Master’s Degrees in Nursing
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Education Levels of Nursing Majors
In 2020-2021, 51,608 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 | 165,538 |
Associate Degree | 85,504 |
Master’s Degree | 51,608 |
Doctor’s Degree | 10,943 |
Graduate Certificate | 4,413 |
Undergraduate Certificate | 2,494 |
Basic Certificate | 2,092 |
Earnings of Nursing Majors With Master’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in nursing is $94,353. However, this can depend on a number of factors, such as where you live and the number of years experience you have. A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $88,461 and the high is $104,120.
Student Debt
We do not have the data to calculate the median and range of debt loads for nursing students who are master's degree holders.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their master's degree in nursing. About 87.0% of graduates with this degree are female.
Gender | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Men | 6,710 |
Women | 44,898 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of nursing master’s degree students is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 3,873 |
Black or African American | 6,592 |
Hispanic or Latino | 5,524 |
White | 30,237 |
International Students | 337 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 5,045 |
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:
The most popular school in the United States for nursing students seekinga master's degree is Walden University. Roughly 49,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,064 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,651 per year. The nursing program at Walden University awarded 4,104 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 87% of this group were women, and 43% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 2nd most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is Chamberlain University - Illinois. Roughly 29,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $19,117 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $13,000 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 3,923 people received their master's degree in nursing from Chamberlain - Illinois. Of these students, 90% were women and 29% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Western Governors University is the 3rd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Roughly 147,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,162 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,500 per year. The nursing program at Western Governors University awarded 3,210 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 91% of this group were women, and 27% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 4th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is Grand Canyon University. Roughly 103,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,401 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,621 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 1,935 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at Grand Canyon University. Of these students, 90% were women and 46% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 5th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master'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. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 1,204 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at UT Arlington. About 88% of this group were women, and 48% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Maryville University of Saint Louis is the 6th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree 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. The nursing program at Maryville University of Saint Louis awarded 839 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 87% of this group were women, and 23% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
University of South Alabama comes in at #7 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Each year, around 14,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,256 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,226 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 780 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at USA. About 88% of this group were women, and 25% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
University of Alabama at Birmingham comes in at #8 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Roughly 22,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,568 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,100 per year. The nursing program at University of Alabama at Birmingham awarded 686 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 86% were women and 21% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Capella University is the 9th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Roughly 38,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $14,148 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,784 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 643 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at Capella University. Of these students, 93% were women and 25% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Frontier Nursing University is the 10th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Roughly 2,400 attend the school each year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 607 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at Frontier Nursing University. Around 19% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 95% were women.
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus comes in at #11 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Each year, around 40,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,099 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $13,224 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 576 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at UC. Of these students, 89% were women and 18% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
South University's online programs comes in at #12 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Each year, around 5,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $14,400 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $15,000 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 540 people received their master's degree in nursing from South University's online programs. Around 50% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 83% were women.
Simmons University comes in at #13 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Each year, around 6,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $41,872 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $21,384 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 534 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at Simmons. Around 25% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 92% were women.
Purdue University Global comes in at #14 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Roughly 43,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,080 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,730 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 526 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at Purdue University Global. Of these students, 89% were women and 36% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Miami Regional University comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Each year, around 800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 493 people received their master's degree in nursing from Miami Regional University. About 59% of this group were women, and 99% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Northern Kentucky University comes in at #16 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Roughly 16,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,008 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,900 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 466 people received their master's degree in nursing from NKU. Around 12% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 88% were women.
The 17th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is Aspen University. Roughly 9,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $4,545 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $3,900 per year. The nursing program at Aspen University awarded 455 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 90% of this group were women, and 31% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
University of Phoenix - Arizona comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees 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 $16,153 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 436 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at UOPX - Arizona. Around 34% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 89% were women.
United States University comes in at #19 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Roughly 1,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $5,300 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,000 per year. The nursing program at United States University awarded 397 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 83% were women and 63% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 20th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Pennsylvania. Each year, around 26,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $54,652 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $38,732 per year. The nursing program at University of Pennsylvania awarded 382 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 34% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 90% were women.
Nursing Focus Areas
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Registered Nursing | 18,773 |
Family Practice Nursing | 14,286 |
Nursing Administration | 8,411 |
Nursing Research & Other | 1,498 |
Adult Health Nursing | 1,456 |
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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 |
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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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