Doctor of Nursing Practice
Professional Doctorate
The Doctor of Nursing Practice is a practice-oriented degree designed to prepare advanced nurses at the highest level of skill and scholarly care.
Program overview
Training advanced nurses
The Doctor of Nursing Practice is a practice-oriented degree designed to prepare advanced nurses at the highest level of scholarly practice. Keeping pace with the demands of today’s changing healthcare environment requires clinical experts who have the knowledge and skills to be effective change agents.
The program emphasizes:
- Clinical leadership
- Professional leadership
- Systems leadership
- Health policy/global leadership
Our goal is to prepare the next generation of nurse leaders with a greater breadth of expertise so that they can collaborate more effectively with inter-professional partners and provide leadership to enhance quality and safe care. Courses are taught by dedicated faculty who are established leaders in their field.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice is a practice-oriented degree designed to prepare advanced nurses at the highest level of scholarly practice. Keeping pace with the demands of today’s changing healthcare environment requires clinical experts who have the knowledge and skills to be effective change agents.
The program emphasizes:
- Clinical leadership
- Professional leadership
- Systems leadership
- Health policy/global leadership
Our goal is to prepare the next generation of nurse leaders with a greater breadth of expertise so that they can collaborate more effectively with inter-professional partners and provide leadership to enhance quality and safe care. Courses are taught by dedicated faculty who are established leaders in their field.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice at Northeastern University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
- Students complete a scholarly DNP project
- A minimum of 500 practicum hours during the course of the program
- Opportunities for interdisciplanary study and research
- This program is appropriate for licensed nurses who possess a master’s degree in nursing. In some cases registered nurses holding a master’s degree in a related health field may be acceptable
The DNP program culminates in the successful completion of a DNP scholarly project that demonstrates mastery of expert practice knowledge and is completed over three semesters (nine semester hours). The scholarly project must be a significant, evidence-based contribution to existing nursing knowledge and be suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal or a book. This DNP scholarly project could be a program needs assessment with program development and evaluation, evaluation of an existing program, development of an assessment instrument/protocol, a cost/benefit analysis of program models, or another scholarly project as approved by the student’s advisor.
Students will apply knowledge and skills obtained in the didactic and integrative courses in order to address the ethical, legal, financial, and organizational aspects of the scholarly project. The DNP student will discuss his/her topic of interest, the development of the project and how it addresses the needs of a selected population; and evaluate the implementation and outcomes of the project. Each student will have a scholarly project advisor and expert mentor working with them on the project. In addition, you will have the opportunity to study with faculty from other Northeastern departments and research centers and with others in Boston’s nursing community whose work addresses clinical and organizational problems.
Our close ties with the university’s Institute on Urban Health Research; School of Social Science and Urban Affairs and Public Policy; the Center for Community Health Education, Research, and Service; and other organizations provide opportunities to work across disciplines and access populations and sites for the DNP scholarly project.
Admissions
Apply to the program
A graduate degree or certificate from Northeastern can accelerate your career through rigorous academic coursework and real-world professional experience in your area of interest. Apply to take your career to the next level.
A graduate degree or certificate from Northeastern can accelerate your career through rigorous academic coursework and real-world professional experience in your area of interest. Apply to take your career to the next level.
Application Deadline for fall entry: August 1
Application
Application fee
Three letters of recommendation
Official transcripts from all institutions attended
Personal statement
Resumé
TOEFL or IELTS for applicants who do not hold a degree from a U.S. institution and whose native language is not English
Current U.S.nursing licensure
Two years of advanced nursing experience
Master's degree in nursing. In some cases registered nurses holding a master's degree in a related health field may be acceptable
Master’s GPA of 3.50 or above
1,000 scholarly practice hours are required for program completion. A gap analysis upon admission will determine how many, if any, practice hours from a previously completed Master of Science in Nursing practicum qualify toward this practice hour requirement
Program objectives
Prepare for success
Graduates of our DNP program assume clinical and leadership positions as advanced nurses in a variety of roles including nurse executives, community leaders, and professional organization leadership.
Apply knowledge and skills obtained in your didactic and integrative courses into a scholarly project. The project may be suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal or a book.
Learn from faculty in other Northeastern departments and leaders in Boston’s nursing community whose work addresses clinical and organizational problems.
Connect with us
Want more information?
We’re here to answer your questions about this program, the application process, and more. Complete the form below to receive additional program details and speak with a member of our enrollment team.
Specialize your degree
The program’s broad curriculum and the completion of your DNP Scholarly Project will give you a solid foundation as a skilled, evidence-based nurse practitioner and healthcare leader.
You’ll also be able to match your professional interests and passions with degree specializations that include:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Depending on your chosen specialization, the program ranges from 68 to 82 required credits. Total tuition is based on credit requirements.
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Cost of attendance
Tuition and financial aid
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$58,380Tuition in USD
Estimated Total Tuition
This is an estimate based on the tuition rates for Academic Year 2025-2026 and does not include any fees or other expenses. Some courses and labs have tuition rates that may increase or decrease total tuition. Tuition and fees are subject to revision by the president and Board of Trustees at any time. Select programs at select campuses offer additional scholarships of up to 25% off the listed price for domestic students studying on campus. For more detailed information, please visit Student Financial Services.
For students interested in pursuing financial assistance or educational loans, additional educational costs, known as Cost of Attendance (COA) components, can be included in the calculation of aid and loan eligibility. Components may include food, housing, books, course materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, personal expenses, and the cost of obtaining a first professional licensure. You can find comprehensive details on the Student Financial Services website. Please keep in mind that COA can vary significantly depending on academic program, enrollment intensity, and individual circumstances.
There are many ways to pay for your education, including scholarships, financial aid, and more. Connect with a financial counselor to learn about your options and make your dream a reality.
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