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Online Doctor of Nursing Practice

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Enhance your career and advance the discipline of nursing with our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). This program is designed for working nurses who require a doctorate for advanced practice or nurses who desire their terminal degree. It does not prepare students for professional certification or state licensure as a nurse or as an advanced practice nurse.

Ignite Your Passion

Start when you're ready

Courses

Browse courses for your online nursing practice degree

Education should hold practical value. That’s why our courses meet rigorous academic standards and provide you with skills and knowledge immediately applicable to your career.

Program Handbook: Nursing Student Program Handbook

Skills-aligned program icon

Look for this icon to see which skills you’ll learn in a course.

Requirements: 31 credits

You’ll need 31 credits to complete this Doctor of Nursing Practice online. Your course schedule may vary based on transferable credits or credits earned through theÌýUniversity’s Prior Learning Assessment.

11 Core Courses

Here’s where you’ll pick up the majority of your program-specific knowledge.

Applied Project

You’ll begin your applied project in your first course and follow a schedule of milestones throughout your program. This makes your project achievable in smaller segments and helps identify any challenges early, so there are no surprises or delays at the end.

Partner with dedicated doctoral faculty. You’ll work with your assigned Applied Project Chair throughout your program, allowing for critical feedback along the way.

Schedule

Your academic counselor will help schedule your courses for a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

Tuition

Paying for school

Tuition is based on number of credit hours per course. Courses are typically 3 credits, but can range from 1-6 credits. Costs do not include savings opportunities like transfer credits and scholarships.

Doctoral cost per course

$2,635Ìý/ course

Cost per creditÌý

Credits per course

Resource fee

$810

x3

+ $205

Estimated cost per course

$2,635

An illustration showing a couple pushing a stroller with a dollar sign and clock in the background

What affects the overall cost of my program?

Your full program cost can vary by:Ìý

  • Savings opportunities. With our Tuition GuaranteeÌýcommitment, you can count on fixed, affordable pricing for your entire postgraduate degree program. You can apply for the Doctoral Scholarship, which offers up to $3,000 for new students and alumni pursuing their doctoral degree at ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½.

Earn your doctoral degree faster and for less with eligible savings opportunities:

Other ways to save on time and tuition

Because we believe everyone deserves an affordable education, we work hard to help our students achieve one. Here’s a few ways you can save time, save money and avoid starting from scratch.Ìý

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Budget & borrow

How to pay for college

Paying for school can be intimidating, but we’re here to help you make sense of it. Our finance advisors can walk you through your options like federal financial aid and savings opportunities to minimize your debt. Plus, we can help you figure out your financial plan.

Careers & Outcomes

What can you do withÌýa Doctor of Nursing Practice?

Discover where your degree might take you and make informed choices about your future.

A DNP can prepare you to be a:

Our practitioner doctorate prepares you for leadership in your profession.ÌýHow is this degree different from a PhD?

Ready to get started?

Start your application for free or request additional information.

What you’ll learn

When you earn your Doctor of Nursing Practice online, you’ll be equipped with a concrete set of skills you can apply on the job.ÌýYou’ll learn how to:

  • Integrate scientific underpinnings to advance nursing practice and improve the health care environment following state Nurse Practice Acts and/or regulatory guidelines.
  • Construct leadership strategies to improve health care outcomes.
  • Translate scientific evidence and innovations to improve population health status and care outcomes.
  • Synthesize scholarly evidence, judgment, and accountability in designing, delivering, and evaluating a project to impact health outcomes.

23% Growth

According to theÌý, job growth for medical and health services managers is projected to be much faster than average between 2024 and 2034.

The BLS Projected Growth for 2024-2034 is published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects the BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ students or graduates.

Admissions

Apply for free – no application fee, no obligation.

Starting your degree is a big decision — and we want you to feel great about it. That’s why we remove obstacles from your application.

  • No GMAT/GRE
  • No academic or professional references
  • No cost to request transcripts

Receive 1-on-1 support

You have a support team of real people you can lean on. And our academic counselors, who are with you every step of the way, have earned a 5-star rating from 90% of our surveyed students.[1]ÌýStart a conversation with an enrollment representative today.

[1] Transactional Survey, August 2021-22 (18,645 respondents)

Gabriel G., Enrollment Representative

Call or chat with us 7 days a week.

G. Galindo - Enrollment Representative

Gabriel G., Enrollment Rep

Receive 1-on-1 support

You have a support team of real people you can lean on. And our academic counselors, who are with you every step of the way, have earned a 5-star rating from 85% of our surveyed students.[1]

[1] Transactional Survey, September 2022-August 2023 (23,739 respondents)

Start a conversation with an enrollment representative today.

Call us at 844-937-8679 or chat with us 7 days a week.

Student Experience

An education that fits your busy life

Balancing family, work and school

Work toward your degree without giving up what matters most. Start your degree year-round and take one class at a time.

Online learning

Enroll in online classes and attend class whenever it fits your life, day or night.

Around-the-clock support and resources

You have a support team available up to 14 hours a day, 5 days a week.Ìý

Computer requirements for courses

Many course assignments will require you to use a computer to complete and submit your assignment.Ìý

Student completing homework at night while child plays on floor.

Faculty Spotlight

Professionals dedicated to you

Your success is a top priority for our deans and faculty members. They bring an average ofÌý29 years of experience and hands-on perspective to the classroom, and help bridge the gap between academics and industry knowledge.

Beverly Jensen

I definitely understand how difficult it is for students who have a family. I try to make my classes as “un-stressful†as possible.

Beverly Jensen
2020 Faculty of the Year

MSN, RN, CNE

Accreditation

Count on the quality of your education

Programmatic Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is aligned with leading industry organizations, such as:Ìý

  • American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN®)
  • Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN)
CCNE Accredited

Frequently asked questions about this doctoral program

To be eligible for a doctoral degree program, you must meet the following criteria:

  • You are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or have a valid visa if you’re living in the U.S.
  • You have earned a graduate degree from a regionally or an approved nationally accredited — or candidate for accreditation — college or university or equivalent graduate degree earned at a recognized foreign institution
  • You have a minimum 3.0 GPA on graduate degree posted transcripts
  • You are currently employed or have a record of past employment or access to a work environmentYou have access to a research library
  • You have a signed University hardware/software agreement
  • You have not previously been expelled from a higher education institution
  • You will complete all required forms for admission and submit an official graduate degree posted transcript

Learn more about admission requirements

No specific master’s degree field of study is required to start a doctoral degree. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA on graduate degree posted transcripts from an accredited institution. Learn about transferring credits.

Sign up for a University account to start the process. Complete your program application in about 20 minutes. Apply now

We have an open admissions policy that allows you to apply without standardized test scores, so GMAT/GRE test results are not required. What is required for admissions?

No, application to ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ is free. We strive to remove barriers for new students that might interrupt higher education goals, including fees for application. Explore costs and tuition.

As part of your doctoral studies you can receive a customized support system for doctoral students, including:

  • Doctoral-dedicated graduation team
  • Dissertation support
  • College of Doctoral Studies resource repository

Learn more about doctoral studies.

One of the most convenient aspects of the ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ online learning model is that you choose the days and times to participate in class each week. You do need to meet the minimum participation requirements by posting substantive contributions to the classroom on three of seven days each week. While there are due dates for assignments, when you do the work for those assignments is up to you. Find out more about learning online.

Academic advisors are available 6 am to 7 pm, 5 days a week to provide guidance and support throughout your educational journey. Sign up to connect with advisors.

The doctoral degree program length can vary by program expectations. Course extensions, research proposals, and research and dissertation can all impact the duration and cost of doctoral studies. That's why our doctoral support team is here to guide you every step of the way. Review your selected program for details. If you have questions, explore doctoral program details or speak to our dedicated doctoral enrollment representatives: 602-544-3737

You can apply up to 27 doctoral-level credits you’ve earned from accredited institutions toward your professional doctoral degree, which may help you finish your degree sooner. Learn more about transfer credits.

No, a ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ diploma does not indicate that the degree was earned online. The diploma only shows that the degree was earned in a specific field of study. We also offer continued opportunities after you graduate. Explore alumni benefits.

As a doctoral student you have access to the CDS Alumni Mentor Program, a comprehensive program designed to strengthen your connection to our doctoral alumni. Mentorship can help you create a game plan for the year ahead and even begin to build your doctoral network. Mentorship can also help you move through your career discovery process.

You will also have access to webinars and presentations geared to support you after graduation. Learn more in doctoral student resources.

While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.