by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 4 U.S. colleges awarded 69 degrees and certificates in Direct Entry Midwifery. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 49% of graduates. College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Direct Entry Midwifery Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Its 3 related occupations pay an average median salary of $137,569 a year.
A major in Direct Entry Midwifery covers Direct Entry Midwifery. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Provide Pre-Natal, Natural Birth, And Immediate Postpartum Care To Pregnant Women In Jurisdictions Licensing Direct (Non-Nursing) Training For Midwives. Includes Instruction In Basic Obstetrics, Women's Health, Fetal Development, Childbirth Education, Maternal Nutrition And Health, Labor Support, Natural Childbirth, Postpartum Support, Prebirth Counseling And Risk Screening, Management Of Obstetric Emergencies, Patient Referral, Applicable Regulations, And Professional Standards And Ethics. Examples: [Direct Entry Midwifery], [Licensed Midwife (Lm)], [Certified Professional Midwife (Cpm)].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, direct entry midwifery draws strong interest, with 69 degrees awarded annually. 4 colleges award direct entry midwifery degrees, an average of 17 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 34.
By level, the 69 awards include 7 certificates, 19 associate degrees, 34 bachelor’s degrees and 9 master’s degrees.
Women earned 100% of direct entry midwifery degrees and certificates in the latest year (69 of 69). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (38) and Black or African American (19).
College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Direct Entry Midwifery Schools ranking, including 1 for associate degrees. It also ranks direct entry midwifery schools within 1 state. In all, 4 colleges offer direct entry midwifery programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Direct Entry Midwifery Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common direct entry midwifery credential is the bachelor’s degree: 34 of the 69 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to direct entry midwifery call most for Active Listening, Critical Thinking and Speaking, and for knowledge of Medicine and Dentistry, English Language and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Problem Sensitivity, Oral Expression and Inductive Reasoning.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a direct entry midwifery degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 7 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 19 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 34 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 9 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to direct entry midwifery, at 45.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 45.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 41.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.8% |
| First professional degree | 3.8% |
| Master’s degree | 1.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Direct Entry Midwifery, with an average median salary of $137,569; the strongest outlook belongs to Naturopathic Physicians, at 6.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Naturopath, Naturopathic Doctor, Otorhinolaryngologist and Emergency Medicine Specialist.
The occupation related to direct entry midwifery with the most projected jobs is Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other, at 3,105,142.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | 3,105,142 | 1.0% |
| Orthoptists | 2,932,094 | 4.8% |
| Naturopathic Physicians | 2,656,215 | 6.6% |
Direct Entry Midwifery graduates earn a median $52,766 four years after completing their program, $38,727 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 4 years | $52,766 |
| 5 years | $38,727 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to direct entry midwifery, with a median salary of $138,809.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | $138,809 |
| Naturopathic Physicians | $138,086 |
| Orthoptists | $135,811 |
Direct Entry Midwifery has 1 similar major in the Health Professions field; the largest is Alternative and Complementary Medical Support Services, Other (29). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Alternative and Complementary Medical Support Services, Other | 29 |
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