Master’s Degree in Nursing
Education Levels of Nursing Majors
In 2017-2018, 48,419 earned their master's degree in nursing. This earns it the #2 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 | 150,125 |
| Associate’s Degree | 80,167 |
| Master’s Degree | 48,419 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 7,921 |
| Graduate Certificate | 3,082 |
| Undergraduate Certificate | 2,530 |
| Basic Certificate | 1,389 |
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 | 6,048 |
| Women | 42,371 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of nursing master’s degree students is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 3,516 |
| Black or African American | 6,016 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4,129 |
| White | 29,936 |
| International Students | 523 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 4,299 |
Most Popular Nursing Programs for Master’s Degree
There are 667 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 $10,786 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,739 per year.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 3,159 master's degree were handed out to nursing majors at Walden University. About 88% of this group were women, and 35% 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. 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.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 2,959 master's degree were handed out to nursing majors at Chamberlain - Illinois. Around 32% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 90% were women.
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.
During the 2017-2018 academic year, 2,902 people received their master's degree in nursing from WGU. Around 21% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 91% were women.
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 $16,399 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,916 per year.
The nursing program at Grand Canyon University awarded 2,002 master's degree during the 2017-2018 school year. Of these students, 88% were women and 40% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
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 $13,260 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $13,097 per year.
The nursing program at South University - Savannah Online awarded 1,355 master's degree during the 2017-2018 school year. Around 45% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 85% were women.
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 $8,080 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,898 per year.
The nursing program at The University of Texas at Arlington awarded 954 master's degree during the 2017-2018 school year. Around 43% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 89% were women.
The 7th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of South Alabama. 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.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 773 master's degree were handed out to nursing majors at USA. Of these students, 91% were women and 28% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Maryville University of Saint Louis is the 8th 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.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 758 master's degree were handed out to nursing majors at Maryville U. Of these students, 91% were women and 19% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
University of Phoenix - Arizona comes in at #9 on our list of the most popular colleges offering 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.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 699 master's degree were handed out to nursing majors at UOPX - Arizona. Of these students, 88% were women and 36% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
University of Alabama at Birmingham is the 10th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. 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.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 600 master's degree were handed out to nursing majors at UAB. About 88% of this group were women, and 23% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Kaplan University - Davenport Campus is the 10th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Roughly 33,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $13,356 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,560 per year.
The nursing program at Kaplan University - Davenport Campus awarded 600 master's degree during the 2017-2018 school year. About 87% of this group were women, and 35% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
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. During the 2017-2018 academic year, 559 people received their master's degree in nursing from Frontier Nursing University. Of these students, 95% were women and 18% 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 $39,660 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $21,726 per year.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 491 master's degree were handed out to nursing majors at Simmons. Around 27% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 92% were women.
Columbia University in the City of New York is the 14th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Roughly 30,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $50,665 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $46,216 per year.
The nursing program at Columbia University in the City of New York awarded 476 master's degree during the 2017-2018 school year. About 90% of this group were women, and 40% 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 $9,322 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,790 per year.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 444 master's degree were handed out to nursing majors at Cincinnati. Around 17% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 86% were women.
Drexel University comes in at #16 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 $50,874 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $34,155 per year.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 379 master's degree were handed out to nursing majors at Drexel. Around 15% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 90% were women.
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global comes in at #17 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degree in nursing. Roughly 10,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,020 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,842 per year.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 349 master's degree were handed out to nursing majors at IWU. Around 20% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 94% were women.
The 18th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Pennsylvania. Roughly 25,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $49,220 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $34,882 per year.
The nursing program at University of Pennsylvania awarded 329 master's degree during the 2017-2018 school year. Of these students, 94% were women and 26% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Vanderbilt University is the 19th 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 $48,600 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $47,208 per year.
For the 2017-2018 academic year, 326 master's degree were handed out to nursing majors at Vanderbilt. About 90% of this group were women, and 16% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Georgetown University comes in at #19 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degree in nursing. Each year, around 19,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $53,520 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $49,560 per year.
The nursing program at Georgetown University awarded 326 master's degree during the 2017-2018 school year. About 91% of this group were women, and 15% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to nursing that offer master’s degree.
| Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Public Health | 14,933 |
| Mental & Social Health Services | 12,565 |
| Health/Medical Admin Services | 12,511 |
| Allied Health Professions | 9,967 |
| Rehabilitation Professions | 9,380 |
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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