Nursing major

Nursing: courses, careers, and where to study

Nursing prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam and careers as Registered Nurses, combining biomedical sciences with clinical rotations across hospital units.

Nationally, bachelor's graduates in Nursing earn a median $88,910 four years after graduating; the middle half of programs ranges from $67,853 to $114,470 (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). By credential and college

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is the most common entry point into Registered Nursing. Programs include 1.5–2 years of pre-nursing prerequisites (anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, statistics, psychology) followed by 2 years of nursing major coursework with clinical rotations. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.

The BSN is increasingly the preferred credential, many hospitals (especially Magnet-designated ones) now require it. Students starting at a community college can complete an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN, 2 years) and then bridge to a BSN through an RN-to-BSN program. The BLS projects 6 % growth in RN roles over the next decade, with persistent national shortages.

Academic classification (CIP)

In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Nursing maps to CIP 51.3801, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, within the HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS family. The official definition:

A program that generally prepares individuals in the knowledge, techniques and procedures for promoting health, providing care for sick, disabled, infirmed, or other individuals or groups. Includes instruction in the administration of medication and treatments, assisting a physician during treatments and examinations, Referring patients to physicians and other health care specialists, and planning education for health maintenance.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov

What credential Nursing is awarded as

Of the 254,138 Nursing credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2024-25:

  • Certificate: <1%, 2,267 credentials.
  • Associate: 34%, 86,105 credentials.
  • Bachelor's: 57%, 144,345 credentials.
  • Graduate: 8%, 21,421 credentials.

This mix is fairly consistent nationally: across the 51 states reporting it, the certificate share moves by about 2 percentage points between the 10th and 90th percentile state, so the credential is more a property of the field than of where you study it. See the full study.

Credentials conferred in 2024-25, U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions. A certificate is a different credential from a degree, not a lesser one, and this counts what was awarded rather than what a college currently offers.

What you'll study

  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Microbiology and pharmacology
  • Adult health, pediatric, maternity, mental-health, and community nursing
  • Pathophysiology
  • Nursing research and evidence-based practice
  • Clinical leadership and management
  • Health assessment and physical examination
  • 700–1,000+ hours of supervised clinical rotations

Typical careers

Typical salary range: $66,000–$95,000 early-career (BLS, 2024 registered nurses median $93,600)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.

How much do Nursing graduates earn?

Nationally, bachelor's graduates in Nursing earn a median $88,910 four years after graduating; the middle half of programs ranges from $67,853 to $114,470 (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard).

Is an associate degree in nursing (ADN) worth it compared with a BSN?

On federal earnings, the gap is smaller than many expect. Nationally, graduates of associate-degree nursing programs earned a median $80,813 four years after completing, against $88,910 for bachelor's programs (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). Comparing the typical program in each state, ADN earnings were within 10% of BSN earnings in 37 of 43 states, and typical federal debt was $14,971 for ADN programs against $22,442 for BSN programs. ADN figures describe nurses who were not enrolled in further study when measured, and many hospitals prefer or require a BSN for some roles, so the degree choice is about more than the first years' pay. ADN vs BSN in every state.

National median earnings four years after graduating for Nursing, by credential
CredentialNational medianMiddle half of programs
Bachelor's$88,910$67,853 to $114,470
Associate's$80,813$61,109 to $103,839
Undergraduate certificate$80,020$58,256 to $105,261
Master's$120,193$94,642 to $149,472
Professional degree$133,099$107,508 to $174,772
Doctoral$138,131$106,294 to $185,434
Graduate certificate$126,911$95,167 to $159,903
Post-baccalaureate certificate$131,346$93,931 to $169,917

Compare Nursing programs in your state

Highest-earning bachelor's Nursing programs

Ordered by median earnings: one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality. Federal program group: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars, for graduates who received federal aid, worked and were not enrolled. Programs need at least 30 graduates in the earnings cohort to be listed; multi-state systems whose figures pool campuses are not listed. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, 10 June 2026. How much the college matters, by major. Graduate programs over the new federal loan caps. Nursing graduates vs RN pay, state by state.

Related occupations

Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Nursing, with what each one pays and how many openings it is projected to average each year. Ordered by projected annual openings, largest first. Linked titles open the full CampusPin career page.

Occupations associated with Nursing by the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk, with median annual wage, projected annual openings, projected employment change, and the education most entrants typically hold.
OccupationMedian payOpenings / yrProjected changeMost entrants hold
Registered Nurses$93,600189,100+4.9%Bachelor's degree
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$79,9408,600+16.8%Doctoral or professional degree

Crosswalk: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. Pay, openings and projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 wages, Employment Projections). 2 of these 2 occupations report a median wage.

“Most entrants hold” is what BLS observes about people already working in the occupation. It is not a legal requirement, not an admission rule, and not a guarantee of entry. Studying Nursing does not guarantee any specific occupation, and many of these roles are entered from several different fields. Projected openings are a projection, not jobs promised.

Before you commit to a Nursing major

CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Nursing program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.

Ask the Nursing department

  • Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
  • What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
  • What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
  • Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?

Ask current students & check the curriculum

  • How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
  • What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
  • Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
  • How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Accreditation & licensure: Many health programs require specialized programmatic accreditation, and graduates often need state licensure or national certification to practice. Confirm a Nursing program's accreditation and your state's licensure requirements before you enroll.
Degree level & graduate study: Many Nursing careers are open with a bachelor's degree, but some, such as research, advanced-practice, or licensure-track roles, require a master's or doctorate. Check the typical entry-level education on each linked career page above before assuming a bachelor's is enough.

Find a Nursing program

CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.

Colleges that awarded the most Nursing credentials

Largest by credentials conferred in 2024-25. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.

Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2024-25. It confirms the field was awarded that year, not that the program currently accepts students, and it covers only the fields CampusPin tracks. Confirm current offerings with the institution.

Every Nursing program with its own CampusPin page

1,064 programs in 51 states, A to Z by state and then by college. Each page gives what the program's graduates earned four years after finishing, what they borrowed in federal loans, the monthly payment, and how the program compares with others in its state and the nation. The figure beside each college is the median for its largest credential with at least 30 graduates (U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23). The list is alphabetical; it is not a ranking.

Nursing programs in Alabama, 18 programs
Nursing programs in Alaska, 2 programs
Nursing programs in Arizona, 14 programs
Nursing programs in Arkansas, 16 programs
Nursing programs in California, 59 programs
Nursing programs in Colorado, 13 programs
Nursing programs in Connecticut, 10 programs
Nursing programs in Delaware, 4 programs
Nursing programs in District of Columbia, 3 programs
Nursing programs in Florida, 51 programs
Nursing programs in Georgia, 24 programs
Nursing programs in Hawaii, 4 programs
Nursing programs in Idaho, 7 programs
Nursing programs in Illinois, 45 programs
Nursing programs in Indiana, 22 programs
Nursing programs in Iowa, 17 programs
Nursing programs in Kansas, 17 programs
Nursing programs in Kentucky, 21 programs
Nursing programs in Louisiana, 17 programs
Nursing programs in Maine, 8 programs
Nursing programs in Maryland, 19 programs
Nursing programs in Massachusetts, 31 programs
Nursing programs in Michigan, 41 programs
Nursing programs in Minnesota, 36 programs
Nursing programs in Mississippi, 15 programs
Nursing programs in Missouri, 32 programs
Nursing programs in Montana, 3 programs
Nursing programs in Nebraska, 13 programs
Nursing programs in Nevada, 6 programs
Nursing programs in New Hampshire, 7 programs
Nursing programs in New Jersey, 26 programs
Nursing programs in New Mexico, 5 programs
Nursing programs in New York, 80 programs
Nursing programs in North Carolina, 28 programs
Nursing programs in North Dakota, 5 programs
Nursing programs in Ohio, 47 programs
Nursing programs in Oklahoma, 20 programs
Nursing programs in Oregon, 11 programs
Nursing programs in Pennsylvania, 48 programs
Nursing programs in Rhode Island, 5 programs
Nursing programs in South Carolina, 18 programs
Nursing programs in South Dakota, 6 programs
Nursing programs in Tennessee, 26 programs
Nursing programs in Texas, 65 programs
Nursing programs in Utah, 11 programs
Nursing programs in Vermont, 1 program
Nursing programs in Virginia, 26 programs
Nursing programs in Washington, 24 programs
Nursing programs in West Virginia, 8 programs
Nursing programs in Wisconsin, 25 programs
Nursing programs in Wyoming, 4 programs

Related majors

Put this major in context

The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Nursing degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.

How this guide is sourced

This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.