Research from the Cecil G. Sheps Center For Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina, in partnership with the North Carolina Board of Nursing, has found that the state will face a shortage of 12,500 registered nurses and slightly more than 5,000 LPNs by 2033.
To address this challenge, the North Carolina Institute of Medicine put together a task force to develop recommendations to increase the number of professionals in the field. One of the strategies recommended in the report “Time for Action: Securing A Strong Nursing Workforce for North Carolina” is identifying opportunities for nurses to participate in educational advancement, leadership, mentoring, and preceptorship.
Specifically, this task force recommends prioritizing educational initiatives and flexible work schedules to accommodate nursing staff seeking higher education opportunities, including DNP pathways.
A DNP is a terminal degree and the highest level of education one can achieve in this field. Completing a DNP can provide many opportunities for nurses, including filling leadership roles to help develop the workforce or working as a nursing educator, a specialty that faces its own unique shortages.
DNP Programs in North Carolina
North Carolina offers a range of DNP options, though the details vary from one program to another. Below, we review the DNP programs available in universities across the state to help you find one that meets your needs.
Per the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, DNP programs all require 1,000 post-BSN clinical hours. This total includes all post-BSN hours, including those completed during MSN work. The clinical hours listed in the summaries below include the number of credits each DNP program has built into the curriculum to help satisfy the 1,000-hour requirement.
North Carolina BSN to DNP Programs
All of the DNP programs in North Carolina have an online component, but some schools have more on-campus or in-person requirements than others. Below, we detail the BSN to MSN hybrid program available at Duke.
Duke University
- Durham, North Carolina
- Hybrid
Modality: Hybrid
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $2,166 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Duke’s 71-credit BSN to DNP runs multiple tracks including Health Informatics and Nursing and Health Care Leadership. Students complete an MSN milestone in their chosen specialty before continuing into doctoral coursework. The distance-based format with periodic on-campus intensives typically completes in four years. Duke’s position as the Triangle’s top research-tier nursing school positions graduates for academic medical center practice via Duke Health.
The MSN to DNP track is also distance-based, with on-campus intensives throughout the program to forge relationships with peers and faculty. This program is 35 credits over five semesters and can be completed in two years.
North Carolina MSN to DNP Programs
There is also a hybrid option available for MSN-prepared nurses who prefer to have some on-campus experience. It’s offered by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Hybrid
Modality: Hybrid
Credit Hours: 42
Clinical Hours: 500
Tuition: $522.78 per credit + fees for residents; $1,358.06 per credit + fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
UNC Charlotte’s MSN to DNP admits both APRNs and non-APRNs targeting practice and systems leadership. Students transfer up to 500 clinical hours from prior MSN coursework, completing the remainder during the program. The hybrid format includes scheduled on-campus immersion activities. UNC Charlotte serves the Carolinas’ largest metro market with clinical placements across Atrium Health and Novant Health systems.
Online DNP Programs in North Carolina
The following programs have minimal on-campus requirements; some may not have any at all.
North Carolina Online BSN to DNP Programs
There is one online BSN to DNP program in the Tar Heel State offered by UNC Chapel Hill.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Online + Campus
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $1,031.34 per credit + fees for residents; $2,067.84 per credit + fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
UNC Chapel Hill’s BSN to DNP Health Care Leadership and Administration runs 60 credits across full- or part-time pacing and finishes in three years. Coursework is primarily online with one-to-five-day on-campus immersions per semester. UNC Chapel Hill’s flagship UNC system position pairs the program with UNC Health clinical placements across the Triangle.
The university also offers an MSN to DNP for nurses who are already practicing APRNs. This online program is 36 credits with additional opportunities for nurses who need to complete extra hours to reach the 1,000-hour minimum.
North Carolina Online MSN to DNP Programs
MSN-prepared nurses interested in programs with primarily online learning have 10 options, detailed below.
East Carolina University
- Greenville, North Carolina
- Online + Campus
Modality: Online with on-campus immersions
Credit Hours: 36
Clinical Hours: Unspecified
Tuition: $5,213 per semester + $150 per credit + fees for residents; $18,361 per credit + $150 per credit + fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
ECU offers two post-MSN doctoral pathways. The MSN to DNP APRN track admits practicing APRNs and offers elective pathways across nursing education, leadership, and emergency/disaster management. The MSN to DNP Health Systems Leadership track serves nurses moving into systems-level roles. East Carolina’s eastern NC location gives access to ECU Health (formerly Vidant) clinical placements across the region.
Both tracks are 36-credit part-time programs that take two years to complete. Classes are held online, but the program has multiple on-campus immersions and workshops.
Gardner-Webb University
- Boiling Springs, North Carolina
- Online + Campus
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements
Credit Hours: 36
Clinical Hours: Unspecified
Tuition: $7,470 per year + fees
Program Overview:
Gardner-Webb’s MSN to DNP is 36 credits, completable in six semesters (two years full-time) or 12 semesters (four years part-time). The program is primarily online with occasional on-campus visits. Gardner-Webb’s Christian liberal-arts framing in Boiling Springs fits applicants in the western NC and upstate SC region.
Lenoir-Rhyne University
- Hickory, North Carolina
- Online + Campus
Modality: Online with on-campus immersions
Credit Hours: 33
Clinical Hours: Unspecified
Tuition: $900 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Lenoir-Rhyne’s MSN to DNP admits practicing APRNs across NP, CNS, CRNA, midwifery, administrative, and systems specialties. Practicum hour requirements adjust based on each student’s prior post-BSN clinical hours, determined at admission. The Hickory-based program fits Charlotte-metro and Triad working APRNs adding the doctorate.
Methodist University
- Fayetteville, North Carolina
- Online + In-person
Modality: Online with possible in-person practicum requirements
Credit Hours: 36
Clinical Hours: 500
Tuition: $545 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Methodist University’s MSN to DNP Executive Leadership runs 100% online (with possible in-person DNP project hours) and finishes in two years full-time, with part-time options available. The program offers dual credits toward a graduate nursing-education certificate, meeting NC state requirements for nurse educator credentialing — useful for APRNs eyeing academic faculty roles.
South University
- High Point, North Carolina
- Online + In-person
Modality: Online with in-person clinical requirements
Credit Hours: 66
Clinical Hours: Unspecified
Tuition: $650 per quarter credit + fees
Program Overview:
South University’s online MSN to DNP runs 66 credits with field experiences and clinical immersions ensuring graduates meet the 1,000-hour requirement. South University runs multiple US campuses including High Point, NC. In-person clinical experiences may be required depending on track.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Greensboro, North Carolina
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 30
Clinical Hours: Unspecified; minimum of 300 required
Tuition: $298.61 per credit + $1000 per semester + fees for residents; $1,116.11 + $1000 per semester + fees for residents
Program Overview:
UNC Greensboro’s MSN to DNP is 30 credits for students entering with at least 700 post-BSN practicum hours. Online completion runs four semesters (15 months full-time) or six semesters part-time. Students entering with fewer practicum hours add coursework to reach the 1,000-hour requirement. UNC Greensboro is the Triad-region UNC-system pick.
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
- Pembroke, North Carolina
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 35
Clinical Hours: Unspecified
Tuition: $237.78 per credit + fees for residents; $963.28 per credit + fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
UNC Pembroke’s online MSN to DNP Population Health runs ten courses plus a practice-focused DNP scholarly project across two years full-time. Students entering with fewer than 500 post-BSN clinical hours add coursework to meet program requirements. UNCP’s smallest-UNC-campus location fits applicants in southeastern NC.
Wake Forest University
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 27
Clinical Hours: Unspecified
Tuition: $1,425 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Wake Forest’s MSN to DNP Leadership is a two-year online program with electives from the School of Law or School of Business — uncommon among NC DNP programs and a fit for nurses targeting executive or policy roles. Flexible coursework and self-paced study work for practicing APRNs. Wake Forest’s Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist affiliation gives access to a major academic medical center clinical network.
Western Carolina University
- Cullowhee, North Carolina
- Online + In-person
Modality: Online with in-person clinical requirements
Credit Hours: 34
Clinical Hours: 500
Tuition: $372.82 per credit + fees for residents; $968.32 per credit for non-residents
Program Overview:
Western Carolina’s MSN to DNP is a flexible online program completable in four semesters (15 months full-time) or seven semesters (27 months part-time). All coursework is online, with clinical residency required in a clinic, hospital system, private practice, or inpatient setting of the student’s choosing. WCU is the western NC mountain-region pick.
Winston-Salem State University
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 33
Clinical Hours: 510
Tuition: $215.11 per credit + fees for residents; $800.37 per credit + fees for non-resident
Program Overview:
Winston-Salem State’s MSN to DNP is 33 credits including a nine-credit DNP project across two semesters. Most coursework is asynchronous, with each course meeting once a month over Zoom. Full-time completion runs five semesters (about 18 months). WSSU is one of NC’s historically Black colleges and universities, with strong outcomes for Triad-area working nurses pursuing the doctorate.
Shortest/Accelerated DNP Programs in North Carolina
Leadership-focused MSN-to-DNP programs typically finish fastest in NC. UNC Greensboro runs 30 credits in four semesters (15 months full-time) for students entering with at least 700 post-BSN practicum hours. Winston-Salem State finishes in five semesters (about 18 months). Western Carolina, Methodist, Wake Forest, and UNC Pembroke all complete in two years. Duke’s 71-credit BSN-to-DNP is the longest at four years.
Best DNP Programs in North Carolina
Best fit depends on entry credential, specialty interest, and clinical setting preference. Duke University leads on academic medical center positioning with the BSN-to-DNP and Duke Health clinical network. UNC Chapel Hill is the flagship UNC-system pick with strong public-system tuition for NC residents. Wake Forest stands out for offering elective DNP coursework from the School of Law or School of Business, uncommon nationally. UNC Charlotte serves the Carolinas’ largest metro market through Atrium Health and Novant Health placements. ECU positions eastern-NC nurses through ECU Health affiliation. Winston-Salem State is one of the few HBCU-affiliated DNP programs in the Southeast.
Cheapest DNP Programs in North Carolina
By per-credit tuition, the UNC-system schools (UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Charlotte, UNC Greensboro, UNC Pembroke, Western Carolina, Winston-Salem State) carry the lowest rates for NC residents. WSSU and UNC Pembroke typically run at the lower end of the public-system tier. Among private programs, Methodist, Lenoir-Rhyne, Gardner-Webb, and South University sit at varying mid-range tuition tiers. Duke, Wake Forest, and the larger Triangle private nursing programs carry the highest per-credit rates but include access to top academic medical center clinical networks. Non-residents in particular should compare total program cost since the public-private gap narrows once non-resident surcharges apply.