Online MSN to DNP Program

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Earn Your Degree as Early as:
Admissions Requirements
Courses
Ways to Save on Tuition
Career Outcomes
12-24
Courses Required
$420
Cost per Credit
2 Years
Average Completion*
15 Hours Per Week
Course Effort

Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) — DNP Overview

Come back stronger and move your nursing career forward. Earn both your master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing seamlessly and be ready to perform at the highest levels of the profession.

  • Meet the ongoing call for nurses with advanced education and take the next step toward your DNP. If you possess a bachelor’s in nursing, completing the MSN-to-DNP program is required to enter the Doctor of Nursing Practice.
  • Choose from six specialty tracks to align your degree with your career goals and prepare for industry-recognized certifications.
  • Complete courses online while meeting the demands of your nursing career.
  • Get hands-on experience through local clinicals you can complete where convenient or even at your place of work.
  • Build expertise in organizational theory, health care finance, human resources, information and health care technologies, and more.

Review College Scorecard data for this program.

View Program Degree Plan and Policies

Note: Residents of TN may not enroll in this program. Residents of the following states and territories may not enroll in the nurse practitioner population focus areas: HI, LA, NY, OR, UT, WA, Guam. In addition, residents of DC may not enroll in the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner population focus area or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner population focus area, and residents of the Virgin Islands may not enroll in the adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner or family nurse practitioner, primary care focus areas. Residents of WA or the Virgin Islands may not enroll in the executive leader concentration and residents of IN, IL, or WI may not enroll in the nurse educator concentration.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

CCNE Accredited logo

CCNE Accredited

The master's degree in nursing program at Purdue Global is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.CCNEAccreditation.org).

Dedicated Faculty and Advisors

Current information and techniques are taught by practicing professionals who have advanced degrees in nursing.

Academic advisors and faculty offer personalized academic support as you earn your master's in nursing online.

Purdue Global Is Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

The HLC (HLCommission.org) is an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

The DAISY® Award for Extraordinary Nurses

The DAISY Award partner logo

Purdue Global School of Nursing proudly partners with The DAISY Foundation™ to recognize and celebrate extraordinary nursing students.

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What Courses Will I Take?

The online MSN to DNP program includes the core curriculum, concentration or population focus area courses, and an evidence-based project proposal.

Once you complete the master’s degree courses, you’ll move on to Purdue Global’s Doctor of Nursing Practice.

Sample Courses

  • Advanced Nursing Roles
  • Scientific and Analytic Approaches to Advanced Evidence-Based Practice
  • Epidemiology and Health Promotion
  • Health Policy, Ethical, and Legal Perspectives of the Health Care System
  • Promoting Optimal Models and Systems for Health Care Delivery

Specialty Tracks

Each option includes a guided clinical practice experience:

  • Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner
  • Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner
  • Executive leader
  • Family nurse practitioner, primary care
  • Nurse educator
  • Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
See All Nursing Courses

NP Pathways

6
Core Courses
12
Elective Courses
18
Total Courses
78–90
Total Quarter Credits

Other Pathways

6
Core Courses
6
Elective Courses
12
Total Courses
60
Total Quarter Credits

1 semester credit hour = 1.5 quarter credit hours

Admissions Requirements

A bachelor's degree with an upper-level major in nursing and an approved criminal background check is required. You will need to provide an official transcript that shows completion of your bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, though an unofficial copy may be provided during the application process. Additional requirements apply. Refer to the program-specific policy page in the University Catalog or speak to an Advisor to learn more.

View Admissions Requirements

Upcoming Start Dates

We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.

Specialty Tracks

Gain specialized knowledge through one of six tracks:

Prepare for Industry Certifications

Upon completion of the MSN to DNP program, you may be eligible to pursue industry-recognized certifications in your selected specialty area.

Nursing credentials demonstrate your adherence to a higher standard and may be a condition for employment in nursing.

As of October 2023, 92.5% is the average pass rate for nurse practitioner students who graduated in 2022 and are known to have attempted a certification exam through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), or American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).

See Notes and Conditions below for important information. Contact an Admissions Advisor for information on the number of clinical practice experience hours required in your specialty area.

Clinical Practice Experiences

Put your knowledge to work with a mentor in a local health care organization. Faculty- and preceptor-guided clinical practice experiences provide knowledge and mentoring specific to your area of interest.

All clinical practice experience hours completed in the master’s program apply toward your doctorate.

Ways to Save on Time and Tuition

Purdue Global works with students to find ways to reduce costs and make education more accessible. Contact us to learn about opportunities to save on your educational costs.

Transfer Credits

Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions.

Financial Aid

Learn about federal financial aid programs available for many of our degree programs.

Grants and Loans

Learn about federal and state grants and loan programs that may be available.

Corporate Partner Benefits

Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.

Military Tuition Reduction

Graduate tuition savings for military include a 17–30% reduction per credit for current servicemembers and, 14% per credit for veterans for graduate programs.

Prior Military Experience

Earn credit for your military training. We offer credit for ACE-evaluated training and CLEP and DANTES examinations.

View the total cost of attendance for your program.

Career Opportunities

Purdue Global's Master of Science in Nursing allows you to study online and earn the credentials to pursue career advancement in roles such as administration, education staff development, and advanced practice nursing.

Average Salary

Range

General labor market and salary data are provided by Lightcast and may not represent the outcomes experienced by Purdue Global graduates in these programs. Purdue Global graduates in these programs may earn salaries substantially different or less than the amounts listed above. Salary and employment outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, education, and opportunities for employment that are outside of Purdue Global's control.

Purdue Global does not guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

Take a Career Assessment

Discover your work interests, and use them to chart your ideal career path.

Learn More

Download the Program Brochure

Download our brochure to learn more about the Online Master of Science in Nursing and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global.

View Brochure

Choosing the Online MSN to DNP Program

Take the next step in expanding your education. Find tools on bridging the gap from your master’s degree to a doctorate in nursing.

MSN to DNP: What Can You Do With a Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree?

Become a leader in the nursing field. Discover how a DNP can set you apart in terms of salary, career projections, and more. 

How to Become an APRN With the Help of Purdue Global

Current information and techniques are taught by practicing professionals who have advanced degrees in nursing.

Academic advisors and faculty offer personalized academic support as you earn your master's in nursing online.

Get to Know Our Faculty

Purdue Global faculty members are real-world practitioners who bring knowledge gained through the powerful combination of higher learning and industry experience.

99%

Faculty members who have advanced degrees

54%

Faculty members who hold a doctorate

484

Faculty publications in 2022–2023

More Than 40,000

Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2022–2023

Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school- or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, July 2023. 2022–2023 academic year.

Your Path to Success Begins Here

Connect with an Advisor to explore program requirements, curriculum, credit for prior learning process, and financial aid options.

Connect with an AdvisorApply Online Today
NOTES AND CONDITIONS

*Estimated Graduation Date and Average Completion: Estimated graduation date is based on the assumption that you will enroll in time to begin classes on the next upcoming start date, will remain enrolled for each consecutive term, and will maintain satisfactory academic standing in each term to progress toward completion of your program. Completion time is based on a full-time schedule. Programs will take longer for part-time students to complete.

Demand for Nurses With Advanced Education: American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Fact Sheet: The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Fact-Sheets/DNP-Fact-Sheet.pdf and NONPF,  Reaffirming the Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree: Entry to Nurse Practitioner Practice by 2025, https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.nonpf.org/resource/resmgr/dnp/04_12_23_reaffirming_the_dnp.pdf.

Nurse Practitioner Average Pass Rate: Purdue Global School of Nursing, October 2023.

Nursing Licensure: Graduates of a nurse practitioner pathway who pass the relevant certification exam may be academically eligible for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse in any state in which the program is available for enrollment. Licensure-track programs may limit enrollment to students in certain states. Refer to Purdue Global’s State Licensure and Certifications page for state-specific licensure information. The University cannot guarantee students will be eligible to sit for or pass exams.

Please note that most states require nurses to be nationally certified and to have completed an accredited graduate nursing program in order to obtain licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse. Each national certification provider and state Board of Nursing will have eligibility requirements in addition to these educational requirements, such as passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they are eligible for state Board of Nursing approval and certification as an advanced practice registered nurse in their state. Students can obtain additional information from their state's Board of Nursing, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).