Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing Leadership

Credit Hours

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026

Join a Community of Dedicated Professionals in Healthcare

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing Leadership at Liberty University provides a comprehensive online education designed to help you prepare to pursue roles in the healthcare industry. This program offers a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, focusing on leadership, research, and nursing practice. As a student in this program, you can enhance your ability to drive change within healthcare organizations, influence policy, and contribute to the advancement of nursing science.

Liberty University’s online format allows you to balance your studies with personal and professional responsibilities. You can engage with a dynamic curriculum that integrates leadership theories with real-world applications, laying the groundwork for tackling the complexities of modern healthcare systems. The program emphasizes the development of critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and innovative problem-solving skills essential for effective leadership in nursing.

Your journey through this PhD program culminates in a dissertation, where you will have the opportunity to conduct original research that contributes to the body of knowledge in nursing leadership. This dissertation not only allows you to demonstrate your expertise but also can help you prepare to take on different roles in academia, research, and executive leadership within the healthcare sector.

Your officially conferred degree name will be Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing Leadership.

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600+ Online Degrees
No Standardized Testing for Admission
Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty’s PhD in Nursing Online Program?

Choosing Liberty University for your PhD in Nursing Leadership means joining a community committed to academic excellence and Christian values. This supportive environment fosters both your intellectual and spiritual growth, ensuring a holistic educational experience. Liberty’s faculty comprises seasoned professionals and scholars who possess a wealth of experience and knowledge, providing you with mentorship and guidance throughout your academic journey.

Liberty’s online learning platform is designed with flexibility and convenience in mind, allowing you to access coursework, resources, and support services from anywhere with an internet connection. You can engage in interactive discussions, collaborate with peers, and receive feedback from instructors, all while maintaining your professional and personal commitments. The aim of this flexible online format is to allow you to advance your education without compromising your current responsibilities.

What Will You Study in Our Online PhD in Nursing Program?

In the PhD in Nursing Leadership program, you will explore a diverse range of courses that can help equip you with skills and knowledge for leadership roles within healthcare. Courses such as Leading Organizational Change and Ethical Leadership can help you prepare to navigate and implement change management strategies and uphold ethical standards in complex healthcare environments. You will also delve into informatics, technology, and trends for transforming healthcare, where you can learn how to leverage technology to improve patient care and operational efficiency.

Courses such as Leadership in Healthcare Transformation as well as Public Health Administration and Leadership will provide you with insights into driving systemic improvements and managing public health initiatives. Through Policy in Health Care, you will study the intricacies of healthcare policymaking and its impact on practice and administration. Your research skills can be honed through courses in advanced educational statistics, quantitative research, and qualitative research, allowing you to become adept at analyzing data and conducting rigorous research. You can choose to deepen your research expertise with either Advanced Quantitative Methods of Nursing Research or Advanced Qualitative Methods of Nursing Research, tailoring your studies to your interests and career goals.

An essential part of your doctoral journey will be the dissertation, where you will apply your learning to investigate a specific issue in nursing leadership. This project allows you to contribute original insights to the field, helping you conduct research and disseminate your findings. Through this comprehensive curriculum, you can prepare to lead, innovate, and make an impact in the world of healthcare.

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Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.

Doctoral Full Time	$610/Credit
Doctoral Part Time	$675/Credit

Eligible current and former military service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $375/credit hour (learn more).

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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Admission Information for Our PhD in Nursing Leadership

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree in nursing with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
Contact information for one recommender
Statement of Purpose
One year minimum experience as a Registered Nurse (RN). Registered Nurse Licensure verification will be conducted annually until the curriculum for the online PhD in Nursing Leadership is completed. As the student, you are responsible to notify the School of Nursing should any restrictions be placed on your license.
Department Admission Review approval required – review timeframes may vary.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

Be in your final term and planning to start your doctoral degree after the last day of class for your master’s degree.
Complete a Master’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
Submit an official transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show that you are within 6 credit hours of completion for a 30-48 credit hour master’s degree or within 9 credit hours of completion for a 49+ credit hour master’s degree.
Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new doctoral degree.

Transcript Policies

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

Active Duty
Reserve/National Guard
Veterans/Retirees
Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees

Military Tuition Discount

We want to help you find the doctoral degree you want – at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $375/credit hour. Find out how you can take advantage of this unique opportunity as you work toward your goal of reaching the pinnacle of your profession – for less.

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing Leadership Conduct Original Research in Nursing

Join a Community of Dedicated Professionals in Healthcare

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Why Choose Liberty’s PhD in Nursing Online Program?

What Will You Study in Our Online PhD in Nursing Program?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

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Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Our PhD in Nursing Leadership

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