Want to study nursing in the USA? Then here is a list of the top nursing schools in USA for international students. We made this compilation to help you learn about the top nursing schools in the USA that accept students from other countries of the world. We’ve provided pieces of crucial information about these schools hoping that it helps you make the right decision.
Nursing, being a discipline in the healthcare sector is undoubtedly one of the most lucrative fields of work, having diverse units including nursing assistants, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, nursing instructors, teachers, and postsecondary as well. According to the Nursing Licence Map, US nurses earn an annual mean wage from $36,000 up to $205,000 as of 2022. Wages amount largely depend on states with Connecticut paying the highest.
Nurses are always in demand because as the population increases, the need for more nurses arises. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 194,500 average annual openings for registered nurses between 2020 and 2030, with employment projected to grow by 9%.
Now you can see that nursing is indeed a high-paying, ever-in-demand, and respected career in the USA, so why not get the best out of it? I mean get into the best school, the best nursing program, graduate, become licensed, work in the top-paying nursing section, earn a good salary while doing your nursing job, attending to patients’ healthcare and needs.
As great as it may be, you can’t just become a certified nurse by merely wishing, you get there by taking the first step which is enrolling in a nursing program, and it would be very thoughtful of you to do so in one of the top nursing schools in USA for international students.
As a non-US citizen looking forward to studying in one of the nursing schools in USA for international students, you should bear in mind that there are a few extra requirements needed for your application, and you will pay more for a program compared to domestic students.
Bachelor in Nursing Application Requirements for International Students
- Applicants enrolling for the ADN or BSN program must have graduated high school with English, math, social studies, academic electives, and a science course with lab, e.g. biology.
- Submit your official high school transcript.
- IELTS score of 6.5 to 7 or above, with at least 6.5 in the writing section and at least 7 in the reading, listening, and speaking sections, or TOEFL iBT core of 75 or 90 and above.
- Possess proof of financial resources
- Letter of recommendation
- State of purpose or personal state
- An essay and/or interview may be requested
You can increase your chances of acceptance into a nursing school in America, and gain some clinical experience. You can work as a medical assistant or with a volunteer organization.
Master’s in Nursing Application Requirements
If you want to study for a master’s in nursing degree in one of the nursing schools in USA for international students, below are some of the documents you will need to provide during your application. Please note that these lists contain documents that are usually required, you might be asked to provide additional papers specific to your school.
A bachelor’s degree
Minimum of 1 year of nursing practice as a registered nurse
Official transcript of records
A minimum of 3.0 GPA
A resume with relevant experience(s) in the nursing field
Letter of recommendation from past teachers or employers and their contact information
A letter of motivation or personal essay
Application fee payment proof
Current license to practice as a registered nurse
Top Nursing Schools in USA for International Students
Here is a list of the top nursing schools in USA for international students. We have provided you with a piece of brief information about the schools and their nursing programs. If you wish to get further or current information, we advise you to visit the university’s website.
- University of Pennsylvania
- Duke University
- Johns Hopkins University
- New York University
- University of California
- Emory University
- University of Michigan
- University of Maryland
1. University of Pennsylvania
The first on the list of the top nursing schools in USA for international students is the University of Pennsylvania, founded in 1740, and it is among the oldest universities in the nation. University of Pennsylvania’s nursing school is among the top 5 best nursing schools in the world as ranked by U.S News and World Report, and Top Universities.
The University of Pennsylvania Nursing School offers a full graduate nursing program for international students, and they are advised to apply for admission one year before the start of their desired programs. International students are expected to have these additional requirements; transcription evaluations from WES or CGFNS, a TOEFL minimum score of 100, or a minimum of 7.0 IELTS score with each subsection having scores of at least 7.0, CGFNS qualifying exam for licensure, international compliance, and certificate programs.
Annual Tuition: $56,212 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 94.6%
Traditional: Yes
Online: Yes
Accelerated: Yes
Duke University
Duke University’s nursing school is another top-rated school that offers nursing programs in the USA. The school boasts to be a center of excellence that advances nursing science and the education of clinical leaders, advanced practitioners, and researchers.
Duke University School of Nursing offers master’s, Ph.D., and doctor of nursing practice degrees as well as an accelerated bachelor of science in nursing degree to both national and international students. The school is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (ccneaccreditation.org). Duke University School of Nursing provides on-campus, distance-based, and online courses of study.
Duke is well-known for its graduate programs. Duke boasts one of the top programs for nurse anesthesia in the nation and stands as a perfect option for nurses interested in becoming nurse anesthetists.
International students are required to provide;
- Proof of English proficiency, either a TOEFL score of 100 or an IELTS score of 7.0. Applicants’ scores must not be more than 2 years old. You can request a TOEFL exam waiver by writing to the director of admissions.
- F-1 student visa, or J-1 Exchange-Visitor (Student)Visa
- A course-by-course evaluation of all foreign credentials (transcripts) from one of the approved external evaluating agencies.
Annual Tuition: $50,516| NCLEX Pass Rate: 99%
Traditional: Yes
Online: No
Accelerated: Yes
Johns Hopkins Unversity
Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is the third on the list of the top nursing schools in USA for international students. The school takes pride in being world-renowned for nursing education and offers programs developed to fit the needs of a diverse student population. The school is ranked no. 1 in the USA for its Doctor of Nursing Practice Program, no. 2 in the nation for Master’s Nursing Program, and no. 3 nursing school in the world according to 2023 QS World University Rankings.
Nursing programs offered at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing include Pre-licensure programs, MSN programs, DNP (Executive or Advanced Practice) programs, and PhD programs, online options, dual degrees, and post-degree opportunities. They accept applications from students all over the world.
International students applying for admission at Johns Hopkins Nursing School are required to have;
- Evaluated courses by World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), or SpanTran with a course-by-course evaluation.
- TOEFL score of 100 (internet-based) or IELTS score of 7.0
Annual Tuition: $66,168 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 93%
Traditional: No
Online: Yes
Accelerated: No
New York University
Based in New York City, New York University is truly a global university with over 21,000 international students and students coming from 120 different countries and campuses. NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing offers an array of highly-rated programs tailored to fit the diverse needs of today’s nursing students at all levels.
The school offers a BS (15-month accelerated and traditional four-year), MS and post-master’s advanced certificate programs, a DNP, and a Ph.D. in research theory and development. The NYU Meyers undergraduate BS program emphasizes hands-on clinical experience, providing students with opportunities for international study, advanced learning, and realistic simulations.
International applicants are required to;
- Submit their transcripts to Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) for US equivalency evaluation.
- Obtain a student visa (F1 or J1)
- Submit a letter of recommendation
- submit your Common Application School Report and Transcripts
- Self-Reported Academic Record
Annual Tuition:$58,168 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 88.3%
Traditional: Yes
Online: No
Accelerated: Yes
University of California
University of California School of Nursing comes fifth on the list of the top nursing schools in USA for international students and boasts the largest group of healthcare professionals in the US with their nurses ranking as the most honest and trusted professionals in America by Gallup Research for nearly 20 years. Faculty members have received major grants from the National Institutes of Health, and been inducted into the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame.
UCLA’s MSN options are arguably the best programs in the nursing school. Each MSN degree leads to an APRN specialty while emphasizing leadership, a great combination for nurses looking to advance their careers. After choosing a population specialty, MSN students then choose a sub-specialty in the field.
Annual Tuition: $23,856 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 84%
Traditional: Yes
Online: Hybrid DNP
Accelerated: No
Emory University
Emory School of Nursing is consistently recognized as a leader in nursing education. In addition to its top U.S. News rankings, the school is among the top five nursing schools in the country in National Institutes of Health funding and was named a 2022-2027 Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing. Students come to Emory from more than 100 countries with 15% to 18% of international students in the first-year classes.
The renowned private school has three options for undergraduate nurses: a direct-entry BSN for current high school students, a sophomore entry for current Emory or Oxford College students, and a transfer program for those with at least 60 credits.
Emory School of Nursing offers bachelors, accelerated, masters, doctoral, and continuing nursing programs. All their MSN programs except their pre-licensure program are accredited and lead to nine different APRN roles. All MSN tracks come in full-time and part-time formats, so nurses can continue working while earning their graduate degrees.
Annual Tuition: $57,120 | NCLEX Pass Rate: 98%
Traditional: Yes
Online: No
Accelerated: Yes
University of Michigan
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is ranked No. 8 (tie) in Best Nursing Schools: Master’s and No. 6 (tie) in Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice.
The school has two entry options into its nursing programs: direct entry for first-year students and a sophomore transfer program. Either way, nursing students complete more than 1,000 hands-on clinical hours.
University of Michigan’s Master of Science in Nursing is among the best available, with concentrations available in eight different areas. All eight specialties lead to a specific APRN position, and MSN graduates boast a near-perfect pass rate on every exam each year. UM offers multiple programs and allows students to complete programs on a two or three-year track.
The MSN combines learning in UM’s Clinical Learning Center with different clinical sites across the region.
Annual Tuition: $16,404 per year (in-state) | $55,002 per year (out-of-state) | NCLEX Pass Rate: 98.06%
Traditional: Yes
Online: Yes
Accelerated: No
University of Maryland
The last school we have on our list of nursing schools in USA for international students is the University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the US and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide.
UM’s BSN emphasizes nursing leadership and uses state-of-the-art facilities to teach students. The program takes two years to complete, though students first need to complete two years of introductory courses.
Nurses interested in becoming APRNs would enroll in one of the school’s NP programs. Each DNP comes with a specialty, with popular options including nurse anesthesia, neonatal nurse practitioner, and psychiatric mental health nursing.
The University of Maryland accepts international students from all over the world, All international applicants and applicants must provide additional information with their applications. This includes a TOEFL report or IELTS score of 7 for MSN, DNP, and 6.5 for BSN and official transcripts.
Annual Tuition: $9,635 per year (in-state) | $39,597 per year (out-of-state) | NCLEX Pass Rate: 90.33%
Traditional: Yes
Online: Yes
Accelerated: No
Conclusion
There are lots of nursing schools in USA for international students and we have listed some of the top-ranking ones in this article. We also provided some information about these schools, but not enough to see you through, therefore we advise you to visit the website of the school of your interest to get updated and well-detailed information.
FAQs
What is the # 1 nursing school in the US?
Pennsylvania University is currently rated the #1 nursing school in the US
What is the easiest college to get into for nursing?
Community colleges are generally considered easier to get into than university nursing programs.
