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Most Affordable Online DNP Programs in 2023
Explore affordable online DNP programs from accredited universities and see why you don’t need to overpay for a quality doctoral nursing degree.
Written by
PhDs.me Staff
Last updated
Apr 21, 2023
On this page, you can find information about the top 45 most affordable online DNP programs for 2023. These programs cover various areas, such as advanced practice nursing, gerontology, acute care, psychiatric mental health, leadership, and more. As doctoral degrees can be costly, it’s important to research and find an online DNP program that meets your career goals and financial needs. This ranking includes admission requirements, curriculum details, tuition costs, and funding options, providing you with essential information to find an affordable online DNP program without compromising on quality.
45 Most Affordable Online DNP Programs for 2023
As you might expect from a quality, fully-accredited public school, Fort Hays State University offers its Doctor of Nursing Practice program with one of the most affordable tuition rates available. The four-year BSN to DNP option features coursework completed almost entirely online with only a few, brief campus visits required. Students also complete substantial practice hours in-person at program-approved clinical sites in Kansas. Admission requirements include a current RN license and BSN degree earned with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Current RNs with nursing masters can opt for the MSN to DNP program. Most coursework is completed online with no required preceptored clinicals. The program does require a one-day visit to campus each year. Along with affordable tuition rates, FHSU offers several financial aid opportunities, including Nursing Department Scholarships and a forgivable loan program.
Program Highlights:
- Tuition: $400/credit
- Credits: 75 (BSN to DNP); 30 to 33 (MSN to DNP)
Online Doctoral and PhD Programs
- BSN to DNP (Partially-online)
- MSN to DNP (Fully-online coursework with one required campus visit annually and in-person clinical hours)
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid77%
Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s DNP program prepares graduates for advanced nursing practice as FNPs in underserved rural communities. Current RNs entering the program with a BSN degree and patient care experience complete 73 credit hours over three years of full-time or five years of part-time study. Didactic coursework is completed online, but students must attend a six-day residency on NOSU’s Alva campus before the start of their 1,020 clinical practicum hours. Current RNs holding an MSN Family Nurse Practitioner degree and certification in an advanced practice specialty may be admitted with advanced placement status allowing them to earn their DNPs with 37 to 39 credit hours of coursework. All DNP students return to campus at the end of their programs for the oral defense of their DNP scholarly projects.
Program Highlights:
- Tuition: $388.50/credit (in-state); $642.50/credit (out-of-state)
- Credits: 73 (37-39 for Advance Placement students)
Online Doctoral and PhD Programs
- BSN to DNP (Partially-online)
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid79%
New Mexico State University offers three Doctor of Nursing options with coursework accessed and completed entirely online. Current RNs with a nursing bachelor’s degree choose between BSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner tracks. Both tracks require three years of full-time study that culminate in the completion and defense of a DNP scholarly project. The MSN to DNP program allows nursing master’s degree holders to earn their DNP degree with two years of full-time study, also culminating in a DNP scholarly project. All didactic coursework is completely online in a combination of synchronous and asynchronous formats. DNP students must also complete 1,000 hours of supervised clinical practice typically attended at program-approved sites in their local communities. Along with exceptionally competitive tuition rates, DNP students may be eligible for a range of financial aid opportunities, including scholarships, grants, student loans, and work-study.
Program Highlights:
- Tuition: $436/credit
- Credits: 74 (BSN to DNP); 36-45 (MSN to DNP)
Online Doctoral and PhD Programs
- BSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner (Fully-online coursework with in-person clinical hours)
- BSN to DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Fully-online coursework with in-person clinical hours)
- MSN to DNP Population Health Leadership (Fully-online coursework with in-person clinical hours required of some students)
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid65%
Online Doctoral and PhD Programs
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (BSN to DNP Partially-online; MSN to DNP Fully-online)
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid44%
Online Doctoral and PhD Programs
- PhD in Nursing (Fully-online with one on-campus orientation session)
- Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (Fully-online)
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid32%
Online Doctoral and PhD Programs
- Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (CRNA to DNAP) (Partially-online)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (BSN to DNP Partially-online; Post-master’s DNP fully-online coursework with one to two campus visits)
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid59%
Online Doctoral and PhD Programs
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (BSN to DNP Partially-online; Post-MSN DNP Fully-online)
- PhD in Leadership Studies (Fully-online)
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid60%
Ashland University, a private Christian institution located in Ashland, Ohio, offers six doctoral degree options featuring online study. Current RNs with a nursing bachelor’s degree choose one of two BSN to DNP concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner or Health Systems Leadership. Students with a nursing master’s and RN licensure complete either the Advanced Practice or Health Systems Leadership MSN to DNP program. Along with online coursework, all DNP students complete substantial in-person residencies at clinics, hospitals, or other healthcare facilities in their local areas.
Students in Ashland’s Executive Doctorate in Leadership Studies program complete core coursework over four semesters through a combination of online and face-to-face classes followed by the writing and defense dissertations. Ashland’s hybrid-formatted Doctor of Ministry degree program takes three to six years and combines core religion, research, and writing courses with coursework in a specialization track: Transformational Leadership, Black Church Studies, or Chaplaincy. Students can also choose the Independent Design track that allows them to focus on their own unique academic interests.
Program Highlights:
- Tuition: $710-$965/credit
- Credits: 32-77 (varies by program)
Online Doctoral and PhD Programs
- BSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner (Fully-online coursework with in-person clinical hours)
- BSN to DNP Health Systems Leadership (Fully-online coursework with in-person clinical hours)
- MSN to DNP Advanced Practice (Fully-online coursework with in-person clinical hours)
- MSN to DNP Health Systems Leadership (Fully-online coursework with in-person clinical hours)
- Executive Doctorate in Leadership Studies (Partially-online)
- Doctor of Ministry (Partially-online)
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid95%
Post online DNP students at Post University choose from programs in educational leadership, executive leadership, professional leadership, and informatics leadership. Since these programs are focused on nursing management, leadership, and technology, they do not require on-campus residencies. All requirements can be completed remotely except for the 1,000 clinical practice hours, and currently employed RNs can complete those hours at their place of employment.
All DNP tracks at Post require 42 credits for graduation, and most students complete their programs in two years. Core classes include health services research, health statistics, health policy, and quality management. Each track also requires the completion of two capstone project classes. Post's programs feature flexible curriculums that allow students to tailor their degrees to fit their career needs.
Applications must include resumes, personal statements, and transcripts that reflect a 2.5 or higher GPA. You also need a master's degree in nursing or an outside field. Those with non-nursing masters may qualify for all tracks except for educational leadership. Incoming students can apply for several internal scholarships, some worth up to $10,000 per year.
Program Highlights:
Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Credits: 42
- Cost Per Credit: $770
- Est. Total Tuition: $32,340
- Length: 2 years
- Format: Fully online coursework with in-person clinicals
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
CounselingYes
PlacementNo
Institutional Aid0%
Online Doctoral and PhD Programs
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (Fully-online)
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid4%
Online Doctoral and PhD Programs
- EdD in School Improvement (Fully-online coursework with annual summer face-to-face seminar)
- PhD in Nursing (Fully-online coursework with week-long on-campus summer orientation and returning-student workshops)
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid48%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid13%
Online Doctoral and PhD Programs
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (Fully-online coursework with in-person clinical hours)
- EdD in Professional Studies (Partially-online)
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid66%
Online Doctoral and PhD Programs
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (Fully-online coursework plus in-person colloquium and clinical hours)
- DNP to PhD Bridge (Fully-online through Denton Campus; Partially-online through Houston campus)
- PhD in Occupational Therapy (Partially-online)
- PhD in Nursing Science (Fully-online through Denton Campus; Partially-online through Houston campus)
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid44%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid0%
Online Doctoral and PhD Programs
- MSN to DNP with Family Care Specialization (Fully-online)
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid64%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid10%
CounselingYes
PlacementNo
Institutional Aid0%
Online Doctoral and PhD Programs
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (Partially-online)
- PhD in Nursing (Partially-online)
- Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) (Partially-online)
- EdD in Educational Leadership (Partially-online)
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid49%
Online Doctoral and PhD Programs
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (Fully-online)
- Doctorate in Athletic Training (DAT) (Partially-online)
- Doctorate of Health Sciences (DHSc) (Fully-online coursework with in-person clinical practicum hours)
- PhD in Educational Administration: Higher Education Leadership (Partially-online)
- PhD in Educational Administration: School (Partially-online)
- PhD in Technology Management (Fully-online coursework with on-campus residency)
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid64%
Online Doctoral and PhD Programs
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (Fully-online)
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid61%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid49%
Online Doctoral and PhD Programs
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (Partially-online)
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid71%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid50%
Online Doctoral and PhD Programs
- PhD in Interdisciplinary Engineering (Partially-online)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (Partially-online)
- Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (Fully-online)
- Public Health/Pharmacy (Coordinated Degree) MPH/PharmD (Partially-online)
- Public Health/Optometry (Coordinated Degree) MPH/OD (Partially-online)
- DSc in Healthcare Leadership (Partially-online)
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid74%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid57%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid73%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid49%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid65%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid41%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid89%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid56%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid41%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid69%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid97%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid68%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid60%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid55%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid57%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid43%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid83%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid77%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid97%
CounselingYes
PlacementNo
Institutional Aid95%
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Institutional Aid98%
Rankings Methodology
The rankings methodology used to develop this list began with government data from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). To be eligible for this most affordable DNP ranking list, colleges needed the following characteristics:
- Annual graduate tuition and fees under $15,000.
- At least one DNP program offered partially or fully online.
- Accreditation from an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Eligible colleges received scores based on their performance in the following categories:
- Cost: Relative cost of attendance compared to peer schools on the list based on tuition and fees per academic year (heaviest weighting)
- Institutional Aid: Percentage of students receiving financial aid from the school itself (second-heaviest weighting)
- Online Program Availability: Number of fully-online or partially-online DNP programs reported.
- Academic Counseling: Existence of this service on campus or online
- Career Placement: Existence of this service on campus or online
Accreditation Glossary
ABHE: Association for Biblical Higher Education, Commission on Accreditation
ATS: Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools
DEAC: Distance Education Accrediting Commission
HLC: Higher Learning Commission
MSCHE: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
NECHE: New England Commission of Higher Education
NWCCU: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
SACSCOC: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
TRACS: Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, Accreditation Commission