Bachelor’s Degrees in Nursing
Education Levels of Nursing Majors
During the most recent year for which data is available, 153,413 people earned their bachelor's degree in nursing. This earns it the #1 spot on the list of the most popular bachelor's degree programs in the nation.
The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in nursing at each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Bachelor’s Degree | 153,413 |
Associate Degree | 82,967 |
Master’s Degree | 49,855 |
Doctor’s Degree | 13,058 |
Graduate Certificate | 5,204 |
Undergraduate Certificate | 2,434 |
Basic Certificate | 1,183 |
Earnings of Nursing Majors With Bachelor’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a bachelor's degree in nursing is $74,916. A lot of factors can contribute to this number, such as the location of your workplace and the availability of other perks and bonuses. A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $70,268 and the high is $81,061.
Student Debt
The median student debt for graduates holding a bachelor's degree in nursing is $20,629. The school you go to and how long it takes you to graduate, among other things, can cause this number to vary. The chart below shows the range of accumulated debt loads. On the high side of the range, $30,896 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $13,869.
Those students who are paying back their debt on a 10-year repayment plan have a median monthly payment of $246.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their bachelor's degree in nursing. About 87.1% of graduates with this degree are female.
Gender | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Men | 19,860 |
Women | 133,553 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of nursing bachelor’s degree students is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 12,271 |
Black or African American | 18,368 |
Hispanic or Latino | 24,114 |
White | 85,135 |
International Students | 1,449 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 12,076 |
Most Popular Nursing Programs for Bachelor’s Degrees
There are 1,161 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
Western Governors University tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for nursing majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree. Roughly 147,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,710 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,302 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 10,730 people received their bachelor's degree in nursing from WGU. Of these students, 89% were women and 28% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that WGU graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $74,916.
Chamberlain University - Illinois is the 2nd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in nursing. Roughly 29,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $19,341 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $13,650 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 8,124 people received their bachelor's degree in nursing from Chamberlain - Illinois. About 90% of this group were women, and 42% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that Chamberlain - Illinois graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $74,916.
Grand Canyon University is the 3rd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in nursing. Roughly 103,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,390 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,138 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 4,530 people received their bachelor's degree in nursing from Grand Canyon University. Around 63% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 86% were women. Those who complete their bachelor's degree in nursing at Grand Canyon University make a median salary of 74,916.
The 4th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is The University of Texas at Arlington. Each year, around 48,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,206 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,015 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 3,456 people received their bachelor's degree in nursing from UT Arlington. Of these students, 86% were women and 59% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. The University of Texas at Arlington nursing graduates who receive their bachelor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $74,916.
Ohio University - Athens Campus comes in at #6 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in nursing. Roughly 25,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $13,746 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,444 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 2,089 people received their bachelor's degree in nursing from OHIO Athens. About 87% of this group were women, and 22% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that OHIO Athens graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $74,916.
Aspen University comes in at #7 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in nursing. Roughly 9,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,210 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $4,485 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 1,430 people received their bachelor's degree in nursing from Aspen University. Of these students, 89% were women and 32% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Aspen University nursing graduates who receive their bachelor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $74,916.
West Coast University - Orange County comes in at #8 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in nursing. Each year, around 4,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $21,558 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,719 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 971 people received their bachelor's degree in nursing from West Coast University - Orange County. About 78% of this group were women, and 80% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that West Coast University - Orange County graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $74,916.
Southern New Hampshire University comes in at #9 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in nursing. Each year, around 134,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $15,450 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $19,467 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 945 people received their bachelor's degree in nursing from SNHU. About 85% of this group were women, and 22% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Southern New Hampshire University nursing graduates who receive their bachelor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $74,916.
The 10th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is National University College. Roughly 25,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,314 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,314 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 919 people received their bachelor's degree in nursing from National University College. Of these students, 80% were women and 99% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. National University College nursing graduates who receive their bachelor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $74,916.
The 11th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Roughly 5,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,450 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,360 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 917 people received their bachelor's degree in nursing from TTUHSC. Around 46% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 89% were women. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center nursing graduates who receive their bachelor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $74,916.
University of Phoenix - Arizona is the 13th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in nursing. Each year, around 89,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,552 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,215 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 876 people received their bachelor's degree in nursing from UOPX - Arizona. Of these students, 87% were women and 20% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that UOPX - Arizona graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $74,916.
The 14th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Roughly 17,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $4,443 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $4,979 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 782 people received their bachelor's degree in nursing from UNCW. Of these students, 92% were women and 22% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their bachelor's degree in nursing at University of North Carolina at Wilmington make a median salary of 74,916.
West Coast University - Los Angeles is the 15th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in nursing. Roughly 2,400 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 778 people received their bachelor's degree in nursing from West Coast University - Los Angeles. Of these students, 80% were women and 64% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. West Coast University - Los Angeles nursing graduates who receive their bachelor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $74,916.
University of Central Florida is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in nursing. Each year, around 71,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $4,478 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,916 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 772 people received their bachelor's degree in nursing from UCF. Of these students, 87% were women and 49% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their bachelor's degree in nursing at University of Central Florida make a median salary of 74,916.
West Coast University - Ontario comes in at #17 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in nursing. Roughly 2,400 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 698 people received their bachelor's degree in nursing from West Coast University - Ontario. Of these students, 80% were women and 81% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. West Coast University - Ontario nursing graduates who receive their bachelor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $74,916.
The 18th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is The University of Texas at Tyler. Each year, around 9,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,020 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,534 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 630 people received their bachelor's degree in nursing from UT Tyler. Around 46% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 89% were women. The University of Texas at Tyler nursing graduates who receive their bachelor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $74,916.
Galen College of Nursing - Louisville is the 19th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in nursing. Roughly 2,900 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 623 people received their bachelor's degree in nursing from Galen College of Nursing - Louisville. About 91% of this group were women, and 34% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Galen College of Nursing - Louisville nursing graduates who receive their bachelor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $74,916.
Nursing Focus Areas
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Registered Nursing | 146,564 |
Nursing Research & Other | 2,077 |
Public Health Nursing | 1,586 |
Nursing Science | 1,373 |
Nursing Practice | 832 |
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to nursing that offer bachelor’s degrees.
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Health Sciences & Services | 19,276 |
Public Health | 19,225 |
Health/Medical Admin Services | 17,004 |
Communication Sciences | 11,325 |
Allied Health Professions | 7,962 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Image Credit: By Aleksahgabrielle under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.