The DNP Program prepares nursing graduate students to assume leadership roles in system‑based initiatives that promote quality, safety, and excellence in nursing practice.

Your evidence‑based practice doctoral education will prepare you to address health disparities, improve population health outcomes, and apply scientific, theoretical, and ethical principles to high‑quality care across diverse populations. In addition, graduates are equipped to lead strategic initiatives in healthcare delivery by shaping organizational practices, driving system evaluation, and implementing evidence‑based improvements across a range of care settings.

The DNP Program offers two pathways, MSN‑DNP and BSN‑to‑DNP, with full‑time students admitted in the fall semester only. Students are required to be on campus each semester for intensives that include structured learning activities, assessments, and engagement with faculty. These sessions may extend up to one week.

Full‑time students in the MSN‑DNP pathway can complete their plan of study in six semesters, while full‑time students in the BSN‑DNP pathway can complete their plan of study in nine semesters.

To learn more about becoming a DNP prepared nurse, please contact Dr. Rachel Cody at rachel.cody@auburn.edu.

Students enrolled in the program are required to attend a series of on-campus intensive experiences that provide opportunities for hands-on learning, skills development, simulation activities, faculty engagement, networking with peers, and program-specific coursework that cannot be fully replicated in an online environment.

Attendance at all intensive experiences is a program requirement. Students should plan accordingly and make arrangements to be present for the entirety of each scheduled intensive.

The dates listed below apply to students admitted for the corresponding academic year and represent the required intensive experiences associated with the graduate nursing core curriculum. For full-time students, the core intensives occur during the first year of study while completing core coursework.

Students Admitted for Academic Year 2026 - 2027    

• Core Intensive I: August 19-21, 2026    

• Core Intensive II: January 20-22, 2027    

• Core Intensive III: June 2-4, 2027

Students Admitted for Academic 2027 - 2028    

• Core Intensive I: August 18-20, 2027    

• Core Intensive II: January 26-28, 2028    

• Core Intensive III: May 31-June 2, 2028

Students will also participate in specialty track-specific intensive experiences during their clinical coursework. Dates and requirements for specialty track intensives will be communicated by the appropriate program coordinator prior to the start of clinical courses.

Additional details regarding schedules, locations, lodging recommendations, and required activities will be provided to admitted students well in advance of each intensive. Dates are established as early as possible; however, students are encouraged to monitor university communications for any updates or changes.

Admission Criteria:

• Applicants must have earned a minimum Bachelor of Science degree (BSN-DNP pathway) or minimum Master of Science Degree in Nursing as a Nurse Practitioner (MSN-DNP pathway) from an accredited Nursing program or approved waiver request (see College of Nursing Specific Admission and Progression below).

• Applicants must provide proof of current, unencumbered RN license in the United States in the state in which you plan to participate in any clinical experiences (must show name, license number, expiration date; may upload screenshot from BON website). *** Out of state applicants must contact the Administrator of Academic Programs at jlr0012@auburn.edu to confirm that the relevant state board of nursing permits completion of clinical hours in the state where the student intends to complete them. ***

• Applicants must possess national certification and recognition or licensure as a Nurse Practitioner in the state in which you practice (MSN-DNP Pathway).

• Applicants must have earned a minimum Nursing GPA of 3.0 in Master’s in Nursing Program (MSN-DNP pathway) or minimum Nursing GPA of 3.0 in BSN Program (BSN-DNP pathway). Only nursing courses are used to calculate GPA.

• Applicants must have good academic standing from the last university you attended.

• Applicants must have successfully completed (C or better) an undergraduate statistics course.

• Applicants must provide three professional references in the application. References should be qualified to judge your abilities to be successful in graduate studies. References should follow the email submission instructions. **Please avoid selecting personal acquaintances, family members, or friends, as these individuals are not able to provide the objective, professional insight required for admissions evaluation. Selecting such individuals could negatively affect your application.

• Applicants must submit a Professional Goal Statement of approximately 750 words. This statement will include reasons for pursuing this degree and program option, past experience, career goals, and past achievements. *

• Applicants must submit all official transcripts directly to the Graduate School.

• Applicants must provide a current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume.

• Applicants must complete an interview via telephone, on campus, or videoconference, if requested. 
  

 All application materials should be submitted via the online application system. Materials sent directly to the College of Nursing will not be reviewed.

***Students who are in the last semester of a BSN or MSN program at the time of application deadline should contact Mrs. Jennifer Edwards at jlr0012@auburn.edu. 

*International Applicants must follow Graduate School criteria found in the following link: Graduate School International Instructions 

*For more information regarding international applicants/students, please contact Penny Christopher, Graduate School International Admissions Processing, at pzc0003@auburn.edu or 334-844-7105.

For more information please contact Jennifer Edwards at jlr0012@auburn.edu or 334-844-6769

Admission Statuses

Download the Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN-DNP Pathway) Plan of Study

Download the Doctor of Nursing Practice (MSN-DNP Pathway) Plan of Study

Thank you for your interest in a Graduate Assistantship with the College of Nursing. Assistantships begin each fall semester and may be renewed annually based on satisfactory performance. Selected candidates are subject to an approved background screening before employment. Applications are due May 1st, 2027. To complete the application, click here https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_etT3NUtw09xlssm.

Applicants must upload a current resume that includes the number of years of nursing practice experience and the specific practice area(s) in which they have worked.

Expectations - Graduate assistants are expected to:

• Complete work primarily on campus at the College of Nursing, with some travel to local clinical sites as needed

• Work approximately 13.3 hours per week

• Assist with instructional and clinical learning activities, including but not limited to:

  • Laboratory instruction

  • Simulation experiences

  • Inpatient and community clinical teaching

  • Interprofessional education activities

  • In-class support

  • Grading assistance

• Benefits - Graduate assistantships include

  • Paid tuition

  • Monthly stipend

For additional information, please refer to Guidelines for Graduate Tuition Fellowships https://graduate.auburn.edu/admissions/tuition-funding/funding/guidelines-for-graduate-tuition-fellowships.php

Applications must be submitted and complete no later than the following deadlines:

• Fall Semester Admission: May 1 deadline - ***International applicants should submit all required materials by February 1***
  

Students admitted for the Fall 2026 semester will be required to be on-campus August 19-21, 2026 for Core Intensive I

• In order to be eligible for any of our nursing departmental scholarships or any additional federal aid, applicants to our graduate programs must also complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid and submit a completed AUCON Departmental Graduate Scholarship Application<https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cHHgFSMNaQb6Nsa> by May 1.

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• International Applicants must follow Graduate School criteria found at the following link: International Prospective Student Instructions

*For more information regarding international applicants/students, please contact Penny Christopher, Graduate School International Admissions Processing, at pzc0003@auburn.edu or 334-844-7105.

Tuition is the same for Alabama residents and out of state residents. The College of Nursing Graduate Program tuition is currently $630 per credit hour.

Clinical course fees apply in the BSN-DNP Pathway. The fees per clinical course will be are as follows:

• NURS 7110: $600 one time clinical course fee

• NURS 7330: $600 one-time clinical course fee

• NURS 7440: $600 one-time clinical course fee

• NURS 7920: $600 one-time clinical course fee

Other fees may be incurred prior to enrollment and/or as you progress through the program such as, but not limited to, background check, drug screen, liability insurance, and course specific requirements.

Tuition and Fees are subject to change by the Board of Trustees at the beginning of any term.

**Please note: The Auburn University Tuition Calculator does not accurately reflect out of state tuition for distance education. Please refer to the above information for tuition and fees for the AUCON distance programs. For questions, contact Jennifer Edwards at jlr0012@auburn.edu

Applicants follow the Graduate School Application Instructions.

*International Applicants must follow Graduate School criteria found in the following link: International Perspective Student Instructions

For more information regarding international applicants/students, please contact Penny Christopher, Graduate School International Admissions Processing, at pzc0003@auburn.edu or 334-844-7105.