Master’s Degrees in Nursing
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Education Levels of Nursing Majors
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 51,213 students earned their master's degree in nursing. This makes it the 2nd most popular master'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 | 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 Master’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in nursing is $93,100. 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 $88,400 to a high of $100,350.
Student Debt
The median student debt for graduates holding a master's degree in nursing is $41,000. The school you go to and how long it takes you to graduate, among other things, can cause this number to vary.
The chart below shows the range of accumulated debt loads. On the high side of the range, $55,000 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $34,222.
The median monthly payment of a nursing graduate with a 10-year repayment plan is $478.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their master's degree in nursing. About 87.5% of graduates with this degree are female.
| Gender | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Men | 6,384 |
| Women | 44,829 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of nursing master’s degree students is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 3,703 |
| Black or African American | 6,438 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4,844 |
| White | 31,065 |
| International Students | 369 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 4,794 |
Most Popular Nursing Programs for Master’s Degrees
There are 665 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 50,300 attend the school each year. 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, 3,551 people received their master's degree in nursing from Walden University. Of these students, 87% were women and 39% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Chamberlain University - Illinois comes in at #2 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Each year, around 27,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $18,890 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $13,000 per year.
The nursing program at Chamberlain University - Illinois awarded 3,407 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. About 91% of this group were women, and 32% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Western Governors University is the 3rd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Each year, around 121,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,380 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,500 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 3,259 people received their master's degree in nursing from WGU. Of these students, 92% were women and 22% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Grand Canyon University comes in at #4 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Roughly 90,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,419 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,175 per year.
The nursing program at Grand Canyon University awarded 1,925 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. About 89% of this group were women, and 42% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
South University's online programs comes in at #5 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Roughly 6,900 attend the school each year. 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 1,216 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 88% were women and 45% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The University of Texas at Arlington comes in at #6 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Roughly 47,800 attend the school each year. 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, 1,183 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at UT Arlington. Of these students, 89% were women and 45% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Maryville University of Saint Louis is the 7th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Roughly 9,100 attend the school each year. 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 814 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at Maryville U. About 88% of this group were women, and 23% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 8th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of South Alabama. Each year, around 14,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 744 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at USA. Around 24% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 87% were women.
University of Alabama at Birmingham is the 9th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Roughly 21,900 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 643 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 20% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 86% were women.
University of Phoenix - Arizona is the 10th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Each year, around 95,700 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 $16,752 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 640 people received their master's degree in nursing from UOPX - Arizona. Around 37% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 89% were women.
Kaplan University-Indianapolis comes in at #11 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Each year, around 1,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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, 625 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at Kaplan University-Indianapolis. Of these students, 89% were women and 44% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Frontier Nursing University comes in at #12 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Roughly 2,100 attend the school each year. During the 2018-2019 academic year, 621 people received their master's degree in nursing from Frontier Nursing University. Of these students, 96% were women and 20% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Simmons University is the 13th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Each year, around 6,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $40,850 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $21,654 per year.
The nursing program at Simmons University awarded 592 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. About 94% of this group were women, and 28% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Capella University is the 14th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Each year, around 37,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $14,148 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,767 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 509 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at Capella University. About 91% of this group were women, and 26% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is the 15th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Roughly 37,800 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, 483 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at UC. Around 20% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 87% were women.
Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Roughly 10,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,453 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,083 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 421 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at IWU. About 90% of this group were women, and 16% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 17th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is Drexel University. Roughly 24,600 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 358 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at Drexel. About 88% of this group were women, and 18% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Vanderbilt University comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Roughly 12,800 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 349 people received their master's degree in nursing from Vanderbilt. About 89% of this group were women, and 13% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 19th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is Stony Brook University. Roughly 26,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,070 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,310 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 337 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at SUNY Stony Brook. About 90% of this group were women, and 36% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
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 25,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $51,156 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $36,254 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 318 people received their master's degree in nursing from UPenn. Of these students, 89% were women and 28% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
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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 | 15,589 |
| Health/Medical Admin Services | 13,435 |
| Mental & Social Health Services | 13,051 |
| Allied Health Professions | 10,882 |
| Rehabilitation Professions | 9,279 |
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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