Best 20 Nursing Schools in New York: A Complete Guide for Future Nurses

Choosing where to study nursing is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in your healthcare career, and New York happens to be one of the richest states in the country for that decision. Between world-class teaching hospitals, a huge SUNY and CUNY public system, and respected private universities, the nursing schools in New York offer something for almost every budget, learning style, and career goal.

In this guide, we break down the best 20 nursing schools in New York, explain how to evaluate them, and walk through everything from admission requirements to NCLEX pass rates and career outlook. Whether you’re a high school senior weighing a BSN, a career-changer looking at accelerated programs, or a working RN ready to pursue an MSN or DNP, you’ll find practical direction here.

If you want an even deeper dive with side-by-side rankings, our companion resource, the 2025 rankings and complete guide to nursing schools in New York, is worth bookmarking alongside this article.

Why New York Is a Strong State to Study Nursing

New York consistently ranks among the top states for registered nurse employment, and that’s not an accident. The state is home to hundreds of hospitals, long-term care facilities, community health centers, and specialty clinics that all need a steady pipeline of trained nurses. As a result, nursing students in New York often get access to clinical placements at major medical centers that students in smaller states simply don’t have.

In addition, New York’s public university systems, SUNY and CUNY, keep tuition relatively affordable compared to many private nursing programs elsewhere in the country. That means you can often get a rigorous nursing education without taking on the same debt load you might elsewhere.

Finally, New York passed legislation requiring many RNs to earn a BSN within ten years of licensure (the so-called “BSN in 10” law) means employers across the state are increasingly prioritizing candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree, or who are actively working toward one. This creates a strong incentive to start with a BSN program rather than an associate degree if you can manage it, though ADN-to-BSN bridge programs remain widely available for those who start at a community college.

Put simply, New York offers a rare combination of clinical opportunity, academic rigor, and career stability. The state’s nursing shortage isn’t disappearing anytime soon, which means graduates from reputable programs tend to have their pick of job offers, sign-on bonuses, and loan repayment incentives.

How We Chose These 20 Nursing Schools

Ranking nursing schools isn’t as simple as looking at a single number. We weighed several factors that actually matter to prospective students and to the hospitals that eventually hire them:

• NCLEX-RN pass rates over multiple years, since this is the clearest indicator of how well a program prepares students for licensure.
• Program variety, including whether the school offers BSN, accelerated BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP, or dual-degree tracks.
• Clinical partnerships with hospitals and health systems, which affect the quality and breadth of hands-on training.
• Accreditation status from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
• Affordability and financial aid, since tuition varies dramatically between public SUNY/CUNY schools and private universities.
• Graduate outcomes, such as employment rates within six months of graduation and reputation among regional employers.

With that framework in mind, here’s our list of the 20 best nursing schools in New York, presented roughly in order of overall strength but with something to offer at every stage of a nursing career.

The Best 20 Nursing Schools in New York

1. Columbia University School of Nursing

Columbia is arguably the most prestigious nursing program in the state. Its accelerated BSN pathway is designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field, letting them earn a nursing degree in a condensed timeline. Columbia also offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with multiple specialty tracks, including psychiatric-mental health and adult-gerontology primary care. Admission is competitive, typically requiring a strong GPA, prerequisite science coursework, and a compelling personal statement. Graduates consistently report high NCLEX pass rates and strong placement into New York City’s top hospital systems.

2. NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing

NYU’s nursing school is known for its research output and its access to some of the busiest clinical sites in Manhattan. The traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, and RN-to-BSN programs all benefit from NYU’s extensive hospital affiliations. Meyers also runs a well-regarded MSN and DNP program for nurses looking to move into advanced practice roles such as nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist. Class sizes are larger than some other private schools, but the sheer volume of clinical placement opportunities makes up for it.

3. University of Rochester School of Nursing

Located within the University of Rochester Medical Center, this program gives students unusually close ties to an academic medical center from day one. The accelerated BSN program is popular among career-changers, and the school’s simulation labs are frequently cited by students as some of the best in the state. Rochester also offers a strong DNP program with a focus on leadership and health policy.

4. Stony Brook University School of Nursing

As part of the SUNY system, Stony Brook offers one of the more affordable paths to a BSN without sacrificing quality. The school benefits from its connection to Stony Brook University Hospital, a major Level 1 trauma center on Long Island. Stony Brook’s nursing programs span BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, and DNP, with specialty tracks in areas like psychiatric-mental health nursing and family nurse practitioner studies.

5. Binghamton University Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Decker College has built a strong reputation in upstate New York for its rigorous curriculum and community health focus. Binghamton’s BSN program includes early clinical exposure, and its accelerated second-degree option is a good fit for career-changers. The college also runs graduate programs for nurse practitioners and nurse educators, which is helpful for those planning to eventually teach nursing themselves.

6. University at Buffalo School of Nursing

UB’s nursing school offers one of the most comprehensive programs in Western New York, from a traditional BSN through to a PhD in nursing for those interested in research careers. The school’s ties to several Buffalo-area hospital systems give students access to diverse clinical rotations, and its RN-to-BSN online option is popular among working nurses who need flexibility.

7. SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Nursing

Based in Syracuse, SUNY Upstate combines an academic medical center environment with SUNY affordability. Its BSN program is well regarded, and the college also offers accelerated options plus a DNP with tracks in nurse anesthesia, an increasingly in-demand specialty that comes with excellent long-term earning potential.

8. Hunter College (CUNY) School of Nursing

Hunter’s nursing program is one of the strongest options within the CUNY system and one of the most affordable four-year BSN programs in New York City. The school draws a diverse student body and has strong ties to NYC Health + Hospitals facilities, giving students real-world exposure to a broad range of patient populations. Hunter also offers a well-established RN-to-BSN track and graduate programs for nurse practitioners.

9. Pace University College of Health Professions

Pace, with campuses in New York City and Pleasantville, offers a traditional BSN as well as an accelerated program for second-degree students. The school emphasizes leadership development alongside clinical skills, and its location gives students access to a wide network of hospitals across the metro area. Pace also has graduate programs for those pursuing nurse practitioner certification.

10. Adelphi University College of Nursing and Public Health

Adelphi, on Long Island, is known for a supportive, smaller-cohort learning environment compared to some of the larger city schools. Its BSN program includes an honors track for high-achieving students, and its accelerated program is a common choice for career-changers with prior degrees. Adelphi’s graduate nursing programs cover several nurse practitioner specialties as well as nursing education and administration.

11. Molloy University Barbara H. Hagan School of Nursing

Molloy has quietly built one of the more respected nursing programs on Long Island, with strong NCLEX outcomes and a reputation for personalized advising. Both traditional and accelerated BSN tracks are available, along with graduate programs for nurse practitioners and clinical nurse leaders.

12. D’Youville University School of Nursing

Based in Buffalo, D’Youville offers an unusually flexible set of nursing pathways, including a direct-entry program for high school students who want to move straight into a BSN track. The school also has DNP options, making it possible for students to plan out a long academic pathway from entry-level nursing all the way to doctoral-level practice within a single institution.

13. Wagner College Department of Nursing

Located on Staten Island, Wagner’s nursing program benefits from a small, tight-knit academic community combined with access to New York City clinical sites. The BSN curriculum integrates Wagner’s signature experiential learning philosophy, meaning students get hands-on practice earlier than at many larger schools.

14. Long Island University School of Nursing

LIU offers nursing programs across its Brooklyn and Post campuses, giving students a choice between an urban or suburban learning environment. Both campuses offer BSN and RN-to-BSN pathways, and LIU has expanded its graduate nursing offerings in recent years to include several nurse practitioner concentrations.

15. St. John Fisher University Wegmans School of Nursing

Located in Rochester, the Wegmans School of Nursing is known for close faculty mentorship and consistently strong licensure outcomes. The accelerated BSN program is particularly popular, and the school’s DNP program has a strong regional reputation among Rochester-area hospital systems.

16. Utica University School of Health Professions and Education

Utica has built a niche as a flexible option for both traditional students and working adults, offering online and hybrid RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN pathways alongside its on-campus BSN. This flexibility makes it a strong choice for nurses in more rural parts of upstate New York who need to keep working while they study.

17. Mercy University School of Health and Natural Sciences

Mercy, based in Dobbs Ferry with additional campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan, has grown its nursing program significantly and now offers BSN, accelerated BSN, and graduate nurse practitioner tracks. The school’s multiple campus locations give students some choice in clinical placement region.

18. Nazareth University Wehle School of Nursing

Nazareth, in Rochester, offers a BSN program with a strong emphasis on community and public health nursing, along with graduate programs for nurse practitioners and nurse educators. Its smaller class sizes tend to appeal to students who want more direct faculty interaction.

19. Russell Sage College Department of Nursing

Russell Sage, in the Albany area, offers a well-regarded BSN with strong regional hospital connections in the Capital District. The school’s accelerated program and RN-to-BSN track make it a flexible option for students at different stages of their nursing careers.

20. Excelsior University School of Nursing

Excelsior rounds out the list as the go-to option for working RNs who need a fully online, flexible path to a BSN or MSN. While it isn’t a traditional campus-based program, its accreditation, affordability, and flexibility have made it one of the most popular choices for nurses balancing full-time work with continuing education.

Types of Nursing Programs You’ll Find in New York

Not every nursing school offers the same menu of programs, and choosing the right degree type matters just as much as choosing the right school. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you’ll typically encounter:

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

Usually a two-year program offered through community colleges, an ADN is the fastest and most affordable way to become licensed as an RN. Because of New York’s BSN-in-10 requirement, many ADN graduates plan from the outset to continue into an RN-to-BSN bridge program.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

A four-year degree that combines general education, nursing theory, and extensive clinical rotations. Most hospitals, especially Magnet-designated facilities in New York City, now prefer or require a BSN for new hires.

Accelerated BSN

Designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another subject, these programs compress the nursing curriculum into 12 to 18 months. They’re intense, but they’re a popular route for career-changers who don’t want to start a degree from scratch.

RN-to-BSN

For licensed RNs who started with an associate degree, this pathway lets them complete bachelor’s-level coursework, often online or in hybrid formats, while continuing to work.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

An MSN opens the door to advanced practice roles such as nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife, or nurse anesthetist, as well as leadership and education positions.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and PhD in Nursing

The DNP is a clinical doctorate for nurses aiming for the highest levels of advanced practice or health system leadership, while a PhD in nursing is generally geared toward research and academic careers.

Admission Requirements: What to Expect

While every school sets its own specific criteria, most New York nursing programs share a common set of admission expectations:

1. Prerequisite coursework in anatomy and physiology, microbiology, chemistry, and statistics, usually with a minimum grade requirement.
2. A competitive GPA, often 3.0 or higher for BSN programs and even higher for accelerated and graduate tracks.
3. Standardized entrance exams, such as the TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills), though a growing number of schools have dropped this requirement in recent years.
4. Letters of recommendation from academic or professional references familiar with your work ethic and character.
5. A personal statement or essay explaining your motivation for pursuing nursing, especially important for accelerated and graduate applicants.
6. Background check and immunization records, required before clinical placements begin, since students will be working directly with patients.

Graduate programs typically add requirements like an active RN license, a minimum number of years of clinical experience, and in some cases, a graduate-level entrance exam or interview.

NCLEX Pass Rates: Why They Matter

The NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination) is the exam every nursing graduate must pass to become a licensed RN. A school’s NCLEX pass rate is one of the clearest, most objective ways to compare programs, because it reflects how well the curriculum actually prepares students for real-world licensure standards, not just how selective the admissions process is.

Most of the schools on this list report NCLEX pass rates in the high 80s to mid-90s percent range, which is generally considered strong. When comparing schools, look at multi-year trends rather than a single year’s data, since a single class can skew results. Also pay attention to whether the pass rate is for first-time test takers, since repeat-taker statistics can make a program look better than it actually performs for typical students.

Career Outlook for Nurses in New York

New York’s nursing job market remains strong across nearly every specialty and setting. Registered nurses can expect solid demand in hospitals, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities, school health offices, and public health departments. Nurses who pursue advanced practice degrees, especially nurse practitioners, often see even stronger demand, partly because New York expanded scope-of-practice laws that let experienced nurse practitioners work with greater independence.

Specialty areas worth considering include:

• Critical care and emergency nursing, which tend to offer higher pay and faster career advancement due to the intensity of the work.
• Labor and delivery and women’s health nursing, an area closely tied to the kind of specialized care you’d also see discussed by professionals like a gynecologist in New York City, since maternal-fetal nursing teams work hand in hand with OB/GYN specialists.
• Psychiatric-mental health nursing, a fast-growing field given the ongoing demand for mental health services statewide.
• Nurse anesthesia, one of the highest-paying advanced practice roles, requiring a DNP and extensive critical care experience beforehand.
• School and community health nursing, a lower-stress path that appeals to nurses who want regular hours and a strong work-life balance.

Salaries vary widely by region and setting, with New York City and Long Island generally paying more than upstate areas, though the cost of living difference often evens things out. Regardless of where you land, a nursing license from an accredited New York program travels well, and many graduates eventually relocate or pursue multi-state compact licensure if it becomes available for New York in the future.

How to Choose the Right Nursing School for You

With 20 strong options on this list alone, narrowing things down can feel overwhelming. Here are a few practical questions to guide your decision:

What’s your starting point?

High school seniors should look closely at traditional four-year BSN programs, while career-changers with an existing bachelor’s degree should prioritize accelerated BSN options. Working RNs with an associate degree should focus on flexible RN-to-BSN programs that fit around a work schedule.

How important is location?

If you want to stay close to family or plan to work in a specific region after graduation, choose a school with strong clinical partnerships in that area. Schools in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, the Capital Region, and Western New York each have distinct hospital networks and job markets.

What can you actually afford?

Public SUNY and CUNY schools generally offer the lowest tuition, especially for New York residents, while private universities may offer more generous scholarships that offset a higher sticker price. Always compare net cost after financial aid, not the advertised tuition rate.

Do you already know your long-term specialty?

If you already know you want to become a nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, or nurse educator, it can be worth choosing an undergraduate program at a school that also has a strong graduate program in that specialty, since some schools offer smoother pathways for their own BSN graduates into their MSN or DNP tracks.

Tips for a Successful Nursing School Application

Once you’ve narrowed down your list, a few practical steps can meaningfully improve your chances of acceptance:

• Start prerequisite coursework early and aim for strong grades in science classes specifically, since admissions committees weigh these heavily.
• Gain some healthcare exposure before applying, whether through volunteering, shadowing, or working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) or medical scribe.
• Apply to a mix of reach schools and safer options, since competitive BSN and accelerated programs can have acceptance rates well under 50 percent.
• Request letters of recommendation well in advance and choose recommenders who can speak specifically to your reliability and compassion, not just your academic performance.
• Proofread your personal statement carefully and have someone else review it, since a well-written essay can genuinely set you apart in a competitive applicant pool.

If you’re weighing nursing against other health-focused or professional degree paths, it can also help to look at how other fields structure their programs. For example, our guide to business schools in New York covers a similar decision-making framework for students torn between healthcare and business-oriented careers, which can be a useful comparison if you’re still exploring your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it hard to get into nursing school in New York?

Competitiveness varies widely by school and program type. Traditional BSN programs at large public universities like SUNY schools tend to have moderate acceptance rates, while accelerated BSN programs and top-tier private schools like Columbia and NYU are significantly more competitive. Community college ADN programs are generally the easiest entry point, though many still have waitlists.

How long does nursing school take in New York?

An ADN typically takes two years, a traditional BSN takes four years, and an accelerated BSN for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree usually takes 12 to 18 months. RN-to-BSN bridge programs generally take one to two years part-time, and MSN or DNP programs can take anywhere from two to four years depending on enrollment status and specialty.

Do I need a BSN to work as a nurse in New York?

Not immediately. You can become licensed with an ADN, but New York’s BSN-in-10 law requires most RNs to earn a BSN within ten years of initial licensure. Because of this, many hospitals now strongly prefer BSN-prepared nurses even for entry-level positions.

Which New York nursing school has the best NCLEX pass rate?

Pass rates fluctuate year to year, but schools like Columbia, NYU, University of Rochester, and Stony Brook have consistently reported strong first-time pass rates in recent years. It’s worth checking each school’s most recent published data directly, since rankings can shift.

Can I become a nurse practitioner after getting my BSN in New York?

Yes. After earning a BSN and gaining clinical experience as an RN, you can pursue an MSN or DNP with a nurse practitioner concentration. Many of the schools on this list, including Adelphi, Stony Brook, and SUNY Upstate, offer well-established nurse practitioner programs across specialties like family practice, psychiatric-mental health, and adult-gerontology.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a nursing school is one of the most consequential decisions you’ll make in your career, and New York genuinely gives you an unusual amount of good options to choose from. Whether you’re drawn to the prestige and research opportunities at a place like Columbia or NYU, the affordability and strong regional ties of a SUNY or CUNY school, or the flexibility of an online RN-to-BSN program through a school like Excelsior, there’s a legitimate path here for almost every kind of student.

Take the time to visit campuses if you can, talk to current students or recent graduates, and look closely at each school’s clinical partnerships and NCLEX outcomes before making your final decision. Nursing is a demanding field, but it’s also one of the most stable and rewarding careers available, and starting at the right school in New York can set you up for decades of meaningful work.