Online MSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice
Overview
Calendar
FNP, PNP, WHNP, AGNP, AGACNP, and PMHNP
Credits: 54-66
Courses: 15-19
Duration: 44-48 months
DNP Leadership, DNP Education, and DNP General
Credits: 27-36
Courses: 9-12
Duration: 20-24 months
Application Deadline:
December 8, 2025
Upcoming Start Date:
January 5, 2026




Benefits of Pursuing Your MSN to DNP Online
Eight Concentration Areas for Our MSN to DNP Program
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Focus on a variety of health needs and issues in an outpatient, primary care pediatric setting.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Provide care to mental health clients across the lifespan using contemporary psychotherapy modalities and knowledge of psychopharmacology.
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) Learn to care for women at all life stages, including primary care, gynecological, and obstetrical health care needs.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Develop skills and knowledge to work with every age in a family practice environment.
Adult Gerontology – Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) Learn to provide primary care about chronic illness and aging, including polypharmacy management and end-of-life considerations. Formerly referred to as AGNP.
Adult Gerontology – Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Learn to diagnose and treat critical medical conditions in adults in an acute care setting. Learn advanced diagnostics, pathophysiology, and more.
Nurse Leadership Study informatics, regulatory issues, organizational structures, and more for a director, management, and executive positions.
Nurse Education Learn to educate the next generation of nurses through courses focusing on curriculum development, simulation, online pedagogy, and evaluating outcomes. Find out more about the program.
Qualify to Sit for Certification Exams
Completing the online Doctor of Nursing Practice degree will prepare you to sit for exams from the following certification boards (based on your chosen specialty):
- The American Nurses Credentialing Center
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
- National League of Nursing (NLN)
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners
- National Certification Corporation
- Certified Nurse Educator (CNE)
Top 5 Reasons for Earning a DNP Degree
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Great ROI — the average salary for a DNP graduate is $109,000
† Salary data from Payscale as of December 2022




“Best Regional Colleges”

What Can You Do with a DNP?
What Is the Typical DNP Salary?
Common Work Environments
- Clinical practices
- Hospitals
- Research laboratories
- Educational institutions
- Advocacy organizations
Online MSN to DNP Program Job Outlook
Careers with an Online MSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an astounding 45% employment growth rate between 2019 and 2029 for nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives. As of April 2021, the median salary for the DNP-prepared nurse was $103,662.*
By 2025, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has recommended that the DNP be required for advanced practice nursing. Similarly, the Future of Nursing report issued by the Institute of Medicine has called for nurses to take on greater responsibility to handle the growing number of patients requiring care as populations age and we navigate new challenges brought forth throughout the recent pandemic. An online Doctor of Nursing Practice can put you at the forefront of health care, prepared to take on high-level positions and help meet the rising demand.
As a DNP-credentialed nurse, you may have career opportunities such as:
Nurse Practitioner
Median wage: $111,680*
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are highly educated and hold higher levels of autonomy in their practice. NPs dedicate their practice to specific patient populations, such as women’s health, families, children, or the elderly. DNP coursework provides students with advanced research skills needed to incorporate evidence-based practice into their care strategies.
Practice settings include:
- Private physician and NP practices
- Hospitals
- Colleges and universities
- Public health departments
Nurse Informaticist
Median wage: $84,821**
Nurse informaticists specialize in managing the information technology that nurses use to process patient health information and communicate with care teams. With a DNP education, nursing professionals can learn how to innovate in this field and optimize these information systems to improve delivery of care.
Practice settings include:
- Hospitals
- Consulting companies
- Medical groups
- State and national government agencies
Chief Nursing Officer
Median wage: $133,623**
This executive role involves directing the operations of nursing staff in a medical organization. In some cases, a chief nursing officer or chief nursing executive may have some involvement in advocating for the nursing profession by developing, analyzing, and proposing various health and professional policies.
Practice settings include:
- Hospitals
- Rehabilitation facilities
- Government agencies
- Healthcare system corporate offices
Nurse Policy Specialist
Median wage: $79,178***
Health policies govern health organizations and help societies achieve specific health objectives. DNP graduates have a deeper perspective of how local, state, and federal health systems interact with one another, allowing them to offer valuable input to these policies.
Practice settings include:
- Government organizations
- Public health agencies
- Hospitals and clinics
- Advocacy organizations
Nurse Administrator
Median wage: $104,280*
Nurse administrators fill management and leadership roles in health care organizations. With their expertise in administrative procedures, they manage nursing teams, nursing units, a department, or nurses throughout an entire health system.
Practice settings include:
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Clinics
- Physicians’ offices
Clinical Educator
Median wage: $83,040****
Clinical educators facilitate the training and development of nurses. They often work in hospitals and clinics but can also be found teaching in academic settings. They’re responsible for evaluating their units’ current needs and delivering suitable teaching plans that inform, motivate and energize their students.
Practice settings include:
- Clinics
- Hospitals
- Colleges and universities
- Health care organizations
Clinical Nurse Consultant
Median wage: $87,521**
Clinical nurse consultants advise health care institutions to help them provide the highest quality of care. Depending on their professional background, they can specialize in different areas of health care, such as acute care or primary care. They’re responsible for overseeing treatment plans and helping nursing departments improve their operational strategies.
Practice settings include:
- Hospitals
- Outpatient treatment centers
- Research labs
- Emergency rooms
Nursing Home Administrator
Median wage: $92,094**
Nursing home administrators oversee the fundamental operations of a nursing home facility, such as planning, directing, and coordinating health services. They’re required to stay abreast of various changes in laws and regulations pertaining to nursing home care so they can make sure the facilities they manage stay compliant.
Practice settings include:
- Memory care facilities
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Retirement communities
- Veteran Affairs (VA) nursing homes
Nurse Researcher
Median wage: $95,000*****
Nurse researchers study various aspects of health care and illness. They design and conduct scientific studies, and collect and analyze data to improve current health care standards. They often survey patients to compile feedback about their satisfaction with nursing services and facilitate studies where different interventions are tested on patients to determine the efficacy.
Practice settings include:
- Hospitals
- Medical clinics
- Colleges and universities
- Government agencies
**Payscale.com
***ZipRecruiter.com
****Salary.com
*****ExploreHealthCareers.org
Ready for Your Next Step?
Online MSN to DNP Program Curriculum
With our online program, you can earn your DNP degree in as few as 24-36* months and become prepared to take on a high-level role in health care.
- Enhance your knowledge of patient care, policies and procedures, and research methods.
- Choose from three start times per year, and complete your coursework 100% online.
- Choose from six nurse practitioner specializations, Nurse Education, or Nurse Leadership.
Experience an Expertly Crafted Curriculum Taught by Our Supportive Faculty.
MSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (1st Specialization)
- Master’s degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution and accredited nursing program
- Active unencumbered RN license
- You might have to take additional courses as part of the program
MSN NP to Doctor of Nursing Practice (2nd Specialization)
- Master’s degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution and accredited nursing program
- Active unencumbered RN license
- Proof of NP certification
- You might have to take additional courses as part of the program
MSN NP to Doctor of Nursing Practice (Doctorate Only)
- Master’s degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution and accredited nursing program
- Active unencumbered RN license
- Proof of NP certification
- You might have to take additional courses as part of the program
Core Courses Include:
Concentration Areas
- Pediatrics (PNP)
- Family (FNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health (PMHNP)
- Women’s Health (WHNP)
- Adult Gerontology – Acute Care (AGACNP)
- Adult Gerontology – Primary Care (AGPCNP)
- Nurse Education
- Nurse Leadership
Concentration Courses*
Pediatrics (PNP)
Select one: NU 635 Complementary Therapy, NU 661, NU 643, or NU 670 – 24 field work hours)
Psychiatric Mental Health (PMHNP)
Adult Gerontology - Primary Care (AGPCNP)**
Adult Gerontology – Acute Care (AGACNP)
Family (FNP)
Select one: NU 635 Complementary Therapy, NU 661, NU 643, NU 670 – 24 field work hours, or HP 626
Women’s Health (WHNP)
Nurse Education
Nurse Leadership
Co-Requisite Courses for MSN-DNP (Non-Nurse Practitioners)
MSN-DNP (Non-Nurse Practitioners) take these additional courses
Co-Requisite Courses for MSN-DNP (Nurse Education and Nurse Leadership)
Co-Requisite Courses for MSN-DNP (second specialization)
Co-Requisite Courses for MSN NP to DNP (Doctorate only)
**Formerly referred to as AGNP
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for this program, students must meet the following qualifications:
- MSN degree from a regionally accredited institution and accredited nursing program
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA preferred
- Active unencumbered RN license
- One year of critical care work experience (for AGACNP program only)
- Completion of a college-level statistics course with a grade of C or higher
Application Requirements
You can begin your application process today. To get started you will need to submit the following:
- Application form
- Proof of active unencumbered RN license
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
- Two letters of recommendation
- Resume and statement of purpose
- Verification of hours form
- APRN certification (if applicable)
- APRN and prescriptive authority license (if applicable)
About Regis

Our Online MSN to DNP Program Prepares You to Succeed in an Evolving, Global World
Meet Our Faculty

Michele Pedulla, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE
Hear From Our Students

Watch the Video
Frequently Asked Questions
The online DNP offers eight concentrations, so you can earn a specialized DNP degree tailored to your career goals. We offer the following specializations:
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Adult Gerontology – Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult Gerontology – Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Leadership
- Nurse Education
Regis is a leading Catholic university in Greater Boston that has been preparing students for success in an evolving, global world since 1927. Our renowned and doctorally prepared faculty provide nurses with a values-based education integrated with cutting-edge technology and industry-focused curriculum in a wide variety of high-demand and niche specializations, including Nurse Education. Our program offers several flexible entry options for the DNP student, including your first specialization, or second specialization, doctorate coursework only, and the MSN-DNP Bridge program.
Our online MSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice incorporates insider perspectives on the leadership qualities the field demands to help you build the skills you’ll need to positively affect the field.
The program allows four specific points of entry:
- MSN to DNP – Designed for non-nurse practitioners who hold an MSN
- MSN NP to DNP (second specialization) – Designed for NPs who are interested in adding a new area to their existing scope of practice.
- MSN NP to DNP (Doctorate only) – Designed for existing NPs looking to pursue doctorate-level coursework.
Depending on your entry point and chosen specialization, the amount of credits earned through the online MSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice degree may vary:
MSN NP to DNP (Doctorate only): 27-36 credits
Nurse Education Track: 36 credits
MSN to DNP:
Family Nurse Practitioner: 58 credits
Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner: 61 credits
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: 58 credits
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: 64 credits
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner: 61
Depending on your entry point, you may complete your online MSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in as few as:
24 months – MSN NP to DNP (Doctorate only), Leadership Track and Nurse Education Track
36 months – MSN to DNP/MSN NP to DNP (second specialization)
*Final curriculum will be decided on individual basis, including potential transfer credits
Cost Per Credit Hour:
- $1025 per credit hour
Application fee: $75
More information about online graduate nursing program tuition and fees, financial aid, payment options, etc., can be found here.
Regis is proud to offer a 10% tuition discount on fully online programs for employees, members, and spouses of employees of our partner organizations.*
Regis College aims to help military, veterans, and their families to further their education. This is why we offer a 15% tuition discount to all active and reserve military, veterans, and military spouses for our online programs.
We’re also pleased to offer 15% off tuition on online programs to all federal government employees, and their spouses, working in any federal department.
A 10% Alumni discount is available to anyone who has graduated from Regis with a degree, excluding those who only received a certificate from Regis.
Two levels of graduate assistantships are offered at Regis, giving students the unique experience of gaining valuable professional skills while benefiting from financial aid opportunities.**
*Some exceptions apply. The Regis partnership discount cannot be combined with any other discount or scholarship offered by Regis.
**Graduate Assistantships are available to graduate students who are enrolled in a minimum of six credits within their graduate program and maintain a 3.0 GPA.
Online MSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice Resources
NP to DNP: In Less Than 10 Years, All Nurse Practitioners May Need to Hold a DNP
In an increasingly complex health care environment, nurse practitioners lead the industry in delivering better health outcomes for individual patients and communities at large.
The Difference Between MSN and DNP Degrees
While obtaining either degree can be key to finding success in the profession, there is a noticeable difference between MSN and DNP degrees — one that warrants deeper scrutiny.
10 Skills of a Nurse Practitioner
The skills of a nurse practitioner are vital to achieving positive health outcomes. Explore nurse practitioner skills that are critical in health care.
Top Reasons to Get Your DNP Degree
A DNP does more than potentially unlock high-level opportunities that may not be open to nursing professionals with only an MSN.
Tuition and Fees
$1025
Per credit hour
$75
Application fee
Ways to Save on Your Tuition

Regis partner employees can receive a discount on their tuition. Find out if your employer is a partner.

Federal government employees as well as active and reserve military and veterans are eligible for a 15% discount on tuition. Find out more.

Regis alumni who have received a previous degree from Regis are eligible for a 10% discount on tuition. Speak to an advisor for more information.

We are here to support you through the process. Speak to an advisor to learn more.

Nurture your nursing career with Regis: Affordable loans for aspiring nurses.
Find out more.
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