Quick Highlights
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- The DNP is a practice doctorate built for clinical leadership; the PhD is a research doctorate built for generating new nursing science.
- DNP programs enroll far more students than PhD programs nationally: 44,976 students were enrolled in DNP programs in 2025, versus 4,077 in PhD programs, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
- A PhD typically takes 4 to 7 years and ends in a dissertation defense; a DNP takes as few as 14 months after the MSN at A-State and ends in a practice-focused scholarly project.
- Neither degree is required for NP licensure, but a doctorate opens different doors depending on which one you choose.
Once you have decided you want a terminal degree in nursing, the decision is whether that degree should be a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a PhD. The two credentials look similar on a resume but prepare you for almost opposite kinds of work. Compare career paths, timelines and structure so you can choose the doctorate that fits the career you want. Arkansas State University (A-State) offers a DNP – General online program that is built for the practice side of this decision.
DNP vs. PhD in Nursing Comparison
The table below lines up the two doctorates side by side, from core focus and clinical-hour requirements to national enrollment and what each pathway costs at A-State. Use it as a quick reference before the details in each section that follows.
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Factor
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DNP
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PhD in Nursing
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|---|---|---|
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Degree type
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Practice doctorate
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Research doctorate
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|
Core focus
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Clinical leadership, quality improvement, systems-level practice
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Original research, scientific inquiry, knowledge generation
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|
Typical timeline
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3 to 4 years from BSN; as few as 14 months from MSN at A-State
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4 to 7 years, regardless of entry point
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|
Clinical hours
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Required (540 practice hours at A-State)
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Not required
|
|
Capstone
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Scholarly practice project, often at your own workplace
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Dissertation, defended before a committee
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|
Typical career path
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Clinical leadership, health-system administration, clinician-educator
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Full-time research, tenure-track academic faculty
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|
National enrollment (2025)
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44,976 students
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4,077 students
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|
A-State total tuition (2026)
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$20,160
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Not offered by A-State; comparison only
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A-State admission floor and states (2026)
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MSN with 40-plus faculty-supervised clinical hours, 3.25 graduate GPA, unencumbered RN license; state availability is limited, so confirm yours with a student engagement specialist
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Not applicable; A-State does not currently offer a PhD in Nursing program online
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This reflects published program details as of September 2026 and is subject to change; confirm current tuition, credit hours and admission requirements directly with A-State. These differences in structure and focus play out in very different day-to-day experiences. The next sections break down what each degree involves, starting with the DNP.
What Is a DNP?
A DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) is a practice doctorate that prepares nurse leaders to improve patient outcomes and translate research into practice at the highest level of clinical and administrative responsibility. DNP curricula build on the MSN by adding coursework in evidence-based practice, quality improvement and systems leadership, according to the AACN DNP Fact Sheet. Rather than producing new nursing research, DNP-prepared nurses are trained to implement the science that PhD-prepared researchers generate.
DNP enrollment has grown steadily and now dwarfs PhD enrollment: AACN counted 44,976 students enrolled in DNP programs across 452 schools of nursing in 2025, up from 42,767 the year before. That marks 22 consecutive years of growth for the DNP, even as PhD enrollment has declined for 11 straight years.
What Is a PhD in Nursing?
A PhD in Nursing is a research doctorate that prepares nurses to design and conduct original research, secure grant funding and pursue a career centered on generating new nursing science rather than direct clinical leadership. PhD programs are far less common than DNP programs. According to AACN’s PhD in Nursing data page, there are only 144 PhD in Nursing programs nationally, with 4,077 students enrolled and 787 graduates in the most recent reporting year, a fraction of the DNP’s footprint.
Important Note
A PhD in Nursing is not a clinical credential upgrade. It does not expand your scope of practice as an NP or any other APRN role; it is a separate career track centered on research rather than direct patient care leadership.
Can a DNP Do Research? Can a PhD Nurse Practice Clinically?
A DNP-prepared nurse can and often does use research, translating existing evidence into practice changes at the bedside or system level, but a DNP program does not train nurses to design original research studies the way a PhD does. A PhD-prepared nurse who also holds an NP license can absolutely continue practicing clinically; the PhD does not remove clinical credentials already earned. What changes is emphasis: DNP training centers on applying evidence, while PhD training centers on producing it.
This division of labor shows up throughout a health system: a DNP-prepared nurse leader might identify a recurring patient-safety problem and lead the effort to fix it, drawing on research findings a PhD-prepared scientist originally produced. The two roles depend on each other, which is one reason many health systems and universities employ both DNP- and PhD-prepared nurses rather than expecting one degree to cover both jobs.
How Long Does Each Degree Take?
A DNP typically takes 3 to 4 years from a BSN or as few as 14 months from an MSN at A-State; a PhD typically takes 4 to 7 years regardless of entry point. The gap comes down to structure, not effort: a PhD’s dissertation research can’t be compressed the way a DNP’s practice-focused capstone can, according to AACN’s State of Doctor of Nursing Practice Education in 2022 report.
- BSN-to-DNP: typically averages around 74 credit hours and 3 to 4 years of study.
- MSN-to-DNP: typically around 38 credit hours and 2 to 3 years, though A-State’s DNP – General runs as few as 14 months for MSN-prepared nurses.
- Post-master’s PhD: commonly four to five-plus years to completion.
- BSN-to-PhD: typically five or more years to completion.
The structural reason for the gap is straightforward: DNP programs require clinical practice hours but not a dissertation, while PhD programs require no clinical hours but do require an original dissertation defended before a faculty committee. That trade-off of hands-on practice hours versus independent research is what ultimately drives the timeline difference between the two degrees.
Which Degree Is Better for Becoming a Nursing School Professor?
Both degrees can lead to faculty positions, but they typically lead to different kinds of faculty roles. PhD-prepared faculty are more likely to run research programs, pursue grant funding and hold tenure-track positions built around scholarly output. DNP-prepared faculty are more likely to teach clinical practice courses, supervise practicum students and hold clinical or practice-track faculty appointments, often while continuing to practice part time.
Neither path is inherently more prestigious. Nursing schools need both research faculty and practice faculty, and many employ both DNP- and PhD-prepared faculty side by side.
Who Should Choose the DNP?
The DNP fits nurses who want to stay connected to practice while moving into leadership. If you want a closer look at what the degree covers day to day and how the application process works, What Is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)? and How to Become a Doctor of Nursing Practice go deeper. Consider the DNP if you are:
- A working NP who wants to move into clinical leadership, program direction or department-level quality improvement without leaving direct practice behind entirely.
- A healthcare executive or administrator who wants doctoral-level credentials for a system-level leadership role.
- A clinician-educator who wants to teach practice courses while continuing to see patients part time.
If instead you want to design studies, publish in peer-reviewed journals and build a career around producing new nursing knowledge, the PhD is the better fit. Look at research-intensive universities with an established PhD in Nursing program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a DNP and a PhD in nursing?
The DNP is a practice doctorate focused on clinical leadership and applying evidence at scale. The PhD is a research doctorate focused on generating new nursing science.
Which is better for a nurse practitioner, DNP or PhD?
Neither is required for NP licensure. The DNP fits NPs who want to move into clinical leadership or administration; the PhD fits NPs who want to shift toward full-time research.
Can a DNP do research? Can a PhD nurse practice clinically?
A DNP-prepared nurse applies existing research to practice but is not trained to design original studies. A PhD-prepared nurse who holds clinical licensure can still practice; the PhD adds a research focus rather than removing clinical credentials.
How long does a PhD in nursing take compared to a DNP?
A PhD typically takes 4 to 7 years regardless of entry point. A DNP typically takes 3 to 4 years from a BSN or as few as 14 months from an MSN at A-State.
Is a DNP or PhD better for becoming a nursing school professor?
Both can lead to faculty roles, but PhD-prepared faculty more often hold research-focused, tenure-track positions, while DNP-prepared faculty more often hold practice-focused teaching roles.
Does a PhD in nursing pay more than a DNP?
Pay depends heavily on the role each degree leads to (research faculty versus clinical leadership) rather than the credential itself, so there is no single reliable premium to cite either way.
Is a DNP a real doctorate?
Yes. The DNP is a terminal practice doctorate recognized alongside the PhD as one of nursing’s two doctoral pathways, distinguished by its practice focus rather than research focus.
Can I fund a PhD in nursing through an assistantship?
Many PhD programs at research-intensive universities offer research or teaching assistantships that can offset tuition costs; availability varies by school and should be confirmed directly with each program.
Key Takeaways
- The DNP is a practice doctorate; the PhD is a research doctorate, and the two lead to different careers.
- DNP programs require clinical practice hours and a workplace-based scholarly project; PhD programs require a defended dissertation and no clinical hours.
- At A-State, the online DNP – General runs $20,160 in total tuition; pursuing a PhD means comparing tuition, funding, and assistantship options at whichever research-intensive university you choose.
- Choose the DNP for clinical leadership and administration; choose the PhD for a research-centered academic career.
Ready for a practice-focused doctorate you can complete without pausing your career? Explore A-State’s online DNP – General program and see how the timeline and cost compare to starting a PhD elsewhere.