The best degree program of any kind is going to be the degree program that exists where your needs and goals meet. The program that is the best fit for you is one that is financially accessible, has a curriculum that engages you and equips you with the knowledge and skills that you need to excel in your career, and fits into your schedule. There are almost a hundred schools in America that offer online doctorate degrees in nursing, so the perfect degree program isn’t far from your reach if you know what your needs are and what some of the technical things to look into are. Because of those technical things, Vanderbilt University offers one of the best online doctorate degrees in the field.

Deciding to pursue a doctorate degree is a huge step, but after you make that decision, then comes the part that most aspiring college students consider the most daunting: selecting a school. When you are looking for an online doctorate, there are some key points to consider that will help you to narrow down that list and ultimately select the best one. Firstly, what delivery format is going to make the most sense for you? There are programs that are entirely online that you can complete anywhere, and there are hybrid programs that have some traditional classes mixed in with web-based coursework. Do you prefer an asynchronous program that is self-paced so you can log in any time of day and work at your own pace? Or are you someone that wants the interactive experience without having to relocate? Synchronous programs have students come online and participate in class in real time at scheduled times as they would do on campus. Secondly, do you want to study full-time or part-time? Some schools offer part-time online doctorate programs so that you have a smaller course load; some even allow you to take more classes at once to complete your degree faster. Lastly, what specifically do you want to do in your career? Make sure that you look into programs that offer electives that cover those topics, or even better; there may be a specialization available that fits in with your aspirations.

Like we touched on earlier, there are some things “under the hood” so to speak that should contribute to your decision. You need to make sure that the school you’re interested in is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education. Because you want to find a doctorate in nursing, programmatic accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education is necessary. You should also consider the level of experience that the faculty of the program has, and academic quality of the school. Looking at freshman retention and graduation rates are excellent indicators of quality, as is looking at exam pass rates specific to your prospective program. All things considered, Vanderbilt University offers some of the best available online doctorates in nursing. The Vanderbilt University School of Nursing was established over a century ago, creating its first nursing doctorate in 1993. The entire faculty holds PhDs, have extensive and diverse experience, and many of them have been published in medical journals. The PhD in Nursing is their distance-accessible degree that offers concentrations in Clinical Research and Health Services Research. The majority of courses are self-paced with a handful requiring you to log in at set times once per week, there are only three times throughout the year that you’d have to go to campus, and you can choose to study part-time or full-time. The program is open to applicants with a BSN, has scholarship and financial aid opportunities, and opens students up to a world-renowned network of scholars and researchers. The online doctorate program in nursing at Vanderbilt is among the best in the world!

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