WASHINGTON — There is a nurse shortage; the profession is facing increasing demand, and, with the right level of education, the nursing profession pays very well. And a new survey finds that the Washington area is a good place to get that education.
Five schools in the D.C. region make College Choice’s list of the 50 best master’s in nursing programs, led by top-ranked Johns Hopkins University. It ranks at the top for offering several paths to obtaining a master’s degree in nursing.
The University of Virginia ranks No. 4 on the list. The University of Maryland ranks No. 8. George Washington University ranks No. 33, while Georgetown University ranks No. 46.
“The job outlook for nursing professionals is one of the strongest of any field, with an expected growth rate of 17 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,” said Christian Amondson, managing editor at College Choice.
“RNs can typically expect to earn in the neighborhood of $60,000 to $70,000 a year, depending on education and experience,” he said.
The College Choice list ranks schools based on academic quality and return on investment — the difference between tuition costs and average early career earnings.
Here are College Choice’s top 10 schools for best master’s in nursing degrees for 2017:
- Johns Hopkins
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Washington
- University of Virginia
- University of Texas at Austin
- University of Alabama-Birmingham
- Columbia University
- University of Maryland
- University of Michigan
- Duke University
Check out College Choice’s full list of the 50 best.
