by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Adult Health Nurse/Nursing involves the study of Adult Health Nurse/nursing. A Program That Prepares Registered Nurses To Provide General Care For Adult Patients. Includes Instruction In Adult Primary Care, Adult Pathophysiology, Clinical Management Of Medication And Treatments, Patient Assessment And Education, Patient Referral, And Planning Adult Health Maintenance Programs. Examples: [Adult Nurse Practitioner]. Read on to learn the important information every adult health nurse/nursing major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering adult health nurse/nursing programs.
Nationwide, adult health nurse/nursing draws strong interest, with 2,457 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Adult Health Nurse/Nursing Schools ranking analyzes these 78 schools to determine the best overall colleges for adult health nurse/nursing students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of adult health nurse/nursing programs later in this article.
Programs in Adult Health Nurse/Nursing develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations adult health nurse/nursing graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a adult health nurse/nursing program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a adult health nurse/nursing major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several adult health nurse/nursing 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 82 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 159 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,133 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 83 |
People currently working in careers related to adult health nurse/nursing tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in adult health nurse/nursing careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in adult health nurse/nursing prepares you for many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to adult health nurse/nursing.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to adult health nurse/nursing.
| 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% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of adult health nurse/nursing graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $83,453 |
| 4 years | $80,149 |
| 5 years | $90,156 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for adult health nurse/nursing graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers adult health nurse/nursing grads often go into.
| 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 |
With 78 different adult health nurse/nursing programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased adult health nurse/nursing school rankings to help you.
Those considering adult health nurse/nursing, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 256,965 |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | 14,847 |
| Nursing Practice | 9,206 |
| Nursing Administration | 7,911 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing | 4,379 |
| Nursing Science | 4,245 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other | 4,125 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 1,960 |
| Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing | 1,505 |
| Geriatric Nurse/Nursing | 641 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
