by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 10 U.S. colleges awarded 150 degrees and certificates in Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 75% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 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 Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing explores Perioperative/operating Room And Surgical Nurse/nursing. A Program That Prepares Registered Nurses To Provide Care To Patients Before And During Surgery, And Provide Tableside Assistance To Surgeons. Includes Instruction In Operating Room Safety And Preparation, Aseptic Technique, Anesthesia, Patient Preparation, Surgical Instruments And Procedures, Sterilization And Disinfecting, Surgical Drugs And Solutions, Hemostasis, Emergency Procedures, And Patient/family Education.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing is a popular field of study, with 150 degrees awarded annually. 10 colleges award perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing degrees, an average of 15 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 85.
By level, the 150 awards include 3 certificates and 112 master’s degrees.
Women earned 84% of perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing degrees and certificates in the latest year (126 of 150). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (80) and Asian (24), and international students earned 1.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing Schools ranking, including 1 for master’s degrees. It also ranks perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing schools within 1 state. In all, 10 colleges offer perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing credential is the master’s degree: 112 of the 150 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing 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 Deductive Reasoning.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 3 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 112 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing, at 44.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 44.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 24.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.8% |
| First professional degree | 1.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
7 occupations are related to Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing, with an average median salary of $91,600; 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 perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing 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% |
| Acute Care Nurses | 191,452 | 4.1% |
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 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 perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing is Nurse Practitioners, with a median salary of $147,651.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioners | $147,651 |
| Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses | $143,854 |
| 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 |
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing has 22 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 317,903 degrees a year; the largest are Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (263,353), Family Practice Nurse/Nursing (14,704) and Nursing Practice (9,385). 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 Practice | 9,385 |
| 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 |
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