Top Nursing Colleges in the USA: Rankings, Fees, Courses, Eligibility & Scholarships

Nursing Colleges in US offer multiple academic level programs, including diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral. The popular nursing courses in US are Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). These programs are globally recognized and accredited by reputed bodies like the CCNE and ACEN. 

To get admission in Bachelor's Nursing Colleges in US, an Indian student must complete senior secondary school with a minimum 80% or 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 Scale in 12th class. The score eligibility can be different depending on the nursing university. For master's degree admission in nursing programs, you must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing with a minimum 80% or grade B or 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale at the bachelor's level. 

In addition, you must qualify TEAS or HESI for UG programs. Some PG programs use GRE scores as an entrance test. International students also need to submit IELTS or TOEFL scores.

The average tuition fee is $18,000 and $60,000 per annum; the cost can vary depending on the institution and level of the program. The top nursing colleges in US include the University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, Duke University, UCSF and New York University. 

Top Nursing Colleges in US 

The top public and private nursing colleges in US offer a recognized degree to international students. The average tuition fee range is between  $18,000 and $60,000 per annum. The tuition can be different depending on the university. 

List of Government Nursing Colleges in US 

Here is the list of government nursing colleges in US for international students. 

List of Private Nursing Colleges in US 

Check the list of top private nursing colleges for Indian students. 

Best Nursing Colleges for Indian Students

If you want to study abroad, these are the top 10 nursing colleges for Indian students. 

Featured / Partner Nursing Colleges

• Georgetown University
• University of Michigan Ann Arbor
• California State University San Bernardino Campus

Nursing Programs Offered by Colleges in US 

US top universities provide a wide range of nursing programs at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels. The medium of teaching is English for Nursing program at US. The popular nursing programs in US are Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with 4 years duration and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a 2 to 3-year duration. 

Diploma in Nursing Programs

These are the diploma programs with a 1 to 3-year course duration. To get admission in a diploma, you must complete your class 12 with PCB. 

Bachelor of Science in Nursing 

US universities offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with 4 year course duration. Candidate must complete high school with a minimum 80% or 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 Scale in 12th class. 

Post-Basic Nursing Programs

Here is the post-basic nursing program that is available in US nursing colleges for Indian students. 

Master’s in Nursing Programs

US colleges provide Master’s in Nursing with a 1 to 2-year course duration. For master's degree admission, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing with a minimum 80% or grade B or 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale at the bachelor's level. 

Bridging and Accelerated Nursing Programs

Bridge and Accelerated programs are specialized learning programs; their main focus is to assist nurses in upgrading their qualifications and increasing the scope of practice.

How to Choose the Right Nursing College?

Are you planning to study abroad for your nursing degree? You must choose abroad colleges carefully and check these factors while selecting your nursing colleges.

Colleges by Tuition Fees

Here is the table of nursing colleges in US, as per their fee range for Indian students

Colleges by Intake

There are two main intakes for nursing admission in US, fall and spring. Some courses are also offered in summer intake. You can check the application timelines of nursing universities in US through the given table.

Colleges by Location / State

Before choosing a college, you must look at the college's location based on your budget. 

Colleges by Accreditation/ Ranking 2026

Check the table given below for the details about the US top nursing colleges accreditation and ranking 2026. 

Colleges Accepting Indian Students

These are the top Nursing colleges that offer admission to Indian students.  

Eligibility Criteria for Indian Students Applying to Nursing Colleges

To get admission in a top US nursing college, an Indian must complete senior secondary school with a minimum 80% or 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 Scale in 12th class for a nursing bachelor's degree. Master's degree admission for Indian students must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing with a minimum 80% or grade B or 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale at the bachelor's level. 

Academic Requirements 

These are the academic requirements for Indian students:

• Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology
• A minimum 80% or 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 Scale 
• Recognised Indian board
• IELTS or TOEFL iBT score card 

English Language Requirements

Indian students must pass the English proficiency test to get admission in Nursing Colleges in US.

Also Read: How to Prepare for TOEFL 2026

Entrance Exams Required

These are the important entrances required in bachelor's or master's degree in nursing. 

Work Experience

For a bachelor’s degree, students do not need any work experience. For a master’s degree, students usually need 1 to 2 years of clinical training or work experience, which helps strengthen their CV and improves admission chances.

Admission Process for Nursing Colleges in US 

The application process may slightly differ from one university to another. However, the general steps to apply for nursing in US are mentioned below.

Application Timeline for Indian Students

These are the application timelines for Indian students in nursing colleges in the US.

Documents Required from India

• High School Certificate
• Senior Secondary Certificate
• Academic Transcripts
• Subject-wise Transcript Evaluation
• English Translation of Transcripts
• English Proficiency Test Scorecard
• Recommendation Letters
• Bachelor’s Degree Transcripts
• GRE Scorecard
• Updated Resume/CV
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)

Offer Letter and Acceptance Process

After getting selected in Nursing universities, you will receive an offer letter from the university side. You have to accept the offer letter. 

• Conditional offer letter issued after application review
• Offer received via email/portal in 1–3 months
• Accept offer and pay enrollment deposit (2–4 weeks)
• Submit required documents and receive I-20
• Apply for F-1 visa and attend orientation

Tuition Fees and Cost of Studying Nursing in US 

The average tuition fee range is between $18,000 and $60,000 per annum. The tuition fee can vary depending on the college and the level of the program. 

Tuition Fees by College

Here is the tuition fee for nursing colleges in the US for international students. 

Cost of Living by City

Check the table that has the cost of living in US, as per the city, because the cost of living in the US can different as per the city and students' lifestyles. 

Additional College-Specific Costs

These are the additional college specific costs for nursing students.

Scholarships Offered by Nursing Colleges in UK

The top nursing colleges offer scholarships to Indian students. Some of the awards and scholarships offered to international students in the US by organizations are provided below in the table:

College-Specific Scholarships

Here are the scholarship details based on the nursing college in US for international students. 

Merit-Based Scholarships

These are the merit-based scholarships:

• Tammy Flake Honors Award
• Undergraduate Tuition Scholarship
• Graduate Tuition Scholarship
• Promise of Nursing (PON) Faculty Fellowships
• Undergraduate Scholarship Program
• Academic Education Scholarships

Scholarships for Indian Students

These are the scholarships list for Indian students:

• East Tennessee State University International Merit Scholarship
• March of Dimes Undergraduate Nursing Diversity Scholarship
• Slippery Rock University International Student Tuition Waiver
• University of Illinois Chicago Laurette Kirstein Scholarship
• JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship

Accreditation and Recognition of Nursing Colleges in US 

US nursing colleges are accredited by CCNE, ACEN and  NLN CNEA (NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation). 

National Nursing Councils and Boards

These are the US national accreditation bodies: 

• CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education)
• ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing)
• NLN CNEA (NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation)

Recognition in India (INC / State Councils)

Here are the important points about recognition in India: 

• Must be recognized in India to practice or register
• Recognition by INC and State Nursing Councils
• Ensures degree is valid for job or further studies

Licensing Eligibility After Graduation

These are the important points about the nursing licensing eligibility after graduation:

• Graduated from an accredited nursing program (CCNE/ACEN)
• Meet state board requirements
• Pass NCLEX-RN exam
• Submit background checks and documents
• Provide English proficiency proof (if required)

Nursing Colleges Accepting Indian Students

These are the top nursing universities that accept Indian students, but you must meet the university eligibility criteria for admission.

Colleges Without IELTS

These are the college offer admission without IELTS/TOEFL, but you need to pass the Duolingo and PTE tests to get into these universities: 

• California State University (CSU)
• Drexel University
• State University of New York (SUNY)
• University of Iowa
• University of Arkansas
• University of Delaware
• University of New Orleans (UNO

Colleges with High Acceptance Rate

Here is the college with an acceptance rate for Indian students:  

Colleges with Clinical Placement Support

These colleges offer clinical placement support to their students and help them in their careers:

• University of Pennsylvania
• Johns Hopkins University
• University of Washington
• Yale University
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• University of California, San Francisco
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Career Outcomes from Nursing Colleges in US 

Examples of career outcomes of the US nursing colleges are RN, Nurse Practitioner, Head Nurse, Mental Health Nurse, Nurse Midwife, Staff Nurse and Occupational Therapist that have good earning potential.

Job Opportunities After Graduation

Here are some career scores after completing a degree in nursing from US colleges:

• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Nurse Practitioner (NP)
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
• Critical Care / ICU Nurse
• Pediatric Nurse
• Mental Health / Psychiatric Nurse
• Nurse Educator / Trainer
• Nurse Researcher

Average Salary Outcomes

These are the job roles after completing a nursing degree with an average annual salary:

Licensing and Exam Readiness

These are the important points about licensing and the exam:

• Licensure is mandatory to practice nursing in the US.
• NCLEX-RN for RNs, NCLEX-PN for practical nurses.
• States may have additional requirements.
• Completion of an accredited program and clinical training is needed.

Apply to Nursing Colleges in US

These are some important factors Indian students must remember while applying to Nursing colleges in US.

Compare Nursing Colleges

These are some of the important questions to be taken into consideration when applying to a nursing college in US:

• Tuition Fees: Public vs private, including international rates
• Programs: BSc, Practical, or MSc Nursing
• Facilities: Campus, hospitals, clinical training
• Ranking: Check before applying
• Eligibility: Academic requirements and deadlines

Shortlist Colleges Based on Profile

Indian students should shortlist US Nursing universities based on academic scores, English proficiency, and budget.

• Academic Scores
• English Proficiency
• Budget and Fees
• Intake Availability

Get Free Counseling for Indian Students

Need help choosing the best Nursing college? Our Expert counseling for Indian students can help you. Connect with our counsellor to select your university!

FAQs 

Ques: What are the top Nursing Colleges in US for Indian students?

Ans: The top Nursing Colleges in US for Indian students: 

• University of Pennsylvania
• Johns Hopkins University
• University of Washington
• Yale University

Ques: What are the top career opportunities after graduation?

Ans: After getting your nursing degree from US colleges, you can work as a nurse, head nurse, mental health nurse and nurse midwife. 

Ques: Can I get admission without the English proficiency test?

Ans: No, international students must pass the English proficiency test. Some universities offer admission without the IELTS/TOEFL, but they accept other exams like PTE or Duolingo

Ques: What are the documents I need to submit to nursing colleges?

Ans: You must submit all these documents to the nursing colleges: 

• High School Certificate
• Senior Secondary Certificate
• Academic Transcripts
• Subject-wise Transcript Evaluation
• English Translation of Transcripts
• English Proficiency Test Scorecard
• Recommendation Letters

Ques: How much do I need to pay for Nursing in US?

Ans:  The average tuition fee is $18,000 and $60,000 per annum; the cost can vary depending on the institution and level of the program.