CNS Program Directory

StateSchoolWebsiteProgram/Degree with CNS OptionCNS Population(s)
AlabamaUniversity of South Alabamawww.southalabama.eduMS, DNP, & CertificateAdult-Gero
AlaskaNo CNS Programs
ArizonaNo CNS Programs
ArkansasArkansas State Universitywww.astate.eduMSAdult-Gero
ArkansasUniversity of Arkansaswww.uark.eduMS, DNPAdult-Gero
CaliforniaAzusa Pacific Universitywww.apu.eduMS, DNP, CertificateAdult-Gero; Pediatric
CaliforniaCalifornia State University, Dominguez Hillswww.csudh.eduMS, CertificateAdult-Gero; Pediatric; Neonatal CNS
CaliforniaCalifornia State University-Fresnowww.csufresno.eduMS, DNP, CertificateAdult-Gero; Pediatric
CaliforniaLoma Linda Universitywww.llu.eduDNPAdult-Gero; Pediatric
CaliforniaPoint Loma Nazarene Universitywww.pointloma.eduMS, DNP, CertificateAdult-Gero; Pediatric; FALS
CaliforniaSan Diego State Universitywww.sdsu.eduMSAdult-Gero
CaliforniaUCLAwww.ucla.eduMSAdult-Gero; Pediatric
CaliforniaUniversity of California at San Franciscowww.ucsf.eduMSAdult-Gero; Neonatal
CaliforniaUniversity of San Diegowww.sandiego.eduMSAdult-Gero
CaliforniaCalifornia State-San Marcoswww.csusm.eduMSAdult-Gero; Pediatric
CaliforniaCalifornia Baptist Universitywww.calbaptist.eduMS, CertificateAdult-Gero
CaliforniaSan Francisco State Universitywww.sfsu.eduMSAdult-Gero; Pediatric; Womens Hlth
ColoradoUniversity of Colorado at Denverwww.ucdenver.eduMS, DNP, CertificateAdult-Gero
ConnecticutWestern Connecticut State Universitywww.wcsu.eduMSAdult-Gero
DelawareWesley Collegewww.wesley.eduMS, CertificateAdult-Gero
FloridaNo CNS Programs
IdahoNo CNS Programs
IllinoisGovernor’s State Universitywww.govst.eduMSNAdult Healthcare
IllinoisLoyola University Chicagowww.luc.eduMS, DNP, CertificateAdult-Gero
IllinoisRush Universitywww.rushu.rush.eduDNPAdult-Gero, Neonatal, Pediatric
IndianaIndiana University-IUPUIwww.nursing.iupui.eduMS, CertificateAdult-Gero, Pediatric
IndianaPurdue University Northwestwww.pnw.eduMS, CertificateAdult-Gero
IndianaUniversity of Southern Indianawww.usi.eduMS, CertificateAdult-Gero
IowaNo CNS Programs
KansasNo CNS Programs 
KentuckyUniversity of Kentuckywww.uky.eduDNPAdult-Gero
LouisianaLouisiana State Universitywww.lsuhsc.eduDNPAdult-Gero
MaineNo CNS Programs
MarylandJohns Hopkins Universitywww.jhu.eduDNPAdult-Gero, Adult Gero Critical Care, Pediatric
MarylandUniformed Services Universitywww.usuhs.eduMS, DNPAdult-Gero;
MassachusettsUniversity of Massachusetts-Bostonwww.umb.eduMSAdult-Gero Acute Care
MichiganEast Michigan Universitywww.emich.eduMS, DNP, & CertificateAdult-Gero
MichiganMichigan State Universitywww.msu.eduBS, MS, DNP,Adult-Gero;
MichiganUniversity of Detroitwww.udmercy.eduMS, DNP,  CertificateAdult-Gero
MinnesotaWinona State Universitywww.winona.eduMS, DNP, CertificateAdult-Gero
MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesotawww.umn.eduMS, DNP, CertificateAdult-Gero, Pediatric
MississippiNo CNS Programs
MissouriUniversity of Missouri-Columbia, MU Sinclairwww.missouri.eduDNPAdult-Gero
MontanaNo CNS Programs
NebraskaNo CNS Programs
NevadaNo CNS Programs
New JerseyNo CNS Programs
New MexicoNo CNS Programs
New YorkBinghamton Universitywww.binghamton.eduMSAdult-Gero
New YorkCollege of Staten Islandwww.csi.cuny.eduMS, DNP, CertificateAdult-Gero
New YorkHunter-Bellevue School of Nursingwww.hunter.cuny.eduMSAdult-Gero
New YorkMalloy Collegewww.molloy.eduMS, CertificateAdult-Gero
New YorkSaint John Fisher College-Rochesterwww.sjfc.eduMSAdult-Gero
New YorkSage Collegeswww.sage.eduMS, CertificateAdult-Gero
North CarolinaEast Carolina Universitywww.ecu.eduMSAdult-Gero; Neonatal
North DakotaNo CNS Programs
OhioCapital Universitywww.capital.eduCertificateAdult-Gero
OhioKent State Universitywww.kent.eduMS, DNP, CertificateAdult-Gero
OhioOhio State Universitywww.osu.eduMSAdult-Gero
OhioUrsuline Collegewww.ursuline.eduMS, CertificateAdult Gero
OhioUniversity of Akronwww.uakron.eduMS-Call before applyingAdult Gero
OklahomaUniversity of Oklahomawww.ouhsc.eduMS, CertificateAdult Gero
OregonNo CNS Programs
PennsylvaniaDeSales Universitywww.desales.eduMS, CertificateAdult Gero
PennsylvaniaGwynedd-Mercy Collegehttp://www.gmercyu.edu/MSAdult Gero
PennsylvaniaLa Salle Universitywww.lasalle.eduMS, CertificateAdult Gero
PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pittsburghwww.nursing.pitt.eduBSN-DNP, MSN-DNP, Dual DNP/PhDAdult Gero
PennsylvaniaWidener Universitywww.widener.eduMS, DNP, CertificateAdult Gero
PennsylvaniaWest Chester University of Pennsylvaniawww.wcupa.edu/MSAdult Gero
PennsylvaniaYork College of Pennsylvaniawww.ycp.eduMSAdult Gero
Rhode IslandRhode Island Collegewww.ric.eduMSAdult Gero
Rhode IslandUniversity of Rhode Islandwww.uri.eduMS, DNP, CertificateAdult Gero
South CarolinaNo CNS Programs
South DakotaNo CNS Programs
TennesseeUniversity of Tennessee-Knoxvillewww.utk.eduMSN, CertificateAdult-Gero
TexasTexas Christian Universitywww.tcu.eduDNP, MSN, CertificateAdult-Gero & Pediatric
TexasUniversity of Texas-Austinwww.utexas.eduMSNAdult-Gero
TexasUniversity of the Incarnate Wordwww.uiw.eduMSN, CertificateAdult Health/Gerontology
UtahNo CNS Programs
VermontNo CNS Programs
VirginiaOld Dominion Universitywww.odu.eduMSNAdult-Gero, Pediatric, Neonate
VirginiaUniversity of Virginiawww.virginia.eduMSNAdult-Gero Acute Care
VirginiaVirginia Commonwealth Universitywww.vcu.edu/MSNAcute Care
WashingtonSeattle Pacific Universitywww.spu.eduMSN, DNP-CNSAdult-Gero, Pediatric
WashingtonUniversity of Washingtonwww.washington.eduDNP, CertificateAdult-Gero, Perinatal, Pediatric
WashingtonGeorgetown Universitywww.georgetown.eduDNPAdult-Gero Acute Care
WisconsinAlverno Collegewww.alverno.eduMS, CertificateAdult-Gero
WisconsinMarquette Universitywww.marquette.eduMS, DNP, CertificateAdult-Gero
WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin-Eau Clairewww.uwec.eduDNPAdult-Gero
WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin-Madisonwww.wisc.eduDNP, CertificateAdult-Gero
WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukeewww.uwm.eduDNP, CertificateAdult-Gero; Pediatric; Womens Hlth
WyomingNo CNS Programs

 

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Program Directory

This CNS Program Directory provides a list of currently active CNS programs in the United States that offer entry level preparation in the CNS role. The NACNS Education Committee revised the previous directory list during 2017-2019 through website review, AACN survey data, and some follow-up contacts with schools or colleges.

Information provided in the list includes: 

  1. a) State; b) University or College Name; c) World Wide Web Address;
  2. d) Program or Degree(s) that offer entry level CNS preparation, which may include Masters Degree, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree; or Post Graduate Certificate Program
  3. e) CNS Populations offered, which may include Adult-Gero, Family Across the Lifespan (FALS), Neonatal, Pediatric, or Women’s Health.

To request additions or deletions to the list, please contact: 

NACNS Staff at the following e-mail: info@nacns.org

Last Updated:  10/26/2020