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Registered Nursing Master’s Degrees

There are 2,035 colleges and universities across the nation that offer amaster’s degree in Registered Nursing. This degree is more popular with female students, and about44% were students from underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Also, 0.9% of Registered Nursing graduates were international students.

Education Levels of Registered Nursing Majors

During the most recent year for which data is available, 256,965 people earned theirRegistered Nursing majors across all award levels. The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in Registered Nursing at each degree level.

Education Level Number of Grads
Certificate 2,426
Associate’s Degree 83,968
Bachelor’s Degree 147,392
Master’s Degree (this page) 22,322
Doctor’s Degree 852

Earnings of Registered Nursing Majors With Master’s Degrees (All Award Levels)

Federal data tracks the median salary for graduates with amaster’s degree in Registered Nursing of $80,149 four years after graduation. These figures are reported program-wide, across all award levels.

This number may vary for many reasons. For instance, you may move to a location where people with your degree are rare and make more money.

Years After Graduation Median Earnings
1 year $83,453
4 years $80,149
5 years $90,156

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker (program-wide, all award levels).

Student Debt (All Award Levels)

The data on debt ranges for Registered Nursing majors who have their master’s degree is not currently available.

Student Diversity

More women than men pursue their master’s degree in Registered Nursing. About 87.4% of graduates with this degree are women.

Gender Number of Grads
Men 2,534
Women 17,557
Gender Diversity of Master's Degrees in Registered Nursing

The racial-ethnic distribution of Registered Nursing graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity Number of Grads Share
White 10,985 54.7%
Asian 1,687 8.4%
Hispanic or Latino 2,105 10.5%
Black or African American 3,477 17.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 56 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 67 0.3%
Two or More Races 475 2.4%
Race Unknown 1,059 5.3%
International Students 180 0.9%
Racial-Ethnic Diversity of Registered Nursing Master's Degree Students

This degree is not very popular with international students. Only 0.9% of graduates fall into this category.

See the minority definition in the References below.

There are 2,125 colleges that offer a master’s degree in Registered Nursing. Learn more about the most popular below:

The most popular school in the United States for Registered Nursing students seeking a master's degree is Chamberlain University-Illinois. This school awarded 9,802 master's degrees in Registered Nursing in the most recent reporting year. Data shows that graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669.

#2

Capella University

Minneapolis, MN

Capella University is a popular choice for Registered Nursing majors seeking their master's degree. During the most recent year for which we have data, 7,779 people received their master's degree in Registered Nursing from this school. Graduates who complete their master's degree in Registered Nursing here go on to a median salary of $40,669.

#3

Western Governors University

Salt Lake City, UT

Western Governors University comes in at #3 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in Registered Nursing. During the most recent year for which we have data, 5,592 people received their master's degree in Registered Nursing from this school. Data shows that graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669.

#4

Walden University

Minneapolis, MN

Walden University comes in at #4 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in Registered Nursing. During the most recent year for which we have data, 4,132 people received their master's degree in Registered Nursing from this school. Graduates who complete their master's degree in Registered Nursing here go on to a median salary of $40,669.

#5

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, AZ

Grand Canyon University is a popular choice for Registered Nursing majors seeking their master's degree. This school awarded 4,096 master's degrees in Registered Nursing in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who complete their master's degree in Registered Nursing here go on to a median salary of $40,669.

The University of Texas at Arlington is a popular choice for Registered Nursing majors seeking their master's degree. During the most recent year for which we have data, 2,468 people received their master's degree in Registered Nursing from this school. Graduates who complete their master's degree in Registered Nursing here go on to a median salary of $40,669.

Galen College of Nursing-Louisville comes in at #7 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in Registered Nursing. This school awarded 1,491 master's degrees in Registered Nursing in the most recent reporting year. Data shows that graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669.

#8

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College is a popular choice for Registered Nursing majors seeking their master's degree. During the most recent year for which we have data, 1,481 people received their master's degree in Registered Nursing from this school. Graduates who complete their master's degree in Registered Nursing here go on to a median salary of $40,669.

Ohio University-Main Campus comes in at #9 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in Registered Nursing. This school awarded 1,273 master's degrees in Registered Nursing in the most recent reporting year. Data shows that graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669.

University of South Alabama comes in at #10 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in Registered Nursing. This school awarded 1,123 master's degrees in Registered Nursing in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who complete their master's degree in Registered Nursing here go on to a median salary of $40,669.

West Coast University-Orange County comes in at #11 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in Registered Nursing. During the most recent year for which we have data, 1,115 people received their master's degree in Registered Nursing from this school. Data shows that graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669.

#12

Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale is a popular choice for Registered Nursing majors seeking their master's degree. During the most recent year for which we have data, 1,096 people received their master's degree in Registered Nursing from this school. Data shows that graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669.

#13

NUC University

Bayamon, PR

NUC University is a popular choice for Registered Nursing majors seeking their master's degree. This school awarded 1,079 master's degrees in Registered Nursing in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who complete their master's degree in Registered Nursing here go on to a median salary of $40,669.

Rasmussen University-Florida comes in at #14 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in Registered Nursing. This school awarded 1,063 master's degrees in Registered Nursing in the most recent reporting year. Data shows that graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669.

#15

ECPI University

Virginia Beach, VA

ECPI University comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in Registered Nursing. During the most recent year for which we have data, 1,010 people received their master's degree in Registered Nursing from this school. Data shows that graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669.

#16

West Coast University-Los Angeles

North Hollywood, CA

West Coast University-Los Angeles comes in at #16 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in Registered Nursing. During the most recent year for which we have data, 972 people received their master's degree in Registered Nursing from this school. Data shows that graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center comes in at #17 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in Registered Nursing. This school awarded 941 master's degrees in Registered Nursing in the most recent reporting year. Data shows that graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669.

West Coast University-Ontario is a popular choice for Registered Nursing majors seeking their master's degree. During the most recent year for which we have data, 925 people received their master's degree in Registered Nursing from this school. Data shows that graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669.

#19

Nightingale College

Salt Lake City, UT

Nightingale College comes in at #19 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in Registered Nursing. This school awarded 912 master's degrees in Registered Nursing in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who complete their master's degree in Registered Nursing here go on to a median salary of $40,669.

Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences is a popular choice for Registered Nursing majors seeking their master's degree. This school awarded 889 master's degrees in Registered Nursing in the most recent reporting year. Data shows that graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,669.

Below are some popular majors similar to Registered Nursing that also offer master’s degrees.

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 14,847
Nursing Practice 9,206
Nursing Administration 7,911
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 4,379
Nursing Science 4,245

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 to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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