100 Best colleges for Critical Care Nursing in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Critical Care Nursing. A graph of 29.5M citations received by 713K academic papers made by 448 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Critical Care Nursing

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

2. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Critical Care Nursing

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

3. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Critical Care Nursing

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

4. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Critical Care Nursing

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

5. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Critical Care Nursing

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Critical Care Nursing

#7 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

7. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Critical Care Nursing

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

8. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Critical Care Nursing

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

9. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Critical Care Nursing

#10 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

10. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Critical Care Nursing

#11 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

11. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Critical Care Nursing

#12 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

12. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Critical Care Nursing

#13 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

13. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Critical Care Nursing

#14 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

14. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Critical Care Nursing

#16 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

15. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Critical Care Nursing

#17 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

16. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Critical Care Nursing

#18 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,261
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1963

17. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Critical Care Nursing

#19 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

18. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Critical Care Nursing

#20 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

19. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Critical Care Nursing

#21 in North America

#24 in the World

Enrollment: 2,549
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1943

20. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Critical Care Nursing

#23 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

21. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Critical Care Nursing

#24 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

22. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Critical Care Nursing

#25 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

23. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Critical Care Nursing

#26 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

24. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Critical Care Nursing

#27 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

25. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Critical Care Nursing

#28 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

26. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Critical Care Nursing

#29 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

27. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Critical Care Nursing

#30 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

28. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Critical Care Nursing

#31 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,636
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

29. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Critical Care Nursing

#32 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

30. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Critical Care Nursing

#34 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

31. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Critical Care Nursing

#35 in North America

#41 in the World

Enrollment: 359
Male:Female: 22:78
Founded: 1941

32. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Critical Care Nursing

#36 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,942
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

33. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Critical Care Nursing

#37 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

34. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Critical Care Nursing

#38 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

35. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Critical Care Nursing

#39 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

36. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Critical Care Nursing

#40 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

37. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Critical Care Nursing

#42 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

38. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Critical Care Nursing

#43 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

39. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Critical Care Nursing

#44 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

40. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Critical Care Nursing

#45 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

41. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Critical Care Nursing

#47 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

42. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Critical Care Nursing

#48 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

43. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Critical Care Nursing

#49 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

44. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Critical Care Nursing

#50 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

45. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Critical Care Nursing

#51 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

46. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Critical Care Nursing

#53 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

47. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Critical Care Nursing

#54 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,246
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1824

48. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Critical Care Nursing

#55 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

49. Florida College

Florida | Temple Terrace

For Critical Care Nursing

#56 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $24,335

50. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Critical Care Nursing

#58 in North America

#81 in the World

Enrollment: 1,677
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1893

51. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Critical Care Nursing

#59 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,401

52. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Critical Care Nursing

#60 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

53. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Critical Care Nursing

#61 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

54. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Critical Care Nursing

#62 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,786
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1959

55. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Critical Care Nursing

#64 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

56. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Tennessee | Memphis

For Critical Care Nursing

#65 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 3,101
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1911

57. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Critical Care Nursing

#66 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

58. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Critical Care Nursing

#67 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

59. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Critical Care Nursing

#68 in North America

#106 in the World

Enrollment: 4,938
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

60. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Critical Care Nursing

#70 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

61. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Critical Care Nursing

#71 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

62. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Critical Care Nursing

#72 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,489
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1962

63. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Critical Care Nursing

#73 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

64. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Critical Care Nursing

#74 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

65. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Critical Care Nursing

#75 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

66. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Critical Care Nursing

#76 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $29,325

67. University of Nebraska Medical Center

Nebraska | Omaha

For Critical Care Nursing

#77 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 3,988
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1869

68. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Critical Care Nursing

#78 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

69. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Arkansas | Little Rock

For Critical Care Nursing

#80 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 3,485
Male:Female: 25:75
Founded: 1879

70. Saint Louis University

Missouri | St. Louis

For Critical Care Nursing

#81 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $27,749

71. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Critical Care Nursing

#83 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 3,241
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1891

72. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Critical Care Nursing

#84 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

73. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Critical Care Nursing

#85 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

74. University of Vermont

Vermont | Burlington

For Critical Care Nursing

#86 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 95%

75. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Critical Care Nursing

#87 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $47,427

76. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Critical Care Nursing

#88 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

77. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Critical Care Nursing

#89 in North America

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

78. Augusta University

Georgia | Augusta

For Critical Care Nursing

#90 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1055
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 93%

79. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Critical Care Nursing

#91 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

80. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Critical Care Nursing

#92 in North America

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

81. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Pennsylvania | Hershey

For Critical Care Nursing

#93 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

82. New York Medical College

New York State | Valhalla

For Critical Care Nursing

#94 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,471
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1860

83. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Critical Care Nursing

#95 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

84. University of Missouri - Kansas City

Missouri | Kansas

For Critical Care Nursing

#96 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 98%

85. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Critical Care Nursing

#97 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

86. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Critical Care Nursing

#98 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

87. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Maryland | Bethesda

For Critical Care Nursing

#99 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 2,500
Founded: 1972

88. University of Mississippi Medical Center

Mississippi | Jackson

For Critical Care Nursing

#100 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Founded: 1955

89. University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center

Oklahoma State | Oklahoma City

For Critical Care Nursing

#101 in North America

#212 in the World

Enrollment: 3,680
Male:Female: 26:74
Founded: 1900

90. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Texas | Lubbock

For Critical Care Nursing

#102 in North America

#216 in the World

Enrollment: 5,098
Male:Female: 24:76
Founded: 1969

91. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Critical Care Nursing

#104 in North America

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

92. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Critical Care Nursing

#105 in North America

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

93. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Critical Care Nursing

#106 in North America

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $36,948

94. Albany Medical College

New York State | Albany

For Critical Care Nursing

#107 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 814
Male:Female: 37:63
Founded: 1839

95. SUNY Downstate Medical Center

New York State | New York City

For Critical Care Nursing

#108 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 2,220
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1860

96. Marymount University

Virginia | Arlington

For Critical Care Nursing

#109 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $31,989
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $26,069

97. Loma Linda University

California | Loma Linda

For Critical Care Nursing

#110 in North America

#236 in the World

Enrollment: 4,210
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1905

98. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Critical Care Nursing

#111 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

99. Rush University

Illinois | Chicago

For Critical Care Nursing

#112 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 2,769
Male:Female: 21:79
Founded: 1972

100. Eastern Virginia Medical School

Virginia | Norfolk

For Critical Care Nursing

#113 in North America

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,216
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1973

The best cities to study Critical Care Nursing in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Baltimore, San Francisco, and Seattle.