The best nursing schools in the US and Canada are known for their high quality of education and instruction, high licensing exam pass rates and employment rates and clinical opportunities for nursing students. If you want to get into nursing school and get accepted to any of these best nursing schools, you’ll need to craft a stellar application, ace your interviews and make sure you meet and exceed admission requirements. In this article, we’ve listed the best nursing schools in the US and Canada and what makes them great, plus tips on how to get accepted!
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Best Nursing Schools in the US
Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs
1. Emory University
Acceptance rate: 13%
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Admission Test Requirement: TEAS, SAT or ACT (required for transfer applicants)
2. University of Pennsylvania
Acceptance rate: 25% overall
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Admission Test Requirement: Recommended
3. Duke University
Acceptance rate: 33% overall
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Admission Test Requirement: Recommended
4. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
Acceptance rate: N/A (56 spots)
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Admission Test Requirement: Not required
5. Case Western Reserve University
Acceptance rate: 30%
Minimum GPA: 2.0
Admission Test Requirement: Recommended
6. Ohio State University
Acceptance rate: N/A
Minimum GPA: 3.2 cumulative GPA
Admission Test Requirement: Recommended
7. University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Acceptance rate: 2.8-3.8% (104 spots)
Minimum GPA: 2.8
Admission Test Requirement: Not required
8. University of Washington
Acceptance rate: N/A
Minimum GPA: No minimum
Admission Test Requirement: Not required
9. New York University
Acceptance rate: 59%
Average GPA: 3.92
Admission Test Requirement: Required only for doctorate program
10. Oregon Health and Science University
Acceptance rate: 2.4%
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Admission Test Requirement: Not required
Here’s what you need to avoid on your CASPer test:
Best Master’s in Nursing Programs
1. Emory University
Acceptance rate: 63%
Average GPA: 3.45
Admission Test Requirement: GRE recommended (required for transfer applicants)
2. Johns Hopkins University
Acceptance rate: 18%
Average GPA: 3.7
Admission Test Requirement: GRE Recommended, not required
3. University of Pennsylvania
Acceptance rate: 25% overall
Average GPA: 3.5
Admission Test Requirement: GRE recommended, not required
4. Duke University
Acceptance rate: 33% overall
Average GPA: 3.5
Admission Test Requirement: GRE Recommended, not required
5. University of Washington
Acceptance rate: 10%
Average GPA: 3.04
Admission Test Requirement: GRE not required
6. Columbia University
Acceptance rate: 35%
Average GPA: 3.5
Admission Test Requirement: GRE not required
7. Vanderbilt University
Acceptance rate: 12%
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Admission Test Requirement: GRE required
8. Ohio State University
Acceptance rate: 49%
Average GPA: 3.2
Admission Test Requirement: GRE required in some cases* (see school website for details)
9. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
Acceptance rate: N/A
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Admission Test Requirement: GRE not required
10. University of California San Francisco (UCSF)
Acceptance rate: 21%
Average GPA: 3.9
Admission Test Requirement: GRE required
11. University of Alabama Birmingham
Acceptance rate: 81%
Minimum GPA: 2.75
Admission Test Requirement: N/A
12. University of North Carolina
Acceptance rate: 26%
Average GPA: 3.3
Admission Test Requirement: No standardized tests required
Here's a guide on writing your nursing school application resume:
Best Nursing Schools in Canada
1. University of British Columbia
Acceptance rate: 20-24%
Minimum GPA: 2.8
CASPer Test: Required
2. University of Alberta
Acceptance rate: 60%
Minimum GPA: 3.0
CASPer Test: Required
3. University of Toronto
Acceptance rate: N/A
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Admission Test Requirement: N/A
4. McGill University
Acceptance rate: 62%
Minimum GPA: 3.3
CASPer Test: N/A
5. McMaster University
Acceptance rate: 9%
Minimum GPA: 3.7 minimum required
CASPer Test: Required
6. University of Dalhousie
Acceptance rate: N/A
Minimum GPA: 3.0
CASPer Test: Required
7. University of Calgary
Acceptance rate: N/A
Minimum GPA: N/A
CASPer Test: N/A
8. Queen’s University
Acceptance rate: 42%
Minimum GPA: 3.0
CASPer Test: Not Required
9. University of Victoria
Acceptance rate: 12.6%
Minimum GPA: N/A
CASPer Test: Required
10. University of Ottawa
Acceptance rate: 30-40%
Minimum GPA: N/A
CASPer Test: Required
What Makes These Programs the Best Nursing Schools?
What makes the above nursing schools the best? There’s a few different factors that go into an excellent nursing program. While all of these nursing schools are consistently ranked highly on a number of factors, there’s more to. Here’s what these programs have to offer that make them excellent:
1. Quality of Education
All of these nursing schools are ranked highly for their quality of nursing education and their success rates with nursing students. These nursing schools are attached to well-regarded institutions and offer not only top-notch facilities but quality instruction from experienced professors who have nursing experience themselves. These nursing schools are often attached to top medical schools and research centers, which gives you as a nursing student many excellent opportunities to pursue research into the nursing profession during your studies.
Remember that just because a nursing school is highly regarded or offers an excellent education, doesn’t mean it’s automatically a good fit for you, so be sure to check out a program’s curriculum, class sizes, instructors, and teaching philosophy to ensure it matches with your learning and values.
2. Clinical Opportunities and Quality Facilities
The best nursing schools are often attached to top medical schools or even hospitals, so they offer a plethora of opportunities for nursing students to get hands-on, clinical experience during their studies at some of the best clinical centers in North America. Many nursing schools will have unique learning opportunities for students and some may even allow students to explore nursing specialties that aren’t available at other schools.
Many of these nursing schools also have access to advanced medical technology students can use for hands-on learning experiences, applying the knowledge they’ve learned in the classroom. One of the advantages of attending of these best schools is the access to world-class facilities and clinical labs.
3. Readiness for Nursing
The best nursing schools have very high NCLEX pass rates across the board, with some schools boasting a 100% pass rate. This is a good indicator that these schools have sufficiently prepared their nursing students for practice and to take their licensing exams to become an RN. High exam pass rates are usually a good indicator that a nursing school has top-notch instruction and prepares its students well to practice as a nurse after graduation. Many schools will share their first-time NCLEX pass rates as an indicator of high educational quality.
4. Graduation Rates and Job Opportunities
High graduation and pass rates similarly show that nursing students are happy with their education at these schools and have completed the rigors of nursing school successfully. Many of these nursing schools have high graduation rates over 80% and good student satisfaction scores. You can evaluate whether a nursing school is a good academic fit for you by checking out the curriculum, instruction and student to professor ratio.
These best nursing schools also have extensive career counseling services and resources to help nursing students find employment after graduation. Graduates from these top schools are usually able to find employment even before they’ve graduated, finding job opportunities through their professional network or their school’s network.
How to Get Into the Best Nursing Schools
How do you get into these best nursing schools? How to stand out in a nursing school application? Nursing school acceptance rates in the US and nursing school acceptance rates in Canada are pretty competitive across the board, and for your best chance of getting into nursing school, you need to stand out. Next we’ll cover some of our tips for crafting a strong nursing school application!
1. Stand out in your nursing school application
It sounds obvious, but you need to submit an absolutely phenomenal nursing school application when applying to these best nursing schools. But how do you know if your application is excellent?
From your nursing school personal statement to your nursing school recommendation letters, you need to stand out. Approach each part of your written application with attention to detail and thought, but remember they are all part of one whole. Avoid repeating yourself anywhere in your application and follow the guidelines or instructions for each application component carefully.
In your personal essay, focus on showcasing what skills you can bring to a program and how a program can improve your nursing career and experiences. For example, does this program offer clinical experience that you need to take the next step in your career?
It’s best to give yourself plenty of time to self-reflect and brainstorm on your experiences, as well as draft and polish your writing. A well-written personal statement makes a better impression than a hastily written one. The same goes for your recommendation letters—make sure to give your referees lots of advance notice so they can write a strong recommendation.
If an application asks for supplemental application materials, such as a nursing reflective essay or a “case that defined you as a nurse” essay, use these as opportunities to diversify your application, even if they are optional. These essays can help you personalize your application and showcase your unique experiences, which stand out far more than a high GPA or good test scores.
2. Ace your nursing school interview
Most of these best nursing schools will use a nursing school interview as the final evaluation of your application to their program. It is critical to ace your nursing school interview and make a strong impression on the admissions committee! A good interview can secure you an acceptance letter, while a weak interview can cost you admittance. Interviews are a tool used to evaluate top candidates, so if you’re invited to an interview, it is usually a good sign.
Prepare yourself for nursing school interview questions, both common ones such as “tell me about yourself” and tricker questions types, like nursing conflict scenario questions and critical thinking nursing interview questions.
It’s important to review the types of questions you can expect, and begin brainstorming possible responses. The key here is to provide examples in your answers, based on your experiences, of how you responded to a situation or would respond to a hypothetical situation. Providing concrete examples of your experiences and way of thinking will stand out more in your interviewer’s mind than cliched responses they’ve heard hundreds of times.
The best way to prepare is to use mock nursing school interviews, essentially a simulation of the real thing! This allows you to tweak and polish your interview answers, as well as banish any anxiety and get comfortable in an interview situation.
3. Research nursing school programs
Tailoring your application to these specific nursing programs is a must to show them why you’ve chosen their program specifically and why you want to be a nurse in their program. Research the schools you’re interested in, not only to make sure they are the right fit for you but to understand how they evaluate candidates, what they are looking for in applicants and what their school mission and values are.
All of this information will allow you to craft a stronger, more personalized and more tailored application. For example, if a nursing school values volunteer work, be sure to highlight your volunteering experiences on your application, especially anytime you demonstrated leadership, good communication, compassion or care, all of which are good traits to have as a successful nursing student.
If you have a very strong reason for selecting a nursing school as your top choice, you can also send a nursing school letter of intent, to tell an admission committee why a program is your #1 choice and why you will be committed to attending if you are accepted.
FAQs
1. What is the best nursing school?
The best nursing schools in the US vary a bit depending on rankings, but some of the consistently top schools are Emory University, the University of Pennsylvania, Duke University and Johns Hopkins University.
2. What is the number 1 nursing program in Canada?
The best nursing programs in Canada are at the University of British Columbia, the University of Alberta and the University of Toronto.
3. What GPA do you need to get into nursing school?
Most nursing schools have a minimum GPA of 2.8-3.0, but to get into the most competitive programs, a GPA of 3.5 and above is best.
4. Is nursing school hard to get into?
Nursing school is very competitive in the US and Canada. Average acceptance rates are around 60%. While not as low as medical school acceptance rates, nursing school like other healthcare professions is tough to get into. If you want professional help with your nursing school applications, you can find nursing admissions consulting services.
5. What is the easiest nursing school to get into?
Some of the easiest nursing schools to get into, based on acceptance rates are Rasmussen University, Aspen University, Oklahoma Wesleyan University, University of Saint Francis and Mercy College.
6. What is the best major for nursing?
While nursing schools don’t usually have a preference for certain majors, it is easiest to meet the nursing school prerequisites with a major in one of the core sciences. As long as you meet the prerequisites for admission and all other requirements, you are eligible to apply for nursing school.
7. What is the best nursing school in the world?
According to world university rankings, the University of Pennsylvania is the number one school for nursing in the world.
8. Do I need to take the MCAT for nursing?
No, most nursing schools do not require the MCAT. For undergraduate programs, the SAT, ACT or TEAS are sometimes required for admission. Graduate nursing school programs usually require the GRE. Nursing schools also commonly require you to take the CASPer test.
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