Enrollment in nursing programs declines

The number of students in entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs fell by 1.4% last year, ending a 20-year period of enrollment growth in programs to prepare RNs. Enrollment in master’s programs and PhD programs fell by 9.4% (13,965 students) and 4.1% (183 students) from 2021 to 2022, respectively. Since PhD program enrollment began to fall in 2013, enrollments have decreased by 14.8%, from 5,145 students in 2013 to 4,381 students in 2022. Nursing schools turn away thousands of qualified applicants each year due to a shortage of faculty and clinical training sites. The findings are based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s annual survey of baccalaureate and higher-degree nursing programs. (Newswise release, 5/2/23)