Nursing Education PhD
- Doctoral Degree
An Online Nursing Education Doctoral Degree
Ready to become a leader and teacher in nursing? Our online Nursing Education Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is for licensed nurses who have a master’s degree and want to become teachers, researchers and leaders.
This Nursing Education degree is one of the premier programs in the country. Earn your doctorate and influence the future of health care as a nurse educator.
Online Program with In-Person Orientation
All coursework in this program is delivered online. There is a 5-day summer orientation in Colorado before you start your coursework. See the Course of Study section below for details.
What You’ll Learn
You’ll learn from expert faculty who will help you create a program that fits your interests and goals. You’ll focus on three main areas:
- Research: Generate new knowledge to advance nursing science.
- Leadership: Advance the professional discipline of nursing.
- Education: Promote innovative, evidence-based teaching.
You will learn to evaluate current practices, design your own research projects, and apply what you learn.
Learn From Teaching Experts
The University of Northern Colorado is nationally known for both nursing and education. That means that this PhD program gives you:
- Advanced knowledge from our excellent nursing faculty.
- Access to coursework from national leaders in teacher education and educational leadership.
Your Career in Nursing Education
Become an Expert Nursing Educator
We are committed to preparing more doctoral-level nurse educators. Graduates of our program have an outstanding record of finding jobs as faculty members, researchers and professional development leaders. You will be qualified for influential positions at universities, community colleges, hospitals and other health care organizations.
Become a leader in the field and help build the next generation of nurses.
Nurse Educators are Critically Needed
Institutions need qualified faculty to meet growing student demand.
According to AACN’s Nursing Faculty Shortage Fact Sheet, as of October 2023 there were more than 1,977 faculty vacancies in the United States. U.S. nursing schools turned away 65,766 qualified applicants in 2023.
Course of Study
Online Coursework
You can complete this program in as little as four years, though many students choose to spend additional semesters on their dissertation.
- Program coursework is fully online.
- You will contribute to your dissertation during each term in the program. In the fourth year all of your coursework will center on your dissertation.
To see specific course offerings, visit the current students page for this program.
Summer In-Person Orientation
There is a required 5-day orientation the summer before you start the program. You will have a 2-day orientation on campus in Greeley, and three days at the Nurse Educator Conference in the Rocky Mountains.
Courses and Requirements
This is a 66-credit doctoral degree program.
View Courses & Degree Requirement Details
You will have access to expanded elective coursework options via NEXus (The Nursing Education Xchange).
Transfer Credit
If you have taken graduate courses that align with program courses, you can request transfer credit. Approved transfer credit can reduce the cost of completing this program. Program faculty will review your transfer credit to confirm that it matches course content and objectives. See the full graduate transfer credit policy for details.
Graduate Certificate Option
Nursing Education Graduate Certificate
We also offer a post-master’s graduate certificate in Nursing Education.
Have Questions? Get in Touch!
Rapha Xavier
Enrollment Counselor
Darcy Copeland
Program Coordinator
Tuition Rate
Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate
You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.
Per Credit
Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*
No Student / Technology Fees
Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.
*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): UNC provides a health insurance plan to all degree-seeking graduate students who are enrolled in 6 or more credits for a term. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you can opt out of this plan. Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information.
Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC’s official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.
Federal Financial Aid
Degree-seeking students are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Doctoral degree students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full-time enrollment is based on 9 credits per term.
You will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC Applying for Aid page provides important dates, including the release date and deadline for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).
- Late FAFSA submissions are still accepted throughout the academic year, but you may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid.
- If the priority deadline has passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration as soon as you enroll for your first courses.
- Depending on the time of year, you may be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority application for the following academic year.
You can also find helpful information in the Federal Student Aid Resources.
Program Eligibility
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
- Possess a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Nursing from accredited (NLN/ACEN or CCNE) programs in nursing, with a cumulative master’s GPA of 3.00 or better (4.00 scale).
- If you are still completing your master’s degree at the time you apply, admission will be based on your current cumulative GPA, and you will need to re-submit your official transcript (showing your conferred degree and final GPA) during your first semester. If your final GPA fell below 3.00, you will be given additional requirements as defined by the academic program that must be met within one calendar year to remain enrolled at UNC.
- Licensure as a registered nurse
- One to two years of teaching experience recommended, but not required, prior to program enrollment.
- The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for graduate school admission.
Eligibility for Out-of-State Students
Eligibility by State
UNC can offer distance learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the major U.S. territories. We check for changes in state rules as needed. Some states may have extra rules for internships, clinical placements, and student teaching. Visit the State Authorization page to learn more.
International Student Eligibility
No student visa: F-1 and J-1 student visas are not available for this program. However, if you are a non-U.S. citizen who will be in the U.S. under another visa category, you may be able to enroll in this program. Before you apply, please check for enrollment or employment restrictions for your visa category.
If you do apply to this program, you will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:
- Minimum English language requirements
- Applying as an international student
Meet with an Enrollment Counselor
Meet the Program Faculty
Visit the Academic Department
Are You Ready to Apply?
Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.
Program Eligibility
See the Program Eligibility section above.
International Applicants
Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.
Application Deadline
The deadline for completed applications (including all supplemental materials) each year is Feb. 1. Admission is competitive and completed applications will be reviewed soon after the deadline.
If the cohort is not filled with the initial review of applications, additional applications will be considered on a space available basis. You may contact nursing@unco.edu to see if applications are still being accepted for the upcoming fall term, or if you should apply for the following fall.
Application Process Details
- In the Nursing CAS application system, click on the “Add Program” tab, search for “University of Northern Colorado” and choose the following program via the “+” icon: Ph.D. in Nursing Education.
- Start term: choose fall term. Please note: there is a summer orientation at the beginning of he program.
View the full program-specific application details in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
Apply to This Program
Start Your NursingCAS Application