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Pediatric oncology nurse education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a pediatric oncology nurse. Pediatric oncology nurses usually study nursing, pharmacy, or nursing science. 64% of pediatric oncology nurses hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 201 real pediatric oncology nurse resumes to see exactly what pediatric oncology nurse education sections show.

The most common colleges for pediatric oncology nurses are the New York University and the New York University.

There are also many online pediatric oncology nurse courses to help get the education required to be a pediatric oncology nurse.

There are certain pediatric oncology nurse certifications that you should consider. These pediatric oncology nurse certifications include Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse (CPON).

What education do you need to become a pediatric oncology nurse?

What degree do you need to be a pediatric oncology nurse?

The most common degree for pediatric oncology nurses is bachelor's degree, with 64% of pediatric oncology nurses earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 14% and associate degree degree at 10%.
  • Bachelor's, 64%
  • Associate, 14%
  • Master's, 10%
  • Doctorate, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 7%

What should I major in to become a pediatric oncology nurse?

You should major in nursing to become a pediatric oncology nurse. 74% of pediatric oncology nurses major in nursing. Other common majors for a pediatric oncology nurse include pharmacy and nursing science.

Most common colleges for pediatric oncology nurses

Pediatric oncology nurses often get their degrees at New York University, University of Memphis, and Olivet Nazarene University. Here are the most common colleges for pediatric oncology nurses in the US based on their resumes.
Pediatric oncology nurse common collegePercentages
New York University8.33%
University of Memphis6.25%
Olivet Nazarene University6.25%
Georgetown University6.25%
Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences6.25%

Best majors for pediatric oncology nurses

RankMajorPercentages
1Nursing74.2%
2Pharmacy6.5%
3Nursing Science3.8%
4Biology2.7%
5Psychology1.6%

Best colleges for pediatric oncology nurses

The best colleges for pediatric oncology nurses are Northeastern University, Duke University, and University of Southern California.

A pediatric oncology nurse with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for pediatric oncology nurses. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become pediatric oncology nurses.

1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

4. University of California, Irvine

Irvine, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$13,700

Enrollment

29,722

5. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,522

Enrollment

13,760

6. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, WI • Private

In-state tuition

$10,555

Enrollment

30,360

7. University of California - Davis

Davis, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,402

Enrollment

30,698

8. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

9. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,625

Enrollment

17,407

10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

20 best online courses for pediatric oncology nurses

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1. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care

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This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...

2. Traditional herbal medicine in supportive cancer care: From alternative to integrative

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Please join us for an exciting and innovative journey, examining one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of the oncology setting: Traditional Herbal Medicine in Supportive Cancer Care. This course is presented with short lectures offering a wide range of issues related to the principles and practice of herbal medicine in cancer care. The course includes interviews with leading world experts from the field of Integrative Oncology, from the U.S. and Canada, as well as Europe, the...

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4. Health for All Through Primary Health Care

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This course explores why primary health care is central for achieving Health for All. It provides examples of how primary health care has been instrumental in approaching this goal in selected populations and how the principles of primary health care can guide future policies and actions. Two of the most inspiring, least understood, and most often derided terms in global health discourse are “Health for All” and “Primary Health Care.” In this course, we will explore these terms in the context...

5. Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale

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Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...

6. Emergency Care: Pregnancy, Infants, and Children

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Welcome to the final course of lectures in your quest to master EMT basics. In this course, we will cover some of the highest-stress patient populations: pregnant patients and kids, also known as pediatrics. To wrap up your EMT knowledge we will end this course with information about hazmat situations, extricating patients from tight spots and finally how you write a note about your patient care. You will learn to ensure it communicates what your assessment of the patient was, what...

7. Operations and Patient Safety for Healthcare IT Staff

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Now that you've been introduced to the world of Health IT and the important role played by electronic health records (EHRs), we'll focus on other technologies that play a role in maintaining ongoing operations in healthcare. Telemedicine, patient portals, barcode scanners, printers, and medical devices are just some of the technologies that impact providers and patients. As an IT support specialist, you’ll be asked to troubleshoot issues with a wide variety of tools. You'll see a scenario with...

8. Value-Based Care: Managing Processes to Improve Outcomes

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COURSE 3 of 7. This course is designed to introduce you to critical office-based processes that a value-based practice must manage in the drive towards improved patient outcomes. In Module 2, we’ll focus on office-based and clinical patient-based supporting functions. At every level in healthcare, guidelines, processes, and functions exist to improve outcomes, and following a consistent process will return the best effect. Refine your understanding of value and learn strategies to provide real...

9. Pain Management: Easing Pain in Palliative Care

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In this course, you will be able to develop a systems view for assessing and managing pain in the palliative care setting. By the end of the course, you will be able to: 1) Describe the pain problem in the palliative care setting; 2) Assess a person’s pain, 3) Explain the benefits of integrative therapies and pharmacologic strategies to manage pain...

10. The Critical Role of IT Support Staff in Healthcare

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11. Introduction to Integrative Nursing

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This course is designed for nurses who are drawn to practice in a different way – nurses who value whole-person care and know that the essence of nursing practice is truly caring and healing. You will learn about the principles and practices of Integrative Nursing and how you can be a healing presence to all you serve. Then, you will do an integrative assessment and apply the principles of Integrative Nursing to improve symptom management and overall patient outcomes. Finally, you will explore...

12. Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers

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This course is designed with a singular goal: to improve the care you provide to your patients with substance use disorders. By delving into a model case performed by actors, seven Yale instructors from various fields provide techniques to screen your patients for substance use disorder risk, diagnose patients to gauge the severity of their use, directly manage treatment plans, refer out to treatment services, and navigate the various conditions that may limit your patient’s access to treatment...

13. Understanding Prostate Cancer

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Welcome to Understanding Prostate Cancer. My name is Ken Pienta, Professor of Urology and Oncology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. I have been studying prostate cancer and treating patients with prostate cancer for over 25 years. Over 1,000,000 men worldwide and 230,000 men in the United States are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. Three hundred thousand men worldwide and 30,000 men in the US are dying from prostate cancer every year. As people live longer, the incidence of...

14. Kids with Cancer Still Need School: The Providers Role

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15. Palliative Care Always Capstone Course

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16. Clinical Kidney, Pancreas and Islet Transplantation

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17. Trauma Emergencies and Care

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18. Nursing Informatics Leadership Theory and Practice

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19. Health Care Delivery in Healthcare Organizations

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20. Health Care IT: Challenges and Opportunities

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Top 10 most affordable universities for pediatric oncology nurses

The most affordable schools for pediatric oncology nurses are University of Florida, suny farmingdale, and york college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for pediatric oncology nurses are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for pediatric oncology nurses.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. York College of the City University of New York

Jamaica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,158

Cost of attendance

14,204

4. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Cost of attendance

25,527

6. University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, MO • Private

In-state tuition

$8,178

Cost of attendance

20,934

7. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

8. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

9. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Cost of attendance

25,275

10. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for pediatric oncology nurses

The hardest universities for pediatric oncology nurses to get into are Northeastern University, Duke University, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for pediatric oncology nurses are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for pediatric oncology nurses based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

2. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

4. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

6. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

7. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,517

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,434

9. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

10. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,456

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for pediatric oncology nurses

The easiest schools for pediatric oncology nurses to get into are D'Youville College, adventhealth university, and university of the incarnate word.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a pediatric oncology nurse without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for pediatric oncology nurses.

1. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

2. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,016

3. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

4. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

5. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

6. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

7. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

8. Notre Dame of Maryland University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,069

9. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

10. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

Average pediatric oncology nurse salary by education level

According to our data, pediatric oncology nurses with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $108,103 annually. Pediatric oncology nurses with a Doctorate degree earn an average annual salary of $96,939.
Pediatric oncology nurse education levelPediatric oncology nurse salary
Master's Degree$108,103
Bachelor's Degree$92,264
Doctorate Degree$96,939
Some College/ Associate Degree$75,147

Pediatric oncology nurse education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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