Online DNP Degree Programs In New York

A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) prepares nurses for advanced roles such as nurse practitioner, and online programs let working nurses earn it without leaving the job. If you want more clinical responsibility, greater autonomy, and higher pay, the DNP is the terminal practice degree that gets you there.

The programs below come from a 2021 ranking, so confirm current tuition, format, and requirements directly with each school before you apply.

New York DNP Programs

Adelphi University

• Campus: Garden City, NY
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: $925 per credit
• Credits: 43 to 52
• Online: Yes
• Requirements: 3.0 GPA, BSN, RN license, transcripts, letters of recommendation, undergraduate statistics

College of Staten Island (CUNY)

• Campus: Staten Island, NY
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: ACEN
• Tuition: $365 per credit in state, $675 out of state
• Credits: 42 to 48
• Online: Yes
• Requirements: 3.0 GPA, BSN, RN license, transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statement, undergraduate statistics

Lehman College (CUNY)

• Campus: Bronx, NY
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: $365 per credit in state, $675 out of state
• Credits: 43 to 55
• Online: No
• Requirements: 3.0 GPA, BSN, RN license, GRE, transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statement, resume, interview, undergraduate statistics

Molloy College

• Campus: Rockville Centre, NY
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: $895 per credit
• Credits: 42 to 48
• Online: No
• Requirements: RN license, GRE, transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statement

Pace University, Lienhard School of Nursing

• Campus: New York, NY
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: $898 per credit
• Credits: 32 to 42
• Online: Yes
• Requirements: BSN, RN license, GRE, transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statement, resume, clinical experience

How DNP Programs Work

A DNP builds the clinical expertise to practice in advanced roles. You complete specialty coursework and clinical hours, usually at least 1,000 supervised hours. Nurses who enter with a master's can finish in about two years; those entering with a BSN typically need three to four years.

Specialization tracks include family, pediatric, adult-gerontology, women's health, and psychiatric mental health. Graduates work as nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists, or nurse anesthetists.

Admissions

DNP programs set competitive, doctoral-level standards. Requirements vary: some offer post-master's tracks for current APRNs, while others admit BSN-prepared nurses directly. Plan to submit:

• Current RN license
• Official transcripts showing a BSN from an accredited program
• Resume or CV
• Two to three letters of recommendation
• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• One to two years of clinical experience (required or recommended, depending on the program)

Why Accreditation Matters

Choose an accredited program. Accreditation signals the school meets standards for licensure pass rates, faculty qualifications, and clinical training. Most employers hire only graduates of accredited programs, accredited degrees meet state licensure and certification requirements, and accreditation is often required to qualify for federal financial aid, scholarships, and loan forgiveness. Every program listed here is accredited.

Common Questions

You can earn a DNP online. Accredited schools offer online programs built for working nurses, with clinicals completed locally.

A DNP pays off for nurses who want autonomy and higher earnings. Nurse practitioners earn a median of $132,050 and nurse anesthetists average $223,210 a year (BLS, May 2024), among the highest-paid roles in nursing.

A DNP holder can use the title "doctor" in New York, since the degree is a doctorate, though in clinical settings "doctor" usually refers to a physician.

The least competitive DNP tracks are typically the non-clinical ones. Nurse practitioner and nurse anesthetist tracks draw the most applicants, while leadership, education, and administration tracks often admit more students.