Critical Care Nursing: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Critical Care Nursing is an advanced academic and clinical specialization designed for registered nurses seeking expertise in managing patients with acute, life-threatening conditions. This program equips professionals with the knowledge and hands-on capabilities required to deliver high-acuity care in intensive care units, emergency departments, and other critical care settings.
- Adult Critical Care: Focuses on the assessment, management, and treatment of critically ill adult patients, emphasizing complex physiological systems and advanced interventions.
- Neonatal Critical Care: Trains nurses to care for newborns with severe medical conditions, including prematurity, congenital anomalies, and respiratory distress.
- Pediatric Critical Care: Prepares practitioners to manage critically ill children, addressing age-specific pathologies, developmental considerations, and family-centered care strategies.
- Advanced Patient Monitoring and Assessment: Develops proficiency in interpreting real-time data from cardiac, respiratory, and hemodynamic monitoring systems to detect early signs of clinical deterioration.
- Technical Skills and Equipment Management: Covers the operation and troubleshooting of life-support technologies such as ventilators, infusion pumps, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
- Interpreting Physiological Readings: Builds expertise in recognizing normal versus abnormal clinical indicators across vital systems, enabling rapid, evidence-based decision-making.
- Crisis Intervention and Clinical Decision-Making: Emphasizes rapid response protocols, emergency management, and interdisciplinary coordination during critical patient events.
Critical Care Nursing Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Critical Care Nursing Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Critical Care Nursing 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 |
Critical Care Nursing 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 Critical Care Nursing by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 40 institutions offering Critical Care 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 Critical Care Nursing is found at Maryville University of Saint Louis (92 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (86 graduates), Vanderbilt University (VU) (53 graduates), New York University (NYU) (49 graduates), and Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Cupey), Cupey Campus (41 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 596 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryville University of Saint Louis |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
92 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | maryville.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
86 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
53 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
49 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Cupey) |
Master's
|
41 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
35 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Seton Hall University (SHU) |
Master's
|
31 | South Orange, New Jersey | Private | shu.edu |
| Barry University |
Master's
|
20 | Miami, Florida | Private | barry.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
14 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| Winona State University (WSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Professional)
|
13 | Winona, Minnesota | Public | winona.edu |
| Molloy College |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
12 | Rockville Centre, New York | Private | molloy.edu |
| Youngstown State University (YSU) |
Master's
|
11 | Youngstown, Ohio | Public | ysu.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
10 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| Herzing University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
10 | Madison, Wisconsin | Private | herzing.edu |
| Duke University |
Post-Master's
|
9 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| Ursuline College |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
9 | Pepper Pike, Ohio | Private | ursuline.edu |
| University of New Hampshire (UNH) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
8 | Durham, New Hampshire | Public | unh.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Post-Master's
|
8 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Postbac Cert.
|
8 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| Marquette University |
Post-Master's
|
8 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | marquette.edu |
| Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences (PA College) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
8 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Private | pacollege.edu |
| Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
7 | Portland, Oregon | Public | ohsu.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
6 | Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| Professional University Dr. Carlos J. Borrero Rios (UPCJBR) |
Master's
|
6 | Hato Rey, Puerto Rico | Private | upcjbr.university |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Allen College |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
5 | Waterloo, Iowa | Private | allencollege.edu |
| DeSales University |
Master's
|
5 | Center Valley, Pennsylvania | Private | desales.edu |
| Lewis University |
Post-Master's
|
4 | Romeoville, Illinois | Private | lewisu.edu |
| Alverno College |
Master's
|
4 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | alverno.edu |
| Cedar Crest College |
Master's
|
3 | Allentown, Pennsylvania | Private | cedarcrest.edu |
| Southern Adventist University |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
3 | Collegedale, Tennessee | Private | southern.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Master's
|
3 | Arecibo, Puerto Rico | Private | arecibo.inter.edu |
| Dewey University |
Master's
|
3 | Hato Rey, Puerto Rico | Private | dewey.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| Saint Louis University (SLU) |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slu.edu |
| Kent State University |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center |
Post-Master's
|
1 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | uthscsa.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Master's
|
1 | Barranquitas, Puerto Rico | Private | br.inter.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Critical Care Nursing programs
How much can I earn with a Critical Care Nursing degree?
Salaries for Critical Care Nursing 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 Critical Care Nursing programs?
Currently 40 accredited institutions offer Critical Care Nursing degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Maryville University of Saint Louis (92 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (86 graduates), and Vanderbilt University (VU) (53 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 Critical Care Nursing growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 150 in 2010 to 596 in 2023-24. This represents a 297% 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 Critical Care Nursing 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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