What’s the Difference Between a DNP and a PhD?
Written by:
University of Tulsa
• Dec 8, 2025
Only about 5% of nurses held a doctoral-level degree in 2024, according to the NCSBN National Nursing Workforce Study. However, the number of positions for these highly trained nurses is growing rapidly, with health care greatly needing more nurses who have advanced degrees and the qualifications and expertise that come with them. The difference between a DNP and a PhD in Nursing informs what type of work these professionals do.
With a Doctor of Nursing Practice program, students can prepare to be a future leader in advanced clinical practice, while Doctor of Philosophy graduates often take more research-focused paths.
Comparing a DNP and a PhD in Nursing
While both DNP and PhD programs prepare nursing professionals for leadership roles, these doctoral-level educated nurses often enter different fields of nursing practice.
What Is a DNP?
A DNP is an advanced degree designed to prepare registered nurses (RNs) for leadership roles by advancing their practice, skills, and autonomy. DNP programs focus on evidence-based advanced clinical practice, allowing nurses to hone their skills to become advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). They can also take on roles as educators or administrators.
What Is a PhD in Nursing?
A PhD in Nursing degree takes a more academic approach than a DNP degree, focusing less on advanced clinical practice and more on preparing nurses to conduct scholarly research. Nurses who earn a PhD in Nursing come away with skills that allow them to perform in-depth research that shapes the future of nursing and health care in general.
How Are a DNP and a PhD in Nursing Similar?
DNP and PhD programs may focus on different areas, but they’re both good options for nursing professionals ready to pursue career advancement. In most cases, individuals working toward these degrees come from a similar background: RNs or other nursing professionals with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
Key Differences Between a DNP and a PhD
The main difference between a DNP and a PhD is that a DNP focuses on evidence-based advanced practice, while a PhD focuses on research and advanced theory. Because of this fundamental difference, the programs also diverge in curriculum, duration of study, and career outcomes.
Core Curriculum
DNP coursework covers topics such as organizational leadership, informatics, and essential theory in advanced nursing. While both DNP and PhD programs help students hone analytical skills, DNP programs are generally more focused on applying these skills in administrative or educational settings. By comparison, PhD programs teach analytics as a basis for research.
Topics in PhD programs include the history of nursing; research methodologies; and social, economic, ethical, and political issues that intersect with the study of nursing.
Duration of Study
Earning a PhD typically takes longer than earning a DNP. While DNP programs can be completed in as little as three years, most PhD programs take four to six years. However, it’s worth considering how much time students dedicate to preparing for these programs.
The first option for PhD candidates is to earn a BSN, which generally takes four years to complete, followed by an MSN, which generally takes up to three years. The second option is an RN to PhD program, in which BSN-prepared RNs take an accelerated path to obtain a PhD in just four years. In total, earning a PhD can require eight to 13 years of schooling.
These paths are similar for DNP programs. Some require an MSN, while others are designed for BSN-prepared RNs to take an accelerated path to advanced practice without earning an MSN. In total, nurses pursuing a DNP should prepare for seven to 10 years of schooling.
Occasionally, students can pursue dual DNP and PhD degrees simultaneously, but these programs are rare.
Career Outcomes
Both DNP and PhD programs aim to make students experts in their profession. However, how they apply their expertise differs. One common career outcome of DNP programs is becoming an APRN. APRNs hold critical positions with specialized knowledge, such as nurse practitioners (NPs). According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), NPs earned a median annual salary of $129,210 as of May 2024.
New APRNs are in demand. Between 2023 and 2033, the BLS estimates that the number of positions for these nursing professionals will grow by 40%, far outpacing the national average. Other potential career paths for DNP holders include nurse manager, clinical nurse specialist (CNS), and chief nursing officer (CNO).
PhD in Nursing graduates tend to go into more research-intensive careers in roles such as nurse scientist, using research to improve the field of nursing and patient care. A nurse scientist is a type of medical scientist, a position that the BLS reports had a median annual salary of about $100,600 as of 2024. This field is also growing quickly, with positions projected to increase by 11% between 2023 and 2033. Other potential careers for PhD holders include nurse educator, health care consultant, and health policy manager.
Become a Leader in Nursing With The University of Tulsa
While both programs shape future nursing leaders, the difference between a DNP and a PhD is the type of leaders they create. A PhD program prepares students for roles in research that influence health policy and practice. A DNP program prepares students for hands-on roles, such as NP, specialized educator, and health care administrator.
The University of Tulsa’s online Family Nurse Practitioner, Doctor of Nursing Practice (FNP, DNP) program offers a flexible, fully online learning experience that allows RNs to transition to leadership and APRN roles, and in particular a career as a family nurse practitioner, in as little as three years. Students come away with comprehensive, advanced knowledge that allows them to provide primary care for patients of all ages.
Hone your skills and become the leader you were meant to be with TU.
Recommended Readings
How an MSN Can Increase Autonomy in Nursing
How an MSN Can Prepare You for Advanced Nursing Practice
How Much Do RNs Make in Oklahoma?
Sources:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, PhD Education
American Nurses Association, Understanding the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree
Florence Nightingale Journal of Nursing, “Expected Roles of PhD Graduated Nurses: A Scoping Review”
Incredible Health, “What Is an MSN Degree?”
Indeed, PhD in Nursing: Definition, Benefits and How to Earn One
Indeed, 13 Doctorate in Nursing Practice Jobs You Can Pursue
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medical Scientists
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners
