Master’s Degrees in Nursing
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Education Levels of Nursing Majors
In 2018-2019, 51,213 master's degrees were awarded to nursing majors. 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 |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 51,213 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 8,781 |
| Graduate Certificate | 3,386 |
Earnings of Nursing Majors With Master’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in nursing is $93,100. However, this can depend on a number of factors, such as where you live and the number of years experience you have.
A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $88,400 and the high is $100,350.
Student Debt
The median student debt for graduates holding a master's degree in nursing is $41,000. The length of time it takes you to graduate and what college you attend can affect this number quite a bit.
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.
Those students who are paying back their debt on a 10-year repayment plan have a median monthly payment of $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:
Walden University tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree. Roughly 48,400 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.
The nursing program at Walden University awarded 3,551 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 39% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 87% were women.
Chamberlain University - Illinois is the 2nd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Each year, around 27,700 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 2018-2019 academic year, 3,407 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at Chamberlain - Illinois. Of these students, 91% were women and 32% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 3rd most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is Western Governors University. Roughly 136,100 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.
The nursing program at Western Governors University awarded 3,259 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 22% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 92% were women.
Grand Canyon University is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Roughly 96,200 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 1,925 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at Grand Canyon University. Of these students, 89% were women and 42% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
South University's online programs is the 5th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Each year, around 6,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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 degrees were handed out to nursing majors at South University's online programs. Around 45% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 88% 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. Each year, around 48,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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. Around 45% 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 Maryville University of Saint Louis. Each year, around 10,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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. Of these students, 88% were women and 23% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
University of South Alabama comes in at #8 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Roughly 14,300 attend the school each year. 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 744 people received their master's degree in nursing from USA. About 87% of this group were women, and 24% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
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 22,000 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 2018-2019 academic year, 643 master's degrees were handed out to nursing majors at UAB. About 86% of this group were women, and 20% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 10th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Phoenix - Arizona. Roughly 94,700 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.
The nursing program at University of Phoenix - Arizona awarded 640 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. About 89% of this group were women, and 37% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Kaplan University-Indianapolis is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Roughly 38,100 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 625 people received their master's degree in nursing from Kaplan University-Indianapolis. Around 44% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 89% were women.
Frontier Nursing University is the 12th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Roughly 2,200 attend the school each year. The nursing program at Frontier Nursing University awarded 621 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 20% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 96% were women.
The 13th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is Simmons University. Roughly 6,500 attend the school each year. 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 degrees were handed out to nursing majors at Simmons. Of these students, 94% were women and 28% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 14th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is Capella University. Each year, around 37,800 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 509 people received their master's degree in nursing from Capella University. Of these students, 91% were women and 26% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 15th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Cincinnati - Main Campus. Roughly 39,200 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 483 people received their master's degree in nursing from UC. About 87% of this group were women, and 20% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
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 11,400 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 421 people received their master's degree in nursing from IWU. Of these students, 90% were women and 16% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Drexel University comes in at #17 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Roughly 24,200 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. Of these students, 88% were women and 18% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Vanderbilt University is the 18th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in nursing. Roughly 13,100 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.
The nursing program at Vanderbilt University awarded 349 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 89% were women and 13% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Stony Brook University comes in at #19 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Roughly 26,800 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 337 people received their master's degree in nursing from SUNY Stony Brook. Of these students, 90% were women and 36% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
University of Pennsylvania comes in at #20 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in nursing. Each year, around 26,600 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.
The nursing program at University of Pennsylvania awarded 318 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 28% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 89% were women.
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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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