by our College Data Analytics TeamFor its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 255 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for nursing practice students pursuing a doctor's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 6,164 doctor's degrees in nursing practice to qualified students.
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 quality 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 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
Vanderbilt University is a great option for individuals interested in a doctor's degree in nursing practice. Vanderbilt is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Nashville.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Vanderbilt University
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is a wonderful decision for students pursuing a doctor's degree in nursing practice. UTHealth is a moderately-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 is hard to beat Duke University if you want 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
It's difficult to beat University of Maryland - Baltimore if you wish to pursue a doctor's degree in nursing practice. Located in the city of Baltimore, UMB is a public university with a medium-sized student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from University of Maryland - Baltimore
Located in the city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Columbia University in the City of New York
Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Emory University
Located in the city of Fort Worth, TCU is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Texas Christian University
Located in the town of Galveston, UTMB Galveston is a public university with a small student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from The University of Texas Medical Branch
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
Located in the city of Chicago, Rush University is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Rush University
Case Western is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Cleveland.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Case Western Reserve University
Seattle U is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of Seattle.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Seattle University
Creighton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of Omaha.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Creighton University
TTUHSC is a moderately-sized public university located in the city of Lubbock.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Located in the city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from University of California - Los Angeles
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
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
Located in the medium-sized city of Charleston, MUSC is a public university with a small student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Medical University of South Carolina
Located in the large suburb of Birmingham, Samford is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Samford University
OHSU is a small public university located in the city of Portland.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Oregon Health & Science University
Located in the 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 small city of Coral Gables, U Miami is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from University of Miami
GWU is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Washington.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from George Washington University
University of Virginia is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Charlottesville.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from University of Virginia - Main Campus
Located in the large suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville U is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing practice from Maryville University of Saint Louis
Learn about other programs related to Nursing Practice that might interest you.
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.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA |
| 40 | Baylor University | Waco, TX |
| 41 | Touro University Nevada | Henderson, NV |
| 42 | Simmons University | Boston, MA |
| 42 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus | Cincinnati, OH |
| 43 | University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences | San Marcos, CA |
| 44 | University of Illinois at Chicago | Chicago, IL |
| 45 | Florida International University | Miami, FL |
| 46 | University of Nebraska Medical Center | Omaha, NE |
| 47 | University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, ND |
| 48 | Bradley University | Peoria, IL |
| 49 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL |
| 50 | Capella University | Minneapolis, MN |
| 51 | Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI |
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 |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 1,058 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 1,015 |
| Nursing Science | 950 |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | 563 |
| Nursing Administration | 435 |
| Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 397 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing | 152 |
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing | 72 |
| School Nursing | 40 |
| Geriatric Nurse/Nursing | 27 |
