Doctor of Nursing Practice
Advance your career by earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Nurses in this degree program learn to solve complex health issues, design and sustain quality improvement in organizations, and lead the transformation of health care through evidence-based clinical prevention and health services.
Two Entry Levels
- MSN to DNP - Enter with a completed master's degree (expands the skills and competencies of the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse)
- BSN to DNP - Enter with a completed bachelor's degree (the Family Nurse Practitioner [FNP] concentration must be declared at the time of admission to the DNP program and must be completed to earn the DNP)
Student-arranged clinical practicum hours with qualified preceptors in your area.
Graduates in the BSN-DNP degree program are eligible to take national certification exams through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Webinar Replay
In this recorded webinar you will hear Jeff Brazil and Will Hobbs talk about the Master of Science in Nursing and the Doctor of Nursing Practice from the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing.
100%
Online Coursework
BSN to DNP
4 YRS
Estimated Time
to Complete
(Includes 1,125 to
1,080 clinical hours.
Minimal campus visits, including
required program orientation.)
MSN to DNP
2-3 YRS
Estimated Time
to Complete
(Minimal campus visits, including
required program orientation)
No GRE
Required
You Will Learn To:
- Solve complex health issues
- Design and sustain quality improvement in organizations
- Lead transformation of health care
- Provide evidence-based clinical prevention and health services
- Design, deliver and evaluate care to improve patient outcomes
A short video about the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program. (10:48)
Admission Requirements
BSN to DNP and Post-MSN to DNP
- Admission to the University of Arkansas Graduate School
- Admission to the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing DNP program
- Completion of a nationally-accredited professional degree program in nursing
- A 3.0 cumulative GPA on the last 60 credit hours of attempted coursework in previous nursing program
- Current unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse
- Submission of curriculum vitae or professional resume
- Letters of recommendation from two professional references
- Completion of candidate interview
- Provide a "Statement of Purpose" outlining rationale for pursuing a DNP and how you fit the requirements of the program, mission and vision
Additional Requirements Post-MSN-DNP
Master's-prepared Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) may count up to 36 hours from the master's toward the DNP. To do so the APRN must have the met following requirements:
- Graduation from a nationally accredited MSN program
- APRN licensure, if required by student’s state of residence
- Certification as an APN
General Requirements
- Qualified applicants will be admitted on a space available basis.
- Applicants who do not meet the above requirements may be referred to the Graduate Admissions Committee for special consideration and may be required to fulfill additional prerequisites.
Application Cycle / Deadlines
Summer admission only
- November 1 - February 15
| Tuition / credit hour | $612.62 |
| Fee / credit hour | |
|---|---|
| Library | $4.98 |
| Network & Data Systems | $16 |
| Off-campus | $30 |
| Online Facilities | $2 |
Tuition and fees per credit hour reflect fall 2025 rates for students studying completely online. Students in online programs who take an on-campus course will pay on-campus fees, mandatory and college fees, for only the on-campus course.
Program revisions are underway. Courses, hours and tuition are subject to change.
I chose an online DNP study program, as it was flexible with my nursing career...It is a flexible program that is run by great faculty that strive on the success of their students."
Bushra SalamahZionsville, IN
The staff and faculty really were focused and geared toward success for the students. They really wanted to educate people and prepare them for future careers."
Jonathan MillerTexarkana, TX
Job Market Outlook
The Pathways career data reflect career information associated with degree programs, and that data may include some jobs that require additional credentials and experience BEYOND the academic degree, including but not limited to professional licensure and certification, additional coursework, and specific training. See " About this data" to learn more about Pathways.
Scholarship and Grant Information
Add an MSN to your DNP
Earn a Nursing Education master's degree while completing your DNP
The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing now offers a plan for students to work toward two degrees at the same time: Doctor of Nursing Practice in Family or Acute Care Practice and the Master of Science in Nursing in Nurse Educator. Students who fulfill DNP course requirements can add four more courses from the MSN to add a second degree, which expands job options to include nurse educator positions.
At a glance
- Four nurse education courses beyond the DNP
- One education-focused scholarly project
- Full- and part-time options
- Locally arranged clinical practicum hours with qualified preceptors
State Authorization
The DNP program is designed to meet the educational requirements for the occupational license of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). Individual state boards of nursing may regulate out-of-state nursing education programs or clinical placement courses at APRN level.
The University of Arkansas DNP program is approved by the following state boards of
nursing to enroll students: Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico,
North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South
Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and
Wisconsin.
Territories: Guam and American Samoa.
The program is currently not available to students residing in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington DC, and Wyoming.
This degree program requires clinical or internship hours that must be completed in an approved U.S. location or U.S. military base for military personnel.
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