Women's Health Nursing: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Women’s Health Nursing is a specialized field focused on advancing the clinical expertise of registered nurses to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care across the female lifespan. This program equips professionals with the advanced knowledge and skills needed to address the unique physiological, psychological, and social health needs of women from adolescence through menopause and beyond.
- Women’s Wellness and Preventive Care: Emphasizes proactive health strategies, screening protocols, and health promotion tailored to the female population across developmental stages.
- Gynecology: Covers the diagnosis, management, and treatment of conditions affecting the female reproductive system, including hormonal disorders and pelvic health.
- Obstetrics: Focuses on the care of pregnant individuals, including prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum phases, with attention to maternal-fetal health and high-risk pregnancy management.
- Advanced Nursing Practice for Women: Integrates clinical decision-making, diagnostic reasoning, and therapeutic interventions specific to women’s health across diverse care settings.
- Evidence-Based Nursing Practice: Teaches the systematic application of current research, clinical guidelines, and data-driven methods to improve patient outcomes.
- Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology: Explores complex biological mechanisms underlying normal and abnormal functions in the female body, particularly in reproductive and endocrine systems.
- Advanced Pharmacology: Examines the mechanisms, indications, and safety profiles of medications used in women’s health, including dosing considerations across the lifespan.
- Pharmacotherapeutics: Applies pharmacological knowledge to develop individualized treatment plans, emphasizing efficacy, safety, and patient-specific factors in medication management.
Women's Health Nursing Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Women's Health Nursing Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Women's Health 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 |
Women's Health 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 Women's Health Nursing by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 12 institutions offering Women's Health 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 Women's Health Nursing is found at Frontier Nursing University (FNU) (77 graduates), University of Cincinnati (UC), Main Campus (75 graduates), SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University (54 graduates), Vanderbilt University (VU) (33 graduates), and Duke University (22 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 323 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Nursing University (FNU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
77 | Versailles, Kentucky | Private | frontier.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Master's
|
75 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
54 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | downstate.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Master's
|
33 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| Duke University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
22 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Master's
|
16 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Emory University |
Master's
|
14 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| MGH Institute of Health Professions (MGH IHP) |
Master's
|
10 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | mghihp.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Master's
|
7 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
6 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| Carlow University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
5 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | carlow.edu |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) |
Post-Master's
|
4 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | uthsc.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Women's Health Nursing programs
How much can I earn with a Women's Health Nursing degree?
Salaries for Women's Health 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 Women's Health Nursing programs?
Currently 12 accredited institutions offer Women's Health Nursing degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Frontier Nursing University (FNU) (77 graduates), University of Cincinnati (UC), Main Campus (75 graduates), and SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University (54 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 Women's Health Nursing growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 40 in 2010 to 323 in 2023-24. This represents a 708% 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 Women's Health 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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