Your Guide to Nursing Careers
Plan and Advance Your Nursing Career Today With Extensive Guides, Salary Reports, Case Studies, School Rankings, Interviews, Scholarships and Advice
How to Get Started
Find our comprehensive guides to starting or advancing your nursing career. Explore hundreds of nursing careers guides, study our 2025 salary reports, find how-to licensing info for LNPs, RNs or NPs for each state. Compare nursing programs with the best nursing school awards, and see our nursing resource guides for tips on NCLEX test taking and resume writing.
Nursing Careers
Explore how-to become a nurse in over 100 nursing career specialties with step-by-step educational, licensing, certification, and continuing educational requirements with information about career outlook and salary expectations.
Salary Reports
Compare nursing salaries by education level, experience, city, state, projected demand, and more to plan your career path, negotiate your salary expectation as a CNA, LPN, RN, Instructor, Midwife, NP and Anesthetist.
Nursing Licensures
Our state-by-state reports, cover topics like eNLC membership, walk-through and temporary licenses, Nursys membership, licensure by exam or endorsement, license verification, renewal, restoration, and continuing education requirements.
Best Ranked Programs
Compare nursing schools by degree and by state in our reports for ADN Rankings, BSN Rankings, and State-by-State Rankings, RN to BSN, MSN, FNP, MSN to DNP
Nursing Resources
Find mental health support, nursing resumes tips, 100’s nursing scholarships, and inspiration from famous nurses.
2025 Best 250 Nursing Schools
8th Annual Best Ranked Nursing Schools in America
Using NCLEX first-time exam pass rates, program accreditation, number of students taking the exam, and other key data, we ranked every CCNE, ACEN, and state-approved nursing programs throughout the country. You now have a clear and transparent view into what matters to you most when it comes to deciding which nursing program(s) to apply to. Below find the best 250 nursing schools. See our ranking methodology.
Best Nursing Schools Near You
Best BSN Nursing Programs Near You
Best ADN Programs Near You
Best Ranked RN to BSN Programs in Your State
Elevate your nursing career with our curated list of the best RN to BSN programs in each state. Transitioning from a Registered Nurse (RN) to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) opens doors to broader career prospects and deeper clinical knowledge. Our guide spotlights premier programs close to you, paving a well-marked path towards achieving your enhanced nursing ambitions.
See our ranking methodology for RN-to-BSN degree programs.
Best Ranked Accelerated BSN (ABSN) Programs in Your State
We rigorously identify the highest-ranked ABSN programs to accelerate nurses into purposeful practice. These intensive 11-18 month courses combine demanding classwork with clinical training. We’ll guide you to top-tier programs in your state, kickstarting your journey of compassionate care.
Best Ranked Accelerated BSN (ABSN) Programs
Best Nurse Practitioner Programs Near Me
We identified the top nurse practitioner programs for you through rigorous research. These premier schools have a record of graduating career-ready nurses who positively impact lives. Starting with the program best fit for you puts purposeful, meaningful work within reach. Let us guide your first steps towards a future of healing hope.
Best Nurse Practitioner (NP) Methodology
50 Best Nursing Programs in Each State
- RN to BSN Programs in Each State
- MSN Degree Programs in Each State
- MSN to DNP Programs in Each State
- Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Programs in Each State
- Best Nurse Practitioner Programs in Each State
- Best FNP Programs in Each State
- Best Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP in Each State
- Best Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP in Each State
Team Up with Nursing Experts
At RNCareers.org, you will be teaming up with our team of nurse educators, nurse practitioners, DNPs, RNs LPNs and students to explore peer-reviewed articles, advice, data and reports on every aspect of nursing careers.
Lauren Jacobson – MS, RN, WHNP-BC
Lauren is a Registered Nurse and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner who is passionate about global health reproductive rights.
Alison Shely – DNP, FNP-C
Alison is a nurse practitioner, nurse coach, and nurse content writer who specializes in articles, guest blogger, and healthcare worker wellness.
Krystina Ostermeyer – RN, BSN, CDCES
Krystina is an RN with experience in telemetry and stepdown unit, allergy and immunotherapy clinic, and adiabetes education office.
State-by-State Salary Reports
Our comprehensive salary reports combine yearly survey data from 10’s of thousands of respondents, four governments agencies and our data modelers to produce practical reports and data you can use to plan your career, negotiate a raise, or understand the cost-of-living differences between states and cities.
Nursing Assistants – CNAs
$33,250 /year
High school diploma or equivalent, completion of a state-approved CNA training program, and passing of a competency exam
6 months to complete
187,000 yearly openings
8% Job Growth
Registered Nurses
$82,750 /year
Completion of an accredited nursing program (Associate Degree in Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Nursing), passing of the NCLEX-RN exam, and obtaining a state nursing license
2-4 years to complete
194,500 yearly openings
6% Job Growth
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
$51,850 /year
High school diploma or equivalent, completion of a state-approved practical nursing program, passing of the NCLEX-PN exam, and obtaining a state nursing license
1-2 years to complete
60,700 yearly openings
6% Job Growth
Nursing Instructors
$82,040 /year
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, a valid RN license, and experience working as a nurse, teaching experience and/or a teaching certificate or licensure
1-2 years after a BSN
9,000 yearly openings
18% Job Growth
Nurse Practitioners
$82,750 /year
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, a valid RN license, completion of a graduate-level nurse practitioner program, and passing of a national certification exam
2-4 years after a BSN
26,000 yearly openings
40% Job Growth
Nurse Anesthetists
$202,470 /year
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, a valid RN license, completion of a graduate-level nurse anesthesia program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, and passing of the National Certification Examination
2-4 years after a BSN
2,900 yearly openings
40% Job Growth
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