Top RN to DNP Programs
If it’s your goal to take on a leadership role in a healthcare organization while providing advanced clinical care, pursuing your Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree may be right for you.
RN-to-DNP programs are a fast track to earning your doctoral degree. They allow entry to the advanced coursework required by the rigorous DNP programs without already having earned a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
Depending on whether you continue working while pursuing your degree or choose to take courses full-time, you can go from being a registered nurse to earning your doctorate in three to six years.
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Fast Facts About DNPs |
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Salary |
Payscale.com reports that nurses who hold a DNP earn an average base salary of $112,000 or $55.99 per hour. |
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Program length |
3-6 years |
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Requirements |
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What are RN to DNP Programs?
RN to DNP programs are designed for students who have an RN license and are interested in earning a DNP degree.
DNPs are considered terminal nursing degrees. Students will take courses applicable to a BSN and MSN degree. Some programs award lesser degrees along the way, while others only award a DNP at the end of the program.
Top 10 RN-to-DNP Programs
Ranking RN-to-DNP programs is not an exact science: The right school for one prospective student may be wrong for another. With that in mind, we’ve based our ranking on the objective measures that we feel will be most relevant and helpful to you.
Each program in the list below is accredited and offers high-quality academic outcomes. Other criteria include:
- Cost of attendance
- Program length
- Admission requirements
- Clinical placements
- Ranking according to U.S. News & World Report
- Any additional accolades that the program has received
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Program Name |
Accreditation |
Program Length |
Tuition |
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Johns Hopkins University |
CCNE |
78 credit hours |
$1,997 per credit hour |
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University of North Carolina Chapel Hill |
CCNE |
66-75 credit hours |
$1,019 per credit hour |
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Duke University |
CCNE |
35 credit hours |
$2,166 per credit hour |
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Vanderbilt University |
CCNE |
65 credit hours |
$1,997 per credit hour |
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Rush University |
CCNE |
62-71 credit hours |
$1,344 per credit hour |
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Ohio State University |
CCNE |
72 credit hours |
$805.63 – $1574 per credit hour |
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George Mason University |
CCNE |
72 credit hours |
In-state: $589 per credit hour Out-of-state: $1,520 per credit hour |
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University of Maryland |
CCNE |
80-93 credit hours |
In-state: $890 per credit hour Out-of-state: $1,580 per credit hour |
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University of Washington |
CCNE |
93 credit hours |
$1,021 per credit hour |
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University of Florida |
CCNE |
75-78 credit hours |
In-state: $12,740 per year Out-of-state: $30,134 per year |
Topping the U.S. World News and Report’s list of top DNP programs, the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing provides BSN- and post-BSN-degree RNs with the knowledge and skills they need to provide top-quality advanced clinical practice in multiple areas of specialization, as well as leadership within their organization.
There are three- and four-year plans available, as well as online options. Johns Hopkins does not offer a part-time study plan for the DNP tracks. Students who are enrolled in the 4-year plan may be able to work in the first year as a Registered Nurse in settings that offer flexible scheduling. However, once you are in the specialized course and working on your capstone DNP Project you will not be able to maintain employment.
- Application Deadline:
- Early: November 1st
- Priority: January 15th
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (410) 955-4766
- Email Address: jhuson@jhu.edu
The DNP program at UNC has a curriculum designed to help students achieve the knowledge and skills that make them educational experts.
Courses are both asynchronous and synchronous throughout the program; however, students are required to attend in-person immersion experiences each semester. Students have the opportunity to work closely with faculty and peers during several-day sessions.
- Application Deadline:
- Priority: November 12th
- Final: February 11th
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (919) 966-4260
- Email Address: nursing@unc.edu
According to U.S. News & World Report, Duke University’s RN to DNP Doctor of Nursing program is currently ranked in the top five of the best DNP programs. The program is available to registered nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Graduates become nurse practitioners and are awarded an MSN and a DNP degree.
This is a part-time, distance-based, online program, although attendance at on-campus activities is required for some courses. DNP projects can be conducted where you work. Most students can complete this program in two years.
- Application Deadline:
- Priority: May 1st
- Final: December 1st
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (877) 415-3853
- Email Address: SonAdmissions@dm.duke.edu
Vanderbilt School of Nursing offers Registered Nurses with BSN degrees entry into their DNP program track for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner or Family Nurse Practitioner/Emergency Nurse Practitioner, or the option of earning their MSN degree with a seamless transition into the DNP Program. Students in the BSN to DNP track will complete the program in 8 semesters while post-master’s DNP will have a track specialized to their experience and previous education.
The school is included in the top ten of the 2024 U.S. News & World Report DNP rankings. Students attend the DNP intensive every semester throughout the program, as well as specialty block sessions for specialty clinical courses.
- Application Deadline:
- Early: October 15th, then rolling admissions
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (615) 322-3800
- Email Address: admissions@vanderbilt.edu
Rush University’s Doctor of Nursing Program offers several specialty tracks for advanced practice nursing. These programs are available on a part-time or full-time basis, with most courses offered online.
Clinical practicum sites are available at Rush University Medical Center and local sites around Chicago. Distance learners interested in completing clinicals in their area are required to find the appropriate site and preceptor and have it approved by faculty.
Rush University was included in the U.S. World News and Report’s list of top DNP programs. The program can be completed in three and a half years for part-time students and two and a half years for full-time students.
- Application Deadline: October 2nd
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (312) 942-6986
- Email Address: elizabeth_m_miranda@rush.edu
Ohio State University’s BSN to DNP program provides its graduates with a DNP degree, a master’s degree, and eligibility for certification in one of several advanced practice specialties, including Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Family, Neonatal.
All specialties are available on-campus and a few are also available online, while all DNP coursework is completed online. The program can be completed in three years as a full-time student or in four years as a part-time student.
- Application Deadline: March 1st
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (614) 292-8900
- Email Address: nursing@osu.edu
Considered one of the top public universities in the country, GMU's DNP program is one of the best. The curriculum requires all DNP students to take the core courses together and then break into specialty programs, such as administration or nurse practitioner.
Because of the university’s proximity to military bases, GMU has agreements with the VA and offers a significant tuition reduction for military members.
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Tuition Per Credit:
- Resident: $589
- Nonresident: $1,520
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (703) 993-1961
- Email Address: vhough@gmu.edu
The University of Maryland’s RN-to-DNP program is ideal for BSN-degreed nurses interested in a career as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse anesthetist.
Students can specialize in one of eight areas of patient care and will graduate prepared for board certification. While general classes are held online, all on-campus and face-to-face courses are held one day per week.
- Application Deadline:
- Regular: December 1st
- Final: July 1st
- Tuition Per Credit:
- Resident: $890
- Nonresident: $1,580
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (410) 706-0501 (option #2)
- Email Address: admissions.nursing@umaryland.edu
All of the University of Washington’s DNP tracks are offered full-time only. Year one of the program is offered in a 50% in-person, 50% distance learning hybrid format, with students required to be on campus one day per week. Core DNP academic classwork is completed with DNP peers across all DNP tracks.
Year two focuses on track-specific advanced practice nursing foundations. It requires in-person attendance, and some courses include distance learning methods.
In the final year, DNP candidates continue clinical training and collaborate with a supervisory committee on a DNP final project with a local clinical agency or organization.
- Application Deadline:
- Priority: January 15th
- Final: May 1st (space available basis)
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (206) 543-8736
- Email Address: asknursing@uw.edu
All of the University of Florida’s RN-to-DNP classes are taught online with periodic required campus visits, in addition to clinical placements within the state of Florida. Specialty tracks offered include Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Dual Pediatric Acute and Primary Care Nurse Practitioner.
- Application Deadline: February 1st
- Annual Tuition:
- In-state: $12,740
- Out-of-state: $30,134
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (352) 273-6400
- Email Address: conweb@health.ufl.edu
Popular Online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Programs
Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, and the School of Nursing has been delivering graduate nursing programs in a distance-learning environment since 2011. Georgetown's online programs allow students to learn from wherever they are while they pursue an accredited, mission-driven nursing education that will allow them to deliver high-quality care.
CCNE
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
The CCNE-accredited online DNP program from Simmons University will prepare you to advance to the highest level of professional nursing practice — and to drive meaningful change in health care as a nurse leader. Learn from experienced professors-of-practice and join a legacy of more than 100 years developing nursing leadership and excellence by completing your DNP on a part-time basis over seven 14-week terms.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
RN to DNP Program Overview
Though every school offering an RN-to-DNP program has its own philosophies and goals, there are certain universal aspects that you can expect no matter which program you choose to attend.
Nurses who have graduated from a DNP program have the education and clinical training necessary to provide advanced practice nursing and to take on leadership positions in the facilities where they work.
Programs will provide graduates with the following foundational competencies:
- Organizational and systems leadership for quality improvement and systems thinking
- Clinical scholarship and analytical methods for evidence-based practice
- Information systems/technology and patient care technology for the improvement and transformation of healthcare
- Healthcare policy for advocacy
- Interprofessional collaboration for improving patient and population health outcomes
- Clinical prevention and population health for improving the nation’s health
- Advanced nursing practice skills
Application Requirements:
To be accepted to an RN-to-DNP program, applicants will need to have the following:
- Active RN license in the state your clinicals will take place in
- Minimum 1-year nursing experience (preferred); some clinical focuses may require a minimum of 2 years of experience
- Completed school application with the applicable fee
- CV/resume
- Goal statement or personal essay
- Official transcripts
- Prerequisite courses that generally include statistics and natural sciences (some schools also stipulate certain courses must be taken within the last 5 years)
- Minimum 3.0 grade point average (varies based on program)
- Three personal letters of recommendation, with at least one from a current supervisor
- In-person or phone interview may be required
- Additional testing may be required for international students
- GRE scores may be required
- Some schools require pre-statistics course within the last 10 years with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Program Cost
The cost of attending an RN-to-DNP program depends upon many variables including,
- Reputation of the program
- Quality of the faculty
- Number of specialty tracks offered
- Program is offered by a private or public institution
- Online versus hybrid versus in-person instruction
- Full-time or part-time attendance
Classes
While every RN-to-DNP program is different and there will be variations in curriculum based on what track each student is pursuing, there are some fundamental classes that will be included by every school’s faculty, as well as an average of at least 500 clinical hours that need to be completed. Every DNP program requires the completion of a DNP project and/or dissertation. Didactic classes include:
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Informatics
- Statistics
- Quality Improvement in Nursing
- Patient Safety
- Epidemiology
- Health Care Economics
- Systems Management
- Healthy Policy
- Legal Issues in Nursing
How to Choose an RN to DNP Program
Choosing an RN to DNP program requires thoughtful consideration, especially because of the cost and program length. Consider the following when choosing a program,
- Overall cost
- Length of program
- Accreditation
- Online vs. in-person coursework
- Clinical requirements
- Doctoral Dissertation
- Student-faculty ratio
- Graduation rate
- Admission requirements
- Attrition rate
- Certification exam pass rate
FAQs About RN to DNP programs
What is the fastest DNP program?
The fastest DNP programs are available to RNs who have already earned their Master of Science in Nursing. Those who already have earned an MSN degree can complete an online DNP programs with as few as 30 additional credits in just over a year.
Do DNPs make good money?
DNP-degreed nurses receive generous salaries. Though their pay scale depends upon where they work and in what field, most DNPs earn over $100,000 per year.
Can a DNP be called a doctor?
Though DNPs are officially doctors of nursing and can explain their credentials to patients, most prefer to be called by their name, and some states prohibit professionals outside of Medical Doctors (MDs) from referring to themselves as doctors. DNPs who work in teaching or research are more likely to be referred to as doctors than those working directly in patient care.
Is DNP School Hard?
DNP school is challenging. Students need to be dedicated to their future and the future of nursing. The curriculum requires that students learn the material covered in the classrooms and that they apply themselves to their clinical practice, but with diligence, you will be able to complete the program and move on to a bright future.
Doctoral programs focus on not only nursing but also administration, ethics, and research.
