Best colleges for Registered Nursing in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
CUNY York College, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University and New York University are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in New York by graduate earnings. CUNY York College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $113,718, College Scorecard. New York University, Long Island University and Molloy University award the most Registered Nursing degrees in New York: 625, 579 and 523 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 113 New York colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 15,734 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY York College Jamaica Public · Bachelor's degree | $113,718 | 51 | 32% | — | $12,125 |
| 2 | SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University Brooklyn Public · Bachelor's degree | $112,670 | 210 | — | — | $22,023 |
| 3 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $111,360 | 625 | 88% | $29,023 | $25,500 |
| 4 | College of Staten Island CUNY Staten Island Public · Bachelor's degree | $110,335 | 168 | 34% | — | $17,125 |
| 5 | Wagner College Staten Island Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $108,746 | 142 | 65% | $27,316 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Pace University New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $107,433 | 425 | 60% | $29,994 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Molloy University Rockville Centre Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $105,747 | 523 | 70% | $25,812 | $31,000 |
| 8 | Monroe University Bronx Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $105,209 | 179 | 57% | $12,028 | $23,003 |
| 9 | University of Mount Saint Vincent Bronx Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $105,134 | 278 | 57% | $20,371 | $30,500 |
| 10 | CUNY Hunter College New York Public · Bachelor's degree | $103,692 | 307 | 57% | — | $16,944 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cochran School of Nursing Yonkers Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $102,553 | 51 | — | — | $26,758 |
| 2 | Helene Fuld College of Nursing New York Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $92,475 | 267 | — | $37,574 | $27,775 |
| 3 | Montefiore School of Nursing Mount Vernon Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $89,648 | 50 | — | — | $26,125 |
| 4 | St Paul's School of Nursing - Queens Rego Park Private for-profit · Associate degree | $89,103 | 348 | 56% | $34,186 | $32,771 |
| 5 | St Paul's School of Nursing - Staten Island Staten Island Private for-profit · Associate degree | $86,108 | 185 | 46% | $41,615 | $30,313 |
| 6 | Dutchess Community College Poughkeepsie Public · Associate degree | $80,603 | 27 | 30% | — | $21,868 |
| 7 | Fulton-Montgomery Community College Johnstown Public · Associate degree | $77,192 | 30 | 40% | — | $25,500 |
| 8 | Clinton Community College Plattsburgh Public · Associate degree | $75,711 | 33 | 37% | — | $28,750 |
| 9 | St. Peter's Hospital College of Nursing Albany Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $74,687 | 53 | — | — | $26,487 |
| 10 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton Canton Public · Associate degree | $74,344 | 80 | 38% | — | $25,828 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in New York
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit | 625 | $111,360 |
| 2 | Long Island University Brookville Private not-for-profit | 579 | $100,097 |
| 3 | Molloy University Rockville Centre Private not-for-profit | 523 | $105,747 |
| 4 | Columbia University New York Private not-for-profit | 458 | Not reported |
| 5 | Pace University New York Private not-for-profit | 425 | $107,433 |
| 6 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook Public | 393 | $94,853 |
| 7 | Mercy University Dobbs Ferry Private not-for-profit | 378 | $90,933 |
| 8 | Adelphi University Garden City Private not-for-profit | 364 | $102,136 |
| 9 | St. John Fisher University Rochester Private not-for-profit | 344 | $73,333 |
| 10 | Utica University Utica Private not-for-profit | 308 | $78,857 |
ShowHide the other 103 New York colleges offering Registered Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
New York University (625 graduates a year), Long Island University (579 graduates a year) and Molloy University (523 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 113 New York colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in New York?+
By graduate earnings, CUNY York College leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in New York, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $113,718, College Scorecard. SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University and New York University follow. By degrees awarded, New York University is the largest, with 625 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, CUNY York College tops the list at $113,718. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in New York?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in New York is $113,440 (median $109,440), across about 205,810 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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