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Explore the top 25 accredited nursing schools offering Master of Science in Nursing - Clinical Nurse Specialist (MSN-CNS) programs, ranked using the allnurses School Score — a 100-point index across 12 federal IPEDS & College Scorecard metrics, including NCLEX pass rates, graduation rates, and net cost. Scores reflect overall school quality, not the MSN-CNS program alone.
Data Last updated: May 16, 2026
Sources:
IPEDS /
College Scorecard / Editorial Team
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 #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
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
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
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
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
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
