Community College in Rainsville, Alabama is among the more affordable public options in the region. Total enrollment is about 3,208 students.

ADN Program Available

W

Top Public Nursing Schools Public Morganton, NC

With annual in-state tuition at $2,650, Western Piedmont Community College in Morganton, North Carolina is among the more affordable public options in the region. The school reports a 38% graduation rate.

ADN Program Available

Top Public Nursing Schools Public Dickinson, ND

Dickinson State University is a smaller public institution in Dickinson, North Dakota with about 1,410 students. Graduates earn a median of $50,720 within ten years.

BSN Program Available

Based in Murray, Kentucky, Murray State University is a public institution. Graduates earn a median of $44,737 within ten years.

10 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP, MSN, MSN-FNP, PhD

Top Public Nursing Schools Public Birmingham, AL

Based in Birmingham, Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public institution. Graduates earn a median of $54,501 within ten years.

13 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NE, DNP-PMHNP, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD

Based in Mobile, Alabama, University of South Alabama is a public institution. Graduates earn a median of $49,379 within ten years.

14 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-AGNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NL, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert

Top Public Nursing Schools Public Rohnert Park, CA

Sonoma State University provides nursing education from its campus in Rohnert Park, California. It offers 7 nursing programs across various degree levels.

7 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, Post-MSN-Cert

Top Public Nursing Schools Public Moorpark, CA

With annual in-state tuition at $1,426, Moorpark College in Moorpark, California is among the more affordable public options in the region. Graduates earn a median of $49,044 within ten years.

ADN Program Available

W

Top Public Nursing Schools Public Cullowhee, NC

With annual in-state tuition at $4,630, Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina is among the more affordable public options in the region. It offers 12 nursing programs across various degree levels.

12 Nursing Programs Available

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

10 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-AGNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP

Top Public Nursing Schools Public Rhinelander, WI

With annual in-state tuition at $4,793, Nicolet Area Technical College in Rhinelander, Wisconsin is among the more affordable public options in the region. Total enrollment is about 1,384 students.

ADN Program Available

Top Public Nursing Schools Public Goodman, MS

With annual in-state tuition at $3,710, Holmes Community College in Goodman, Mississippi is among the more affordable public options in the region. Graduates earn a median of $32,922 within ten years.

ADN Program Available

# School Name Location In-State Completion Rate Programs Compare
26 University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA $15,203 92.6% 8
27 Montclair State University Montclair, NJ $15,912 64.8% 3
28 Snead State Community College Boaz, AL $5,278 48.8% 1
29 University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND $10,951 63.2% 10
30 De Anza College Cupertino, CA $1,571 67.2% 1
31 West Virginia University Morgantown, WV $10,104 61.7% 10
32 Shawnee State University Portsmouth, OH $10,626 97.4% 2
33 University of Mississippi University, MS $9,772 68.1% 12
34 Hinds Community College Raymond, MS $4,250 36% 1
35 Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Bowling Green, KY $4,728 50.9% 1
36 McNeese State University Lake Charles, LA $8,489 49.4% 13
37 University of Kentucky Lexington, KY $13,502 69.3% 10
38 Itawamba Community College Fulton, MS $3,420 47.8% 1
39 Northeast Alabama Community College Rainsville, AL $5,040 52.6% 1
40 Western Piedmont Community College Morganton, NC $2,650 38.1% 1
41 Dickinson State University Dickinson, ND $9,118 43.9% 1
42 Murray State University Murray, KY $9,900 59% 10
43 University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL $9,098 63.4% 13
44 University of South Alabama Mobile, AL $10,116 52.6% 14
45 Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CA $8,624 60.1% 7
46 Moorpark College Moorpark, CA $1,426 43.5% 1
47 Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC $4,630 59.8% 12
48 Fort Hays State University Hays, KS $5,923 49.2% 10
49 Nicolet Area Technical College Rhinelander, WI $4,793 47.6% 1
50 Holmes Community College Goodman, MS $3,710 44.4% 1
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