Prospective Students

DNP

Section Contents

Fall 2025 applications are open. Apply now for priority review.

We’re delighted you’re interested in our Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Admission can be achieved through various paths, but most require a master’s in nursing or health-related field. We do offer the opportunity to move from a BSN to DNP in our clinical specialties. In addition, Vanderbilt MSN and MN Prespecialty students can seamlessly progress to the DNP program. Many MN students decide to take the path to the DNP, as it is only 18 more credit hours and three semesters. 

Basic Admissions Information for DNP Applicants

  • Full-time students start in the fall semester
  • Applications open in mid-August for the following fall semester
  • Review begins November 1, after which applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Priority is given to those applying before the November 1 date.
  • Priority review decisions will be released in December.
  • You are encouraged to apply regardless of the priority review date. Your application is welcome throughout the fall and spring semesters.
  • Your statement of purpose should reflect your interest in a specific specialty.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees are set annually by the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust. Tuition for 2024-2025 is $1,997 per credit hour. To determine your tuition, multiple $1,997 by the number of hours you will take each year, then add the applicable fees. 

Fees

ItemCost per Year
Health Insurance*$3,918
Student Service Fees$758
Student Health Fee$968
Transcript Fee (one time)$100
Books**$2,500

* Health insurance is required for all students. You will be billed automatically for the university’s student health insurance plan if you do not provide proof of adequate coverage by another insurer. The automatic coverage does not account for spouses or dependents. 

** The charge for books is estimated because book prices and where students buy books varies. The charge for books will not appear on your bill; it’s best to purchase your books before classes begin. 

Cost of Attendance for MN, MSN, DNP and PMC

Most if not all VUSN students receive financial aid. When calculating the financial aid amount offered each student, the school calculates what it calls the cost of attendance budget. The COA is considered sufficient to cover tuition, fees and moderate living expenses for a single student. The COA is the budget Vanderbilt uses to determine the financial aid amount offered each year.

Admissions Requirements by DNP Track

  • Advanced Clinical Practice Track
    • At least a master of nursing with an advanced practice certification
    • Scholastic GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited college or university (recommended)
  • Advanced Systems Practice Track
    • At least a master's degree in health care leadership or nursing informatics

      Or
    • BSN and a master's degree in a non-nursing, health-related field (MBA, MPH, MHA, MMHC, etc.)

      Or
    • MSN or MN in nursing education, with systems practice experience
    • Scholastic GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited college or university (recommended)

    Applicants to the Advanced Systems Practice track must be certified or eligible for certification in one of the following:

    • American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL)—Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP)
    • American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)—Nurse Executive (NE-BC)
    • American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)—Nurse Executive, Advanced (NEA-BC)
    • Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)—Certified Professional in Health Information & Management Systems (CPHIMS)
    • American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)—Informatics Nursing Certification (RN-BC) and have three years of informatics experience, with two of those years in a health care setting.
  • Executive Leadership Track
    • APRN or at least a master's degree in health care leadership or nursing informatics

    Or

    • BSN and a master's degree in a non-nursing, health-related field (MBA, MPH, MHA, MMHC, etc.)

    Or

    • MSN or MN in nursing education, with systems/executive leadership practice experience
    • Scholastic GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited college or university is recommended.

    Applicants to the Executive Leadership track must be certified or eligible for certification in one of the following:

    • American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL)—Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP)
    • American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)—Nurse Executive (NE-BC)
    • American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)—Nurse Executive, Advanced (NEA-BC)
    • American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)—Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE)

Note: Applicants with a master's degree in nursing education or similar non-APRN focus must apply to the DNP plus Post-Master's Certificate program (except health care leaders applying to Advanced Systems or Executive Leadership Track).

On your DNP application, indicate that you will be completing a Post-Master’s Certificate and select your specialty. The number of credits required for the Post-Master’s Certificate varies by specialty. After completing the Post-Master’s Certificate portion of the curriculum, you are eligible to take the national certification exam in your selected specialty and continue in DNP courses (32 additional credits).

Vanderbilt also offers Post-Master's Certificates for advanced practice nurses who hold master's degrees in nursing and wish to add an additional specialty certification as part of their DNP program of studies.

  • BSN to DNP Track
    • Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
    • RN applicants must have graduated (or will graduate prior to enrolling) from an ACEN or CCNE accredited school by July 1 and hold an unencumbered RN license in the state where they will be completing their clinical practice and/or preceptorship prior to registering for fall courses
    • Scholastic GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited college or university (recommended)
    • BSN applicants complete the online MSN application (available after August 15). Refer to the MSN program information for the details regarding your advanced practice interest area.
    • Applicants interested in the BSN entry to DNP complete the DNP application.

Application Checklist

  • Attend an Information Session

    On-campus and online information sessions are held frequently; visit in person or virtually to learn more. 

  • Starting Your Application
    • Application Fee is $50.
    • Only one application is considered per student per term.
    • Answer all application questions. Your writing style and content will be evaluated.
    • All applicants are holistically reviewed based on the following factors:
    • Statement of Purpose
    • Response to the essay questions
    • Resume or CV
    • All application information must be your work
    • Start the application before sending transcripts or recommendations.


    Application Components 

    • Standardized test scores are not required.
    • GPA
      • Master’s program GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Strong applicants with a GPA lower than 3.5 are considered on an individual basis.

        Or

      • BSN entry requires that you completed your bachelor’s degree at a nationally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Strong applicants with a GPA lower than 3.5 are considered on an individual basis.
    • Reference Letters:
      • Submit three letters of academic or professional reference from doctorally prepared individuals (PhD, DNP, MD, PharmD, etc.). One reference should be from a faculty member familiar with your academic work. You must provide email addresses for reference providers.
      • If you are unable to provide doctoral references, upload a statement of explanation to your application.
      • Note: The application will allow you to input five references but only the first three will be considered.
    • Transcripts:
      • Provide your complete academic history of all colleges/universities attended whether or not a degree was earned.
      • Request official electronic transcripts from all colleges and universities attended be sent to CDM@vanderbilt.edu. Faculty review does not begin until official transcripts are received.
      • If electronic transcripts are not available, send paper transcripts to the Center for Data Management | Vanderbilt University | PMB 407833 | 2301 Vanderbilt Place | Nashville, TN 37240-7833.
    • CV:
      • Curriculum Vitae or resume is required
  • Check the Application Status Page Frequently  

    After you submit your application, check your application status page frequently to see which application items have been received and what is still missing. It is your responsibility to follow-up with your recommenders. If a recommender indicates they did not receive e-mail notification from Vanderbilt, ask them to check their spam filter.

    After initial review of your application, you may be contacted for a telephone interview.

Class Profile

  • 95%

    Graduation Rate
  • #1

    Ranked DNP Family Nurse Practitioner
  • #1

    Ranked DNP Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Information for International Students

  • International Applicants Who Need an I-20 or Ds-2019 Issued to Study in the United States

    Due to federal guidelines, the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Post-Master’s Certificate (PMC) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs do not satisfy the requirements for F-1 or J-1 study. The federal regulations restrict the number of courses that can be delivered via an online format within a program of study for F-1 and J-1 students. As these Vanderbilt programs have a significant online component, the educational format is not compatible with the structure required by the federal government for F-1 and J-1 students. See details.

  • Registered Nurse Applicants Who Hold a TN (Trade NAFTA) Visa

    Applicants who hold a valid TN visa are eligible to apply to the MSN, Post-master’s Certificate and DNP programs and are not subject to the requirements that exist for F-1 or J-1 students. However, applicants with a TN visa will need to include in their application a letter from their US employer indicating the employer gives permission for the employee to attend school.

  • Applicants Who Have Completed Coursework or Academic Degrees Outside the USA

    A transcript evaluation is required for admission. Applicants who have completed college or university coursework or a degree in a country other than the United States must obtain and submit an original, official and complete course-by-course evaluation of all transcripts, degrees and other relevant documents.

    Evaluation agencies include:

    • World Education Services – www.wes.org
    • Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. – www.ece.org
    • Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. – www.jsilny.com
    • SpanTran – https://spantran.com
    • For evaluation by regular mail: International Education Research Foundation, Inc. - https://ierf.org 
    • For Courier Service only (no walk-in service available): IERF, 10736 Jefferson Blvd, #532, Culver City, CA 90230
      • Phone: 310.258.9451
      • Fax: 310.342.7086

    Send official transcripts and course-by-course evaluation reports electronically to CDM@vanderbilt.edu or by mail to this address: Center for Data Management | Vanderbilt University | PMB 407833 | 2301 Vanderbilt Place | Nashville, TN 37240-7833

    For further questions regarding prior degrees, please visit the Registrar’s website.

  • For International Students Who Do Not Need an F-1 or J-1 Visa to Study in the United States
    • Submit an online application
    • English language proficiency must be demonstrated. Applicants whose native language is not English must present the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with their application unless they have demonstrated competence while obtaining a degree (bachelor's degree or higher) from an accredited American institution.
    • Upon acceptance, international students may be required to complete an intensive English language program at Vanderbilt University before beginning classes. Information about Vanderbilt's English language program may be obtained at vanderbilt.edu/international.
    • International students transferring from unfinished degree programs at other universities in the United States must present TOEFL or IELTS scores. Scores must be less than 2 years old. Access information regarding the TOEFL exam at www.ets.org/toefl or TOEFL, Box 6151, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6151 U.S.A.
    • The minimum acceptable score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language is 100 on the Internet-based test or 230 on the computer-based test. The minimum acceptable score on the IELTS is 6.5. For more information on the IELTS test, go to ielts.org. The Vanderbilt ETS code is 1871.
    • International student applicants whose native language is not English are also required to have a phone interview with the program director and a member of the admissions committee.
    • International student applicants who wish to enter the program as registered nurses must successfully complete the CGFNS (Commission on Graduate Foreign Nursing Schools) and the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Exam) examinations and earn licensure as a registered nurse in the state where they will be completing their clinical practice and/or preceptorship. Information about CGFNS may be obtained by writing CGFNS; 3600 Market Street, Suite 400; Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651, USA or call: 215-222 8454 or e-mail. Visit ncsbn.org for more information about NCLEX.
    • Information about Tennessee licensure may be obtained by visiting the Tennessee Department of Health website at www.tn.gov/health; writing to Tennessee Board of Nursing; Suite 300 Heritage Place, 227 French Landing, Nashville, TN 37243, USA, or calling 615-532-5166.

    More questions? Visit https://registrar.vanderbilt.edu/academic-records/international-degrees.php

    Applicants must demonstrate that they have sufficient financial resources to meet the expected costs of their entire educational program. United States laws and regulations restrict the opportunity for international students to be employed. Students may be allowed to work off campus only under special circumstances. Many spouses and dependents of international students generally are not allowed to be employed while in the United States.

    International students, whether attending the university full time or part time, and their dependents residing in the United States, are required to purchase the university’s international student health and accident insurance unless, in the judgment of the university, adequate coverage is provided from some other source. For more information, contact the Student Health Center.