The Most Nurse-Curious States and Cities in America

For many people, a nursing career begins with a search. And they often type the same questions, like: How do I become a nurse? Which program should I choose? What comes after the degree?

We wanted to see where that curiosity runs strongest. So we ranked all 50 states and the 100 largest U.S. cities by how often residents search for nursing careers, programs, and credential paths. The results show where interest in nursing is climbing, and where it lags.

For students, schools, and anyone watching the field, the patterns are worth a look.

Key Takeaways

• Colorado, Florida, and Virginia are the states with the highest interest in nursing careers, based on searches per 100K residents.

• Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming show the lowest interest in pursuing nursing careers.

• Cincinnati, OH; Cleveland, OH; and Orlando, FL, lead the nation in nursing career search interest among the 100 largest U.S. cities.

• Aurora, CO, is the city with the fastest growth in nursing career interest, with searches up 55%, followed by Cape Coral, FL, and Raleigh, NC.
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The States Where Nursing Curiosity Runs Hottest

We ranked each state by nursing-related searches per 100,000 residents, drawn from 30 keywords across four career paths. Higher numbers indicate greater search interest relative to the population. The map below charts that ambition from coast to coast, and shows where interest in nursing careers runs highest.

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Colorado leads the country with 9,960 nursing-related searches per 100,000 residents. Florida follows at 8,886, then Virginia at 8,540. Nevada, New York, and Utah round out the next spots. These states sit in very different corners of the map, so interest in nursing careers doesn't tie to any single region.

Top 10 states by nursing search volume per capita:

1. Colorado: 9,960
2. Florida: 8,886
3. Virginia: 8,540
4. Nevada: 7,981
5. New York: 7,963
6. Utah: 7,816
7. Ohio: 7,694
8. California: 7,462
9. Texas: 6,922
10. New Jersey: 6,850
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Bottom 10 states by nursing search volume per capita:

50. Montana: 3,055

49. New Mexico: 3,511

48. Wyoming: 3,526

47. Iowa: 3,532

46. Wisconsin: 3,538

45. South Dakota: 3,564

44. Maine: 3,643

43. Vermont: 3,892

42. North Dakota: 3,958

41. Idaho: 4,004
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Many of these states are largely rural, and rural communities across the country are federally designated health professional shortage areas. Nurse practitioners can help expand access in these locations. Where search interest in nursing is lower, fewer new clinicians may step in to serve those communities.

The Cities With the Most Nursing Ambition

Narrowing from states to the 100 largest U.S. cities sharpens the picture. The same 30 keywords drive the rankings, now measured per 100,000 city residents. Some cities show far stronger interest in nursing careers than others, and the top of the list spans several states.

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Cincinnati tops the 100 largest U.S. cities in nursing-related searches per 100,000 residents, with 48,148, followed by Cleveland (45,644) and Orlando (44,494). Florida places the most cities in the top 20, with 4, followed by Virginia with 3.

Top 10 cities by nursing search volume per capita:

1. Cincinnati, OH: 48,148
2. Cleveland, OH: 45,644
3. Orlando, FL: 44,494
4. Denver, CO: 39,382
5. Tampa, FL: 38,576
6. Aurora, CO: 30,622
7. Atlanta, GA: 27,082
8. Virginia Beach, VA: 25,573
9. Miami, FL: 22,666
10. Detroit, MI: 22,495
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The top cities include both major metros and smaller regional hubs, so strong interest in nursing isn't limited to the biggest population centers.
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Bottom 10 cities by nursing search volume per capita:

50. Corpus Christi, TX: 5,226

49. Wichita, KS: 5,323

48. El Paso, TX: 5,404

47. Laredo, TX: 5,521

46. Tulsa, OK: 5,529

45. Lincoln, NE: 5,617

44. Colorado Springs, CO: 5,796

43. Albuquerque, NM: 6,246

42. Chula Vista, CA: 6,360

41. Mesa, AZ: 6,602
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Colorado Springs sits near the bottom, even though Colorado tops the state rankings. Interest in nursing can vary widely between cities within the same state.

The Nursing Niches Growing Fastest

Current rankings show where interest stands today. Growth data shows where it's headed. To track momentum, we compared search volume from 2023 to 2026. A few nursing niches are climbing fast, and they point to how the field is shifting.

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Aurora has the fastest-growing interest in the nation, with nursing searches up 55.3%, ahead of Cape Coral (+27.2%) and Raleigh (+19.9%). Certain corners of the nursing field are drawing fast-growing interest, signaling where the profession is headed:

• More people are exploring remote nursing roles. "Virtual nurse" searches increased 72%, while "telehealth nurse" searches climbed 44% to roughly 9,000 searches a month.

• Aspiring nurses are gravitating toward flexible, accessible routes into the field, as searches for "online nursing degree"' jumped 73% in the past year.

• Interest in advanced practice is building. "Family nurse practitioner" searches rose 42% in the past year.
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"Travel nursing" searches have rebounded, too. After peaking around 120,000 monthly searches in 2022 and sliding through 2024, interest has rebounded 68% in the past year to roughly 54,000 a month.

What America's Searches Reveal About Nursing's Future

Search interest is an early signal, not a guarantee. Still, it shows where curiosity about nursing careers is building. It also shows where interest is quieter, often in rural areas that already face provider shortages. The fastest-growing searches point to a field in motion, with more people exploring virtual care, online degrees, and advanced practice roles like family nurse practitioner.

Turning interest into practicing clinicians depends on what comes next: the clinical placements, preceptors, and support that carry students from coursework to graduation. This is where NPHub comes in. Nurse practitioner students are the only healthcare students who must secure their own clinical rotations, and NPHub matches them with vetted preceptors so they can graduate on time. The more we strengthen that support, the more of today's curiosity becomes tomorrow's care.
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Methodology

NPHub ranked all 50 U.S. states and 100 of the most populous U.S. cities by nursing-career search demand per capita: how often residents search Google for how to become a nurse, nursing programs, and related credential paths, normalized by population (per 100,000 residents).

We pulled monthly search volume for 30 nursing-related keywords spanning four career paths: entry and registered nursing (such as "how to become a nurse" and "nursing school requirements"), bachelor's degrees (such as "BSN programs" and "RN to BSN"), master's and nurse practitioner study (such as "nurse practitioner programs" and "online NP programs"), and nursing specialties and doctorates (such as "FNP programs" and "DNP programs"). Data pulled spanned from May 2023 to May 2026.
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About NPHub

Since 2017, NPHub has helped nurse practitioner students secure the clinical placements they need to graduate on time. Our vetted network of 2,400+ preceptors connects students with quality clinical rotations across specialties, from Family Practice to Mental Health/Psychiatric. With a team of 90+ clinical placement experts handling the paperwork and school-specific requirements, students can stop stressing about their rotations and focus on becoming amazing NPs.
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Fair Use Statement

The data and findings on this page are free to use for noncommercial purposes. If you share them, please credit NPHub with a link so others can view the full study.