by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 2,144 U.S. colleges awarded 318,053 degrees and certificates in Nursing. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 49% of graduates. College Factual ranks 2,032 schools in its 2027 Best Nursing Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $82,702 one year after completing, rising to $94,428 after four years.
If you would like to help treat, examine, and heal patients, consider a degree in Nursing. A career as a nurse allows you to have face-to-face interaction with people in need; you are on the front-lines in preventing disease, fighting illness and promoting healing.
Nursing students work closely with many patients to perform physicals, administer treatments, aid in diagnostic testing, and provide basic needs, among many other tasks. Classes in biology, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, medical terminology, psychology, and behavioral science prepare nurses to work in a variety of locations aiding doctors and assisting patients.
Nursing is a broad field and has many areas of specialization available to students. For example, students can choose a major in Registered Nursing or Nursing Administration. Depending on your interest, your studies can also focus on adult health, anesthesia, family practice, maternal and neonatal, midwifery, public health, surgery, critical care, geriatric care and more.
A major in Nursing covers Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research And Clinical Nursing.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, nursing is a popular field of study, with 318,053 degrees awarded annually. 2,144 colleges award nursing degrees, an average of 148 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 12,128.
By level, the 318,053 awards include 2,933 certificates, 90,467 associate degrees, 154,569 bachelor’s degrees, 56,145 master’s degrees and 13,864 doctorates.
Women earned 86% of nursing degrees and certificates in the latest year (273,735 of 318,053). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (159,932) and Hispanic or Latino (55,698), and international students earned 3,009.
College Factual ranks 2,032 schools in its 2027 Best Nursing Schools ranking, including 1,073 for associate degrees, 1,080 for bachelor’s degrees, 455 for master’s degrees and 289 for doctorates. It also ranks nursing schools within 53 states. In all, 2,144 colleges offer nursing programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Nursing Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common nursing credential is the bachelor’s degree: 154,569 of the 318,053 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to nursing call most for Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of Medicine and Dentistry, Psychology and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Problem Sensitivity, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Since nurses work closely with patients, it is important to have strong interpersonal and communication skills. Nurses must give patients information and keep them calm during procedures and exams. Compassion and sympathy will help you sympathize with patients and make them more comfortable. Additional skills that are required for a career in nursing are analytical and critical thinking, detail-orientation, and patience.
The majority of Nursing graduates work in hospitals, however some also work in medical clinics and schools. Since the public needs health services 24/7, nurses may be required to work at night, on the weekends, and during holidays. They often work rotating shifts so they have time off to rest.
While a bachelor's degree or certification will allow nurses to pursue successful careers in nursing, some students go on to receive a graduate degree. This advanced degree allows nurses to advance to administration positions or conduct research.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a nursing degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2,933 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 90,467 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 154,569 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 56,145 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 13,864 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to nursing, at 44.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 44.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 23.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.6% |
| First professional degree | 1.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to Nursing, with an average median salary of $87,368; the strongest outlook belongs to Nurse Anesthetists, at 14.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Pediatric Oncology Nurse, Psychiatric RN (Psychiatric Registered Nurse), Nurse and Staff Nurse.
Nurses have jobs in many different locations including hospitals, medical centers, schools, the armed forces, corporations, and private medical practices. They teach classes, give medical exams, and update patient information in many settings. Nurses are an important part of the work force and find jobs in almost every area of the medical field.
Due to the aging population and increase in preventative care services, the Nursing occupation is a good profession to be in.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to nursing, at 4,005,201.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Anesthetists | 4,005,201 | 14.8% |
| Registered Nurses | 3,793,806 | 10.2% |
| Nurse Midwives | 3,133,839 | 12.4% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 2,031,912 | 3.3% |
| Clinical Nurse Specialists | 1,937,405 | 12.3% |
| Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses | 1,349,827 | 0.0% |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | 790,445 | 5.7% |
| Critical Care Nurses | 590,563 | 14.4% |
Nursing graduates earn a median $82,702 one year after completing their program, $94,428 after four years and $90,122 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $82,702 |
| 4 years | $94,428 |
| 5 years | $90,122 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to nursing is Nurse Practitioners, with a median salary of $147,651.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioners | $147,651 |
| Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses | $143,854 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Registered Nurses | $105,741 |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,718 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $66,747 |
| Critical Care Nurses | $65,103 |
| Acute Care Nurses | $56,247 |
Nursing includes 23 concentrations that together award 318,053 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (263,353), Family Practice Nurse/Nursing (14,704) and Nursing Practice (9,385). It has 30 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 719,407 degrees a year; the largest are Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (110,132), Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (98,474) and Health and Medical Administrative Services (89,005). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | 110,132 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 98,474 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 89,005 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | 84,315 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 45,445 |
| Public Health | 41,733 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 36,116 |
| Medicine | 30,805 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 28,906 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | 25,412 |
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