New York is home to a wide range of career options and fields, including nursing. In fact, the state has the third highest employment level for registered nurses in the country (after California and Texas) as of May 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some sources, however, reveal slightly different numbers. For instance, data from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing shows that the state had 285,228 licensed registered nurses and 22,411 APRNs in 2014, numbers that are a bit higher than BLS stats. Regardless of which numbers you look at, however, both sources suggest that the nursing field in the big apple is booming and likely to continue growing as the population ages and access to healthcare expands. For those interested in pursuing this career, New York is a strong contender for employment. Read on to find out more about nursing schools in New York, salary and employment trends, and licensing requirements.
Top Nursing Schools in New York
Methodology +
BEST 4-YEAR NURSING SCHOOLS
The top nursing programs listed in this state's ranking were determined by comparison of three primary, equally-weighted criteria including
- Student-to-faculty ration
- In-state tuition
- Graduation rate
Additional details for each school were included:
- Count of programs available
- Public and not-for-profit schools
- Normalized on a 100 percent curve
The methodology used for tie-break is as follows...
- Ties are broken based on lowest average net price for full-time, first-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition (average cost of tuition and expenses after grants and scholarships).
- If necessary, the lowest in-state tuition rate is used as a second tie-break
2-Year Schools
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CUNY Hunter CollegeLocation
New York, NY
Graduation Rate52%
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Molloy CollegeLocation
Rockville Centre, NY
Graduation Rate70%
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University at BuffaloLocation
Buffalo, NY
Graduation Rate72%
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Helene Fuld College of NursingLocation
New York, NY
Graduation Rate100%
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New York UniversityLocation
New York City, NY
Graduation Rate83%
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University of RochesterLocation
Rochester, NY
Graduation Rate84%
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Stony Brook UniversityLocation
Stony Brook, NY
Graduation Rate69%
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Columbia University in the City of New YorkLocation
New York City, NY
Graduation Rate95%
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Nazareth CollegeLocation
Rochester, NY
Graduation Rate76%
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Saint John Fisher CollegeLocation
Rochester, NY
Graduation Rate72%
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SUNY Binghamton UniversityLocation
New York, NY
Graduation Rate81%
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The Sage CollegesLocation
Troy, NY
Graduation Rate59%
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D'Youville CollegeLocation
Buffalo, NY
Graduation Rate44%
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CUNY Graduate School and University CenterLocation
New York , NY
Graduation Rate67%
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Adelphi UniversityLocation
Garden City, NY
Graduation Rate64%
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CUNY Lehman CollegeLocation
New York City, NY
Graduation Rate37%
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Le Moyne CollegeLocation
Syracuse, NY
Graduation Rate72%
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Daemen CollegeLocation
Amherst, NY
Graduation Rate47%
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SUNY PlattsburghLocation
Plattsburgh, NY
Graduation Rate61%
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Roberts Wesleyan CollegeLocation
Rochester, NY
Graduation Rate63%
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College of Mount Saint VincentLocation
Bronx, NY
Graduation Rate57%
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Morrisville State CollegeLocation
Morrisville, NY
Graduation Rate28%
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Maria CollegeLocation
Albany, NY
Graduation Rate21%
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Mount Saint Mary CollegeLocation
Newburgh, NY
Graduation Rate59%
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Trocaire CollegeLocation
Buffalo, NY
Graduation Rate26%
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SUNY Polytechnic InstituteLocation
Utica, NY
Graduation Rate43%
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SUNY College at BrockportLocation
Brockport, NY
Graduation Rate68%
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Pace UniversityLocation
New York City, NY
Graduation Rate55%
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SUNY College of Technology at AlfredLocation
Alfred, NY
Graduation Rate48%
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Niagara UniversityLocation
Niagara County, NY
Graduation Rate64%
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Farmingdale State CollegeLocation
Farmingdale, NY
Graduation Rate45%
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SUNY College of Technology at DelhiLocation
Delhi, NY
Graduation Rate39%
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Phillips Beth Israel School of NursingLocation
New York, NY
Graduation RateN/A%
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Keuka CollegeLocation
Keuka Park, NY
Graduation Rate47%
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Concordia College-New YorkLocation
Bronxville, NY
Graduation Rate48%
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Wagner CollegeLocation
Staten Island, NY
Graduation Rate66%
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CUNY New York City College of TechnologyLocation
Brooklyn, NY
Graduation Rate15%
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Nyack CollegeLocation
Nyack, NY
Graduation Rate42%
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Hartwick CollegeLocation
Oneonta, NY
Graduation Rate57%
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SUNY College of Technology at CantonLocation
Canton, NY
Graduation Rate29%
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Touro CollegeLocation
Los Alamitos, CA
Graduation Rate41%
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Elmira CollegeLocation
Elmira, NY
Graduation Rate58%
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Dominican CollegeLocation
Orangeburg, NY
Graduation Rate39%
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CUNY Medgar Evers CollegeLocation
Brooklyn, NY
Graduation Rate12%
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Utica CollegeLocation
Utica, NY
Graduation Rate44%
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Mercy CollegeLocation
Dobbs Ferry, NY
Graduation Rate29%
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CUNY York CollegeLocation
Jamaica, NY
Graduation Rate29%
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SUNY Empire State CollegeLocation
Saratoga Springs, NY
Graduation Rate19%
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New York Institute of TechnologyLocation
New York City, NY
Graduation Rate45%
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College of New RochelleLocation
New Rochelle, NY
Graduation Rate29%
4-Year Schools
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Columbia-Greene Community CollegeLocation
Hudson, NY
Graduation Rate31%
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Clinton Community CollegeLocation
Plattsburgh, NY
Graduation Rate29%
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Fulton-Montgomery Community CollegeLocation
Johnstown, NY
Graduation Rate27%
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Niagara County Community CollegeLocation
Sanborn, NY
Graduation Rate24%
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Genesee Community CollegeLocation
Batavia, NY
Graduation Rate25%
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Jefferson Community CollegeLocation
Watertown, NY
Graduation Rate27%
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Samaritan Hospital School of NursingLocation
Troy, NY
Graduation Rate100%
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Crouse Hospital College of NursingLocation
Syracuse, NY
Graduation Rate67%
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Jamestown Community CollegeLocation
Jamestown, NY
Graduation Rate30%
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Mohawk Valley Community CollegeLocation
Utica, NY
Graduation Rate23%
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Finger Lakes Community CollegeLocation
Canandaigua, NY
Graduation Rate27%
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Saint Elizabeth Medical Center School of RadiographyLocation
Utica, NY
Graduation Rate29%
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Hudson Valley Community CollegeLocation
Troy, NY
Graduation Rate27%
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Dutchess Community CollegeLocation
Poughkeepsie, NY
Graduation Rate26%
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St Joseph's College of NursingLocation
Syracuse, NY
Graduation Rate29%
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Corning Community CollegeLocation
Corning, NY
Graduation Rate26%
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Monroe Community CollegeLocation
Rochester, NY
Graduation Rate24%
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Rockland Community CollegeLocation
Suffern, NY
Graduation Rate27%
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North Country Community CollegeLocation
Saranac Lake, NY
Graduation Rate22%
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SUNY Westchester Community CollegeLocation
Valhalla, NY
Graduation Rate12%
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Cayuga Community CollegeLocation
Auburn, NY
Graduation Rate27%
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Adirondack Community CollegeLocation
Queensbury, NY
Graduation Rate16%
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Nassau Community CollegeLocation
Garden City, NY
Graduation Rate22%
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Tompkins Cortland Community CollegeLocation
Dryden, NY
Graduation Rate23%
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SUNY UlsterLocation
Lake Katrine, NY
Graduation Rate26%
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SUNY OrangeLocation
Goshen, NY
Graduation Rate18%
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Erie Community CollegeLocation
Buffalo, NY
Graduation Rate22%
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Kingsborough Community CollegeLocation
Brooklyn, NY
Graduation Rate23%
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Finger Lakes Health College of NursingLocation
Geneva, NY
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SUNY SullivanLocation
Loch Sheldrake, NY
Graduation Rate19%
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Hostos Community CollegeLocation
Bronx, NY
Graduation Rate13%
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Queensborough Community CollegeLocation
Bayside, NY
Graduation Rate18%
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Bronx Community CollegeLocation
Bronx, NY
Graduation Rate1%
New York Nursing Schools for Aspiring RNs
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reports that nursing schools in New York educated almost 29,000 students at the baccalaureate and graduate degree levels in Fall 2014. These schools also enrolled a significant amount of minority and male students (35 percent and 12 percent, respectively), which is not typically seen in other nursing schools in the US.
The search tool below has been designed to allow prospective students to filter through the numerous nursing schools in New York to find a select few that closely match their preferences and needs.
New York Licensing Requirements
New York has strict requirements for nurses that practice in the state, and these requirements vary depending on the type of license. Aspiring registered nurses can apply for licensure through the New York State Education Department after completing a series of prerequisites. Below is information on how to apply for a first-time RN license, as well as renewal information for nurses in New York.
Licensing Requirements
Registered nurses in New York must be at least 18 years old, be of good moral character and meet the requirements below:
- Hold at least a two-year degree or diploma in nursing from a program approved by the New York State Education Department or a program approved by the agency that oversees nursing licenses in another state
- Complete training in the identification and reporting of child abuse
- Complete approved coursework appropriate to nursing practice regarding infection control and barrier precautions
- Submit an application for licensure to the New York State Education Department with the $143 registration fee
- Have your school of record send official transcripts to the NYSED
- Register to take the NCLEX-RN exam and submit the fee to Pearson Vue
- Nurses who are licensed in another state may forgo the NCLEX-RN requirement in exchange for proof of a current license in that state
Renewal in New York
Once a registered nurse is licensed, the license is valid for life unless it is revoked, annulled or suspended. Instead of renewing a license, as in most other states, RNs in New York must fill out a nursing license parchment and a registration certificate and keep that registration up to date. Registration is good for up to three years and will need to be renewed in order to continue practicing. By law, RNs cannot practice with an expired registration.
New York Advanced Practice Nurses
Advanced practice nurses are registered nurses who continued their education to work in a specialized area. The New York State Education Department issues certificates for nurse practitioners to specialize in adult health, neonatology, school health, oncology and a host of other areas. Advanced practice nurse certification is valid for life; however, nurses need to renew their registration certificate every three years. In addition to the standard RN requirements, advanced practice nurses must also fulfill the following:
- Be currently licensed as a professional RN in the state
- Graduate from a nurse practitioner education program approved by NYSED or be certified as a nurse practitioner by a national certifying organization
- Complete pharmacology coursework
- Complete an application for nurse practitioner certification and submit the $85 fee
For more information about advanced practice nursing licensure and renewal, visit the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions .
New York Nursing: A Look at the Numbers
By nature, nursing is an altruistic career; however, it does have great financial benefits in New York. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for nurses in the state is nearly $10,000 higher than the national average. Salaries and need vary by geographic area, but there's a need for about 13 percent more nurses statewide between 2012 and 2022. Take a closer look at the top-paying metropolitan areas in New York as well as the state and national comparison for different types of nurses.
Area | Hourly Median Wage | Annual Median Wage |
---|---|---|
New York-White Plains-Wayne NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | $41.25 | $85,790 |
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island NY-NJ-PA | $40.23 | $83,690 |
Nassau-Suffolk Metropolitan Division | $39.78 | $82,750 |
Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown | $33.76 | $70,210 |
Buffalo-Niagara Falls | $33.18 | $69,020 |
Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $30.23 | $62,880 |
Binghamton | $30.14 | $62,680 |
East Central New York nonmetropolitan area | $29.98 | $62,370 |
Kingston | $29.84 | $62,070 |
Rochester | $29.02 | $60,360 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014