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.
Program at a Glance
Degree Program:
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Offered By:
Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Tuition:
Cost Per Credit:
$836*
*Approximate tuition per credit hour based on the number of credits taken
Cost Per Credit:
$911*
*Approximate tuition per credit hour based on the number of credits taken
Priority Application Deadline:
Credit Hours:
33 or 70
Program Details
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.
Program Features
- 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
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 Anderson | BSN-DNP
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.
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)
Curriculum 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.
- 540 DNP experience hours required
- 33 credit hours required
- 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.
What Will You Learn?
- 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
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
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).
Nurse Practitioners
$118,040*
Nursing Faculty
$82,040*
Executive and Leadership Roles
$98,980*
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, Median Annual Wage (2021)
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.
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
- 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
- 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)
Completion Time
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.
Reach New Heights with a DNP Degree
Find the support and flexibility you need to earn your doctoral degree. The healthcare system needs strong, capable leaders, and you can answer the call. Bring your expertise and experience. Leave with the confidence to lead the way.
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.