Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing graduates earn an average annual wage of $140,906, making it one of the higher-paying degree fields. With 430,460 professionals in the field earning competitive wages, this degree offers strong career prospects. The field combines competitive wages with a large and growing workforce, making it an attractive option for students seeking strong career opportunities.
Key Statistics
Institutions
Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in Registered Nursing and the types of students that study this field.
Tuition Costs for Common Institutions
$11,790 Median In-State Public
$43,360 Median Out of State Private
Tuition costs for Registered Nursing majors are, on average, $11,790 for in-state public colleges, and $43,360 for out of state private colleges.
Tuition costs comparison for Registered Nursing programs.
Degrees Awarded Over Time
1,407,476 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023
This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Registered Nursing from 2015 to 2023.
Historical trend of degrees awarded in Registered Nursing.
Top 5 Schools by Enrollment
| # | School | State | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | AZ | 64,398 |
| 2 | Texas A&M University-College Station | TX | 59,099 |
| 3 | University of Central Florida | FL | 59,095 |
| 4 | Liberty University | VA | 50,059 |
| 5 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion | AZ | 49,000 |
Schools with the largest enrollment offering Registered Nursing programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition
| # | School | State | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barstow Community College | CA | $1,104 |
| 2 | Antelope Valley Community College District | CA | $1,124 |
| 3 | El Camino Community College District | CA | $1,144 |
| 4 | College of the Redwoods | CA | $1,147 |
| 5 | Laney College | CA | $1,148 |
Schools with the lowest tuition costs for Registered Nursing programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Net Price
| # | School | State | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada College | CA | $10 |
| 2 | College of the Sequoias | CA | $29 |
| 3 | Henry Ford College | MI | $576 |
| 4 | Oxnard College | CA | $659 |
| 5 | Cerritos College | CA | $693 |
Schools with the lowest net price (after financial aid) for Registered Nursing programs.
Graduation Rates
51.94% Median Graduation Rate (150% of normal time)
51.72% Average Graduation Rate
1,267 Institutions Reporting
38.34% - 64.34% Interquartile Range
Graduation/completion rates for Registered Nursing programs across institutions.
Employment
Information on the businesses and industries that employ Registered Nursing graduates and on wages and locations for those in the field.
Yearly Income for Common Jobs
$140,906 Average Wage in Workforce
The average salary for Registered Nursing majors is $140,906.
Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for Registered Nursing majors.
Occupations by Share
430,460 2023 Workforce
The number of Registered Nursing graduates in the workforce has been growing.
Various jobs filled by those with a major in Registered Nursing by share of the total number of graduates.
Return on Investment & Value
Financial analysis of Registered Nursing degree including debt, earnings, and return on investment metrics.
Financial Value Analysis
$13,532 Median Student Debt
$40,568 Median Annual Earnings (10 years after enrollment)
33.36% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
3.3 years Estimated Payback Period (assuming 10% of income)
501.30% Return on Investment (10-year earnings vs 4-year cost)
This degree shows strong ROI, with 10-year earnings significantly exceeding the cost of education.
$67,466 Estimated Total Cost (4 years at median net price)
Financial value comparison for Registered Nursing degree.
Diversity
Demographic information for those who earn a degree in Registered Nursing in the United States.
Workforce Age
N/A Average Age in 2023
This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in Registered Nursing.
Age distribution for Registered Nursing degree holders in the workforce.
Gender Distribution
256,965 Total Degrees Awarded
34,740 Male (13.52%)
222,225 Female (86.48%)
Gender distribution of Registered Nursing degree recipients.
Race and Ethnicity Distribution
135,462 White (52.72%)
43,096 Hispanic or Latino (16.77%)
37,119 Black or African American (14.45%)
19,020 Asian (7.40%)
8,446 Two or More Races (3.29%)
Racial and ethnic distribution of Registered Nursing degree recipients.
Degrees Awarded
The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in Registered Nursing are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.
Distribution of degree types awarded in Registered Nursing.
Skills
Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the Registered Nursing field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Required Skills
Registered Nursing majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Rating of how necessary various skills are for Registered Nursing majors.
Skills Bar Chart
This bar chart shows the same information as the radar chart, displaying the importance of each skill.
Skill importance ratings for Registered Nursing majors.
About
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
In 2023, 1,407,476 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in Registered Nursing.
CIP Code
51.3801 - Registered Nursing
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Return on Investment: Registered Nursing offers an outstanding ROI of 501%, meaning graduates typically earn significantly more over 10 years than the total cost of their education. This makes it one of the most financially rewarding degree choices available.
High Earning Potential: Registered Nursing graduates earn an average annual wage of $140,906, placing them among the top earners in the workforce. This strong earning potential reflects both the demand for skills in this field and the value employers place on this degree.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, IPEDS completion data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Employment and wage data are from the most recent Census Bureau ACS PUMS estimates.