Below is a complete list of nationally accredited Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) programs.
Clinical Nurse Leader Programs
(found programs from 82 schools)
Featured School | |
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| Sacred Heart University ONLINE CNL PROGRAMS OFFERED Campus Location(s): Fairfield, CT Accreditation: CCNE accredited Featured CNL Programs: Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) | ![]() |
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The Clinical Nurse Leader role is a relatively new one, so there aren’t as many programs to choose from as there are for the NP or CNS specialties. However, in case you want to do a more specific search (nursing schools by state, online RN to MSN programs, etc.), just use the search box in the top right corner of this page.
What Does A Clinical Nurse Leader / CNL Actually Do?
The Clinical Nurse Leader role has been the subject of much discussion since its creation by the AACN. The primary focus of the role is on managing care plans and care delivery to improve patient outcomes. There is less emphasis on directly providing primary care.
You can find more information about this role on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) website.
The AACN website has a list of CNL programs as well. Its list has a few more schools than this one. We decided to leave out some of the schools because their CNL programs are offered only as Direct Entry MSN programs, for non-nurses, and are therefore not very useful to RNs. If you’re interested in Direct Entry MSN programs, you can find a directory of them here: Direct Entry MSN programs.
The average salary of a Clinical Nurse Leader is lower than an NP’s or CNS’s - in the $55,000 to $60,000 range. However, part of the reason for this is that the role is newer, so average salary numbers are based on a younger group of workers with less seniority, as opposed to NP or CNS salary data, which includes many nurses who have been practicing for much longer.
How Do I Become A Clinical Nurse Leader?
The first step in becoming a Clinical Nurse Leader is to pursue a CNL track as part of a nationally accredited Masters of Science in Nursing program. The CNL Certification Examination is administered at the end of the program by the AACN’s Commission on Nurse Certification. As always, you should also make sure to check with the Board of Nursing in the state where you intend to practice, for any state specific requirements.
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Alabama |
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| Spring Hill College (Mobile, AL) ONLINE CNL PROGRAMS OFFERED Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL) ONLINE CNL PROGRAMS OFFERED Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham (Birmingham, AL) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Accelerated Masters in Nursing Pathway (AMNP) - CNL Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville (Huntsville, AL) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of South Alabama (Mobile, AL) ONLINE CNL PROGRAMS OFFERED Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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California |
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| California State University - Dominguez Hills (Carson, CA) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| Dominican University of California (San Rafael, CA) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: MSN Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of San Diego (San Diego, CA) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nursing (CNL) Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of San Francisco (Cupertino, CA / San Francisco, CA / San Ramon, CA / Santa Rosa, CA) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| Western University of Health Sciences (Pomona, CA) ONLINE CNL PROGRAMS OFFERED Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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Connecticut |
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| Sacred Heart University ONLINE CNL PROGRAMS OFFERED Campus Location(s): Fairfield, CT Accreditation: CCNE accredited Featured CNL Programs: Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) | ![]() |
| Fairfield University (Fairfield, CT) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| Saint Joseph College (West Hartford, CT) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| Southern Connecticut State University (New Haven, CT) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of Connecticut (Storrs, CT) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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Florida |
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| Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, FL) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| Florida Gulf Coast University (Fort Myers, FL) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of Central Florida (Orlando, FL) ONLINE CNL PROGRAMS OFFERED Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of Florida (Gainesville, FL) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of North Florida (Jacksonville, FL) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of South Florida (Tampa, FL) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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Georgia |
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| Medical College of Georgia (Augusta, GA) ONLINE CNL PROGRAMS OFFERED Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of West Georgia (Carrollton, GA) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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Idaho |
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| Idaho State University (Pocatello, ID) ONLINE CNL PROGRAMS OFFERED Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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Illinois |
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| Saint Xavier University ONLINE CNL PROGRAMS OFFERED Campus Location(s): Chicago, IL Accreditation: CCNE accredited Featured CNL Programs: Clinical Nurse Leader | ![]() |
| Elmhurst College (Elmhurst, IL) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| Illinois State University (Normal, IL) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| Millikin University (Decatur, IL) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader, Master's Entry into Nursing Practice: Pre-Licensure (MENP-PL) Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| Saint Anthony College of Nursing (Rockford, IL) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing (Peoria, IL) ONLINE CNL PROGRAMS OFFERED Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Child and Family Nursing (CNL CNS or Educator), Medical-Surgical Nursing (CNL CNS or Educator) Accreditation: NLNAC accredited | |
| West Suburban College of Nursing (Oak Park, IL) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader | |
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Indiana |
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| Goshen College (Goshen, IN) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader | |
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Iowa |
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| Grand View College (Des Moines, IA) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader | |
| University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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Maine |
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| University of Southern Maine (Portland, ME) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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Maryland |
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| University of Maryland (Baltimore, MD) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited, NLNAC accredited | |
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Massachusetts |
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| Curry College (Milton, MA) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: MS in Nursing (CNL) | |
| Simmons College (Boston, MA) ONLINE CNL PROGRAMS OFFERED Program Types: Doctor of Nursing Practice Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Leadership | |
| University of Massachusetts - Amherst (Amherst, MA) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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Michigan |
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| Saginaw Valley State University (University Center, MI) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Health System Nurse Specialist (CNL Educator Manager or Informaticist) Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of Detroit Mercy (Detroit, MI) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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Missouri |
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| Central Methodist University (Fayette, MO) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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Montana |
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| Montana State University-Bozeman (Bozeman, MT) ONLINE CNL PROGRAMS OFFERED Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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Nebraska |
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| Creighton University (Omaha, NE) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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New Hampshire |
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| University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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New Jersey |
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| College of New Jersey (Ewing, NJ) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University (Teaneck, NJ) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| Seton Hall University (South Orange, NJ) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey (Newark, NJ) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Leadership Accreditation: NLNAC accredited | |
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New York |
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| Hunter College of the City University of New York (New York, NY) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Adult Health - Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| Sage Colleges (Troy, NY) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Community Health (CNS CLS Educator or Administrator) Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of Rochester (Rochester, NY) Program Types: Masters in Nursing, PhD in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited, NLNAC accredited | |
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North Carolina |
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| Queens University of Charlotte (Charlotte, NC) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, NC) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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Ohio |
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| Cleveland State University (Cleveland, OH) ONLINE CNL PROGRAMS OFFERED Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Track Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| Ohio State University (Columbus, OH) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| Otterbein College (Westerville, OH) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited, NLNAC accredited | |
| University of Toledo (Toledo, OH) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| Wright State University (Dayton, OH) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: MSN Clinical Nurse Leader Concentration Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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Oklahoma |
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| University of Oklahoma Health Science Center (Oklahoma City, OK) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: NLNAC accredited | |
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Oregon |
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| University of Portland (Portland, OR) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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Pennsylvania |
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| University of Pittsburgh ONLINE CNL PROGRAMS OFFERED Campus Location(s): Pittsburgh, PA Accreditation: CCNE accredited Featured CNL Programs: MSN - Clinical Nurse Leader | ![]() |
| Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader in Adult Health Accreditation: CCNE accredited, NLNAC accredited | |
| La Salle University (Philadelphia, PA) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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Rhode Island |
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| University of Rhode Island (Kingston, RI) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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South Dakota |
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| Augustana College (Sioux Falls, SD) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| South Dakota State University (Brookings, SD) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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Tennessee |
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| East Tennessee State University (Johnson City, TN) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Management Accreditation: NLNAC accredited | |
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Texas |
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| Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, TX) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio, TX) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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Utah |
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| University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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Virginia |
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| George Mason University (Fairfax, VA) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Concentration Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Program (CNL) Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: NLNAC accredited | |
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Washington |
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| Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma, WA) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Care and Outcomes Manager (COM) Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of Washington (Seattle, WA) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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Wisconsin |
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| Marquette University (Milwaukee, WI) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN, Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI) Program Types: Direct Entry MSN Matching Program Tracks: Advanced Generalist Masters Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (Oshkosh, WI) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
| Viterbo University (LaCrosse, WI) Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Program Tracks: Clinical Nurse Leader Accreditation: CCNE accredited | |
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