Nursing Science: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Nursing Science is a specialized academic field dedicated to advancing the theoretical and practical foundations of nursing through rigorous research and evidence-based innovation. It equips advanced practitioners and scholars with the expertise to lead in clinical transformation, healthcare policy, and the development of new nursing knowledge.
- Advanced Clinical Practice: Explores complex patient care strategies, diagnostic reasoning, and intervention techniques at the highest level of nursing proficiency, emphasizing outcomes in diverse healthcare settings.
- Research Methodologies: Focuses on qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches to design, conduct, and evaluate studies that address pressing issues in patient care and health systems.
- Healthcare Administration and Leadership: Develops skills in managing complex nursing operations, optimizing resource allocation, and leading interdisciplinary teams within evolving healthcare environments.
- Translational Research and Clinical Application: Bridges the gap between scientific discovery and real-world practice by applying research findings to improve patient outcomes and refine nursing interventions.
- Nursing Knowledge Development: Encourages original scholarship that expands the discipline’s theoretical frameworks, contributing to the evolution of nursing as a science and profession.
Nursing Science Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Nursing Science Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Nursing Science degrees, including Nurse Practitioners, 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 3,663,650 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 |
| 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 |
Nursing Science Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $85,040 in Arkansas to $135,317 in California—a 59% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Oregon, and Hawaii. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 3,663,650 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 Science by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Nursing Science 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 Science is found at University of Massachusetts, Boston (365 graduates), EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc, San Juan (362 graduates), EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc (EDP), San Sebastian (268 graduates), Rivier University (244 graduates), and EDP University of Puerto Rico, Manati (224 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 4,129 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
365 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | umb.edu |
| EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
362 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | edpuniversity.edu |
| EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc (EDP) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
268 | San Sebastian, Puerto Rico | Private | edpuniversity.edu |
| Rivier University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
244 | Nashua, New Hampshire | Private | rivier.edu |
| EDP University of Puerto Rico |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
224 | Manati, Puerto Rico | Private | edpuniversity.edu |
| Duquesne University |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
216 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | duq.edu |
| Rush University |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
160 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | rushu.rush.edu |
| University of Maine (UMFK) |
Bachelor's
|
146 | Fort Kent, Maine | Public | umfk.maine.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
145 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
143 | Mahwah, New Jersey | Public | ramapo.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
110 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| Augusta University (AU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
98 | Augusta, Georgia | Public | augusta.edu |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania |
Bachelor's
|
95 | Millersville, Pennsylvania | Public | millersville.edu |
| Wagner College |
Master's
|
77 | Staten Island, New York | Private | wagner.edu |
| EDP University of Puerto Rico |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
67 | Humacao, Puerto Rico | Private | edpuniversity.edu |
| EDP University of Puerto Rico |
Associate's
|
66 | Villalba, Puerto Rico | Private | edpuniversity.edu |
| Kean University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
65 | Union, New Jersey | Public | kean.edu |
| Monmouth University |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
64 | West Long Branch, New Jersey | Private | monmouth.edu |
| Benedictine University (BenU) |
Master's
|
57 | Lisle, Illinois | Private | ben.edu |
| Bellevue University |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Bellevue, Nebraska | Private | bellevue.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
48 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| Walden University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
46 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | waldenu.edu |
| Rogers State University (RSU) |
Bachelor's
|
46 | Claremore, Oklahoma | Public | rsu.edu |
| Touro University Nevada (TUN) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
40 | Henderson, Nevada | Private | tun.touro.edu |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
38 | Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | uams.edu |
| Fort Hays State University (FHSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
37 | Hays, Kansas | Public | fhsu.edu |
| Northern Illinois University (NIU) |
Master's
|
35 | Dekalb, Illinois | Public | niu.edu |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
29 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
28 | Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
26 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| College of Our Lady of the Elms (Elms College) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
26 | Chicopee, Massachusetts | Private | elms.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR‑MSC) |
Master's
|
25 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | rcm.upr.edu |
| American College of Education (ACE) |
Master's
|
24 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | ace.edu |
| Fresno Pacific University (FPU) |
Master's
|
22 | Fresno, California | Private | fresno.edu |
| Metropolitan State University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
22 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Public | metrostate.edu |
| Goodwin University |
Master's
|
21 | East Hartford, Connecticut | Private | goodwin.edu |
| Texas Woman's University (TWU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
19 | Denton, Texas | Public | twu.edu |
| Governors State University (GSU) |
Master's
|
18 | University Park, Illinois | Public | govst.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
18 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
18 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | uncg.edu |
| The Catholic University of America |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
17 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | catholic.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMB) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
17 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umaryland.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Touro University California (TUC) |
Master's
|
16 | Vallejo, California | Private | tu.edu |
| Universal Technology College of Puerto Rico (UNITEC) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | Private | unitecpr.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| Moravian University |
Master's
|
14 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Private | moravian.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Tyler, Texas | Public | uttyler.edu |
| Sacred Heart University (SHU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
13 | Fairfield, Connecticut | Private | sacredheart.edu |
| ICPR Junior College (ICPR) |
Associate's
|
13 | Mayaguez, Puerto Rico | Private | icprjc.edu |
| Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences |
Master's
|
12 | Rock Island, Illinois | Private | trinitycollegeqc.edu |
| Salem State University (SSU) |
Master's
|
11 | Salem, Massachusetts | Public | salemstate.edu |
| Florida Atlantic University (FAU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Boca Raton, Florida | Public | fau.edu |
| Emory University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| North Park University |
Master's
|
10 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | northpark.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Master's
|
10 | Camden, New Jersey | Public | camden.rutgers.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| ICPR Junior College |
Associate's
|
10 | Manati, Puerto Rico | Private | icprjc.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | newark.rutgers.edu |
| The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | Galveston, Texas | Public | utmb.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| University of Southern Mississippi (USM) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | Public | usm.edu |
| Montana State University (MSU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
8 | Bozeman, Montana | Public | montana.edu |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | iup.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| Dewey University |
Associate's
|
8 | Manati, Puerto Rico | Private | dewey.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Duke University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| World Mission University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Los Angeles, California | Private | wmu.edu |
| Atlantis University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Miami, Florida | Private | atlantisuniversity.edu |
| University of San Diego (USD) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | San Diego, California | Private | sandiego.edu |
| University of Northern Colorado (UNCO) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Greeley, Colorado | Public | unco.edu |
| Saint Xavier University (SXU) |
Master's
|
6 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | sxu.edu |
| Pittsburg State University |
Master's
|
6 | Pittsburg, Kansas | Public | pittstate.edu |
| Colby-Sawyer College |
Master's
|
6 | New London, New Hampshire | Private | colby-sawyer.edu |
| Adelphi University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Garden City, New York | Private | adelphi.edu |
| University of St Thomas |
Master's
|
6 | Houston, Texas | Private | stthom.edu |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center |
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | uthscsa.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| ICPR Junior College |
Associate's
|
6 | Hato Rey, Puerto Rico | Private | icprjc.edu |
| Endicott College |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Beverly, Massachusetts | Private | endicott.edu |
| University of Missouri-St Louis (UMSL) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Public | umsl.edu |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unmc.edu |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU Metro) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
5 | Teaneck, New Jersey | Private | fdu.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OKWU) |
Master's
|
5 | Bartlesville, Oklahoma | Private | okwu.edu |
| East Tennessee State University (ETSU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Johnson City, Tennessee | Public | etsu.edu |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | uthsc.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Nursing Science programs
How much can I earn with a Nursing Science degree?
Salaries for Nursing Science graduates vary by role and location. Nurse Practitioners earn a median of $129,210 annually, while Registered Nurses earn around $93,600. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $135,317 compared to $85,040 in Arkansas. Approximately 3,663,650 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 Science programs?
Currently 150 accredited institutions offer Nursing Science degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Massachusetts, Boston (365 graduates), EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc, San Juan (362 graduates), and EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc (EDP), San Sebastian (268 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 Science growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 3,368 in 2010 to a peak of 4,613 in 2020, before declining slightly to 4,245 in 2023-24. This represents a 26% 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 Science degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, and Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 3,663,650 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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