Top 20 Fastest Online Doctoral Programs

Find your degree

I want my

Focusing on

There are many reasons why some students choose to look for the absolute fastest programs for higher education, and one large reason is money. Spending longer on getting a degree usually means spending more, even though it often will mean earning more in the long run.

Another reason for choosing a fast program to earn a doctorate would be to finish school, at least for that selected path. There are different ways to go about earning a doctoral degree; some choose a program after obtaining their bachelor’s degree, while others choose a master’s program and then later go back for their doctorate. The speed of an online doctorate program often depends on which pathway the student chooses. Some 100% online colleges and universities can combine master’s and doctorate-level coursework to get the students to their doctoral goal in the fastest manner available.

Featured Programs

Other programs work from previous schooling records and can be as brief as two years and sometimes even less, provided the student already has their master’s degree. Here we’ll be taking a look at the best of both worlds. You might also want to check out our list of the most affordable online graduate programs.

Methodology

Sources used to collect data include the following:

Individual school websites
Niche
NCES
CollegeData

To determine the fastest doctoral programs, the number of credits, as well as the projected duration of the programs, were taken into consideration. The shortest possible duration was chosen in cases where there was more than one option for the duration. Schools are ranked by duration as the primary criteria.

In cases where program duration was extremely similar or tied, schools that offered the programs were then ranked by:

overall student opinion provided by Niche
affordability factor with the cost of attendance information provided by CollegeData or NCES
and a combination of student retention and graduation rates as provided by NCES

While one might argue that retention and graduation rates are not relevant to obtaining a doctoral degree, it is used as a reflection of the overall quality of the school. Schools evaluated for this ranking include private not-for-profit and public institutions.

Notes: No schools in any of OnlineCollegePlan‘s rankings are given preferential treatment, and we have never been requested to do so. Our methodology is fully disclosed so that anyone can arrive at the same ranking using the formula as explained.

Some schools or programs may have been excluded due to insufficient data available.

Students looking to attend college online may be interested in checking out our rankings for the Top 100 Best Online Colleges.

20. Concordia University Chicago

Over 5,700 students are enrolled at Concordia University Chicago in the suburban village of River Forest, Illinois. It is a private, liberal arts school and was founded in 1864 in Addison, Illinois, as Addison Teachers Seminary, and the institution is the oldest in the Concordia University system. Throughout the years, the school has grown and changed, and so have the names. The university became the current Concordia University Chicago a few years back. The Concordia University Chicago notable alumni are a talented group of individuals which includes Mark Warkentien, Paul Walter Hauser, Carl Schalk, Paul Manz, and Alice Hausman, to name just a few.

Concordia University Chicago offers students a program for a Doctorate in Business Administration with two specializations to choose from, Innovation in Health Care and Leadership and Innovation. The program is available with an online option as well as on campus. There are three courses with residency requirements; however, online courses offer flexibility for working professionals. Students will be paired with a mentor in the second term of their studies. The mentor will help the student to build their dissertation and contribute to their overall success with the program. Students should be able to complete their dissertation by the end of their third year.

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

Concordia University-Chicago’s Website – https://www.cuchicago.edu/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ConcordiaUniversityChicago

Twitter – https://twitter.com/CUChicago

19. University of Michigan-Flint

The University of Michigan-Flint, often called UM-Flint, is a public university located in Flint, Michigan. It is one of two satellite campuses in the University of Michigan system and was established in 1956. Today the school enrolls nearly 8,000 students, with the majority being undergraduates. University of Michigan-Flint notable alumni include Michael Moore, Donald Reigle, Christopher Paul Curtis, John Sinclair, and John D. Cherry, to name a few.

UM-Flint offers an online Doctor in Nursing Practice program which can be approached by multiple pathways. Students who are RNs and hold a bachelor’s degree outside of the nursing field, BSN-DNP, and MSN-DNP are eligible pathways to obtain a DNP at UM-Flint. For all pathways, there are minimal visits required to campus; however, the majority of the program is completed in the online format. For more detailed information on the program pathway you are interested in pursuing, prospective students can visit the website as well as contact the university.

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

UM Flint’s Website – https://www.umflint.edu/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/umflint

Twitter – https://twitter.com/UMFlint

18. Nova Southeastern University

The 314-acre Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus is the main campus for Nova Southeastern University, commonly called NSU or Nova. It is conveniently located minutes away from the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood airport. The institution was first chartered in 1964 as Nova University of Advanced Technology and served as a graduate school for physical and social sciences. Over time it added courses, and in 1994 it merged with Southeastern University of Health Sciences to form Nova Southeastern University. Today, NSU serves more than 21,000 students and offers more than 150 programs of study, including many professional degrees, and is known for its innovative distance education programs. Nova Southeastern University’s notable alumni include a number of successful and talented people such as Dee Gordon, J.D. Martinez, Anastagia Pierre, Will Kirby, and many more.

As a leader in distance education, NSU offers several doctoral programs in the online format. Most of these programs have a recommended 3-year sequence which can be downloaded by prospective students. As with many online programs, there may be some elements that require face-to-face meetings or time spent on campus. Students interested in online programs should read all available material and contact the school for more information. The online doctoral programs offered by NSU include:

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

NSU’s Website – https://www.nova.edu/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/NSUFlorida

Twitter – https://twitter.com/nsuflorida

17. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland, is home to Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as simply Johns Hopkins or JHU. The school was founded in 1876 and is named for its first benefactor, the American entrepreneur Johns Hopkins. He bequeathed 7 million dollars to fund a hospital and university, and at the time, it was the largest philanthropic gift in United States history. Johns Hopkins is considered the first research university in the United States. Today, the school serves more than 20,000 students from all over the United States as well as from around the world. Johns Hopkins University’s notable alumni include a vast array of people, such as multiple Nobel Laureates, the first affirmed laureate being Woodrow Wilson. Michael Bloomberg, Paul Rabil, Wilder Penfield, and Bert Vogelstein are also among the names of the many who have been students of Johns Hopkins University.

Johns Hopkins School of Education offers doctoral students an online Doctor of Education (EdD) program designed for flexibility so that participants can adapt their studies to their particular educational environment. The doctoral program is highly competitive, with limited admissions each year, with applicants from countries around the globe. As a result, graduates of the program are known to set high standards for leadership in education. They are also able to use their knowledge and apply practices to improve educational outcomes and meet challenges in their field concerning improvements in learning and being successful. Students who apply for the program are required to choose an area of specialization. The current specializations offered are Urban Leadership, Mind, Brain & Teaching, and Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education. The program duration is 3 to 4 years, and students are required to complete their dissertation within seven years.

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

Johns Hopkins’ Website – https://www.jhu.edu/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/johnshopkinsuniversity

Twitter – https://twitter.com/johnshopkins

16. University of Missouri

The University of Missouri, also known as Mizzou or MU, can be found in Columbia, Missouri. The school was founded in 1839 and was the first public institution of higher learning to be on the west side of the Mississippi River. It is the flagship campus of the University of Missouri System and is a land-grant and space-grant institution. It is one of the top research institutions in the United States and one of only 34 public universities which are members of the Association of American Universities. Currently, enrollment for Mizzou is over 30,000 students. The University of Missouri’s notable alumni are plentiful and include Brad Pitt, Sheryl Crow, Sam Walton, and Tennessee Williams, to name a small few.

The University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing offers doctoral students several online programs, which are often completed in three years of study. Although these are primarily online, most of the programs do require a visit to campus prior to starting the program for orientation and other visits throughout the course of studies.

There is a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) program offered, which requires between 56 and 77 credit hours depending on the level of degree the student already has.

Mizzou also offers several DNP programs in various concentrations online. These are:

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

Mizzou’s Website – https://missouri.edu/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Mizzou

Twitter – https://twitter.com/Mizzou

15. University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, is the flagship university of the University of Tennessee system, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK). The public land-grant and sun-grant university was founded in 1794, making it older than the 16th state, which is its home. UTK contains nine undergraduate colleges and eleven graduate colleges to serve its nearly 28,000 students who come from all over the United States and more than 100 countries around the world. The University of Tennessee’s notable alumni includes seven Rhodes Scholars, James M. Buchanan, M.S., who received the 1986 Nobel Prize in Economics, Peyton Manning, Alvin Kamara, Dave Ramsey, and Bob Corker, to name a few.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, offers doctoral students an online Doctor of Social Work in Clinical Practice and Leadership (DSW) program through their College of Social Work. Designed for working professionals, the program is offered in an intensive, accelerated format that allows students to be able to complete their degree within three years without disruption to their career or work schedule. This unique professional practice degree is taught online through both synchronous and asynchronous models. Students will take two three-credit hour courses each semester over eight continuous semesters, including the summer, which will total to 48 credit hours.

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

UTK’s Website – https://www.utk.edu/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/UTKnoxville

Twitter – https://twitter.com/utknoxville

14. East Carolina University

The public doctoral and research university of East Carolina University (ECU) is located in Greenville, North Carolina, and is the third largest in the state. The school is a land-grant and sea-grant institution as well as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity campus. The school was founded as a teacher training school in 1907 and has grown from 43 acres in the beginning to nearly 1,600 acres today. There are six properties that contain the university’s academic facilities, which are the Main Campus, Health Sciences Campus, West Research Campus, located a bit further away in Greenville, NC is the Millennial Research Innovation Campus, a Field Station for Coastal Studies is in New Holland, NC, and there is also a campus in Certaldo Alto, Italy. There is a large number of East Carolina University notable alumni who have excelled in their field, whether they are in business, politics and government, arts, entertainment, or athletics. Both Linda and Vince McMahon, Sandra Bullock, Chris Johnson, and Mike Trout are just a few names of ECU alumni.

East Carolina University College of Nursing offers students an online Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) for working professionals who want to become researchers and scholars who develop and explore the science which drives and improves nursing practice and education leading to innovations in the field. The program prepares graduates for a leadership role in nursing as well as enhancing their analytical abilities to innovate and collaborate on interdisciplinary projects. Students are required to complete at least 54 semester hours beyond their master’s degree, with at least 6 of those hours for their dissertation. Students who choose to pursue a BSN to PhD are required to complete between 72 and 77 semester hours. Students who have already obtained their DNP are still required to complete 54 semester hours, although 15 hours from a DNP program may be used to fulfill the requirements of this program.

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

ECU’s Website – https://www.ecu.edu/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/EastCarolina

Twitter – https://twitter.com/eastcarolina

13. Bradley University

Bradley University is a private university in Peoria, Illinois. The school was founded in 1897 by philanthropist Lydia Moss Bradley in loving memory of her family who passed before her. Today, the school contains five colleges and enrolls more than 5,400 students and offers over 100 undergraduate programs and more than 30 programs for graduate students. All courses are taught by professors and not teaching assistants. Bradley University’s notable alumni include a variety of professionals in areas such as politics and government, arts and entertainment, and athletics. Among the alumni are Neil Flynn, Charley Steiner, Ray LaHood, Chet Walker, and Jerry Hadley, just a few.

Bradley University offers students two online options for earning the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. The program pathway that takes less time to complete is the DNP – Leadership Track (MSN Entry), with an average of 3 years. However, students beginning with a BSN on their path to earning their DNP can complete their program in around four years which may save time in the long run, although the duration is greater program versus program. The DNP – Leadership Track is about 39 credit hours and usually takes nine semesters to complete. While there is no residency requirement, students are to complete a supervised clinical practicum and complete a clinical project in order to finish the program and earn their degree. Students are admitted into the program three times a year in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Graduates of the program will have acquired the expertise to inform and shape healthcare policy and enhanced their knowledge of financial and personnel management and leadership. They will be prepared and qualified to take on leadership roles in areas such as administration, teaching, research, and patient care.

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

Bradley’s Website – https://www.bradley.edu/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/BradleyUniversity

Twitter – https://twitter.com/bradleyu

12. Monmouth University

Monmouth University is a private university in West Long Branch, New Jersey which is in Monmouth County. The institution was founded in 1933 and was named Monmouth Junior College. It was 1956 when the school dropped the Junior to become only Monmouth College, and finally, in 1995, the school changed to Monmouth University after gaining university status. Currently, the school enrolls over 6,000 graduate and undergraduate students and offers about a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio with class sizes that are limited between 20 and 35 students, and none of their courses are taught by teaching assistants.

Monmouth University offers the doctoral program, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), for practicing nursing professionals who would like to take themselves and their careers to the next level by obtaining the highest clinical degree available in nursing. The program is 36 credit hours, and students have a choice of taking either one or two courses per semester in the fall, spring, and summer for maximum flexibility. The program will focus on organizational or systems leadership and scholarship to address the highly complex healthcare environments which continue to evolve at a rapid pace. Students are taught and mentored by the distinguished faculty at Monmouth University as they work on and complete their DNP project and the practice immersion experience in order to earn their doctoral degree.

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

Monmouth University’s Website – https://www.monmouth.edu/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MonmouthUniversity

Twitter – https://twitter.com/monmouthu

11. Maryville University of St. Louis

Maryville University of St. Louis, most often called simply Maryville or Maryville University, is a private institution which is located in the city of Town and Country, Missouri, which is a suburb in west St. Louis County. Founded in 1872 by the Religious of the Sacred Heart, the school was originally an academy for underprivileged youths and young women. There are six colleges and schools at Maryville which serve more than 6,000 enrolled students. Maryville University’s notable alumni include Sally A. Faith, Jerry Costello, Theresa Obermeyer, Adelina Otero-Warren, and many others who have gone on to excel in their chosen fields.

Maryville University offers a Doctor of Nursing Pra c tice (D.N.P.) online program for doctoral students. For professionals who have already earned their MSN, the program consists of 11 courses with 33 credit hours in total and can be completed in as few as 20 months. The program is designed for advanced practice nurses with the desire to take their careers to a higher level and learn how to impact patient care from that level. Program content that is beyond the MSN level includes:

systems thinking
health policy aimed at patient advocacy
ethics in advanced nursing practice
patient safety and quality
completion of a scholarly project that uses evidence-based practice

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

Maryville’s Website – https://www.maryville.edu/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MaryvilleUniversity

Twitter – https://twitter.com/maryvilleu

10. Regis University

Founded in 1877 by the Society of Jesus, Regis University is a private Roman Catholic university in Denver, Colorado. The university is a member of the Associate of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. Regis is comprised of 5 colleges to serve more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Regis University’s notable alumni include Bill Murray, John P. Farley, Katee Doland, Campbell Brown, Stephen McNichols, and many others who have excelled in areas such as business, athletics, politics and government, arts, and entertainment.

Regis University offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program online for nursing professionals who wish to get the highest clinical degree available. Many leaders in the nursing field obtain their DNP and are able to sit at the table with physicians and administrators in order to discuss decisions and help shape the future of healthcare. The online program has a 2-year and a 3-year option with courses beginning in the Summer session. Most courses are in an 8-week format, with only a few taking a full semester.

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

Regis University’s Website – www.regis.edu/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/regisuniversity

Twitter – https://twitter.com/regisuniversity

9. Seton Hall University

South Orange, New Jersey, is home to Seton Hall University. It is a private Roman Catholic university that was formally founded in 1856 by Newark Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley, cousin to President Theodore Roosevelt. The university is named for Bishop Bayley’s aunt, Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton, who was named the first American-born Catholic saint. Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the country. The school enrolls more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Seton Hall University’s notable alumni include a variety of those who have excelled in areas of academia, politics or government, business, athletics, literature, arts, and entertainment.

Seton Hall University offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program online for students and professionals who desire to obtain the highest possible clinical degree in the nursing field. Students will learn advanced knowledge in areas of population health, healthcare systems as well as business and evidence-based practice. The program offers two paths, one for students who have their BSN, which is between 73 and 79 credits, or 32 to 33 credits for students who have already obtained their MSN in direct or indirect care. The end of the program is the completion of the Final Scholarly Project, which has a focus on quality improvement and translational science to improve systems of care, patient outcomes, as well as safety and overall quality in clinical practice and administration.

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

SHU’s Website – https://www.shu.edu/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/setonhall

Twitter – https://twitter.com/setonhall

8. University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota (UND) is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and is a public university that was founded with a strong liberal arts foundation and has grown into a prominent research university and is classified as having high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation. Older than the state itself by six years, the school was founded in 1883, and the first classes were held the following year. Today, UND serves more than 14,000 students and is regarded as one of the top academic and research institutions in the northern Midwest. The University of North Dakota’s notable alumni are a diverse group in many different areas of excellence and notoriety, from politics and government to entertainment and the arts, sciences, to athletics. Among the alumni are eight governors of North Dakota, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and author Maxwell Anderson, and the Rhodes scholar and poet Thomas McGrath.

UND offers students an online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program for working professionals who want to be among the most educated and qualified practitioners in their profession. Graduates of the program are clinical leaders who have an integral role in their interdisciplinary healthcare teams. Nurses with their DNP utilize their expertise to improve the quality of healthcare and help influence health policies in order to provide overall better healthcare outcomes. The program lasts for five semesters and can be completed in 2 years.
School Profile

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

UND’s Website – und.edu/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/UofNorthDakota

Twitter – https://twitter.com/uofnorthdakota

7. University of Florida

The University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, Florida, is a public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university and proud home to the Gators, the name of their athletic teams. The origins of UF can be traced back as far as 1853, and the university has resided on its current campus continuously since 1906. The university is the third largest in Florida by student population, with more than 54,000 students on their 2,000-acre campus, and is the eighth largest single-campus university in the country. The University of Florida contains 16 academic colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes. University of Florida’s notable Alumni include Marco Rubio, Bob Graham, Faye Dunaway, Emmitt Smith, Kevin Ford, and many more.

The University of Florida offers doctoral students a CCNE-accredited Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program through the College of Nursing. The DNP program offered at UF was one of the state’s first DNP programs. There are two paths available for students, one is a BSN to DNP, and the other is an MSN to DNP program. The MSN to DNP program is primarily online and has minimal attendance on campus required. The program is 35 credit hours and can be completed in 5 semesters.

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

UF’s Website – www.ufl.edu/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/uflorida

Twitter – https://twitter.com/uf

6. Liberty University

Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty University (LU) is the largest Christian university in the world by enrollment and the largest non-profit university in the country. LU was founded as Lynchburg Baptist College in 1971 by the evangelist and Senior Pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church, Jerry Falwell. Five years later, the school was renamed Liberty Baptist College and changed to simply Liberty University when it obtained university status in 1984. The university has had the honor twice of having a sitting United States President to speak at its commencement, first in 1990 when George H.W. Bush spoke, and most recently in 2017 when current President Donald Trump delivered his keynote speech. Liberty University’s notable alumni include Jerry Falwell, Jr., the current President and Chancellor at LU; Jonathan Falwell, son of Jerry Falwell and Senior Pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church; William Franklin Graham IV, evangelist and grandson of Billy Graham; Terry Fator, singer, and ventriloquist; members of the Christian rock band Anthem Lights; multiple politicians of local and national levels; athletes and sports figures in many different sports; and so many more.

Liberty University offers its students a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program, which is 100% online. Doctoral students will sharpen their ministry skills and develop a deeper understanding of biblical principles and strategies which help them to serve more effectively in their pastoral roles. There are opportunities for students to interact with well-known church leaders while pursuing their doctorate in order to heighten their understanding of purpose. There are 33 total hours required for the degree; however, six of these may be transferred credits. A nine-credit hour thesis is required as part of the program. There are optional intensives available for students. There is a variety of cognates available for students to pick from, which include Biblical Studies, Chaplaincy, Church Revitalization, Discipleship, Evangelism & Church Planting, Expository Preaching, Pastoral Counseling, Pastoral Leadership, Theology and Apologetics, and Worship.
School Profile

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

LU’s Website – https://www.liberty.edu/online/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LibertyUniversityOnline

Twitter – https://twitter.com/libertyuonline

5. The College of St. Scholastica

The College of St. Scholastica is a Roman Catholic-affiliated private college in Duluth, Minnesota. While the college is able to trace its roots as far back as 1892 to a private academy, it was officially established in 1912 when it expanded to include a junior college. Today, the college enrolls more than 4,000 students and has five other campuses as well as a virtual campus. The College of St. Scholastica’s notable alumni includes Emily Larson, the mayor of Duluth; Don Ness, the former mayor of Duluth; Patrick J. Schiltz, US District Judge, District of Minnesota; Scott Jurek, the ultramarathon runner; and more.

The College of St. Scholastica offers an online Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (tDPT) program for doctoral students. The program is 100% online and can be completed in 2 years. It is also a condensed program with only six classes for students to complete for a total of 16 credit hours. The program is designed to be ideal for practicing therapists and is taught by faculty who are also experienced clinical practitioners.

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

CSS’s Website – www.css.edu/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/stscholastica

Twitter – https://twitter.com/stscholastica

4. Duquesne University

Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit, founded in 1878 and located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a private Catholic university. The school was originally named Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost and was founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. The school began with a meager 40 students and today serves more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Duquesne was the first Catholic university-level institution in Pennsylvania and is the only Spiritan institution of higher learning in the world. The name of the institution is derived from Michel-Ange Duquesne de Menneville, an 18th-century governor of New France. Duquesne University’s notable alumni include two cardinals and the current bishop of Pittsburgh.

An Online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is offered at Duquesne University for doctoral students who are ready to advance their careers as well as help shape the future of nursing. MSN-DNP graduates have many different career paths from which to choose, including healthcare administrator, healthcare manager or clinical leader, public health policy-maker, nurse executive, advanced clinical educator, and more. Coursework is completed 100% online, and students are paired with a faculty member in order to work one-on-one. The program is a total of 35 credits broken down into nine three-credit courses and two four-credit courses. Students are able to complete the program in as few as two years. While the program is online, there is a brief on-campus orientation for students before beginning their studies.

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

Duquesne University’s Website – www.duq.edu/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/duquesneuniversityoftheholyspirit

Twitter – https://twitter.com/duqedu

3. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Mercy University (GMercyU) in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania, was founded in 1948 as Gwynedd-Mercy College and was a junior college. In 1963 the college was rechartered as a baccalaureate institution of higher learning and later renamed the present Gwynedd Mercy University. The school rests on what was once known as Willowbrook Farm and was owned by the Bond Family. The family’s son, James Bond, was a well-respected ornithologist whose name later became famous as it caught Ian Fleming’s eye upon the cover of the book, Birds of the West Indies authored by James. This then became the name Fleming used for his international man of mystery.

Gwynedd Mercy University offers doctoral students an Accelerated Executive Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership ABD completion program for those who have completed coursework but have not completed their dissertation. This doctoral-level program allows students to leave behind their ABD (All But Dissertation) status and obtain their EdD. There is a minimum of 27 credit hours of coursework and practicum experience required with GMercyU, which should take about 18 months. Students will be prepared for an advanced career in areas such as research, policy analysis, or school administration upon completion.

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

GMU’s Website – https://www.gmercyu.edu/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/GMercyU

Twitter – https://twitter.com/gmercyu

2. Boston University

Boston University (BU) is located in Beantown (Boston), with its main campus along the Charles River in the great state of Massachusetts. BU can trace its roots back to 1839; however, it was not formally chartered until 1869. It is a private research university and is nonsectarian, although it is historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Boston University’s notable alumni include Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, Bill O’Reilly, Geena Davis, Jason Alexander, Howard Stern, Alfre Woodard, and many more.

Boston University College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College offers doctoral students an Online Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program. This program is designed for occupational therapy practitioners who want to help shape the future of occupational therapy. Qualified students should either have a BS and MS in occupational therapy from an ACOTE or WFOT-accredited degree program or be able to provide a National Government Recognition document of their program in occupational therapy. To be exempt from the GRE, students must have obtained a GPA of 3.0 or better (according to the U.S. 4-point scale) in their OT program. Students are able to be matriculated into the program in January, May, and September. The program offers the highest level of quality education and a strong mentorship model as students are paired in a one-on-one relationship with BU faculty. As an online program, there is a focus on flexibility in the design in harmony with personal guidance.

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

BU’s Website – https://www.bu.edu/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/BostonUniversity

Twitter – https://twitter.com/BU_Tweets

1. Frontier Nursing University

Frontier Nursing University is located in Hyden, Kentucky, and was established in 1939 by the Frontier Nursing Service. The school was previously known as The Frontier Graduate School of Midwifery and later Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing and finally, in 2011, became Frontier Nursing University. The university is also credited as being the first graduate school of nurse-midwifery to offer distance education, creating the program as a collaborative effort with several other institutions in 1989 & 1990.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice, which is the highest degree for clinical nursing practice, is offered by Frontier Nursing University and is designed for registered nurses who have the will and ambition to take their education and careers to the next level. There are two paths for doctoral students to take in order to earn their DNP. One is a post-masters DNP, and the other is starting with an MSN or PGC with an option to complete a DNP. For students who already have an MSN, the DNP program is 28 credit hours and is designed for certified nurse midwives as well as nurse practitioners. Meanwhile, students who are registered nurses seeking their MSN or Post-Graduate Certificate at Frontier Nursing University are able to complete their DNP with 19 additional credit hours as the curriculum incorporates many of the DNP core competencies.

If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:

Frontier’s Website – https://frontier.edu/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/FrontierSchool

Twitter – https://twitter.com/FrontierNursing

Related Rankings and Resources:

Spread the love