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.
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.
#2 in California|#23 in Nursing nationally
Vanguard University of Southern California
Costa Mesa, California
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: + $46,295
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:$33,116
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.25
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 California|#30 in Nursing nationally
California State University-Fresno
Fresno, California
Economic score:0.17
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: + $31,802
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:$27,884
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.
#4 in California|#33 in Nursing nationally
Touro University California
Vallejo, California
Economic score:0.18
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: + $68,893
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.
#5 in California|#36 in Nursing nationally
California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Economic score:0.18
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: + $29,012
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:$28,804
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.25
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 California|#37 in Nursing nationally
California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Economic score:0.18
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: + $12,862
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:$21,454
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.
#7 in California|#52 in Nursing nationally
Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, California
Economic score:0.20
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: + $37,127
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:$36,034
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.29
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 California|#61 in Nursing nationally
University of California-Davis
Davis, California
Economic score:0.21
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: + $46,525
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:$43,248
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.
#9 in California|#63 in Nursing nationally
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, California
Economic score:0.21
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: + $42,108
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:$41,000
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.31
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 California|#70 in Nursing nationally
San Diego State University
San Diego, California
Economic score:0.22
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: + $15,708
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:$26,588
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.
#11 in California|#76 in Nursing nationally
Holy Names University
Oakland, California
Economic score:0.22
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: + $57,519
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:$52,779
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.36
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 California|#83 in Nursing nationally
California State University-Bakersfield
Bakersfield, California
Economic score:0.23
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: + $23,285
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:$32,023
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.29
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 California|#157 in Nursing nationally
University of Phoenix-California
Ontario, California
Economic score:0.27
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: + $9,725
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:$29,013
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.
#14 in California|#165 in Nursing nationally
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, California
Economic score:0.27
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: + $27,817
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:$41,000
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.35
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 California|#214 in Nursing nationally
California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, California
Economic score:0.29
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: + $22,840
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:$40,982
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.37
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 California|#216 in Nursing nationally
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California
Economic score:0.29
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: + $47,676
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:$61,466
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.45
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 California|#227 in Nursing nationally
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, California
Economic score:0.30
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: + $40,506
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:$56,641
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.44
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 California|#232 in Nursing nationally
West Coast University-Orange County
Anaheim, California
Economic score:0.31
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: + $6,046
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:$31,180
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.33
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 California|#278 in Nursing nationally
United States University
San Diego, California
Economic score:0.35
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: + $24,932
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:$50,396
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.44
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 California|#284 in Nursing nationally
University of California-San Francisco
San Francisco, California
Economic score:0.35
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: + $39,445
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:$65,572
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.51
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.
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