25 Best Bachelor’s in Nursing and Healthcare

The University of Washington is based in Seattle, the setting of Grey’s Anatomy, which undoubtedly has inspired many nurses! Beyond this connection to one of the longest-running television shows, UW’s location gives ample employment opportunities to graduates of its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. UW Seattle partners with more than 700 organizations, like Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington Medical Center, to provide nursing students with supervised clinical experience before they graduate.

UW’s BSN is a two-year program, totaling around 90 credits. Students typically enter this program in their third year of undergraduate studies. Applicants need 90 quarter credits of previous coursework and prerequisites in natural sciences like chemistry and anatomy. They also need at least 100 hours of documented volunteer experience in a health care environment. 

Upon entering the BSN program, students follow a series of courses covering topics like health equity, healthcare systems and policy, and care coordination. Classroom learning is enhanced by hands-on training in UW’s Learning Lab. Here, nursing students can practice their skills in a safe environment before they undertake their 1,000 hours of hands-on experience in patient care at an off-campus site. UW’s BSN program boasts a 98% graduation rate.

Be a “Buckeye” and enroll in the Ohio State University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Centered in Columbus, Ohio, OSU ranks at No.17 on U.S. News & World Report’s Top Public Schools. If your goal is to continue your education with a master’s degree, then OSU is a great option. This university is tied at No. 8 on U.S. News & World Report’s list of the best nursing master’s programs. 

At OSU, new students can enroll with a pre-nursing major, completing prerequisite courses in areas like biology, anatomy, and psychology. Students then apply to the nursing major in a competitive process that includes an essay and interview. Admitted nursing students begin the Bachelor of Science program in their second year, earning 120 credits to graduate. 

As an admitted OSU nursing student, you will have the opportunity to practice what you learn in a lab setting. As you progress through your coursework, your classes will increasingly incorporate clinical hours. Third-year students dedicate between 16 to 24 hours a week to hands-on training. 

OSU’s College of Nursing has several study abroad experiences through which students gain clinical credit hours and a global perspective in countries like Honduras, Ethiopia, and Nicaragua. 

Go for the gold on the Golden Coast. The University of California, Los Angeles holds the No. 1 spot on U.S. News & World Report’s Top Public Schools. And on top of UCLA’s academic excellence, the Bruins have won 261 Olympic medals. That’s more than some countries!

UCLA’s School of Nursing boasts its own accolades. In the 2017-18 academic year, 96% of its Bachelor of Science in nursing students passed the NCLEX on the first try. UCLA’s B.S. in nursing is a four-year program. To apply, incoming students complete a supplemental application in addition to their application for regular admittance into UCLA. 

UCLA’s nursing students focus their first year on foundational science courses and general education requirements. Their second year delves deeper into the fundamentals of nursing practice, covering topics like pharmacology, epidemiology, and social justice issues within nursing. As students progress, they learn more about specific areas of nursing, like:

• mental health
• maternity
• geriatric nursing

UCLA’s nursing students also undertake a course in nursing research and writing. This School of Nursing has a strong reputation in academic research, especially through its Center for Vulnerable Populations Research and its Education Center for the Advancement of Gerontological Nursing Science. 

Purdue University’s “Boilermakers” count Neil Armstrong among its alumni. And this university prides itself on inspiring hard-working, strong-willed graduates, traits that will certainly serve aspiring nurses well. Nurses graduating from Purdue also tout a degree from the No. 18 university on U.S. News & World Report’s Top Public Schools. 

Purdue’s School of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science in nursing program that is open to first-year students. This 120-credit-hour program includes general education requirements, science prerequisites, and a series of nursing courses. Students undertake experiential learning opportunities through integration seminars that ask them to apply knowledge learned in the classroom to a real problem. They also undertake clinical training at one of 200 partner sites. 

As a nursing student at Purdue, your eventual job search will be supported by several departmental resources. The School of Nursing holds a yearly Nursing Career Fair to allow students to meet employers. Additionally, the school holds workshops throughout the year to help students with their resumes and interview skills. 

Purdue also offers a Bachelor of Science program for students who already have a Bachelor’s degree but who have decided to pursue a career in nursing. This second degree takes four semesters to earn.

Situated in Salt Lake City, the University of Utah is revered for its academics, but it’s also well-known for providing vital healthcare services to Utah’s residents and patients living in five surrounding states. The University of Utah Health is a vast academic medical center, including a hospital, community clinics, and several specialized centers and institutes. Utah’s students benefit from the School of Nursing’s connection with the University of Utah Health and the educational and research opportunities it provides.

Utah offers several tracks for students to earn their Bachelor of Science in nursing. The Nursing Early Assurance Program is designed for newly-admitted first-year students who are confidently pursuing a career in nursing. These students are given conditional acceptance into the BSN program until they successfully complete prerequisite and general education requirements in their first two years of study.

Utah’s prelicensure track is a four-semester BSN program open to students with the required undergraduate coursework. Nursing students take coursework in maternal and infant care, care transitions, and health advocacy, among other topics. They also participate in at least 12 hours of supervised clinical learning each week. 

Lastly, Utah has a fully online program that allows registered nurses to earn a Bachelor’s degree.

The University of Minnesota’s School of Nursing was established in 1909, making it the country’s first recognized nursing program within a university. U of M continues to serve as a leader in the education of nurses, and with such a long history comes a lot of supporters. And with supporters comes scholarships. In the 2018-19 academic year, U of M’s School of Nursing awarded $2.3 million in scholarships.

U of M’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is open to both first-year and transfer students. The four-year program is held on U of M’s Twin Cities campus, and students start their nursing courses within their first year of studies. In their third and fourth years, nursing students begin their hands-on clinical learning at an off-campus partner site.

U of M’s transfer program is for students who enter the BSN program in their second year. This includes students who have completed undergraduate coursework at U of M or another accredited university. The transfer program is delivered on the university’s Rochester campus. It takes three years to complete, and students fulfill their experiential learning requirements at the well-respected Mayo Clinic. 

Stony Brook University is part of The State University of New York system or SUNY. SUNY includes 64 institutions across the state and globe, making it the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the country. Earn a degree from Stony Brook, and you’ll join a network of SUNY alumni that is three million strong. 

The Stony Brook School of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science program with a nursing major. This 71-credit-hour program begins after a student has completed two years of general education courses and prerequisites. Coursework covers the basics of nursing practice, and a series of specialized courses delve deeper into areas of nursing like:

• gerontology
• maternal and newborn
• child and adolescents

To graduate, students complete a five-credit nursing practicum as their capstone project.

Stony Brook offers an accelerated 12-month B.S. program in nursing for students who already have a Bachelor’s degree. The university also has a 43-credit-hour pathway for registered nurses to earn their Bachelor’s degrees that requires the creation of a clinical practice portfolio.

The University of Michigan is U.S. News & World Report’s No. 3 Top Public School. Become a Wolverine, and the School of Nursing will give you a globally respected degree and a worldly perspective through its many international opportunities.

At UM, undergraduate nursing students have the unique opportunity to add a minor in population health in a global context to their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. This 15-credit minor requires field experience, and the school regularly coordinates study abroad trips. Upcoming international experiences will take students to India, Thailand, and Denmark. 

Michigan’s BSN program is open to both first-year and second-year transfer students. The four-year program requires 128 credit hours. After the first year of general education and science requirements, students shift to focus solely on their nursing studies. Clinicals take up a large proportion of the curriculum, and students will get hands-on experience in several areas, like caring for infants and children, therapeutic nursing, and behavioral health. 

UM’s nursing students can seek support from the School of Nursing’s more than 13,000 alumni as they begin their job search. 

In 2019, Sports Illustrated named Madison, home to the University of Wisconsin, as the best college town in the country. Beyond its idyllic locale, the Badgers are well-respected for their academic prowess. Wisconsin ranks at No. 13 on U.S. News & World Report’s Top Public Schools. This leading institution’s School of Nursing is housed in a $53-million-dollar, high-tech facility, making it an especially attractive choice for prospective nursing students.

Wisconsin offers three tracks to a Bachelor of Science in nursing. The traditional track is a two-year curriculum that builds on pre-nursing undergraduate coursework. To graduate, students earn 124 credits, 53 of which are in the nursing major. Utilizing UW’s technologically savvy classrooms, students apply knowledge through interactive simulations of on-the-job patient care. 

UW’s traditional BSN program is competitive. Only about 37% of applicants are accepted. However, if your ultimate goal is to earn a Ph.D., then this might be the school for you. Wisconsin offers an Early Entry Ph.D. Option that guarantees entry into the doctoral program. Lastly, Wisconsin offers an accelerated 12-month track for students who already have a Bachelor’s degree and a fully online RN to BSN program for those with an associate or two-year degree.  

Based in Miami, Florida International University’s researchers are going to the ends of the Earth to find solutions to the world’s most pressing issues. From the North Pole to the world’s only undersea laboratory, this research-focused institution is determined to put knowledge to work. FIU’s Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences is no different. Here, faculty members are conducting more than 20 research projects to improve the practice of nursing everywhere.

Undergraduate students can learn from FIU’s inspired faculty through its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, which includes generic, accelerated, and RN to BSN tracks. FIU’s Generic BSN is a two-year, 70-credit program that builds on a student’s first two years of undergraduate studies. In addition to off-site clinical practicums, students gain hands-on experience at FIU’s Simulation Teaching and Research, or STAR, Center. This 20,000-square-foot facility looks and feels like the real thing, giving students the opportunity to practice in a safe environment.

FIU’s BSN programs incorporate many web-based learning opportunities, providing increased flexibility to its nursing students. Some fully online courses are offered in FIU’s accelerated BSN, a three-semester program for students with previous Bachelor’s degrees. The RN to BSN program is delivered entirely online. 

Caring for patients has been at the root of the University of Cincinnati’s mission since its founding in 1819. Its College of Medicine was established that long ago and has produced several groundbreaking advances in medicine, like the inventions of the oral polio vaccine and Benadryl. Today, the College of Medicine is part of the UC Academic Health Center, a consortium that includes the College of Nursing, the College of Allied Health Science, and the College of Pharmacy. 

UC emphasizes interprofessional collaboration, bringing students from all four colleges to learn together in teams. By enrolling in UC’s Bachelor of Science in nursing, you’ll not only learn how to work well with other health professionals, but you’ll also gain a holistic understanding of patient care.

UC’s BSN is a four-year degree program. Students enter in their first year of study, or they can transfer into the program as second-year students. Experiential learning takes place in simulation labs. Students also have the option to apply for a co-op, which includes clinical training and supervision from a mentor at an off-campus partner site. UC’s partners include a leading pediatric hospital, a trauma center, an obstetric unit, and additional community hospitals and surgery centers.

Rutgers University is the “University of New Jersey.” This large institution, serving more than 70,000 students, is the state’s preeminent public research university. Moreover, for students interested in health professions, Rutgers boasts a partnership with one of the largest academic health care systems in the country. 

Rutgers’ School of Nursing offers a 126-credit-hour, four-year Bachelor of Science in a nursing program delivered through its Newark, New Brunswick, or Blackwood campuses. In Newark and New Brunswick, students can start in their first year, or they can transfer into the program as sophomores. By graduation, their coursework and clinical experience will prepare them to sit for the NCLEX test. Rutgers’ graduates touted a 97% first-time pass rate in 2019. 

In addition to more than 200 partner sites across the state, Rutgers’ nursing students apply their learning in a global context as well. The school offers international service-learning trips to Tanzania and China. 

Rutgers’ School of Nursing also offers an honors program for high-achieving students who want to participate in scholarly research. Its faculty are focused on issues like HIV/AIDS, mental health, and healthcare inequities. This experience is especially valuable to students who want to advance their education to the graduate-level. 

Beyond holding the No. 5 spot on U.S. News & World Report’s Top Public Schools, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has one of the most respected nursing schools in the world. Carolina Nursing ranks at No. 5 on Shanghai Ranking’s Academic Ranking of World Universities.

UNC offers a four-year Bachelor of Science in nursing and an accelerated program for students who already hold a Bachelor’s degree. In 2019, the university unveiled a new curriculum for both programs. The traditional BSN takes five consecutive semesters, totaling 60 credit hours. Students begin this program after completing 60 credits of undergraduate coursework. Upon acceptance, students begin their clinical training from day one. A substantial capstone project is the degree’s culminating requirement. 

UNC is an excellent choice for nursing students who aspire to earn a doctoral degree. It is one of two institutions in the U.S. to be selected to participate in the Hillman Scholars Program in Nursing Innovation. Each year, four UNC students are chosen to become Hillman Scholars, preparing them to become industry-leading nursing researchers. 

To help nursing students afford their education, UNC has more than 25 donor-created scholarships specifically awarded to students in the BSN program. 

At San Diego State University, studying abroad is not just an opportunity. It’s a requirement. All nursing students in SDSU’s School of Nursing participate in at least a two-week international experience, with opportunities to extend this time to a full semester. The choices for destination are endless, including Cambodia, Portugal, and Costa Rica. This expectation puts SDSU at No. 5 on the Institute of International Education’s list of the Leading Institutions by Study Abroad Total. 

Beyond gaining a global perspective, SDSU’s nursing students are well-prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. Most recently, graduates had a 97% first-time pass rate. Applicants to SDSU’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program can either be first-year students, transfer students from a community college or four-year institution, or students who already hold a baccalaureate degree. 

For the direct-entry pathway, students must earn 120 credit hours. The first year of study covers science prerequisites and general education requirements. Then, nursing classes begin in the second year of the BSN curriculum. Unlike other universities, SDSU’s students continue to take general education requirements even as they reach their upper-level coursework. Called “explorations,” these classes are designed to ensure graduates have fully mastered critical thinking and communication skills. 

Situated in upstate New York, Binghamton University is one of the most well-respected public universities in the Northeast, and it is part of the revered State University of New York (SUNY) System.  If you speak multiple languages or want to learn how, then Binghamton might be the school for you. Its Languages Across the Curriculum program is a campus-wide initiative that gives students opportunities to use their foreign language skills outside of the normal coursework. Here, one class might have study groups in as many as five different languages.

Binghamton’s Bachelor of Science in nursing is housed in its Decker School of Nursing. In 2020, this school will move to Johnson City, New York to become part of Binghamton’s large Health Sciences Campus. The B.S. program has several tracks, depending on a student’s previous academic work. The traditional track for incoming freshmen is a 126-credit-hour program, requiring 52 credits of nursing coursework and 74 credits of prerequisites, general education coursework, and electives.

The Decker School has an Innovative Simulation and Practice Center where students practice their skills in a 10-bed hospital ward. Furthermore, at least six core nursing courses require clinical experience at one of the university’s off-site partners. 

Ranked at No. 14 on U.S. News & World Report’s Top Public Schools, the University of Texas at Austin is known around the country for its academic excellence. Enroll in this university’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and you’ll gain more than a well-respected degree. You’ll join a School of Nursing on a mission to create equal access to quality healthcare. UT’s School of Nursing has two wellness centers, the Family Wellness Center and the Children’s Wellness Center. Both of these help underserved families and children in the Austin metro area.

UT’s four-year BSN degree requires 125 credit hours. Students begin their nursing courses in their first year while completing science prerequisites and general education coursework. Their third and fourth years are entirely dedicated to nursing studies, and before graduation, all students complete a capstone project.

All of UT’s students also take a nursing research class. This school of nursing is a leader in research with 13 centers and initiatives like the Cancer Neuroscience Laboratory and the Center for Excellence in Aging Services and Long Term Care. UT’s Honors Program invites motivated undergraduate students to work alongside faculty on this groundbreaking research.

The University of Virginia may be the No. 4 institution on U.S. News & World Report’s Top Public Schools, but its school of nursing hasn’t let that accolade go to its head. One of this school’s major emphases is the Compassionate Care Initiative. Recognizing the stress involved in nursing, CCI educates prospective and practicing nurses on self-care and mindfulness techniques. This work is grounded in the belief that resilient, healthy clinicians are more able to provide compassionate care to their patients.

Like other universities, UVA’s Bachelor of Science in nursing has several tracks depending on whether or not a student enters the program as a freshman or transfers in later. The traditional, four-year BSN is a 120-credit-hour program. Students begin their nursing classes in their first year, and they undertake hands-on clinical training in their second, third, and fourth years. In 2019, 89% of UVA’s BSN graduates were employed within just one month of graduation. 

For those with an itch to see the world, UVA offers an international exchange program for its undergraduate students. Nursing students can spend their fourth year of study in Australia or New Zealand. 

Situated an hour north of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, South Dakota State University provides a quality, convenient education to residents of South Dakota and three neighboring states: Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota. SDState’s College of Nursing offers three pathways to a Bachelor of Science in nursing:, a program for registered nurses, a 12-month accelerated program for Bachelor’s degree holders, and a traditional program for undergraduate students.

SDState’s traditional BSN program requires 20 courses in the nursing major. And this coursework can be completed in as little as 20 months in the university’s year-round program at its Sioux Falls campus. Students can either apply for the major after earning substantial undergraduate credits, or they can apply as incoming students to guarantee admission right from the start. Opportunities to apply the skills learned in the classroom are integrated throughout the curriculum, and a dedicated practicum is the final requirement for SDState’s nursing students.

Unique to SDState’s College of Nursing is the Native American Nursing Education Center in Rapid City. This center is dedicated to providing the necessary support for Native American students to reach their goals of becoming a registered nurse.

With its downtown location, the University of Illinois at Chicago provides its students with proximity to countless employers. But this institution is also an excellent option for nursing students who see many years of schooling in their futures. UIC’s College of Nursing is home to some of the most well-respected graduate-level programs in the country. It ranks at No. 7 on U.S. News & World Report’s list of the best Doctor of Nursing Practice programs and No. 16 for master’s degree programs.

Despite being a leader in educational excellence, UIC’s College of Nursing does not just rely on test scores and GPAs when considering applicants. This college takes a holistic approach to admissions. Through interviews, UIC gains insight into a prospective student’s qualities and life experiences, details that can tell more about a student’s potential for success.

UIC’s Bachelor of Science in nursing is a 120-credit-hour program, requiring 57 hours of pre-nursing coursework. Before entering the major, students gain foundational knowledge in areas of study like microbiology, organic and biochemistry, and anatomy. Sixty-three hours are then dedicated to the nursing major. Before graduation, an integrative practice experience allows students to showcase what they’ve learned through complex scenarios.

How does securing a job before graduation sound? At the University of Texas Medical Branch, 90% of nursing students have found employment before earning their degrees. How? Having the name of the country’s first public medical school and hospital on their diplomas certainly helps. The University of Texas Medical Branch was founded in Galveston, Texas in 1891. Today, it is an expansive network of schools, centers, clinics, and hospitals spanning four campuses. 

UTMB’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is a 16-month program completed over four consecutive semesters of coursework. UTMB’s large-scale facilities open the doors to countless opportunities to gain on-the-job nursing experience. The Health Education Center has high-tech simulation laboratories where students can learn alongside other aspiring healthcare professionals from the Schools of Medicine, Biomedical Science, and Health Professions. 

UTMB also gives students the option to undertake a clinical immersion experience in acute and primary care settings. UTMB’s graduates boast impressive test scores, with a 97% pass rate for first-time NCLEX test takers. 

UTMB also offers an honors program for academically accomplished students who strive to improve health equity by working with underserved communities. Admission into the honors program comes with a full-tuition scholarship.

Becoming a nurse might be your end goal, but entering college is a big milestone along the way. Arizona State University helps incoming Sun Devils build their on-campus communities through several first-year experiences. Discovery seminars, for example, allow freshmen to make new friends in a small class focused on an interesting topic. These initiatives have landed ASU on U.S. News & World Report’s list of institutions with the best First Year Experience programs.

ASU’s Bachelor of Science in nursing is an upper-division program with several pathways depending on a student’s current academic status. Students in the traditional pre-licensure program begin their nursing coursework after earning 57 credit hours of prerequisite courses. The curriculum consists of four consecutive terms, taking between 16 to 24 months. Experiential learning opportunities are incorporated throughout. The final requirement is an interprofessional education seminar focused on skills that will help future nurses collaborate in the workplace.

ASU also offers a 12-month accelerated program for post-baccalaureate students and an online RN to BSN program.

ASU’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation boasts more than 15,000 alumni. Donors generously give back to the college, resulting in more than 50 scholarships available to nursing students.

The Florida State University Seminoles are known for dominating on the football field, with three national championships on the books. But this Tallahassee school’s students are also known for hitting the books, earning FSU the No. 18 spot on U.S. News & World Report’s Top Public Schools. This academic reputation makes FSU’s Bachelor of Science in nursing highly competitive. The College of Nursing receives as many as 400 applications each year for the program’s approximately 80 spots.

FSU’s BSN is a two-year program open to students who have already fulfilled 60 hours of prerequisites and general education requirements. Nursing students study the best nursing practices for a variety of patient communities, like women, children, families, and adults with complex health disorders. The program culminates with a six-credit internship. 

Unique to FSU is a veteran’s Bachelor of Science in nursing geared toward aspiring nurses who served as medics or corpsmen in the military. These students undertake the same coursework as traditional nursing students, helping them prepare for the NCLEX-RN exam. Their academic experience, however, is enhanced by support uniquely designed for veteran students. For example, FSU’s Student Veterans Center offers scholarships, tutoring, and coursework to help veterans adjust to academic life. 

Like its mascot Rocky the Bull, the University of South Florida is charging into the future. This institution-on-the-rise is stacking up accolades for its research and impressive graduation rates. Moreover, it leads the nation on The Chronicle of Higher Education’s list of the Top Producers of Fulbright U.S. Scholars and Students. Granted by the Department of State, the Fulbright is one of the most prestigious academic awards in the world.

Beyond garnering national attention, USF is known for its commitment to the Tampa Bay region. The College of Nursing serves its community with more than 110,000 clinical hours and partnerships with over 1,000 organizations. Here, nursing students can develop their skills locally and abroad. The USF Health Services Corp organizes community volunteer opportunities for students across disciplines. And the College of Nursing has several for-credit international trips to countries like Colombia, Scotland, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

USF’s College of Nursing offers several opportunities for students to earn a Bachelor of Science in nursing. The traditional upper-division program requires 68 credit hours, 720 clinical and simulation hours, and 60 lab hours. This degree culminates with a six-credit-hour preceptorship. 

Connecting with alumni can be critical to finding a job or moving up the ladder. Pennsylvania State University, or Penn State, touts the nation’s largest alumni network, with more than 708,000 graduates. Moreover, this network is smart. Penn State ranks at No. 18 on U.S. News & World Report’s Top Public Schools. 

Penn State’s College of Nursing serves more than 2,000 students across 13 campuses. With locations across the state, Penn State makes it more convenient for students to earn their Bachelor of Science in nursing close to home. 

Penn State’s traditional BSN is a four-year program requiring 120 credit hours. Students take 45 credits of general education requirements, at least five elective credits, and at least 87 credit hours dedicated to the nursing major. Although students at many campuses can identify nearby clinical sites for their hands-on training, nursing students at the University Park campus undertake one full year at Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

Penn State’s College of Nursing has a strong research tradition, and it is an especially good choice for students interested in working with older patients. Most recently, the college received more than $8 million in funding for gerontology research. 

The University of Connecticut spreads a contagion of its own: Huskymania. But don’t worry, future nurses, this is a bug worth catching. UConn’s students are known for their school spirit, especially courtside. The Huskies have taken home 11 national championships in women’s basketball and four in men’s basketball. 

UConn is the only public research university in New England, and its academic reputation goes far beyond the region. UConn’s School of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science in nursing, preparing students to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. This four-year program includes two years of undergraduate pre-nursing coursework followed by two years focused on the nursing major. 

Before graduation, UConn’s nursing students take on a nine-credit practicum at one of 70 nearby partner sites. The School of Nursing’s affiliation with the University of Connecticut Health Center creates countless opportunities for nursing students to learn with students in other health disciplines. Moreover, students benefit from a 1:8 student to faculty ratio during their clinical experiences. 

If earning a doctoral degree is your ultimate goal, then UConn is a great option. This university’s Ph.D. in nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs are both open to students who hold a Bachelor’s degree.