Nursing Schools in New York

LS
By Lindsay Smith, AGPCNP
Updated September 6, 2026

Reviewed for clinical accuracy · Methodology: NIH, NCBI, AANP guidelines

An entryway into the United States for many who visit or come to live, New York is a populous state of roughly 19.5 million residents, with New York City alone accounting for about 8.3 million. It also supports one of the largest state economies in the country. Entry-level and experienced nurses seeking to further their education have a wide choice of nursing schools in New York.

Cost of living in New York runs well above the national average, particularly in the New York City metro area. Nursing wages reflect some of that: the median annual wage for registered nurses in New York is $109,440, against a national median of $97,550 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025).

Nursing education in New York

There are several educational options to choose from when it comes to higher education, and more specifically choosing the right school to earn a nursing degree. Some of the most established nursing programs in the state sit within New York University’s Rory Meyers College of Nursing, Columbia University School of Nursing, the University of Rochester School of Nursing, and the State University of New York (SUNY) and City University of New York (CUNY) systems.

Not every well-known New York institution offers nursing degree programs – Rockefeller University, for example, is a graduate biomedical research institution with no nursing school. NYU’s Rory Meyers College of Nursing does offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in nursing, all built around a curriculum combining classroom instruction with supervised clinical study.

Although there are nursing positions at every level in the medical profession, some of the most common are filled by licensed registered nurses, many of whom go on to work in the state’s largest hospitals such as Mount Sinai, NewYork-Presbyterian, and Buffalo General Medical Center, alongside physician offices and other care facilities. Nursing positions are also common in nursing homes, home health, and school and community health settings.

Demand is expected to keep growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects registered nurse employment to grow 6% nationally from 2025 to 2035, with about 180,800 openings per year on average over the decade, most of them arising from the need to replace nurses who retire or leave the occupation.

Adelphi University School of Nursing Location: Garden City, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1896 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: http://www.adelphi.edu

Binghamton University Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences Location: Binghamton, New York Programs: BSN, MSN, PHD Founded: 1946 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: http://www.binghamton.edu

University of Mount Saint Vincent School of Nursing Location: Riverdale, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1911 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: https://mountsaintvincent.edu

College of Staten Island of the City University of New York School of Nursing Location: Staten Island, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1955 Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing Website: http://www.csi.cuny.edu

Columbia University School of Nursing Location: New York, New York Programs: BSN, MSN, PhD Founded: 1754 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: http://www.columbia.edu

Daemen University School of Nursing Location: Amherst, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1947 Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing Website: https://www.daemen.edu

Dominican University New York School of Nursing Location: Orangeburg, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1952 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: https://www.duny.edu

D’Youville University School of Nursing Location: Buffalo, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1908 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: https://www.dyc.edu

Elmira College School of Nursing Location: Elmira, New York Programs: BSN Founded: 1855 Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing Website: http://www.elmira.edu

Excelsior University School of Nursing Location: Albany, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1970 Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing Website: https://www.excelsior.edu

Hartwick College School of Nursing Location: Oneonta, New York Programs: BSN Founded: 1797 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: http://www.hartwick.edu

Hunter College of the City University of New York Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing Location: New York, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1870 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: http://www.hunter.cuny.edu

Keuka College School of Nursing Location: Keuka Park, New York Programs: BSN Founded: 1890 Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing Website: http://www.keuka.edu

Lehman College The City University of New York School of Nursing Location: Bronx, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1931 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: http://www.lehman.cuny.edu

Long Island University Brooklyn School of Nursing Location: Brooklyn, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1926 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: http://www.liu.edu

Long Island University Post School of Nursing Location: Brookville, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1954 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: https://liu.edu/post

Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York School of Nursing Location: Brooklyn, New York Programs: BSN Founded: 1969 Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing Website: http://www.mec.cuny.edu

Mercy University School of Nursing Location: Dobbs Ferry, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1951 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: https://www.mercy.edu

Molloy University School of Nursing Location: Rockville Centre, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1955 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: https://www.molloy.edu

Mount Saint Mary College School of Nursing Location: Newburgh, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1960 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: http://www.msmc.edu

Nazareth University School of Nursing Location: Rochester, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1924 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: https://www2.naz.edu

New York University School of Nursing Location: New York, New York Programs: BSN, MSN, PHD Founded: 1831 Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing Website: http://www.nyu.edu

Pace University Lienhard School of Nursing Location: New York, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1906 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: http://www.pace.edu

SUNY Plattsburgh School of Nursing Location: Plattsburgh, New York Programs: BSN Founded: 1889 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: https://www.plattsburgh.edu

Roberts Wesleyan College School of Nursing Location: Rochester, New York Programs: BSN Founded: 1866 Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing Website: http://www.roberts.edu

Russell Sage College School of Nursing Location: Troy, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: N/A Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing Website: https://www.sage.edu

St. Francis College School of Nursing Location: Brooklyn Heights, New York Programs: BSN Founded: N/A Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: http://www.stfranciscollege.edu

St. John Fisher University Wegmans School of Nursing Location: Rochester, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1948 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: https://www.sjfc.edu

St. Joseph’s University, New York School of Nursing Location: Brooklyn, New York Programs: BSN Founded: 1916 Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing Website: https://www.sjny.edu

State University of New York Buffalo School of Nursing Location: Buffalo, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1846 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: http://www.buffalo.edu

State University of New York College Brockport School of Nursing Location: Brockport, New York Programs: BSN Founded: 1867 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: http://www.brockport.edu

State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Nursing Location: Brooklyn, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1858 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: http://www.downstate.edu

Stony Brook University School of Nursing Location: Stony Brook, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1957 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: https://nursing.stonybrookmedicine.edu

SUNY Polytechnic Institute School of Nursing Location: Utica, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1966 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: https://sunypoly.edu

State University of New York New Paltz School of Nursing Location: New Paltz, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1828 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: http://www.newpaltz.edu

State University of New York Upstate Medical University College of Nursing Location: Syracuse, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1950 Accreditation Body: CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Website: http://www.upstate.edu

Syracuse University School of Nursing Location: Syracuse, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: N/A Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing Website: http://www.syr.edu

University of Rochester School of Nursing Location: Rochester, New York Programs: BSN, MSN, PHD Founded: 1850 Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing Website: http://www.rochester.edu

Wagner College School of Nursing Location: Staten Island, New York Programs: BSN, MSN Founded: 1883 Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing Website: http://www.wagner.edu

York College of the City University of New York School of Nursing Location: Jamaica, New York Programs: BSN Founded: 1967 Accreditation Body: ACEN – Accreditation Commission For Education in Nursing Website: http://www.york.cuny.edu

New York’s Board of Regents relaxed its “university” definition in January 2022, and a wave of the state’s nursing schools changed names shortly afterward. Older directories and search results still carry the previous names, so it is worth knowing which institution you are looking at:

  • The College of New Rochelle closed in 2019 after 115 years, following the discovery of financial irregularities. Mercy University (then Mercy College) took on roughly 1,800 continuing students and about 70 faculty and staff, and it now offers nursing programs at its Dobbs Ferry, Manhattan, and Bronx campuses.
  • Excelsior College became Excelsior University on 1 August 2022. Degrees conferred after that date carry the Excelsior University name.
  • Molloy College became Molloy University on 1 June 2022, and St. Joseph’s College became St. Joseph’s University, New York in April 2022.
  • Dominican College became Dominican University New York in May 2022, and the College of Mount Saint Vincent became the University of Mount Saint Vincent on 1 January 2024.
  • Nazareth College became Nazareth University on 1 June 2023, and Mercy College became Mercy University.
  • The Sage Colleges consolidated into Russell Sage College on 1 July 2020, merging the Troy and Albany campuses into a single coeducational institution.

To confirm that a program is currently approved and accredited, check the source rather than a directory listing. The New York State Education Department Office of the Professions publishes the list of registered nursing education programs in the state, and national accreditation can be verified through the CCNE program directory or the ACEN program search.

For admissions requirements, program costs, and how to choose the right program, read our full guide to Nursing schools in New York: programs, costs, and how to choose.

References

  1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), New York state estimates, May 2025. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291141.htm
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses, employment projections 2025–2035. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
  3. New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions. Registered professional nursing education programs. https://www.op.nysed.gov/education-nursing
  4. New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions. Requirements for licensure as a registered professional nurse. https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/registered-professional-nursing/license-requirements
  5. National Council of State Boards of Nursing. NCLEX examination candidate information. https://www.nclex.com/
  6. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Accredited baccalaureate and graduate nursing program directory. https://directory.ccnecommunity.org/
  7. Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Accredited nursing programs directory. https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs/
  8. U.S. Census Bureau. QuickFacts, New York state population estimates. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/NY
  9. Mercy University. College of New Rochelle agreement, 2019. https://mercy.edu/about/college-new-rochelle-agreement-2019
  10. Excelsior University. University designation announcement. https://www.excelsior.edu/about/university-designation/
  11. Molloy University. University status. https://www.molloy.edu/about/university-status/
  12. Russell Sage College. New York State Board of Regents approves charter change. https://www.sage.edu/news/new-york-state-board-of-regents-approves-charter-change-for-russell-sage-college/

This page is an educational overview of nursing education in New York and is not admissions, licensing, or career advice. Program offerings, accreditation status, and licensure requirements change; verify current details with the school and with the New York State Education Department Office of the Professions before making a decision. Last reviewed September 2026.