by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Direct Entry Midwifery covers Direct Entry Midwifery. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Provide Pre-Natal, Natural Birth, And Immediate Postpartum Care To Pregnant Women In Jurisdictions Licensing Direct (Non-Nursing) Training For Midwives. Includes Instruction In Basic Obstetrics, Women's Health, Fetal Development, Childbirth Education, Maternal Nutrition And Health, Labor Support, Natural Childbirth, Postpartum Support, Prebirth Counseling And Risk Screening, Management Of Obstetric Emergencies, Patient Referral, Applicable Regulations, And Professional Standards And Ethics. Examples: [Direct Entry Midwifery], [Licensed Midwife (Lm)], [Certified Professional Midwife (Cpm)]. Read on to learn the essential details every direct entry midwifery major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering direct entry midwifery programs.
Nationwide, direct entry midwifery draws strong interest, with 74 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Direct Entry Midwifery Schools ranking analyzes these 4 schools to determine the best overall colleges for direct entry midwifery students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of direct entry midwifery programs later in this article.
Studies in Direct Entry Midwifery develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations direct entry midwifery graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a direct entry midwifery program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a direct entry midwifery major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several direct entry midwifery degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 11 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 18 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 40 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5 |
People currently working in careers related to direct entry midwifery tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 45.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 41.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.8% |
| First professional degree | 3.8% |
| Master’s degree | 1.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.9% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in direct entry midwifery careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in direct entry midwifery prepares you for many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to direct entry midwifery.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to direct entry midwifery.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | 3,105,142 | 1.0% |
| Orthoptists | 2,932,094 | 4.8% |
| Naturopathic Physicians | 2,656,215 | 6.6% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of direct entry midwifery graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $48,470 |
| 4 years | $29,990 |
| 5 years | $38,727 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for direct entry midwifery graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers direct entry midwifery grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | $138,809 |
| Naturopathic Physicians | $138,086 |
| Orthoptists | $135,811 |
With 4 different direct entry midwifery programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased direct entry midwifery school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in direct entry midwifery, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Alternative and Complementary Medical Support Services, Other | 52 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
