2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Nursing is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 3rd of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 313,362 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, nursing graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $67,065 and had an average of $26,282 in loans still to pay off.
At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 10,033 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,680 and $116,043 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate” ranking analyzed 343 colleges that offered a degree in nursing. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality nursing programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the nursing program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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More Ways to Rank Nursing Schools
The nursing school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate”.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate
The colleges and universities below are the best for doctor’s degree nursing students.
Top 25 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing
Out of the 343 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, Mount Marty University landed the #1 spot on the list. Mount Marty is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Yankton, South Dakota. It awarded 34 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, Mount Marty is in the top on our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Mount Marty are $8,175.
Out of the 343 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in San Antonio, Texas, this small public school awarded 12 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, UT Health San Antonio is in the top on our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio are $13,466, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Grand Canyon University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate. This large school is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and it awarded 288 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Grand Canyon University are $11,436.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Winona State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate list. Winona State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 30 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Winona State University are $12,378, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Out of the 343 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, Union University landed the #5 spot on the list. Union University is located in Jackson, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 41 doctorate’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Union are $10,671, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Capella University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large private for-profit school handed out 173 degrees to qualified doctorate’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Capella University are $14,767, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Wilmington University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Wilmington University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in New Castle, Delaware. It awarded 40 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Wilmington University are $8,834, but some majors have different tuition rates.
The College of Saint Scholastica ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate list. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 67 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, St. Scholastica is also in the top of our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at St. Scholastica are $15,502, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Nursing at The College of Saint Scholastica
Creighton University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #9. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s nursing degrees to 72 students in 2019-2020.
Creighton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Creighton University are $18,528, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Otterbein University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate list. This small school is located in Westerville, Ohio, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Otterbein University are $6,767, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate ranking. SIUE is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 67 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Nursing Report
With a ranking of #12, Seattle University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate list. Located in Seattle, Washington, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 16 degrees to qualified doctorate’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Seattle U is also in the top of our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at Seattle University are $14,040, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Walden University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #13. Walden University is a large private for-profit school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 221 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Walden University are $10,716.
Chamberlain University - Illinois came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Chamberlain University - Illinois is a large private for-profit school situated in Addison, Illinois. It awarded 365 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Chamberlain - Illinois is also in the top of our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Chamberlain - Illinois are $14,090.
Read more about Nursing at Chamberlain University - Illinois
American Sentinel University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #15. American Sentinel University is located in Aurora, Colorado and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 25 doctorate’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at American Sentinel University are $6,920, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Missouri State University - Springfield is a large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 73 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri State University - Springfield are $12,042, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #17, Purdue University Global did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate list. Purdue University Global is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 doctorate’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University Global are $10,674, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #18. TTUHSC is a public institution located in Lubbock, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 20 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, TTUHSC is also in the top of our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center are $19,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Nursing Report
With a ranking of #19, Bradley University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate list. Bradley University is located in Peoria, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 53 doctorate’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
Bradley also claimed a top spot on our “Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at Bradley University are $17,040, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #20. Fargo, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s nursing degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at North Dakota State University are $11,589, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Nursing at North Dakota State University - Main Campus
Southern Adventist University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate list. Collegedale, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s nursing degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Adventist are $11,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Nursing at Southern Adventist University
Point Loma Nazarene University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate ranking. San Diego, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s nursing degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Point Loma Nazarene University are $11,880.
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate list. Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health is a small school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 22 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health are $12,438.
South Dakota State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Brookings, South Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 29 degrees to qualified doctorate’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at South Dakota State University are $16,743, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #25. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 5 doctorate’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Minnesota State Mankato are $8,788, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Rest of the Best 51 in Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate
Not only did these schools make the top 51 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Nursing Schools for a Doctorate
While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA |
| 52 | Saint Vincent College | Latrobe, PA |
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.
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