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Registered Nursing: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Registered Nursing is a comprehensive academic and clinical program designed to equip students with the essential knowledge, technical expertise, and ethical foundation required to deliver high-quality patient care across diverse healthcare settings. Graduates are prepared to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate individualized care strategies that promote wellness, support recovery, and enhance the quality of life for patients of all ages and backgrounds.

  • Medical-Surgical Nursing: Focuses on the care of adult patients with acute or chronic conditions, emphasizing assessment, treatment planning, and coordination of care across complex health issues.
  • Pharmacology and Medication Management: Provides in-depth training in drug classifications, dosing principles, administration techniques, and monitoring for therapeutic and adverse effects.
  • Health Assessment and Clinical Decision-Making: Develops proficiency in conducting comprehensive physical examinations and using clinical reasoning to identify patient needs and guide interventions.
  • Patient Education and Health Promotion: Emphasizes strategies for teaching individuals and communities about disease prevention, healthy lifestyles, and self-management of chronic conditions.
  • Interprofessional Collaboration: Prepares students to work effectively within healthcare teams, including coordination with physicians, therapists, and social services for holistic patient care.
  • Emergency and Critical Care Principles: Covers immediate response protocols, life-support techniques, and the management of high-acuity patient situations.
  • Legal, Ethical, and Cultural Competency in Healthcare: Addresses professional standards, patient rights, confidentiality, and culturally sensitive care delivery in diverse populations.

Registered Nursing Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

256,965
Total Graduates (2023-2024)
2,035
Universities & Colleges
2
Career Pathways

Registered Nursing Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Registered Nursing degrees, including Registered Nurses and Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 3,356,260 professionals.


National Average Salaries

Occupation Median Salary Salary Range Total Employment Hourly Rate
Registered Nurses 29-1141 $93,600 $66,030 - $135,320 3,282,010 $45.00
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1072 $79,940 $47,950 - $130,040 74,250 N/A

Salary Comparison

Registered Nursing Salary Map by State

Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $66,725 in South Dakota to $119,670 in California—a 79% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Hawaii, and Oregon. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 3,356,260 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.

Average Salary Range:

Top Universities for Registered Nursing by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 100 institutions offering Registered Nursing programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Registered Nursing is found at Chamberlain University, Illinois (9,802 graduates), Capella University (7,779 graduates), Western Governors University (WGU) (5,592 graduates), Walden University (4,132 graduates), and Grand Canyon University (GCU) (4,096 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 90,037 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.

College Name Award Levels Graduates Admissions Location Control Website
Chamberlain University
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
9,802 SAT: 770-850
ACT: 14-17
Addison, Illinois Private chamberlain.edu
Capella University
Bachelor's
7,779 N/A Minneapolis, Minnesota Private capella.edu
Western Governors University (WGU)
Bachelor's
5,592 N/A Salt Lake City, Utah Private wgu.edu
Walden University
Bachelor's
Master's
4,132 N/A Minneapolis, Minnesota Private waldenu.edu
Grand Canyon University (GCU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
4,096 SAT: 1058-1175
ACT: 19-24
Phoenix, Arizona Private gcu.edu
The University of Texas
Bachelor's
Other Award
2,468 SAT: 990-1230
ACT: 18-26
Arlington, Texas Public uta.edu
Galen College of Nursing
Associate's
Bachelor's
1,491 N/A Louisville, Kentucky Private galencollege.edu
Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech)
Associate's
1,481 N/A Indianapolis, Indiana Public ivytech.edu
Ohio University (OHIO)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
1,273 SAT: 1100-1290
ACT: 22-28
Athens, Ohio Public ohio.edu
University of South Alabama (USA)
Bachelor's
Master's
1,123 SAT: 1015-1200
ACT: 19-26
Mobile, Alabama Public southalabama.edu
West Coast University (WCU)
Bachelor's
Post-Master's
1,115 N/A Anaheim, California Private westcoastuniversity.edu
Keiser University
Associate's
Bachelor's
1,096 N/A Fort Lauderdale, Florida Private keiseruniversity.edu
NUC University (NUC)
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
1,079 N/A Bayamon, Puerto Rico Private nuc.edu
Rasmussen University
Associate's
Bachelor's
1,063 N/A Ocala, Florida Private rasmussen.edu
ECPI University (ECPI)
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
1,010 N/A Virginia Beach, Virginia Private ecpi.edu
West Coast University (WCU)
Bachelor's
972 N/A North Hollywood, California Private westcoastuniversity.edu
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC)
Bachelor's
Post-Master's
941 N/A Lubbock, Texas Public ttuhsc.edu
West Coast University (WCU)
Bachelor's
925 N/A Ontario, California Private westcoastuniversity.edu
Nightingale College
Associate's
Bachelor's
912 N/A Salt Lake City, Utah Private nightingale.edu
Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
889 N/A Draper, Utah Private joyce.edu
Miami Dade College (MDC)
Associate's
Bachelor's
883 N/A Miami, Florida Public mdc.edu
University of Alabama (UAB)
Bachelor's
Master's
868 SAT: 1130-1400
ACT: 22-30
Birmingham, Alabama Public uab.edu
Northern Kentucky University (NKU)
Bachelor's
Master's
864 SAT: 916-1133
ACT: 19-25
Highland Heights, Kentucky Public nku.edu
Azusa Pacific University (APU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
Doctorate (P)
826 SAT: 994-1314
ACT: 18-26
Azusa, California Private apu.edu
University of Central Florida (UCF)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
804 SAT: 1190-1350
ACT: 25-29
Orlando, Florida Public ucf.edu
Excelsior University
Associate's
Bachelor's
793 N/A Albany, New York Private excelsior.edu
Weber State University (WSU)
Associate's
Bachelor's
793 N/A Ogden, Utah Public weber.edu
University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW)
Bachelor's
775 SAT: 1220-1360
ACT: 24-28
Wilmington, North Carolina Public uncw.edu
Regis College
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
771 N/A Weston, Massachusetts Private regiscollege.edu
Galen College of Nursing
Associate's
Bachelor's
768 N/A San Antonio, Texas Private galencollege.edu
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU)
Bachelor's
Master's
759 N/A Manchester, New Hampshire Private snhu.edu
Drexel University
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
696 SAT: 1230-1430
ACT: 27-33
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Private drexel.edu
Rasmussen University
Associate's
691 N/A Rockford, Illinois Private rasmussen.edu
Chamberlain University
Bachelor's
674 N/A Houston, Texas Private chamberlain.edu
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
657 N/A Wayne, New Jersey Public wpunj.edu
The University of Texas
Bachelor's
647 SAT: 1010-1220
ACT: 19-25
Tyler, Texas Public uttyler.edu
Jersey College
Associate's
632 SAT: 915-1090
ACT: 17-22
Teterboro, New Jersey Private jerseycollege.edu
University of Maryland (UMB)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
591 N/A Baltimore, Maryland Public umaryland.edu
University of South Florida (USF)
Bachelor's
Master's
585 SAT: 1140-1330
ACT: 24-29
Tampa, Florida Public usf.edu
Samuel Merritt University (SMU)
Bachelor's
Master's
567 N/A Oakland, California Private samuelmerritt.edu
Kent State University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (P)
558 SAT: 1000-1230
ACT: 18-25
Kent, Ohio Public kent.edu
Indiana University (IU Indianapolis)
Bachelor's
555 SAT: 1040-1230
ACT: 21-28
Indianapolis, Indiana Public indianapolis.iu.edu
Hondros College of Nursing (HCON)
Associate's
548 N/A Westerville, Ohio Private hondros.edu
Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU)
Bachelor's
Master's
544 N/A Tempe, Arizona Public asu.edu
Emory University
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
537 SAT: 1460-1550
ACT: 32-34
Atlanta, Georgia Private emory.edu
University of Phoenix (UOPX)
Bachelor's
535 N/A Phoenix, Arizona Private phoenix.edu
Lone Star College System (LSC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
529 N/A The Woodlands, Texas Public lonestar.edu
Ohio State University
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
525 SAT: 1330-1480
ACT: 29-32
Columbus, Ohio Public osu.edu
Thomas Jefferson University
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
521 SAT: 1150-1350
ACT: 27-32
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Private jefferson.edu
East Tennessee State University (ETSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
518 SAT: 950-1170
ACT: 19-26
Johnson City, Tennessee Public etsu.edu
Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA)
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
501 SAT: 925-1243
ACT: 18-24
Natchitoches, Louisiana Public nsula.edu
Denver College of Nursing (DCN)
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
491 N/A Denver, Colorado Private denvercollegeofnursing.edu
Arizona State University
Bachelor's
Master's
490 N/A Scottsdale, Arizona Public asu.edu
The University of Alabama (UA)
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
485 SAT: 1170-1400
ACT: 24-31
Tuscaloosa, Alabama Public ua.edu
Connecticut State Community College (CT State)
Associate's
474 N/A Hartford, Connecticut Public ctstate.edu
Galen College of Nursing
Associate's
Bachelor's
471 N/A Saint Petersburg, Florida Private galencollege.edu
Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC)
Associate's
465 N/A Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Public hacc.edu
University of New Mexico (UNM)
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
462 SAT: 900-1160
ACT: 19-26
Albuquerque, New Mexico Public unm.edu
New York University (NYU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (P)
460 SAT: 1480-1570
ACT: 33-35
New York, New York Private nyu.edu
University of Oklahoma (OUHSC)
Bachelor's
456 N/A Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Public ouhsc.edu
Texas Woman's University (TWU)
Bachelor's
456 N/A Denton, Texas Public twu.edu
St. Thomas University (STU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
455 N/A Miami Gardens, Florida Private stu.edu
Rasmussen University
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
452 N/A St. Cloud, Minnesota Private rasmussen.edu
Chamberlain University
Bachelor's
452 N/A North Brunswick, New Jersey Private chamberlain.edu
Valencia College
Associate's
Bachelor's
446 N/A Orlando, Florida Public valenciacollege.edu
Central Virginia Community College (CVCC)
Other Award
443 N/A Lynchburg, Virginia Public centralvirginia.edu
Nova Southeastern University (NSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
440 SAT: 1050-1310
ACT: 21-28
Fort Lauderdale, Florida Private nova.edu
Oakland University (OU)
Bachelor's
438 SAT: 995-1185 Rochester Hills, Michigan Public oakland.edu
Wilkes University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
438 SAT: 1023-1270
ACT: 20-29
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Private wilkes.edu
Broward College (BC)
Associate's
Bachelor's
437 N/A Fort Lauderdale, Florida Public broward.edu
Chamberlain University
Bachelor's
436 N/A Sandy Springs, Georgia Private chamberlain.edu
Delaware Technical Community College
Associate's
Bachelor's
432 N/A Dover, Delaware Public dtcc.edu
Arkansas State University (A-State)
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
413 SAT: 1030-1180
ACT: 19-25
Jonesboro, Arkansas Public astate.edu
Florida State College (FSCJ)
Associate's
Bachelor's
413 N/A Jacksonville, Florida Public fscj.edu
East Carolina University (ECU)
Bachelor's
Master's
410 SAT: 1050-1200
ACT: 20-26
Greenville, North Carolina Public ecu.edu
Northern Arizona University (NAU)
Bachelor's
Master's
405 N/A Flagstaff, Arizona Public nau.edu
Long Island University (LIU)
Bachelor's
404 SAT: 1140-1350
ACT: 25-30
Brookville, New York Private liu.edu
University of Cincinnati (UC)
Bachelor's
Master's
404 SAT: 1150-1360
ACT: 24-29
Cincinnati, Ohio Public uc.edu
St Petersburg College (SPC)
Associate's
Bachelor's
396 N/A St. Petersburg, Florida Public spcollege.edu
Florida Atlantic University (FAU)
Bachelor's
Master's
394 SAT: 1040-1210
ACT: 20-26
Boca Raton, Florida Public fau.edu
Georgia Southern University
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
393 SAT: 980-1160
ACT: 18-23
Statesboro, Georgia Public georgiasouthern.edu
The University of Texas (UTEP)
Bachelor's
392 SAT: 870-1090
ACT: 17-23
El Paso, Texas Public utep.edu
Marquette University
Bachelor's
Master's
392 SAT: 1190-1360
ACT: 26-31
Milwaukee, Wisconsin Private marquette.edu
Montana State University (MSU)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
391 SAT: 1060-1270
ACT: 20-27
Bozeman, Montana Public montana.edu
Boise State University (BBU)
Bachelor's
389 N/A Boise, Idaho Public boisestate.edu
Minnesota State University
Bachelor's
383 ACT: 22-25 Mankato, Minnesota Public mnsu.edu
Columbia University in the City of New York
Master's
Post-Master's
381 SAT: 1490-1570
ACT: 34-35
New York, New York Private columbia.edu
University of Memphis (UofM)
Bachelor's
Master's
381 SAT: 905-1205
ACT: 17-24
Memphis, Tennessee Public memphis.edu
Miami Regional University (MRU)
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
379 N/A Miami Springs, Florida Private mru.edu
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences (PA College)
Associate's
Bachelor's
374 N/A Lancaster, Pennsylvania Private pacollege.edu
University of Michigan
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (P)
369 SAT: 950-1210
ACT: 17-29
Flint, Michigan Public umflint.edu
University of Arizona
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
367 SAT: 1160-1420
ACT: 21-30
Tucson, Arizona Public arizona.edu
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)
Bachelor's
367 SAT: 1120-1340
ACT: 25-32
Chicago, Illinois Public uic.edu
Holy Family University
Bachelor's
Master's
366 SAT: 950-1130 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Private holyfamily.edu
University of Kentucky (UK)
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
359 SAT: 1080-1290
ACT: 21-28
Lexington, Kentucky Public uky.edu
University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)
Bachelor's
Master's
359 N/A Omaha, Nebraska Public unmc.edu
Molloy College
Bachelor's
358 SAT: 1080-1310
ACT: 24-29
Rockville Centre, New York Private molloy.edu
National University (NU)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
355 N/A San Diego, California Private nu.edu
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
355 N/A Portland, Oregon Public ohsu.edu
Austin Community College District (ACC)
Associate's
Bachelor's
355 N/A Austin, Texas Public austincc.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Registered Nursing programs

How much can I earn with a Registered Nursing degree?

Salaries for Registered Nursing graduates vary by role and location. Registered Nurses earn a median of $93,600 annually, while Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $79,940. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $119,670 compared to $66,725 in South Dakota. Approximately 3,356,260 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.

Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.

Which universities have the largest Registered Nursing programs?

Currently 2,035 accredited institutions offer Registered Nursing degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Chamberlain University, Illinois (9,802 graduates), Capella University (7,779 graduates), and Western Governors University (WGU) (5,592 graduates).

Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.

Is enrollment in Registered Nursing growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 173,640 in 2010 to a peak of 259,494 in 2020, before declining slightly to 256,965 in 2023-24. This represents a 48% increase overall from 2010.

The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.

Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.

What career paths are available with a Registered Nursing degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Registered Nurses, Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary, . Related occupations employ approximately 3,356,260 professionals nationwide.

Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.

Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.

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