by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Nursing Science explores Nursing Science. A Research Program That Focuses On The Study Of Advanced Clinical Practices, Research Methodologies, The Administration Of Complex Nursing Services, And That Prepares Nurses To Further The Progress Of Nursing Research Through Experimentation And Clinical Applications. Examples: [Nursing Science (Phd)], [Nursing Science (Ms, Msc, Msn, Mn)]. Continue reading for the key facts every nursing science major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering nursing science programs.
Nationwide, nursing science is a widely-pursued major, with 4,245 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Nursing Science Schools ranking analyzes these 150 schools to determine the best overall colleges for nursing science students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of nursing science programs later in this article.
Studies in Nursing Science emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations nursing science graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a nursing science program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a nursing science major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several nursing science 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 | 951 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,275 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,172 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 847 |
People currently working in careers related to nursing science 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% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in nursing science careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in nursing science opens doors to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to nursing science.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to nursing science.
| 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% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of nursing science graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 science graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers nursing science 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 150 different nursing science programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased nursing science school rankings to help you.
Students interested in nursing science, 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 |
| 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.
