Nursing Administration: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Nursing Administration equips registered nurses with the advanced leadership and strategic expertise needed to oversee nursing teams and healthcare operations within complex medical environments. This program bridges clinical experience with administrative acumen, preparing professionals to drive efficiency, ensure compliance, and lead transformative change across healthcare systems.
- Health Care Administration Principles: Explores the foundational frameworks for organizing, directing, and evaluating healthcare services, emphasizing quality, safety, and operational effectiveness in diverse settings.
- Resource and Financial Management: Focuses on budgeting, cost analysis, fiscal planning, and allocation of personnel and supplies to optimize performance and sustainability in nursing units and facilities.
- Health Care Law and Policy: Examines legal standards, regulatory requirements, ethical considerations, and policy development that shape healthcare delivery and influence nursing leadership decisions.
- Medical Personnel Management: Addresses recruitment, staffing, performance evaluation, professional development, and team dynamics essential for building high-performing nursing teams.
- Managed Care Operations: Investigates the structure and function of value-based care models, population health strategies, and integrated delivery systems that define modern healthcare management.
Nursing Administration Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Nursing Administration Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Nursing Administration degrees, including Nurse Practitioners, Medical and Health Services Managers and Registered Nurses. 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 4,155,240 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioners 29-1171 | $129,210 | $97,960 - $169,950 | 307,390 | $62.12 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers 11-9111 | $117,960 | $69,680 - $219,080 | 565,840 | $56.71 |
| Registered Nurses 29-1141 | $93,600 | $66,030 - $135,320 | 3,282,010 | $45.00 |
Nursing Administration Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $90,307 in Alabama to $147,813 in California—a 64% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Hawaii, and Oregon. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 4,155,240 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 Nursing Administration by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Nursing Administration 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 Nursing Administration is found at Western Governors University (WGU) (1,633 graduates), Capella University (781 graduates), West Coast University (WCU), Orange County (591 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (531 graduates), and Post University (433 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 7,599 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 | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Governors University (WGU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
1,633 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Private | wgu.edu |
| Capella University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
781 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | capella.edu |
| West Coast University (WCU) |
Master's
|
591 | Anaheim, California | Private | westcoastuniversity.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Master's
|
531 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| Post University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
433 | Waterbury, Connecticut | Private | post.edu |
| Aspen University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
293 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | aspen.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
203 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
199 | Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
| Liberty University |
Master's
|
180 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| University of Phoenix (UOPX) |
Master's
|
160 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | phoenix.edu |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
159 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ucdenver.edu |
| West Coast University (WCU) |
Master's
|
144 | Richardson, Texas | Private | westcoastuniversity.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Doctorate (Research)
Doctorate (Professional)
|
124 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Lewis University |
Master's
|
118 | Romeoville, Illinois | Private | lewisu.edu |
| Florida National University (FNU) |
Master's
|
95 | Hialeah, Florida | Private | fnu.edu |
| Sacred Heart University (SHU) |
Master's
|
70 | Fairfield, Connecticut | Private | sacredheart.edu |
| Colorado Technical University (CTU) |
Master's
|
60 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Private | coloradotech.edu |
| Spring Arbor University (SAU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
59 | Spring Arbor, Michigan | Private | arbor.edu |
| Purdue University Global |
Master's
|
56 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdueglobal.edu |
| Ana G. Mendez University (AGMU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
55 | Orlando, Florida | Private | agmu.edu |
| Baylor University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
49 | Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| AdventHealth University (AHU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
47 | Orlando, Florida | Private | ahu.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
45 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
43 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| Texas A & M International University (TAMIU) |
Master's
|
41 | Laredo, Texas | Public | tamiu.edu |
| Wilmington University (WilmU) |
Master's
|
40 | New Castle, Delaware | Private | wilmu.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
|
38 | Tyler, Texas | Public | uttyler.edu |
| United States University (USU) |
Master's
|
35 | San Diego, California | Private | usuniversity.edu |
| Indiana Wesleyan University |
Master's
|
35 | Marion, Indiana | Private | indwes.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Master's
|
34 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| Excelsior University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
33 | Albany, New York | Private | excelsior.edu |
| Queens University of Charlotte |
Master's
|
33 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Private | queens.edu |
| Lewis-Clark State College (LC State) |
Other Award
|
31 | Lewiston, Idaho | Public | lcsc.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Master's
|
31 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Empire State University |
Master's
|
31 | Saratoga Springs, New York | Public | sunyempire.edu |
| Ottawa University (OU Online) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Overland Park, Kansas | Private | ottawa.edu |
| Samford University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
30 | Birmingham, Alabama | Private | samford.edu |
| Marshall University |
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
30 | Huntington, West Virginia | Public | marshall.edu |
| University of Hartford (UHart) |
Master's
|
29 | West Hartford, Connecticut | Private | hartford.edu |
| Lubbock Christian University (LCU) |
Master's
|
29 | Lubbock, Texas | Private | lcu.edu |
| Augsburg University |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | augsburg.edu |
| CUNY Lehman College |
Other Award
|
27 | Bronx, New York | Public | lehman.edu |
| Endicott College |
Master's
|
25 | Beverly, Massachusetts | Private | endicott.edu |
| Ferris State University (FSU) |
Master's
|
25 | Big Rapids, Michigan | Public | ferris.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
25 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) |
Master's
|
25 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttuhsc.edu |
| Radford University |
Master's
|
25 | Radford, Virginia | Public | radford.edu |
| Atlantis University (AU) |
Master's
|
25 | Miami, Florida | Private | atlantisuniversity.edu |
| Jacksonville University (JU) |
Master's
|
24 | Jacksonville, Florida | Private | ju.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTEP) |
Master's
|
24 | El Paso, Texas | Public | utep.edu |
| Duke University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
23 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| Regis University |
Master's
|
22 | Denver, Colorado | Private | regis.edu |
| Ottawa University |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Overland Park, Kansas | Private | ottawa.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Master's
|
22 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Master's
|
21 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| Herzing University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
21 | Madison, Wisconsin | Private | herzing.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
20 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) |
Master's
|
20 | Houston, Texas | Public | uth.edu |
| Keiser University |
Master's
|
19 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | keiseruniversity.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Master's
|
18 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWGB) |
Master's
|
18 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Public | uwgb.edu |
| South University |
Master's
|
18 | Savannah, Georgia | Private | N/A |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Master's
|
18 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health (NMC) |
Master's
|
17 | Omaha, Nebraska | Private | methodistcollege.edu |
| Quinnipiac University (QU) |
Master's
|
16 | Hamden, Connecticut | Private | qu.edu |
| Southern Illinois University (SIUE) |
Master's
|
16 | Edwardsville, Illinois | Public | siue.edu |
| SUNY College of Technology (SUNY Delhi) |
Master's
|
15 | Delhi, New York | Public | delhi.edu |
| University of Mary (UMary) |
Master's
|
15 | Bismarck, North Dakota | Private | umary.edu |
| Oklahoma City University (OCU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
15 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Private | okcu.edu |
| Duquesne University |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
15 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | duq.edu |
| Franklin University |
Master's
|
14 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | franklin.edu |
| Lamar University (LU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
14 | Beaumont, Texas | Public | lamar.edu |
| Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) |
Master's
|
13 | Harrisonburg, Virginia | Private | emu.edu |
| Winona State University (WSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
12 | Winona, Minnesota | Public | winona.edu |
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center |
Master's
|
12 | New York, New York | Public | gc.cuny.edu |
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences |
Master's
|
12 | Concord, North Carolina | Private | cabarruscollege.edu |
| Mercy College of Ohio |
Master's
|
12 | Toledo, Ohio | Private | mercycollege.edu |
| EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc (EDP) |
Master's
|
12 | San Sebastian, Puerto Rico | Private | edpuniversity.edu |
| University of Arkansas Grantham (UA) |
Master's
|
12 | LIttle Rock, Arkansas | Public | uagrantham.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Master's
|
11 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Colorado Christian University (CCU) |
Master's
|
11 | Lakewood, Colorado | Private | ccu.edu |
| Barry University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
11 | Miami, Florida | Private | barry.edu |
| Kentucky Christian University (KCU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | Grayson, Kentucky | Private | kcu.edu |
| University of Southern Maine (USM) |
Master's
|
11 | Portland, Maine | Public | usm.maine.edu |
| Missouri Western State University (MWSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
11 | Saint Joseph, Missouri | Public | missouriwestern.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OUHSC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
11 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | ouhsc.edu |
| Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) |
Master's
|
10 | Nampa, Idaho | Private | nnu.edu |
| Clarkson College |
Master's
|
10 | Omaha, Nebraska | Private | clarksoncollege.edu |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) |
Post-Master's
|
10 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unmc.edu |
| D'Youville University |
Master's
|
10 | Buffalo, New York | Private | dyu.edu |
| Mercy University |
Master's
|
10 | Dobbs Ferry, New York | Private | mercy.edu |
| Saint Xavier University (SXU) |
Master's
|
9 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | sxu.edu |
| University of Southern Indiana (USI) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
9 | Evansville, Indiana | Public | usi.edu |
| Loyola University New Orleans (LOYNO) |
Master's
|
9 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | loyno.edu |
| Rhode Island College (RIC) |
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Professional)
|
9 | Providence, Rhode Island | Public | ric.edu |
| Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences (PA College) |
Master's
|
9 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Private | pacollege.edu |
| Harding University |
Master's
|
8 | Searcy, Arkansas | Private | harding.edu |
| Vanguard University of Southern California |
Master's
|
8 | Costa Mesa, California | Private | vanguard.edu |
| Cleveland State University (CSU) |
Master's
|
8 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | csuohio.edu |
| Mount St. Joseph University (MSJ) |
Master's
|
8 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Private | msj.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Nursing Administration programs
How much can I earn with a Nursing Administration degree?
Salaries for Nursing Administration graduates vary by role and location. Nurse Practitioners earn a median of $129,210 annually, while Medical and Health Services Managers earn around $117,960. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $147,813 compared to $90,307 in Alabama. Approximately 4,155,240 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 Nursing Administration programs?
Currently 198 accredited institutions offer Nursing Administration degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Western Governors University (WGU) (1,633 graduates), Capella University (781 graduates), and West Coast University (WCU), Orange County (591 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 Nursing Administration growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 3,249 in 2010 to a peak of 8,073 in 2020, before declining slightly to 7,911 in 2023-24. This represents a 143% 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 Nursing Administration degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Nurse Practitioners, Medical and Health Services Managers, and Registered Nurses. Related occupations employ approximately 4,155,240 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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