Best institutions to study Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery
A program that prepares registered nurses to independently deliver babies and treat mothers in the prenatal, delivery, and post-delivery periods.
22 U.S. institutions graduated 530 Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.3807, a specialization of Registered Nursing (CIP 51.38), and leads most directly to the Nurse Midwives occupation (BLS SOC 29-1161).
About Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery programs
A program that prepares registered nurses to independently deliver babies and treat mothers in the prenatal, delivery, and post-delivery periods. Includes instruction in pre-delivery screening, physician referral, and the care of infants during the delivery and immediate post-delivery phases.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery program prepares registered nurses to provide comprehensive care to mothers and infants during the prenatal, delivery, and post-delivery periods. This program is ideal for those who wish to specialize in midwifery and take on a vital role in maternal and newborn health. Students will gain the skills necessary to support families through the childbirth process.
Core coursework includes instruction in prenatal screening, delivery techniques, and postpartum care. Students will develop essential skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication, alongside knowledge in medicine, psychology, and biology.
Credentials awarded
What Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree445 graduates / yr · 13 institutions84%
- Doctor's degree - professional practice47 graduates / yr · 6 institutions8.9%
- Post-master's certificate37 graduates / yr · 9 institutions7.0%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.2%
Graduates over time
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 242 |
| 2013 | 324 |
| 2014 | 356 |
| 2015 | 326 |
| 2016 | 370 |
| 2017 | 434 |
| 2018 | 475 |
| 2019 | 475 |
| 2020 | 509 |
| 2021 | 509 |
| 2022 | 566 |
| 2023 | 538 |
| 2024 | 559 |
| 2025 | 530 |
Top 22 institutions for Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frontier Nursing University Versailles, KYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 294 | — | — | — |
| 2 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicMaster's | 46 | 75% | — | $71,105 |
| 3 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 30 | 94% | $14,854 | — |
| 4 | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Lubbock, TXPublicMaster'sMaster's | 24 | — | — | $77,083 |
| 5 | Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 20 | 69% | $26,034 | $85,656 |
| 6 | Baylor University Waco, TXPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 16 | 80% | $35,682 | $75,213 |
| 7 | Oregon Health & Science University Portland, ORPublicDoctoral (prof.) | 13 | — | — | $92,371 |
| 8 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 12 | 97% | $22,055 | $80,943 |
| 9 | Seattle University Seattle, WAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 11 | 76% | $31,900 | $81,021 |
| 10 | SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University Brooklyn, NYPublicMaster'sMaster's | 10 | — | — | $112,670 |
| 11 | Bethel University Saint Paul, MNPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 9 | 71% | $25,225 | $75,371 |
| 12 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 9 | 88% | $29,023 | $111,360 |
| 13 | Loyola University New Orleans New Orleans, LAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 8 | 59% | $22,906 | — |
| 14 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NYPublicMaster's | 8 | 76% | — | $94,853 |
| 15 | Shenandoah University Winchester, VAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 8 | 67% | $27,455 | $81,678 |
| 16 | Fairfield University Fairfield, CTPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 4 | 84% | $36,845 | $91,418 |
| 17 | George Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 84% | $29,789 | $79,221 |
| 18 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OHPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 87% | $27,976 | $69,389 |
| 19 | East Carolina University Greenville, NCPublicMaster's | 1 | 63% | — | $72,051 |
| 20 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicDoctoral (prof.) | 1 | 85% | — | $72,251 |
| 21 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 65% | — | $69,565 |
| 22 | Marquette University Milwaukee, WIPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 83% | $25,376 | $74,574 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Registered Nursing field (CIP 51.38) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 16 states
Where Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery graduates come from. Each state links to all Registered Nursing programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 1 | 294 | Frontier Nursing University294 / yr |
| Ohio | 2 | 48 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus46 / yr |
| Texas | 2 | 40 | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center24 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 33 | Thomas Jefferson University20 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 30 | Vanderbilt University30 / yr |
| New York | 3 | 27 | SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University10 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 13 | Oregon Health & Science University13 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 11 | Seattle University11 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 9 | Bethel University9 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 8 | Loyola University New Orleans8 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 8 | Shenandoah University8 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 4 | Fairfield University4 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 2 | George Washington University2 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 1 | East Carolina University1 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 1 | University of Utah1 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 1 | Marquette University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-1161, Nurse Midwives, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery program typically pursue careers as Nurse Midwives, with a median wage of $128,790. The job outlook is promising, with an expected growth rate of 11.1% and approximately 500 annual openings, indicating a much faster than average demand for this profession.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.3807
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nurse Midwivesprimary SOC 29-1161 | $134,040 | +11.1% Much faster than average | ~500 | Master's degree |
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1072 | $80,250 | +16.8% Much faster than average | ~8,600 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Provide prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, or newborn care to patients.
- Monitor fetal development by listening to fetal heartbeat, taking external uterine measurements, identifying fetal position, or estimating fetal size and weight.
- Document patients' health histories, symptoms, physical conditions, or other diagnostic information.
- Provide patients with direct family planning services, such as inserting intrauterine devices, dispensing oral contraceptives, and fitting cervical barriers, including cervical caps or diaphragms.
- Prescribe medications as permitted by state regulations.
- Develop and implement individualized plans for health care management.
Tools and technology used
Other Registered Nursing specializations
The 22 other 6-digit CIP codes under Registered Nursing (CIP 51.38).
- Registered Nursing/CIP 51.3801
Registered Nurse 263,325 graduates / yr2,067 institutions - Family Practice Nurse/CIP 51.3805
Nursing 14,703 graduates / yr293 institutions - Nursing PracticeCIP 51.38189,384 graduates / yr322 institutions
- Nursing AdministrationCIP 51.38027,804 graduates / yr198 institutions
- Psychiatric/CIP 51.3810
Mental Health Nurse/ Nursing 5,358 graduates / yr179 institutions - Nursing ScienceCIP 51.38084,605 graduates / yr148 institutions
- Registered NursingCIP 51.38993,940 graduates / yr99 institutions
- Nurse AnesthetistCIP 51.38042,183 graduates / yr72 institutions
- Adult Health Nurse/CIP 51.3803
Nursing 2,125 graduates / yr75 institutions - Public Health/CIP 51.3811
Community Nurse/ Nursing 934 graduates / yr21 institutions - Geriatric Nurse/CIP 51.3821
Nursing 680 graduates / yr43 institutions - Clinical Nurse LeaderCIP 51.3820588 graduates / yr24 institutions
- Critical Care NursingCIP 51.3814505 graduates / yr39 institutions
- Pediatric Nurse/CIP 51.3809
Nursing 389 graduates / yr36 institutions - Women's Health Nurse/CIP 51.3822
Nursing 350 graduates / yr15 institutions - Perioperative/CIP 51.3812
Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/ Nursing 150 graduates / yr10 institutions - Maternal/CIP 51.3806
Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/ Nursing 149 graduates / yr14 institutions - Clinical Nurse SpecialistCIP 51.3813135 graduates / yr22 institutions
- Emergency Room/CIP 51.3816
Trauma Nursing partial data83 graduates / yr9 institutions - Forensic NursingCIP 51.3824partial data26 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Occupational and Environmental Health NursingCIP 51.3815partial data21 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Palliative Care NursingCIP 51.3819partial data19 graduates / yr3 institutions
Common questions
What degree do I need to become a Nurse Midwife?+
A Master's degree is typically required to become a Nurse Midwife.
What skills are important for a Nurse Midwife?+
Important skills include speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and monitoring.
What is the job outlook for Nurse Midwives?+
The job outlook for Nurse Midwives is much faster than average, with an 11.1% growth rate.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 22 colleges offering the Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery program in the U.S.
What is the CIP code for Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery?+
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery is CIP 51.3807 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Registered Nursing (CIP 51.38). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares registered nurses to independently deliver babies and treat mothers in the prenatal, delivery, and post-delivery periods. Includes instruction in pre-delivery screening, physician referral, and the care of infants during the delivery and immediate post-delivery phases.
How many institutions offer Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery programs?+
22 U.S. institutions reported Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 16 states, awarding 530 credentials in the year. That is 0.2% of all Registered Nursing graduates.
How much do Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Nurse Midwives occupation, which Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery most directly leads to, pays a median of $134,040 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Registered Nursing field report median earnings of $79,221 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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