by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Nursing Practice explores Nursing Practice. A Practice-Focused Program That Prepares Registered Nurses For Increasingly Complex Evidence-Based Nursing Practice, Including Translating Research Into Practice, Evaluating Evidence, Applying Research In Decision-Making, And Implementing Viable Clinical Innovations To Change Practice. Includes Instruction In Healthcare Delivery Systems, Health Economics And Finance, Health Policy, Research Methods, Translating Evidence Into Practice, Concepts In Population Health, And Nursing Leadership. Examples: [Nursing Practice (Dnp)]. Continue reading for the essential details every nursing practice major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering nursing practice programs.
Nationwide, nursing practice is a popular field of study, with 9,206 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Nursing Practice Schools ranking analyzes these 316 schools to determine the best overall colleges for nursing practice students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of nursing practice programs later in this article.
Studies in Nursing Practice emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations nursing practice graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a nursing practice program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a nursing practice major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several nursing practice 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 | 1 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 133 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 423 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,087 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 7,562 |
People currently working in careers related to nursing practice tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 43.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 9.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 9.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.8% |
| First professional degree | 1.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.2% |
| Some college courses | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in nursing practice careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying nursing practice can lead to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to nursing practice.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to nursing practice.
| 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% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 419,330 | 8.8% |
| Acute Care Nurses | 191,452 | 4.1% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of nursing practice graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 nursing practice graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers nursing practice grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioners | $147,651 |
| Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses | $143,854 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| 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 316 different nursing practice programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased nursing practice school rankings to help you.
Students interested in nursing practice, 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 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 |
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,457 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 1,960 |
| Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing | 1,505 |
| Geriatric Nurse/Nursing | 641 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
