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Best Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region

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2023 Best Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region

25 Schools Ranked

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for nursing students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.

The Best Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 25 schools in the Far Western US Region to see which doctor's degree programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students. To come up with a school's ranking, we analyzed numerous factors related to post-graduation wages, the quality of education offered by the school, average accumulated student debt, and more.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, California

Our 2023 rankings named Point Loma Nazarene University the best school in the Far Western US Region for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at PLNU. In fact, around 56% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

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#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
$13,036 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent doctor’s degree programs at University of California - Los Angeles helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Far Western US Region .

Online graduate courses are available at UCLA, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 79% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on University of California - Los Angeles

#3

University of Nevada - Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada
$6,607 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Nevada - Las Vegas. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list.

Online graduate courses are available at UNLV, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 64% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

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#4

Gonzaga University

Spokane, Washington
$14,878 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Gonzaga University is a great place for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree.

Gonzaga does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 92% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

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#5

University of Portland

Portland, Oregon

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Portland. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list.

University of Portland is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each graduate student at the school took at least one class online.

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#6

University of California - Davis

Davis, California
$13,608 Average Tuition & Fees

University of California - Davis came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UC Davis. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 52% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on University of California - Davis

$8,087 Average Tuition & Fees

California State University - Fresno came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Fresno State. During the 2019-2020 year, about 98% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on California State University - Fresno

#8

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
$27,250 Average Tuition & Fees

University of San Francisco landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best doctor’s degree nursing programs.

USFCA does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 100% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full University of San Francisco Report

#9

Seattle University

Seattle, Washington
$14,310 Average Tuition & Fees

Seattle University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list.

Seattle U does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 71% took at least some of their classes online.

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#10

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California
$16,696 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #10, Azusa Pacific University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree.

Since the graduate programs at Azusa Pacific are primarily online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.

Full Azusa Pacific University Report

#11

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
$9,286 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #11, San Jose State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at San Jose State. In fact, around 94% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on San Jose State University

#12

University of Alaska Anchorage

Anchorage, Alaska
$12,148 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #12, University of Alaska Anchorage did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UAA. In 2019-2020 about 92% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

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#13

Brandman University

Irvine, California
$12,720 Average Tuition & Fees

Brandman University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list.

Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Brandman. Every graduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Full Brandman University Report

#14

California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, California
$8,410 Average Tuition & Fees

California State University - Fullerton ranked #14 on this year’s Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Cal State Fullerton. During the 2019-2020 year, about 99% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full California State University - Fullerton Report

#15

University of California - Irvine

Irvine, California
$13,356 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #15, University of California - Irvine did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UC Irvine does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 95% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on University of California - Irvine

#16

Seattle Pacific University

Seattle, Washington

Seattle Pacific University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #16 on the list.

SPU does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 83% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Seattle Pacific University Report

$6,290 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #17, University of Nevada - Reno did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree.

Online graduate courses are available at UNR, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 33% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full University of Nevada - Reno Report

#18

Pacific Lutheran University

Tacoma, Washington
$29,684 Average Tuition & Fees

Pacific Lutheran University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #18 on the list.

One thing to take note of is that PLU does offer online graduate classes in some areas. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 94% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Pacific Lutheran University

$17,754 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #19 on the list.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UW Seattle does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 7% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on University of Washington - Seattle Campus

#20

California Baptist University

Riverside, California
$14,320 Average Tuition & Fees

California Baptist University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region list.

Cal Baptist does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 45% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on California Baptist University

#21

University of San Diego

San Diego, California
$28,410 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #21, University of San Diego did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree.

One thing to take note of is that USD does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 24% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on University of San Diego

#22

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington
$13,740 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #22, Washington State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree.

Online graduate courses are available at Wazzu, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 30% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Washington State University Report

#23

Hawaii Pacific University

Honolulu, Hawaii
$20,600 Average Tuition & Fees

Hawaii Pacific University landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best doctor’s degree nursing programs.

One thing to take note of is that Hawaii Pacific University does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 47% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#24

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, Hawaii
$16,502 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Hawaii at Manoa did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #24 on the list.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UH Manoa. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 34% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on University of Hawaii at Manoa

$12,230 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Hawaii at Hilo landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best doctor’s degree nursing programs.

UH Hilo does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 33% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

View Best Doctor’s Degree Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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