Clinical Nurse Specialist
A program that prepares registered nurses to deliver direct patient and client care in clinical settings. Includes instruction in clinical pharmacotherapeutics, advanced clinical practice, holistic nursing, nursing practice and health care policy, administration and consultation services, health assessment, patient stabilization and care, and patient education.
- Schools offering
- 4
- Annual completions
- 13
- Typical degree level
- Bachelor's
- Median earnings (5yr)
- $84k
About this major
A program that prepares registered nurses to deliver direct patient and client care in clinical settings. Includes instruction in clinical pharmacotherapeutics, advanced clinical practice, holistic nursing, nursing practice and health care policy, administration and consultation services, health assessment, patient stabilization and care, and patient education.
Where this major leads
Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.
| Occupation | Median wage | Job growth | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered nurses | $94k | +4.9% | Bachelor's degree |
| Nurse practitioners | $129k | +40.1% | Master's degree |
| Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary | $80k | +16.8% | Doctoral or professional degree |
Earnings at a glance
Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.
Median 5-year earnings
$84k
Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings
Associate's
$82k
Bachelor's
$87k
Top colleges for Clinical Nurse Specialist
Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.
| College | Location | Assoc. | Bach. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeTourneau University | Longview, TX | 0 | 13 | 13 |
| Mount Saint Mary's University | Los Angeles, CA | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst, IL | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Loyola University Chicago | Chicago, IL | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Related majors to explore
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other
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Nursing Administration
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Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing
663 completions/yr
Nursing Practice
459 completions/yr
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing
161 completions/yr
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing
151 completions/yr
Considering this direction?
We've taken a hard look at the debt, earnings trajectory, and degree-level tradeoffs for the Clinical Nurse Specialist field. Read our verdict before you commit.
Is Clinical Nurse Specialist worth it? Read verdict