The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is one of the highest levels of education available to nurses. It is designed to help nurses advance in their careers, either in an advanced nursing job or a leadership role within their organization. If you are an advanced practice nurse and are ready to take your career to the next level, the Doctor of Nursing Practice program will provide you with the skills you need to lead change in healthcare delivery by improving patient outcomes, influencing policy, and shaping future generations of nurses.

The need is more acute than ever. By 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor estimates demand for advanced practicing nurses (DNPs and nurse practitioners or NPs) will grow by 31%--much faster than other professions in healthcare. The average national salary is $135,830 with Massachusetts among the top-paying states.

The Regis DNP program is customized so that you will be able to specialize based on the elective classes you select. All students will meet with their faculty advisor to develop their own personalized curriculum plan.

Depending on your exact interests and specialization, earning your DNP can prepare you for a variety of job titles and roles including nursing education, advanced patient care, clinical research, policy making, and senior level management within your organization.

Note: You can get your DNP at our Weston campus with hybrid classes or through our fully online program.

We invite you to download the MSN to DNP flyer to hear what a student has to say about their experience and more!

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88%
program completion rate
89%
average rate of employment
36
months to complete
36
average credit hours
$1,425
cost per credit
$51,300
Total Tuition*

* Does not include fees. Based on the academic year 2023-2024. Cost per credit and total cost subject to inflation.

Curriculum

All Regis College DNP students are expected to complete a 27-credit core curriculum, as well as nine elective credits. This includes coursework on advanced research methods, as well as four scholarly project classes which allow you to explore in-depth critical issues in healthcare and share your work with the healthcare community. The length of the DNP program can be as little as two years, depending on how many courses a student takes each semester. (A maximum of nine graduate credits may be accepted for transfer).

  • DNP Core Requirements

    Course Name Credits
    NU 710 Health Care Informatics 3
    NU 713 Advanced Epidemiology and Biostatistics 3
    NU 716 Culture and Health Perspectives 3
    NU 726 Advanced Research Methods for EBP I 3
    NU 727 Advanced Research Methods for EBP II 3
    NU 740 Scholarly DNP Project I 3
    NU 741 Scholarly DNP Project II 3
    NU 742 Scholarly DNP Project III 3
    NU 743 Scholarly DNP Project IV 3
    Three Electives 3 (each)
    Total 30
  • Prerequisites

    The DNP program is designed for individuals who hold a master’s degree in nursing and who function in an advanced practice or leadership role within their organization. This may include nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nursing leaders, and nursing educators. Other admission requirements include:

    • A completed hours verification form in addition to the online application
    • Two essays, an up-to-date resume, and two letters of recommendation
    • A minimum graduate GPA of 3.0
    • Please note that the GRE is not required for the Doctor of Nursing program. However, if your overall GPA falls below a 3.5, you may want to consider submitting your official GRE scores
    • An interview with the program director
  • Defining the DNP

    A Doctor of Nursing Practice refers to a specific degree while a nurse practitioner refers to a job title.

    A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is the minimum degree requirement in order to become a nurse practitioner, while a DNP is an advanced degree that prepares you for advanced roles in the healthcare industry.

    A DNP is designed to prepare nurses for leadership roles within their organization (and the nursing community at large), improve key competencies, and improve patient outcomes, whereas a PhD in Nursing is meant to prepare nurse scientists and scholars for advanced academic research.

I found the classes, with their hybrid format, to be conducive to my schedule. It is a challenging program, but provides excellent learning experiences for students. I was able to enhance my teaching practice techniques as an educator and improved my own critical thinking strategies through Regis' DNP program.
Ann Corcoran

Program Outcomes

Eighty-eight percent of our DNP students will complete the program, and 89% will be employed within two years of graduation. Graduates are currently working at Good Samaritan Medical Center, Greater Lawrence Psychiatric Association, Fitchburg State University, and many other locations.

Upon graduating our DNP program, you will have the skills needed to evaluate the theoretical foundations for nursing, synthesize evidence from research and theory to enhance delivery of quality health care, and generate knowledge through research and/or evidence-based practice to advance the nursing profession.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

  • 1) What is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)?

    The Doctor of Nursing Practice is one of the highest levels of education available to nurses. It is designed to help nurses advance in their careers, whether to an advanced nursing job or a leadership role within their organization. The program places heavy emphasis on teaching research methods, data analysis, and evidence-based practice.

  • 2) What is the difference between a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and a Nurse Practitioner (NP)?

    The primary difference between a Doctor of Nursing Practice and a nurse practitioner is this: The term “nurse practitioner” refers to a job title, while the term “doctor of nursing” refers to a specific degree.

    While a Master of Science in Nursing is the minimum degree requirement in order to become a nurse practitioner, a DNP is an advanced degree that prepares you for advanced roles in the healthcare industry.

  • 3) What is the difference between a DNP and a PhD?

    While the a Doctor of Nursing is designed to prepare nurses for leadership roles within their organization (and the nursing community at large), improve key competencies, and improve patient outcomes, a PhD in Nursing is meant to prepare nurse scientists and scholars for advanced academic research.

  • 4) What kind of career will a DNP prepare me for?

    Depending on your exact interests and specialization, earning your DNP can prepare you for a variety of job titles and roles, including (but not limited to):

    • Nursing education
    • Senior level management within your organization
    • Advanced patient care
    • Clinical research
    • Policy making
  • 5) Do I need a master's degree to apply for a DNP?

    Yes. The DNP program is designed for individuals who hold a master’s degree in nursing and who function in an advanced practice or leadership role within their organization. This may include nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nursing leaders, and nursing educators.

    Other admission requirements include:

    • A completed Hours Verification Form in addition to the online application
    • Two essays, an up-to-date resume, and two letters of recommendation
    • A minimum graduate GPA of 3.0
    • Please note that the GRE is not required for the Doctor of Nursing program. However, if your overall GPA falls below a 3.5, you may want to consider submitting your official GRE scores.
    • An interview with the program director