Which Nursing Degree Is Right for Me?

Nursing degrees discussed in this guide include:

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Advanced practice roles and specialties discussed in this guide include (these are APRN roles and specialties that graduate programs prepare nurses for, not separate degrees):

• Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP)
• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
• Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
• Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)

^{Sources: degree lengths for associate and bachelor's degrees from the National Center for Education Statistics; RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN lengths and master's-level roles from AACN's degree completion fact sheet (May 2026); accelerated program length from AACN's accelerated programs fact sheet (May 2026); APRN requirements from NCSBN and ANCC; DNP and PhD focus from AACN.}

Before committing to a nursing degree program, consider the different specialties and job options certain degrees can afford you. You may also want to consider how many months it will take to complete a nursing degree program, and the average salary for different types of registered nurses. All of these considerations are key factors in the decision-making process and can help inform your next steps.

Select any of the following questions to learn about the unique specialty areas available to specific degree holders.

• Is an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree right for me?
• Is a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree right for me?
• Is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree right for me?

How to Become a Licensed Nurse

To earn your first nursing license after completing a prelicensure nursing program, you must pass the NCLEX-PN or NCLEX-RN licensure exam. NCLEX stands for National Council Licensure Examination. NCSBN develops both exams, which boards of nursing use to make licensure decisions: the NCLEX-PN for practical nurses (called licensed practical or licensed vocational nurses, depending on the state) and the NCLEX-RN for registered nurses.

To be eligible to take the NCLEX, you must show that you graduated from a nursing program approved by a board of nursing, according to NCSBN. RN programs include diploma, associate and bachelor's programs; AACN notes that diploma- and associate-prepared RNs can later complete a bachelor's or master's degree through degree completion programs. To qualify for the NCLEX-PN, you will need to complete an approved practical nursing program, which leads to licensure as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) rather than as an RN. Our guide to becoming a registered nurse walks through the licensure steps in more detail.

Graduate nursing degrees—a master's in nursing (MSN) or a doctorate in nursing (DNP or PhD)—lead in different directions. To practice as an APRN, a registered nurse needs graduate education in one of four APRN roles (certified nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist or clinical nurse specialist) and a patient population, must pass a nationally accredited certification exam and must hold an APRN license, according to NCSBN's APRN Consensus Model. NCSBN notes that some states have not adopted every element of that model, so check the requirements of the state where you plan to practice. A research-focused PhD, by contrast, is designed to prepare nurse scientists and scholars, according to AACN.

Specialties Available Within Each Nursing Degree

There are many types of specialties available within each type of nursing degree. While nurses can practice across a wide range of specialties with undergraduate degrees, a nurse's educational level can influence advancement opportunities and their scope of practice. For instance, nurses with an ADN or BSN can work with various specialty populations in different environments, but advanced practice nurses must complete graduate education in a specific APRN role and population focus, pass national certification and hold an APRN license, per NCSBN, before they can provide the advanced care that role allows.

Undergraduate Degree Specialties

Some specialty certifications are based on a nurse's license and practice experience rather than a particular degree, so they are open to RNs with an ADN or a BSN. AACN Certification Corporation's adult CCRN credential, for example, requires a current, unencumbered RN or APRN license and a set number of hours in direct care of acutely or critically ill patients. Accredited specialty certifications are listed in the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC) directory. The following are examples of nursing specialty areas and the patients nurses in those areas care for:

• Addictions nurses work in the prevention and treatment of addictions, according to the International Nurses Society on Addictions, whose certification board certifies addictions nurses.
• Cardiovascular nurses care for patients with heart conditions; AACN Certification Corporation's subspecialty credentials, for example, cover care of acutely or critically ill adult cardiac patients and cardiac surgery patients in the first 48 hours after surgery.
• Critical care nurses provide direct care to acutely or critically ill patients in areas such as intensive care units, cardiac care units and trauma units, according to AACN Certification Corporation.
• Genetics nurses help people at risk for or affected by diseases with a genetic component, including through risk assessment; providing genetic counseling is an advanced practice role, according to the International Society of Nurses in Genetics.
• Neonatal nurses care for newborn infants with problems such as prematurity, birth defects, infection or surgical needs, in hospital nurseries that include units for the most critically ill infants, according to the National Association of Neonatal Nurses.
• Nephrology nurses care for patients of all ages who have, or are at risk for, kidney disease, according to the American Nephrology Nurses Association.
• Public health nurses focus on population health, promoting health and preventing disease and disability, in settings such as health departments, schools, homes and community health centers, according to the Association of Public Health Nurses.
• Rehabilitation nurses help patients with physical or cognitive disabilities achieve their maximum potential, according to the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses.

MSN Degree Specialties

Individuals who are committed to excelling and advancing in a particular field should learn more about the different master's in nursing specialties available. Deciding which area of care you'd like to specialize in can help you determine which MSN degree program is the best fit for you. APRNs are educated and certified in a role and in one of six population foci, according to NCSBN, so the concentration you choose shapes your coursework and the certification exam you will be eligible to take.

Check when each program asks you to choose a concentration and whether it leads to the certification exam you plan to take; ANCC, for example, requires a role- and population-specific master's, post-graduate certificate or DNP for its APRN certifications.

MSN tracks that prepare APRNs are organized by APRN role and population focus, per NCSBN. Examples include:

• Acute care nurse practitioner, in adult-gerontology (AGACNP) or pediatric acute care
• Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner (AGPCNP)
• Family nurse practitioner (FNP)
• Neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP)
• Pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP), in primary or acute care
• Psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP)
• Certified nurse-midwife
• Clinical nurse specialist, including adult-gerontology critical care tracks, which AACN Certification Corporation certifies through its ACCNS-AG credential

Master's programs also prepare nurses for roles outside APRN practice, including administration, teaching and research, according to AACN.

DNP Degree Specialties

Some nurses choose to work toward a doctoral degree. There are two principal types, according to AACN: research-focused doctorates, mostly the PhD, and practice-focused doctorates, which AACN says should be the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Practice-focused programs are designed to prepare experts in specialized advanced nursing practice.

DNP graduates may take on leadership roles in a wide range of health care settings; AACN notes that nurse administrators with graduate degrees serve in managerial and leadership capacities in all practice environments. In nurse anesthesia, the doctorate is now the entry point: AACN reports that all students matriculating into an accredited nurse anesthesia program are enrolled in a doctoral program. DNP programs that prepare APRNs are organized by role and population focus. NCSBN names six population foci: family/individual across the lifespan, adult-gerontology, pediatrics, neonatal, women's health/gender-related and psychiatric/mental health, with the adult-gerontology and pediatric foci further divided into primary or acute care (NCSBN). Nurse practitioner tracks include:

• Acute care (adult-gerontology or pediatric)
• Adult-gerontology primary care (AGPCNP)
• Family care (FNP)
• Pediatric care (PNP)
• Psychiatric and mental health care (PMHNP)

Clinical areas such as cardiology, dermatology, nephrology, oncology, orthopedics and pulmonology are not among those population foci. Some have their own optional specialty credentials: the ABSNC directory lists accredited certifications in areas including cardiac-vascular, nephrology, orthopaedic and dermatology nursing, each with eligibility rules set by its certifying body.

Certification requirements follow the role and population a nurse is prepared for, not the doctorate itself. APRNs must pass a nationally accredited certification exam in their role, per NCSBN, and ANCC requires role- and population-specific preparation for its APRN certifications while noting that the DNP is not a requirement for its certification. A DNP in a non-APRN track, such as leadership, does not by itself make a nurse eligible for APRN certification.

Career Options and Salary Range With a Nursing Degree

Each type of nursing degree can afford you a variety of career options and varying salary levels. Prospective nursing students may want to compare pay across nursing roles or learn more about MSN careers before committing to a specific educational track. Pay data are reported by occupation, not by degree: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not publish wages by the degree a nurse holds, so its figures cannot show how much an MSN or DNP adds to an individual nurse's pay. What BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) does show is that in May 2025 the national median wage was higher for nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists, APRN occupations that require graduate preparation per NCSBN, than for registered nurses, the role open to graduates of entry-level degrees (figures and sources below).

The wage figures below are national medians from BLS. They cover workers at all experience levels, so they are not starting pay.

Compare career options at each degree level and pay for the nursing occupations they can lead to

RN with ADN/BSN

Career options: An RN provides direct care to patients: registered nurses record patients' medical information and vital signs, administer medications and monitor patients for reactions, and coordinate care plans with the rest of the health care team, according to O*NET. BLS OEWS industry estimates for May 2025 show registered nurses working in settings that include general medical and surgical hospitals, offices of physicians, home health care services, outpatient care centers and nursing care facilities.

Salary: The median annual wage for registered nurses was $97,550 in May 2025, according to BLS OEWS (SOC 29-1141).

RN with MSN

Career options: A nurse who completes an MSN in a specific APRN role and population can seek national certification and an APRN license, per NCSBN. Master's programs also prepare nurses for roles in administration, teaching and research, and as clinical nurse leaders, according to AACN. Some nursing careers in a clinical setting include nurse practitioners, family nurse practitioners, and certified nurse-midwives.

Salary: In May 2025, the median annual wage was $132,300 for nurse practitioners (SOC 29-1171) and $134,040 for nurse midwives (SOC 29-1161), according to BLS OEWS.

RN with DNP

Career options: Like nurses with an MSN, nurses with a DNP can work in direct and indirect care roles. Beyond APRN practice, which requires preparation, certification and licensure in a specific role and population, AACN lists nursing administration and leadership, nursing education, public health, informatics and public policy among the areas open to nurses with graduate degrees.

Salary: BLS does not publish wages for DNP holders as a group; it reports pay by occupation. A DNP graduate prepared and licensed in an APRN role works in that occupation, so the figures above apply by role, not by degree. Nurse anesthetists, a role new students now enter through doctoral programs (see the DNP section above), had a median annual wage of $236,590 in May 2025, according to BLS OEWS (SOC 29-1151).

Cost and Program Length of Degrees in Nursing

In addition to career options and salary ranges, nursing degrees will also vary in terms of costs and program length. Cost of nursing degree estimates are often determined by the program you choose, the specific type of degree you pursue, and whether tuition is based on in-state or out-of-state residency.

RN with ADN

Program length: Associate degrees usually take at least two full-time academic years, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Estimated program costs: Costs will vary depending upon individual programs. Check each program's published tuition and fees.

Estimated licensure/certification costs: For initial RN licensure, the NCLEX-RN registration fee is $200, rising to $350 on Feb. 1, 2027. An additional fee is required to obtain an RN license. Since state boards of nursing regulate licensing requirements, fees vary from state to state.

RN with BSN

Program length: A traditional bachelor's degree usually takes at least four full-time academic years, according to the National Center for Education Statistics; some of the paths below take less time.

The various paths to obtain a BSN include:

• Graduating from high school and enrolling in a BSN program (four years)
• Completing an ADN program (two years) followed by additional coursework to obtain a BSN
• Finishing a licensed practical nurse (LPN) program and then completing additional coursework to obtain a BSN
• Enrolling in an RN-to-BSN "bridge program," which takes 1 to 2 years depending on the school's requirements, according to AACN
• Enrolling in an LPN-to-BSN program (time for completion dependent on the student's pace of study)
• Enrolling in an accelerated BSN program if you already hold a bachelor's degree in another field; AACN reports these programs take 12 to 18 months, including prerequisites (AACN)

Estimated program costs: Costs will vary depending upon individual programs, as well as the path chosen to become a BSN. Specific information can be obtained by contacting individual programs of interest.

Estimated licensure/certification costs: For initial RN licensure, the NCLEX-RN registration fee is $200, rising to $350 on Feb. 1, 2027. An additional fee is required to obtain an RN license. Since state boards of nursing regulate licensing requirements, fees vary from state to state. Specialty nursing certifications charge their own exam fees, set by each certifying body and listed on its credential pages (see, for example, AACN Certification Corporation's CCRN page).

RN with MSN

Program length: Varies by starting point.

RN-to-MSN programs, which move nurses with a diploma or associate degree to the master's level, generally take up to two to three years, according to AACN; see our guide to RN-to-MSN programs. For nurses who already hold a BSN, length depends on the program and on full-time or part-time enrollment, so check each program's published plan of study.

Estimated program costs: Costs will vary depending upon individual programs, as well as the path chosen to obtain an MSN. Specific information can be obtained by contacting individual programs of interest.

Estimated licensure/certification costs: For a nurse who is already an RN, the added costs depend on the track. A nurse in an APRN track will pay for a nationally accredited certification exam and an APRN license, a separate step from earning the degree; fees are set by each certifying body and state board of nursing. If you enter a fast-track master's program with a bachelor's degree in another field, you will also need initial RN licensure, which includes the NCLEX-RN registration fee of $200, rising to $350 on Feb. 1, 2027.

RN with DNP

Program length: Varies by starting point.

DNP programs admit nurses after a bachelor's degree or after a master's degree, according to AACN. Length depends on which degree you start from, your specialty and whether you study full time or part time. Certain DNP specializations may require additional coursework to complete.

Estimated program costs: Costs will vary depending upon individual programs, as well as the path chosen to obtain a DNP degree. Specific information can be obtained by contacting individual programs of interest.

Estimated licensure/certification costs: Costs depend on whether you are seeking a new APRN role. A nurse preparing for an APRN role and population for the first time pays for a nationally accredited certification exam and an APRN license; fees are set by each certifying body and state board of nursing. Earning a DNP does not by itself add a certification requirement: ANCC notes that the DNP is not a requirement for its certification or for entry into nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist practice.

Personality and Skills Needed in Different Nursing Degrees

A registered nurse must possess foundational clinical skills and attributes that are applicable across health care settings. Below is a small selection of attributes that can help RNs to successfully carry out their responsibilities:

• Detailed and organized
• Compassionate
• Patient and resilient
• Able to deal with stress
• Observant
• Critical thinker with sound judgement
• Responsible
• Effective communicator

Different types of nursing degrees may require more specific personality attributes and skills depending on the area of focus. For instance, nurses who work in clinical settings with patients must enjoy working with people.

When searching for a nursing degree program that aligns with your career goals, it is important to consider your existing strengths and the skills you would like to sharpen through your education.

Nursing Degree FAQs

What is the highest degree in nursing?

The doctorate. AACN describes research-focused doctorates (mostly the PhD) and the practice-focused DNP as complementary approaches to the highest level of educational preparation in nursing.

Does a DNP make more money than a nurse practitioner?

BLS reports pay by occupation, not by degree, so there is no BLS wage figure for DNP holders. Nurse practitioners had a median annual wage of $132,300 in May 2025, according to BLS OEWS, whether they hold an MSN or a DNP. Our comparison of the DNP and the NP explains how the two differ.

Can I become a nurse if my bachelor's degree is in another field?

Yes. Accelerated BSN programs for people with a bachelor's in another field take 12 to 18 months, including prerequisites, and fast-track master's programs generally take about two to three years, according to AACN.