Exclusive · 2026 National RankingsNew · Hospital clinical partnerships scored

Best Nursing Schools — ranked on outcomes and hospital training access

Most rankings stop at NCLEX pass rates. We go further: every school is scored on verified hospital partnerships, clinical placement support, simulation labs, and hire pipelines — so you can see who offers real hands-on training, not just classroom credit.

71
Schools ranked
100/100
Top clinical
81
Avg. clinical
21
Exceptional clinical

What makes our rankings different

Hospital partnerships matter as much as pass rates

Nursing isn't learned in a lecture hall alone. We research each school's affiliated hospitals, whether placements are school-coordinated or student-arranged, Magnet and academic medical center partners, simulation facilities, and documented hire pathways — then bake it into every ranking.

How we score clinical access
  • Named hospital partners
    Verified health systems where students rotate
  • Placement coordination
    School-arranged vs. find-your-own-site burden
  • Magnet & AMC affiliates
    High-acuity training at top-tier facilities
  • Hire pipelines
    Nurse residency and interview pathways

Top clinical training access

Schools with the strongest verified hospital partnerships and placement support — regardless of overall Opportunity Score rank.

  1. 1
    Sacred Heart University

    Yale New Haven Health · Hartford HealthCare · St. Vincent’s Medical Center + more

    100Exceptional
  2. 2
    Case Western Reserve University

    University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center · Cleveland Clinic · VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System + more

    100Exceptional
  3. 3
    Boston College

    Boston Medical Center · Brigham and Women’s Hospital · Massachusetts General Hospital + more

    100Exceptional
  4. 4
    Ohio State University

    The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center · James Cancer Hospital & Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC–James) · Nationwide Children’s Hospital

    100Exceptional
  5. 5
    University of Illinois Chicago

    UI Health System · Cook County Health · University of Chicago Medicine + more

    100Exceptional

The podium

Highest Opportunity Scores — NCLEX, clinical access, affordability, and more

Scoring methodology →

Full 2026 rankings

Every school with a verified Opportunity Score, #4 through #71. Clinical scores show hospital partnership strength — tap a school for the full partner list.

5

University of Florida

EliteFLCCNE
North Florida Regional Medical CenterMalcom Randall Veterans Affairs Medical CenterShands Jacksonville
98%
NCLEX
88/100
Clinical
Exceptional
$33,000
Tuition
7

University of Cincinnati

Top tierOHCCNE
UC HealthCincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical CenterVeterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati
95%
NCLEX
70/100
Clinical
Strong
$22,560
Tuition
8

University of South Florida

Top tierFLCCNE
All Children’s HospitalFlorida Hospital TampaHCA Hospitals
97%
NCLEX
63/100
Clinical
Moderate
$22,080
Tuition
9

Regis College

Top tierMACCNE
Massachusetts General HospitalBrigham and Women’s HospitalBoston Children’s Hospital
100%
NCLEX
75/100
Clinical
Strong
$46,800
Tuition
10

Sacred Heart University

Top tierCTCCNE
Yale New Haven HealthHartford HealthCareSt. Vincent’s Medical Center
98%
NCLEX
100/100
Clinical
Exceptional
$46,000
Tuition
16

Arizona State University

Top tierAZCCNE
Banner HealthPhoenix Children’s HospitalMayo Clinic Arizona
95%
NCLEX
65/100
Clinical
Moderate
$22,240
Tuition
17

Marquette University

Top tierWICCNE
FroedtertAscensionChildren’s Wisconsin
100%
NCLEX
83/100
Clinical
Strong
$55,000
Tuition
18

Vanderbilt University

Top tierTNCCNE
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
97%
NCLEX
97/100
Clinical
Exceptional
$59,000
Tuition
19

Villanova University

Top tierPACCNE
Crozer-Chester Medical Center
96%
NCLEX
83/100
Clinical
Strong
$48,375
Tuition
22

Indiana State University

StrongINCCNE
Union HospitalGreene County General HospitalSt. Vincent Williamsport Hospital
89%
NCLEX
65/100
Clinical
Moderate
$20,500
Tuition
23

Case Western Reserve University

StrongOHCCNE
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical CenterCleveland ClinicVA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System
95%
NCLEX
100/100
Clinical
Exceptional
$63,600
Tuition
24

DePaul University

StrongILCCNE
Holy Cross HospitalAdvocate MasonicGlenbrook Hospital
97%
NCLEX
83/100
Clinical
Strong
$52,500
Tuition
27

Aspen University

StrongCOCCNE
Johns Hopkins All Children’s HospitalCare Connections at HomeGlobal Nurse Network
—
NCLEX
88/100
Clinical
Exceptional
$18,000
Tuition
28

Loyola University Chicago

StrongILCCNE
Loyola MedicineNorthwestern MedicineNear North Health
96%
NCLEX
97/100
Clinical
Exceptional
$62,400
Tuition
29

Seton Hall University

StrongNJCCNE
Bayshore Medical CenterChilton Medical CenterCommunity Medical Center at Toms River
97%
NCLEX
65/100
Clinical
Moderate
$52,500
Tuition
32

Boston College

StrongMACCNE
Boston Medical CenterBrigham and Women’s HospitalMassachusetts General Hospital
98%
NCLEX
100/100
Clinical
Exceptional
$82,000
Tuition
33

Drexel University

StrongPACCNE
Children’s Hospital of PhiladelphiaThomas Jefferson University HospitalPenn Medicine
—
NCLEX
83/100
Clinical
Strong
$28,148
Tuition
34

Georgetown University

StrongDCCCNE
MedStar Health systemMedStar Georgetown University Hospital
100%
NCLEX
94/100
Clinical
Exceptional
$80,000
Tuition
37

Duke University

CompetitiveNCCCNE
Duke University Health System
95%
NCLEX
88/100
Clinical
Exceptional
$78,000
Tuition
40

Ohio State University

CompetitiveOHCCNE
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical CenterJames Cancer Hospital & Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC–James)Nationwide Children’s Hospital
—
NCLEX
100/100
Clinical
Exceptional
$37,500
Tuition
41

Emory University

CompetitiveGACCNE
Emory HealthcareChildren’s Healthcare of AtlantaAtlanta VA Medical Center
95%
NCLEX
83/100
Clinical
Strong
$80,000
Tuition
42

Maryville University

CompetitiveMOCCNE
Barnes-JewishSt. Louis Children’s HospitalSSM Healthcare
—
NCLEX
45/100
Clinical
Limited
$22,260
Tuition
44

University of Maryland — Baltimore

CompetitiveMDCCNE
Frederick Health HospitalHoly Cross HospitalLuminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center
—
NCLEX
95/100
Clinical
Exceptional
$38,900
Tuition
46

Gonzaga University

CompetitiveWACCNE
Providence Sacred Heart Medical CenterChildren’s HospitalProvidence Holy Family Hospital
—
NCLEX
19/100
Clinical
Minimal
$21,870
Tuition
50

University of Illinois Chicago

CompetitiveILCCNE
UI Health SystemCook County HealthUniversity of Chicago Medicine
—
NCLEX
100/100
Clinical
Exceptional
$44,000
Tuition
55

Jacksonville University

CompetitiveFLCCNE
Baptist HealthAscension St. Vincent’sWolfson Children’s Hospital
—
NCLEX
100/100
Clinical
Exceptional
$53,000
Tuition
58

Brookline College

CompetitiveAZACEN
Honor HealthPhoenix Children’s HospitalPresbyterian Healthcare Services
79%
NCLEX
45/100
Clinical
Limited
$28,000
Tuition
61

Johns Hopkins University

DevelopingMDCCNE
Kennedy Krieger InstituteGreater Baltimore Medical CenterMount Washington Pediatric Hospital
—
NCLEX
90/100
Clinical
Exceptional
$76,500
Tuition
62

Rush University

DevelopingILCCNE
Rush University Medical CenterAdvocate Christ Medical CenterAnn & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital
—
NCLEX
88/100
Clinical
Exceptional
$72,000
Tuition
63

Simmons University

DevelopingMACCNE
Massachusetts General HospitalBrigham and Women’s HospitalBoston Children’s Hospital
80%
NCLEX
65/100
Clinical
Moderate
$71,100
Tuition
65

ECPI University

DevelopingVAACEN
Orlando Regional Medical CenterWinnie Palmer HospitalArnold Palmer Hospital for Children
79%
NCLEX
83/100
Clinical
Strong
$45,000
Tuition
67

University of Pennsylvania

DevelopingPACCNE
Hospital of the University of PennsylvaniaChildren’s Hospital of PhiladelphiaPenn Medicine research complex
—
NCLEX
100/100
Clinical
Exceptional
$108,000
Tuition
69

Yale University

DevelopingCTCCNE
Yale New Haven HospitalYale New Haven Health
—
NCLEX
92/100
Clinical
Exceptional
$88,200
Tuition
71

Lincoln College of Technology

DevelopingNJACEN
Bayada Home Health CareBerkshire PlaceEvergreen House Health Center
71%
NCLEX
83/100
Clinical
Strong
$25,000
Tuition

Reading the Clinical score

The Clinical column reflects hospital partnership depth — 10% of the Opportunity Score.

85–100
Exceptional
Extensive hospital network, strong placement support
70–84
Strong
Multiple verified partners, solid coordination
55–69
Moderate
Adequate access, some student coordination
40–54
Limited
Few partners or heavy self-placement
Below 40
Minimal
Little verified affiliation data

Reading the Opportunity Score

90–100
Elite
Exceptional balance of outcomes and value
80–89
Top tier
Standout performance across most inputs
70–79
Strong
Above-average on multiple factors
55–69
Competitive
Solid option with clear trade-offs
Below 55
Developing
Room to improve on key metrics

Keep exploring

Rankings are a starting point. Dig into state hubs, salary data, and program guides to find the right fit for your goals.

Best schools in CaliforniaBest schools in TexasBest schools in FloridaNCLEX pass rates by stateRN salary by stateOnline nursing programsCheapest online BSNBest RN-to-BSN programsHow we score schoolsBrowse all schools

Hospital clinical partnerships

No other nursing school ranking scores verified hospital affiliations and placement support. We research named partners, Magnet hospitals, simulation labs, and hire pipelines so you can tell which schools offer real training access — not just classroom hours on a syllabus.

Clinical scoring methodology →

About the Opportunity Score

Seven verified inputs, one composite score. Weights: NCLEX (27%), tuition (18%), graduation (13%), faculty ratio (10%), flexibility (10%), job market (12%), clinical partnerships (10%). 964 schools pending score computation. Full methodology.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Nursing School Opportunity Score?
The Opportunity Score is a proprietary 0–100 composite that blends NCLEX pass rate (27%), tuition affordability (18%), graduation rate (13%), student/faculty ratio (10%), online flexibility (10%), job-market strength (12%), and clinical hospital partnerships (10%). Missing inputs are excluded and remaining weights are redistributed proportionally.
How do you score hospital clinical partnerships?
We research each school's named hospital and health-system affiliates, whether clinical placements are school-coordinated or student-arranged, Magnet and academic medical center partners, simulation lab access, and documented nurse residency or hire pipelines. Schools with extensive verified networks and strong placement support score higher; schools where students must find their own sites score lower. The Clinical score is 10% of the Opportunity Score and appears on every ranked school card.
How are schools ranked on this page?
Schools are sorted by Opportunity Score from highest to lowest. Only active schools with a computed score appear in the ranked list. Schools without enough verified inputs to produce a score are excluded until data is available.
Does a high Opportunity Score guarantee admission or outcomes?
No. The score summarizes publicly available outcome, cost, and market signals — it is not a guarantee of admission, employment, or licensure success. Always verify requirements, accreditation, and costs directly with each school before applying.
How often are Opportunity Scores updated?
Scores are recomputed when underlying school and program data changes, typically on a nightly batch run. This rankings page refreshes daily via ISR so new scores appear within 24 hours of the batch completing.

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