Are you a registered nurse looking to specialize in critical care and advance your career? Becoming a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in critical care can position you as a leader in complex patient care, system improvement, and evidence-based practice within intensive care settings. Critical Care Cns Programs are designed to equip nurses with the advanced knowledge and skills necessary to manage critically ill patients across the lifespan, depending on the program’s focus.
This comprehensive directory is designed to help aspiring advanced practice nurses find accredited Critical Care CNS programs across the United States. Whether you’re seeking a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or a Post-Graduate Certificate, this list provides crucial information to guide your educational journey. Explore the institutions below to find the program that best aligns with your career aspirations in critical care nursing.
CNS Program Directory
Here is a detailed list of universities offering CNS programs in the USA. You can explore programs by state, institution, and program type.
Alverno
Wisconsin
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Campus
Augustana Univeristy
South Dakota
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Online
Azusa Pacific University
California
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN, MSN-DNP, Pediatric, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Campus
Binghamton University
New York
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN
Onsite/Online: Campus
Clemson University
South Carolina
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN
Onsite/Online: Campus
College of Staten Island – CUNY
New York
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN, MSN-DNP, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Campus
Colorado Christian University
Colorado
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN
Onsite/Online: Online
CSU-Dominguez Hills
California
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN, Neonatal, Pediatric, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Online
DeSales University
Pennsylvania
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN, Neonatal, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Campus
Notes: certificate – adult gero only
East Carolina University
North Carolina
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN, MSN-DNP, Neonatal, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Online
Notes: full time and part time options
Eastern Michigan University
Michigan
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN, MSN-DNP
Onsite/Online: Campus
Edgewood College
Wisconsin
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Online
Emory & Henry
Virginia
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN
Onsite/Online: Campus, Online
Notes: new program CNS/NE–type of CNS unclear
Governor’s State University
Illinois
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN, MSN-DNP
Onsite/Online: Campus
Hunter College
New York
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN
Onsite/Online: Campus
Indiana University-Purdue University
Indiana
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN, Pediatric, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Campus
Kent State University
Ohio
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN, MSN-DNP, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Online
Loma Linda University
California
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP
Onsite/Online: Hybrid
Louisiana State University
Louisiana
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP
Onsite/Online: Campus
Notes: dual AG-ACNP & AG-CNS program
Loyola University Chicago
Illinois
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Online
Michigan State University
Michigan
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN, MSN-DNP, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Online
Molloy College
New York
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN, MSN-DNP
Onsite/Online: Campus
Mount Saint Mary’s University
California
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Campus
Nebraska Methodist College
Nebraska
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP
Onsite/Online: Online
Old Dominion University
Virginia
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN, MSN-DNP, Neonatal, Pediatric, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Campus
Notes: AG CNS with NE
Point Loma Nazaren University
California
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN, Pediatric, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Hybrid, Online
Notes: Also Women’s Health Track
Purdue University Northwest
Indiana
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Hybrid
Rhode Island College
Rhode Island
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN, MSN-DNP, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Campus, Hybrid
Rush University Medical Center
Illinois
Programs: BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP, Neonatal, Pediatric
Onsite/Online: Hybrid, Online
Notes: Hybrid – Acute care; online – peds/neo
San Diego State University
California
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN
Onsite/Online: Campus
Notes: AG critical care
San Francisco State University
California
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN, Neonatal, Pediatric, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Campus
Notes: Also Women’s Health Track
St. John Fisher College
New York
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP
Onsite/Online: Campus
St. Josephs University
New York
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN
Onsite/Online: Campus
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Maryland
Programs: BSN-DNP, MSN, MSN-DNP
Onsite/Online: Campus
Notes: Specializes in peri-op; Active duty only
University of California-Los Angeles
California
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN, Pediatric
Onsite/Online: Campus
Notes: Also have dual CNS/NP for AG-acute care & pediatrics
University of California-San Francisco
California
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP, Neonatal, Pediatric
Onsite/Online: Campus
Notes: Pediatric and Acute Care Pediatric NP combined, oncology, criticalcare/trauma
University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus
Colorado
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN, MSN-DNP, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Hybrid
University of Detroit Mercy
Michigan
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN, MSN-DNP, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Online
University of Maryland
Maryland
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Hybrid
Notes: dual AG-ACNP & AG-CNS program
University of Minnesota
Minnesota
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP, Pediatric
Onsite/Online: Hybrid, Online
University of Missouri
Missouri
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN, MSN-DNP, Pediatric
Onsite/Online: Online
Notes: option to chose dual emphasis; on line requires travel to campus
University of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN, MSN-DNP, Neonatal, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Online
University of Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP
Onsite/Online: Campus, Online
Notes: Online = msn-dnp
University of San Diego
California
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN
Onsite/Online: Campus
University of South Alabama
Alabama
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN, MSN-DNP
Onsite/Online: Online
University of Southern Indiana
Indiana
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN, MSN-DNP, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Online
University of Texas-Austin
Texas
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Campus
University of Virginia
Virginia
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN, MSN-DNP
Onsite/Online: Campus, Online
University of Washington
Washington
Programs: BSN-DNP, Pediatric
Onsite/Online: Hybrid
Notes: Also Women’s Health Track
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Wisconsin
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP
Onsite/Online: Hybrid
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Wisconsin
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP, Pediatric, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Campus, Online
Notes: DNP/MBA- onsite
Ursuline College
Ohio
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Campus
West Chester University
Pennsylvania
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN, MSN-DNP
Onsite/Online: Campus
Western Connecticut State University
Connecticut
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN, MSN-DNP
Onsite/Online: Campus
Widener University
Pennsylvania
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, MSN, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Campus
Widner University
Pennsylvania
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN, MSN-DNP, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Campus, Hybrid, Online
Notes: MSN-DNP – not CNS specific; BSN-DNP = hybrid
Winona State University
Minnesota
Programs: Adult-Gerontology, BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP, Post-Graduate Certificate
Onsite/Online: Campus
This CNS Program Directory is provided as a service to those seeking advanced education in nursing. The information was reviewed and updated in 2023 to reflect the most current CNS program offerings. For any additions or corrections, please use the website intake form.
