Earn Your PhD in Nursing Education Online: Explore Top Programs

Advancing your career while advancing the nursing profession — that’s what earning an online PhD in nursing education is all about. For many nurses, becoming a nurse educator or nursing education researcher is one of the most meaningful ways to make a lasting impact on the field.

There is also strong demand for qualified nurse educators. The ongoing shortage of nursing professionals includes a major shortage of nursing faculty, which limits nursing school enrollment and reduces the number of newly trained nurses entering the workforce.

As a result, the value of earning a nursing education doctorate has never been greater. An online PhD in nursing education can provide a flexible and affordable way to prepare for leadership, teaching, and research roles in the profession.

This guide explores today’s online PhD in nursing education programs, including some of the top schools currently offering these degrees. You’ll also learn how these programs are structured and the types of topics commonly covered in online coursework.

School Spotlights: Top Nursing Education PhDs Online

A good way to begin your search is by looking at what the top programs have to offer. We reviewed today’s online PhD in nursing education programs and selected three standout schools based on factors such as affordability, academic quality, flexibility, and student support services.

The programs highlighted below offer strong options for nurses looking to advance into education, leadership, or research roles. Here are some of the schools leading the way in online PhD in nursing education programs.

Liberty University

Based in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty University is a private university affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and a major provider of online degree programs on both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Included in their degree offerings is a fully online PhD in Nursing – Nursing Education.

The program’s 60-credit curriculum includes coursework in nursing, nursing education, and research, all of which is 100% online. Each course is presented in an eight-week format and delivered asynchronously, with optional synchronous online sessions with faculty and fellow students available most weeks of each semester.

Following completion of all coursework, students are required to take and pass a comprehensive nursing exam and then move on to creating and defending a dissertation. Program length varies by student, but most complete their degree requirements in about three years.

Admission requirements for Liberty’s online PhD in Nursing Education program include an MSN degree from a regionally or nationally accredited program, a minimum 3.0 GPA in that program, and a minimum of one year of experience as a registered nurse. Current per-credit tuition rates are a very competitive $595 for full-time students and $650 for part-time students. A $300 per credit rate is available to qualifying current and former military service members and their spouses.

University of Northern Colorado

The University of Northern Colorado (UNC) is a public university with its main campus located in Greeley, Colorado, approximately 60 miles north of Denver. UNC’s Nursing Education PhD is committed to increasing the number of doctoral-level nurse educators to fill faculty roles in both healthcare organizations and academic settings.

Program delivery is primarily online with all coursework entirely online. All students are, however, required to attend a five-day in-person orientation during July immediately prior to the start of their program in the fall.

The orientation consists of two days on the main campus and three days at the Nurse Educator Conference in the Rockies in Breckenridge. The entire degree program can be completed in as few as four years, but students have the option of taking additional time to complete their dissertations.

The current per-credit tuition rate for this 66-credit hour program is $706 for all students regardless of state residency. This online PhD in nursing education has no additional student fees.

University of West Georgia

The University of West Georgia (UWG) is another excellent public university offering students a quality and highly affordable pathway to a nursing educator career with its online Doctorate in Nursing Education (EdD) program.

As opposed to most PhD in nursing education online programs that also train students to fill positions in academic research, UWG’s EdD in nursing education places greater emphasis on preparing graduates to take on roles directly related to teaching new nurses (more on the difference between PhD and EdD programs below).

The program is presented 100% online with classroom instruction delivered entirely in an asynchronous format, meaning that students can log on and attend to their coursework at any time that best suits their busy schedules. Both full-time (approximately 3 ½ years) and part-time (approximately 4 ½ years) study plans are available.

The tuition for this 60-credit program is $412 per credit. The program starts annually with the fall semester. Admissions are taken on a rolling basis until the fall cohort is filled.

Expert Insight

As online and hybrid nursing programs continue to expand, nurse educators increasingly need experience teaching in digital learning environments. Look for programs that offer training in this specific area so you can ensure you’re prepared for any remote work that might present itself after graduation.

Timon Kaple

EdD vs. PhD: Which Degree Is Right for You?

The two most common nursing education doctorates are the PhD and the EdD. While the degrees share many similarities, they are often designed for different career goals.

If you’re interested in academic research, university-level teaching, or a career that combines teaching and research, an online PhD in nursing education may be the better fit.

If your goals focus more on teaching, educational leadership, or administrative roles in nursing education settings, an EdD may make more sense.

However, the distinction between these degrees is not always clear-cut. Many programs overlap in curriculum and career preparation, so it’s important to speak with program representatives before ruling out a school based solely on whether the degree is labeled a PhD or EdD.

Common Courses of Nursing Education PhD Programs 

The fundamental goal of online PhD in nursing education programs is to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to become nurse educators at the postsecondary level, as well as with other healthcare agencies and organizations.

To give you an idea of the specific topics you’ll cover, here’s a look at six courses similar to those in most PhD in nursing education online programs.

Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education

This course is an examination of assessment and evaluation methods and strategies employed by educators in the full range of nursing education settings (including classroom, clinical, and online).

Coursework includes a survey of current issues, research, and trends related to outcome measurements; alternatives to traditional evaluation methods; and the use of testing instruments. Students leave the course prepared to create, improve, and revise nursing education curricula.

Clinical Teaching and Preceptorship

A preceptor is an experienced clinician who acts as a coach or teacher in supervising nursing students during their clinical rotations. This course provides participants with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively fill preceptorship roles.

Course outcomes include improvement of clinical, teaching, communication, and evaluation skills. Graduates are prepared to be role models contributing to the success of new nurses.

Curriculum Development in Nursing Education

A foundational component of all PhD in nursing education online programs is to equip students with the tools and training to create, develop, implement, and evaluate effective nursing education curricula on all academic levels.

Specific course topics include a review of the models applicable to curriculum and course design. Students also explore the curriculum development process and major educational, legal, regulatory, professional, and societal factors (including accreditation standards) influencing that process.

Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing Education

According to the American Nurses Association, evidence-based nursing practice involves “holistic, quality care based on the most up-to-date research and knowledge rather than traditional methods, advice from colleagues, or personal beliefs.”

This course offers nurse educators a survey of evidence-based nursing and teaching theories, methods, and strategies. Students analyze factors that impact the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of curriculum related to evidence-based nursing practice.

Nursing Education Leadership and Administration

This course is designed to prepare nurse educators so they can then prepare new nurses to successfully fill roles in nursing administration and leadership in the full range of practice settings.

Students begin by analyzing traditional and contemporary management and leadership theories and concepts. This is followed by an exploration of the challenges and issues that arise in everyday nursing administration and leadership.

Professional Development and Leadership

This course examines the knowledge and skills needed for nurse educators working in professional development training roles. Students learn about key responsibilities such as managing development budgets, assessing staffing and educational needs, and collaborating with team leaders to address training gaps.

The course also covers how nurse educators stay current with state regulations and continuing education requirements within healthcare organizations.

Expert Insight

Many students benefit from programs that offer training with simulation technology or virtual patient scenarios. Experience with simulation-based instruction is becoming increasingly valuable in both academic nursing and clinical training environments. This can better prepare you for the job market.

Timon Kaple

Components of an Online PhD in Nursing Education

Along with course subject matter, having a clear understanding of the structure and specific requirements of your program’s curriculum is critical to your academic success. Below is a review of some of the most common components found in online PhD in nursing education programs.

Capstone Project or Dissertation

As a student in an online PhD or EdD in nursing education program, you can expect to complete and defend a doctoral dissertation. The dissertation process — including research, writing, and defense — typically takes one to two years, although many programs allow additional time for completion.

Some schools give students up to seven years or more to finish their dissertations.

Students pursuing a DNP in nursing education will often complete an evidence-based capstone project instead of a traditional dissertation.

Comprehensive Examinations

Comprehensive examinations, also called candidacy or preliminary exams, are a common part of online PhD in nursing education programs. Students typically complete these exams after finishing their required coursework.

Comps often include both written and oral exams. The written portion evaluates a student’s ability to critically analyze and synthesize doctoral-level course material.

After successfully completing the written exam, students move on to the oral portion, which assesses their readiness for advanced scholarship and the dissertation process.

Coursework

Most online PhD in nursing education programs begin with one to two years of academic coursework. During this stage, students learn how to design, research, implement, and evaluate nursing education programs in both academic and healthcare settings.

Coursework is designed to help graduates:

• Contribute to nursing research through original scholarship and scientific inquiry
• Advance the profession through leadership, mentorship, and professional role modeling
• Develop innovative teaching strategies for educating diverse nursing students across a variety of settings

Internships & Fieldwork

Most online PhD in nursing education programs do not require internships, fieldwork, or other in-person training experiences. However, some online EdD programs may include practicum requirements completed in educational or clinical settings.

For example, the primarily online EdD in Nursing Education program at Western Connecticut State University requires students to complete an educational practicum during the second year of the program, typically in their home state.

If you have questions about internships, practica, or other in-person requirements, contact a program representative before enrolling.

Prerequisites

Admission requirements for online PhD in nursing education programs can vary by school, but most include a few common prerequisites.

Typical requirements include:

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN):
  Earned from an accredited school, often with a minimum GPA requirement of around 3.0.
• Current RN license:
  Most programs require an active and unencumbered registered nursing license.
• Professional nursing experience:
  Many schools require one to two years of experience working as an RN.

Additional application materials often include:

• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement or statement of intent
• Current CV or resume

International students may also need to provide proof of English language proficiency.

Nursing Education Salary Outlook with a PhD

A PhD in nursing education prepares nurse educators to conduct original research, lead nursing programs, and contribute to the evidence base for effective nursing pedagogy. Graduates serve as nursing school faculty, program directors, deans of nursing, and research scientists — shaping how the next generation of nurses is trained at a time when the nursing workforce is under significant pressure. The degree is increasingly expected for leadership in nursing education and for tenure-track faculty positions at research universities.

Nursing faculty with doctoral credentials are in high demand given a persistent shortage of qualified nursing educators, which has driven salaries upward in academic settings. Health specialties faculty in clinical and research programs at major universities command particularly competitive compensation.

Use the salary table to see what health specialties postsecondary teachers earn across the country, and get a sense of the financial landscape for doctoral-level nursing education careers.