Most Affordable Online DNP Programs in 2026

Arkansas State University offers a flexible and affordable Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with a concentration in nurse education. This program can be completed 100% online without students stepping foot on campus. It's also set up to be a part-time program students can easily complete alongside a full-time job. For added flexibility, live class sessions are offered at a variety of times and students can choose how many courses they want to take each semester. The curriculum consists of two core areas. The first is general nursing courses on subjects like nurse leadership and healthcare finance. The second is specialized courses in education, such as teaching in advance nursing roles. Successful applicants should already have their MSN and a license at the time of application.

Program Highlights:

Doctor of Nursing Practice (Education)

• Credits: 36-44
• Length: 2 years
• Cost: $456/credit
• Mode: Online
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing

For an affordable doctorate in nursing practice with maximum flexibility, consider the program from Texas A&M. Although housed on the Corpus Christi campus, the program can be completed online. It is also delivered on a part-time basis, making it ideal for those who want to get their DNP while working full time. In the program, students can choose between two concentrations: the nurse practitioner track and the executive leadership track. The first is for those who want to practice as a nurse practitioner in the state of Texas, while the latter is for those looking to enter nursing and healthcare administration. In both tracks, students must also complete a DNP final project. Since the degree is considered post-master's, it's only for those with a nursing master's degree.

Program Highlights:

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Credits: 40
• Length: 3 years
• Cost: $271/credit in-state | $592/credit out-of-state
• Mode: Online
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

The University of North Carolina offers a quality, affordable Doctor of Nursing Practice through their Wilmington campus. While hosted through this in-person campus, much of the coursework can be completed online. However, some classes are only offered in person, and students must complete supervised clinical hours in person. Students can choose between four concentrations: psychiatric, family, nurse executive leadership, and post-APRN. The latter two require a master's degree while the former two can be completed as a MSN to DNP or BSN to DNP. For added flexibility, students can take their courses and supervised clinical hours at the pace that works for them, which is why the program has a wide completion range that spans from five to 14 semesters. The exact concentration can also influence graduation time, as some concentrations require more coursework than others.

Program Highlights:

Doctorate of Nursing Practice

• Credits: 33-70
• Length: 5-14 semesters
• Cost: $384.19/credit in-state | $1,227.30/credit out-of-state
• Mode: Hybrid
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

Students in New Mexico State University's nursing practice doctorate program can choose between three concentrations: family nurse practice, psychiatric mental health nurse practice, and population health leadership. All three degrees can be pursued as MSN to DNP programs, while only the first two can also be taken by BSNs looking to get their DNP. Almost all of the degree requirements can be completed online, with a few exceptions. First-year students must attend an on-campus orientation that lasts two days. Third-year students attend a week-long clinical boot camp on campus. Students must also complete their clinical experience in person, though this can be completed at a healthcare facility near them, not on campus. the program also requires 1,000 clinical supervised hours to be completed by students as part of that in-person experience.

Program Highlights:

Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Credits: 74
• Length: 3 years
• Cost: $394.46/credit in-state | $1,107.96/credit out of state
• Mode: Hybrid
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

Nurses with their bachelor's degree will want to take a good look at the BSN to DNP program at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. The program consists of a fully online classroom portion and two summer residencies, which must be done in-person. The summer residencies last one week and take place at a hospital near Northwestern Oklahoma State University's campus. For added flexibility, students can choose to either complete coursework on a full-time basis and graduate in three years or complete it on a part-time basis and graduate in four years. If students have already completed their master's, there's an accelerated option, called advanced placement, that allows students to graduate in less than three years. Most students work full-time while completing this degree or have some work experience as a nurse before applying.

Program Highlights:

Doctorate of Nursing Practice

• Credits: 73
• Length: 3 years
• Cost: $388.50/credit in-state | 642.50/credit out-of-state
• Mode: Hybrid
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education