Graduate Certificates in Nursing
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Education Levels of Nursing Majors
In 2018-2019, 3,386 graduate certificates were awarded to nursing majors. This makes it the 1st most popular graduate certificate program in the country.
The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in nursing at each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Bachelor’s Degree | 154,540 |
Associate’s Degree | 83,213 |
Master’s Degree | 51,213 |
Doctor’s Degree | 8,781 |
Graduate Certificate | 3,386 |
Undergraduate Certificate | 2,700 |
Basic Certificate | 1,476 |
Earnings of Nursing Majors With Graduate Certificates
The median salary for graduates holding a graduate certificate in nursing is $101,400. 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 $96,100 to a high of $101,400.

Student Debt
The median student debt for graduates holding a graduate certificate in nursing is $43,524. The length of time it takes you to graduate and what college you attend can affect this number quite a bit.
The chart below shows the range of accumulated debt loads. On the high side of the range, $45,204 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $36,035.

Those students who are paying back their debt on a 10-year repayment plan have a median monthly payment of $507.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their graduate certificate in nursing. About 89.2% of graduates with this degree are female.
Gender | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Men | 365 |
Women | 3,021 |

The racial-ethnic distribution of nursing graduate certificate students is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 209 |
Black or African American | 616 |
Hispanic or Latino | 217 |
White | 2,009 |
International Students | 32 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 303 |

Most Popular Nursing Programs for Graduate Certificates
There are 381 colleges that offer a graduate certificate in nursing. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
Maryville University of Saint Louis tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for nursing majors who are seeking their graduate certificate. Each year, around 10,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $26,070 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,346 per year.
The nursing program at Maryville University of Saint Louis awarded 200 graduate certificates during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 28% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 92% were women.
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is the 2nd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a graduate certificate in nursing. Roughly 39,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,476 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,790 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 184 graduate certificates were handed out to nursing majors at UC. Around 36% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 85% were women.
South University's online programs is the 3rd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a graduate certificate in nursing. Each year, around 6,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $13,500 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $13,800 per year.
The nursing program at South University's online programs awarded 126 graduate certificates during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 56% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 93% were women.
The 4th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their graduate certificate is Yale University. Roughly 13,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $55,500 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $43,300 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 105 people received their graduate certificate in nursing from Yale. About 91% of this group were women, and 34% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
University of South Alabama comes in at #5 on our list of the most popular colleges offering graduate certificates in nursing. Roughly 14,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,896 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,956 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 94 people received their graduate certificate in nursing from USA. About 95% of this group were women, and 43% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Frontier Nursing University comes in at #6 on our list of the most popular colleges offering graduate certificates in nursing. Roughly 2,200 attend the school each year. The nursing program at Frontier Nursing University awarded 93 graduate certificates during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 25% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 96% were women.
The 7th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their graduate certificate is Kaplan University-Indianapolis. Roughly 38,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,920 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,791 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 92 graduate certificates were handed out to nursing majors at Kaplan University-Indianapolis. About 90% of this group were women, and 39% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Duke University is the 8th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a graduate certificate in nursing. Roughly 16,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $55,880 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $55,680 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 79 graduate certificates were handed out to nursing majors at Duke. Of these students, 91% were women and 29% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 9th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their graduate certificate is The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Each year, around 29,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,664 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,959 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 76 graduate certificates were handed out to nursing majors at UT Rio Grande Valley. Of these students, 84% were women and 68% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
University of Massachusetts - Boston is the 10th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a graduate certificate in nursing. Each year, around 15,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $14,187 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $18,433 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 69 graduate certificates were handed out to nursing majors at UMass Boston. Of these students, 87% were women and 30% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Concordia University, Wisconsin is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a graduate certificate in nursing. Each year, around 5,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $30,060 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,052 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 66 graduate certificates were handed out to nursing majors at Concordia University, Wisconsin. Of these students, 89% were women and 2% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Drexel University comes in at #12 on our list of the most popular colleges offering graduate certificates in nursing. Roughly 24,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $52,146 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $35,181 per year.
The nursing program at Drexel University awarded 60 graduate certificates during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 87% were women and 17% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Washington State University comes in at #13 on our list of the most popular colleges offering graduate certificates in nursing. Roughly 31,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,953 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,493 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 50 people received their graduate certificate in nursing from Wazzu. Of these students, 78% were women and 32% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 14th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their graduate certificate is Bradley University. Roughly 5,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $34,200 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,380 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 43 graduate certificates were handed out to nursing majors at Bradley. About 95% of this group were women, and 28% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Western University of Health Sciences comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering graduate certificates in nursing. Each year, around 3,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The nursing program at Western University of Health Sciences awarded 41 graduate certificates during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 93% were women and 61% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center comes in at #16 on our list of the most popular colleges offering graduate certificates in nursing. Each year, around 5,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,417 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,168 per year.
The nursing program at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center awarded 39 graduate certificates during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 26% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 82% were women.
The 16th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their graduate certificate is Walden University. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,428 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,039 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 39 people received their graduate certificate in nursing from Walden University. About 100% of this group were women, and 51% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 16th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their graduate certificate is Vanderbilt University. Roughly 13,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $50,800 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $48,624 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 39 graduate certificates were handed out to nursing majors at Vanderbilt. About 90% of this group were women, and 15% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The University of Texas at Arlington comes in at #16 on our list of the most popular colleges offering graduate certificates in nursing. Each year, around 48,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,624 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,474 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 39 graduate certificates were handed out to nursing majors at UT Arlington. Of these students, 92% were women and 38% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Regis University comes in at #20 on our list of the most popular colleges offering graduate certificates in nursing. Each year, around 6,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $37,830 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,441 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 38 graduate certificates were handed out to nursing majors at Regis U. About 95% of this group were women, and 5% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Nursing Concentrations
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Family Practice Nursing | 1,108 |
Mental Health Nursing | 633 |
Registered Nursing | 410 |
Adult Health Nursing | 270 |
Nursing Education | 198 |
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to nursing that offer graduate certificates.
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Public Health | 1,648 |
Mental & Social Health Services | 988 |
Health/Medical Admin Services | 906 |
Advanced Dentistry & Oral Sciences | 856 |
Dietetics & Nutrition Services | 825 |
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.
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