Data Spotlight: Changes in Master’s Program Enrollments and Graduations

In May 2023, AACN announced that enrollments in master’s level nursing programs declined for the second consecutive year.  Across the four regions of the United States (West, Midwest, South, and North Atlantic), the average decline in enrollment in master’s programs from the 2021 to 2022 academic years was 9.45%. The greatest regional decline in enrollment was seen in the schools in the western region, with a 12.49% decline [FIG. 1]. In addition, schools outside of the western region (specifically in the Midwest, South, and North Atlantic) yielded an average increase in their graduation rates of 4.23%. Schools in the western region reported a 1753 student decline (or 14.29%) between the 2021 and 2022 school years. [FIG. 1]

Institutions committed to educational equity, like Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), experienced a 24.94% decline in master’s programs enrollments between the 2021 and 2022 school years [FIG. 2] Non-HBCU institutions also exhibited a decline in master’s enrollments, but only by 9.36%. Similarly, graduation rates at HBCUs decreased by 14.99%, when comparing 2021 and 2022 data. Overall, HBCUs registered significant declines in both enrollment and graduation from master’s programs during this timeframe [FIG. 2].

From 2021 to 2022, private (religious) schools reported a 14.33% decline in enrollment in master’s programs. Similarly, private (secular) schools reported a 7.92% decrease in enrollment. Public schools also reported a 9.29% decrease in enrollment [FIG. 3]. The increases in graduation from master’s programs at public and private (religious) were 1.25% and 2.14% respectively. At private (secular) schools, the rates of graduation declined from 2021 to 2022 by 3.94%. Private (religious), private (secular), and public colleges and universities overall exhibited declines in enrollment, though private (secular) schools were the only types of colleges and universities that reported declines in graduation from master’s programs [FIG. 4]

Figure 1: Regional Decline in Enrollment

US Map showing regional decline in enrollment and graduation. West region shows -14.29% in graduation changes and -12.49% in enrollment changes. Midwest shows 1.18% in graduation changes and -9.48% in enrollment changes. North Atlantic region shows 11.21% in graduation changes and -7.46 in enrollment changes. The south region shows 0.29% in graduation changes and -8.36% in enrollment changes.

Figure 2: Changes in Master's Program Enrollment & Graduation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

Bar graphs showing changes in HBCU's Master's Program Enrollment from 2021 to 2022. In 2021, enrollment was at 806 compared to 605 in 2022. In 2021, graduations was 387 compared to 329 in 2022.

Figure 3: Changes in Master's Program Enrollment Between Different Types of Colleges/Universities

Bar graphs showing changes in Master's Program Enrollment Between Different Types of Colleges/Universities, Public schools show numbers of students in 2021 at 45,905 compared to 41,639 in 2022. Private/Secular schools number of students in 2021 at 74,430 compared to 68,534 in 2022. Private/Religious schools number of students in 2021 was 24,649 compared to 21,116 in 2022.

Figure 4: Changes in Master's Programs Graduation Between Different Types of Colleges/Universities

Bar graphs showing changes in Master's Program Graduation Between Different Types of Colleges/Universities, Public schools show numbers of students in 2021 at 16,682 compared to 16,891 in 2022. Private/Secular schools number of students in 2021 at 26,318 compared to 25,282 in 2022. Private/Religious schools number of students in 2021 was 9,587 compared to 9,792 in 2022.

Categories: Enrollment, Research & Data, Data Spotlights