by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 322 U.S. colleges awarded 9,385 degrees and certificates in Nursing Practice. Doctorates are the most popular award, at 83% of graduates. College Factual ranks 193 schools in its 2027 Best Nursing Practice Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $82,702 one year after completing, rising to $94,428 after four years.
A major in Nursing Practice explores Nursing Practice. A Practice-Focused Program That Prepares Registered Nurses For Increasingly Complex Evidence-Based Nursing Practice, Including Translating Research Into Practice, Evaluating Evidence, Applying Research In Decision-Making, And Implementing Viable Clinical Innovations To Change Practice. Includes Instruction In Healthcare Delivery Systems, Health Economics And Finance, Health Policy, Research Methods, Translating Evidence Into Practice, Concepts In Population Health, And Nursing Leadership. Examples: [Nursing Practice (Dnp)].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, nursing practice is a popular field of study, with 9,385 degrees awarded annually. 322 colleges award nursing practice degrees, an average of 29 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 587.
By level, the 9,385 awards include 1 certificates, 130 associate degrees, 329 bachelor’s degrees, 1,154 master’s degrees and 7,771 doctorates.
Women earned 86% of nursing practice degrees and certificates in the latest year (8,106 of 9,385). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (5,106) and Black or African American (1,923), and international students earned 76.
College Factual ranks 193 schools in its 2027 Best Nursing Practice Schools ranking, including 10 for associate degrees, 180 for bachelor’s degrees, 137 for master’s degrees and 171 for doctorates. It also ranks nursing practice schools within 43 states. In all, 322 colleges offer nursing practice programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Nursing Practice Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common nursing practice credential is the doctorate: 7,771 of the 9,385 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to nursing practice call most for Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of Medicine and Dentistry, Psychology and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Problem Sensitivity, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a nursing practice degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 130 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 329 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,154 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 7,771 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to nursing practice, at 43.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 43.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 9.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 9.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.8% |
| First professional degree | 1.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.2% |
| Some college courses | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
8 occupations are related to Nursing Practice, with an average median salary of $96,345; the strongest outlook belongs to Critical Care Nurses, at 14.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Pediatric Oncology Nurse, Psychiatric RN (Psychiatric Registered Nurse), Staff Nurse and Nurse.
The occupation related to nursing practice with the most projected jobs is Registered Nurses, at 3,793,806.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 3,793,806 | 10.2% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 2,031,912 | 3.3% |
| Clinical Nurse Specialists | 1,937,405 | 12.3% |
| Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses | 1,349,827 | 0.0% |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | 790,445 | 5.7% |
| Critical Care Nurses | 590,563 | 14.4% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 419,330 | 8.8% |
| Acute Care Nurses | 191,452 | 4.1% |
Nursing Practice graduates earn a median $82,702 one year after completing their program, $94,428 after four years and $90,122 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $82,702 |
| 4 years | $94,428 |
| 5 years | $90,122 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to nursing practice is Nurse Practitioners, with a median salary of $147,651.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioners | $147,651 |
| Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses | $143,854 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Registered Nurses | $105,741 |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,718 |
| Critical Care Nurses | $65,103 |
| Acute Care Nurses | $56,247 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialists | $52,889 |
Nursing Practice has 22 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 308,668 degrees a year; the largest are Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (263,353), Family Practice Nurse/Nursing (14,704) and Nursing Administration (7,806). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 263,353 |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | 14,704 |
| Nursing Administration | 7,806 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing | 5,359 |
| Nursing Science | 4,606 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other | 3,955 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 2,183 |
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,125 |
| Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing | 934 |
| Geriatric Nurse/Nursing | 680 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
