Bowie State University Launches First Ph.D. in Nursing Education at an HBCU

Bowie State University is making history as it prepares to launch one of the nation’s first doctoral programs in Nursing Education at a historically Black college and university. The Maryland public institution will welcome its inaugural cohort in fall 2026, marking both a national milestone for HBCUs and the first Ph.D. in Nursing Education in the state of Maryland.

“This marks a pivotal moment for Bowie State University and for nursing education nationwide,” Bowie State University President Dr. Aminta H. Breaux said in a statement. “The curriculum reflects our commitment to innovation, academic excellence and service.”

Addressing a Critical National Shortage

The program launches at a crucial time for the healthcare industry. According to a Health Workforce Analysis published by the Health Resources and Services Administration, federal authorities project a shortage of 63,720 full-time registered nurses by 2030. Compounding this challenge is a severe shortage of nursing faculty needed to train future RNs.

The scale of the faculty crisis is staggering. U.S. nursing schools turned away nearly 93,000 qualified applications from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2025 “due to an insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, clinical preceptors, and budget constraints,” according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

“By expanding opportunities for advanced nursing scholarship and educator preparation, Bowie State is helping to strengthen the healthcare workforce and improve health outcomes for generations to come,” Dr. Breaux said.

What the Program Offers

Bowie State’s doctoral degree “prepares experienced nurses for careers in academia, research and leadership through advanced coursework, original research, dissertation study and individualized mentorship,” the university said in a statement. Graduates will be prepared to “educate future nurses, advance nursing scholarship and help address increasingly complex healthcare challenges.”

The program announcement builds on recent momentum for Bowie State’s nursing program. The school’s December 2025 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduating class achieved a 100% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), with all 14 graduates passing the exam on their first attempt. These results place Bowie State among Maryland’s top-performing nursing programs.

Additionally, last month, the university received more than $2.3 million in competitive state grants to expand nursing education capacity, enhance simulation training, support student success, strengthen faculty development and advance nursing education research. The university said these investments will help bolster enrollment, improve student outcomes and strengthen Maryland’s nursing workforce pipeline overall.

“This is truly a transformative achievement,” said Dr. Monique Alston, chair of Bowie State’s Department of Nursing, noting the launch of this program was a vision that took years to come to fruition. “This accomplishment not only elevates our department and university but also positions us to shape nursing education across Maryland and beyond. Preparing the next generation of nursing leaders is both a responsibility and a privilege.”

Applications are now being accepted for the inaugural fall 2026 cohort.

Originally reported by Black Enterprise.