Master’s Degree in Nursing
Featured schools near , edit
Education Levels of Nursing Majors
In 2018-2019, 51,213 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 Degree
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 Degree
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 49,600 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 3,551 master's degree were handed out to nursing majors at Walden University. Of these students, 87% were women and 39% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 2nd most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is Chamberlain University - Illinois. Each year, around 27,000 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 3,407 people received their master's degree in nursing from Chamberlain - Illinois. 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. Roughly 98,600 attend the school each year. 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 3,259 master's degree were handed out to nursing majors at WGU. Of these students, 92% were women and 22% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Grand Canyon University is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Each year, around 83,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 1,925 people received their master's degree in nursing from Grand Canyon University. About 89% of this group were women, and 42% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
South University - Savannah Online is the 5th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Roughly 7,500 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 1,216 master's degree were handed out to nursing majors at South University - Savannah Online. Of these students, 88% were women and 45% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The University of Texas at Arlington is the 6th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Roughly 46,400 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 1,183 people received their master's degree in nursing from 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 7,600 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 814 people received their master's degree in nursing from Maryville U. About 88% of this group were women, and 23% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
University of South Alabama comes in at #8 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degree in nursing. Each year, around 15,500 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.
The nursing program at University of South Alabama awarded 744 master's degree during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 24% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 87% were women.
The 9th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Alabama at Birmingham. Each year, around 20,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 643 people received their master's degree in nursing from UAB. 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. Roughly 103,900 attend the school each year. 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.
The 11th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is Kaplan University-Indianapolis. Roughly 600 attend the school each year. 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 degree 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 is the 12th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Each year, around 2,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. For the 2018-2019 academic year, 621 master's degree were handed out to nursing majors at 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 6,200 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 592 master's degree were handed out to nursing majors at Simmons. About 94% of this group were women, and 28% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Capella University comes in at #14 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degree in nursing. Each year, around 36,200 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.
The nursing program at Capella University awarded 509 master's degree during the 2018-2019 school year. 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. Each year, around 37,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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 degree were handed out to nursing majors at Cincinnati. Around 20% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 87% were women.
The 16th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global. Roughly 10,700 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 degree 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.
Drexel University comes in at #17 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degree in nursing. Roughly 24,100 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 358 people received their master's degree in nursing from Drexel. About 88% of this group were women, and 18% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Vanderbilt University is the 18th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Each year, around 12,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 349 master's degree were handed out to nursing majors at Vanderbilt. About 89% of this group were women, and 13% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Stony Brook University comes in at #19 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degree in nursing. Roughly 25,900 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.
The nursing program at Stony Brook University awarded 337 master's degree during the 2018-2019 school year. About 90% of this group were women, and 36% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
University of Pennsylvania comes in at #20 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degree in nursing. Roughly 25,300 attend the school each year. 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 318 master's degree were handed out to nursing majors at UPenn. Of these students, 89% were women and 28% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to nursing that offer master’s degree.
| 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.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.