by our College Data Analytics TeamNursing Administration was the 85th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 9,838 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 1,765 over the prior year, a growth of 17.9%.
Our 2023 Best Nursing Administration Schools ranking analyzes 161 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for nursing administration students. Explore this or one of our many other custom nursing administration rankings further below.
A major in nursing administration prepares you for careers in which talking to others to convey information effectively is crucial. Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems are all required skills for careers related to this major.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most nursing administration degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional nursing administration certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are various different levels of nursing administration degrees. Nursing Administration programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest nursing administration degree you can get. The time it takes to complete a nursing administration degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to nursing administration, with approximately 33.3% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for nursing administration workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 34.0% |
| Master’s Degree | 29.4% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 29.2% |
| Some College Courses | 4.6% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 2.3% |
68.0% of nursing administration workers have at least a bachelor's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in nursing administration have received.
The education level required is different depending on the nursing administration career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your nursing administration degree? Nursing Administration careers are expected to grow 15.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to nursing administration.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 3,393,200 | 14.8% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 424,300 | 20.5% |
As you might expect, salaries for nursing administration graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for nursing administration graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers nursing administration grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $113,730 |
| Registered Nurses | $75,510 |
With over 361 different nursing administration degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased nursing administration school rankings to help you with this.
One of 22 majors within the Nursing area of study, Nursing Administration has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 266,651 |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | 16,104 |
| Nursing Practice | 7,992 |
| Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 5,092 |
| Nursing Science | 4,600 |
Image Credit: By Aleksahgabrielle under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
