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Accredited PhD Nursing Schools 2026-2027

Explore and compare 348 PHD top-ranked, accredited schools across all 50 states and territories. Our directory combines verified NCLEX-RN pass rates, IPEDS tuition data, and CCNE/ACEN accreditation status with authentic insights from our allnurses community members. Rankings are based on our Ranking Methodology, a 100-point composite score across 6 weighted categories.

Last updated: May 16, 2026

Sources: U.S. Dept of Education / IPEDS / College Scorecard / Editorial Team

NOTE: Program offerings and tuition are subject to change. Verify details directly with the institution.

Top PhD Nursing Schools Public Grand Forks, ND

Based in Grand Forks, North Dakota, University of North Dakota is a public institution. The school reports a 63% graduation rate.

10 Nursing Programs Available

BSN, BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE, MSN-NL, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert

Top PhD Nursing Schools Public Morgantown, WV

West Virginia University is a public institution in Morgantown, West Virginia. Total enrollment is about 23,600 students.

10 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE, PhD

Top PhD Nursing Schools Public University, MS

A public institution, University of Mississippi serves students in University, Mississippi. Annual in-state tuition is $9,772.

12 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-BSN-Cert, Post-MSN-Cert

Top PhD Nursing Schools Private, Non-Profit Jersey City, NJ

Saint Peter's University is a private nonprofit institution in Jersey City, New Jersey. Graduates earn a median of $57,815 within ten years.

11 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-FNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert

Top PhD Nursing Schools Private, Non-Profit Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee is a private nonprofit institution with a 93% graduation rate and over 13,575 students. Annual in-state tuition is $67,498.

12 Nursing Programs Available

BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NE, DNP-NL, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert

Top PhD Nursing Schools Private, Non-Profit South Orange, NJ

Seton Hall University is a private nonprofit school in South Orange, New Jersey offering nursing education. It offers 9 nursing programs across various degree levels.

9 Nursing Programs Available

BSN, BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD

Top PhD Nursing Schools Public Lexington, KY

One of the larger institutions in the state, University of Kentucky is a public school in Lexington, Kentucky with over 34,709 students. Annual in-state tuition is $13,502.

10 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP, MSN, MSN-FNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert

Top PhD Nursing Schools Private, Non-Profit San Francisco, CA

University of San Francisco provides nursing education from its campus in San Francisco, California. Total enrollment is about 8,913 students.

15 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-AGNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE, PhD, Post-BSN-Cert, Post-MSN-Cert

Top PhD Nursing Schools Public Murray, KY

Based in Murray, Kentucky, Murray State University is a public institution. Graduates earn a median of $44,737 within ten years.

10 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP, MSN, MSN-FNP, PhD

Top PhD Nursing Schools Public Birmingham, AL

Based in Birmingham, Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public institution. Graduates earn a median of $54,501 within ten years.

13 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NE, DNP-PMHNP, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD

Top PhD Nursing Schools Private, Non-Profit Rochester, NY

University of Rochester in Rochester, New York is a private nonprofit institution with a 87% graduation rate and over 11,946 students. The acceptance rate is 40%.

10 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert

Top PhD Nursing Schools Private, Non-Profit La Crosse, WI

Viterbo University is a private nonprofit school in La Crosse, Wisconsin offering nursing education. It offers 10 nursing programs across various degree levels.

10 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NL, MSN, MSN-FNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert

Top PhD Nursing Schools Public Mobile, AL

Based in Mobile, Alabama, University of South Alabama is a public institution. Graduates earn a median of $49,379 within ten years.

14 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-AGNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NL, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert

W

Top PhD Nursing Schools Public Cullowhee, NC

With annual in-state tuition at $4,630, Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina is among the more affordable public options in the region. It offers 12 nursing programs across various degree levels.

12 Nursing Programs Available

BSN, BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-AGNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert

Top PhD Nursing Schools Private, Non-Profit Louisville, KY

Bellarmine University is a private nonprofit school in Louisville, Kentucky offering nursing education. Graduates earn a median of $62,069 within ten years.

9 Nursing Programs Available

BSN, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD

Top PhD Nursing Schools Private, Non-Profit Hattiesburg, MS

William Carey University is a private nonprofit school in Hattiesburg, Mississippi offering nursing education. Graduates earn a median of $43,087 within ten years.

6 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-NL, PhD

Public Richmond, KY

Eastern Kentucky University provides nursing education from its campus in Richmond, Kentucky. The acceptance rate is 78%.

14 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, ADN, BSN, BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-AGNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert

Private, Non-Profit Washington, DC

A private nonprofit institution, The Catholic University of America serves students in Washington, District of Columbia. Annual in-state tuition is $58,378.

6 Nursing Programs Available

BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert

Private, Non-Profit Riverside, CA

California Baptist University is a private nonprofit school in Riverside, California offering nursing education. The school reports a 61% graduation rate.

8 Nursing Programs Available

ADN, BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, RN-BSN

Public Gainesville, FL

University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida is a public institution with a 91% graduation rate and over 56,311 students. Graduates earn a median of $71,588 within ten years.

12 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-AGNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NL, MSN, MSN-FNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert

Public Chicago, IL

One of the larger institutions in the state, University of Illinois Chicago is a public school in Chicago, Illinois with over 33,906 students. The acceptance rate is 77%.

12 Nursing Programs Available

BSN, BSN-DNP, DNP, DNP-AGNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-NE, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD

Public Huntington, WV

Marshall University is a public school in Huntington, West Virginia offering nursing education. The school reports a 49% graduation rate.

14 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, ADN, BSN, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-NL, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert, RN-BSN

Public Charlottesville, VA

University of Virginia-Main Campus in Charlottesville, Virginia is a public institution with a 95% graduation rate and over 26,409 students. It offers 11 nursing programs across various degree levels.

11 Nursing Programs Available

ABSN, BSN, CNA, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-NL, MSN-PMHNP, PhD, Post-BSN-Cert, Post-MSN-Cert

Public Columbus, MS

Mississippi University for Women provides nursing education from its campus in Columbus, Mississippi. The school reports a 37% graduation rate.

13 Nursing Programs Available

ADN, BSN, BSN-DNP, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert, RN-BSN

Private, Non-Profit Boston, MA

Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts is a private nonprofit institution with a 91% graduation rate and over 32,553 students. It offers 10 nursing programs across various degree levels.

10 Nursing Programs Available

BSN, Direct-Entry-MSN, DNP, DNP-FNP, MSN, MSN-AGNP, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, PhD, Post-MSN-Cert

# School Name Location In-State Completion Rate Programs Compare
26 University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND $10,951 63.2% 10
27 West Virginia University Morgantown, WV $10,104 61.7% 10
28 University of Mississippi University, MS $9,772 68.1% 12
29 Saint Peter's University Jersey City, NJ $42,552 61.7% 11
30 Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN $67,498 92.7% 12
31 Seton Hall University South Orange, NJ $53,170 71.6% 9
32 University of Kentucky Lexington, KY $13,502 69.3% 10
33 University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA $60,492 72.8% 15
34 Murray State University Murray, KY $9,900 59% 10
35 University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL $9,098 63.4% 13
36 University of Rochester Rochester, NY $67,080 87% 10
37 Viterbo University La Crosse, WI $34,250 62.9% 10
38 University of South Alabama Mobile, AL $10,116 52.6% 14
39 Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC $4,630 59.8% 12
40 Bellarmine University Louisville, KY $48,770 63.9% 9
41 William Carey University Hattiesburg, MS $15,480 41.3% 6
42 Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY $10,320 49.5% 14
43 The Catholic University of America Washington, DC $58,378 79% 6
44 California Baptist University Riverside, CA $41,228 61.2% 8
45 University of Florida Gainesville, FL $6,381 90.7% 12
46 University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL $14,338 60.9% 12
47 Marshall University Huntington, WV $9,162 49.2% 14
48 University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA $21,803 95.3% 11
49 Mississippi University for Women Columbus, MS $8,492 37.4% 13
50 Northeastern University Boston, MA $66,162 90.8% 10
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