by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 179 U.S. colleges awarded 5,359 degrees and certificates in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 95% of graduates. College Factual ranks 95 schools in its 2027 Best Psychiatric/Mental Health 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 Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing involves the study of Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing. A Program That Prepares Registered Nurses To Promote Mental Health And Provide Nursing Care To Patients With Mental, Emotional Or Behavioral Disorders, In Mental Institutions Or Other Settings. Includes Instruction In Psychopathology, Behavioral Health, Counseling And Intervention Strategies, Psychoeducation, Mental Health Assessment And Dual Diagnosis, Stabilization And Management Of Psychotic Illness, Psychiatric Care And Rehabilitation, Substance Abuse, And Crisis Intervention. Examples: [Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing is a popular field of study, with 5,359 degrees awarded annually. 179 colleges award psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degrees, an average of 30 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 749.
By level, the 5,359 awards include 5,110 master’s degrees and 249 doctorates.
Women earned 84% of psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degrees and certificates in the latest year (4,531 of 5,359). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,387) and Black or African American (1,576), and international students earned 23.
College Factual ranks 95 schools in its 2027 Best Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Schools ranking, including 76 for master’s degrees and 50 for doctorates. It also ranks psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools within 26 states. In all, 179 colleges offer psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing credential is the master’s degree: 5,110 of the 5,359 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to psychiatric/mental health 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:
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How long a psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5,110 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 249 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to psychiatric/mental health 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 Psychiatric/Mental Health 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), Nurse and Staff Nurse.
The occupation related to psychiatric/mental health 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% |
Psychiatric/Mental Health 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 psychiatric/mental health 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 |
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing has 22 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 312,694 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 |
| 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 |
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