Master’s Degrees in Nursing
Education Levels of Nursing Majors
During the most recent year for which data is available, 49,855 people earned their master's degree in nursing. This earns it the #1 spot on the list of the most popular master'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 Master’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in nursing is $106,209. This number may vary for a lot of reasons. For instance, you may decide to move to a location where people with your degree are rare and make more money. A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $98,176 and the high is $117,017.
Student Debt
The data on debt ranges for nursing majors who have their master's degree is not available.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their master's degree in nursing. About 87.2% of graduates with this degree are female.
Gender | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Men | 6,382 |
Women | 43,473 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of nursing master’s degree students is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 4,302 |
Black or African American | 6,966 |
Hispanic or Latino | 6,333 |
White | 27,476 |
International Students | 353 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 4,425 |
Most Popular Nursing Programs for Master’s Degrees
There are 674 colleges that offer a master’s degree in nursing. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
Chamberlain University - Illinois is the 2nd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master'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, 3,923 people received their master's degree in nursing from Chamberlain - Illinois. About 91% of this group were women, and 35% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their master's degree in nursing at Chamberlain University - Illinois make a median salary of 106,209.
Western Governors University comes in at #3 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. 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, 3,210 people received their master's degree in nursing from WGU. Of these students, 90% were women and 27% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their master's degree in nursing at Western Governors University make a median salary of 106,209.
Grand Canyon University is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master'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, 1,935 people received their master's degree in nursing from Grand Canyon University. Of these students, 91% were women and 49% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their master's degree in nursing at Grand Canyon University make a median salary of 106,209.
The University of Texas at Arlington is the 5th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. 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, 1,204 people received their master's degree in nursing from UT Arlington. Of these students, 89% were women and 52% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. The University of Texas at Arlington nursing graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $106,209.
Maryville University of Saint Louis comes in at #6 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master'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 $24,766 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,346 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 839 people received their master's degree in nursing from Maryville U. About 88% of this group were women, and 24% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Maryville University of Saint Louis nursing graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $106,209.
The 7th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master'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, 780 people received their master's degree in nursing from USA. Of these students, 87% were women and 30% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that USA graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $106,209.
The 8th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Alabama at Birmingham. Roughly 22,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,832 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,424 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 686 people received their master's degree in nursing from UAB. Of these students, 89% were women and 20% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their master's degree in nursing at University of Alabama at Birmingham make a median salary of 106,209.
Frontier Nursing University comes in at #10 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Roughly 2,400 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 607 people received their master's degree in nursing from Frontier Nursing University. About 93% of this group were women, and 23% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their master's degree in nursing at Frontier Nursing University make a median salary of 106,209.
The 11th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Cincinnati - Main Campus. Each year, around 40,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,228 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $13,224 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 576 people received their master's degree in nursing from UC. Around 21% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 92% were women. Those who complete their master's degree in nursing at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus make a median salary of 106,209.
The 12th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is South University's online programs. Each year, around 5,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $15,732 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,056 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 540 people received their master's degree in nursing from South University's online programs. About 79% of this group were women, and 60% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that South University's online programs graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $106,209.
The 13th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is Simmons University. Each year, around 6,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $44,208 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $28,500 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 534 people received their master's degree in nursing from Simmons. Around 21% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 92% were women. Data shows that Simmons graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $106,209.
The 15th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is Miami Regional University. Each year, around 800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 493 people received their master's degree in nursing from Miami Regional University. Around 97% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 66% were women. Miami Regional University nursing graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $106,209.
The 16th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is Northern Kentucky University. Roughly 16,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,512 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,206 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 466 people received their master's degree in nursing from NKU. Of these students, 86% were women and 22% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that NKU graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $106,209.
Aspen University is the 17th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree 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, 455 people received their master's degree in nursing from Aspen University. About 91% of this group were women, and 35% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that Aspen University graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $106,209.
The 18th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Phoenix - Arizona. 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, 436 people received their master's degree in nursing from UOPX - Arizona. Around 23% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 87% were women. Those who complete their master's degree in nursing at University of Phoenix - Arizona make a median salary of 106,209.
The 19th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is United States University. Roughly 1,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,467 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,112 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 397 people received their master's degree in nursing from USU. About 84% of this group were women, and 64% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. United States University nursing graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $106,209.
University of Pennsylvania is the 20th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Each year, around 26,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $58,620 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $41,544 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 382 people received their master's degree in nursing from UPenn. Of these students, 88% were women and 34% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. University of Pennsylvania nursing graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $106,209.
Nursing Focus Areas
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Registered Nursing | 20,308 |
Family Practice Nursing | 13,197 |
Nursing Administration | 6,525 |
Adult Health Nursing | 1,656 |
Nursing Research & Other | 1,331 |
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to nursing that offer master’s degrees.
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Public Health | 17,864 |
Mental & Social Health Services | 17,274 |
Health/Medical Admin Services | 15,811 |
Allied Health Professions | 14,052 |
Communication Sciences | 10,306 |
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.