Nursing School Enrollments Rise, Except for PhD Programs, Signaling Workforce Challenges
Event summary
- Enrollment in U.S. nursing schools increased across most undergraduate and graduate programs in 2025, with BSN programs up 7.6%, master's programs up 6.8%, and DNP programs up 5.9%.
- PhD nursing programs saw their 11th consecutive year of enrollment declines, dropping 3.05% in 2025.
- A total of 93,176 qualified applications were turned away from nursing programs in 2025 due to capacity constraints.
- AACN is advocating for increased federal funding to address barriers like insufficient clinical placement sites and faculty shortages.
The big picture
The data highlights a growing interest in nursing careers, particularly in practice-focused roles, but raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of the nursing workforce due to declining PhD enrollments. The persistent shortage of nurse faculty and clinical placement sites poses significant challenges to meeting the demand for qualified nurses. AACN's advocacy efforts aim to address these structural issues through increased federal support and improved application processes.
What we're watching
- Workforce Development
- How the decline in PhD nursing enrollments will impact the pipeline of nurse researchers and educators.
- Policy Influence
- Whether AACN's advocacy for federal funding will succeed in expanding nursing school capacity.
- Program Demand
- The pace at which enrollment in practice-focused doctoral programs continues to grow compared to research-focused PhD programs.