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 makes it the 5th most popular doctor's degree 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 | 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. 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. 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
The data on debt ranges for nursing majors who have their doctor's degree is not available.
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. Around 54% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 91% were women. Those who complete their doctor's degree in nursing at Chamberlain University - Illinois make a median salary of 125,929.
The 2nd most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Grand Canyon University. Roughly 103,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,390 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. About 91% of this group were women, and 64% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their doctor's degree in nursing at Grand Canyon University make a median salary of 125,929.
Rush University is the 3rd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in nursing. 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. Around 20% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 88% were women. Rush University nursing graduates who receive their doctor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $125,929.
Frontier Nursing University is the 5th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in nursing. 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. Of these students, 91% were women and 38% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their doctor's degree in nursing at Frontier Nursing University make a median salary of 125,929.
Rutgers University - New Brunswick is the 7th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in nursing. 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. Around 58% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 79% were women. Those who complete their doctor's degree in nursing at Rutgers University - New Brunswick make a median salary of 125,929.
Columbia University in the City of New York is the 8th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in nursing. 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. Of these students, 90% were women and 51% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Columbia University in the City of New York nursing graduates who receive their doctor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $125,929.
The 9th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. 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. Around 24% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 87% were women. Those who complete their doctor's degree in nursing at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities make a median salary of 125,929.
University of Maryland - Baltimore comes in at #10 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees 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. Of these students, 86% were women and 41% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. University of Maryland - Baltimore nursing graduates who receive their doctor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $125,929.
University of Illinois at Chicago comes in at #11 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees 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. Around 33% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 93% were women. Those who complete their doctor's degree in nursing at University of Illinois at Chicago make a median salary of 125,929.
University of South Alabama is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in nursing. Each year, around 14,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,976 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. Around 57% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 88% were women. Those who complete their doctor's degree in nursing at University of South Alabama make a median salary of 125,929.
Samford University comes in at #13 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees 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. Of these students, 84% were women and 28% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their doctor's degree in nursing at Samford University make a median salary of 125,929.
The 14th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Brandman University. 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. Around 95% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 86% were women. Brandman University nursing graduates who receive their doctor's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $125,929.
University of Arizona comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees 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. About 84% of this group were women, and 38% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their doctor's degree in nursing at University of Arizona make a median salary of 125,929.
University of Washington - Seattle Campus is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in nursing. 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. About 85% of this group were women, and 38% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their doctor's degree in nursing at University of Washington - Seattle Campus make a median salary of 125,929.
Duke University is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in nursing. 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. Of these students, 84% were women and 28% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that Duke graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $125,929.
University of Utah is the 18th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in nursing. 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. About 84% of this group were women, and 24% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their doctor's degree in nursing at University of Utah make a median salary of 125,929.
University of North Florida is the 19th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in nursing. 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. About 83% of this group were women, and 42% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their doctor's degree in nursing at University of North Florida make a median salary of 125,929.
Johns Hopkins University comes in at #19 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees 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. Around 43% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 87% were women. Those who complete their doctor's degree in nursing at Johns Hopkins University make a median salary of 125,929.
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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.
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