The 10 Best Nursing Schools in NYC in 2024

The SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University-College of Nursing is the only medical center in the SUNY system. Its campus is located in Brooklyn. It has been in operation since 1966 and has gradually accumulated a reputation as one of the leading public nursing schools in the region. SUNY Downstate offers nursing degrees at all levels, from bachelor’s degrees to master’s degrees and even doctoral degrees. SUNY Downstate is known for its high-tech simulation laboratories that allow students to get practical experience before stepping into a clinical setting. SUNY Downstate also has many options for students when they are ready to do their clinical internships. SUNY Downstate offers an RN-to-BSN program and an accelerated BSN program. The accelerated BSN program is for students who have a bachelor’s degree in another field. They can complete the program in only a year and three months.

Lehman College is the first member of the City University of New York (CUNY) system to make it into our list. Lehman’s main campus is in the Bronx. Lehman offers nursing education at the undergraduate through doctoral levels. Its nursing programs have a unique element of community service and a focus on serving underprivileged communities. Lehman offers an accelerated BSN program and an RN-to-BSN program. At the graduate level, students can study to become a family nurse practitioner or a pediatric nurse practitioner. Lehman also offers a DNP degree.

Hunter College is another member of the CUNY system. Hunter’s nursing program is the best-known and most prestigious in the CUNY system. Hunter offers a BSN, RN-to-BSN, and second-degree BSN. The accelerated second-degree BSN program is for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field. Graduate students can pursue nurse practitioner qualifications in community/public health, gerontology, and psychiatry. Hunter offers both a Ph.D. in Nursing and a DNP.

Mount Sinai Beth Israel is a teaching hospital rather than a college or university. However, its Philips School of Nursing is still regarded as one of the best in the city. The school offers two programs: an RN-to-BSN degree and an accelerated BSN for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in another area. Either of these programs can be completed in roughly 15 months. The RN-to-BSN program offers students the chance to specialize in critical care nursing, community/home nursing, emergency nursing, or perioperative nursing. The accelerated BSN program utilizes hybrid instructional methods that blend online classes and on-campus courses.

Saint Joseph’s College is a private institution with its main campus in Brooklyn. The school also has a campus on Long Island. There is a traditional four-year BSN program and an RN-to-BSN program at the school. St. Joseph’s also offers graduate nursing education in the areas of clinical gerontology, nursing education, and primary care gerontology.

The College of Mount Saint Vincent may not be as well-known as some of the other programs on this list, but it still offers a top-notch nursing program.”The Mount,” as it is commonly called, has a main campus in the Bronx. Its nursing school offers a traditional BSN, an accelerated BSN for students with a bachelor’s degree in another area, and an accelerated BSN/Master’s degree. The Mount is one of only a few nursing schools in the area that offers an acclererated BSN/MSN degree. Students in this program can complete six credits of their master’s degree during the final year of their bachelor’s degree.

New York University is known for its strong liberal arts programs, but it also has a leading nursing program. NYU offers many different nursing programs, including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. The nursing school has a unique international focus, with campuses in Shanghai and Abu Dhabi. NYU offers the usual BSN, RN-to-BSN, and accelerated BSN options. It also has an accelerated BSN/MSN program and a unique MSN/Master’s in Public Health. NYU even offers both a Nursing Ph.D. degree and a DNP degree.

Wagner College is the only school located on Staten Island to make our list. Although Wagner is a relatively small school, it still offers nursing degrees at bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. The programs available at the bachelor’s level include BSN, accelerated BSN, and RN-to-BSN tracks. Master’s-level students can study to be a family nurse practitioner or a nurse educator. Wagner also offers a DNP degree with a focus on public health.

Columbia University is an Ivy League institution with leading programs in many areas, including nursing. Columbia’s nursing school has been in operation for over 100 years. Columbia’s nursing education is focused mostly on the graduate-level advanced programs. The programs offered including Nurse Anesthesia, Clinical Management, and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Columbia does offer a program that allows students with bachelor’s degrees in other areas to earn both an R.N. certification and an MSN. Columbia is known for having some of the most advanced nursing training facilities in the city, including a state-of-the-art simulation lab with 14 different clinical rooms.

Pace University is another prestigious private university in New York City with a top-notch nursing program. Pace’s nursing school has connections with over 200 hospitals and medical practices in the area, which ensures that nursing students have plenty of opportunities to get clinical experience. The school offers both traditional and accelerated BSN degree tracks. 97% of graduates pass the RN exam at the end of their education, which is a significantly higher rate than the national average. Pace also offers graduate nurse practitioner programs in family medicine, gerontology, and psychiatry. The school even offers both a DNP and a Ph.D in nursing.