by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2025, College Factual analyzed 161 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Nursing Practice Doctor's Degree Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 7,474 doctor's degrees in nursing practice during the <nil> academic year.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
Your choice of nursing practice for getting your doctor's degree school matters. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
The overall quality of a doctor's degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Doctor's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for nursing practice students working on their doctor's degree.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Nursing Practice Doctor's Degree Schools ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a doctor's degree in nursing practice. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
It's difficult to beat Samuel Merritt University if you wish to pursue a doctor's degree in nursing practice. Located in the city of Oakland, Samuel Merritt University is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Samuel Merritt University
It's hard to beat Duke University if you wish to pursue a doctor's degree in nursing practice. Located in the city of Durham, Duke is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Duke University
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is a great decision for students pursuing a doctor's degree in nursing practice. UTHealth is a medium-sized public university located in the large city of Houston.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
It's difficult to beat University of Maryland - Baltimore if you wish to pursue a doctor's degree in nursing practice. Located in the large city of Baltimore, UMB is a public university with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from University of Maryland - Baltimore
Case Western is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Cleveland.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Case Western Reserve University
UTMB Galveston is a small public university located in the city of Galveston.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from The University of Texas Medical Branch
Located in the large city of Lubbock, TTUHSC is a public university with a small student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Located in the large suburb of Villanova, Villanova is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Villanova University
Creighton is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of Omaha.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Creighton University
UC is a fairly large public university located in the city of Cincinnati.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
Located in the large city of Atlanta, Emory is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Emory University
Located in the fringe town of Storrs, UCONN is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from University of Connecticut
Located in the midsize city of Richmond, VCU is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Virginia Commonwealth University
Located in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Samford University
UT Health San Antonio is a small public university located in the large city of San Antonio.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
U Miami is a large private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Coral Gables.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from University of Miami
UTHSC is a small public university located in the large city of Memphis.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from The University of Tennessee - Health Science Center
Boston College is a large private not-for-profit college located in the city of Chestnut Hill.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Boston College
Located in the large city of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Thomas Jefferson University
Located in the large city of Boston, MGH Institute of Health Professions is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from MGH Institute of Health Professions
Located in the large city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Grand Canyon University
Located in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Quinnipiac University
La Salle is a small private not-for-profit university located in the city of Philadelphia.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from La Salle University
Located in the large city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from University of Wisconsin - Madison
Located in the large city of Philadelphia, Drexel is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Drexel University
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Nursing Practice Doctor's Degree Schools award.
View the Best Nursing Practice Doctor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
Nursing Practice is one of 23 different types of Nursing programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Nurse Anesthetist | 1,403 |
| Registered Nursing | 976 |
| Nursing Science | 927 |
| Nursing Administration | 725 |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | 683 |
| Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 339 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing | 193 |
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing | 88 |
| Critical Care Nursing | 55 |
| School Nursing | 43 |
