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2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major

64 Ranked Colleges
1,058 Degrees Awarded
$31,400 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 266,651 registered nursing students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country.

At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,058 registered nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,260 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major” ranking looked at 64 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in registered nursing. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their registered nursing program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for doctor’s degree registered nursing students.

Top 25 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Registered Nursing

1
Chatham crest
Chatham University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Chatham University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 74 degrees to qualified doctorate’s registered nursing students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Chatham

2
Lourdes crest
Lourdes University
Sylvania, Ohio

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lourdes University. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major. This small school is located in Sylvania, Ohio, and it awarded 16 doctorate’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Lourdes University Registered Nursing Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of South Alabama. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major. Located in Mobile, Alabama, this fairly large public school handed out 134 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s registered nursing students in 2020-2021.

Full USA Registered Nursing Report

4
Regis College crest
Regis College
Weston, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Regis College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major. Regis College is located in Weston, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 40 doctorate’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Regis College

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Flint. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. University of Michigan - Flint is a medium-sized school located in Flint, Michigan that handed out 29 doctorate’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Registered Nursing at UM Flint

6
U of U crest
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

With a ranking of #6, University of Utah did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. University of Utah is a large school located in Salt Lake City, Utah that handed out 105 doctorate’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Registered Nursing at U of U

7
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Gardner - Webb University
Boiling Springs, North Carolina

With a ranking of #7, Gardner - Webb University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. Gardner - Webb is a small school located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina that handed out 11 doctorate’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Gardner - Webb

8
USFCA crest
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, California

University of San Francisco did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major ranking, coming in at #8. USFCA is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 33 doctorate’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Registered Nursing at USFCA

9
Azusa Pacific crest
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, California

Azusa Pacific University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Azusa, California, and it awarded 24 doctorate’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Azusa Pacific

10

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major ranking. This large school is located in Denver, Colorado, and it awarded 39 doctorate’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Registered Nursing at CU Anschutz

11

University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major ranking. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 98 doctorate’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UW Seattle Registered Nursing Report

12

University of Missouri - Columbia came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major ranking. Mizzou is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 56 doctorate’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Mizzou

13

University of California - San Francisco landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major ranking. This small school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 6 doctorate’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full University of California - San Francisco Registered Nursing Report

14
Detroit Mercy crest
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, Michigan

University of Detroit Mercy ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. Located in Detroit, Michigan, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 9 degrees to qualified doctorate’s registered nursing students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Detroit Mercy

15
UMary crest
University of Mary
Bismarck, North Dakota

University of Mary landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major ranking. UMary is a small school located in Bismarck, North Dakota that handed out 6 doctorate’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at UMary

16
Wazzu crest
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington

Washington State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major ranking, coming in at #16. This large school is located in Pullman, Washington, and it awarded 45 doctorate’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Washington State University Registered Nursing Report

17
Hampton crest
Hampton University
Hampton, Virginia

Hampton University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. Hampton, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s registered nursing degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Hampton

18
Yale crest
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut

Yale University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major ranking. This fairly large school is located in New Haven, Connecticut, and it awarded 19 doctorate’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Yale University

19
GVSU crest
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major ranking. Grand Valley State University is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 23 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at GVSU

20

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major ranking. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 56 doctorate’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Ohio State

21

Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major ranking, coming in at #21. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s registered nursing degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network

22

With a ranking of #22, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. University of Colorado at Colorado Springs is a fairly large school located in Colorado Springs, Colorado that handed out 9 doctorate’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

23
SLU crest
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, Missouri

With a ranking of #23, Saint Louis University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 9 degrees to qualified doctorate’s registered nursing students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at SLU

24
UPenn crest
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major ranking. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 25 degrees to qualified doctorate’s registered nursing students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at UPenn

25
Creighton crest
Creighton University
Omaha, Nebraska

With a ranking of #25, Creighton University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. Creighton is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 7 doctorate’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Creighton University

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