Nursing is one of the best decisions a student in Nepal can make right now. That's not a motivational statement — it's a market reality. Nepal's healthcare sector is expanding, demand for qualified nurses consistently outpaces supply, and for students who want to build careers abroad, a BSc Nursing degree from Nepal opens direct pathways to the UK, Australia, Canada, and Gulf countries that few other degrees can match.

But with over 40 colleges across Nepal now offering BSc Nursing programs — government and private, Kathmandu and outside — knowing which top nursing college in Nepal is actually worth your time, money, and four years of effort is the real question. This guide gives you the honest answer.

BSc Nursing in Nepal — What You Need to Know First

Before jumping into the list of nursing colleges in Nepal, here is the essential context that shapes every decision.

BSc Nursing in Nepal is a four-year undergraduate course divided into eight semesters, specifically designed to provide students with all the qualifications required to become professional nurses. Four universities offer the program — Tribhuvan University (TU), Kathmandu University (KU), Purbanchal University, and Pokhara University — as well as six health science academies including BPKIHS, PAHS, MBAHS, MIHS, RAHS, and NAMS.

Entrance exam: Students must usually pass the Medical Education Commission (MECEE-BL) entrance exam for BSc Nursing. This test is conducted annually and includes core subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics, and general aptitude. Preparation months in advance using past papers and coaching is the norm for competitive seats.

Licensure: Every graduate must pass the National Licensure Examination for Nurses (NLEN), conducted by the Nepal Nursing Council (NNC), to practice legally in Nepal.

Eligibility: +2 Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) with at least 50% aggregate or GPA 2.0. Some universities require higher grades for competitive programs.

Top Government Nursing Colleges in Nepal

Government nursing colleges offer the most affordable path to a BSc Nursing degree in Nepal. Seats are limited, competition is high, and fees are a fraction of private colleges — making these the most sought-after options every admission cycle.

1. Maharajgunj Nursing Campus (TU IOM) — Maharajgunj, Kathmandu

Maharajgunj Nursing Campus is consistently regarded as the top government nursing college in Nepal. The Institute of Medicine, located in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, aims to train a skilled workforce in healthcare who can conduct research and problem-solving. As the oldest and most established government nursing institution in Nepal, TU IOM's Maharajgunj campus sets the benchmark for government nursing education in the country.

Program: BSc Nursing — 4 years, TU affiliated
Location: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
Seats: Limited — highly competitive through MECEE-BL
Fees: Approximately NPR 2–4 lakh for full 4-year program
Why choose it: Most respected government nursing campus in Nepal; strong clinical training infrastructure; TU affiliation

2. Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS) — Lalitpur

Patan Academy of Health Sciences is a government-supported autonomous institution that provides some of Nepal's highest quality clinical nursing education. PAHS follows a community-based, service-oriented curriculum model that trains nurses specifically to work in Nepal's underserved areas — but graduates go on to build careers both domestically and internationally.

Program: BSc Nursing — 4 years
Location: Lalitpur (Patan), Kathmandu Valley
Fees: Subsidised government rate — significantly lower than private colleges
Why choose it: Strong community health focus, excellent clinical training, government-supported institution

3. BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) — Dharan

BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences is one of the top BSc Nursing colleges in Nepal. Located in Dharan, Sunsari, BPKIHS is the premier government health sciences institution for students from eastern Nepal. It combines strong academic standards with excellent hospital-based clinical training at its own teaching hospital.

Program: BSc Nursing — 4 years
Location: Dharan, Sunsari
Fees: Subsidised — one of the most affordable top nursing colleges in Nepal
Why choose it: Best government nursing option for eastern Nepal; strong clinical infrastructure; highly regarded TU Health Sciences degree

4. Kathmandu Nursing Campus — Maharajgunj, Kathmandu

Kathmandu Nursing Campus in Maharajgunj is one of the oldest and most respected government nursing institutions in Nepal. It is one of the most competitive government seats in the entire list of government nursing colleges in Nepal and consistently produces well-trained graduates.

Program: BSc Nursing — 4 years, TU affiliated
Location: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
Fees: NPR 2–3 lakh for full program
Why choose it: Established government campus, central Kathmandu location, strong TU nursing track record

Top Private Nursing Colleges in Nepal

Private nursing colleges offer more seats, better infrastructure at top institutions, and often stronger international partnership networks — but at significantly higher fees. Here are the strongest names among top nursing colleges in Nepal private institutions.

5. Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences — College of Nursing (NAIHS-CON) — Kathmandu

NAIHS-CON was established in 2010 in Sano Bharyang, Kathmandu. The College provides a BSc Nursing course to 40 students each year and is one of Nepal's best colleges offering a BSc Nursing program, operating in affiliation with Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine (TU-IOM). Despite being Army-affiliated, admission is open to civilian students.

Program: BSc Nursing — 4 years, TU IOM affiliated
Location: Sano Bharyang, Kathmandu
Seats: 40 per year
Fees: Approximately NPR 6–9 lakh for full program
Why choose it: TU IOM affiliation — same affiliation as Maharajgunj campus; disciplined academic environment; strong clinical placement

6. Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences (KUSMS)

Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences provides one of the top three Nursing science degrees in Nepal. KU's nursing program follows an internationally benchmarked curriculum and is one of the most respected private nursing degrees available in the country. Graduates of the KU nursing program have strong international recognition.

Program: BSc Nursing — 4 years, KU affiliated
Location: Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchok
Fees: Approximately NPR 10–14 lakh for the full program
Why choose it: KU degree—internationally recognised; strong clinical training; best option among top nursing colleges in Nepal for students targeting careers abroad

7. Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences (MMIHS) — Kathmandu

MMIHS was founded in 2007 at Soalteemode, Kathmandu. It has been offering a 4-year BSc Nursing program and has given top-quality nursing education to thousands of students. MMIHS is a well-established name among the top nursing colleges in the Kathmandu private sector and has a strong clinical training network through its hospital affiliations.

Program: BSc Nursing — 4 years, TU-affiliated
Location: Soalteemode, Kathmandu
Fees: Approximately NPR 8–11 lakh for the full program
Why choose it: Long-established private nursing institution; strong hospital clinical placements; consistent TU nursing exam results

8. Nobel Medical College — Biratnagar

Nobel Medical College is the strongest top nursing college in Nepal for students from eastern Nepal who want a private institution. Located in Biratnagar, it has its own teaching hospital and provides hospital-integrated clinical training as part of the BSc Nursing program. Nobel Medical College is one of the most popular and reputed nursing colleges in Nepal.

Program: BSc Nursing — 4 years, PU affiliated
Location: Biratnagar, Morang
Fees: Approximately NPR 8–12 lakh for full program
Why choose it: Best private nursing college outside Kathmandu; own teaching hospital; strong clinical exposure

9. Janamaitri Foundation Institute of Health Sciences — Kathmandu

Janamaitri Foundation Institute of Health Sciences is one of the most popular and reputed nursing colleges in Nepal. Located in Kathmandu, Janamaitri has built a consistent reputation for BSc Nursing education with strong clinical placements at affiliated hospitals.

Program: BSc Nursing — 4 years, TU-affiliated
Location: Kathmandu
Fees: Approximately NPR 8–10 lakh for full program.
Why choose it: Reputed private nursing college in Kathmandu; good clinical exposure; consistent academic delivery

CTEVT Nursing Colleges in Nepal — PCL Nursing

The list of CTEVT nursing colleges in Nepal covers PCL (Proficiency Certificate Level) Nursing programs — a 3-year diploma that is the most accessible entry point into the nursing profession. Nepal has over 100 PCL nursing colleges across all provinces, including government CTEVT-affiliated colleges, TU-affiliated nursing campuses, and private institutions.

PCL Nursing through CTEVT-affiliated colleges is ideal for students who:

Want to enter the nursing profession faster (3 years vs 4 years)
Have a tighter budget — CTEVT government college fees are among the lowest in Nepal
Want to work in Nepal's healthcare system at the entry level first

Key CTEVT nursing colleges in Nepal include:

Kathmandu Nursing Campus — Maharajgunj
Pokhara Nursing Campus — Pokhara
Hetauda Nursing Campus — Hetauda, Makwanpur
Butwal Nursing Campus — Butwal, Rupandehi
Dharan Nursing Campus — Dharan, Sunsari

Government nursing colleges affiliated with CTEVT or TU are the most affordable and most competitive — seats are limited, fees are low, and entrance competition is high.

Top Nursing Colleges in Nepal—Fees Comparison 2083

College	Type	Affiliation	Approx. Total Fees
Maharajgunj Nursing Campus	Government	TU IOM	NPR 2–4 lakh
Patan Academy (PAHS)	Government	PAHS	NPR 2–4 lakh
BPKIHS Dharan	Government	BPKIHS	NPR 2–4 lakh
Kathmandu Nursing Campus	Government	TU	NPR 2–3 lakh
NAIHS-CON	Semi-Govt	TU IOM	NPR 6–9 lakh
KUSMS (KU)	Private	KU	NPR 10–14 lakh
MMIHS	Private	TU	NPR 8–11 lakh
Nobel Medical College	Private	PU	NPR 8–12 lakh
Janamaitri Foundation	Private	TU	NPR 8–10 lakh

Fees are approximate. Confirm directly with each institution at the time of admission as amounts are revised annually.

BSc Nursing Admission Process in Nepal 2083

Admission to all top nursing colleges in Nepal — government and private — follows this general process:

Step 1 — Meet eligibility: +2 Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) with minimum GPA 2.0 or 50% aggregate.

Step 2 — Appear in MECEE-BL: The Medical Education Commission entrance exam (MECEE-BL) is the standard entrance test for BSc Nursing, BN, and related programs. It includes Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and General Aptitude. Prepare seriously — competitive government seats are decided entirely on MECEE-BL scores.

Step 3—Apply to colleges: Based on your MECEE-BL score, apply to your preferred institutions during their admission windows (typically Shrawan–Bhadra 2083).

Step 4 — Documents needed:

+2 marksheet and character certificate
Migration certificate
Medical fitness certificate
Citizenship copy
Passport-size photographs
MECEE-BL scorecard

Step 5 — Merit list and admission: Government colleges publish merit lists based on MECEE-BL scores. Private colleges may have additional selection criteria. Confirm your seat and complete fee payment within the deadline.

Why BSc Nursing Is One of Nepal's Best Career Choices Right Now

The salary and career opportunities for BSc Nursing graduates from Nepal are genuinely strong — both domestically and internationally. BSc Nurses from Nepal can further their education in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, where they can build a successful career. Skilled nurses are in high demand around the world, with attractive salaries and benefits.

In Nepal, entry-level nursing salaries start at NPR 25,000–40,000 per month at private hospitals. For nurses who go abroad — particularly to the UK, Australia, or Gulf countries — monthly earnings of NPR 150,000–400,000+ are achievable within a few years of graduation.

The combination of a shortage of nurses globally, direct recruitment pipelines from Nepal to the UK and Australia, and Nepal's growing healthcare sector makes BSc Nursing one of the most financially rewarding career paths available after +2 Science.

Choosing the right top nursing college in Nepal depends on your budget, your location, and your long-term goals. Government colleges offer the best value but the most competition. Private colleges offer more seats and often stronger international connections at higher fees. Either way, the nursing profession in Nepal right now offers one of the clearest pathways to both a meaningful career and a financially rewarding one.