Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Programs
Master's-level generalist preparation for leading care at the point of care.
Clinical Nurse Leader is a clinical or functional track, not a degree name: it is offered within MSN, DNP or post-master's certificate programs. Schools appear here when they reported graduate awards in this field to IPEDS or when we verified a program with this track.
Data last reviewed: October 6, 2026
Sources: IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education) / CCNE directory / ACEN directory / official school websites
Listing does not certify educational quality or guarantee licensure eligibility. Verify details with the school before applying.
Listed alphabetically. Inclusion is editorial selection, not a ranking — see our methodology. How schools are selected
Verified program profiles (1)
Individual programs whose details we verified on the school's own website, each fact with a source.
| Program | School | Award / pathway | Format | Tuition (basis) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Science in Nursing - Clinical Nurse Leader | Augusta University | MSN, Direct-Entry MSN, CNL | — | Not published |
Schools (24)
| School | Location | Ownership | Nursing awards / programs | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta University | Augusta, GA | Public | BSN, MSN, MSN-CNL, Direct-Entry MSN, Grad Cert-FNP, Grad Cert-PMHNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP, BSN-DNP, PhD | CCNE |
| Bushnell University | Eugene, OR | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-CNL | CCNE |
| Capella University | Minneapolis, MN | Private for-profit | BSN, MSN, MSN-CNL, MSN-Leadership, Grad Cert-CNL, Grad Cert-Leadership, PhD | CCNE |
| Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies | Fayette, MO | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-CNL | — |
| Chamberlain University-Illinois | Addison, IL | Private for-profit | BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-CNL, Post-Master's-FNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP, MSN-DNP | CCNE |
| Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science | Los Angeles, CA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-CNL, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, Post-Master's-FNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP | CCNE |
| Curry College | Milton, MA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-CNL | CCNE, ACEN (candidate) |
| La Salle University | Philadelphia, PA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, MSN-CNL, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP, Doctorate-CRNA | CCNE |
| Mississippi College | Clinton, MS | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-CNL | — |
| Moravian University | Bethlehem, PA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, MSN-CNL, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership | CCNE |
| Morningside University | Sioux City, IA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, MSN-CNL, MSN-FNP, Doctorate | CCNE, ACEN |
| Pacific Lutheran University | Tacoma, WA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-CNL, DNP | CCNE |
| Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-Leadership, Post-Master's-CNL | CCNE |
| Rowan University | Glassboro, NJ | Public | BSN, MSN-CNL, Grad Cert, Post-Master's-FNP | CCNE |
| Sentara College of Health Sciences | Chesapeake, VA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, MSN-CNL | CCNE |
| Southern Connecticut State University | New Haven, CT | Public | BSN, MSN-CNL, MSN-FNP, Post-Master's-FNP | CCNE |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-CNL | CCNE |
| The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston | Galveston, TX | Public | BSN, MSN-CNL, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-FNP, PhD | CCNE |
| University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA | Public | BSN, MSN, MSN-CNL, MSN-Leadership, Post-Master's, PhD, PhD-CRNA, PhD-FNP, PhD-Leadership, PhD-PMHNP | CCNE |
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | Durham, NH | Public | BSN, MSN, MSN-CNL, MSN-FNP, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-FNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP | CCNE |