by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2025, College Factual analyzed 456 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 49,855 master's degrees in nursing during the <nil> academic year.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
The nursing master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality nursing program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. After all, your master's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for nursing students working on their master's degree.
When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools list to help you make the college decision.
Learn about the top ranked colleges and universities for nursing students seeking a a master's degree. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
It's hard to beat University of Pennsylvania if you want to pursue a master's degree in nursing. Located in the city of Philadelphia, UPenn is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.
Those nursing students who get their master's degree from University of Pennsylvania receive $4,460 more than the standard nursing student.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of Pennsylvania
It's hard to beat Samuel Merritt University if you want to pursue a master's degree in nursing. Located in the city of Oakland, Samuel Merritt University is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.
Master's recipients from the nursing program at Samuel Merritt University make $30,897 more than the typical graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Samuel Merritt University
Every student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in nursing has to check out New York University. Located in the city of New York, NYU is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.
Those nursing students who get their master's degree from New York University earn $30,431 more than the typical nursing graduate.
More information about a master’s in nursing from New York University
Duke University is a wonderful decision for students interested in a master's degree in nursing. Located in the city of Durham, Duke is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.
Soon after graduating, nursing master's recipients generally make around $109,702 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Duke University
Located in the large city of Atlanta, Emory is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.
Students who graduate with their master's from the nursing program report average early career income of $107,880.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Emory University
UTMB Galveston is a small public university located in the city of Galveston.
Those nursing students who get their master's degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch earn $5,801 more than the standard nursing grad.
More information about a master’s in nursing from The University of Texas Medical BranchGWU is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Washington. After graduation, nursing master's recipients generally make about $102,660 in the first five years of their career. Located in the city of Lubbock, TTUHSC is a public university with a small student population. Master's students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn an average of $110,624 for their early career. Johns Hopkins is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Baltimore. Soon after graduation, nursing master's recipients usually earn around $84,697 at the beginning of their careers. U-M is a very large public university located in the midsize city of Ann Arbor. Students who graduate with their master's from the nursing program state that they receive average early career earnings of $91,784.7
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Annual Graduates$102,660
Median Starting Salary8
190
Annual Graduates$110,624
Median Starting Salary9
326
Annual Graduates$84,697
Median Starting Salary10
123
Annual Graduates$91,784
Median Starting Salary
UTHealth is a moderately-sized public university located in the large city of Houston.
Soon after graduating, nursing master's recipients typically earn around $110,523 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a master’s in nursing from The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonLocated in the large city of Washington, Georgetown is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. Students who graduate with their master's from the nursing program report average early career earnings of $112,845. Northeastern is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Boston. Master's recipients from the nursing major at Northeastern University get $14,558 above the standard college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce. Case Western is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Cleveland. Master's recipients from the nursing program at Case Western Reserve University make $4,087 above the typical graduate in this field when they enter the workforce. Located in the city of Baltimore, UMB is a public university with a medium-sized student population. After graduating, nursing master's recipients usually earn around $85,488 in their early careers.12
233
Annual Graduates$112,845
Median Starting Salary13
50
Annual Graduates$125,480
Median Starting Salary14
66
Annual Graduates$115,009
Median Starting Salary15
195
Annual Graduates$85,488
Median Starting Salary
USC is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Los Angeles.
Master's recipients from the nursing major at University of Southern California make $25,328 more than the standard college graduate in this field shortly after graduation.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of Southern CaliforniaLocated in the suburb of Stony Brook, SUNY Stony Brook is a public university with a very large student population. Nursing master's degree recipients from Stony Brook University receive an earnings boost of around $15,870 over the typical earnings of nursing majors. USFCA is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large city of San Francisco. Master's recipients from the nursing degree program at University of San Francisco earn $15,061 above the standard graduate in this field shortly after graduation. SUNY Downstate is a small public university located in the city of Brooklyn. Master's recipients from the nursing major at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University earn $21,557 above the standard college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce. Molloy is a small private not-for-profit college located in the large suburb of Rockville Centre. Those nursing students who get their master's degree from Molloy College make $23,030 more than the standard nursing graduate.17
169
Annual Graduates$126,792
Median Starting Salary18
174
Annual Graduates$125,983
Median Starting Salary19
130
Annual Graduates$132,479
Median Starting Salary20
96
Annual Graduates$133,952
Median Starting Salary
Located in the large city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Students who graduate with their master's from the nursing program report average early career earnings of $112,065.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of California - Los AngelesUofSC is a fairly large public university located in the city of Columbia. Soon after graduation, nursing master's recipients usually make an average of $105,149 at the beginning of their careers. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. Those nursing students who get their master's degree from Drexel University make $6,369 more than the average nursing student. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. Master's recipients from the nursing major at Villanova University make $14,495 more than the typical college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation. Located in the town of Storrs, UCONN is a public university with a very large student population. Those nursing students who get their master's degree from University of Connecticut earn $17,955 more than the average nursing graduate.22
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Annual Graduates$105,149
Median Starting Salary23
296
Annual Graduates$117,291
Median Starting Salary24
43
Annual Graduates$125,417
Median Starting Salary25
55
Annual Graduates$128,877
Median Starting Salary
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This section represents the remainder of the colleges awarded a Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools badge.
Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 20% of the 456 different United States nursing schools we analyzed.
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools award.
View the Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
Nursing is one of 34 different types of Health Professions programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Health | 17,864 |
| Mental & Social Health Services | 17,274 |
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 15,811 |
| Allied Health Professions | 14,052 |
| Communication Sciences | 10,306 |
| Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions | 8,128 |
| Bioethics/Medical Ethics | 3,910 |
| Medical Illustration & Informatics | 2,134 |
| Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences | 1,995 |
| Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services | 1,887 |
