The doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree is the highest level of education in the field, but nurses have multiple ways to get there. In Texas, there are numerous programs for BSN- and MSN-prepared nurses who want to pursue this degree, including various specialties and online and hybrid programs.
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DNP Programs in Texas
There are various DNP programs in Texas. While they all have some online components, on-campus and in-person requirements can vary from program to program.
All DNP programs in the United States must meet certain accreditation requirements. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing both require 1,000 post-BSN clinical hours for the completion of a doctorate. Clinical hours obtained during master’s-level courses can count toward this total, but how many hours can be transferred and how many are offered vary by program. The clinical hours listed below include the number of clinical or practicum hours each program includes toward the 1,000-hour requirement.
Texas MSN to DNP Programs
Texas offers one on-campus program and three hybrid options for MSN-prepared nurses who wish to pursue a DNP.
Prairie View A&M University
- Prairie View, Texas
- On-Campus
Modality: On-Campus
Credit Hours: 39
Clinical Hours: 1,000
Tuition: $3,996.15 per semester + fees for residents; $8,689.32 per semester for non-residents
Program Overview:
Prairie View A&M University’s MSN to DNP track is designed for advanced practice nurses certified as nurse practitioners. The 39-credit program requires 1,000 clinical hours, but MSN practicum hours are included. The total number that students will have to complete depends on previous education and experience. This program takes seven semesters to complete.
The University of Texas at Austin
- Austin, Texas
- Hybrid
Modality: Hybrid
Credit Hours: 45
Clinical Hours: 500
Tuition: $6,000 per semester + fees
Program Overview:
The MSN to DNP at the University of Texas at Austin can be completed in five consecutive semesters or about two calendar years. It uses a hybrid format, where students complete most of their coursework online but are required to come to campus once a month for two consecutive days. This program includes 500 hours of practicum. Students who have not completed 500 clinical hours during their master’s-level work will need additional clinical hours during this program.
The University of Texas at El Paso
- El Paso, Texas
- Hybrid
Modality: Hybrid
Credit Hours: 45
Clinical Hours: 540
Tuition: $410.31 per credit + fees for residents; $921.05 per credit + fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
The University of Texas at El Paso’s hybrid MSN to DNP program requires students to be on campus one weekend a month from Friday to Sunday during the fall and spring semesters and for four weekends during the summer session. This program uses a cohort model and takes five semesters to complete. It’s designed for advanced practice nurses and includes 540 clinical hours.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- San Antonio, Texas
- Hybrid
Modality: Hybrid
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: 480
Tuition: Varies
Program Overview:
Students interested in the MSN to DNP program at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio can choose from two tracks: Advanced Practice Leadership and Executive Administrative Management. Students complete 41 to 48 credits depending on their program and previous education and experience and can complete the program in two to three years. Each track has 480 clinical hours, but additional clinical courses may be needed to meet the 1,000-hour requirement. Classes are offered in a hybrid format, and students are required to be on campus for one weekend every semester.
Online DNP Programs in Texas
Online DNP programs are a flexible and convenient option, especially for students who intend to keep working while they pursue their degree. There are online programs for both BSN- and MSN-prepared nurses in Texas.
Texas Online BSN to DNP Programs
Abilene Christian University and Concordia University Texas both offer online BSN to DNP tracks with no on-campus visits. These programs are detailed below, along with the MSN to DNP program at Abilene.
Abilene Christian University
- Abilene, Texas
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: Varies
Program Overview:
The online BSN to DNP Executive Leadership track at Abilene Christian University consists of an 18-credit, 500-clinical-hour pathway to the DNP program before taking 39 doctorate-level credits. This track takes 38 months to complete.
Abilene Christian University also offers an MSN to DNP Executive Nursing Leadership track. This post-master’s program is 39 credits long and can be completed in 26 months.
Both tracks include a DNP project in which students identify a problem of interest and use the principles of improvement science and evidence-based research to develop and implement a plan to address it. Students defend their project and submit a scholarly paper for publication.
The BSN pathway courses cost $650 per credit hour, while the DNP-level courses cost $871 per credit. Both have additional fees.
Concordia University Texas
- Austin, Texas
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 72
Clinical Hours: Unspecified
Tuition: $750 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
The BSN to DNP program at Concordia focuses on indirect care and leadership. Students learn to provide leadership, analyze policy, and coordinate and evaluate quality improvement and evidence-based practice. This program uses a collaborative cohort model to facilitate support and collaboration between online students. It takes three years to complete.
Texas Online MSN to DNP Programs
The majority of the DNP programs in the Lone Star State are online programs designed for nurses who already have a master’s degree. Many of these programs have some sort of on-campus component, but each of the 12 programs is primarily online.
Baylor University
- Waco, Texas
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 36
Clinical Hours: 1,000
Tuition: $1,150 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
At Baylor University, the MSN to DNP Executive Nurse Leadership track is for nurses with a BSN and an MSN or a master’s degree in a business or health-related area, like an MBA, MHA, or MPH. This 36-credit program features 100% online classwork with no required campus visits, and students can complete their doctoral projects locally.
Courses last 15 weeks; the program can be completed in as little as six semesters or two years.
Texas Christian University
- Fort Worth, Texas
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 34
Clinical Hours: Unspecified
Tuition: $2,145 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
The MSN to DNP Executive Leadership & Practice program at Texas Christian University is meant for nurses with an MSN or a master’s in another field, like an MBA, MHA, or MPH. Students can complete this program in two years of full-time study or three years part-time. Those entering the program without an MSN may be required to take additional courses before beginning doctorate-level work.
Texas Wesleyan University
- Fort Worth, Texas
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 35
Clinical Hours: 500
Tuition: $659 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Texas Wesleyan University’s 35-credit MSN to DNP program consists of online classes with a 1,000-hour clinical requirement, with credit for up to 500 hours for clinical hours accrued during master’s-level courses. The program can be completed in six semesters or two years.
Texas Woman’s University
- Denton, Texas
- Online with on-campus requirements
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements
Credit Hours: 40
Clinical Hours: 540
Tuition: $5,184 per semester + fees
Program Overview:
Students can complete the MSN to DNP program at Texas Woman’s University in as little as eight semesters. This program includes 540 clinical hours; students who are not advanced practice nurses may need to complete an additional clinical course to ensure they meet the 1,000-hour post-bachelor’s requirement.
The curriculum for this program is entirely online, but on-site experience is required. Students also complete a DNP project focusing on identifying and addressing a practice or clinical gap.
The University of Texas at Arlington
- Arlington, Texas
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 36
Clinical Hours: 500
Tuition: $660 per credit + fees for accelerated program
Program Overview:
The University of Texas at Arlington offers its post-master’s DNP in two formats: MSN to DNP Online and MSN to DNP Accelerated Online.
The regular online program follows a traditional UTA schedule, with 15-week semesters. Students can enroll full- or part-time and complete the program in as little as two years. In the accelerated online format, classes are offered in eight-week sessions, with the last three clinical sessions being 13 weeks each.
Students can apply up to 500 clinical hours from their master’s level courses. This program’s practicum courses allow students to earn 250 to 500 clinical hours per practicum course.
The University of Texas at Tyler
- Tyler, Texas
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 39
Clinical Hours: Unspecified
Tuition: $22,900 total program cost + fees; breaks down to $587 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
The MSN to DNP option at the University of Texas at Tyler features 100% online coursework. This 39-credit program requires students to plan, develop, and complete a final DNP project focusing on quality improvement or implementing evidence-based practice. Courses are offered part-time, and the program can be completed in three years.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
- Houston, Texas
- Online with in-person requirements
Modality: Online with in-person requirements
Credit Hours: 42
Clinical Hours: Not specified
Tuition: $2,142 to $3,402 per semester + fees for residents; $7,002 to $10,692 per semester + fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
The MSN to DNP Executive track at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is 42 credits long and offers classes on a part-time basis. The program takes seven semesters to complete. While most courses are online, students have multiple opportunities to participate in in-person, real-world experiences.
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
- Galveston, Texas
- Online with on-campus requirements
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements
Credit Hours: 43
Clinical Hours: 360
Tuition: Varies
Program Overview:
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston’s MSN to DNP program offers a flexible online curriculum that requires students to come to campus for two to three days once a semester. The program is eight semesters and includes two clinical courses. Each of these clinical courses requires 180 hours of clinical practice, but students who do not have the required number of clinical hours from their master’s coursework can obtain the remaining hours throughout the program.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Edinburg, Texas
- Online with in-person requirements
Modality: Online with in-person requirements
Credit Hours: 45
Clinical Hours: 400
Tuition: $9,566 per year + fees for residents; $17,766 per year + fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s MSN to DNP program is focused on clinical leadership. It is designed for advanced practice nurses and includes 400 clinical hours towards the required 1,000. The program is offered online, but there is a three-day on-campus intensive workshop at the beginning. Full-time students can complete it in five semesters, and part-time students in eight.
University of Houston
- Houston, Texas
- Online with face-to-face requirements
Modality: Online with face-to-face requirements
Credit Hours: 42
Clinical Hours: 810
Tuition: $602.32 per credit + fees for residents; $1,107.97 per credit + fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
At the University of Houston, the MSN to DNP Administration track features online classes with labs and clinical experiences. Students are required to attend face-to-face classes twice every semester for a maximum of two days for each meeting. A maximum of 500 master’s-level practicum hours are accepted toward the 1,000 clinical hours requirement, and this track provides 810 clinical hours. Students who require additional hours can complete independent study.
University of Phoenix-Texas
- Dallas, Texas
Credit Hours: 31
Clinical Hours: Unspecified
Tuition: $810 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
The University of Phoenix has campuses around the country, including in Dallas. Its MSN to DNP program is 31 credits or 11 classes over a minimum of 85 weeks (about 20 months). Students in this online program also complete a DNP applied project dedicated to enhancing and improving healthcare outcomes. The University of Phoenix accepts up to 500 clinical hours from previous MSN-level work.
West Coast University
- Richardson, Texas
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 30
Clinical Hours: Unspecified
Tuition: $1,074 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
The MSN to DNP Executive Leadership program at West Coast University is entirely online. Courses are offered in eight-week terms, allowing students to start their program at a time that is convenient for them. This 30-credit program takes 20 months to complete. West Coast University does accept transfer clinical hours on a case-by-case basis.
Shortest/Accelerated DNP Programs in Texas
The lengths of these programs vary depending on many factors, including previous education, clinical hours, and experience. Some programs are also only offered part-time, limiting how quickly students can complete them. If you’re looking for the shortest programs, consider those below.
Shortest BSN to DNP Programs
There are only two options for BSN to DNP programs in Texas. Concordia University’s program takes three years to complete, just a little shorter than Abilene Christian University’s 38-month program.
Shortest MSN to DNP Programs
Many of the full-time MSN to DNP programs take around the same time to complete. The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Texas at El Paso, and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley all offer programs that can be completed in only five semesters. The programs at the University of Phoenix-Texas and West Coast University can be completed in only 20 months, and those at Baylor University, Texas Christian University, Texas Wesleyan University, and the University of Texas at Arlington can be completed in two years.
Best DNP Programs in Texas
The best DNP program in Texas is one that meets your needs. Many of these programs offer general DNP degrees, but if you’re looking to specialize in a particular area, choosing a more specialized program may be beneficial. For example, the programs at Abilene Christian University, Baylor University, Texas Christian University, and West Coast University all focus on leadership, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston on executive nursing, and the University of Houston on administration.
Cheapest DNP Programs in Texas
Determining the cheapest program in Texas can be challenging because each school presents its tuition and fees differently, and some are not very straightforward.
That said, the most affordable option per credit is the University of Texas at El Paso, at $410.31 per credit for residents. The next most affordable are Texas Wesleyan University, the University of Texas at Arlington, and the University of Houston, all between $600 and $660 per credit for residents.
The cheapest per semester costs are at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston ($2,142 to $3,402 per semester for residents) and Prairie View A&M University ($3,996.15 per semester for residents).
Finally, the University of Texas at Tyler‘s total program cost is $22,900, which breaks down to under $600 per credit.