Careers a nursing PhD leads to
What You Do With a PhD in Nursing
A nursing PhD is research training, and it leads to three jobs in practice: teaching, running research, or running other people’s trials. They pay differently, they suit different people, and the program pages rarely tell you which is which.
These pages cover what each job is, how you get into it, and what the federal wage data says it pays. The pay comparison across all three is here.
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The industry route for a nursing PhD
What a Clinical Research Nurse Does, and What a PhD Adds
Clinical research nurses run trials for hospitals, sponsors and CROs. Most posts want an RN licence and a certification, not a PhD. See the pay first.
The research path after a nursing PhD
How to Become a Nurse Scientist, From BSN to Your First Grant
A nurse scientist runs research, not clinics. Medical scientists earn a $103,410 median. Here is how to become a nurse scientist, step by step, from a BSN.
Careers after a nursing PhD
How to Become a Nursing Professor
Nursing professors earn a median of $80,250, below the $97,550 nurse median. Here's the rank ladder, the tenure clock, and what the pay cut buys you.
Start From the Programs Instead
Every On-Campus PhD in Nursing Program, Ranked
All 92 of them, scored on research money and funding.
Every Online PhD in Nursing Program, Ranked
All 48, scored on residency burden and cost.
Every Nursing PhD Ranking by State
46 states and territories with a program.
Our PhD in Nursing Ranking Methodology
Both models, weights included.