by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, critical care nursing was the 529th most popular major nationwide with 773 degrees awarded. This represents a 24.6% increase in critical care nursing degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 583.
Our 2023 Best Critical Care Nursing Schools ranking analyzes 18 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for critical care nursing students. Explore this or one of our many other custom critical care nursing rankings further below.
When studying Critical Care Nursing, you’ll learn that giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do and talking to others to convey information effectively are all required skills for careers related to this major.
critical care nursing degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Once you obtain your degree, additional critical care nursing certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Critical Care Nursing degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in critical care nursing to the highest critical care nursing degree, a . The type of critical care nursing degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to critical care nursing, with approximately 40.3% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for critical care nursing workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 42.2% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 25.3% |
| Master’s Degree | 24.6% |
| Some College Courses | 4.4% |
| Doctoral Degree | 1.8% |
54.9% of critical care nursing workers have at least a bachelor's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in critical care nursing have received.
The education level required is different depending on the critical care nursing career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your critical care nursing degree? Critical Care Nursing careers are expected to grow 15.9% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to critical care nursing.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 3,393,200 | 14.8% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 211,600 | 36.1% |
As you might expect, salaries for critical care nursing graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for critical care nursing graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers critical care nursing grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioners | $110,030 |
| Registered Nurses | $75,510 |
With over 67 different critical care nursing degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased critical care nursing school rankings to help you with this.
Critical Care Nursing is one of 22 different types of Nursing programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 266,651 |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | 16,104 |
| Nursing Administration | 9,838 |
| Nursing Practice | 7,992 |
| Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 5,092 |
Image Credit: By Aleksahgabrielle under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
