Nova Scotia has three universities that offer a bachelor’s degree for registered nurses, including one of Canada’s world-ranked nursing schools. This guide ranks and reviews all three.
Imagine choosing between a big-city university in Halifax, a close-knit campus in a small town and a university in Cape Breton. All three lead to the same nursing licence, but the experience on the way there is very different.
How we ranked these schools
Canada has no official national dataset on nursing school outcomes like the US has, so we combined two things. First, schools in Nova Scotia that appear in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for nursing are placed at the top, in QS order. Second, we ranked the other programmes approved by the Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN) on the range of degree routes they offer, the strength of the wider university and the clinical training they can provide. Every school on this list leads to a degree that lets you apply to register as a nurse.
Nova Scotia nursing schools ranked (2026)
| Rank | School | City | Nursing degree options | QS Nursing 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dalhousie University | Halifax | BScN | 151–225 |
| 2 | St. Francis Xavier University | Antigonish | BScN | Not ranked |
| 3 | Cape Breton University | Sydney | BScN | Not ranked |
Top Nova Scotia nursing schools reviewed
1. Dalhousie University
Dalhousie’s School of Nursing is the only Nova Scotia nursing school in the QS world rankings. Halifax is home to the Atlantic region’s largest health centre, which gives students a wide range of clinical experience.
- Degree options: BScN
- World ranking: 151–225 in the world for nursing (QS 2026)
- Best for: students who want a research university and big-hospital placements
2. St. Francis Xavier University
StFX is a smaller university in Antigonish known for its close-knit campus. Its nursing students get more individual attention and placements in rural and community settings.
- Degree options: BScN
- World ranking: not in the QS nursing table
- Best for: students who prefer a small-town campus and smaller classes
3. Cape Breton University
Cape Breton University trains nurses for Cape Breton and the rest of the province. It suits students who want to study and work in their home region.
- Degree options: BScN
- World ranking: not in the QS nursing table
- Best for: students from Cape Breton, and anyone interested in rural nursing
What does nursing school cost in Nova Scotia?
Statistics Canada puts average undergraduate tuition in Nova Scotia at about $9,988 a year for Canadian students in 2025/2026, the highest of any province and well above the national average of $7,734. International students pay much more: the national average for international undergraduates is about $41,746 a year.
But is a ranking enough to choose a school?
No ranking can tell you everything. Before you apply, also check:
- Approval: make sure the programme is on the approved list of the Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN), so you can register as a nurse when you graduate.
- Accreditation: most Canadian nursing degrees are also accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN). Ask about the programme’s current status.
- Exam results: registered nurses in Canada (outside Quebec) write the NCLEX-RN. Ask each school for its graduates’ first-time pass rate.
- Admission competition: nursing seats are limited and admission averages are high. Apply to more than one school.
- Clinical placements: where students train, and whether you may be placed far from campus.
Your next step: Shortlist two or three schools from the table, then check each one’s admission requirements and deadlines on its website. Many Canadian nursing programmes close applications early in the year.
Related: Moving to Canada as a nurse: NNAS, NCLEX and immigration steps · Nurse salaries in Canada by province
Sources: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 (Nursing), the Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN), Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, Statistics Canada Tuition and Living Accommodation Costs survey 2025/2026, school websites. Programmes and fees change; always confirm with the school.
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