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 2024 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.

2024 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 Ranked Nursing Schools

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

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.

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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