Like many states in the county, Wisconsin is facing a looming nursing shortage. While students are interested in entering nursing programs, a shortage of nursing faculty limits how many students can be admitted to these programs. There are also many other reasons why nurses are leaving the workforce. Many nurses left the profession during the COVID-19 pandemic, and an aging population and a retiring workforce means an even wider gap in care, with research predicting a deficit of between 12,000 and 19,000 nurses by 2040.
Doctorate-prepared nurses can contribute to improving this deficit in a variety of ways, from working as nurse educators to prepare the next generation of nurses to using their experience and education in management positions to help figure out how to attract more people to the profession and retain those nurses who are already working hard at the bedside.
There are multiple DNP programs in Wisconsin that prepare nurses for these critical roles, with options for both BSN- and MSN-prepared professionals and multiple specializations to choose from.
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DNP Programs in Wisconsin
All of the DNP programs in Wisconsin have an online component, but some programs require students to attend blended courses or come to campus for residencies. Entry points, clinical requirements, and specializations vary from program to program, giving nurses various options to pursue this terminal degree. Below, we cover various programs available across the state to help you decide which program is right for you.
Note that, per the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, all DNP programs require 1,000 post-BSN clinical hours, but this includes hours accrued during master’s-level programs. 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.
Wisconsin BSN to DNP Programs
Wisconsin offers several hybrid options for BSN-prepared nurses who wish to have more in-person experiences during their doctorate education. The four BSN to DNP (and five MSN to DNP) programs listed below have more on-campus requirements than other DNP programs in the state.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Varies
Modality: Varies
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $12,728 per year + fees
Program Overview:
The University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee has a few interesting DNP tracks with something for both BSN- and MSN-prepared nurses. The BSN to DNP Nurse Executive track is a 65-credit hybrid program with a DNP project and practicum hours. The MSN to DNP is a 32-credit online program with a 460-hour leadership immersion experience where students develop and implement their DNP project. There is also a unique BSN/MSN to DNP/MBA program that is offered in partnership with the School of Nursing and the Graduate School of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. It is an 83-credit hybrid program that takes four years to complete.
Viterbo University
- La Crosse, Wisconsin
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $1,000 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Viterbo University’s BSN/MSN to DNP/MBA is a unique opportunity for either BSN or MSN-prepared nurses to pursue a doctorate and MBA in one program. The BSN track is 62 credits with 1,080 total clinical hours. This is a hybrid program; some classes are online, some are hybrid, and there is a required two-day on-campus residency. The MSN track is 51 credits with 240 clinical hours and follows the same hybrid format.
There is also an MSN to DNP Ethical Leadership track that is 37 credits with a combination of online and blended courses with an on-campus residency.
Wisconsin MSN to DNP Programs
The MSN to DNP program at Marquette University offers some blended classes for post-MSN students, allowing them to learn in a more traditional environment.
Marquette University
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Hybrid
Modality: Hybrid
Credit Hours: 30
Clinical Hours: Unspecified
Tuition: $1,400 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
The MSN to DNP Health Systems Leadership track at Marquette University prepares students to act as healthcare system leaders and prepares them for several certification exams in nursing or healthcare administration. Courses are primarily online, but some courses may be hybrid, and students are required to come to campus for three immersive learning experiences throughout the program.
Online DNP Programs in Wisconsin
The DNP programs listed below are primarily online, though some may have minimal on-campus requirements.
Wisconsin Online BSN to DNP Programs
There are four online BSN to DNP programs, three of which are in leadership and one in public health. We also included details about the two MSN to DNP programs offered at these universities.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $1150 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
The University of Wisconsin in Madison offers DNPs in non-clinical settings, offering tracks for those with a BSN or MSN. All coursework is completed asynchronously online, and students can participate in live discussions and synchronous office hours multiple times a semester. Practicum hours can be completed at sites close to the student’s home. The BSN to DNP Population Health and BSN to DNP Systems Leadership and Innovation are both 58 credits and take eight semesters or a little more than 2.5 calendar years to complete. The MSN to DNP Population Health and MSN to DNP Systems Leadership and Innovation are 45 credits and take five semesters or just under two years to complete.
Herzing University
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 62
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $755 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
In addition to multiple BSN to nurse practitioner DNP tracks, Herzing University offers two other options for BSN-prepared nurses who want to pursue a DNP in another area. Both the BSN to DNP Executive Leadership and BSN to DNP Public Health track options are 62 credits with 135 clinical hours and up to 360 project residency hours. They take seven semesters or 28 months to complete. Coursework is 100% online with no on-campus requirements.
Wisconsin Online MSN to DNP Programs
MSN-prepared nurses who are interested in a DNP program that is primarily online can choose from one of the seven programs detailed below.
Alverno College
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Online + Campus
Modality: Online with one on-campus residency
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $1,000 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Alverno College offers two post-MSN DNP options. The 30-credit MSN to DNP Direct Care track is for nurses who already have an advanced practice nurse certification. There’s also an MSN to DNP Leadership track with two specializations: Health Care System Nurse Executive/Manager (32 credits) and Nursing Education Leadership (32 credits). All classes are fully online, though there may be a one-day on-campus residency during the first clinical practicum.
Bellin College
- Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $852 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Students in the MSN to DNP program at Bellin College can complete the program in one, two, or three years. All programs are 100% online, and there are no on-campus requirements, making these programs ideal for nurses who plan to work while pursuing their DNP. These programs have a minimum of 27 credits, but the total number of credits will ultimately depend on the outcome of a gap analysis.
Concordia University
- Mequon, Wisconsin
- Online + In-person
Modality: Online with in-person requirements
Credit Hours: 30
Clinical Hours: 500
Tuition: $870 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
The MSN to DNP track at Concordia University is a 30-credit program that can be completed in two years. It uses a cohort model, so students go through the program with the same group of classmates, allowing them to build connections and grow relationships. Students complete residency hours in the area of their choice, with no more than 120 hours being in indirect care.
Edgewood College
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 30
Clinical Hours: 500 to 1000
Tuition: $1,092 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Edgewood College’s MSN to DNP Executive Leadership program is for professionals interested in working in care systems management and providing evidence-based care. This track offers a rounded curriculum that prepares students in epidemiology, healthcare finance, quality management, and more. Students complete a DNP capstone project with a customized practicum experience offering between 500 and 1,000 practicum hours.
Rasmussen University
- Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 48 to 63
Clinical Hours: Unspecified
Tuition: $738 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
The MSN to DNP program at Rasmussen has two tracks: Executive Leadership and Public Health and Policy. This program is designed for working nurses, allowing them to continue working while pursuing their degrees. Clinical hours and practice immersion experiences can be completed in the student’s state of residency, though the program is not available in all states. Students can complete this program in as little as 21 months.
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin
- Online
Modality: Online
Credit Hours: 34
Clinical Hours: 448 to 1064
Tuition: $1,193.13 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
The 34-credit MSN to DNP Nurse Executive track at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is completely online with no on-campus requirements. Students attending full-time can complete the program in as little as 12 months, but individualized part-time options are also available.
Shortest/Accelerated DNP Programs in Wisconsin
The lengths of these programs can vary, especially for nurses who need to take additional courses to meet the minimal number of clinical hours required for a DNP. That said, if you want to complete your doctorate in as short a time as possible, consider the following programs.
Shortest BSN to DNP Programs
The BSN to DNP Population Health and BSN to DNP Systems Leadership and Innovation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison take about eight semesters or around 2.5 calendar years to complete.
Shortest MSN to DNP Programs
Full-time students in the MSN to DNP Nurse Executive program at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh can complete it in as little as 12 months.
Best DNP Programs in Wisconsin
The best program in Wisconsin for you is the one that meets your needs, but there are some interesting options for those who want to specialize in a particular area. The BSN/MSN to DNP/MBA at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the BSN/MSN to DNP/MBA at Viterbo University are unique options for nurses who are interested in working on strategic planning and management, an area that may be very beneficial to attracting and retaining people to the profession.
Other interesting options include the BSN to DNP Public Health track at Herzing University and the BSN to DNP Population Health and MSN to DNP Population Health tracks at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Cheapest DNP Programs in Wisconsin
The most affordable DNP program in Wisconsin is at Rasmussen University at $738 per credit + fees. Other inexpensive options include Herzing University at $755 per credit + fees, Bellin College at $852 per credit + fees, and Concordia University at $870 per credit + fees. Note that these are the cost per credit only; each school has its own fees, and other costs may apply.