Doctor’s Degrees in Nursing
Education Levels of Nursing Majors
During the most recent year for which data is available, 13,058 people earned their doctor's degree in nursing. This earns it the #4 spot on the list of the most popular doctor'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 Doctor’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a doctor's degree in nursing is $125,929. However, this can depend on a number of factors, such as where you live and the number of years experience you have. To get a better picture, earnings for this category of people can range from a low of $111,647 to a high of $149,997.
Student Debt
We do not have the data to calculate the median and range of debt loads for nursing students who are doctor's degree holders.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their doctor's degree in nursing. About 84.2% of graduates with this degree are female.
Gender | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Men | 2,059 |
Women | 10,999 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of nursing doctor’s degree students is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 988 |
Black or African American | 2,246 |
Hispanic or Latino | 1,036 |
White | 7,660 |
International Students | 146 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 982 |
Most Popular Nursing Programs for Doctor’s Degrees
There are 425 colleges that offer a doctor’s degree in nursing. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
Chamberlain University - Illinois tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for nursing majors who are seeking their doctor's degree. 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, 565 people received their doctor's degree in nursing from Chamberlain - Illinois. About 91% of this group were women, and 54% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Chamberlain University - Illinois nursing graduates who receive their doctor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $125,929.
Grand Canyon University comes in at #2 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees 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, 368 people received their doctor's degree in nursing from Grand Canyon University. Of these students, 91% were women and 64% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Grand Canyon University nursing graduates who receive their doctor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $125,929.
The 3rd most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Rush University. Roughly 2,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $30,957 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $38,013 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 199 people received their doctor's degree in nursing from Rush University. About 88% of this group were women, and 20% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that Rush University graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $125,929.
The 5th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Frontier Nursing University. Roughly 2,400 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 181 people received their doctor's degree in nursing from Frontier Nursing University. Around 38% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 91% were women. Frontier Nursing University nursing graduates who receive their doctor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $125,929.
The 7th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Rutgers University - New Brunswick. Roughly 50,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $13,674 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $19,824 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 163 people received their doctor's degree in nursing from Rutgers New Brunswick. About 79% of this group were women, and 58% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Rutgers University - New Brunswick nursing graduates who receive their doctor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $125,929.
The 8th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Columbia University in the City of New York. Each year, around 30,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $64,526 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $53,576 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 146 people received their doctor's degree in nursing from Columbia. Around 51% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 90% were women. Data shows that Columbia graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $125,929.
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities comes in at #9 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in nursing. Roughly 52,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $14,496 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $19,116 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 142 people received their doctor's degree in nursing from UMN Twin Cities. About 87% of this group were women, and 24% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities nursing graduates who receive their doctor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $125,929.
University of Maryland - Baltimore is the 10th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in nursing. Each year, around 7,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,827 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $15,750 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 137 people received their doctor's degree in nursing from UMB. Around 41% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 86% were women. Data shows that UMB graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $125,929.
The 11th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of South Alabama. Each year, around 14,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,976 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,640 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 134 people received their doctor's degree in nursing from USA. About 88% of this group were women, and 57% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. University of South Alabama nursing graduates who receive their doctor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $125,929.
University of Illinois at Chicago is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in nursing. Roughly 33,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $12,656 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,108 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 134 people received their doctor's degree in nursing from UIC. About 93% of this group were women, and 33% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. University of Illinois at Chicago nursing graduates who receive their doctor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $125,929.
Samford University is the 13th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in nursing. Roughly 5,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $37,144 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $21,904 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 129 people received their doctor's degree in nursing from Samford. Around 28% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 84% were women. Samford University nursing graduates who receive their doctor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $125,929.
Brandman University comes in at #14 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in nursing. Each year, around 10,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $12,000 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,762 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 113 people received their doctor's degree in nursing from Brandman. About 86% of this group were women, and 95% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that Brandman graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $125,929.
University of Arizona is the 15th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in nursing. Roughly 45,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,546 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,718 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 108 people received their doctor's degree in nursing from University of Arizona. Of these students, 84% were women and 38% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. University of Arizona nursing graduates who receive their doctor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $125,929.
The 16th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Duke University. Each year, around 16,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $63,450 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $62,620 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 107 people received their doctor's degree in nursing from Duke. Around 28% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 84% were women. Those who complete their doctor's degree in nursing at Duke University make a median salary of 125,929.
The 16th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of Washington - Seattle Campus. Each year, around 48,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,524 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $17,514 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 107 people received their doctor's degree in nursing from UW Seattle. Of these students, 85% were women and 38% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. University of Washington - Seattle Campus nursing graduates who receive their doctor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $125,929.
The 18th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of Utah. Roughly 33,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,175 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,353 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 105 people received their doctor's degree in nursing from U of U. Of these students, 84% were women and 24% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. University of Utah nursing graduates who receive their doctor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $125,929.
The 19th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of North Florida. Each year, around 16,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $3,996 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,570 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 102 people received their doctor's degree in nursing from UNF. Of these students, 83% were women and 42% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. University of North Florida nursing graduates who receive their doctor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $125,929.
Johns Hopkins University is the 19th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in nursing. Roughly 28,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $62,840 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $62,840 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 102 people received their doctor's degree in nursing from Johns Hopkins. About 87% of this group were women, and 43% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Johns Hopkins University nursing graduates who receive their doctor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $125,929.
Nursing Focus Areas
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Nursing Practice | 7,474 |
Nurse Anesthetist | 1,403 |
Registered Nursing | 976 |
Nursing Science | 927 |
Nursing Administration | 725 |
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to nursing that offer doctor’s degrees.
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Medicine | 29,168 |
Rehabilitation Professions | 16,935 |
Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences | 13,508 |
Dentistry | 6,928 |
Chiropractic | 2,698 |
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.