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Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools

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2023 Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools

400 Colleges
$99,011 Avg Salary
$21,624 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing Graduate Certificate School for You

Nursing is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 2nd of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 66,964 degrees and certificates were awarded to students with this major.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Grad Degree Search has created the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 400 schools in the United States to see which graduate certificate programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Nursing program at each school on the list.

Check out the nursing graduate certificate programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the United States.

Our 2023 rankings named Maryville University of Saint Louis the most popular school in the United States for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. Located in the large suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville U is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

About 87% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 13% are male.

Full Nursing at Maryville University of Saint Louis Report

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a great place for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. UC is a very large public school located in the large city of Cincinnati.

About 88% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 12% are male.

On average, nursing graduates from UC take out $21,375 in student loans while working on their Graduate Certificate.

Read More…

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means University of South Alabama is a great place for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. USA is a large public school located in the city of Mobile.

About 94% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 6% are male.

Read full report on Nursing at University of South Alabama

Out of the 400 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Frontier Nursing University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the rural area of Hyden, Frontier Nursing University is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Women make up 96% of the nursing majors at the school.

Read More…

#5

Regis College

Weston, MA

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Regis College is a great place for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. Regis College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Weston.

Of the 120 students majoring in nursing at Regis College, 16% are male and 84% are female.

Read full report on Nursing at Regis College

#6

Purdue University Global

Indianapolis, IN

Purdue University Global ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools list. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the small city of Indianapolis.

Of the 115 students majoring in nursing at Purdue University Global, 12% are male and 88% are female.

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California State University - Long Beach landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate nursing programs. Located in the city of Long Beach, CSULB is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 83% of the nursing majors at the school.

Read full report on Nursing at California State University - Long Beach

Columbia University in the City of New York ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools list. Columbia is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York.

Women make up 93% of the nursing majors at the school.

Read More…

The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the city of Arlington, UT Arlington is a public school with a fairly large student population.

About 89% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 11% are male.

Read full report on Nursing at The University of Texas at Arlington

#10

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA

Liberty University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg.

Of the 92 students majoring in nursing at Liberty University, 11% are male and 89% are female.

Read full report on Nursing at Liberty University

#11

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, AZ

With a ranking of #11, Grand Canyon University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. Grand Canyon University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix.

Women make up 89% of the nursing majors at the school.

Full Nursing at Grand Canyon University Report

Illinois State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #12 on the list. Illinois State is a very large public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Normal.

Read full report on Nursing at Illinois State University

#13

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, KY

Northern Kentucky University ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools list. NKU is a large public school located in the large suburb of Highland Heights.

Of the 71 students majoring in nursing at NKU, 10% are male and 90% are female.

Read full report on Nursing at Northern Kentucky University

Concordia University, Wisconsin came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University, Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.

Women make up 93% of the nursing majors at the school.

Full Nursing at Concordia University, Wisconsin Report

Herzing University - Madison came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Herzing University - Madison is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Madison.

About 90% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 10% are male.

Full Nursing at Herzing University - Madison Report

With a ranking of #16, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. Located in the midsize city of Edinburg, UT Rio Grande Valley is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 80% of the nursing majors at the school.

Read full report on Nursing at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

#17

Duke University

Durham, NC

Duke University ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools list. Located in the city of Durham, Duke is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 88% of the nursing majors at the school.

Full Nursing at Duke University Report

Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate nursing programs. Located in the city of Provo, RMUoHP is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Of the 51 students majoring in nursing at RMUoHP, 14% are male and 86% are female.

Read More…

#19

Ursuline College

Pepper Pike, OH

Ursuline College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Pepper Pike, Ursuline College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

About 98% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 2% are male.

Read full report on Nursing at Ursuline College

With a ranking of #20, University of Massachusetts - Boston did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. Located in the large city of Boston, UMass Boston is a public college with a large student population.

Women make up 95% of the nursing majors at the school.

Read More…

University of New Hampshire - Main Campus came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. UNH is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Durham.

Women make up 81% of the nursing majors at the school.

Read full report on Nursing at University of New Hampshire - Main Campus

Washington State University ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools list. Located in the distant town of Pullman, Wazzu is a public school with a fairly large student population.

About 81% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 19% are male.

Full Nursing at Washington State University Report

#23

National University

La Jolla, CA

National University ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools list. National University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of La Jolla.

Of the 39 students majoring in nursing at National University, 15% are male and 85% are female.

Full Nursing at National University Report

#24

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Drexel is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia.

About 89% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 11% are male.

Read full report on Nursing at Drexel University

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public school with a very large student population.

Women make up 84% of the nursing majors at the school.

Read More…

#26

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD
#29

Washburn University

Topeka, KS
#31

Bradley University

Peoria, IL
#31

George Washington University

Washington, DC
#33

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN
#35

Molloy College

Rockville Centre, NY
#37

Brandman University

Irvine, CA
#37

Pace University - New York

New York, NY
#37

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY
#41

University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL
#41

Shenandoah University

Winchester, VA
#45

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN
#48

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, PA
#50

Marquette University

Milwaukee, WI

Remaining Award Winners

This section represents the remainder of the schools awarded a Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 400 different United States nursing schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
50 Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL
52 Rivier University Nashua, NH
52 West Coast University - Orange County Anaheim, CA
52 University of Southern Indiana Evansville, IN
52 Mayo Clinic School of Medicine Rochester, MN
52 Arizona State University - Tempe Tempe, AZ
57 The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX
57 University of Toledo Toledo, OH
57 University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
57 University of Mississippi University, MS

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Nursing students that almost earned our Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools award.

Rank College Location
61 University of Iowa Iowa City, IA
61 Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH
61 University of Nevada - Reno Reno, NV
61 Georgia State University Atlanta, GA
61 Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY
61 Texas Woman’s University Denton, TX
67 Lehman College Bronx, NY
67 Emory University Atlanta, GA
67 Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Lubbock, TX
67 Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global Marion, IN
67 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY
72 Alverno College Milwaukee, WI
72 University of Michigan - Flint Flint, MI
72 University of Florida Gainesville, FL
75 Russell Sage College Troy, NY
75 Lewis University Romeoville, IL
75 William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJ
75 Rush University Chicago, IL
75 Capella University Minneapolis, MN
75 California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA
75 University of Maryland - Baltimore Baltimore, MD
75 Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY

Nursing by Region

View the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

Nursing is one of 29 different types of programs to choose from.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Medicine 28,629
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions 24,774
Public Health 19,473
Health & Medical Administrative Services 17,335
Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences 16,952

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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