Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree vs Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing – What’s the Difference?

Similarities Between a DNP vs Ph.D.

DNP and Ph.D. nursing programs are both designed to build on nursing scholarship and practice, though eligibility varies by program and pathway. Most DNP programs are designed for nurses who already hold a nursing degree, though AACN reports entry-level (prelicensure) DNP programs structured for applicants without a prior nursing background. AACN's guidance on research-focused doctoral education likewise addresses pathways for both nurses and non-nurses. Students who already have a master's degree may be able to complete either degree faster.

Beyond prior nursing education, admission requirements vary by school and program. Prospective applicants should check with individual programs for specifics such as GPA expectations, letters of recommendation or a personal statement.

DNP programs are practice-focused, while Ph.D. programs are research-focused, and towards the end of the program, candidates in both typically complete a culminating project that reflects that focus.

• DNP students typically complete a culminating scholarly or capstone project that applies evidence-based practice to a real-world problem, such as improving a health outcome or care process.
• Ph.D. students complete a dissertation — an original research study conducted under faculty guidance. Before starting dissertation work, students learn research methods to design and carry out independent studies.

Differences Between a DNP vs Ph.D.

The DNP vs Ph.D. comparison comes down to career goals, and that’s where the differences between the two kinds of programs are most apparent.

Possible Degree Outcomes

As reported by the AACN, DNP programs can prepare nurses for advanced practice roles — such as nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified registered nurse anesthetist or certified nurse-midwife — as well as nurse education, administration, informatics and health policy careers. Ph.D. programs prepare nurses to steward the nursing profession, develop its science, and educate the next generation of nursing professionals, often through faculty and research roles.

Degree Requirements

Depending on previous nursing education, DNP and Ph.D. in Nursing program length and credit requirements vary by school and program format. Prospective students should confirm exact credit totals directly with the programs they're considering.

DNP programs often include supervised clinical practice experience tied to the student's specialty, consistent with the degree's practice focus. Ph.D. programs, which are research-focused, generally do not include a comparable clinical practice requirement.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

A DNP is a terminal degree for practicing nurses according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) DNP Fact Sheet.

DNP programs come in a variety of formats, including post-master's and post-baccalaureate (BSN-to-DNP) pathways. Nurses who already have an accredited master's degree in nursing may be able to enter a post-master's program. For nurses who have a bachelor's in nursing and no master's degree, BSN-to-DNP programs are available. These programs may help nurses earn their DNP in an accelerated format.

Students in a DNP program may choose an advanced practice specialty aligned with one of the four APRN roles — nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified registered nurse anesthetist or certified nurse-midwife. Common concentration areas include:

• Family.
• Women’s health.
• Adult-gerontology.
• Pediatrics.
• Nurse midwifery.
• Acute care.
• Primary care.
• Nurse anesthesiology.

How long it takes to earn a DNP depends on your educational background, chosen program format and study pace, and varies by school. Coursework varies by school and specialty but often includes evidence-based practice, leadership and biostatistics, in addition to classes in the practice specialty. You'll also perform clinical hours and complete an evidence-based practice research project.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing

A nursing Ph.D. may be for nurses who want to expand the science of nursing through scholarly research. With a Ph.D. in nursing, nurses may be able to work with an interdisciplinary team that researches interventions to improve patient care. As a Ph.D. student, you may conduct dissertation research under a faculty mentor. You may also get training and hands-on experience in teaching, should you desire to join a nursing faculty after earning your degree. There are 144 Ph.D. nursing programs in the United States. These programs enrolled 4,077 students, with 787 graduating, according to AACN's most recent data.

Education Requirements

The curriculum for a Ph.D. in nursing centers on research training — students take coursework in statistical methods and measurement in healthcare research, and learn to design and carry out independent quantitative and qualitative studies.

Other foundational classes may cover philosophical and scientific perspectives in nursing and responsibilities of the nurse scientist. You’ll also learn how to write grant applications to find funds for your work.

The curriculum may include courses in a specialized area or electives that allow you to choose topics you’re interested in. Examples might include health policy, nursing education, translational research or writing for publication.

A Ph.D. in nursing also generally includes a dissertation. Once you finish the dissertation, you may have to present your findings and defend them.

Salary

The salary you may earn with a nursing Ph.D. depends on what sort of a career you pursue.

Nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists — the combined occupational group tracked together by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — earned a median salary of $134,920 in May 2025. This BLS figure doesn’t include clinical nurse specialists. Nurses who earn a DNP may continue to work in a nurse practitioner role, and the BLS doesn’t separate out salaries specifically for nurses with a DNP.

The BLS also doesn’t break out salaries for nurses with a Ph.D. However, Ph.D. nurses may become involved in medical research, which the BLS includes in its medical scientists category. The median salary of medical scientists was $103,410 per year in May 2025.

Graduates with a nursing Ph.D. may choose to teach at a university. The median pay for postsecondary teachers was $82,250 per year in May 2025, the BLS reports. Learn more about nursing salaries.

What Can You Do With a Ph.D. in Nursing?

A Ph.D. in nursing is a research-focused degree that may help open the doors to a career in research. As a nurse researcher, you may help look for ways to improve patient outcomes or deliver healthcare services. The work of nurse researchers expands the foundational science that underlies nursing practice and has real-life consequences for patients. Just as DNP nurses are experts in an advanced practice specialty, nurse researchers develop expertise in their research area.

As nurse researchers, Ph.D. graduates create, test and communicate new nursing knowledge. Specific tasks may include:

• Deciding what questions to research.
• Designing the research study.
• Conducting tests.
• Analyzing the data.
• Sharing the findings.
• Locating funding for research.

Nurse researchers may begin their careers in research assistant or clinical data coordinator roles before assuming a lead researcher position. A nursing doctorate may also help prepare graduates to teach students preparing for a nursing career or seeking an advanced nursing education. The majority of four-year nursing faculty vacancies require or prefer a doctoral degree — AACN's 2025 Faculty Vacancy Report found that 80.9% of reported vacancies required or preferred a doctorate.

Should I Consider a DNP or Ph.D. in Nursing?

If you want to continue working with patients and provide care at the highest level, a DNP helps prepare you for that career. You may develop leadership skills to manage interdisciplinary healthcare teams and grow in your ability to translate nursing research into actions and policies that improve the patient care you and your team provide.

If you're excited about the science that informs nursing practice, a Ph.D. may help prepare you for a research role. As a researcher, you may uncover new knowledge related to disease prevention, or at least expand your understanding of certain diseases. By communicating your findings in research journals and other mediums, clinicians may apply your discoveries in real-life settings.