Determine which field of specialization you intend to pursue at the graduate level. This will play a role in determining which schools you apply to and which ones you don't. There are many different nursing specialties offered at the master's degree level, such as nursing anesthesia, midwifery, geriatric nursing, adult medical-surgical nursing, pediatric nursing, nursing administration, mental health nursing, family practitioner specialization and public health nursing. Many schools offer a general nursing track at the master's degree level.
Examine the rankings provided by "U.S. News & World Report" for the nursing degree specialty that you intend to pursue. Each specialization has been ranked by the publication to give readers an idea of which programs are considered the best in each field. Rankings are compiled based on the input of faculty members of nursing programs nationwide and provide a reliable indicator of the quality of the nursing programs based on the opinion of people who are generally familiar with which programs are the best in the field.
Narrow your search by geographic location. "U.S. News & World Report" provides a way for you to search the top programs by location. On the left side of the rankings page, select "location" and then define your search by state, metro area or zip code. This will help you find schools near to you.
Research each school of interest to determine which one best meets your academic and financial needs. Choose your school based not only on reputation, but also on overall tuition cost, length of the program and possible financial aid sources.