by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, nursing practice was the 105th most popular major nationwide with 7,992 degrees awarded. This is a difference of 442 over the prior year, a growth of 5.5%.
Our 2023 Best Nursing Practice Schools ranking analyzes 269 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for nursing practice students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of nursing practice programs later in this article.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in nursing practice is talking to others to convey information effectively. Required skills include 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 and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
nursing practice 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. Specific nursing practice careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of nursing practice degrees. Nursing Practice programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest nursing practice degree you can get. Different nursing practice degrees vary in how long they take.
| 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 |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to nursing practice, with approximately 31.6% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for nursing practice workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 32.7% |
| Master’s Degree | 30.4% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 28.0% |
| Some College Courses | 4.4% |
| Doctoral Degree | 2.2% |
Most workers in nursing practice have at least a bachelor's degree. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in nursing practice careers have.
This of course varies depending on which nursing practice career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your nursing practice degree? Nursing Practice careers are expected to grow 16.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to nursing practice.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 3,393,200 | 14.8% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 424,300 | 20.5% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 211,600 | 36.1% |
As you might expect, salaries for nursing practice graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for nursing practice graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers nursing practice grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $113,730 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $110,030 |
| Registered Nurses | $75,510 |
With over 420 different nursing practice 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 nursing practice school rankings to help you with this.
Nursing Practice 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 |
| Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 5,092 |
| Nursing Science | 4,600 |
Image Credit: By Aleksahgabrielle under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
