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Most Popular Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in the Southwest Region

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2023 Most Popular Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in the Southwest Region

34 Schools Ranked

With all the nursing programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Most Popular Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 34 schools in the Southwest Region to see which doctor's degree programs were the most popular for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.

Learn more about these popular schools below:

#1

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, Arizona
368 Total Awards
$11,538 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Grand Canyon University to be the most popular school for nursing students who want to pursue a doctor’s degree in the Southwest Region . This large private for-profit school is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and it awarded 368 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 90% of those degree recipients were women.

Grand Canyon University does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 96% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

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#2

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
108 Total Awards
$13,460 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means University of Arizona is a great place for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree. University of Arizona is a public institution located in Tucson, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 108 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 93% were women.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since University of Arizona does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In fact, around 37% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

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#3

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, Texas
83 Total Awards
$32,268 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent doctor’s degree programs at Texas Christian University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in the Southwest Region . TCU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Fort Worth, Texas. It awarded 83 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.

Online graduate courses are available at TCU, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 82% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Texas Christian University

80 Total Awards
$12,608 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent doctor’s degree programs at Arizona State University - Tempe helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in the Southwest Region . ASU - Tempe is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 80 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 91% were women.

ASU - Tempe 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, 42% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

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50 Total Awards
$10,853 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you attend The University of Texas at Arlington. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. UT Arlington is located in Arlington, Texas and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 doctor’s degrees to qualified students.

Around 94% of those degree recipients were women.

Online graduate courses are available at UT Arlington, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 65% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full The University of Texas at Arlington Report

49 Total Awards
$10,409 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #6, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree. UTHealth is a medium-sized public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 49 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 82% of those degree recipients were women.

UTHealth does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 3% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

#6

Baylor University

Waco, Texas
49 Total Awards

Baylor University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. Baylor is a private not-for-profit institution located in Waco, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 49 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.

Online graduate courses are available at Baylor, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 77% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

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#8

Texas Wesleyan University

Fort Worth, Texas
34 Total Awards
$21,243 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #8, Texas Wesleyan University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree. Texas Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Fort Worth, Texas that handed out 34 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 79% were women.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Texas Wesleyan does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 59% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Texas Wesleyan University

31 Total Awards

The University of Texas at Austin did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #9 on the list. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctor’s degrees to 31 students in 2020-2021.

Around 87% of those degree recipients were women.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UT Austin. In fact, around 66% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

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30 Total Awards
$9,080 Average Tuition & Fees

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Lubbock, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctor’s degrees to 30 students in 2020-2021.

Around 80% of those degree recipients were women.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since TTUHSC does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In fact, around 61% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

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#10

Oklahoma City University

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
30 Total Awards
$13,410 Average Tuition & Fees

Oklahoma City University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctor’s degrees to 30 students in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 97% were women.

One thing to take note of is that OCU does offer online graduate classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 12% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Oklahoma City University

#12

Aspen University

Denver, Arizona
25 Total Awards
$4,357 Average Tuition & Fees

Aspen University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Aspen University is a private for-profit institution located in Denver, Arizona. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 25 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 84% were women.

If you are interested in distance education, Aspen University is an excellent choice, since graduate classes are offered online.

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#12

Texas Woman's University

Denton, Texas
25 Total Awards
$7,704 Average Tuition & Fees

Texas Woman’s University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. TWU is located in Denton, Texas and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 doctor’s degrees to qualified students.

Of those students who received their degree, 88% were women.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at TWU. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 88% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Texas Woman’s University

25 Total Awards
$11,471 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #12, The University of Texas Medical Branch did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree. Galveston, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctor’s degrees to 25 students in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 92% were women.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UTMB Galveston. In 2019-2020 about 31% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on The University of Texas Medical Branch

#15

Midwestern University - Glendale

Glendale, Arizona
20 Total Awards
$49,283 Average Tuition & Fees

Midwestern University - Glendale came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Glendale, Arizona, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 20 diplomas to qualifed doctor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Midwestern University - Glendale does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In fact, around 1% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#16

Abilene Christian University

Abilene, Texas
19 Total Awards

Abilene Christian University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Abilene Christian is located in Abilene, Texas and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 doctor’s degrees to qualified students.

Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Abilene Christian does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 79% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

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19 Total Awards
$4,464 Average Tuition & Fees

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. UT Health San Antonio is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 19 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 89% of those degree recipients were women.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UT Health San Antonio. In fact, around 1% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

#16

University of Tulsa

Tulsa, Oklahoma
19 Total Awards
$25,182 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Tulsa ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. University of Tulsa is a private not-for-profit institution located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 19 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 89% of those degree recipients were women.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at University of Tulsa. During the 2019-2020 year, about 10% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

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#19

University of New Mexico - Main Campus

Albuquerque, New Mexico
18 Total Awards
$7,115 Average Tuition & Fees

University of New Mexico - Main Campus landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. UNM is a public institution located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 83% were women.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UNM. In fact, around 38% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full University of New Mexico - Main Campus Report

17 Total Awards
$8,110 Average Tuition & Fees

The University of Texas at Tyler ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. This medium-sized public school is located in Tyler, Texas, and it awarded 17 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 82% were women.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UT Tyler. In 2019-2020 about 90% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on The University of Texas at Tyler

#21

University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, Texas
16 Total Awards
$19,840 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #21, University of the Incarnate Word did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctor’s degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 75% were women.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UIW does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 91% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#21

Baylor College of Medicine

Houston, Texas
16 Total Awards
$29,896 Average Tuition & Fees

Baylor College of Medicine did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #21 on the list. Baylor College of Medicine is a small private not-for-profit school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 16 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.

Online graduate courses are available at Baylor College of Medicine, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 65% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Baylor College of Medicine

#23

New Mexico State University - Main Campus

Las Cruces, New Mexico
15 Total Awards
$5,926 Average Tuition & Fees

New Mexico State University - Main Campus ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, the fairly large public school awarded 15 diplomas to qualifed doctor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 80% were women.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at NMSU Main Campus. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 50% took at least some of their classes online.

Full New Mexico State University - Main Campus Report

14 Total Awards

University of Phoenix - Arizona ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. UOPX - Arizona is located in Tempe, Arizona and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 doctor’s degrees to qualified students.

Of those students who received their degree, 93% were women.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UOPX - Arizona. In 2019-2020 about 99% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#25

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, Texas
11 Total Awards
$7,179 Average Tuition & Fees

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Corpus Christi, Texas, the fairly large public school handed out 11 doctor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.

Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Texas A&M Corpus Christi. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 86% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

  • 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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