The Best Value DNP Degree Programs for 2025

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner Track
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Track

Cost Per Credit: $400

$90 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• All tracks are web-based online courses delivered through the Canvas LMS
• Both synchronous and asynchronous courses are offered
• Students have free access to a complete Office 365 account during their course of study
• School practices evidence-based teaching and learning with an emphasis on service and scholarship
• The program is designed to boost your critical thinking and communication skills to improve your leadership abilities in every aspect of advanced practice nursing

JSU helps you make a positive impact on your community by preparing you to practice at the highest level of the profession. All the DNP options here are viewed as leadership tracks, with a focus on advanced clinical practice, informatics and technology, and quality indicators and outcomes improvement. Everything revolves around translating the evidence and knowledge you are equipped with into advanced practice health care delivery. Although the program is entirely online, comprehensive career counseling services are made available to help you find placements after graduation.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Dual Specialization

Cost Per Credit: $420

$70 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Fully online program with on-site clinical component available at a site convenient to you
• Program uses the Blackboard Learn technology platform for seamless communication and classwork delivery
• Fall, spring, and summer admissions area available
• Full-time and part-time program study options are available

Bama By Distance is the online learning arm of the acclaimed University of Alabama, and the large number of students and programs they administer means that this DNP offering is one of the most popular in the country, and for good reason. With both Blackboard-based and video streaming courses, you get the right format for different kinds of classes, and with your on-site clinical experience arranged in coordination with your location and preferences, you have a convenient option for aquiring your practicum hours as well.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Leader
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Leader

Cost Per Credit: $425

$65 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Full and part time attendance options available, with all classes delivered entirely online
• On-campus orientation offered at the beginning of the course to familiarize you with staff, instructors, and fellow students
• A strong focus on leadership roles will prepare you for executive or managerial positions as well as advanced clinical practice
• Each student is assigned a faculty mentor and supporter to help navigate scholarly projects and other degree requirements

The Troy Online program does everything possible to prepare you to take on leadership, clinical, or educator roles in the nursing community through high-quality online courses backed by experienced instructors. Completion of a scholarly project during your course of study will give you a taste of the research and investigative skills that employers expect of DNP graduates. With tracks focusing both on clinical practice and on nursing leadership, you have the option to pursue any number of career paths with a DNP from Troy.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Clinical (online)
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Nurse Practitioner (hybrid)
    • Family Nurse Practitioner
    • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Nursing Administration (online)

Cost Per Credit: $443

$47 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Fully online program with one required DNP Intensive in the spring semester; FNP and AGACNP are hybrids requiring on campus courses every other week during the MSN portion of the degree
• Full and part-time enrollment options
• Program aligns with AACN, NONPF, AONE, and National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education standards and guidelines

You’ll have a seamless transition to your DNP degree to advanced practice at Huntsville with added content in the post-baccalaureate path, which offers both hybrid and online class options depending on your current education level and course track. Online library and database access broadens your ability to do research and homework from anywhere, while spring semester intensives build your scholarship on-campus with presentations in subjects as varied as ethics in publication to the best way to write up your CV.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Nursing Administration
  • Advanced Practice
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Emergency Nurse Practitioners
  • Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Nurse Anesthesia (hybrid)

Cost Per Credit: $874

This is the only private DNP program in the state of Alabama.

• Program boasts a 96% graduation rate, 92% first-time exam pass rate, and 99.2% 5-year average employment rate
• Low student-to-teacher ratio in every class affords more individual attention from instructors
• Top clinical opportunities available in both rural and metro locations
• Hybrid format for Nurse Anesthesia specialization allows you to complete your first two semesters of coursework entirely online, while other specializations 100% of the coursework online
• Full and part time plans of study available in some specializations
• Wall Street Journal ranks Samford as the Number One University in Alabama

High academic standards combine with a wealth of practice and experiential opportunities at Samford, an affordable private program that has both rural and metro areas of Alabama absolutely wired for clinical placement opportunities. Your hands-on-experience here will be unparalleled, with students averaging more than 200 cases over and above the COA requirements in most years, including difficult-to-find regional anesthesia cases such as spinals, epis, and other peripheral blocks. With a wide range of post-master’s specializations available, you’ll be able to leverage your experience here into stable and lucrative positions after graduation.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $513

This is the only DNP program in the state of Alaska.

• Full-time and part-time attendance options available
• Graduate students have an 82% graduation rate and 100% certification and job placement rates within 9 to 12 months of graduation
• Offers a GAP analysis to determine whether or not you are able to waive certain courses to complete the program quicker and for less money

Nurse Practitioners play an outsize role on the last frontier, where settlements are small and medical professionals few and far between. The UAA program is the only one in the state for a post-master’s DNP, so they have gotten very good at turning out effective, highly-qualified graduates, as their post-graduation certification and job-placement rates show… 100% all the way around.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Adult Gerontology Acute Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Anesthesia
  • Pediatric
  • Psychiatric
  • Informatics (non-clinical)
  • MS/DNP (non-clinical)
  • Executive Health Systems Leadership (non-clinical)
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult Gerontology Acute Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Anesthesia
  • Pediatric
  • Psychiatric

Cost Per Credit: $497

$77 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Most specialties are delivered in a hybrid format combining online and on-campus courses for flexibility and efficiency
• Program offers the most clinical rotations in Arizona
• Approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing and affiliated with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Western Institute of Nursing
• Full-time and part-time options available for some specializations

Online didactic coursework, on campus intensives, and on-the-ground practicum and clinical placements come together to make this affordable program an enormously effective route to your terminal degree in nursing practice. With a mixture of both clinical and non-clinical specializations, as a student here you can customize your education and set your course down any number of career paths in advanced practice nursing and leadership. At the University of Arizona College of Nursing, you can gain the skills and education you need to lead collaborative practice teams, improve health outcomes, or influence clinical practice transformation and policy initiatives.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $670

This is the only private DNP program in the state of Arizona.

• Ideal for nurse leaders, including APRNS and nurse informaticists
• Program is guided by current research in the field to develop practical approaches to improving health care systems and enhancing patient outcomes
• Practice immersion exercise test your skills throughout the program
• An evidence-based research project conducted in the DNP Practice Immersion Workshop will serve as a capstone experience in your studies
• Available in online or on-campus/evening formats to allow you to continue to meet your personal and professional obligations outside the program

GCU offers the flexible scheduling and attendance options you need as a working nurse, but there are zero compromises when it comes to the rigor of this well-respected private DNP program. You’ll enjoy the convenience of either online or evening classes, in subjects such as emerging health trends, population management, and sustainable change. Although it’s a degree that will focus on practical skills, it’s all informed by research, and as a student here you’ll have the opportunity to engage in hands-on projects to help build your investigative skills right alongside your practice expertise.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioners
  • Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Primary Care
  • Pediatric Acute Care
  • Nurse Anesthesia
  • Leadership
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioners
  • Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Primary Care
  • Pediatric Acute Care
  • Nurse Anesthesia

Cost Per Credit: $338

$38 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Study at one of the region’s major academic health centers with activities and partnerships throughout the area
• Get support from one of 8 different on-campus institutes including the Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, and the Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence—one of only eight such centers in the country
• Enjoy access to the extensive UAMS Library, a major biomedical information resource with strong service orientation

UAMS is a clear choice for students looking for an affordable path to the DNP that also offers first-rate facilities and top-level industry connections. With 8 major centers of excellence in research and clinical practice on-campus, in addition to the school network of hospitals and clinics, you can find support in every specialty. The College of Nursing also enjoys extensive partnerships and activities that promote scholarly excellence, research, and service that will boost your connections and learning opportunities.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $360

$16 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid-style program mixes both on campus and online learning formats to fit course content efficiently and appropriately
• A new 80,000 square foot Integrated Health Sciences Building will soon be the home of the School of Nursing and offer modern classroom facilities for on-campus courses
• Extensive hands-on preparation for clinical practice is offered along with training simulations

The UCA DNP offers rigorous preparation in line with professional standards for terminal clinical practice degrees whether you have a BSN or an MSN under your belt. Highly-skilled educators build your knowledge and capabilities in areas like communication, leadership, collaboration, and critical inquiry through courses in advanced health assessment, pharmacology, and the philosophical and theoretical foundations of the profession.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $299

$373 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Far and away the lowest cost DNP program in the state of California
• Course is designed for working professionals, with most coursework in an online format and on campus intensives to start off each semester
• Graduates serve as stewards of the nursing discipline and work collaboratively across the healthcare spectrum to improve patient care
• Completion of a project-based culminating experience will burnish your research chops with a rigorous commitment to developing and investigating theory and presenting or publishing in a peer-reviewed journal

You’ll definitely get your money’s worth at San Jose state, which comes in at less than half the cost per credit of the next cheapest public DNP program at the state. Together with a comprehensive and effective curriculum, you’ll also find rich and varied practice experiences with a minimum of 1,000 hours of practicum designed to maximize your engagement in a variety of healthcare settings.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $650

$483 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• An interdisciplinary, indirect care, practice-focused program that prepares graduates for independent leadership roles
• Guided by nationally recognized core competencies
• Graduates have found employment at Riverside Medical Clinic and the American Association of Critical Care Nursing among other employers

The didactic and practice experiences you will get at CBU start in the very first semester as you begin on a DNP project based on a real-world challenge. You’ll have the complete support of both a faculty and a clinical advisor throughout the process, and have the opportunity to make a real impact on your community along the way. Past projects have included developing an online app with nursing resources to address compassion fatigue, collaborating with the Riverside Department of Public Health to empower public health nurses as first responders, and creating a nurse-led clinic on heart failure at Riverside Medical Clinic.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Clinical
  • Leadership
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Clinical Nursing
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Anesthesia

Cost Per Credit: $840

$293 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid core courses and a part-time option gives you the flexibility to keep your current personal and professional commitments while advancing your career
• Students from more than 80 countries and 65 different religious backgrounds guarantees exposure to diverse and valuable perspectives in the course of your education
• Strong connection with the Loma Linda University Medical Center ensures constant contact with one of the strongest tertiary-care teaching hospitals in California
• Low student-to-faculty ratio means you’ll have plenty of one-to-one contact with experienced instructors

You’ll take your knowledge and clinical judgement to the next level with the Loma Linda DNP program, while at the same time developing your systemic thinking skills for a more complete understanding of how what is happening outside of the clinical environment impacts the quality and efficacy of direct patient care. A DNP here can prepare you for positions that involve expanded responsibility, planning, and evaluation functions. An abundance of internship opportunities through the school’s affiliation with the Loma Linda University Medical Center gives you a chance to get first-hand experience at a major teaching hospital, including at the level one regional trauma center.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $600

$66 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Entirely online program allows you to complete most of your clinical hours in your home community
• Up to 20% of clinical hours can be specialty-focused or accomplished during your Scholarly Project capstone
• Learn social justice, equity, and ethical policies in healthcare to assist in complex decision-making

The CMU DNP program focuses squarely on equipping post-baccalaureate nurses for leadership roles as family nurse practitioners in the modern healthcare system. To do so, you’ll study not just practical clinical elements of family practice, but also learn critical thinking and analysis skills. This will give you the background in healthcare and social justice theory that you need to truly take all the angles into account when helping to devise plans to provide excellence in care for both individuals and broader communities.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $665

$1 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Program adopts a holistic approach to patient care considerations
• Approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing
• Highly qualified faculty offer strong support and mentorship to every student

With rigorous academic standards and a commitment to quality outcomes, UNC keeps your eyes on patient agency and welfare through their flexible and affordable DNP tracks. Hybrid program delivery means you only have to visit campus for a couple of intensive sessions each summer, allowing you to continue holding down your current position while you prepare for advancement in the profession. Studies at the highest levels of scientific and critical analysis will prepare you for leadership roles after graduation.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Professional Leadership
  • Educational Leadership
  • Executive Leadership
  • Informatics Leadership

Cost Per Credit: $770

$78 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Learn in ASU’s trademark Empowered Classroom learning ecosystem, curated by faculty and enabled by advanced technology that makes online coursework seamless and effective
• Virtual simulation scenarios offered in Sentinel City, Sentinel Health, and Sentinel Town digital environments offer detailed environments in which to hone your management and practice skills
• Accelerated course options allow you to work at your own pace and complete degree programs early to keep your career on track

As a private university focusing on nursing and healthcare management degree programs, American Sentinel is in the perfect position to offer a set of leadership-focused DNP degrees at a very affordable price. With experienced, expert faculty and entirely online class delivery, the school keeps the costs down while keeping quality up. The school is all-in on digital learning technology, using comprehensive simulations to give you detailed experiences in healthcare management in completely virtual environments, and offering virtual assistants to deliver 24/7 research and administrative support. More than 30 digital tools are available to every student.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Acute Care Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
  • Primary Care Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $679

This is the only public DNP program in the state of Connecticut.

• Primarily online coursework, with intensive courses on campus in August and January, leave you free to continue working in your current role while studying
• Both fall and spring admissions are allowed, and full and part time study options are available for the BS-DNP program
• Study at the only Research Public University in New England

Uconn’s DNP celebrated its first decade of preparing terminal-level nursing graduates in 2020, marking its 10-year anniversary as the first DNP program in the state. The school focuses on adding the highest degree of professional expertise in the essential areas of advanced practice nursing, while still allowing students to specialize in their own area of scholarly interest. With the nearby UC Health Center on-tap for both intra- and inter-disciplinary collaboration, you’ll get a broad perspective that will set you up for leadership roles in nursing after graduating.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Clinical Leadership
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $842

$119 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid class formats include on-campus coursework and small class sizes to ensure individual attention from instructors
• The Nursing Learning Center and Simulation Lab is a unique on-campus center combining class and lab space for simulations that develop practice skills
• Guyana Immersion Experience program offers select students a chance to study and contribute to communities overseas

The USJ DNP focuses on clinical leadership for both population and global health, a stance reinforced by their historic involvement with Guyana by sending professors and students each year to study and engage in hands-on healthcare support. Clinical placements throughout Connecticut give you the opportunity to practice and study closer to home, in the same communities you work in now, and after you graduate. With the skills and global perspective you will be equipped with as a graduate of the Saint Joseph DNP program, you’ll have the resources to tackle any advanced nursing or healthcare challenge throughout your career.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s (online)
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $955

$6 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Flexible learning options include full and part-time completion options, hybrid courses with both on and off-campus courses for the BSN track, and entirely online classes for the MSN
• The brand-new Center for Healthcare Education offers the best possible learning environment with exceptional facilities including state-of-the-art lab and classroom spaces
• Ample opportunities are available to work directly with SHU’s esteemed nursing faculty
• Cohort-based model means you’ll always have support from fellow students

A fast-paced world requires a fast-paced college, and Sacred Heart fits the bill. With a new high tech healthcare education center on campus, and a host of advanced computer information systems and patient care technology available to study with, you’ll have a cutting-edge education by the time you graduate. As a DNP student here, you’ll learn to put those skills and experiences to work for you on both the individual patient care level and in population health and policy and regulatory design.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Advanced Practice
  • Leadership
  • Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Leadership

Cost Per Credit: $1,941

This is the only DNP program in the state of Delaware.

• Courses are available 100% online, or take advantages of a weekend intensive hybrid schedule
• Hands-on courses are guided by seasoned, doctorate-prepared faculty bridging the divide between research and practice skills
• A combined DNP/MBA in Healthcare Administration is available
• PhD to DNP pathway offers a route to practice skills for current research-oriented doctors of nursing
• Cohort-based program offers three start dates per year

Flexibility and affordability are hallmarks of Delaware’s only DNP program. With five different specializations available and schedules that can either be completed entirely online, through traditional on-campus studies, or in a weekend-based intensive format, you can find the right match for your current situation and career goals. Experienced and accomplished faculty are happy to make concepts and practices clear, and a cohort-based format means you will make fast friends and colleagues over the course of your studies.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $1,140

$418 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Program ranked #26 among Best Nursing Schools for a Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree in 2017 by U.S. News & World Reports
• Take part in an engaging and encouraging learning community anchored by enthusiastic, supportive faculty
• The Conway School has been awarded many federal grants, improving access to research and resources
• Graduates have exceptionally high pass rates on certification exams
• An evidence-based practice project is an integral requirement to the DNP degree at CUA, delivering evidence of improvements in your critical thinking and research skills
• Online program that offers flexibility in coursework and attendance

With a DNP from CUA, you’ll have a clear path to advanced and executive roles in nursing and healthcare generally with a set of hard skills mastered in a comprehensive, evidence-based practice environment. A practice-based residency will deliver the skills and experience you need to master any specialization. You’ll have the opportunity to collaborate both with program faculty and with members of other disciplines in the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs and policies.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Executive Leadership
  • Nursing Practice
  • Health Policy
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $1,395

$163 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Ranked #6 in the United States among Online Graduate Nursing Schools by U.S. News & World Report
• With 64% of current faculty remaining active in practice, you’ll learn from experts with current real-world experience in the latest trends and techniques
• Hybrid format offers the best of both worlds, with the flexibility of online access for many courses, and in-person contact with expert faculty for others

With an exceptional faculty and world-class reputation, the GW School of Nursing has career-changing opportunities for both post-BSN and post-MSN students. With specialization options for post-BSN candidates covering the three hottest fields in advanced practice nursing today, you will get direct experiential training from top experts in those fields in first-rate medical facilities. At the post-MSN level, executive skills and leadership are in focus, with a health policy option that has you studying in the city where the rubber of healthcare law meets the road. No matter what your choice, you’ll come out of it with high pass rates for credentialing exams and a degree respected everywhere in the country.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $304

$111 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid course format with web-assisted coursework complementing weekend and Thursday classes on-campus
• The first CCNE-accredited program for DNPs in the state of Florida
• A program focus on practice leadership helps students achieve excellence in their fields through experience and knowledge
• Faculty research programs result in strong track records of publication and highly respected presentations at major conferences

Your coursework at FAU will include a comprehensive array of subjects in the modern pantheon of advanced practice nursing including clinical scholarship, nursing theory, cultural competence, population health, and strategic health care management. It’s all designed to give you leadership skills and the background information to take on either strategic or practical roles in any healthcare venue in the country. A caring community of scholars gives you the backup necessary to succeed while you dive into the rigorous study required to make it through this degree program.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Adult Gerontology Primary Care
    • Oncology
    • Occupational Health
  • Family Health Nursing
  • Pediatric Health Nursing
  • Nurse Anesthesia

Cost Per Credit: $348

$67 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Offers the highest level of scientific knowledge and practice expertise available in a nursing degree
• Post-master’s degree also includes options for students seeking preparation for certification in a new or additional population-focus area

You’ll find comprehensive preparation that will prepare you to exercise advanced levels of clinical judgement in any one of the seven different DNP specialties and sub-specialties offered at USF. With those kinds of choices on the menu, you can set your career off on any number of paths to success in the field of nursing. Add to that an extra helping of systems thinking, planning, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based strategies designed to boost both individual and public health outcomes, and you’ll graduate with strong policy and leadership skills that can take you into executive positions in healthcare.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Advanced Practice
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Executive
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Advanced Practice
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Executive

Cost Per Credit: $370

$45 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Some tracks available entirely online; others offered in a hybrid format combining online and on campus coursework
• Ranked as a Best-Value University by both Kiplinger and The Princeton Review, and as one of the nation’s most affordable college according to Forbes
• U.S. News & World Report ranks the school as one of the nation’s Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs
• Faculty include nationally recognized fellows of national nursing organizations, as well as global experts in healthcare simulation education

The UCF program earns high marks across the board from third-party evaluating agencies, recognizing both excellence in academic standards and amazingly low costs. That spells value, driven in large part by the school’s heavy investment in innovative simulation technology that allows safe and effective training in state-of-the-art patient care techniques. With multiple, globally-recognized expert faculty, you will be exposed to cutting-edge medical care training in four possible clinical tracks, or you can focus on healthcare knowledge, planning, and leadership education through the nurse executive track.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Anesthesiology
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Anesthesiology

Cost Per Credit: $373

$42 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Ranked in the Top 10 Florida programs by the regional nursing community
• Robust clinical internship programs place you in immersive clinical settings in both acute and primary care environments
• Marieb Hall’s lab facilities include high-fidelity simulation and assessment labs for training on state-of-the-art equipment
• Low faculty-to-student ratios ensure individualized attention from expert nurse educators

Advanced leadership skills and practical clinical training go hand-in-hand at Florida Gulf Coast, where modern, advanced laboratory facilities on campus give you access to the latest research and patient-simulation capabilities, while an extensive network for clinical partnerships allow internship placements in a wide array of facilities around the region. One-to-one training and mentorship is an important feature, with all the help you need on tap to master the solid scientific foundation that a FGCU DNP will give you.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Advanced Practice
  • Leadership
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Leadership

Cost Per Credit: $650

$440 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• A hybrid program format is designed to accommodate the schedules of practicing students
• Valuing diversity and a liberal arts foundation, the program here exposes you to fellow students and instructors with a wide array of backgrounds and experiences

Whether your intention is to pursue advanced practice work at the highest level of scientific and clinical understanding, or to take on leadership or executive roles in the healthcare domain, the Jacksonville University program has you covered. You’ll cultivate both the knowledge and skills required to engage with other healthcare professionals and the public on matters of clinical, public health, and other policy matters from a position of evidence-based analysis. Courses in economics, informatics, education, and policy join the core medical education to give you a broad base of knowledge and expertise by the time you graduate.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Executive Leadership
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health

Cost Per Credit: $825

$265 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Courses offered through a convenient mix of online hybrids and monthly, on-campus classes in West Palm Beach
• A practical focus to the program builds your clinical and problem-solving skills regardless of specialization
• Exceptional lab and teaching facilities mean you are learning in fully-equipped, high-tech laboratories and classrooms
• Many opportunities for hands-on learning are available in local hospitals, clinics, and community outreach programs
• Service trips and internship programs overseas can be found through the Gregory Center for Medical Missions
• The only CCNE-accredited Christian nursing program in the state of Florida

The Palm Beach Atlantic program engages the compassionate heart of students and guides them through advanced practice studies with sociocultural understanding and spiritual engagement as well as the latest scientific practices. With a curriculum that is designed to minimize redundancy and fully engage learning with fresh information and new techniques, you’ll find the commitment here well worth your time as well as your money. The solid reputation of the university means faculty and staff work harder to make you respected representative of the school after graduation.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Executive
  • Nurse Informaticist
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Executive
  • Nurse Informaticist

Cost Per Credit: $900

$190 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Courses offered either entirely online or through optional campus-based immersions
• Optional international immersion experience gives unparalleled experience in international nursing through an 8-day study abroad experience in Italy
• Six degree start dates each year offer convenient entry points to fit your life
• Significant interprofessional education exposes you to professionals from other healthcare fields and builds your collaboration skills
• MSN graduation option offers a separate track to advanced practice if for some reason you’re not able to complete the DNP requirements
• Access to the dynamic community of health science professionals from the USAHS alumni network

Flexibility and innovation are the characteristics for which the University of Saint Augustine is best known. The school takes a personal approach with small class sizes and dedicated faculty advisors committed to the success of every student. A unique bail-out option is available for BSN students who are for any reason unable to fully complete the DNP curriculum, which allows you to graduate with an MSN instead if you have fulfilled requirements to that level. With a safety net like that in an exceptional program offered through a school with an unmatched reputation, you simply can’t go wrong earning your DNP through USAHS.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $933

$157 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Fully online program with a convenient 8-week format
• Capstone project cements your understanding of advanced practice concepts through real-world investigations and problem-solving
• Faculty members are accessible and responsive to student needs to facilitate collaboration and innovation

The innovative capstone DNP project built into the NSU program is intended to put you on the right track to using evidence-based practices and research to engage with a real-world problem and come up with an effective solution, but you won’t be doing it alone. You’ll have the full support and assistance of your experienced instructors, who will offer valuable guidance and input along the way. Beyond teaching and implementing basic best practices in modern nursing care, NSU encourages students to fully engage with the challenges and ever-developing technical landscape of modern healthcare. It all comes together to help you become an adaptive problem-solver and a highly skilled nurse.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Clinical Leadership

Cost Per Credit: $373

$25 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Online, executive-style format is designed to accommodate the schedule of busy, working professionals
• Program is closely aligned with the overall liberal arts emphasis of the university, offering a broad emphasis on knowledge and critical thinking skills
• Online and virtual learning experiences delivered in both synchronous and asynchronous formats allow this program to be completed in as few as five semesters

The GCSU post-master’s DNP program is focused on translational and clinical research, all culminating in a capstone project that will cement your skills and knowledge of policy development and implementation. Clinical practice is burnished by systems level experience and vice versa, with faculty mentors offering assistance and careful supervision along the way. Your final project will be based on your own practice experiences and will be rooted in your own interests, making it tremendously valuable for students who know the career path they want to take.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care

Cost Per Credit: $389

$9 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Online synchronous and asynchronous courses combine flexibility with rigor throughout the program
• Focuses on improving healthcare outcomes through evidence-based approaches to health policy, individual and population care, and nursing and healthcare systems
• School has a 99% pass rate on certification exams
• The Center for Nursing Scholarship and Research supports research efforts and studies among faculty, staff, and students

A tradition of excellence informs every aspect of the Georgia Southern approach to DNP education. With a superb support resource in the form of the Center for Nursing Scholarship and Research, the school produces graduates who are steeped in evidence-based development in both healthcare theory and practice. That evidence is both sourced and discovered by the students themselves in many cases. Creativity and replicability are hallmarks of the core research skills you’ll learn here, giving you skills for an ongoing career that makes a difference in every aspect of advanced practice nursing.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Administration
  • Information Technology
  • Leadership
  • Public Health

Cost Per Credit: $500

$407 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Program is available in both traditional on-campus and online formats to best fit your preferred learning style and life circumstances
• Studies revolve around current topics in nursing to give you an up-to-date perspective on today’s healthcare issues
• Coursework draws on the interdisciplinary fields available in the college for a well-rounded perspective

You’ll leave the South University DNP program fully equipped with the advanced knowledge and skills required to take your career to the next level as a leader in healthcare policy, nursing management, or advanced clinical practice roles. Field experiences and a wide array of available electives allow you to tailor your education to focus in on the aspects of advanced practice and the development of theory in exactly the areas you are most interested in studying.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $600

$307 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid format for the post-MSN delivered in both synchronous and asynchronous formats, while the post-BSN hybrid includes campus visits and synchronous classroom learning
• Program has been ranked among the top nursing programs in the country by U.S. News & World report
• Strong statistical support allows you to make data-driven decisions that are rooted in hard math and scientific evidence

The learning outcomes at Mercer focus on clinical scholarship practices that revolve around using the best available evidence, integration of information technology and financial and epidemiological systems into care processes. As a graduate of the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing  DNP, you’ll come away with the kind of leadership and advocacy skills that allow you to make a real difference with the knowledge you gain here.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
    • Gerontological Nursing
    • Transcultural Nursing
    • Rural Health Care

Cost Per Credit: $797

$102 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Training includes research methods and data analysis
• A practice inquiry research project will help you gain competence in the eight essential elements of doctoral education

The University of Hawaii at Hilo DNP puts an emphasis on helping nursing students develop into advanced practitioners capable of having a meaningful impact on clinical practice. Graduates of the program have the skills to serve as clinical leaders and educators, drawing from their DNP research experience to bring critical thought and analysis to the work they do in the clinical environment every day. Unique focus options in clinical care areas like gerontology, transcultural nursing, and the provision of rural health care offer unique touchpoints for this degree program. You’ll graduate with the capability to provide real leadership in those aspects of nursing and others, developing a system perspective and setting transformative goals for patient and population outcomes.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $1,450

This is the only private DNP program in the state of Hawaii.

• Fully online program kicks off with a one-week intensive on campus orientation to introduce you to faculty and fellow students for group work and engagement
• An interdisciplinary range of expertise is delivered from faculty who are experts in their respective fields
• You’ll enjoy access to highly-qualified practitioners as well as research-focused academics
• Comprehensive online library services ease your research and study tasks throughout the program

HPU is committed to your success in this innovative DNP program that cultivates not only knowledge and skills, but also values. A liberal arts foundation and interdisciplinary faculty ensure that you have a broad base of support and expertise on tap for developing your advanced practice skills and theoretical knowledge. Systems leadership is built through an evidence-based DNP project that addresses a high-priority area of practice.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $328

$37 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Online delivery and full or part time schedules make this flexible degree easy to attend for students in any situation
• Annual awards of approximately $40,000 in scholarship from the College of Nursing can cut the cost of this low-price program even further

Preparing clinical leaders who can both effectively manage individual patient outcomes and also assess and guide the bigger picture of healthcare administration and policy isn’t a small task, but the experienced faculty at ISU manage both, and at an extremely affordable rate. The program accomplishes this by integrating nursing science into evidence-based care for individuals, families, and communities, creating graduates with all the acumen to assume interprofessional leadership positions in health care systems in rural and diverse populations.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $404

$109 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Courses are offered fully online and with a flexible schedule to accommodate working nurses
• ISU is ranked in the Top 100 Public Universities by U.S. News & World Report
• Named among the Top 50 Best Bang for the Buck Colleges by Washington Monthly

An intensive orientation kicks off this fully online program to ensure that you have full familiarity with all the many tools and resources you will be offered to make your time at ISU a complete success. Deep faculty support is readily available, ensuring you always have an experienced mentor to turn to when you run into areas where you need extra assistance. The program can be completed in as few as seven semesters, allowing you to get back into the workforce quickly and with a terminal degree from a highly respected school.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Advanced Population Health Nursing
  • Family Nurse Practitioners
  • Health Systems Leadership and Informatics
  • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Midwifery
  • Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Acute Care
  • Pediatric Primary Care
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $486

$27 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Offered in a hybrid format that combines online, on-site, and blended courses to deliver knowledge in the best available style for each class
• The degree culminates with a DNP project that brings together all the knowledge and experience gained through a practical project addressing a real clinical problem
• Program boasts a 92% certification rate among graduates.
• All clinical rotations are arranged for students.
• Program offered on all six UIC campuses

With a whopping 12 different focus areas available in the program, you’ll have no difficulty finding a specialization that fits your personal career goals in the UIC DNP program. Offered in a hybrid format at all six of the school’s campuses, you also won’t have any trouble finding a way to fit the classes into your own busy schedule. With expert resources on tap to support you through the entire course of your studies, you’ll build up a catalog of evidence-based practice techniques and research skills that will come together in your culminating DNP project—a challenging, integrative, real-world application of all your skill and knowledge that will build the confidence and talent you need to excel as a top-level nurse practitioner.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Ethical Leadership

Cost Per Credit: $590

$270 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Online format is designed to accommodate the working practitioner
• Cohort-based, so you will constantly be surrounded by helpful, familiar people throughout the program
• Two mandatory on-campus immersions give you the opportunity to address any questions or issues face-to-face with faculty and staff
• A culminating project offers advanced scholarly experience that synthesizes your coursework with practical clinical practices

The unique focus of this post-MSN DNP program in ethical leadership provides an intensive experience in evaluating the role of nurses in the healthcare system in providing caring and authentic leadership in patient care and community health outcomes. The broad vision embraced pushes you to put critical thinking skills to use across the full spectrum of patient care and community needs, giving you the kind of perspective and skills necessary to advance not only the profession of nursing, but also the overall state of the American healthcare system in providing health and wellness to the public.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Clinical
  • Leadership
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $684

$176 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• With a post-MSN program that is entirely online and the post-BSN delivered as a hybrid model, you’ll get the full advantage of cutting edge learning management systems that make your courses both flexible and in-depth
• Plans of study are overseen by knowledgeable academic advisors who remain involved throughout your academic career

The firm Catholic grounding of the scholars at Saint Frances Medical Center comes to the foreground when dealing with each individual student with care and compassion. With faculty that are fully invested in your success, you will always have resources available for tackling the demanding requirements that each specialization in this degree will present. Clinical scholarship, analytical methods, and high-level techniques for organizational and systems leadership prepare you for not only advanced practice roles, but leadership and management positions in healthcare systems nationwide.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Nurse Anesthetist
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Nurse Midwife
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Anesthetist

Cost Per Credit: $735

$125 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Courses offered online and at the school’s Lincoln Park campus.
• The school recently invested more than $40 million into College of Science and Health facilities and programs, giving you modern and well-equipped classrooms and labs
• Train in a fully renovated nursing simulation lab
• School has a 98% employment rate within six months of graduation
• Study with industry-leading faculty members including Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing

The DePaul DNP offers an education at the feet of recognized specialists in advanced nursing fields who will help you build the kind of clinical skills you need to create and implement treatment plans for improved outcomes, and then show you how to administer and lead other nurses to improve entire healthcare systems. Strong critical-thinking skills nd advanced knowledge are the key, leaving you with talents that will improve your performance every day for the rest of your career. After graduation, you’ll enjoy the benefits of connections with a strong alumni network, with more than 2,000 individuals working in the Chicago area at prestigious facilities such as Lurie Children’s Hospital, Northwestern Memorial, and the Rehabilitation Institute.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $775

$85 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Courses offered entirely online for maximum flexibility for currently employed students
• Supportive organizations at the school include the Student Nurses Association, Mean Entering Nursing, and the Peer Mentor Program—all open to students at no additional cost
• Named by the AAMN as one of the Best Schools for Men in Nursing

You’ll learn skills as varied as research design and measurement, and financial and strategic management through the Lewis University DNP program for post-master’s nursing students. Designed to allow easy attendance online for even full-time professionals, you’ll get the added boost to your career that can only come through additional knowledge and training from some of the finest minds in the field of nursing practice. It’s practical nursing taught at the highest level, equipping you to deal with an increasingly complex healthcare environment that demands interprofessional knowledge and communication skills.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Healthcare Systems Leadership

Cost Per Credit: $775

$85 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• 100% online coursework allows you to complete you classes from anywhere
• Highly-esteemed faculty mean you will learn your lessons from some of the best in the business
• A customized practicum experience allows you to tailor your degree to your individual career goals

A practice-focused curriculum that is oriented toward a unique specialty track means your degree from Chamberlain will not only be affordable, but also equip you to advance to the top of your profession as an expert in leading practice change, advancing expertise in a variety of areas, and managing healthcare services to improve quality of care and increase patient safety. Full attention is paid to the unique difficulties of caring for vulnerable, culturally diverse populations. You’ll have the experience here of not only receiving assistance and mentorship from faculty, but also in becoming a mentor and role model yourself.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Education

Cost Per Credit: $780

$80 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Online program allows flexible schedule and attendance from any location
• College graduates enjoy high sustained pass rates on national certification exams for more than five years
• The Trans-Cultural Nursing Society recognizes the Diversity and Social Justice Issues in a Global Society course as a precursor to certification in trans-cultural nursing

As an early leader in the field of DNP education, the USF program is well-positioned to produce graduates who are well-versed in evidence-based nursing and healthcare delivery. Scientific, medical, and nursing research are all undertaken here, exposing students to some of the leading thinkers and theoretical advances in the field. A unique available concentration in education can put you in the position of training the next generation of advanced nurse practitioners, putting your own leadership and mentorship skills to good use in the profession.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Pediatric Primary Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $384

$14 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid approach blends the best of both on-campus and online instruction
• Named one of the Best Grad Schools for DNP Degrees for 2017 by U.S. News & World Report
• Partnerships with the Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering, College of Pharmacy, and the Center on Aging and the Life Course strengthens the interdisciplinary expertise available at Purdue
• Offers strategic leadership opportunities in the school’s nurse-managed clinics and local and regional HMO facilities
• Full and part-time study options available

The DNP program at Purdue focuses on interdisciplinary collaboration as a pathway to healthcare systems engineering for improved patient and population outcomes, and takes a strong, innovative path to achieve that goal. Strong collaborative ties with both intramural departments and outside agencies and organizations allows you to experience healthcare policy and delivery issues from a variety of perspectives, and the school’s extensive network of nurse-managed clinics and other active facilities offer you the opportunity to engage in real-world, dynamic healthcare organization leadership as part of your program. Significant investments in IT infrastructure and education not only bolster your online class support, but also contribute to a high-tech approach to assessing and managing health systems.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Advanced Nursing Practice
  • Organizational and Systems Leadership
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Adult-Gerontology Clinical
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $393

$5 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid method of course delivery uses Blackboard-based distance education combined with on-campus intensive courses for maximum impact
• Extensive clinical nursing experience in a variety of healthcare settings offers hands-on training
• Academic advising, tutoring, and professional mentoring help you through the course
• Study under award-winning nursing faculty with years of clinical nursing experience

While you’ll get the full complement of common advanced nursing skills at the USI DNP program, including critical and systems thinking, advanced epidemiological, biostatistical, clinical, and environmental analysis, and ethical evaluation, the real secret sauce to the degree comes through an emphasis on real-world workplace skills. Your ability to collaborate with interprofessional teams in a variety of settings, both clinical and policy-based, is core to your ability to conceive and execute effective healthcare delivery, and it comes with advanced communication and interpersonal skills that you’ll learn here. Systems thinking, accountability, and evidence-based analysis all contribute to your success over the course of the program.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Executive Leadership
  • Advanced Clinical

Cost Per Credit: $396

$2 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Also offers MBA/MHA to DNP transition tracks and an MSN-DNP Dual Degree program that serves as a BSN-to-DNP pathway
• Named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best Nursing Graduate Schools of 2020
• A DNP Project serves as a cornerstone of the program, allowing you to plan, implement, and evaluate processes guiding healthcare practice or policy
• Strong leadership training comes with either focus track, guiding your way with experienced mentors on the faculty
• Hybrid program experience, with some online courses and integrative multi-day intensives on campus

Combining the best of two different university systems, the IUPUI School of Nursing offers a superb post-MSN DNP experience at a fraction less than the average cost for public DNP programs in Indiana. The real bang for the buck comes in the strong core practicum and DNP project experience you get along the way, however, immersing you in hands-on, real-world healthcare systems and offering you the opportunity to transform the quality, safety, accessibility, and affordability of patient care. Systemic and population-level reforms take big-picture thinking, and that’s what you’ll get out of the IUPUI program.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $675

$95 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Classes offered primarily online, with limited on-campus requirements to enhance flexibility for working students
• Social entrepreneurship encouraged through a mandatory capstone innovation project addressing real-world healthcare needs
• Dedicated faculty and practitioners offer personal attention and support throughout your course of study
• Research is fully supported by program-specific librarians and library resources

You’d expect a college founded and sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross to have a highly patient-centric DNP program, and you’d be exactly right: ethics and patient-focused communication and leadership are the hallmarks of this degree. Core values of learning, community, faith, and justice empower your outlook on both population and patient-based healthcare policy and clinical outcomes. You’ll develop forward-thinking approaches to design and delivery of healthcare that are fully informed by the compassion and ethics built into the Saint Mary’s program.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $715

$55 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Learn your advanced skills at one of the most comprehensive and competitive nursing programs in the country
• Professors serve as mentors with a holistic approach to both healthcare and student development
• The Virtual Nursing Learning Center offers patient stations and mannequins to offer an accurate simulation of a real healthcare environment for training in advanced concepts
• Campus chapter of the Student Nursing Association is service-based and offers many opportunities for activities and networking
• Hybrid-style course delivery offers the best of both online and on-campus courses

You’ll have plenty of opportunities to connect with peers and instructors with the hybrid format of the Valparaiso DNP program, while still enjoying the flexibility of primarily online instruction. Supportive faculty serve as mentors through the course of your studies, and assist you in selecting and completing an evidence-based practice project that ensures you have the right element of hands-on experience in exercising critical-thinking and nursing leadership skills to qualify you for the top level of nursing practice.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology
  • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $730

$40 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• School boasts a 100% pass rate for nurse practitioner certification from 2015-2017
• Advisory Board of influential individuals keeps the school abreast of the latest developments and ensures curriculum is in line with employer and industry demands
• Offers a special BSN-to-DNP track for master’s prepared nurses with a degree other than an MSN
• Hybrid format delivers most courses online, but allows face-to-face intensives to keep your learning progress on track
• Cohort-based program keeps you with the same helpful and supportive fellow students throughout your studies
• University is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report
• Named a 2019/2020 Nursing College of Distinction

Whichever format you choose, the UIndy School of Nursing DNP degree will ensure that you graduate with distinctive leadership skills as well as strong clinical preparation for advanced practice. With an excellent reputation and some of the finest talent in the state numbered amongst the faculty, you’ll have no trouble finding both the knowledge you need to emerge as a key player in the healthcare system and landing a position after graduation in a role with responsibility and potential. Education for Service is the school’s motto, and you’ll be ready to help with the opportunities you find through the course of your studies.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Geriatric Acute Care
  • Adult-Geriatric Primary Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioners
  • Health Systems/Nursing Administration
  • Nurse Anesthesia
  • Pediatric Acute Care
  • Pediatric Primary Care
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $604

This is the only public DNP program in the state of Iowa.

• Post-MSN degree is available entirely online apart from on-campus orientation, while post-BSN degrees are offered in a hybrid with both on-site and online coursework
• Complete remote access to the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences assists your study and research efforts from any location
• Full and part-time schedule available
• Nationally renowned faculty
• Named among the best graduate schools in the nation for Adult-Gerontology programs by U.S. News & World Reports for 2020
• Cohort-based post-BSN curriculum ensures you have strong support from the same core group of fellow students over the course of the program
• Dual-certification allowed for some specialization combinations

A solid foundation in advanced nursing practice at the University of Iowa comes to you courtesy of an education by leading experts on faculty there, with nationally renowned scholars in a variety of content areas. With a wide selection of specialization available, you have the option of pursuing advanced studies in almost any aspect of advanced practice nursing, and the school support dual certification between certain specialties for the truly ambitious. You’ll graduate well-qualified in however many roles you pursue here, and at a fraction of the cost of many other programs.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $525

$249 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Briar Cliff named among the Best Regional Colleges in the Midwest for 2018 by U.S. News & World Reports
• School focuses on a wholistic approach to personal and professional development that acknowledges you as a person and not just a student
• First and only accredited doctoral level nursing program in Northwest Iowa
• Flexible and convenient online classes make use of a cutting-edge Learning Management System that keeps you fully plugged in with coursework
• Strong, experienced, caring faculty will shepherd you through each step of the program

The strong focus on holistic education in the DNP program at Briar Cliff mirrors the approach of the profession of nursing as a whole, and so you’ll find that you fit right into this post-MSN degree. A foundation in reflective practice and ethical decision-making is complemented by critical thinking and analysis of knowledge, giving you a foundation for continued learning that will extend far beyond your time in this program. With additional elements of preparation in cultural competency, finance management, and ethics, you get the full stack of skills necessary to become a leader in nursing care.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $302

$153 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• With a hybrid format and full and part-time study options, you’ll find that your personal time and obligations fit right into this degree plan
• Find all the resources you need at the second largest nursing school in the state of Kansas
• Programs exceed national pass rates on APRN certification exams
• State-of-the-art simulations are used to enhance learning experiences

Ample interaction with expert faculty and tailored practice hours in a variety of settings ensure that you are getting your full share of experiential learning in this inexpensive DNP option from one of the largest nursing schools in Kansas. With a systematic approach to course completion, no detail is left untouched during your studies. Every specialization packs in plenty of general healthcare systems thinking and general patient and practice management skills, equipping you for leadership or management positions after graduation.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $400

$55 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Fully online studies offer you the flexibility to hang on to your current job or fulfill other commitments while still earning an advanced degree in nursing
• Cohort-based program surrounds you with familiar, helpful faces from start to finish
• Highly qualified faculty share their rich nursing and clinical experiences in small classes

An emphasis on collaborative, evidence-based practices dominates the Fort Hays DNP program, preparing you for leadership roles by teaching you how to incorporate facts and perspectives from other people and other specialties. You’ll get a grounding in statistical and nursing theory and informatics to help you process and analyze that evidence, giving you a firm grounding to develop your own theories and policy recommendations.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Advanced Practice
  • Leadership
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse/Midwife
  • Health Informatics
  • Organizational Leadership
  • Public Health Nursing

Cost Per Credit: $416

$39 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• With hybrid coursework in the post-BSN program and entirely online studies for post-MSN students, the school delivers the flexibility you need to hold down your current job or meet other obligations while attending
• A student-centered environment surrounds you with resources to ensure you have all the support and information needed to succeed
• Faculty are accomplished scholars, nurses, and researchers eager to share their knowledge
• A state-of-the-art simulation skills laboratory builds clinical skills even outside of your practicum rotation
• Strong research programs are powered by grants that have the school ranked 21^st in the nation in NIH funding
• School is designated as a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing, the only such school in the region

State-of-the-art research, informatics, and online learning systems help produce a learning and research environment that is nationally recognized for its commitment to innovation and excellence in nursing education. Until recently, the school was the home to the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators, and still consults with the database for research services, which mean your instructors here have their fingers on the pulse of nursing practices and cutting-edge techniques from across the country. Affiliations with the Center for Interprofessional Education and Simulation keep students here plugged in to advances and practices in other healthcare professions, all of which feed in to making you a strong leader and valuable addition to any clinical or policy team.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care

Cost Per Credit: $420

$188 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• A hybrid, asynchronous plan of study uses the latest in distance-education technology to keep you plugged in to classes from any location with limited on-campus visits
• A wide range of coursework brings organizational, political, and economic sciences together with traditional medical studies to expand your scope of expertise

A philosophy of diversity and individualism at KSU means that your personal hopes and aspirations are a part of the program here, a holistic approach to advanced nursing education that matches the highest aspirations of the profession. With an organizational and systems leadership emphasis throughout the program, you’ll take this same philosophy and learn to apply it as a leader in develop clinical care practices or population-based health policies to enhance patient outcomes regardless of your role.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Nurse Anesthetist
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $544

$64 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Fully online post-MSN program, and first-year of the post-BSN degree online, means the kind of flexibility you need to pursue your own interests outside school while still staying on track for your degree
• All students pay affordable in-state tuition rates
• Dedicated faculty are committed to your success and spend plenty of one-on-one advising and mentoring time with every student
• Nurse Anesthetist on-campus courses available in both Madisonville and Morehead

Strong retention and certification passing rates speak to the quality and commitment of the faculty at Murray State. For 2019, both clinical specializations had a 100% certification pass rate for their respective certification exams. The school maintains a natural focus on rural services and healthcare, and whether you are in the post-MSN or post-BSN program, you’ll find that your critical thinking and leadership skills are honed to help you build improved patient and population healthcare outcomes in the area in which you work.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Clinical Leadership
  • Executive Leadership
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health
  • Executive Leadership

Cost Per Credit: $559

$49 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Program was the first of its kind in the United States, leading to a wealth of experience in DNP education
• Faculty are known both nationally and internationally in their respective specialty areas
• Courses mix online and offline work in a hybrid format
• Graduates of the Executive Leadership specialization track may be eligible to sit for the Nurse Executive-Advanced or Certified in Executive Nursing Practice exams after graduation

A wide range of specialization options serve your goals whether you intend to further your clinical practice expertise or move exclusively into managerial or leadership roles with a DNP from UK under your belt. Graduates get not only the hands-on experience necessary to build advanced practice skills, but also the kind of deep knowledge and design expertise required to evaluate, implement, and manage health care delivery systems. A strong integration of science and theory together with proactive critical thinking skills will equip you for taking on any of the problems facing the complex field of modern healthcare regardless of your role in the system.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $600

$128 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• All coursework is offered online, with 15 or 18-month completion tracks and 3-day on-campus orientation to start
• The school offers an MSN or PGC to DNP track for students who wish to earn their MSN and immediately transition to DNP studies
• Small cohorts ensure plenty of direct interaction with instructors and a supportive, friendly environment in class
• The mandatory DNP project offers a facilitated service learning opportunity that will pair you with a clinical site sponsor in a real-world implementation project to hone your skills
• College boasts a 95% pass rate for graduates on national certification examinations

The best place to earn the highest level credential available in nursing may very well be in a college that specializes in training nurses, and that’s Frontier Nursing University in a nutshell: an entire school designed to train compassionate, committed, caring nurses on any path through the industry. With 80 years of dedicated experience in the field, you are assured of receiving training that is rooted deeply in experience, taught by a faculty that is 96% composed of certified nurse-midwives or nurse-practitioners. Graduates work in every state in the U.S. and many foreign countries, offering a wide-ranging alumni network to tap into when you are getting your own career underway.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $279

$190 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Most coursework conducted through online learning systems that deliver a flexible learning environment for working students
• Learning Management System classes are each reviewed and verified by Quality Matters at Southeastern

Strong organizational and systems leadership skills are matched to advanced clinical practices to develop graduates who are capable of evaluating and designing new models of care delivery to sustain change in American healthcare systems for improve patient and population outcomes. With flexible and rigorous online classes, you can keep your current job while taking classes in areas such as biostatistics, epidemiology, clinical scholarship, healthcare policy, and project planning. With all that plus advanced clinical skills at your fingertips, you’ll be well-positioned to take on leadership roles in healthcare organizations to make a real difference in Louisiana or anywhere in the U.S.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $443

$26 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Award-winning, expert faculty are nationally recognized for their contributions in nursing education
• State-of-the-art facilities ensure that you have up-to-date research materials and access to advanced classroom and lab environments
• The school is one of the largest producers of African American nurses in the nation and a prominent leader in culturally diverse workforce preparation

SUBR has a long and accomplished history in nursing education, so it’s fitting here that your program starts off with courses on the history and philosophy of nursing science, grounding you in the tradition and paradigm of successful holistic care paradigms. From there, you’ll branch off into population health and research, studying modern informatics technologies and how to establish a scientific basis for treatment approaches at both the individual and population levels. A capstone project ties together those research skills with evidence-based practice, teaching you how to translate theory into practical approaches to solving patient care problems.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $464

$5 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• A hybrid education approach allows you to complete most coursework online, with only orientation and synthesis project completion requiring your presence on campus
• Faculty are passionate about producing high-quality professionals through genuine connections with students
• Instructors are nationally recognized experts in their fields
• School is ranked #143 in the 2020 list of Best DNP Nursing Schools by U.S. News & World Report
• Out-of-state students automatically receive in-state tuition incentives

You can expect mentoring at a personalized level through the UL Lafayette DNP program, whether you already hold an advanced practice license or are coming in with a BSN degree. The faculty here are known for their dedication to individual student success, and it’s not unusual to find ongoing relationships between professors and students well after graduation. But there are reasons beyond a strong network that UL Lafayette graduates are highly prized by employers around the country: a strong reputation for understanding evidence-based practice, health care quality factors, and leadership and management will give you an edge over other job-seekers at any position in any state.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Executive Leader
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $818

This is the only private DNP program in the state of Louisiana.

• Convenient, fully online format allows you to take classes from any location
• World-class faculty and resources available at this prestigious private university
• Named as one of the Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report
• The school also has the highest-ranked Jesuit online graduates nursing program according to U.S. News & World Report

Loyola has been graduating highly-prepared, capable nurses for more than 30 years, so it’s only natural that their DNP program would also quickly rise to become one of the most prestigious in the country. With a strong, rigorous Jesuit foundation underlying all educational pursuits here, you won’t have an easy time working your way through the DNP degree, but you will get all the support that you need and you will graduate with some of the strongest leadership, research, and practice skills available to the profession of nursing.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Leadership
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $655

$66 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Distance-accessible online format offers flexibility for currently working students
• Small class sizes facilitate a high level of direct faculty interaction
• Faculty are actively involved in management and practice matters in local healthcare systems and offer strong and current real-world perspectives
• The school’s Student Nursing Association chapter has been nationally recognized for community service

Small class sizes and plenty of direct instructor interaction are part of what lead to the consistently high certification pass rates that Salisbury University enjoys among graduates of its DNP programs. Each student enjoys individualized coursework that are tailored to their past experience and personal goals, giving you as close a thing there is to a custom DNP degree that is exactly lined up with your needs. The culminating DNP project is a comprehensive review of your studies and skills, cementing your leadership and practice abilities for a successful career in high-level nursing.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $685

$36 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Recognized nationally for the quality of faculty scholarship
• State-of-the-art SIM robots bring unparalleled reality to the learning environment.
• Traditional, online, or hybrid course formats available with executive-style sessions held on Fridays and Saturdays, either full or part-time
• A culminating DNP project offers a translational research learning demonstration showcasing your ability to complete impactful, outcome-oriented research

Translating research into action is a key component of the Coppin State University DNP program, one that takes MSN-prepared nurses and boosts their knowledge, critical-thinking, and practice skills to the next level. With both direct and indirect care covered, you will have equal opportunities to burnish your leadership and practice at the clinical level, or to build your theoretical and policy knowledge to the point where you can competently manage major healthcare initiatives or systems from on high.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Public Health Nurse Leader

Cost Per Credit: $616

$135 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• As one of the first online DNP programs in the country, you enjoy the benefits of strong experience among staff and faculty in delivering quality distance education
• Ranked #30 in the nation among all DNP programs by U.S. News & World Report for 2019
• Courses taught by renowned professors with widely published and highly respected research
• Enjoy the full benefits and resources of study at a large and highly-ranked public research university

The wealth of expertise on tap at the University of Massachusetts Amherst starts off with the highly respected, deeply experienced faculty, with strong clinical and research skills gained through decades of real-world practices, but it doesn’t end there. As one of the first online DNP programs offered in the U.S., Umass has accrued a wealth of experience in delivering comprehensive, effective online education backed by clinical practicums that students can participate in at a facility close to home. It all comes together to help students develop unmatched skills in both clinical leadership and advanced direct patient care through innovative, effective instruction at every level.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health

Cost Per Credit: $683

$68 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Faculty research specialties in chronic illness and innovation in nursing education provide expert resources for focused education in those subject areas
• Graduates continue their affiliation with the school by serving as preceptors, mentors, and guest lecturers, providing you with a ready-made network to tap into after graduation
• Strong support from community partner programs ensures that your clinical experiences will be comprehensive and in-depth

A strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and population-focused medicine in diverse communities is part of what sets this affordable UMass program apart from the competition. With a foundation in research and measurement, you’ll learn strong skills for creating evidence-based interventions at both the clinical and policy levels, giving you the kind of preparation you need to become a leader in advance nursing and healthcare practices either regionally or beyond.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Nurse Executive

Cost Per Credit: $760

$425 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• A strong informatics core is offered as a key part of establishing metrics for evidence-based practice here
• A culminating DNP project will challenge you to demonstrate your skills by designing, implementing, and evaluating a real-world solution to a workplace problem
• Alumni have gone on both to advanced clinical practice and high-level positions in important policy positions such as the Massachusetts Coalition of Nurse Practitioners

Following a proven curriculum pattern of prepare, build, apply, and synthesize, the MGH DNP program uses a stair step approach to advanced nursing education that builds your skills and confidence slowly to equip you to accomplish a scholarly project with real-world effects by the end of your studies there. Whether it involves policy change, systems redesign, or policy change, you will leave the MGH program proven accomplishments sure to impress potential employers with your executive and leadership skills.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Health Systems Innovation and Leadership
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $889

$296 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• A hybrid program that embraces both on campus and online components, you’ll get the appropriate education delivered in the best possible format for both flexibility and learning
• A rigorous and innovative curriculum delivered by passionate, accomplished faculty members makes the difference in this private Catholic college program
• A low student-to-faculty ratio ensures that you have plenty of one-to-one attention over the course of the program

Supporting the next generation of advanced nurses is a goal that this program fulfills not just by putting you in classes led by caring, involved, expert instructors, but also by cultivating your own leadership abilities to equip you to mentor nurses at all levels after graduation. The expectation that graduates from Elms will become change agents in a variety of advanced practice roles means that you will be equipped with a wide range of skills that will allow you to take charge everywhere from the hospital room to the board room.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Pediatric Primary Care
  • Pediatric Acute Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Midwife
    • Family Nurse Practitioner
    • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $513

$214 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid, web-blended course offerings and a full or part-time schedule make this program easy to fit into your other personal or professional obligations
• A full slate of APRN specialties are available to BSN-prepared nurses, as well as the ability to choose dual-specializations, offering flexible planning for customized career goals
• Faculty work with each student individually to help design the most appropriate course of study to meet your learning and career objectives
• Study at one of the nation’s large public research universities with a vast network of clinical learning environments and interdisciplinary partnerships
• Named as one of the Top 25 Campus DNP Value Colleges in the country

Studying at a major public research university comes with all sort of benefits in terms of access, breadth of knowledge, and interdisciplinary study options. When that university is affiliated with one of the top-ranked health systems in the country, all that accessibility comes paired with unprecedented depth of expertise and clinical experience, all of which feeds into your own skills and knowledge in the nursing field. When all that comes at the lowest price tag for any DNP program in the state, then you know you have a real winner on your hands.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $685

$42 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Offered in an online format with approximately 3-6 campus visits per year, and clinical practicums arranged to be local to your area
• Alternative DNP pathways for students without BSN or MSN, but who have their RN
• Dual DNP/MBA degree option is available for students who have an interested in business or healthcare administration
• On-tap expertise available not only from UM-F instructors, but also through partnerships on sister UM campuses in Ann Arbor and Dearborn
• Recognized by U.S. News & World Reports in 2018 as being one of the Best Online Programs in graduate nursing in the country

UM-Flint is widely recognized not just throughout Michigan, but across the country for the quality of their nursing graduates. With rigorous training and a fully-committed, involved faculty base, the school develops nurse practitioners that are not only ready to take on advance clinical practice roles after graduation, but who are also equipped to offer leadership both clinically and administratively in major healthcare systems. With options on the table to extend your education by adding an MBA to your DNP, this school gives you the option to aim for the top with the best of both nursing and business knowledge in your portfolio.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $685

$42 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Program is offered primarily online and with a flexible completion format to accommodate working students
• Post-BSN track also awards an MSN degree as part of the DNP progression
• The school practices service learning to address the needs of both local and global communities as part of the educational process
• An application-oriented final DNP project is required and assessed on its ability to meaningfully improve outcomes

The DNP program at SVSU covers all the typical areas of study that you should expect of any competent DNP degree: nursing informatics, epidemiology and population health studies, nursing leadership, and analytic methods for quality improvement. But the unique element that makes the school particularly worthy of consideration is the emphasis on service learning: the integration of meaningful service with traditional instruction that helps enhance your critical thinking skills at the same time as your studies and projects work to improve patient and population health in real-world scenarios. It’s experiential learning at its finest and one reason SVSU graduates are highly sought after in the job market in Michigan and beyond.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Nurse Anesthesia

Cost Per Credit: $697

$30 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Traditional and online formats available
• The Nurse Anesthesia program was ranked 18^th in the nation in 2017 by U.S. News & World Report
• Oakland offers the best clinical experiences and top job opportunities in the area’s best healthcare systems
• Faculty are regarded leaders in the nursing profession

The ability to analyze both organizational and clinical systems to incorporate evidence-based practices is a key part of what you will learn from the Oakland University DNP program. Integrating your critical thinking skills with effective communication and leadership practices will help you make changes based on those analyses, equipped with a broad understanding of interprofessional healthcare systems and advanced information technology. You’ll incorporate feedback and perspectives from every angle to gain buy-in and develop practical, helpful guidelines to improve outcomes regardless of whether you are working in clinical or management roles.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Nursing Education
  • Clinical Nurse Leader
  • Family Nurse practitioner
  • Health Systems Management
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care

Cost Per Credit: $840

$194 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid model blends online and face-to-face meetings to ensure you get the best possible mix of formats for absorbing information
• The post-BSN track has an available MSN exit if for some reason you are unable to complete the DNP portion of the program, offering value even for partial completion
• Ranked in the top 100 Best Nursing Schools for DNP programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report
• One-to-one mentorship and guidance will help move you along a path to excellence in your profession
• An Organizational Leadership bridge is offered for non-APRN master’s holders for a pathway into the program

Grounded in the Mercy and Jesuit traditions, this DNP degree combines rigorous study with empathetic guidance from experienced, expert faculty members to ensure that you absorb a wide range of skills and competencies to become a leader in the profession. Realistic, hands-on studies through the extensive Detroit Mercy co-op and internship network, as well as in the advanced McCauley School of Nursing Simulation Lab, ensure that you are fully prepared for advanced clinical practice by the time you graduate.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $945

$89 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Programs offered with a mix of hybrid, on campus, and online course delivery, in both full-time and part-time formats
• A course-based DNP project allows you to put your education into action through a real-world capstone to cement your understanding and demonstrate your competencies
• Graduates have gone on to high-level positions such as the vice presidency of major healthcare systems or program directorships

As a Catholic and Franciscan institution of higher learning, you’ll get a complex range of ethical and humanistic considerations surrounding nursing practice in this DNP program, each of them equipping you to better fulfill the holistic nursing care model after graduation. As a soon-to-be leader in nursing practice, you’ll graduate from Madonna with a new appreciation for the disadvantaged and underserved populations in your community… and equipped with the skillset to analyze issues in the healthcare system and propose evidence-based solutions to improve outcomes at both the individual and population level.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $404

$332 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Undertake an evidence-based clinical scholarship project to integrate your knowledge to complete the program
• Faculty all hold doctoral degrees and engage in active practice as APRNs to bring real-world experience into the classroom

Your learning experiences at Metropolitan State will find you engaged not only in the classroom and simulation labs, but also in community settings that expose you to the increasingly complex challenges of delivering health care to individuals and communities. With professors who are not only academically accomplished but who also remain in active practice in APRN roles, you won’t lack for perspective on real-world healthcare challenges, along with the kind of knowledge and skills you will need to meet and overcome those challenges in modern healthcare systems.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $850

$90 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Fully online degree program allows you to study from any location and shift classes around to accommodate your current job or family obligations
• Nearly 90% of Walden graduates say their degree helped them to create positive social change after graduation
• Allows transfer of practicum hours from your master’s program for a faster path to degree completion
• All faculty are doctorate-prepared and have practical experience in a wide variety of settings and with different patient populations

Walden delivers an online DNP that really gets to the heart of what online learning should be: flexible, fast, and accessible. With field education coordinators who will help you line up the ideal preceptor and clinical site in your area and classes that are entirely internet-based, you can focus your learning experience on studying advanced nursing concepts rather than working out logistics. With a curriculum that highlights empowerment, Walden offers you a skillset that will not only allow you to accomplish great things in healthcare, but also to affect social issues that are important in the holistic perspective of nursing care. Your DNP will serve as a foundation for lifelong learning and long-term contributions to both the field of nursing and to the community you serve.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $880

$60 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid degree program involves minimal on-campus coursework, maximizing your ability to structure your schedule around real-world commitments
• Online students enjoy access to all the same services and activities as on campus students
• Post-BSN degree can be taken through either the Duluth or St. Cloud locations
• School has been recognized by the Nursing Schools Almanac as one of the top private nursing schools in the country
• Program acknowledges and responds to the healthcare needs of both urban and rural populations

The forward-thinking and innovative nursing program at St. Scholastica equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to administer and deliver advanced nursing practice in any community, but the school has been particularly recognized at the national level for work with rural populations. With grants from the Department of Health and HRSA to develop academic practice partnerships at rural clinical sites throughout Minnesota, you’ll be able to find preceptors and practicum positions available in small communities statewide. A personal advisor will assist you in creating a personal plan for your success, and your small online classes maximize interaction with instructors.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Clinical
  • Leadership
  • Nurse Anesthesia
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioners
  • Leadership
  • Nurse Anesthesia

Cost Per Credit: $366

$2 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Individual programs may be available either on campus, online, or in a hybrid format, matching the appropriate format to learning goals and objectives
• Program ranked in the top 200 graduate nursing programs by U.S. News & World Reports
• School is affiliated with hundreds of regional hospitals, community health centers, health departments, and other clinics and facilities to ensure a wide array of opportunities for interdisciplinary research and practicum
• Faculty are experts in nursing practice who always make time for students and work closely to assist in completion of doctoral projects

The DNP program at USM is conducted in an educational environment that supports student success through a commitment to excellence in research, teaching, and service. Strong interdisciplinary ties within the college and with outside healthcare organizations gives you a chance to study and adopt perspectives from other healthcare professions, as well as offering a wealth of practicum opportunities in every sort of environment. With the close support of faculty at every stage, you’ll learn how to adapt evidence-based practices to matters of nursing practice or administration to build your leadership skills in the profession.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $309

$59 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Take advantage of the Nurse Learning Resource Center with an extensive media and reference library to accommodate your research needs
• The Nursing Skills Lab offers 10 practice rooms specifically designed to train advanced clinical skills on advanced practice mannequins
• The Nursing Simulation Lab offers access to both simulated patients and mock hospital settings for realistic practice in a variety of scenarios

A personalized, high-quality education is your big takeaway from the MUW DNP program, which is only available as a post-MSN degree. That allows a strong focus on research, scholarship, and creativity designed to advance your knowledge and leadership skills to the top level of the nursing profession. Integration of information reaching from the biophysical to the psychosocial to the organizational into a complete package that offers economic understanding, political awareness, and clinical acumen will boost your career prospects in any organization.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $313

$55 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid program delivery involves between one and three campus visits per semester to keep you plugged in to both faculty and fellow students
• Full and part-time completion options available to pace the program to your needs
• Seamless entry points available throughout the program so you can start when it’s most convenient for you
• RN-to-DNP route is available for nurses without a BSN or MSN degree

The faculty at Delta State hold expertise in a variety of different nursing specialties, so you can find experts in every type of advanced nursing practice here, but one thing they have in common is their commitment to high-quality education, regardless of the platform. That means your online and on campus courses are of equal stature, and your clinical education delivers real lessons through hands-on learning. Many faculty also integrate simulation into their teaching process to fully prepare you for even unlikely scenarios that you may face as an advanced practice nurse. It’s a comprehensive approach to developing future nursing leaders, one you can take advantage of at an exceptionally low price.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $347

$128 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid instruction offers courses both online and on-campus, in full or part-time study. The post-MSN program is available 100% online
• A community-based DNP program that concentrates on addressing health disparities in vulnerable populations, particularly in rural areas
• State-of-the-art facilities include a simulation lab and on-campus clinic
• BSN to DNP students enjoy a 100% pass rate on certification exams

The Missouri State DNP addresses both your clinical skills and your leadership potential to help you turn your healthcare ideas into action at both the policy and treatment levels. Addressing healthcare disparities among vulnerable and rural populations is a particular focus in a state that has many of both, and your opportunities to enact your own solutions to challenging problems in those healthcare systems will have an opportunity to shine here. The mandatory Change Project component of your studies will help you improve healthcare outcomes in your workplace.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
    • Adult Gerontology
    • Pediatric
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Nursing Leadership
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
    • Adult Gerontology
    • Pediatric
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Nursing Leadership

Cost Per Credit: $474

$1 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• A distance mediated degree program involves primarily online coursework with minimal annual on-campus visits, structured for working professionals
• Your required DNP Scholarly Project involves writing a paper or summary, presenting, and defending project results for a robust experience in research and project development
• With five distinct specialties to study, you can hone your expertise in a particular area, or take advantage of a dual-specialization option to go broad
• Award-winning faculty research initiatives expose you to in-depth research programs investigating new areas of nursing care and offer opportunities to take part in groundbreaking studies

A strong commitment to education, practice, and research underlies a practical DNP program at the University of Missouri – Columbia. State-of-the-art facilities such as an on-campus simulation lab with high-fidelity mannikins of various sizes help you get hands on even before your field practicum experiences. As part of the University of Missouri Health System, you will find opportunities for those experiences throughout one of the most comprehensive health care networks in the state. And as a top-tier research institution, you’ll have every opportunity to develop your theoretical and investigative skills to come up with evidence-based approaches to nursing care.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Pediatric Primary Care
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Pediatric Primary Care
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $897

$132 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• 100% online with no campus visits required and asynchronous courses that can be taken at any time of the day or night
• Ranked as one of America’s Best Colleges by Forbes and U.S. News & World Report
• Named as one of Kiplinger’s Best Value Colleges for 2019
• Receive personalized support from enrollment through graduation

Maryville’s advanced online Learning Management Systems are not only highly advanced and easy to use, but also offer surprisingly in-depth collaborative opportunities that will keep you closely tied to both fellow students and your instructors throughout the course of your studies here. Through subjects such as epidemiology, statistics, ethics, and systems analysis, you’ll build the skills and knowledge you need to become a respected leader, in both nursing and healthcare in general… and you’ll do it all in a flexible program at a fraction of the cost of other private schools in the state.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $224

This is the only DNP program in the state of Montana.

• Courses offered primarily online with teleconference and videoconference technologies for a virtual classroom presence
• All students consolidate their learning through a mandatory DNP Scholarly Project that addresses a real-world scenario with the assistance of faculty
• Rich clinical opportunities are available for practicum across the state
• Doctoral-level faculty are widely recognized nationally for broad and wide-ranging expertise

Although the MSU DNP program has a wide range of expertise available among their outstanding faculty members, the school may be best known and best positioned for nurses seeking to expand their skills in working with rural populations and healthcare policy. In coordination with the Montana Office of Rural Health and Area Health Education Center, the program offers extensive research and funding opportunities as well as wide-ranging placements for clinical experience across the state.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Leader/Executive
  • Pediatric Primary Care
  • Pediatric Primary and Acute Care
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Women’s Health

Cost Per Credit: $592

This is the only public DNP program in the state of Nebraska.

• Full or part-time completion tracks are available
• Strong research support is offered through the Niedfelt Nursing Research Center on campus
• Engage in study or research at CENTRIC, a specialty center for the management of chronic conditions
• UNMC ranks among the top tier of all major American nursing schools in terms of federal research funding and academic standing
• U.S. News & World Report puts UNMC graduate nursing programs in the top 8% of all degrees nationally

The vast UNMC system runs five nursing campuses spread across the state of Nebraska and has first-rate, state-of-the-art practice centers, labs, and specialty care clinics. They’re staffed by nationally recognized teacher, researchers, and practitioners who stand as definitive authorities in their respect specialty areas, and who are eager to share their knowledge with DNP candidates. The school has a deep bench of expertise and a wide range of specialties available, all of which offer meaningful clinical practicum opportunities at various medical centers, hospitals, outpatient clinics, physician networks, nursing homes, and other health system facilities in the school’s network. It’s a highly-respected program that opens doors nationwide for graduates of the DNP program here.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Public Health Policy
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Adult-Gerontology Clinical

Cost Per Credit: $793
$51 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Online coursework with 3-day summer intensives and a brief on-campus orientation leaves you free to continue working during your time in the program
• Faculty have extensive experience in clinical and community practice and leadership roles in healthcare systems
• Block-based coursework ensures that your focus is maintained on single subjects for a more in-depth learning experience
• Electives in rural health, education, and community health planning offer opportunities to broaden your skillset

As a school with 120 years of experience in producing first-rate nurses, it’s inevitable that NMCs new DNP program would offer some of the finest nursing education in the academic world. You’ll benefit from the long-term traditions and philosophy of nursing practice that the school embodies, while learning how to conduct and analyze the research that is necessary for advanced, modern evidence-based practices. With strong electives available in rural health, education, and community health planning, you can build a platform to take your career in either academic, leadership, or clinical roles in just about any healthcare system in the country.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $839

$5 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Convenient, flexible online study with full and part-time completion options
• A residency experience combined with a final DNP scholarly project takes both the academic and practical elements of your education and ties them together in a memorable, effective capstone course
• Small class sizes offer personalized attention from expert instructors
• A wide variety of preceptor and clinical sites can offer you the kind of specialized practicum placement you need to develop expert skills in your field of study

Clarkson isn’t just a college that happens to offer nursing degrees; it’s an institution that was founded as a school of nursing (the first in the state), and has been expanding over the past 130 years into advanced nursing and other healthcare education. It’s a history that demonstrates a commitment to excellence, and nowhere is that more apparent than through the DNP program. With certification pass rates above both the national and state averages, you don’t need to worry about your clinical preparation, and with a partnership with Nebraska Medicine, you’ll have access to a variety of clinical skills laboratories and medical education resources that far outstrip the resources of the typical small college. It’s the best of both worlds at Clarkson, and graduates go on to high-level roles in nursing and medical management that prove it.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Nurse Executive
  • Advanced Practice
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health

Cost Per Credit: $286

$28 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• The post-MSN option is offered exclusively online, while the post-BSN degree is primarily online with limited campus visits required
• Faculty have hundreds of hears of combined experience in nursing education and professional healthcare for a combination of scholastic and clinical expertise
• Curriculum covers not just excellence in nursing care, but respect for diverse culture and beliefs and cultural practice to strengthen your social and population healthcare analysis

As a leader in advanced practice nursing education both within Nevada and in the country as a whole, the Orvis School of Nursing represents an amazing value in their low-cost, high-quality DNP program for both post-MSN and post-BSN students. With strong research programs and expert faculty, you will have the opportunity to develop your analytical and evidence-gathering skills, while you will learn advanced clinical practices through experiential, hands-on learning at a range of available practicum placement sites.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $710

This is the only private DNP program in the state of Nevada.

• Program is delivered 100% online for complete flexibility in attendance and scheduling
• School offers both academic and personal support to assist students in completing their degree
• Innovation technology and facilities deliver top-notch remote education through high-tech systems
• Faculty are leaders in their respective fields, with expertise in every aspect of nursing scholarship and clinical care
• International partnership with the Joanna Briggs Institute run by the University of Adelaide offers unique research opportunities with an overseas connection

Touro’s DNP program will fully prepare you to respond to the modern demands of a complex healthcare system. Through research and leadership training, you’ll gain the skills to integrate evidence into advanced nursing practices and policy recommendations to lead teams to better outcomes at both the individual patient and population care levels. Your collaborative skills are enhanced by interacting not only with other healthcare professionals, but also through an international research connection with the Joanna Briggs Institute in Australia, which vastly expands your opportunities to engage with groundbreaking global health research.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $770

This is the only public DNP program in the state of New Hampshire.

• Online program with asynchronous coursework designed for working professionals
• Complete support offered to every student via a full-time faculty adviser
• Cohort-based program surrounds you with the same students through the entire program, building friendships and a ready-made network
• Two start dates offered annually

You’ll build your experience and knowledge to peak levels in this quality, affordable DNP program, with instructors dedicated to your learning and success backing you up at every step. You’ll expand on your cultural competency, system-based care principles, and interprofessional collaboration skills to hone your leadership abilities to take positions at the top of the nursing profession.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Systems Leadership
  • Professional Practice
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Systems Leadership

Cost Per Credit: $630

This is the only private DNP program in the state of New Hampshire.

• A flexible program designed to accommodate working professionals that delivers courses primarily online
• Faculty include professionals recognized for their active public service across the state
• Instructors hold a variety of doctoral degrees and include experts in both research and clinical care

Rivier offers significant practicum experience to both post-BSN and post-MSN candidates to ensure your clinical skills are up-to-date. The program is squarely focused on leadership and systems management skills, however, equipping you for management positions in the field. You will polish off your time at Rivier with a DNP Scholarly Project that addresses a complex practice issue in the real-world. You’re supported in this effort by a faculty guide and one or more external experts, all of whom will guide you through the use of informatics, technology, and research skills to develop an evidence-based approach that will serve you not only in your project completion, but throughout your active career.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Systems-Level Leadership

Cost Per Credit: $798

$57 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Program is offered entirely online and can be completed in 18 months of full-time study, or 36 months on a part-time basis
• Offers the ability to transfer in up to 9 doctoral-level credits from other programs
• New grants offer expanded research opportunities as well as improved school facilities such as a new home care simulation environment

This program has the luxury of focusing strictly on the improvement of evidence-based outcomes in healthcare through improving systems-level services to the highest level of nursing practice. You’ll develop the kind of research and analytical skills required to become a nurse-leader and advocate for improved organizational practices that make a real difference in patient and population health outcomes. Background knowledge in economics and finance, healthcare policy, and technology will make you a formidable advocate for nursing and healthcare generally.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $836

$19 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Full and part-time completion options are offered in a hybrid format that allows you to enjoy the benefits of on campus, face-to-face education alongside flexible online coursework
• A world-class faculty and highly collaborative community of nursing and healthcare researchers offer expertise in just about any healthcare subject you could choose
• Study in a state-of-the-art 100,000 square-foot teaching and research facility with high-tech, high-touch simulation labs
• Clinical partners include LEAP Academy, an innovative charter school offering experiential studies
• Capstone project conducted with regional healthcare partners to give you real-world experience and a ready-made network after graduation

It’s surprising to see a school with the international reputation and quality of Rutgers on a top value list for DNP programs, but in fact, the prestigious college comes in at a substantially lower cost per credit than many less innovative programs in the state. It’s a steal for a degree that puts you under the tutelage of high-caliber, internationally-respected scholars and practitioners, and with flexible hybrid course delivery and full and part-time study options, you have no excuse not to attend.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Executive Leadership
  • Advanced Practice

Cost Per Credit: $1,060

$177 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Online program offers flexibility for working professionals to advance their career without sacrificing salary
• A school in the Catholic/Franciscan tradition with a strong history of healthcare education and scholarship
• Faculty are ethical, caring, and compassionate professionals who are ready to lend their expertise to your projects and questions

The Felician School of Nursing views its overall mission as that of preparing tomorrow’s leaders in healthcare, and nowhere is that more immediate or evident than in their DNP program. You’ll be prepared for the highest levels of nursing practice or leadership in this two track program that offers the analytical and research skills to examine healthcare challenges, and gives you the organizational, decisions-making, and systems training to become a leader in meeting those challenges.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Direct/Clinical
  • Indirect/Non-clinical in Administration and Leadership

Cost Per Credit: $1,177

$60 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Program emphasizes whole-person development in a holistic approach to advanced nursing education
• Cutting-edge simulation lab offers real-world learning, practice, and training environment at all curriculum levels
• Career-oriented faculty help you hone your leadership skills from day one in the program

Preparing ethical and socially conscious nurses for leadership roles in healthcare is an ideal task for a strong Jesuit school, and the DNP program at Saint Peter’s accomplishes exactly that. Whether your goal is to advance your skills in direct clinical patient care, or to become an administrator or executive guiding healthcare policy or population-level programs, you’ll find solid, uncompromising, rigorous coursework here that will fully prepare you for the role.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Clinical
  • Nurse Executive Organizational Leadership

Cost Per Credit: $286

$57 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Online degree program offers flexible coursework for working professionals to keep their current obligations while attending
• The UNM Health Sciences Center has the state’s only Level One Trauma Center and offers broad access to experts from many disciplines
• Ranked as the 81^st Best DNP Program in the country by U.S. News & World Report

The UNM DNP program is dedicated to producing not just highly-qualified professional nurses, but nurses who are equipped to change the entire field of nursing. You’ll acquire not just professional knowledge, but also techniques and methods that will equip you to inquire into future challenges and issues of both clinical and social importance. A wide range of research efforts help you hone your investigative skills, and instructors who serve as professionals at the top of the field offer both assistance and serve as role models for your future as a nurse leader.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Adult-Gerontology
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $610

$350 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• School leverages vast relationships in the NYC healthcare community to offer a wide range of clinical experiences to students
• Faculty offer a diversity of expertise in areas of nursing education, research, and practice for you to draw on
• The Center for Nursing Research offers access to resources and collaboration across the healthcare community

If practicing in a complex and challenging urban environment is your goal, then the Hunter-Bellevue School at Hunter College is the right place to earn your DNP. As CUNY’s flagship nursing school, the relationships you’ll make here will build your network of professionals across healthcare professions and practice areas for a strong and resilient set of resources to rely on throughout your career. The school also has a depth of resources, such as the Center for Nursing Research, that will help you tap into a culture of interprofessional scholarship and research and strengthen your analytical and leadership skills for some of the top positions in the field.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $1,026

$457 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Courses are offered on weekday evenings or as hybrid classes designed to allow working students to keep their current positions while studying
• Tuition deferment allows payment at the end of term rather than prior to course starts
• Top faculty include expert practicing nurses with years of experience in the field
• School offers the highest levels of person support for every student

As a regional leader in nursing education, you have every right to expect high quality results from the Dominican College DNP program. It delivers on every level, with a solidly practice-focused education delivered by elite, practicing APRNs who share a commitment to your success in the field. The school has the track record in nursing education to prove its quality and the kind of infrastructure you need to support you in both your research and clinical studies.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $1,084

$399 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• The FNP track is available in a hybrid format with both on campus and online coursework for additional flexibility
• Faculty are experts in their respective fields and recognized for a student-centric approach emphasizing individualized instruction and career guidance
• Each student has an individual plan of study created after a detailed review of background and transcripts
• Full and part-time completion options available

D’Youville has a track record in nursing education that runs back to 1942, which gives the school a reservoir of reputation and institutional experience that makes them a natural for students seeking a DNP to take them to the top levels of the profession. With a strong emphasis on individual academic and career cultivation, your education plan is highly personalized for your goals, strengths, and weaknesses. Instructors use their experience to help guide your career trajectory and assist you at each step.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Clinical
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Psychiatry/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $1,340

$143 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Offered in a blended program combining evening, weekend, hybrid, and online course formats
• An eight-to-one student to clinical faculty ratio offers highly personalized instruction in every specialty
• With 250 clinical partners, you’ll have a wide array of practicum experience to choose from for your experiential placements
• An optional clinical research residency in Jamaica offers a unique overseas training opportunity

The humanistic approach to clinical practice is front and center at this private Catholic school, a tradition that gives particular prominence to the ideals of the profession of nursing: compassion, commitment, humanism, and a patient-centric approach to medical policy and treatment. Through an exceptionally low student-to-faculty ratio, you have the opportunity to learn from professionals who will bring out your best in both academic and clinical pursuits.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Clinical
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary
  • Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $1,365

$118 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• A blend of hybrid courses and extensive simulation, case studies, and seminars mixes both online and on campus experiences
• Faculty are dedicated individuals with the right credentials and experience to guide you to the pinnacle of the nursing profession
• State-of-the-art facilities give you an edge in learning the latest techniques with the most high-tech clinical tools
• The Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing offers specialized research and educational experience in a highly specialized field

Graduates from Fisher return to the workforce with a broad liberal arts perspective behind them that prepares them to make a positive impact on individuals, families, and communities. Either working at the policy or clinical level, the education you get in this superlative program at the hands of passionate faculty will equip you to make a difference through knowledge and practical techniques at the height of the nursing profession.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • APRN
  • Leadership
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Anesthesia

Cost Per Credit: $187

$221 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Program is offered online through advanced LMS software
• Study in a pioneering and innovative virtual clinic setting
• Learn from doctorate-prepared faculty who are skilled in all aspects of nursing scholarship and practice
• Personalized faculty mentorship assists you in completing a challenging, but educational DNP project
• Interprofessional curriculum ensures that you are prepared for working with and leading a wide array of healthcare professionals

ECU is a nationally recognized leader in online education and uses the latest computer and digital technologies to ensure a seamless virtual classroom experience. The school focuses on rural and underserved populations, a process expedited through assistance with your clinical site placements in a range of locations. Faculty all remain engaged in active practice and research, so you know that the skills and knowledge they offer you in class are all real-world tested and evidence-based.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Nurse Anesthesia

Cost Per Credit: $256

$152 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid program style includes both online and on campus coursework
• Program enjoys a 100% employment rate among graduates.
• State-of-the-art classroom and simulation spaces
• Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as among the top programs in the nation
• Small class sizes ensure a student-to-faculty ratio that offers you plenty of individual attention from nationally-recognized instructors

The UNC-Greensboro DNP program hits all the essentials you expect in a terminal nursing degree: giving you the scientific underpinnings of the profession and practice of nursing, addressing organizational and leadership issues in healthcare systems, and covering the research and information technology skills you need to keep abreast of the latest practices and findings. You’ll learn it all by taking on experiential learning projects under the close supervision of experts in the field, in classes small enough to give you plenty of one-to-one interaction. Community-engaged practical experiences are offered at more than 500 clinics and program sites around the world, offering plenty of variety for your practicum placements.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Nurse Executive Leadership
  • Post APRN
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health

Cost Per Credit: $297

$111 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Cohort-based program that builds close relationships among students that will extend far beyond your time at school.
• In addition to the available concentrations, program allows specialization options for:
  • Nursing Education
  • Transcultural Nursing
  • Technology and Informatics
• Supportive student organizations at the school include the Association of Student Nurses, the American Assembly for Men in Nursing, the Student Association of Clinical Research, and the Nurses Christian Fellowship
• The on campus Simulation Learning Center offers high, medium, and low fidelity patient simulators and standard patients to teach skills in a realistic environment
• FuseCR, the Center for Clinical Research Workforce Development, offers a powerful resources for synergistic studies between academia and industry

There is a lot going on at the UNC- Wilmington DNP program and School of Nursing, from high-caliber research to high-tech virtual patient simulation. The fact that you can access this world-class program at a per-credit tuition rate that comes in more than $100 less than the state average for similar programs is reason enough to consider this school for your advanced nursing education, but once you dive into the details it gets even better. With a wide range of specializations in less common aspects of nursing care, in addition to the primary concentrations, this program will give you an edge you won’t find in many other schools at any price. And groundbreaking research gives you the kind of evidence-based practice foundation that is solid enough to launch a career off of, regardless of your goals or specialization.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Executive Leadership
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health
  • Leadership and Administration

Cost Per Credit: $362

$46 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Various specialties available either entirely online or in hybrid formats that blend on campus and virtual classrooms in both synchronous and asynchronous components
• Ranked #9 in the United States among all DNP programs by U.S. News & World Report for 2020
• Ranked #4 among all U.S. schools of nursing by the American Health Council
• Committed mentorship by dedicated faculty ensures that each graduate receives the individual attention necessary to succeed

A diverse, practical program at UNC-Chapel Hill has led to a string of firsts and bests among American nursing schools. In addition to the highly respected faculty here, you’ll have the advantage of studying a curriculum informed by visionary thinking and creative innovation. The program is boosted by the presence of the Biobehavioral Laboratory, one of only a handful of such labs in the country. A commitment to research, particularly in the prevention and management of chronic illness, helps build your knowledge to the level expected of advanced practitioners in America.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Leadership
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health

Cost Per Credit: $795

$522 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Courses are offered both face-to-face and online and in full or part-time schedules for a flexible, hybrid approach to education that allows you to fulfill your work and other commitments while studying
• A dedicated Clinical Site Specialist will assist in obtaining a practicum placement in your home region
• Student organizations offering additional networking and learning opportunities include the Baptist Nursing Fellowship, HOSA, PULSE, and the Student Nurses Association

Build your knowledge of advanced nursing and leadership theory through online lectures, presentations, writing assignments, and presentations through the blended Gardner-Webb University DNP program. Taking that theoretical knowledge and putting it together with practical, hands-on, evidence-based clinical skills is the core of the GWU DNP. That perfect combination lets you walk away with the skillset you need to become a leader in the field of nursing, whether your career puts you in the treatment room or a corner office.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $434

$166 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• A focus on personal interaction with instructors is delivered through face-to-face classes at sites in both Fargo and Bismarck
• Faculty work with students to secure appropriate clinical placements
• Graduates enjoy a 100% first-time pass rate on certification exams
• Named as one of the Top 100 programs in the United States by U.S. News & World Report

Your instructors at NDSU blend clinical and research expertise and have more than 100 combined years of practical experience behind them. That makes the small class sizes and face-to-face emphasis on instruction all the more valuable here as you learn evidence-based approaches that fuel strategic problem-solving to the challenges of delivering modern nursing care. Each student is assigned an advisor on admission, who will work to ensure that you not only follow the right course sequences to meet your goals, but also locate a clinical practicum that offers the right experiential education for your path.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Organizational Leadership
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $650 ($620 for Post-Master’s)

This is the only private DNP program in the state of North Dakota.

• Courses offered primarily online with a 1-week intensive in Bismarck each year
• School has more than 30 years of experience in preparing advanced nursing graduates
• Graduates have gone on to successful employment in a variety of clinical, organizational, or educational systems with diverse populations

The online DNP programs at the University of Mary are infused with the Benedictine values of integrity, dignity, and cultural diversity. Those elements have a strong overlap with the traditional philosophies of nursing practice, and offer real benefits in your quest to deliver quality healthcare and improve patient outcomes. With a curriculum that emphasizes interprofessional healthcare delivery, you’ll get knowledge and practical experience in both policy and direct care matters while considering diverse perspectives. It all comes together to strengthen your leadership skills, both in direct patient care and management settings.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Nurse Executive/Administrator
  • Nurse Educator
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Nurse Executive/Administrator
  • Nurse Educator

Cost Per Credit: $341

$152 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Program is offered primarily online with three one or two-day on-campus intensive experiences in either Athens or Dublin
• Develop expertise in informatics, health policy, and epidemiology
• Individualized electives and practice experiences will promote interprofessional proficiencies regardless of your specialization

You have the opportunity to expand your knowledge base in either clinical or executive practices with the wide variety of specializations available through the Ohio University DNP program. Faculty will work closely with you to develop, implement, and evaluate a DNP project which will engage in transformational change in your area of study. Graduates praise the family-oriented and step-by-step, individualized experience offered by the program.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $421

$72 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid program model only requires your participation on campus for 2 weekends each semester in addition to online studies, greatly freeing up your schedule for work or family
• Full-time study can have you completing the program in two years, or part-time options allow you to finish on your own time
• Courses are taught by a complimentary blend of DNP and PhD prepared faculty, offering students access to both clinical and scholarly professionals

The University of Akron is home to one of Ohio’s top ranked programs of nursing and is proud to continue that tradition through a DNP program that offers excellence in developing graduates with both research and clinical skillsets. The program is open to CNPs, CNSs, CRNAs, and certified nurse midwives, but your interprofessional preparation will include teaching by both PhDs and DNPs in various fields to expose you to the academic and research aspects of advanced practice as well as the clinical and professional angles.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Clinical
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Primary Care
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $423

$70 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Post-MSN pathway is entirely online and the post-BSN path puts all core courses online with some in-person practice on campus
• Experienced faculty advisers assist you in developing and conducting a scholarly project and offer mentorship and guidance throughout your time in the program
• Post-BSN path awards an MSN after two years of study
• School has graduated more than 40% of the nursing workforce in Northeast Ohio, offering you a ready-made alumni network in the region after graduation

The top-notch faculty at Kent State’s College of Nursing serve as mentors and guides through this difficult, but comprehensive program that delivers the skills and knowledge in technology and leadership that will put you at the pinnacle of the nursing profession. As a major contributor to regional nursing staff, you’ll find familiar faces in the workforce everywhere you go. The post-MSN pathway is conducted in a cohort-style format, which means you will forge even tighter bonds and lifelong connections with many of the nurses you study with.

Doctor of Nursing Practice in Health Systems Leadership

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $650

$317 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Blended learning format is structured to allow working professionals to continue their career paths during their studies
• Cohort model builds your relationships with fellow students into lifelong friendships and a ready-made network after graduation
• Practicum experiences are built around collaboration with experts in local health care organizations

The eight DNP Essentials are covered comprehensively through this effective, affordable private DNP program. With a specific focus on health systems leadership, you’ll be taught how to integrate evidence-based practices into fields such as global health care policy, epidemiology, and clinical approaches to patient care. Studies of technology, nursing informatics, and epidemiology hone your technical skills, while practicum placements help you find your footing in real-world positions facing today’s healthcare challenges.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Advanced Practice Nurse
  • Health Systems Leadership
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Health Systems Leadership

Cost Per Credit: $695

$272 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Flexible online format allows you to pursue your studies with minimal impact on other aspects of your daily life
• Peer-focused collaboration builds your interprofessional and leadership skills
• Partnership with the College of Business and Economics offers a solid foundation in economic and business principles in demand among healthcare system leaders
• An award-winning, state-of-the-art Simulation Center on campus offers invaluable first-hand experience in clinical practices to nursing students

This highly regarded DNP program offers leadership development through studies in organizational analysis, policy, ethics, and advocacy, and cultural competence that will help you earn the respect and confidence of fellow nurses and community members. You’ll be set to take on broad scopes of responsibility with the new skills you’ll pick up here, including as management in healthcare organizations, in public policy development, patient education, or even owning your own independent practice.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Leader in Clinical Practice
  • Executive Leader

Cost Per Credit: $700

$267 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Online program designed to meet the educational needs of busy professionals
• Unique immersion experience is offered as part of the program.
• Cohort-based study surrounds you with familiar and helpful faces throughout the program
• Specialty electives are offered to allow you to focus on a specific area of interest

A unique, faith-based approach to DNP education will equip you with systems thinking, leadership and change management competencies, and an above-average ability to use technology and information systems in service of developing improved healthcare outcomes in your field of practice. Coaching and support from expert, involved, caring faculty keep you on track throughout the program, while your cohort of fellow nurses forms a strong network that will both help you through the degree and further your career after graduation.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Educator
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $705

$262 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Online program allows you to complete the degree requirements with ease and on your own schedule
• Named as a 2018-2019 College of Distinction
• Faculty come from all over the world to offer international experience and perspectives to your education
• A 13 to 1 student-to-teacher ratio ensures plenty of first-hand contact and individual attention from instructors
• School research centers such as the Byers Institute for Community Health offer unique sources of expertise for both experiential learning and research topics

Walsh’s academic programs are designed to education the whole student, in mind, body, and spirit, which fits in neatly with the nursing perspective to healthcare. Your education will line up directly with your professional goals and practices here, with a service-leadership approach that stresses compassion, critical thinking, and solid communication skills.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Advance Practice
  • Nurse Executive
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Nurse Anesthesia
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $710

$257 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• A recently redesigned, student-friendly curriculum offers the flexibility you need to achieve a healthy work/life balance
• The Psychiatric/Mental Health track can be completed entirely online
• Programs award an MSN along the way to the DNP for BSN or ADN entrants
• Support is offered for students in finding suitable clinical placements

Most of the faculty in the Otterbein Department of Nursing continue to actively work as APRNs, so they bring a high-level of skill and intimate familiarity with the most up-to-date clinical practices into the classroom with them. A collaborative environment builds your interprofessional skills, offering fresh perspectives and ideas that will improve your leadership and problem-solving skills across the board. The program values research, political advocacy, and the kind of evidence-based practice that comes out of those efforts, producing well-rounded nursing leaders.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Clinical
  • Executive Leadership

Cost Per Credit: $506

This is the only public DNP program in the state of Oklahoma.

• Executive leadership track is offered entirely online, while the CNS and FNP tracks are delivered in a hybrid model with some on-site classes in OKC, Tulsa, and Lawton
• Full and part-time completion options available
• School hosts the state of Oklahoma’s largest nursing program
• Intensive research programs and local, national, and international outreach programs offer opportunities to extend your experiences
• Ranked nationally by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online nursing graduate programs in the country, and one of the best DNP programs for 2019

This brand new program offers an exciting and innovative addition to DNP training programs in Oklahoma. Flexibility has long been a hallmark of the school’s existing nursing programs, so it’s only natural that the DNP follows the same path, putting as much coursework online as possible, and allowing full or part-time completion options to accommodate any schedule. While in the program, you’ll build your interprofessional and leadership skills to the point where any nursing challenge will fall within your abilities.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Administration
  • Clinical
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care

Cost Per Credit: $995

$23 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid program blends online and on campus courses to combine comprehensive learning with flexible class options
• First time certification pass rates over 90% and job placement rates of 100% demonstrate program effectiveness
• Campus facilities such as the state-of-the-art Meinders Simulation Center give students a complete course of hands-on experience in clinical treatment options

The prestigious Kramer School of Nursing has a goal of preparing professional nurses who practice with integrity, knowledge, and compassion. The DNP program here takes that objective and elevates it to the highest levels of the profession, preparing nurses not only for leadership in advanced practice clinical roles, but also in executive and managerial roles. A thorough study of subjects such as Advanced Health Care Policy, Transcultural Health Care, and Translational Research equips you with the knowledge you need to take on today’s most pressing challenges in nursing and healthcare and to overcome them with skill and insight.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Leadership
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Nurse Midwife
  • Psychiatric Mental Health
  • Pediatric Primary and Acute
  • Nurse Anesthesia

Cost Per Credit: $625

This is the only public DNP program in the state of Oregon.

• Some specializations offered in hybrid format for additional attendance and study flexibility
• Faculty include top-notch researchers involved in groundbreaking studies and investigations
• U.S. News & World Report ranks OHSU among the best nursing graduate schools in the country
• School is a leader in a number of important nursing and healthcare initiatives, including the Interprofessional Initiative that is driving an educational revolution at the school

Team-based, professional, respectful healthcare is at the center of the OHSU healthcare education paradigm, which makes this the perfect school for earning a DNP. With the Interprofessional Initiative revolutionizing both healthcare and healthcare education, you’re at ground zero here for a new, collaborative approach to patient-centric care. With both research and clinical opportunities available in abundance, you’ll get plenty of hands-on experience in addition to theoretical and simulated training.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $1,326

This is the only private DNP program in the state of Oregon.

• A combination of online learning and on campus coursework offer a deep dive learning immersion into all subjects studied
• School adopts an integrative approach to practice
• Small, cohort-based program offers a high level of interaction and contact with your highly experienced instructors

A focus on one particular specialty within nursing practice is a sure way to develop a curriculum and recruit a faculty that offer an excellent education in that role, and that’s the case at UP’s FNP-focused DNP program. You’ll learn to provide health services to families and individuals of all ages from expert faculty members with years of practical experience in the field as well as advanced academic credentials.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $516

$243 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Offered primarily online with the exception of a one-weekend introductory course on campus
• A culminating capstone project ties together your learning experiences in an integrative exercise that validates your knowledge and training
• Cohort-based model keeps you in close contact with fellow students for support and encouragement throughout the program

Adjusting to the fast-changing landscape of the American healthcare system is a key priority for the West Chester College of Health Sciences, and their first-rate DNP program equips you with all the tools you need to manage that change effectively. As the first doctoral program ever offered at the university, the curriculum offers three key components for advanced nursing care: the Science of Nursing, Leadership, and Practice. It all builds on your prior education but delivers new knowledge, new skills, and new tools with which to stay on top of your profession.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $568

$191 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid format offers a mix of online instruction plus two days of on campus coursework each semester
• Cohort-based model provides you with a ready-made professional network for support from day one
• Program is designed for part-time study to accommodate working professionals

The goal for Millersville is to develop the next generation of nursing practice leaders. The DNP program facilitates that objective by preparing skilled advanced practice nurses who have advanced levels of clinical judgement and who incorporate systems thinking into their diagnostic and treatment decisions. You’ll learn about healthcare policy and service delivery to improve your leadership abilities in either management or executive nursing roles.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $671

$88 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Online program has a part-time structure designed to fit the schedule of busy, working professionals
• Faculty are committed to assisting students and offering sound academic and clinical preparation

You benefit from the resources and expertise of two different universities in this cooperative post-MSN DNP program offered by Clarion University and Edinboro University. The program is squarely focused on leadership, policy, population health, and clinical practice at the highest levels, designed to prepare nursing leaders who can help pilot the American healthcare system through its latest challenges to offer a stronger, more patient-focused healthcare system.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Executive

Cost Per Credit: $987

$57 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Online classes with one brief residency allow you to complete the program in three to five terms of study, with full or part-time tracks
• One of the fastest programs on the market for earning a DNP degree, with a rolling application deadline
• Ranked in the Top 100 Best Online DNP Programs in the United States by U.S. News & World Report
• Faculty are accomplished teachers and practitioners so you are learning from leaders in the field

Innovative, evidence-based practices that teach you the importance of adopting scientific principles of research and investigation are the bedrock on which the Chatham DNP program is built. Quality faculty make sure that no student is left behind in the fast-paced, minimum residency program that is designed to get you your DNP credentials quickly and inexpensively.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Nurse Anesthesia

Cost Per Credit: $772

$272 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Small class sizes allow instructors to offer more individual attention to every student
• Enter an alumni network filled with competent and compassionate nurses fully engaged in professional organizations, volunteer work, and patient advocacy efforts
• Faculty all have a background in active clinical practice and hold advanced degrees in a diverse range of specialties
• Student research is strongly supported and encouraged

As a traditional Jesuit university, you know going in that your DNP education at the University of Scranton is going to be rigorous, intense, and comprehensive. But you are also assured that it will be conducted by faculty who are compassionate and supportive at every step, committed to your success. You’ll learn creative problem-solving, ethical leadership, and inter-professional practice, all of it grounded in strong and consistent service to patients and communities.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $805

$239 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Flexible course scheduling designed for students balancing personal, professional, and educational responsibilities includes both online and face-to-face components
• Free academic support and career advising services are available
• Classes occur year-round to allow you to accelerate your completion and earn you degree faster
• Student research has been published in both national and international journals

This prestigious program passes along some of the reputation and excellence that it is known for to every student. With student capstone project work commonly making it into medical publications both domestically and as far afield as China, that’s a reputation that is worth having! Leadership and clinical skills learned here will qualify you to take on a variety of high-level positions across the healthcare industry.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $930

$114 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Program is both accelerated and online, allowing you to earn your DNP quickly and with flexible scheduling that accommodates your other obligations in life
• School has been a leader in regional nursing education for more than 50 years
• Small class sizes offer leadership opportunities even while you are still in the program

Clinical expertise comes together with academic rigor at GMercyU to deliver a DNP program that gives you the right tools to succeed as a leader in healthcare and nursing regardless of your specialization. A strong community of nursing experts, scholars, and current regional healthcare leaders have your back at every stage, giving you the right clinical experiences and theoretical background to take on some of the toughest challenges in the profession.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology

Cost Per Credit: $990

$54 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• An accelerated RN-to-DNP option helps you earn your degree quickly
• Flexible course-delivery involves online coursework offered in both full and part-time options, and enrollment at either the Chester or Harrisburg campuses
• Wide variety of supportive organizations for students including the AACN, ANA, ICN, and NLN
• Partnerships with local hospitals and healthcare systems such as Penn Medicine, Christiana Health System, and Pennsylvania Hospital offers an inside track on practicum opportunities
• Close faculty mentorship delivers one-to-one support in both clinical and research projects
• School of Nursing was ranked 24^th in the Mid-Atlantic region and 10^th in Pennsylvania among private schools by the Nursing Schools Almanac
• Designated a Center of Excellence for Advancing the Science of Nursing Education

Web-enhanced class delivery systems offer a full and effective classroom experience for remote students at Widener, with a broad network of regional healthcare systems offering on-site practicum opportunities to students regardless of physical location. You’ll have experienced, full-time faculty guiding you through the degree plan at every stage, each of them dedicated to helping you prepare for leadership positions that enhance the outcomes and direct care of patients as both individuals and a general population.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Leadership
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $995

$49 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Unique program offers a blended class format that combines flexibility with close relationships to faculty members
• Small class sizes and a cohort-based design ensures that you will graduate with close friends and a strong professional network already in place
• Faculty bring clinical expertise, academic rigor, and a life lived in harmony with the overall mission of the university
• A final scholarly project offers you the opportunity to demonstrate your mastery of the skills and knowledge required to practice at the top of the nursing profession

A holistic approach to education goes hand-in-hand with the holistic practice of the nursing profession at Holy Family. Graduates of the school are found at major hospitals across the region with a strong reputation as leaders in their respective specialty areas. The DNP here is structured as a Rapid Degree Program, offered at a pace that will get you back out into the clinical environment where you belong quickly. And, when you get there, you’ll have some of the highest qualifications available in the field of nursing from a school with an unmatched reputation.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $450

$98 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• The hybrid format optimizes both online and face-to-face courses for networking and social interaction with flexibility in attendance
• Students reflect the social, economic, and ethnic diversity of the state and encourage alternate perspectives and multicultural awareness
• Nursing faculty are well-qualified and highly experienced in their individual areas of practice

The RIC School of Nursing DNP is specifically focused on preparing graduates to serve as systems-level change leaders in the nursing field, regardless of the specialty area in which they practice. That means teaching you to develop new practice knowledge through research and evidence-based analysis, and equipping you with the communications and interprofessional skills to drive meaningful, sustainable, and transferable change in healthcare systems. Whether you are aiming for management or policy-level positions or advanced practice clinical jobs, you’ll find value in what RIC has to offer.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $880

This is the only private DNP program in the state of Rhode Island.

• Part-time, hybrid course delivery combines the best of both on-campus and online learning experiences
• Campus academic centers and resources such as the Academic Center for Excellence, the Writing Center, and the McKillop Library offer support for students at every phase of the program
• Evening coursework is offered in Warwick at the Center for Adult Education for easier access for working students

Critical-thinking, pattern-finding, and the skills to synthesize theoretical and empirical evidence are the kind of things you can expect to learn at the Salve Regina DNP program. Focused on delivering excellence in education to working students, the part-time, hybrid program format gives you plenty of options to learn both in person and online, with enough flex in your schedule to meet you current commitments to work and family.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Executive Leadership
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Executive Leadership
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $572

$101 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Online course delivery is paced for you to succeed, including part-time options for post-BSN students
• As one of the first four DNP programs to be nationally recognized, you’ll study from some of the leading lights in the DNP education field
• Collaborate with dynamic faculty mentors on evidence-based projects
• School assists with clinical placements and offers opportunities to take part in a health policy internship
• The state-of-the-art Clinical Simulation Lab in the Williams Brice Building offers an entire floor of practical experience options

When you choose the DNP program at UofSC, you are doing more than just starting in on a terminal degree program in the nursing field; you are also taking your place in history. The school is proud of its heritage as one of the first four schools in the country to host a nationally-recognized DNP program, and it makes every effort to turn out students who reflect credit back on that program. You learn from experienced instructors who also serve as mentors, building collaborative research efforts that expand the state of knowledge in the field and polish your investigative skills to hone your expertise in either clinical or policy aspects of nursing.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Executive Leadership
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $755

This is the only private DNP program in the state of South Carolina.

• All classes are taught online, with periodic on-campus meetings in intensive workday formats for networking and emphasis
• Cohort-based program keeps you together with the same fellow students throughout, building lifelong friendships and a ready-made professional network
• Named as one of the Best Regional Colleges in the South for 2020 by U.S. News and World Report
• Designated as a Distinguished School by Apple for innovation and educational excellence

Skill and compassion emerge quickly from students enrolled at Anderson, with a Christian worldview informing every aspect of study and learning here. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that a Christian school is mired in tradition and stuck in old modes of thinking about healthcare; Apple recognizes Anderson as a Distinguished School, with innovative educational initiatives, high-tech online courses, and scholastic excellence. That combination puts you at the forefront of modern nursing leadership, and leaves you well-equipped to take on advanced clinical or policy roles after graduation.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $337

This is the only DNP program in the state of South Dakota.

• A hybrid model combing on-site and online courses is used for the post-BSN program, while the post-MSN degree uses an executive format that is designed for part-time study with periodic intensive meetings in person and online components
• The College of Nursing at SDSU is ranked 51^st in the nation among all public nursing schools by Nursing Schools Almanac, and 46^th by U.S. News and World Report

The highly ranked SDSU DNP program turns out expert clinicians and leaders who have a particular knack for working closely with rural and underserved populations. South Dakota has plenty of both, and your time here will put you into first-hand contact with rural communities working on collaborative projects to reduce healthcare disparities and make use of evidence-based interventions to improve outcomes for both individual patients and for the population as a whole. Learning to work with individuals across the lifespan means that you will be well-equipped to step into leadership roles in any part of the country to take on modern nursing challenges and overcome them.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Nursing Administration Systems

Cost Per Credit: $407

$67 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Courses entirely online with an on-campus initial orientation and final exams/presentations conducted in person
• The post-BSN program is also available to nurses with master’s degrees in fields other than nursing
• The Nursing Administration Systems degree allows students to continue on and complete their MBA, accruing up to 15 credit hours as part of the DNP program
• The final component of the program is a student-driven, evidence-based, innovative Translational Project designed to solve a significant healthcare problem

Although simulation is a significant part of the programs at the UTC School of Nursing, the program also benefits from outstanding clinical partners who offer students the opportunity to engage in critical real-world learning experiences at high levels of practice. With program goals for both post-MSN and post-BSN students here leaning toward leadership and administrative roles, strong role models and studies of real-world organizational and systems leadership are keys to success. This program delivers in all of the categories required to develop strong, effective, lifetime leaders in nursing.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Anesthetist
  • Pediatric Primary Care
  • Pediatric Acute Care
  • Neonatal Acute Care

Cost Per Credit: $450

$24 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Most specializations are offered primarily through distance education, with the exception of nurse anesthesia specialty courses, which are delivered through traditional on campus settings
• Dual specializations are allowed so you can mix and match your area of study to a specific area of practice not rigidly defined by academic rules
• School has a 97% initial board certification rate for all seven DNP concentration combined
• Top NIH-funded college of nursing in the state of Tennessee

Although most specializations in this program are conducted online through distance learning technologies, the experienced faculty at UT-HSC understand that clinical experience is crucial in your learning process to become a DNP. Therefore, they are heavily involved in making the clinical placement decisions for students, in collaboration with both the students themselves and the campus DNP Clinical Coordinator. You’ll get the perfect match for your goals, even with the tough dual specialization options that the school offers.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $690

$285 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Online program offers both full-time and part-time study options
• Six-month post-graduation employment rates of 100% for the past three years, with completion rates between 75% and 100% over the same period

Offering new career opportunities and new clinical and leadership skills for students currently working in positions they love, the Lincoln Memorial University DNP will open your eyes to the possibilities for positive change and improvement in every type of healthcare system. With Lincoln Memorial’s cornerstone belief in service to humanity, the DNP program here represents the highest practical expression of that cause. The faculty here bring those tenets to bear on training students to excel in the field of nursing while also contributing to improving it.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $750

$225 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• A hybrid online program with three onsite colloquia spread over the six semesters of study, with options to progress more slowly
• A cohort-based learning model keeps you together with the same classmates through the entire process, ensuring that you have plenty of mutual support and a ready-made network to tap on graduation
• Experiential learning requirements are met through individualized plans meeting your own personal goals and objectives in the field

Through King’s excellent DNP program, you’ll pursue advanced nursing studies based on theoretical frameworks, evidence, practice, and research in preparation for advanced roles in direct patient care, executive leadership, quality and safety, informatics, and other high-level nursing jobs. You can expect to graduate with sophisticated skills in team and organizational leadership, strategic planning and resource utilization, and a critical, evidence-based analysis of current research and best practices in the industry. It’s the exact kind of education that healthcare organizations are looking for in advanced practice nurses today, and a DNP from King will make sure you’re well-prepared.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Adult-Gerontology
    • Acute Care
    • Primary Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
    • Acute Care
    • Primary Care
  • Lifestyle Medicine
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Educator
  • MBA Healthcare Administration
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology
    • Acute Care
    • Primary Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
    • Acute Care
    • Primary Care
  • Lifestyle Medicine
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Educator
  • MBA Healthcare Administration

Cost Per Credit: $860

$115 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Both campus-based and online education options are available for the nursing education, lifestyle medicine, and combined DNP/MBA programs
• Names as one of the Best Colleges in the country by U.S. News for 2020
• A 13 to 1 student/faculty ratio gives you excellent opportunities for individual interaction with your instructors

An emphasis in advanced clinical practice, research application, and evaluation of care delivery models is just the opening bid from this Christian-based DNP program. The vast array of emphasis options available in both the post-MSN and post-BSN tracks give you the ability to tailor your education entirely toward the types of positions you plan to follow for the rest of your career, including hard-to-find areas such as nursing education and lifestyle medicine. A dual DNP/MBA option offers excellent preparation for administrative and managerial leadership roles in nursing and major healthcare systems.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Executive Leadership

Cost Per Credit: $213

$156 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Entirely online, part-time program offers maximum flexibility for students who are currently working or have other regular obligations
• An extensive network of healthcare providers, agencies, and veteran services agencies offer rich practice experiences
• State-of-the-art nursing simulation laboratories allow practical investigations even for unusual and rare types of cases
• Faculty maintain their expertise in the field through active practice, giving you first-hand perspectives on the state of nursing today in every class

Professionalism and service are the key values you’ll find at the TAMU-Corpus Christi DNP program. Taught by nurses who maintain their own professional standards and practices in the field, you’ll get the most up-to-date treatment methods being used in the field today. Strong theoretical and investigative courses help you develop the necessary critical thinking skills to come up with your own advances in improving patient outcomes. Your existing knowledge base as a nurse will be recognized and valued here, even as the talented instructors help you build on that knowledge to become a leader in the field.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Advanced Practice Nursing
  • Executive Leadership
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $257

$112 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• A combination of online and face-to-face programs offers the best of both worlds in this hybrid program
• Program is based on the AACN Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice and the NONPF DNP Practice Entry-level Competencies to keep your training in line with national standards
• Training opportunities extend to global health and extensive clinical practice in nurse-managed clinic s like the Larry Combest Health and Wellness Center and the Abilene Community Health Clinic

You can be a part of something new at Texas Tech’s rapidly expanding School of Nursing. The school prides itself on developing new, innovative routes for students to achieve their learning goals, through both online learning initiatives and accelerated class options. The program integrates nursing knowledge with advanced studies in biophysical, psychosocial, analytical, and organizational sciences along with the important training in ethics that informs all your patient care decisions. You’ll learn how to build your approach to practice on evidence-based, culturally-relevant standards that meet both the current and future needs of the patient populations you work with.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $276

$93 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid program offers the benefits of both on-site studies and flexible online classrooms for busy, working professionals
• Named as one of the top DNP programs in the country for 2019 by U.S. News & World Reports
• Research opportunities abound at campus centers such as the Center for Global Nursing, Institute for Women’s Health, and the Stroke Center in Dallas

A strong element of research boosts your studies at Texas Women’s University. With a number of nationally-respected on-campus research centers, you have a selection of project options to participate in or fields of study to initiate your own project, all of it support by the Center for Student Research and the Center for Research Design and Analysis. The depth of knowledge that comes from those resources are part of what makes TWU one of the leading providers of high-quality DNP graduates in the nation, each of them well-trained in balancing science with the art of patient care.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Advanced Practice Leadership
  • Executive Administrative Management
  • Public Health Nurse Leader
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Public Health

Cost Per Credit: $298

$71 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid programs are available in both full-time and part-time formats to better accommodate your professional needs
• Department of Lifelong Learning ensures you stay on the path of enlightenment long after you graduate and for your entire career
• Names as one of the best DNP programs in the nation for 2020 by U.S. News & World Report
• More than 400 clinical affiliate partners boost your opportunities for clinical placements and research

Your education at UT’s Health Science Center will go far beyond the clinical basics of health sciences. Although you’ll receive some of the best advanced practice education in the country, the program goes far beyond clinical matters by taking you through core leadership skills such as engaging in public policy advocacy, improving organizational effectiveness, and conducting scientific inquiries based on translational science and evidence-based practices. As a student here, you’ll get the core skills in healthcare informatics and population health you need to perform all those tasks at the highest level.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Nurse Executive
  • Informatics
  • Nurse Anesthetist
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Anesthetist

Cost Per Credit: $298

$71 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• All specialty tracks other than the on-campus nurse anesthetist program are hybrids that combine both in-person and remote learning
• Named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best DNP graduate programs in the nation for both general and family nurse practitioner tracks
• Advanced technology such as a brand new simulation lab and a smart apartment used in home health and geriatric nursing training will put you at the front of the industry in the latest tech breakthroughs
• Faculty include both experienced clinicians and accomplished scholars, with a mountain of published articles and research behind them
• Each student is assigned a faculty mentor and advisor at time of enrollment and aligned with your desired clinical expertise and areas of interest to guide you through the program

The advantages of studying at UTHealth go far beyond the essential elements of advanced practice curriculum that you will study here. The location of the campus on site at the Texas Medical Center means that you have instant access to all the resources of a distinguished academic and interprofessional faculty at the world’s largest medical center. That means more exposure to unique cases, innovative research, and some of the finest minds in medicine today, both inside and outside the field of nursing.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Advanced Practice Nursing
  • Executive Nursing Leadership
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Executive Leadership

Cost Per Credit: $650/$1,000 (BSN/MSN)

$411/$61 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Entirely online coursework offers the maximum flexibility for completing your classes on your own time, in concert with professional or family obligations
• Faculty come with extensive experience in clinical practice covering an array of medical specialties
• You’ll receive invaluable support through mentoring relationships through your time in the program

You’ll benefit from a Christian faculty of practicing nurses here, delivering rigorous but supportive coursework that allows either a diversity of experience or an advanced degree of specialization in your chosen area of interest. Either way, you’ll learn to provide healthcare in a variety of settings, using the basic technical and critical thinking skills that are necessary to function at the highest level of nursing practice. It’s all part of your journey to become a whole person and a highly skilled nurse.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $950

$111 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Asynchronous, online class format builds maximum flexibility into your post-MSN program, while a hybrid blend of online and on campus courses offers more in person contact for post-BSN students
• Develop close working relationships with faculty and staff during your time in the program
• Program incorporates concepts of cultural competence, interprofessional collaboration, and faith, service, innovation, and truth in your education
• Program has received awards from the Texas Nurses Association as recently as 2018

The University of the Incarnate Word is rooted in charitable nursing work, right back to the founding of the university in 1869 when the arriving sisters built the first public hospital in San Antonio. That core concept of service nursing has never left the school even as the work itself has emerged into the modern age. Today, the school educates some of the most highly trained nurses in the state, embracing the complex skills and knowledge required for both clinical and organizational leadership roles, while never losing sight of the basics of faith and service engrained in the profession.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Advanced Practice Leadership
  • Executive Administration

Cost Per Credit: $955

$106 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid program requires only on day a month on campus with the remainder of coursework completed entirely online
• Study in the Isabelle Rutherford Meyer Nursing Education Center, a state-of-the-art facility in advanced nursing practice
• Small cohort format promotes collaboration and teamwork with fellow students

The DNP program at UMHB dives right into the deep end on topics that nurses in the highest ranks have to be familiar with, from health policy to healthcare practice management to economics. You’ll learn how to both lead and manage, with an essential familiarity with the advanced clinical practices that are common in the field today. While the program grounds you in the scientific knowledge that nurse leaders need, it also develops you personally through close, cohort-based collaborative learning that builds teamwork right into the coursework.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Direct Care
  • Organizational Leadership
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Primary Care
    • Adult-Gerontology
    • Family
    • Pediatric
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health
  • Neonatal
  • Nurse Midwifery
  • Women’s Health

Cost Per Credit: $599

This is the only public DNP program in the state of Utah.

• Hybrid format offers courses both on campus and online
• A dual-track specialization is available in Nurse Midwifery and Women’s Health
• College was the first recipient of the AACN New Era for Academic Nursing Award
• Ranked 9^th in Midwifery and 19^th for overall DNP by U.S. News & World Report
• School is ranked 23^rd overall in NIH grant funding in the United States
• School has key strategic integrations with a rising-star academic health care system for broad research and clinical exposure for students
• Dual DNP/PHd program is also available

The University of Utah DNP program delivers a unique level of inter-professional clinical education thanks to the school’s association with one of the premier healthcare programs in the state. The program places a special emphasis on women’s health issues, with not only a unique specialization in that patient population, but also the opportunity to pursue a dual-focus women’s health/nurse-midwifery track – a combination that has resulted in national recognition for the school. With elite levels of research funding, you have the chance to get to the front of the pack in both theoretical and practical studies of modern nursing here.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $948

This is the only private DNP program in the state of Utah.

• Online, primarily asynchronous, course delivery makes the post-MSN degree entirely remote and the post-BSN degree limited residency for increased flexibility
• A 92% retention program indicates how highly current students value their studies here
• Pass rates for FNP certification is 100% for post-BSN graduates

Students at RMUoHP are involved in transforming healthcare into a more positive experience for patients everywhere. You’ll learn the virtues of patient-centered care delivered with the latest technology and informed by the most current research to develop best practices that will improve the quality of care you deliver to the families you work with. The program offers a broad overview for obstetric, pediatric, and gynecological treatment along with adult and geriatric diagnostic and management to give you the skills needed to care for patients throughout the entire lifecycle.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Executive Nurse Leader
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $683

This is the only DNP program in the state of Vermont.

• Hybrid model takes advantage of all the benefits of flexible online coursework and focused in-person classes to maximize your learning experience
• Interdisciplinary education integrates simulation and real-world experience in clinical practice under the supervision of expert faculty clinicians
• Study clinical practices in UVM’s six-hospital system that includes a Level 1 Trauma Center, children’s hospital, and cancer care center for a broad range of experiences
• Gain additional experience in both clinical and leadership roles at the UVM nurse practitioner-led clinic, Appletree Bay Primary Care, delivering outpatient services to local communities

The UVM experience is solidly grounded in community. And here that means both the nursing community, which supports and informs you through the course of your studies, and the overall community, which you will in turn support through your learning experiences at the UVM Health Care system, which include rotations at the Appletree Bay Primary Care outpatient clinic. The advanced theoretical and organizational studies you’ll absorb in class have a chance to be put into practice there, while expert instructors guide and educate you along the way, helping you develop into an accomplished nursing leader yourself.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Advanced Practice Nursing
  • Leadership in Healthcare Systems

Cost Per Credit: $499

$97 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• An innovative online program with both full-time and part-time study options
• Individualized mentorship offered to each student in the program
• Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best nursing schools in the country for both online graduate nursing degrees generally, and for the DNP program in particular
• Top marks for engagement at both community and global levels

The JMU DNP prepares graduates for healthcare innovation at either the clinical or organizational levels while allowing them to continue to focus on a particular specialty area. As a student here, you’ll get the overview and interprofessional training necessary to participate in shaping healthcare policy and leading large healthcare organizations, while maintaining your key clinical skills through evidence-based practices and advanced research opportunities.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Leadership

Cost Per Credit: $504

$92 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Distance-based program promotes maximum flexibility for students while maintaining a quality education
• Strong theoretical and research-based courses help ground your clinical and policy practices in the latest evidence
• Program culminates in a carefully tailored residency that is fit to your particular learning needs and career goals

Radford offers the sort of life-long learning opportunities that all DNP programs should aspire to. By starting off your education with a firm grounding in the latest research, you’ll build the skills to perform critical analysis with the evidence that develops in the field throughout your career. Adapting to the latest knowledge in healthcare delivery will not only shape the way you approach clinical practice, it will inform the way you tackle policy and organizational advocacy issues too.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Advanced Practice
  • Nurse Executive
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Nurse Anesthesia

Cost Per Credit: $547

$49 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid program blends online flexibility with on-campus intensives to give you the best of both worlds
• Small, elite program with relatively few students gives you opportunities for close collaboration and lifelong ties
• Faculty are involved in national associations and actively engage in both practice and policy-making
• Student wellness program helps you cope with the stress of graduate school

The Old Dominion DNP program focuses on emerging healthcare technologies, advanced diagnostic and care skills, vulnerable populations, and practice-based research leading to quality client outcomes. You’ll learn to focus on health disparities, barriers to care, and cultural aspects of healthcare that lead to the kind of inclusive, patient-focused policies that nurses are famous for. From there, you can branch into either advanced clinical skills for continued hands-on leadership in treatment, or move to the executive branch to develop leadership skills and influential management techniques. For post-BSN entrants, an elite nurse anesthesia program develops some of the highest clinical skills available in that field with a fierce, no-student-left-behind approach that ensures you get the kind of personal attention and mentoring you need to graduate and succeed in your career.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Nursing Administration
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Nursing Administration

Cost Per Credit: $581

$15 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Available in a variety of formats, including online core courses, executive format classes at Fairfax or Prince William, and traditional courses at those same locations
• Program draws on wide expertise available throughout the College of Health and Human Services including health economics, policy, and epidemiology
• Studies are combined with practical experience at Mason and Partners clinics treating underserved, high-risk populations
• High-tech simulation labs are available for practicing any type of treatment, even when patients are not immediately available

GMU is a big name in nursing, and when the school claims to offer one of the most innovative DNP programs in the country, it’s worth paying attention. With a real variety of format options for courses, almost any student, either full-time or currently employed elsewhere, can carve out the time to attend. Studying at the center of a major medical school also affords unparalleled opportunities for both hands-on research and practical experience. The school’s focus on interprofessional development ensures that you will have the opportunity to collaborate with nationally and internationally recognized faculty and scholars, both in the profession of nursing and among other healthcare specialties. It all adds up to build your expertise and credentials out for a high-level role in any healthcare system in the country, as an executive or a practicing clinician.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $595

$255 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• School is committed to continuing to provide quality academics at an affordable rate, with rates frozen for the past five years
• Faculty are composed of nursing professionals with real-world experience
• Optional hands-on intensive course allows you to seek in-person instruction in clinical studies during your program

Liberty has one of the oldest remote learning programs of any school in the country, which means their online teaching expertise is second to none. Routinely ranked near the top of lists of online colleges, it also means the program is affordable, and will stay affordable… the Liberty commitment has meant no tuition increases for the past five years and counting. It’s a flexible curriculum delivered by experienced, caring, highly-respected faculty in a format that has been proven effective. With the chance to complete your studies in less than two years, you will get a jump on your career and have a degree that commands respect from both employers and fellow nurses.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Population Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Population Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $438

$219 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Hybrid program offers most instruction online, with some required attendance on campus; campus locations in Spokane, Vancouver, and the Tri-Cities offer flexible attendance even for on campus portions of the program
• With sites scattered across the state, you have the opportunity to engage with patient populations in both urban and rural settings.
• A required DNP project caps off your studies through a meaningful practice inquiry that develops real-world research into evidence-based initiatives
• Named a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing
• Research efforts backed by nearly $10 million in funding as of 2017

The WSU DNP program puts a vast amount of resources at your fingertips, both online and across the state, to give you the kind of access you need to develop independent, innovative student research projects and gain the kind of clinical experience required to be a leader in the field of nursing. That support shows in the results: graduates consistently earn outstanding scores on national certification exams. A committed, interdisciplinary faculty brings diversity in both expertise and methodology to make sure you get exposure to all types of medical care and breakthroughs. The rare population health nurse specialization is a case in point, giving you the opportunity to study and build expertise in community and public health programs in coordination with other disciplines and local organizations in a way that few DNP degrees can offer.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Health Systems Leader
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Acute Care
    • Adult-Gerontology
  • Primary Care
    • Adult-Gerontology
    • Family Nurse Practitioner
    • Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
    • Nurse Midwifery

Cost Per Credit: $832

$131 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Study in a 20,000 square foot clinical laboratory equipped with top-of-the-line lab equipment and realistic patient simulators
• Unique Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion program offers a pathway to DNP for students who hold bachelor’s degrees in non-nursing fields
• Clinical site placements throughout the Seattle metro area allow studies at some of the premiere healthcare facilities in the country
• Named as one of the Best Graduate Schools for 2021 by U.S. News & World Report, with the DNP program in particular ranked first among Jesuit schools

Seattle U graduates are recognized industry-wide and sought out for the mission-driven skill sets that they earn in this nationally acclaimed program. This Jesuit-led program is well-known for the rigorous, comprehensive, yet compassionate approach it takes to DNP education. With core values that include both diversity and excellence, your education will be well aligned with what both the public and the healthcare system look for in advanced practice nurses and leaders. For example, with hard work and the backing of the experienced and highly skilled teachers here, the APNI program allows even students without a formal nursing background to get up to speed in advanced practice nursing.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Adult-Gerontology
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist

Cost Per Credit: $873

$90 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Attend classes on campus just one day per week to minimize disruptions to your work life
• Faculty members are clinical experts who are devoted to teaching and research pursuits
• School is committed to student success, offering personal, individualized attention and relationship-centered learning
• The campus Nursing Skills Lab offers a near-real-life simulated hospital experience under the watchful supervision of experienced mentors

Strong clinical, organizational, and leadership expertise are the hallmarks of the well-respected, affordable DNP program from SPU. Interprofessional collaboration and healthcare advocacy are a natural outgrowth of studying in a region that celebrates diversity and hosts some of the finest medical research and treatment facilities in the country. You’ll get hands-on experience in those facilities, with placements orchestrated by SPU and a focused, personalized course of study developed by professors who take the time to get to know you and your goals. The SPU DNP experience includes unparalleled access to professors, resulting in valuable interactions that will benefit you throughout your career.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Nurse Anesthetist

Cost Per Credit: $368

$164 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• The post-BSN nurse anesthetist program is delivered on campus in a traditional format, while the post-MSN degree is offered online, with a required on campus final presentation
• School keeps a strong focus on rural nursing practice, with research aimed at reducing health disparities among rural Appalachians
• Both nursing faculty and students participate in outreach efforts in both local communities and at a global level

The translation and implementation of evidence-based practice is what the WVU program builds on to prepare students for expert-levels of nursing administration and practice. The predominantly poor and rural population of West Virginia is both the focus and recipient of the service-oriented education you’ll get here, which delivers real hands-on experience, including a minimum of 300 hours of clinical immersion, regardless of prior advanced practice experience. A final DNP project documents your learning and experience and summarizes your growth and expertise, both to gauge your progress and to help advance the profession through original research and advocacy.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Nurse Executive
  • Advanced Clinical Practice
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology
    • Primary Care
    • Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Administrator/Executive
    • Adult-Gerontologic
    • Family Population

Cost Per Credit: $390

$296 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Full-time and part-time hybrid course options give you tremendous flexibility
• Program offers a holistic approach with patient-centered care
• State-of-the-art Clinical Simulation Labs allow you to explore all types of cases under the safe supervision of expert instructors
• Participate in clinical experiences at diverse healthcare settings in the Chippewa Valley and sites throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota
• Collaborate directly with faculty on research projects and take part in service-learning activities that directly drive community benefit

Whether your ultimate goal is to go into nursing administration, healthcare management, or simply to hone your clinical skills for even more effective patient treatment, the UW-Eau Claire DNP has the resources and options to meet your needs. With extensive specializations available within advanced practice nursing roles, you can pursue research and training opportunities that offer a laser focus on your preferred course of study. Classes in advanced epidemiology, organizational leadership, and the philosophical, theoretical, and ethical foundations behind the nursing profession as a whole will equip you for leadership roles at the practice level and higher. With a culturally-sensitive, holistic approach and an emphasis on health and wellness promotion, this program offers the right combination to put you in the top ranks of advanced practice nurses anywhere in the nation.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s

Cost Per Credit: $817

$142 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Completely online program is offered in a flexible, accelerated format designed for working professionals
• Cohort-based degree plan surrounds you with familiar and helpful students on the same track throughout the entirety of the program
• Chapter of the Student Nurses Association offers additional study and networking opportunities

This faith-based program prepares you to participate at the highest levels of nursing practice with an emphasis on evidence analysis and systems-based thinking as the foundation for your career in clinical and organizational leadership. Change-management and quality improvement initiatives are discussed and dissected to help you understand the current state of the American healthcare system, as well as preparing you to take you own ideas for improving patient outcomes to fruition.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • Adult Gerontology
  • Ethical Leadership
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • Adult-Gerontology
  • Nurse Anesthetist
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $850

$109 LESS than the state average for similar programs

• Students in any track also have the option to pursue a dual DNP/MBA degree for additional business and leadership focus
• A required DNP scholarly project offers an opportunity to pursue independent research or evidence-based inquiry in a subject of significance to advanced nursing roles
• School rooted in Franciscan values and a liberal arts tradition that values qualities like contemplation, integrity, and service

Viterboro prepares nurses for a lifetime of faithful service and ethical leadership through both extensive spiritual preparation and advanced clinical training. The results speak for themselves: the school has a long legacy of excellence, turning out graduates who return to their communities to make a real difference in individual and population outcomes for patients. You’ll learn to affirm the dignity of life and diversity, advocate for quality outcomes, and use technology to impact best practices in the field on your way to becoming a life-long leader in advanced practice nursing.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Post-Master’s
  • FNP
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Bachelor’s
  • FNP
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Cost Per Credit: $422

This is the only DNP program in the state of Wyoming.

• Distance-accessible program makes attendance easy for students in the Mountain West or who are attending while still working
• Clinical experiences are available in the rural Rocky Mountain region
• Graduates enjoy a 100% employment rate for the past three years running
• Graduates have 100% pass rates in nurse practitioner certification exams for both program tracks

The DNP program at the University of Wyoming is as rugged as you would expect from a school in the Cowboy State. Students are held to a high level of accountability throughout the program, and treated as competent, capable adults. Part of that includes completion of a practice-oriented DNP project as part of the third-year curriculum, an opportunity to explore your own interests while further the state of knowledge and best practices in the advanced practice nursing field.