by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Palliative Care Nursing involves the study of Palliative Care Nursing. A Program That Prepares Registered Nurses To Provide A Combination Of Active And Compassionate Therapies Intended To Comfort And Support Patients And Their Families Who Are Living With Life-Threatening Illness. Includes Instruction In Pathophysiology, Palliative Care Processes, Pain Management, Pharmacology, Loss, Grief, Death, And Bereavement. Read on to learn the essential details every palliative care nursing major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering palliative care nursing programs.
Across the country, palliative care nursing is a widely-pursued major, with 7 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Palliative Care Nursing Schools ranking analyzes these 3 schools to determine the best overall colleges for palliative care nursing students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of palliative care nursing programs later in this article.
Coursework for Palliative Care Nursing build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations palliative care nursing graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a palliative care nursing program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a palliative care nursing major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several palliative care 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 7 |
People currently working in careers related to palliative care 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% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in palliative care nursing careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in palliative care nursing prepares you for numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to palliative care nursing.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to palliative care 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% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of palliative care 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 palliative care nursing graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers palliative care 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 3 different palliative care nursing programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased palliative care nursing school rankings to help you.
Those considering palliative care 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 |
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,457 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 1,960 |
| Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing | 1,505 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
