Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
A master of science in nursing provides the necessary skills for specialist roles. Practitioner-track MSN programs can lead to a career as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). Non-practitioner tracks are the primary path to careers in nursing education or administration. See below the best MSN programs, ranked according to our methodology.
Our master's in nursing rankings cover 408 of the 493 universities available, accounting for 96% of total student conferrals. Three years after completing their degree, graduates earn a weighted average salary of $101,473.
The rankings on the our site are wholly objective. Our partners may pay to be featured on some other parts of our site, but we indicate it prominently and unambiguously whenever this is the case. Although we are supported by advertisement, this will never compromise our mission to provide objective data to students.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $55,740
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$18,955
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.15
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#2 in Nursing
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, Connecticut
Economic score:0.09
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $119,007
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$46,818
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.24
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#3 in Nursing
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, Texas
Economic score:0.11
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $42,773
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$20,808
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.18
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#4 in Nursing
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, Utah
Economic score:0.11
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $16,769
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$12,634
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.14
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#5 in Nursing
CUNY Hunter College
New York, New York
Economic score:0.12
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $36,056
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$20,500
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.17
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#6 in Nursing
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Economic score:0.13
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $63,476
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$32,053
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.24
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#7 in Nursing
Rowan University
Glassboro, New Jersey
Economic score:0.13
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $23,191
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$16,651
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.17
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#8 in Nursing
Mississippi University for Women
Columbus, Mississippi
Economic score:0.13
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $36,705
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$20,500
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.21
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#9 in Nursing
Thomas Edison State University
Trenton, New Jersey
Economic score:0.13
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $32,090
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$20,582
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.19
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#10 in Nursing
Morningside College
Sioux City, Iowa
Economic score:0.13
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $28,908
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$17,615
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.20
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#11 in Nursing
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Economic score:0.14
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $31,364
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$19,900
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.20
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#12 in Nursing
Florida International University
Miami, Florida
Economic score:0.14
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $87,679
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$48,332
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.30
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#13 in Nursing
California State University-Dominguez Hills
Carson, California
Economic score:0.14
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $25,765
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$20,500
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.18
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#14 in Nursing
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Winona, Minnesota
Economic score:0.15
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $128,225
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$83,089
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.41
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#15 in Nursing
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Economic score:0.15
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $35,901
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$24,687
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.23
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#16 in Nursing
Franklin Pierce University
Rindge, New Hampshire
Economic score:0.15
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $26,314
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$20,541
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.21
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#17 in Nursing
Touro University Nevada
Henderson, Nevada
Economic score:0.15
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $83,223
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$51,121
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.32
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#18 in Nursing
Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven, Connecticut
Economic score:0.15
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $31,071
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$23,009
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.22
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#19 in Nursing
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Economic score:0.15
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $90,817
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$59,090
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.40
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#20 in Nursing
Fort Hays State University
Hays, Kansas
Economic score:0.16
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $39,160
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$25,648
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.26
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.