Best Nursing Schools in NYC: Rankings, Tuition & Programs for 2026
GradeToGrad Editorial Team
April 2, 2026
Compare 39 NYC nursing programs from $5,170 CUNY community colleges to Columbia and NYU. Average RN salary in NYC: $105,000-110,000.
Why Study Nursing in New York City?
New York City has one of the most concentrated healthcare markets in the world. NYU Langone, NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia, Mount Sinai, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Hospital for Special Surgery, and the massive NYC Health + Hospitals public system provide unmatched clinical training and employment opportunities.
The metro area has 39 institutions with nursing programs — from $5,170/year CUNY community colleges to Ivy League programs at Columbia. Average RN salary in NYC is $105,000-110,000/year (Glassdoor 2025), roughly 23% above the national average.
Elite University Programs
Columbia University School of Nursing
Columbia's nursing school is part of Columbia University Medical Center and home to the oldest midwifery program in the U.S. It was the first nursing school chosen as a WHO Collaborative Center. Doctoral nursing graduates earn $131,926/year. Tuition is $69,045 with a 4.2% acceptance rate — the most selective nursing school in NYC.
New York University (Rory Meyers College of Nursing)
NYU is one of the top nursing schools nationally for research funding. Doctoral graduates earn $163,787/year. Tuition is $60,438 with a 9.4% acceptance rate. The college offers BSN, MSN, DNP, and PhD programs, with clinical rotations at NYU Langone Health and partner hospitals across the city.
Pace University (Lienhard School of Nursing)
Pace's doctoral nursing graduates earn $152,201/year at $51,424 tuition. The 77.1% acceptance rate makes it far more accessible than Columbia or NYU while still producing top-tier outcomes. Clinical placements across NYC hospitals.
CUNY Senior Colleges (Best Value)
The CUNY system offers the best value nursing education in NYC — quality programs at state-subsidized tuition.
CUNY Hunter College — Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing
Hunter is the standout CUNY nursing program. Master's graduates earn $122,408/year at just $7,382 tuition. The 54.0% acceptance rate makes it competitive but accessible. Hunter-Bellevue is one of the largest nursing schools in the nation and partners with NYC Health + Hospitals for extensive clinical rotations.
College of Staten Island (CUNY)
Master's nursing graduates earn $153,845/year — the highest among all CUNY schools. Tuition is $7,490. Located on Staten Island's 204-acre campus.
CUNY Lehman College (Bronx)
Master's nursing graduates earn $113,139/year at $7,410 tuition. The 55.4% acceptance rate and Bronx location serve an underserved community. Clinical rotations at Montefiore Medical Center and Jacobi Hospital.
CUNY Medgar Evers College (Brooklyn)
BSN graduates earn $98,329/year at $7,352. An HBCU serving Central Brooklyn with an 83.4% acceptance rate.
CUNY York College (Jamaica, Queens)
BSN at $7,358 with graduates earning $79,204. Serves southeast Queens with a 59.4% acceptance rate.
NYC College of Technology (Brooklyn)
BSN graduates earn $96,572/year at $7,332 with an 80.7% acceptance rate. Part of the CUNY system's technical education mission.
Community College ADN Programs
CUNY community colleges offer ADN programs at $5,170-5,252/year — the cheapest path to an RN license in NYC.
| School | Borough | Tuition | ADN Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hostos CC | Bronx | $5,208/yr | $97,888 |
| Bronx CC | Bronx | $5,206/yr | $89,270 |
| Nassau CC | Long Island | $6,330/yr | $89,190 |
| Rockland CC | Rockland County | $6,398/yr | $89,747 |
| BMCC | Manhattan | $5,170/yr | $81,311 |
| Kingsborough CC | Brooklyn | $5,252/yr | $80,980 |
| Hudson County CC | Jersey City | $5,020/yr | $75,226 |
Hostos Community College in the Bronx stands out with ADN graduates earning $97,888/year — among the highest community college nursing earnings in the country. This reflects the NYC salary premium even for associate's degree nurses.
Bronx Community College and Nassau Community College (Long Island) both produce graduates earning approximately $89,000/year.
Other Notable Programs
Hofstra University (Hempstead, Long Island)
Master's nursing graduates earn $132,442/year at $55,450 tuition. Strong Long Island location near Northwell Health facilities.
Adelphi University (Garden City, Long Island)
Master's graduates earn $126,327/year at $47,290. Known for healthcare programs and partnerships with Long Island hospitals.
Mercy University (Dobbs Ferry)
Master's nursing graduates earn $121,765/year at $22,106 — strong value for a private university with an 85.5% acceptance rate.
Long Island University (Brookville)
Master's graduates earn $115,516/year at $41,642. Multi-campus with programs in Brooklyn and Long Island.
Rutgers University-Newark (New Jersey)
Doctoral nursing graduates earn $124,617/year at $16,586 (NJ in-state). Just across the Hudson River, Rutgers-Newark is a strong option for NJ residents working in NYC.
Charles R. Drew University (Los Angeles) — note: this is a separate entry. For NYC-specific:
Monroe University (Bronx)
BSN graduates earn $105,209/year at $17,922 tuition with a 65.9% acceptance rate. Primarily serves Bronx residents.
NYC Nursing Salaries (2025)
NYC nursing salaries are among the highest nationally:
- New graduate RN: $76,000-86,000/year
- Experienced RN (3-5 years): $90,000-115,000/year
- Specialized RN (ICU, ER, OR): $110,000-140,000/year
- Nurse Practitioner: $130,000-165,000/year
- CRNA: $200,000+/year
Top employers: NYU Langone, NewYork-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai Health System, Northwell Health, NYC Health + Hospitals (public system — 11 hospitals), Memorial Sloan Kettering, Hospital for Special Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center.
Clinical Rotation Sites
NYC nursing students have access to world-class facilities:
- NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia — #1 hospital in NYC (U.S. News)
- NYU Langone Health — top-ranked nationally
- Mount Sinai Hospital — major academic medical center
- Memorial Sloan Kettering — world's leading cancer center
- Bellevue Hospital — nation's oldest public hospital, Level I trauma
- Hospital for Special Surgery — #1 in orthopedics nationally
- Montefiore Medical Center — Bronx-based academic center
- NYC Health + Hospitals — largest public health system in the US (11 hospitals)
Financial Aid
- NY Excelsior Scholarship: Free CUNY/SUNY tuition for families earning under $125,000/year. Last-dollar scholarship after Pell and TAP are applied. Requires living and working in NYS after graduation for the number of years you received the scholarship.
- NY TAP (Tuition Assistance Program): Up to $5,665/year for NYS residents
- CUNY ASAP: Comprehensive support including tuition gap coverage, textbooks, and MetroCards for community college students
- CUNY ACE: Transfer student version of ASAP — tuition support, advising, and career development for students transferring from CC to senior college
- Federal Pell Grant: Up to $7,395/year
- NYC Nurse Loan Forgiveness: NYC Health + Hospitals offers loan repayment for nurses committing to public hospitals
The Smart Path in NYC
- Complete ADN at Hostos CC or Bronx CC ($5,200/year)
- Pass NCLEX, start working as an RN earning $80,000+
- Bridge to BSN at Hunter College ($7,382/year) through CUNY transfer
- Total cost: under $25,000 vs. $120,000-276,000 at a private university
Or use the Excelsior Scholarship for free CUNY tuition if your family earns under $125,000.
Next Steps
Compare NYC nursing programs on GradeToGrad — see tuition, outcomes, and admissions data for every school.
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