by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 161 U.S. colleges awarded 3,970 degrees and certificates in Nursing Education. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 95% of graduates. College Factual ranks 59 schools in its 2027 Best Nursing Education Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $90,296 one year after completing, rising to $98,461 after four years.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, nursing education draws strong interest, with 3,970 degrees awarded annually. 161 colleges award nursing education degrees, an average of 25 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,059.
By level, the 3,970 awards include 66 associate degrees, 16 bachelor’s degrees, 3,758 master’s degrees and 130 doctorates.
Women earned 91% of nursing education degrees and certificates in the latest year (3,624 of 3,970). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,231) and Black or African American (563), and international students earned 19.
College Factual ranks 59 schools in its 2027 Best Nursing Education Schools ranking, including 2 for associate degrees, 46 for master’s degrees and 5 for doctorates. It also ranks nursing education schools within 22 states. In all, 161 colleges offer nursing education programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Nursing Education Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common nursing education credential is the master’s degree: 3,758 of the 3,970 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to nursing education call most for Instructing, Speaking and Learning Strategies, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a nursing education degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 66 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 16 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,758 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 130 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to nursing education, at 49.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 49.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 36.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Nursing Education, with an average median salary of $115,822; the strongest outlook belongs to Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary, at 5.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Nurse Instructor, Adjunct Clinical Nursing Instructor, Adjunct Nursing Instructor and CPR Instructor (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Instructor).
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to nursing education, at 790,445.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | 790,445 | 5.7% |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | 237,062 | -1.7% |
Nursing Education graduates earn a median $90,296 one year after completing their program, $98,461 after four years and $100,667 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $90,296 |
| 4 years | $98,461 |
| 5 years | $100,667 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to nursing education is Education Administrators, Postsecondary, with a median salary of $161,927.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $161,927 |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,718 |
Nursing Education has 5 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 1,519 degrees a year; the largest are Bioethics/Medical Ethics (813), Medical/Health Humanities (421) and Health Professions Education (141). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Bioethics/Medical Ethics | 813 |
| Medical/Health Humanities | 421 |
| Health Professions Education | 141 |
| Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities, Other | 138 |
| Arts in Medicine/Health | 6 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
