Descriptions of 592 institutions that offer baccalaureate, graduate, and postdoctoral nursing programs in the United States and Canada are provided. An introductory section discusses the history and nature of university-based nursing education, both baccalaureate and graduate. The profiles, which include a general description of the college, cover generic baccalaureates and baccalaureate completion by registered nurses as well as master's, doctoral, and post-doctoral programs; admission requirements and procedures; tuition costs; student life on campus; services for minority, non-English-speaking, and students with special needs; unique aspects of curriculum offerings and instruction; faculty research activities; the type of institution; library facilities; affiliations with health care facilities; college/university enrollment; the number of faculty in the school of nursing for 1985-1986; the academic calendar; and the sponsoring institutions. Member institutions of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing are identified. Special reference aids include: summary tables breaking out each type of program offered by state or province and institution, list of abbreviations, program index, and institution index. (SW)