When did universities start offering bachelor's and graduate degrees in nursing worldwide?
Executive summary
Universities began offering organized nursing education at the collegiate level in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with expansion of baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs through the 20th century, and today nursing degree offerings continue to grow — for example new BSN and DNP programs opened in 2025 [1]. Recent U.S. federal policy changes in 2025 focus on whether nursing counts as a “professional degree” for student-loan rules, which has sharpened attention on graduate nursing programs and funding [2] [1].
1. From hospital apprenticeships to university degrees: the broad arc
Nursing’s shift from hospital-based apprenticeship to university-based education unfolded over decades: what began as on-the-job training in the 19th century evolved into formalized collegiate programs offering bachelor’s and later graduate degrees across many countries during the 20th century. Contemporary reporting shows universities are still adding undergraduate BSN and advanced-practice doctoral programs as recently as 2025, illustrating that degree offerings have been institutionalized and continue to expand [1].
2. Baccalaureate nursing: now widespread and still growing
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs are now common at universities; news coverage notes new BSN launches in 2025 — e.g., Asbury University opened a BSN in fall 2025 and several institutions adjusted pathways to accelerate BSN completion [1]. These examples demonstrate that bachelor’s-level nursing is a mainstream university offering today, and institutions continue adding or reconfiguring programs to meet workforce needs [1].
3. Graduate nursing degrees: masters, practice doctorates, and doctoral research tracks
Graduate nursing education expanded in the 20th century and now includes Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and research doctorates; 2025 reporting highlights accreditation and launches of doctor-level specialties [1]. The contemporary policy debate over whether MSN and DNP count as “professional” degrees for loan caps shows how embedded graduate nursing is in higher education — but also how classifications affect funding and enrollment dynamics [1] [2].
4. Why current U.S. policy debate matters to degree availability
In late 2025 the U.S. Department of Education’s redefinition of which programs count as “professional degrees” for federal loan limits excluded many nursing graduate programs, a change that would take effect for borrowing rules beginning July 1, 2026, and has provoked strong pushback from nursing organizations [2] [3]. Media outlets and nursing groups warn the exclusion could limit students’ access to funding and thereby affect capacity and growth of graduate nursing programs [2] [3].
5. Evidence of ongoing program expansion amid policy uncertainty
Despite the federal classification dispute, universities continued to open and expand nursing programs in 2025: new BSN pathways, transfers from associate-degree pipelines, and accredited DNP or specialty doctoral programs were reported in 2025 — a sign that demand and institutional investment in nursing degrees remain high [1]. At the same time, the policy debate about loan eligibility is framed as potentially influencing future program costs and enrollment [1] [2].
6. Competing perspectives on classification and consequences
The Department of Education says it is returning to a long-standing, narrower definition of “professional degree,” and contends nursing was not intended to be on the professional-degree list historically [4] [2]. Nursing organizations including the American Nurses Association call the exclusion harmful to workforce development and urge the department to reverse course, arguing advanced nursing education should be treated like other licensure-linked professional programs [3] [2]. News reports document both the department’s rationale and the sector’s objections [4] [2].
7. What available sources do not mention
Available sources do not mention a comprehensive worldwide timeline pinpointing exactly when each country’s universities began offering bachelor’s and graduate nursing degrees; they instead provide contemporary U.S.-focused reporting and examples of program openings in 2025 [1] [2]. For a global historical chronology, academic histories or international nursing education reviews would be required — not included in the current reporting.
8. Bottom line for readers seeking context
Nursing degrees at the bachelor’s and graduate levels became standard features of university education over the 20th century and continue to expand — illustrated by program launches in 2025 — but current U.S. federal rules about whether graduate nursing degrees are “professional” affect student loan access and have prompted vigorous debate between the Department of Education and nursing organizations [1] [2] [3]. Readers should weigh both the long-run institutionalization of nursing education and the immediate policy tensions shaping funding and future program growth [1] [2].