2026 Best Nursing Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Nursing certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 2207 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Nursing Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Oregon Coast Community College tops our 2026 ranking of the best Nursing certificate degree schools in the United States. Set in Newport, OR, Oregon Coast Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,544. See the full Oregon Coast Community College profile
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #2 on this year's Nursing ranking in the United States. Located in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Ohio State University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 88%. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. The median Nursing program debt is $26,240. Read more about Ohio State University Main Campus
A rank of #3 makes Lone Star College System one of the top choices in the United States. This public school is set in The Woodlands, TX. Students from in state pay about $2,664 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,512 for out-of-state students. Lone Star College System Nursing students take on a median of $11,938 in debt. See the full Lone Star College System profile
The strong Nursing programs at Ohio University Main Campus earned it the #4 place in the United States. Set in Athens, OH, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Students borrow a median of $26,778 to complete their Nursing program here. See the full Ohio University Main Campus profile
Out of the 2207 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Red Rocks Community College landed the #5 spot. Located in Lakewood, CO, Red Rocks Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,859, compared with $17,459 for out-of-state students. Red Rocks Community College Nursing students take on a median of $14,471 in debt. Read the full report on Red Rocks Community College
Gaston College came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Dallas, NC. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,186, with out-of-state students paying around $9,330. The median Nursing program debt is $12,750. Get the full Gaston College report
Pikes Peak Community College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Located in Colorado Springs, CO, Pikes Peak Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,510, compared with $17,110 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $21,131 in student loans. Read the full report on Pikes Peak Community College
Lewis Clark State College landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Located in Lewiston, ID, Lewis Clark State College is a public institution. About 32% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,610, with out-of-state students paying around $22,028. Lewis Clark State College Nursing students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Read more about Lewis Clark State College
Gavilan College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Set in Gilroy, CA, Gavilan College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,508, with out-of-state students paying around $12,249. Graduates carry a median of $5,939 in student loans. Read the full report on Gavilan College
Methodist College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Located in Peoria, IL, Methodist College is a private not-for-profit institution. Methodist College posts a six-year graduation rate of 20%. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,008. Typical Nursing student debt is $46,375. More on Methodist College
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins placed #11 among Nursing schools in the United States. This public school is set in Warner Robins, GA. Students from in state pay about $3,448 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,016. The median Nursing program debt is $16,120. Get the full Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins report
Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Located in Weyers Cave, VA, Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,646, with out-of-state students paying around $12,084. Students borrow a median of $14,208 to complete their Nursing program here. Read the full report on Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave
Central Virginia Community College did well this year, earning the #13 position. This public school is set in Lynchburg, VA. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,157, with out-of-state students paying around $11,595. Students borrow a median of $8,250 to complete their Nursing program here. See the full Central Virginia Community College profile
University Of Michigan Flint did well this year, earning the #14 position. University Of Michigan Flint is a public school based in Flint, MI. University Of Michigan Flint posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,236, compared with $27,790 for out-of-state students. University Of Michigan Flint Nursing students take on a median of $39,231 in debt. See the full University Of Michigan Flint profile
Mesa Community College landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. Based in Mesa, AZ, Mesa Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete their Nursing program here. More on Mesa Community College
Rappahannock Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. This public school is set in Glenns, VA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,102, compared with $11,540 for out-of-state students. Typical Nursing student debt is $11,000. Read the full report on Rappahannock Community College
Thomas Nelson Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Located in Hampton, VA, Thomas Nelson Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,088, while out-of-state students pay about $11,526. Thomas Nelson Community College Nursing students take on a median of $16,300 in debt. More on Thomas Nelson Community College
Nhti Concords Community College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Set in Concord, NH, Nhti Concords Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,200, while out-of-state students pay about $15,450. Nhti Concords Community College Nursing students take on a median of $25,006 in debt. Get the full Nhti Concords Community College report
Butler Community College placed #19 among Nursing schools in the United States. Based in El Dorado, KS, Butler Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,541, with out-of-state students paying around $6,271. Typical Nursing student debt is $24,750. Get the full Butler Community College report
El Paso Community College placed #20 among Nursing schools in the United States. El Paso Community College is a public school based in El Paso, TX. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete their Nursing program here. Read the full report on El Paso Community College
Madonna University landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Madonna University is a private not-for-profit school based in Livonia, MI. Madonna University posts a six-year graduation rate of 60%. Students from in state pay about $28,440 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Read the full report on Madonna University
Gateway Community College Phoenix came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Set in Phoenix, AZ, Gateway Community College Phoenix is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Students borrow a median of $21,225 to complete their Nursing program here. Read more about Gateway Community College Phoenix
John Tyler Community College did well this year, earning the #23 position. Set in Chester, VA, John Tyler Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,082, compared with $11,520 for out-of-state students. Typical Nursing student debt is $16,960. More on John Tyler Community College
Greenville Technical College did well this year, earning the #24 position. This public school is set in Greenville, SC. In-state tuition and fees average $5,495, while out-of-state students pay about $10,775. The median Nursing program debt is $25,796. More on Greenville Technical College
Delaware County Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Located in Media, PA, Delaware County Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,930, while out-of-state students pay about $15,540. The median Nursing program debt is $27,000. Read the full report on Delaware County Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Nursing Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Sinclair Community College placed #26 among Nursing schools in the United States. Sinclair Community College is a public school based in Dayton, OH. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. The median Nursing program debt is $21,667. More on Sinclair Community College
Gulf Coast State College landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. Located in Panama City, FL, Gulf Coast State College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,370, while out-of-state students pay about $8,635. Students borrow a median of $9,837 to complete their Nursing program here. Get the full Gulf Coast State College report
Virginia Western Community College placed #28 among Nursing schools in the United States. Located in Roanoke, VA, Virginia Western Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,400, while out-of-state students pay about $11,838. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete their Nursing program here. Read more about Virginia Western Community College
Patrick Henry Community College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. This public school is set in Martinsville, VA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,002, compared with $11,440 for out-of-state students. The median Nursing program debt is $16,837. More on Patrick Henry Community College
Paul D Camp Community College came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Paul D Camp Community College is a public school based in Franklin, VA. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,012, with out-of-state students paying around $11,450. Typical Nursing student debt is $16,612. See the full Paul D Camp Community College profile
Germanna Community College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Based in Locust Grove, VA, Germanna Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,257 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,648 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $16,543 in student loans. See the full Germanna Community College profile
Central Texas College placed #32 among Nursing schools in the United States. Based in Killeen, TX, Central Texas College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,750, compared with $7,500 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,099 to complete their Nursing program here. Get the full Central Texas College report
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. Set in Richmond, VA, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,718. Typical Nursing student debt is $20,502. See the full J Sargeant Reynolds Community College profile
York Technical College landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Rock Hill, SC. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,036, while out-of-state students pay about $13,340. The median Nursing program debt is $12,500. See the full York Technical College profile
Pensacola State College placed #35 among Nursing schools in the United States. Based in Pensacola, FL, Pensacola State College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,361, while out-of-state students pay about $9,463. Graduates carry a median of $11,346 in student loans. See the full Pensacola State College profile
Advance Science College placed #36 among Nursing schools in the United States. See the full Advance Science College profile
Auburn University landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. More on Auburn University
Green River Community College placed #38 among Nursing schools in the United States. More on Green River Community College
Montana State University Billings landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. More on Montana State University Billings
Richland Community College did well this year, earning the #40 position. See the full Richland Community College profile
University Of Detroit Mercy came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of Detroit Mercy report
Western Connecticut State University ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read more about Western Connecticut State University
Westmont College
Westmont College did well this year, earning the #43 position. More on Westmont College
Eastern Maine Community College did well this year, earning the #44 position. Read more about Eastern Maine Community College
Herzing University Tampa did well this year, earning the #45 position. Get the full Herzing University Tampa report
Morehead State University came in at #46 in this year's ranking. Read more about Morehead State University
Point Loma Nazarene University did well this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on Point Loma Nazarene University
Belmont University came in at #48 in this year's ranking. More on Belmont University
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. See the full Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College profile
Eastern Idaho Technical College landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Eastern Idaho Technical College report
Related Nursing Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Nursing Schools (All Levels)
- Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Nursing Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Nursing Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 2207 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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