by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, registered nursing was the 3rd most popular major nationwide with 266,651 degrees awarded. This represents a 2.7% increase in registered nursing degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 259,493.
This year's Best Registered Nursing Schools ranking compares 1709 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom registered nursing rankings further below.
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 is a required skill for registered nursing majors. Talking to others to convey information effectively and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents are all required skills for careers related to this major.
registered 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. In addition to these basic registered nursing program qualifications, to serve in some registered nursing careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are various different levels of registered nursing degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in registered nursing to something that takes less time like a . Depending on the registered nursing degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| 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 registered nursing, with approximately 33.1% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for registered nursing workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 36.1% |
| Master’s Degree | 23.7% |
| Doctoral Degree | 17.1% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 15.1% |
| Some College Courses | 5.8% |
61.6% of registered nursing workers have at least a bachelor's. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in registered nursing have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the registered nursing career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your registered nursing degree? Registered Nursing careers are expected to grow 15.0% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to registered nursing.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 3,393,200 | 14.8% |
| Nursing Instructors and Professors | 84,200 | 24.0% |
As you might expect, salaries for registered nursing graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for registered nursing graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers registered nursing grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Nursing Instructors and Professors | $81,350 |
| Registered Nurses | $75,510 |
With over 2,870 different registered 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 registered nursing school rankings to help you with this.
Registered Nursing is one of 22 different types of Nursing programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Nursing Science | 4,600 |
Image Credit: By Aleksahgabrielle under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
