Online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program Overview
Be at the forefront of innovation and change in our healthcare systems. The 100% online Doctor of Nursing Practice program offered by University of Colorado Colorado Springs – Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences leverages your skills, experience and passion for nursing to help you become an impactful leader.
Drive the change you want to see in healthcare. This online program offers tracks to a doctoral degree for both Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduates. The flexible online learning format offers you the opportunity to earn your degree while you work and begin applying your knowledge in your current environment.
Earn your DNP degree from a university with a history of excellence in higher education. This fully online program from the University of Colorado is taught by the same faculty who teach the DNP program on campus, and it gives you the flexibility to continue your education without relocating or attending in-person classes.
We are dedicated to helping you become a nurse leader who provides ethical, safe, culturally sensitive and cost-effective care for all. As a DNP graduate, you will be equipped to pursue advanced practice nursing roles, nursing leadership, c-suite roles, and clinical research opportunities. Whatever path you choose, your studies will help you build and sharpen your skills to improve patient outcomes and lead innovation across the industry.
- Fully online – no in-person requirements
- Inclusive curriculum that incorporates transgender health
- Taught by the same faculty who teach the DNP program on campus
- Multiple tracks available for BSN to DNP students so you can focus your studies
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences
100% Online
Delivery Method
$868*
Cost Per Credit
*Approximate In-state
$939*
Cost Per Credit
*Approximate Out-of-state
Priority Application Deadline
Rolling Admissions
Application Deadline
33 or 70
Credit Hours
3 Years
Average Completion Time
DNP Course Overview
DNP courses are offered fully online and taught by faculty with doctoral degrees. You will also work one-on-one with a preceptor for clinical hours, which means you can experience a more personalized approach to your education.
The online DNP program is a blend of online classes with both synchronous (live) and asynchronous elements. Other learning activities include group activities, online exams, discussions, case studies, and simulation opportunities that can be attended in person or remotely.
Both the MSN to DNP track and the BSN to DNP track of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program can be completed in as few as three (3) years, depending on your course load each semester.
DNP Pathways
Complete your Doctor of Nursing practice fully online in as few as three years. This track helps you take the final step toward a terminal degree and pursue your professional aspirations. After graduation, you will be eligible to sit for a national nurse practitioner certification exam.
- 540 DNP experience hours required
- 33 credit hours required
Earn your doctoral degree and prepare for advanced practice nursing. If you have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a nationally accredited nursing program, this track allows you to work toward and earn a doctoral degree even if you have not completed a Master of Science in Nursing. After graduation from the DNP program, you will be eligible to sit for a national nurse practitioner certification exam.
The BSN to DNP track has three (3) nurse practitioner options, which you will choose when you apply for the program:
- Primary Care
- Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Family)
Other Program Requirements:
- 1,170 DNP experience hours required
- 70 credit hours required
The required DNP capstone project will teach you to implement and evaluate practice change in a clinical setting. Throughout the project, graduate nursing faculty and an institutional mentor in the setting where you complete your project will help you translate nursing research and theory into evidence-based practice change.
Featured Courses
Synthesizes the concepts of ethics, law and policy impacting health care delivery systems both locally and globally. Reflectively uses the advanced practice role to influence healthcare policy change.
Explores theoretical foundations within organizational and leadership perspectives. Provides an overview of principles of organizational systems/culture and risk management. Analyzes concepts within informatics/technologic systems, consultation, interprofessional experiences.
Provides an economic perspective of the U.S. health care system from a micro and macro perspective. Explores the U.S. health care system, focusing on financing, supply and demand, key stakeholders, delivery of care, regulatory issues, and reimbursement models.
DNP Program Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, the master’s degree program in nursing, the post-graduate APRN certificate program, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
Colorado Commission of Higher Education (CCHE)
1600 Broadway
Suite 2200
Denver, CO 80202
303-862-3001
Colorado State Board of Nursing
Department of Regulatory Agencies
1560 Broadway, Suite 110
Denver, CO 80202
303-894-7855
Learning outcomes include:
How to describe, develop, implement, and evaluate health care practices
Tools for creating new models of care that will improve patient outcomes
Leadership strategies that will transform the healthcare system
Collaboration skills for working on inter-professional teams
Knowledge to help you provide inclusive, equitable, accessible care
How to incorporate data, technology and information systems in your practice and system
Doctor of Nursing Practice Career Data
Jobs for nurse practitioners and advanced practice registered nurses are projected to grow 40% through 2031, much faster than average according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
$118,040*
Nurse Practitioners
$82,040*
Nursing Faculty
$98,980*
Executive and Leadership Roles
*Data retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS); Median Annual Wage (2021)
Take the First Step
Complete the form on this page to be contacted by an Enrollment Advisor.
Tuition and Fees
At UCCS Online, we strive to keep our tuition costs affordable so that you can get a world-class education that fits your budget. When you earn a degree, you’re not simply getting a diploma — you’re making a lifelong investment in yourself and empowering your future career. We know that affordability is an important factor, and that’s why we’re here to help you explore all of the options available to fund your education.
Our Enrollment Team can answer any of your questions about tuition and financial aid, help you take care of the paperwork, and make sure you’re able to focus on reaching your goals. From financial aid and scholarships to tuition assistance programs, we’ll work with you to find the best way to finance your degree.
Western Region Graduate Program (WRGP/WICHE)
Students from the following states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and the U.S. Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States) have the opportunity to pay a reduced tuition rate which is currently equal to in-state tuition.
In State Cost Per Credit:
$868
Approximate tuition per credit hour based on the number of credits taken
Out of State Cost Per Credit:
$939
Approximate tuition per credit hour based on the number of credits taken
We know that affordability is an important factor, and that’s why we’re here to help you explore all of the options available to fund your education. Our Enrollment Navigators can answer any of your questions about tuition and financial aid, help you take care of the paperwork, and make sure you’re able to focus on reaching your goals. From financial aid and scholarships to transfer credits and corporate tuition assistance programs, we’ll work with you to find the best way to finance your UCCS Online degree. Complete the formComplete the form on this page to be contacted by an Enrollment Advisor.
Financial aid is available for eligible students to use toward paying educational costs while enrolled in a UCCS Online program. To determine your eligibility and apply for financial aid, you’ll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). When you submit your FAFSA, you will be considered for three types of aid: grants, work-study, and student loans. To be considered for federal financial aid, you will need to apply early and annually.
- Scholarships | You may be eligible for scholarships at UCCS. We offer many scholarships and grants to students who are ready to earn their degrees and achieve success. Between both UCCS-offered and external scholarships, our students earned more than $10 million in scholarship awards last year alone.
UCCS Online is military-friendly and committed to providing service members and their families with a high-quality education that fits their distinct needs. As a UCCS Online student, you will have access to the UCCS Veteran and Military Affairs, which connects veteran, active duty, reservist, National Guard, and dependent students with fundamental support, services, and resources to ensure academic and professional success. UCCS is a proud home campus to many veteran and military students.
Eligible veteran and military students may use veteran benefits, military tuition assistance, and/or financial aid to pay for their education. Military benefits with UCCS Online include:
- Waived application fee for active duty and veterans
- Military benefits approved program
Connect with our Enrollment NavigatorsConnect with our Enrollment Navigators to learn more about the benefits and financial assistance available to military and veteran students.
All students are automatically opted in to the TAAP program with the choice to opt out. The TAAP program provides all your course materials for one flat fee per credit hour. That means no more time spent searching for, ordering, and paying out of pocket for your own course materials.
Many companies offer tuition assistance benefits as part of their employee compensation program. Generally, these policies determine a set number of credit hours per year that the company will pay for on behalf of the student/employee. Some policies place a cap on eligible tuition dollars and related expenses while others reimburse employees on a per-credit-hour basis. Get in touch with your organization's human resources department to learn more about your educational benefits.
Admissions Information
Admissions requirements vary depending on which track you are interested in pursuing. This program has a rolling admissions process, which means applications are reviewed as they are completed and received. This program has three start dates each year. A $60 application fee applies.
- Active RN license in your state of practice
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from a nationally accredited nursing program
- Cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
- National certification as NP or CNS
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- Passing score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if your native language is not English or if your BSN program was not conducted in English
- Submission of all required application materials by posted deadlines (all application requirements are in the online application)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a nationally accredited nursing program
- BSN GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Current unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license from the state where you practice during practicum rotations
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- Passing score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if your native language is not English or if your BSN program was not conducted in English
- Submission of all required application materials by posted deadlines (all required materials are listed in the online application)
Due to individual state regulations, UCCS is only accepting students from the following states:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Colorado
- California
- Florida
- Idaho
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Wyoming
UCCS accepts applications throughout the year through a rolling admissions process. However, submitting your application by the preferred deadlines is advisable.
Our stated application deadlines are as follows, but we admit students up to a week before the semester starts. We have also started admitting students mid-semester before Session B begins.
- Fall Semester: August 5
- Spring Semester: January 5
- Summer Semester: May 5
- Spring 2025 – Jan 21, 2025
- Summer 2025 – June 9, 2025
- Fall 2025 – August 25, 2025
DNP Success Stories
Life is busy as a wife, mom of two rambunctious little girls, and an ICU nurse. Adding in being a full-time student has had its challenges, but UCCS has made the transition seamless. I was initially concerned about taking many of the courses online, as I wanted to know my professors and fellow students, but I can honestly say that that was an unnecessary worry. My cohort now feels like family, and my professors genuinely care about me as a grad student and my education as a future family nurse practitioner.
– Allie A., Alum, BSN-DNP
Expand Your Opportunities
Earn an education that creates opportunity. Start the admissions process with an enrollment advisor by filling out the form on this page today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Both fall and spring semester courses are 16 weeks long. Summer courses are 8-11 weeks.
The faculty to student ratio is 1:15 in the DNP program, which means you will experience the benefits of small class sizes, which can help you develop stronger connections to your faculty and peers. The DNP capstone project has even smaller cohort sizes, with a 1:6 faculty to student ratio.
Synchronous elements happen in real-time, or live, and in this program they are offered remotely. With asynchronous elements, students can engage with them at any time with no specified login time.
In the online DNP program, you should be prepared to dedicate three (3) hours of study time per week for each classroom credit hour. You should also be prepared to arrange one practice clinical day per week. The online DNP program requires you to balance work, school, and extracurricular life commitments. If you have persistence, dedication, and strong time management and organizational skills, you’re well-equipped for the challenges ahead.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program is offered fully online, which means you will not be required to take courses at our campus.
Online courses at the University of Colorado are taught by the same professors that teach in-person classes. This ensures that you are receiving the same education and learning experiences as on-campus students. The primary difference is with the delivery format. Your online courses will all be taught in Canvas, the Learning Management System (LMS). You will be responsible for logging in, accessing course content, and completing any requirements of the course.