# Best Colleges for Health Professions

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: By Major
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-nursing

## Methodology

Composite score + program concentration bonus for Health Professions

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Choosing the right college for health professions can be daunting. With over 50 options on this list, families are weighing important factors like earnings potential and graduation rates. One standout figure is the average earnings of graduates from these programs, which sit at $72,926.

What sets the top schools apart? Graduates from leading health professions programs are not only landing jobs but are also earning competitive salaries, often while managing reasonable debt levels. As you explore this list, consider key metrics like earnings, graduation rates, and net price to understand what each institution brings to the table.

Take the University of Pennsylvania and CUNY Lehman College as examples. Graduates from Penn enjoy average earnings of $111,371 and a remarkable graduation rate of 97%. In contrast, Lehman graduates earn significantly less at $58,013, with only half completing their degrees. This stark difference highlights why some institutions can lead to better financial outcomes than others.

## Key Findings

- University of Pennsylvania graduates earn an average of $111,371, higher than the overall average of $72,926.
- CUNY Lehman College has a graduation rate of just 50%, compared to 97% at the University of Pennsylvania.
- Average debt for graduates from Mount Carmel College of Nursing stands at $22,082, contrasting with $10,250 at Johns Hopkins University.
- Duke University graduates have a 96% graduation rate, contributing to their average earnings of $97,800.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [CUNY Lehman College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-lehman-college) | Bronx, NY | 50% | $58,013 | $3,148 | $10,950 | 0.19x |
| 2 | [CUNY York College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-york-college) | Jamaica, NY | 31% | $56,945 | $4,456 | $11,000 | 0.19x |
| 3 | [Johns Hopkins University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/johns-hopkins-university) | Baltimore, MD | 94% | $87,555 | $18,809 | $10,250 | 0.12x |
| 4 | [Oregon Institute of Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/oregon-institute-of-technology) | Klamath Falls, OR | 56% | $72,273 | $15,706 | $22,500 | 0.31x |
| 5 | [University of Portland](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-portland) | Portland, OR | 80% | $82,804 | $28,210 | $21,370 | 0.26x |
| 6 | [The University of Texas at Tyler](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-tyler) | Tyler, TX | 51% | $57,053 | $13,323 | $17,137 | 0.3x |
| 7 | [Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/albany-college-of-pharmacy-and-health-sciences) | Albany, NY | 68% | $131,426 | $29,882 | $25,500 | 0.19x |
| 8 | [University of Pennsylvania](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-pennsylvania) | Philadelphia, PA | 97% | $111,371 | $28,699 | $15,715 | 0.14x |
| 9 | [Texas Woman's University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-womans-university) | Denton, TX | 47% | $56,544 | $11,963 | $19,218 | 0.34x |
| 10 | [Azusa Pacific University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/azusa-pacific-university) | Azusa, CA | 63% | $66,677 | $22,212 | $23,219 | 0.35x |
| 11 | [The University of Texas at Arlington](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-arlington) | Arlington, TX | 55% | $63,199 | $13,951 | $17,527 | 0.28x |
| 12 | [Duke University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/duke-university) | Durham, NC | 96% | $97,800 | $29,612 | $13,000 | 0.13x |
| 13 | [University of North Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-florida) | Jacksonville, FL | 69% | $56,343 | $10,154 | $15,531 | 0.28x |
| 14 | [Regis University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/regis-university) | Denver, CO | 61% | $72,105 | $18,397 | $25,000 | 0.35x |
| 15 | [Wagner College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wagner-college) | Staten Island, NY | 67% | $74,360 | $28,241 | $25,000 | 0.34x |
| 16 | [Radford University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/radford-university) | Radford, VA | 49% | $53,739 | $14,578 | $24,000 | 0.45x |
| 17 | [Immaculata University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/immaculata-university) | Immaculata, PA | 68% | $75,701 | $24,258 | $27,000 | 0.36x |
| 18 | [Nevada State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/nevada-state-university) | Henderson, NV | 32% | $53,166 | $14,068 | $19,691 | 0.37x |
| 19 | [MCPHS University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mcphs-university) | Boston, MA | 63% | $125,557 | $39,545 | $25,000 | 0.2x |
| 20 | [Rockhurst University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rockhurst-university) | Kansas City, MO | 75% | $67,102 | $25,884 | $18,250 | 0.27x |
| 21 | [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill) | Chapel Hill, NC | 92% | $72,200 | $11,655 | $14,000 | 0.19x |
| 22 | [University of North Carolina Wilmington](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-wilmington) | Wilmington, NC | 71% | $54,967 | $20,109 | $19,500 | 0.35x |
| 23 | [University of Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-florida) | Gainesville, FL | 91% | $71,588 | $6,541 | $15,000 | 0.21x |
| 24 | [The College of Saint Scholastica](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-college-of-saint-scholastica) | Duluth, MN | 66% | $65,934 | $27,846 | $20,000 | 0.3x |
| 25 | [University of Central Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-central-florida) | Orlando, FL | 77% | $58,308 | $10,411 | $18,190 | 0.31x |
| 26 | [Holy Family University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/holy-family-university) | Philadelphia, PA | 61% | $62,235 | $13,143 | $25,125 | 0.4x |
| 27 | [Concordia University Texas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/concordia-university-texas) | Austin, TX | 42% | $60,883 | $23,131 | $21,852 | 0.36x |
| 28 | [Linfield University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/linfield-university) | McMinnville, OR | 68% | $78,638 | $26,536 | $25,000 | 0.32x |
| 29 | [Valparaiso University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/valparaiso-university) | Valparaiso, IN | 69% | $63,191 | $18,578 | $26,942 | 0.43x |
| 30 | [Rhode Island College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rhode-island-college) | Providence, RI | 47% | $56,318 | $9,478 | $20,500 | 0.36x |
| 31 | [University of South Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-south-florida) | Tampa, FL | 76% | $57,743 | $9,812 | $17,988 | 0.31x |
| 32 | [Siena Heights University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/siena-heights-university) | Adrian, MI | 45% | $57,529 | $17,124 | $18,750 | 0.33x |
| 33 | [Simmons University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/simmons-university) | Boston, MA | 72% | $63,494 | $25,265 | $24,840 | 0.39x |
| 34 | [Samford University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/samford-university) | Birmingham, AL | 78% | $58,469 | $32,622 | $19,500 | 0.33x |
| 35 | [University of Detroit Mercy](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-detroit-mercy) | Detroit, MI | 68% | $71,030 | $15,232 | $23,250 | 0.33x |
| 36 | [St Catherine University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/st-catherine-university) | Saint Paul, MN | 63% | $59,282 | $19,764 | $24,181 | 0.41x |
| 37 | [Pacific Lutheran University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pacific-lutheran-university) | Tacoma, WA | 70% | $66,990 | $19,589 | $22,578 | 0.34x |
| 38 | [Seattle University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/seattle-university) | Seattle, WA | 74% | $75,272 | $34,662 | $19,883 | 0.26x |
| 39 | [Marshall University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/marshall-university) | Huntington, WV | 50% | $46,354 | $7,502 | $23,250 | 0.5x |
| 40 | [James Madison University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/james-madison-university) | Harrisonburg, VA | 80% | $69,954 | $23,322 | $20,093 | 0.29x |
| 41 | [Midwestern State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/midwestern-state-university) | Wichita Falls, TX | 42% | $55,747 | $11,656 | $21,030 | 0.38x |
| 42 | [Tennessee Wesleyan University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tennessee-wesleyan-university) | Athens, TN | 46% | $45,989 | $14,836 | $20,000 | 0.43x |
| 43 | [Southern Illinois University Edwardsville](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-illinois-university-edwardsville) | Edwardsville, IL | 56% | $56,346 | $14,889 | $20,500 | 0.36x |
| 44 | [Creighton University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/creighton-university) | Omaha, NE | 82% | $73,911 | $31,568 | $25,000 | 0.34x |
| 45 | [Southwestern Oklahoma State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southwestern-oklahoma-state-university) | Weatherford, OK | 37% | $45,744 | $14,459 | $15,954 | 0.35x |
| 46 | [Mississippi University for Women](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mississippi-university-for-women) | Columbus, MS | 42% | $46,128 | $12,411 | $15,000 | 0.33x |
| 47 | [Minot State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/minot-state-university) | Minot, ND | 46% | $51,759 | $12,703 | $19,609 | 0.38x |
| 48 | [University of West Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-west-florida) | Pensacola, FL | 60% | $49,137 | $9,364 | $16,624 | 0.34x |
| 49 | [Dominican University of California](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dominican-university-of-california) | San Rafael, CA | 77% | $84,713 | $35,333 | $27,000 | 0.32x |
| 50 | [East Tennessee State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/east-tennessee-state-university) | Johnson City, TN | 52% | $44,859 | $15,983 | $19,442 | 0.43x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Colleges for Health Professions." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-nursing

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.