9 Best Online BSN to DNP Programs – 2024

Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org

Obtaining a leadership position is an honor bestowed upon nurses who choose to take their education to the doctoral level. After completing the first portion of their education, students can enroll in online BSN to DNP programs that give them the ability to become true experts in their career field. Holding a doctorate degree in nursing makes it possible for a person to become licensed to practice as a nurse practitioner or to take a management position at their preferred health care organization.

Choosing to attend an online BSN to DNP program allows students to continue working within their current nursing roles while advancing their education. Graduates from these programs can also enjoy job security since the demand for leaders in nursing is expected to grow with the overall increasing need for health care workers.

If you are interested in finding out about the Best Online BSN to DNP Programs for 2024? Please keep reading.

What Factors Were Considered for Ranking the Best BSN to DNP Online Programs?

Factor	Weightage
Academic Quality	30%
Affordability	25%
Editorial Team Rating	25%
Online Education Presence	20%
Click Here to View the Detailed Ranking Methodology

Following are the 9 Best Online BSN to DNP Programs in the Nation for 2024

1) University of Portland - Portland, OR

Concentrations:

Family Nurse Practitioner

If you are a registered nurse with a BSN degree, the next obvious step towards higher education seems to be an MSN. However, at the University of Portland, you can pursue a DNP by by-passing the MSN, thereby earning a higher degree. BSN graduates enrolling in this BSN to DNP program will study to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. The course is a boon for working nurses as all the courses are offered online and on-campus immersions are held mostly over the weekends.

The 76-credit coursework comprises of core and specialization courses that train you to diagnose and manage acute and chronic health conditions of individuals and families from all age groups. To gain real-time experience, you are required to complete 960 clock hours of practical training. Upon completion of this program, you will be eligible to take the FNP certification exam.

Key Highlights

• You will progress through the program in a small-sized cohort. This allows you to make the most of the personalized attention you will receive from the program’s experienced faculty and at the same time, build meaningful connections with your peers.
• The University of Portland has been consistently ranked among the top regional universities by the U.S. News and World Report. It is also well-known for the quick return on investment it offers by means of its job-ready training.

2) Delta State University - Cleveland, MS

Concentrations:

Family Nurse Practitioner

Delta State University offers two different bridge programs (RN-DNP and BSN-DNP) for students who are keen on pursuing a DNP. The BSN to DNP online degree comes with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration. This program specifically caters to working registered nurses, with online coursework that is offered, both full-time and part-time. With a strong emphasis on clinical experience, you will be well prepared to explore positions in a variety of healthcare settings as a certified FNP, upon earning this degree.

To be eligible for this program, you must have completed a BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and must hold an active nurse license that is valid in Mississippi or Arkansas, as you will be completing your clinical requirements in either of these two states. You must also complete an introductory course in statistics with a minimum grade “C” to further your chances of admission. The program requires completion of 80 credits and will span across seven semesters. Additionally, 1,020 clinical hours must be completed in direct patient care. This degree also requires you to engage in a scholarly project where you will synthesize the knowledge gained and put it to practice.

Key Highlights

• Delta State is rated as one of the most affordable colleges in the state of Mississippi, particularly for its online nursing program offerings.
• The program requires you to visit the campus 1-3 times a year. These visits allow you to apply theoretical knowledge to practice in a simulated environment.

3) Duke University - Durham, NC

APRN Specialties Offered:

Nurse Practitioner & Nurse Anesthesia

Duke University is a world-renowned institute for higher education that needs little introduction. Its school of nursing has been at the forefront of changing healthcare for the better by offering quality nursing education and actively engaging in research topics of global significance. With this BSN to DNP, you will gain expertise in developing health initiatives for the community as a whole, particularly the underserved population. You will also be grounded in evidence-based nursing to lead healthcare initiatives for a global population.

Duke’s BSN to DNP online program is a smart way to earn an MSN as well as a DNP with less time and money. There are two APRN specializations on offer, nurse practitioner and nurse anesthesia, out of which you must choose one at the time of application. The exact number of credits required for graduation depends on the specialty you choose; however, a minimum of 74 credits must be completed. The coursework also makes you eligible to take certification exams in the specialty of your choice.

Key Highlights

• Duke University’s nurse anesthesia and nurse practitioner programs have been ranked among the top in the country by the U.S. News and World Report.
• The school has been ranked #8 in the nation for receiving funding from the NIH for its path-breaking research. This means you can learn from the extensive research initiatives that the nursing faculty actively engages in.

4) Florida Atlantic University - Boca Raton, FL

Concentrations:

Family Nurse Practitioner & Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner

Florida Atlantic University’s BSN to DNP program is ideal for registered nurses who are keen on advancing their careers through the distance study format. This program offers two specializations to choose from; Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner. The program lays emphasis on advanced nursing practice of the vulnerable population that includes patients from low-income groups, and ethnic and racial minorities.

The college is highly selective in its admission process, so ensure you ace in all of its requirements. Once enrolled, you will complete the 81-credit evidence-based advanced nursing practice curriculum. You must also complete 1005 clinical hours that will help you develop practical skills. The coursework is offered only on a full-time basis, so working nurses must be prepared to juggle work commitment along with online classes.

Key Highlights

• The college of nursing boasts of an impressive FNP certification pass rate of 98.18%. Students can be rest assured of receiving quality education that leads to a positive academic outcome.
• As a DNP student, you can enhance professional development by becoming a part of various organizations, including the Student Nurses Association, Christian Nurses Organization, and Sigma Theta Tau.

5) Emory University - Atlanta, GA

Concentrations:

Adult/Gerontology Acute Care - Health Systems Leadership (HSL) & Population Health (PH), Adult/Gerontology Primary Care (HSL & PH), Emergency Nurse Practitioner (PH), Family Nurse Practitioner (HSL & PH), Midwifery (HSL & PH), Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (HSL & PH), Pediatric Acute Care (HSL & PH), Pediatric Primary Care (HSL & PH), & Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (HSL & PH)

Emory University, through its online BSN to DNP program, offers individuals an opportunity to pursue the pinnacle of nursing education with several specialization options to choose from, such as - family nurse practitioner, emergency nurse practitioner, neonatal nurse practitioner women's health nurse practitioner, and adult/gerontology acute nurse practitioner. All specialties except for the emergency nurse practitioner are offered with the choice of two options - Health Systems Leadership and Population Health. The emergency nurse practitioner specialization comes with only the population health track option. Except for five campus visits each year, the majority of coursework is offered online. You can choose to complete this program on a part-time or full-time basis, depending on your life schedule.

To be eligible for this program, you must have earned a GPA of at least 3.50. Additionally, there is also a GRE requirement, but that can be waived off if you scored a GPA higher than 3.50 in your BSN or hold a master’s degree from an accredited university. Regardless of the specialty you choose, you must complete 75 to 82 credits and around 700 clinical hours to earn your degree.

Key Highlights

• The nursing school has built strong connections with around 500 clinical sites located in Atlanta and across the world. This provides the college with enough options to match students with suitable clinical sites, thus sparing them from the hassle of finding it themselves.
• The nursing school is recognized for quality education and evidently, so the U.S. News and World Report has ranked it at #3, nationally.

6) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center - Lubbock, TX

Concentrations:

Family Nurse Practitioner & Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s BSN to DNP education is aimed towards imbibing registered nurses with specialized knowledge to become successful nurse practitioners. There are two specializations to choose from; Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Although for the FNP track, you require one year of work experience as a registered nurse, applying for the mental health nurse practitioner does not require any prior nursing experience. Available only as a full-time option, you can complete this program in three years.

To earn this DNP in your chosen specialization, you must complete 74 to 76 credits of coursework and approximately 1000 clock hours of clinical practice. To fulfill the clinical component, students must find their preceptors on their own in consultation with the faculty. The program is designed to prepare you to become nurse leaders and deliver quality evidence-based nursing care to patients. The curriculum is rigorous, and working full-time is not recommended throughout the duration of this program.

Key Highlights

• The program starts in fall, every year, and requires you to complete a course in research and statistics as one of its admission requirements.
• The college plans to offer additional advanced practitioner tracks in the future. So potential DNP students may have added flexibility in choosing their best-suited specialization.

7) University of Florida - Gainesville, FL

Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner , Family Nurse Practitioner , Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner , Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner , & Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

The University of Florida offers quite a few specialization options for BSN graduates who are looking at advancing their nursing education with a DNP. Delivered through the web, campus visits are kept to the minimal. The college mainly focuses on teaching innovation and evidence-based nursing practice. You will learn to evaluate and analyze nursing practice and create new effective models of patient care delivery.

To gain eligibility into this program, you must complete your bachelor’s with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and should have the requisite GRE score, apart from holding an active nurse license in Florida. The curriculum requires completing 75 to 78 credits. Campus visits include an orientation, three days for the heath assessment course, and two days for the nursing project thesis. Besides, you may also require traveling to healthcare settings located within the state to complete 1000 hours of clinical training.

Key Highlights

• You will complete this program in eight semesters; however, if you enter this program post an MSN, you can complete it in just five semesters.
• You may well have your DNP thesis published or presented at a conference. This can mean an encouraging opportunity to reach out to a wider audience with your project.

8) University of Tennessee Health Science Center - Memphis, TN

Nurse Practitioner Concentrations:

Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner , Family Nurse Practitioner , Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner , Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner , Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner , Neonatal Nurse Practitioner , Adult-Gerontology Acute Care/Family Nurse Practitioner , & Psychiatric-Mental Health/Family Nurse Practitioner

If you are a BSN graduate who is keen on advancing your nursing career, then UTHSC’s DNP comes with an option to choose from several NP concentrations. There are also two dual concentration options; Adult-Gerontology Acute Care/FNP and Psychiatric Mental Health/FNP, which prepare you for the certification exams in both the concentrations. Depending on the concentration you choose, you may have part-time and full-time options available.

The coursework, which is mainly delivered online entails completing approximately 59 to 61 credits, comprising of 30 credits in core and the remaining in specialization/concentration-specific courses. Dual concentrations require additional credits, making it almost 43 credits in specialization courses. The clinical component is an integral part of the curriculum, and you must complete around 1000 hours in clinical practice, out of which almost 500 clock hours will be in real patient care settings.

Key Highlights

• The college’s DNP program has been ranked #24 by the U.S. News and World Report. This distinction speaks about the excellent DNP education it offers.
• On-campus visits are mandatory and include simulations, workshops, and interaction with faculty and other experts from the field. Travel and accommodation expenses are to be borne by the students.

9) John Hopkins University - Baltimore, MD

Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP , Adult-Gerontological Primary Care NP , Adult-Gerontological Primary Care NP with HIV Certificate , Family Primary Care NP , Family Primary Care NP with HIV Certificate , Pediatric Primary Care NP , Adult-Gerontological Health CNS , Adult-Gerontological Critical Care CNS , Pediatric Critical Care CNS , & Nurse Anesthesiology

John Hopkins University’s online BSN to DNP degree helps you gain the knowledge and skills required to become a clinical and health care leader. You can complete this advanced nursing degree in any one of the several specializations being offered by the college. The program is available on a full-time basis with three and four-year plans. The coursework is rigorous in nature, and working while pursuing this program is not recommended. However, the four-year plan gives some scheduling flexibility in the first year, during which you may take up part-time work.

The DNP coursework is designed to teach you to prepare evidence-based treatment models. The coursework is grounded in biophysical, psychological, behavioral, and clinical sciences. To lay a foundation for this coursework, the college recommends that you must complete courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and physical assessment. To earn this degree, you will complete approximately 78 credits, 224 hours of DNP practicum, and around 800 clinical hours. You can transfer some credits from your previous degree to this program and lessen the academic burden a little bit.

Key Highlights

• To help ease the financial burden of tuition costs, you can take up part-time employment that is available on the college campus or even at a community-based organization. What’s more, with this experience, you will also enhance your practical nursing skills.
• The school of nursing actively promotes better health and well-being within the community by supporting three healthcare centers in Baltimore City.

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