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The Best Universities for Nursing & Health in the USA (2026)
Written by Vincent Hedman
The USA is home to some of the world's top universities for Nursing & Health, with institutions like Johns Hopkins, University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, UCSF, and Columbia consistently ranked among the global best.
For readers asking "what is the #1 nursing school in the US?", this guide breaks down the top-ranked Nursing & Health universities in the USA for 2026 and explains how each ranking works.
Nursing and Health in the USA: Key Information
- The USA's top universities for Nursing & Health combine strong academic reputation, extensive clinical training and connections to hospitals, health services, and medical research.
- This guide ranks the top 10 US universities using three systems: Times Higher Education (THE), QS World University Rankings (QS) and the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).
- In the THE ranking, Harvard places 1st in the USA for Nursing & Health (3rd globally), followed by Johns Hopkins (2nd) and Stanford and Yale (joint 3rd).
- In the QS ranking, the University of Pennsylvania places 1st in the USA (1st globally), with Johns Hopkins 2nd and Duke University 3rd.
- In the ARWU ranking, the University of Pennsylvania places 1st in the USA and 1st globally, with Johns Hopkins 2nd and the University of Pittsburgh 3rd.
- Each ranking uses its own methodology, so the "best" university depends on which measures matter most to you.
Why Study Nursing & Health in the USA
There are many reasons why someone might want to study Nursing & Health at a university in the USA. Here are just a few:
- Study at globally recognised nursing universities leading the way in research and clinical practice
- Choose from a wide range of specialisms, including APRN, Nurse Practitioner routes (Family, Paediatric, Psychiatric), Health Administration, and Public Health
- Train in modern facilities, including simulation labs and up-to-date patient-care equipment
- Take part in research helping to improve health outcomes around the world
- Study alongside students and patients from many different backgrounds, helping you build strong communication skills for a career in healthcare
The Best Universities in the USA for Nursing & Health
The following tables gives the 10 top universities in the USA for Nursing & Health, according to global and local university rankings. It can show you which American universities are amongst the best in the world - and help you compare institutions on an international level.
This information is based on the latest rankings tables, researched and published by Times Higher Education, QS and Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).
Each ranking system uses its own methodology, with different factors having more or less influence on a university's result.
If you're wondering how these rankings affect your decision, our guide has more information on how to use international rankings as a postgraduate.
| University | USA Rank | Global Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard University | 1 | 3 |
| Johns Hopkins University | 2 | =5 |
| Stanford University | 3 | =5 |
| Yale University | 4 | 7 |
| University of California, Berkeley | 5 | 10 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 6 | 11 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | 7 | 14 |
| Columbia University | 8 | 17 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | 9 | 19 |
| University of Washington | 10 | =20 |
| This information is based on the latest rankings tables, researched and published by Times Higher Education. Visit their website for more information. | ||
What should I know about the Times Higher Education rankings?
The Times Higher Education rankings are strong in academic focus and diverse teaching metrics, but do not include employer-specific metrics. Additionally, the rankings may not include all specialist institutions.
| University | USA Rank | Global Rank |
|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania | 1 | 2 |
| Johns Hopkins University | 2 | 3 |
| Duke University | 3 | 5 |
| Columbia University | 4 | 8 |
| University of Washington | 5 | 12 |
| University of North Carolina | 6 | 14 |
| Yale University | 7 | 15 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | 8 | 21 |
| New York University | 9 | =22 |
| University of California, San Francisco | 10 | 27 |
| This information is based on the latest rankings tables, researched and published by QS World University Rankings. Visit their website for more information. | ||
What should I know about the QS rankings?
The QS World University Rankings are designed to meet the needs of prospective students, with more weight given to student-centric metrics such as staff/student ratio, international recruitment and employer opinion. The rankings are balanced between qualitative and quantitative data, but give less weight to research than some other rankings.
| University | USA Rank | Global Rank |
|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania | 1 | 1 |
| Johns Hopkins University | 2 | 2 |
| University of Pittsburgh | 3 | 7 |
| Duke University | 4 | 8 |
| Columbia University | 5 | 9 |
| Ohio State University, Columbus | 6 | 11 |
| Emory University | 7 | 12 |
| University of California, San Francisco | 8 | 15 |
| University of North Carolina | 9 | 16 |
| University of Washington | 10 | 18 |
| This information is based on the latest rankings tables, researched and published by Academic Ranking of World Universities. Visit their website for more information. | ||
What should I know about the ARWU rankings?
The ARWU rankings reflect the presence of elite academics and the future academic success of graduates. However, they do not directly assess the quality of education at a university or take into account other aspects of university performance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best university in the USA for Nursing & Health?
It depends on the ranking: Harvard tops the Times Higher Education table, while the University of Pennsylvania leads both the QS and ARWU rankings.
What specialisations can I study within Nursing & Health?
Options include Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN), Nurse Education, Health Administration, Public Health, and Nurse Practitioner specialties.
Why do the rankings disagree on which university is best?
Each ranking system uses its own methodology, with different factors weighted differently — QS leans on student-centric metrics, while ARWU emphasises elite academics and research.
Last updated: 18 August 2026
