Data Spotlight: A Closer Look at PhD in Nursing Program Enrollment and Graduations

In May 2023, AACN announced that enrollments in research-focused doctoral level nursing programs declined, with an average decline in research-focused doctoral enrollments of 4.1% from the 2021 to 2022 school year. The greatest regional decline in enrollment was seen in the schools in the North Atlantic region, with a 7.8% decline.

Graduation rates also declined between the 2021 and 2022 academic school years, with an average decrease in research-focused doctoral graduations of 4.8%. Graduation rates rose in some regions, increasing the most in the North Atlantic region, with an average increase in research-focused doctoral graduations of 23.8% or 37 additional graduates. The Midwest, however, experienced the largest decline in research-focused doctoral graduations, with an average decrease of 15% or 28 fewer graduates.

Figure 1: Enrollment Changes in Research-Focused Doctoral Nursing Programs 2021-2022
^{Datasource: AACN Annual Surveys, n = 146 schools}

Figure 2: Graduation Changes in Research-Focused Doctoral Nursing Programs 2021-2022
^{Datasource: AACN Annual Surveys, n = 146 schools}

From 2021 to 2022, private religious schools reported an 8.4% decline in enrollment in research-focused doctoral programs. Similarly, public schools reported a 3.8% decrease in enrollment. Private secular schools reported the smallest decline, at 1.3%. In contrast, private religious schools increased graduations within their research-focused doctoral programs from 2021 to 2022, with an average increase of 4.5%. In contrast, from 2021 to 2022, private secular schools saw a decrease in graduations of 1.2% and public schools a decrease of 8.5%. Figures 3 and 4 describe these changes.

Figure 3: Research-Focused Doctoral Enrollment Percentage Change 2021 to 2022, Public and Private Schools

Figure 4: Research-Focused Doctoral Graduation Percentage Change 2021 to 2022, Public and Private Schools