A Doctorate in Nursing Practice is a terminal degree for nurses who wish to pursue advanced practice or leadership roles. While most programs require a BSN or MSN degree to be admitted, RNs who only have an associate’s degree may obtain their doctorate in 3-6 years through the programs below:
RN to DNP Programs
Here are six institutions that offer a DNP program for nurses with ADN/ASN degrees:
Allen College
- Waterloo, Iowa
- Hybrid
Modality: Hybrid
Credit Hours: 71
GRE/GMAT Requirement: No
Tuition: $51,771 plus other fees
Program Overview:
Allen College offers part-time and full-time DNP programs for RNs who want to become FNPs, PMHNPs, AGACNPs, PNPs, and healthcare administrators. With its hybrid modality, students only need to visit the campus for residency hours and clinical examinations. The program has two start dates (spring and fall), with admission decisions being rendered 3-4 weeks after the submission of application requirements.
Boston College
- Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
- Campus
Modality: On-campus
Credit Hours: 112
GRE/GMAT Requirement: No
Tuition: $1,804 per credit for 112 credits – $202,048 plus other fees
Program Overview:
Boston College’s RN to DNP program is for ADN-educated nurses who want to pursue their terminal degree on a part-time or full-time basis. Specialty tracks available include FNP, AGPCNP, PNP, PMHNP, and WHNP, with clinical placements that may be completed in 3-6 sites within the Boston area. To get into the program, nurses must have a GPA of B (or better) and complete a prerequisite statistics course.
Otterbein University
- Westerville, Ohio
- Campus + Hybrid + Online
Modality: On-campus, Hybrid, and Online
Credit Hours: 66 + prerequisites
GRE/GMAT Requirement: No
Tuition: $46,989 to $54,942 plus other fees
Program Overview:
Available in online, hybrid, and on-campus learning modes, Otterbein’s ADN to DNP program provides RNs with the opportunity to advance their careers by including an MSN component as well. The university offers two ARNP specialization tracks for ADN-educated nurses, namely FNP and PMHNP.
Samford University
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 84-92
GRE/GMAT Requirement: No
Tuition: $980 per credit for 84-92 credits – $82,320 to $90,160 plus other fees
Program Overview:
Requiring only 4 campus visits a year, Samford’s online RN to DNP enables students to obtain their terminal degree in just 12 semesters. Nurses can choose to specialize in either family nursing, family/emergency (dual option), nursing administration, or informatics/analytics. Clinical hours may be completed at facilities outside Alabama.
University of Michigan-Flint
- Flint, Michigan
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 87-93
GRE/GMAT Requirement: No
Resident Tuition: $834 per credit for 87-93 credits – $72,558 to $77,562 plus other fees
Non-resident Tuition: $1,248.25 per credit for 87-93 credits – $108,597.75 to $116,087.25 plus other fees
Program Overview:
UM-Flint’s RN to DNP program is for ADN-educated nurses who wish to complete their MSN and DNP degrees on a part-time or full-time basis. After completing the MSN part of the program, students may sit in for the nurse practitioner certification exams. Students must complete 20-23 prerequisite hours, which can be taken in other institutions, before continuing with the core DNP courses.
University of St. Francis
- Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Hybrid
Modality: Hybrid
Credit Hours: 73
GRE/GMAT Requirement: No
Tuition: $730-810 per credit for 73 credits – $53,290 to $59,13 plus other fees
Program Overview:
USF’s post-ADN to DNP is known for its flexible learning modality that fits the schedules of working nurses. The program starts with a two-semester sequence that provides students with key BSN content. Afterward, they may pursue any of the specialization options available, namely FNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, and Leadership. Given the university’s intensive curriculum, it continues to post 100% passing rates in the ANCC and AANP certification exams.
Other DNP Pathways for RNs
RN to DNP programs are quite limited as they require more courses. As such, admission to such programs may be highly competitive. That said, ADN/ASN-educated nurses can still obtain their terminal degree by pursuing other pathways, such as:
RN to BSN > BSN to DNP
One option is to complete the RN to BSN program, which allows nurses to gain their baccalaureate degree in 1-2 years, depending on course load. This program builds on the nurse’s competencies with in-depth courses in Nursing Theory, Health Assessment, and Leadership, to name a few.
After completing an RN to BSN degree, nurses may apply for the BSN to DNP track offered by many schools. Some include an MSN component, which provides students with the eligibility to take the certification exams. Through this route, nurses can become full-fledged nurse practitioners before pursuing their DNP degree.
RN to MSN > MSN to DNP
Another option is to pursue the RN to MSN pathway, which allows nurses to gain an MSN degree even without a bachelor’s degree. This program, which takes 2-3 years to complete, usually combines upper-level undergraduate classes with master’s level courses.
Upon the completion of the RN to MSN program, nurses may pursue their terminal degree by applying for the MSN to DNP track. Curriculum and requirements often vary depending on credentials. For example, certified APRNs may require fewer clinical hours compared to those who have an MSN in Leadership or Education.