Four-year colleges and universities are institutions of higher learning where most students are undergraduates, focused on earning their bachelor’s degrees, and some continue on to pursue post-graduate master’s degrees and doctorates. Higher levels of education are becoming increasingly important in the nursing field. On the job market, registered nurses (RNs) with bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degrees have a serious advantage over those who only hold associate’s degrees. Many RNs with associate’s degrees end up furthering their education through RN-to-BSN programs, which are especially designed to help nurses work toward attaining a bachelor’s. Many employers even encourage their nurses to do this by offering tuition reimbursement. To advance their education even further, and to become even more desirable on the job market, some RNs decide to work toward master of science in nursing (MSN) degrees.
Today, many doctors are overburdened and overcommitted, and highly qualified RNs can help to take on some of the doctors’ workload. With the help of RNs, patients can be seen in a more timely manner. In an expensive healthcare system, RNs also offer a less-costly alternative to always having to see a physician. In Maine, RN-to-MSN programs are in growing demand, as the medical community makes this shift toward utilizing advanced-practice nurses in new ways.
In addition to becoming more competitive in the nursing field with a BSN or MSN, these advanced degrees also considerably higher salaries. The high-end salary for a registered nurse in Maine is around $72,560 per year. For nurses who go on to earn MSN degrees to become nurse practitioners (NPs), the in-state salary range is between $81,610 and $106,000 per year. There are approximately 13,890 RNs and 990 NPs working in Maine, and demand for both positions is expected to grow significantly in the years to come. Some of the major employers of RNs in Maine are Genesis Healthcare, Maine Medical Center, and Mercy Hospital.
Many colleges and universities in Maine offer BSN, RN-to-BSN, and RN-to-MSN programs, including: University of Maine, University of New England, and University of Southern Maine.
If you are interested in pursing a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) or master of science in nursing (MSN) degree, below is a comprehensive list of the top four-year colleges and universities with nursing programs in Maine.