Nursing Course in USA: Top Colleges, Requirements, Fees
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Rated at #10 for Best Healthcare Jobs in the USA, Nursing has become a popular choice in the USA among international students as per US News & World Report in 2024. Recording the highest salary of a registered nurse in the USA at USD 155,230, admissions have gotten even tougher for international students. Check out everything about nursing courses in USA through this article.
Overall, Nursing courses in the USA are available at all levels of study - pathway, graduate, certificate, postgraduate and others. Get more details about nursing courses offered at all levels to study in the USA for international students in this article.
- Nursing Courses in USA Highlights
- Why Study Nursing Courses in the USA?
- Top 5 Ranking Nursing Universities in USA
- Everything About Nursing Courses in USA
- Top-Paying US States for Registered Nurses
Nursing Courses in USA Highlights
| Types of Nursing Courses |
Certificate, Advanced Certificate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral, Pathway |
| Duration |
UG: 3-4 years PG: 1-2 years |
| Average Tuition Fee |
UG: USD 50,000 PG: USD 35,000 |
| Median Salary |
USD 77,800 |
| Internships |
Clinical Internships Available |
| Popular Specialisations |
Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nurse, Physical Therapist, and others. |
| Top US State for Nursing Jobs |
San Jose, California |
Why Study Nursing Courses in the USA?
Nursing is one the major fields of study which attracts various students from across the globe to study in the USA. The top reasons to study nursing courses in the USA as an international student are as follows:
- Nursing is a high-paying job in the USA and is the #10th best job option in the USA.
- The annual average salary of a registered nurse is USD 89,010 which is very high for skilled professionals practicing in the USA.
- To become a registered nurse in the USA, applicants will just have to complete their bachelor’s degree in nursing.
- Applicants have to get registration to practice anywhere in the USA.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected a 5.6% growth in employment for registered nurses between the years 2022 to 2032. It is estimated that around 177,400 jobs would open up.
- The hourly mean wage for registered nurses in the USA is close to USD 42.80, thus, the nursing applicants can earn around USD 1,712 per week.
Interested applicants can also go for these nursing courses and apply for jobs afterwards. Since its a lucrative job option, applicants can apply for nursing courses if they come from a science background.
Top 5 Ranking Nursing Universities in USA
Nursing colleges in the USA that have been ranked under the subject rankings of QS - World University rankings for the year 2023 are as follows, along with the courses offered in the corresponding column:
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| Nursing Colleges in USA for International Students |
QS - Nursing Subject Rankings 2024 |
Nursing Courses Offered |
|---|---|---|
| #1 |
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) |
|
| #3 |
Masters of Science in Nursing |
|
| #4 |
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) |
|
| #9 |
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) |
|
| #10 |
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) |
The best nursing school in USA is the University of Pennsylvania for the year 2023, as per QS’s Nursing (subject) rankings. The first position has remained consistent for the University of Pennsylvania for the past four years straight.
Everything About Nursing Courses in USA
In order to apply for nursing courses in the USA, applicants will have to have completed certain science courses or natural science courses and scored a good GPA on the same at either high school or at the bachelor’s level depending upon the level of course the applicant is applying for.
Documents Required for Nursing Courses in USA
Documents required for Nursing courses in USA include:
- Academic transcripts of last institution attended
- Resume for work experience
- LORs for recommendations
- Essays based on questions by university
- SOP
Requirements to Study Nursing in USA for International Students
Nursing in the USA requirements vary with universities offering this course, let us discuss in detail about these universities and their admission requirements:
| Nursing Colleges in USA for International Students |
Nursing Courses Offered |
Admission Requirements for International Students |
Application Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania |
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) |
|
USD 75 |
| Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) |
|
USD 80 |
|
| Johns Hopkins University |
Masters of Science in Nursing |
|
USD 75 |
| University of Washington |
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) |
|
- |
| Yale University |
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) |
|
USD 75 |
| University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill |
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) |
|
USD 60 |
Though the US universities have common admission requirements, yet there may be some requirements that are additionally required while there may a few that may not be required. It is advised that applicants check for the US intakes and the admission requirements required for the nursing course of admission.
Read: Nursing Courses in UK
Top-Paying US States for Registered Nurses
Some of the best US states that pay registered nurses highly are as follows along with their corresponding average salaries drawn annually given in the table below:
| Best-Paying US States for Registered Nurses |
Average Salaries |
|---|---|
| California |
USD 124,000 |
| Hawaii |
USD 106,530 |
| Oregon |
USD 98,630 |
| District of Columbia, DC |
USD 98,540 |
| Alaska |
USD 97,230 |
(Source: US News)
There are various specialisations in the nursing courses offered in the USA, which are popularly opted for and hold significance for full-timers as well. Those who are interested can apply for these courses based on the intake of their choice. Deadlines must be checked before applicants wish to submit their applications and commence their courses.
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The University of Rhode Island ranks among the best institutions in the country. Shiksha Popularity Rankings ranks the institute #102 as part of its the latest country-level rankings.
Further, an unofficial source ranks it #152 as part of its National Universities Rankings 2025, while another ranks it #1001 as part of its the latest World University Rankings.
The university's courses are also ranked very highly by Shiksha, with its BBA program ranking #159, while its MIM program ranks #160 among all higher education US based institutions.
The University of Rhode Island can be considered a good institution that offers the ideal environment for students to learn & grow.
The institute secures a rank of #152 as part of the latest rankings of National Universities given by a major ranking platform. The institute also secures a US-wide rank of #147 for its undergraduate courses specialising in Business Studies as given by the same source.
Another major ranking platform ranks it #801 as part of its Global Universities Rankings 2025.
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