Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Programs
Advanced practice in a population focus, such as adult-gerontology or pediatrics.
Clinical Nurse Specialist 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
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
Schools (22)
| School | Location | Ownership | Nursing awards / programs | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeSales University | Center Valley, PA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, MSN-PMHNP, DNP | CCNE |
| Dewey University-Hato Rey | Hato Rey, PR | Private nonprofit | ADN, BSN, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-CRNA, MSN-PMHNP | — |
| East Carolina University | Greenville, NC | Public | BSN, ABSN, RN-BSN, MSN, MSN-CNM, MSN-PMHNP, Grad Cert-Public Health, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-CNM, Post-Master's-CNS, Post-Master's-Leadership, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP, DNP-CRNA, BSN-DNP, PhD | CCNE, COA, ACME |
| Indiana University-Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN | Public | BSN, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, MSN-PMHNP, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-CNS, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP, PhD | CCNE |
| Jacksonville University | Jacksonville, FL | Private nonprofit | LPN/LVN, BSN, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, MSN-PMHNP, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-FNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP, DNP-FNP | CCNE |
| Loma Linda University | Loma Linda, CA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-Leadership, PhD, PhD-CNS, PhD-CRNA, PhD-FNP, PhD-PMHNP | CCNE |
| Molloy University | Rockville Centre, NY | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-PMHNP, PhD, PhD-FNP | CCNE |
| Mount Saint Mary's University | Los Angeles, CA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-CNS, Grad Cert-CNS | CCNE |
| New York University | New York, NY | Private nonprofit | BSN, ABSN, MSN, MSN-AGACNP, MSN-CNM, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, MSN-PMHNP, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP, DNP-CNM, DNP-PMHNP, BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP, PhD | CCNE |
| Northeastern State University | Tahlequah, OK | Public | BSN, Grad Cert-CNS, Grad Cert-Leadership | CCNE |
| Purdue University Northwest | Hammond, IN | Public | BSN, MSN, Post-Master's-CNS, Post-Master's-FNP | ACEN |
| Robert Morris University | Moon Township, PA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP-CNS | CCNE |
| St. John Fisher University | Rochester, NY | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP, DNP-CNS | CCNE |
| Texas Christian University | Fort Worth, TX | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, Post-Master's-CRNA, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP, DNP-CNS, DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP, Doctorate-CRNA, PhD-CRNA | CCNE |
| The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | Public | BSN, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, Grad Cert, Grad Cert-FNP, PhD | CCNE |
| Universidad Adventista de las Antillas | Mayaguez, PR | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, MSN-CNS | CCNE |
| University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit, MI | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, MSN-CNS, MSN-FNP, Post-Master's-CNS, DNP, Doctorate-CRNA | CCNE |
| University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center | Oklahoma City, OK | Public | BSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, Grad Cert-CNS, Grad Cert-PMHNP, DNP, DNP-CNS, DNP-FNP, DNP-Leadership, PhD | CCNE |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | Pittsburgh, PA | Public | BSN, MSN, Grad Cert, Grad Cert-Public Health, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP, DNP-CNM, DNP-CNS, Doctorate-CRNA, PhD | CCNE |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-CNS, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP | CCNE |