4 Best (2-YEAR) BSN-to-DNP Programs (Online & Campus-Based)


Written By: Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA


What Are The Best 2-YEAR (Campus-Based And Online) BSN-to-DNP Programs In The Nation?

(Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 4 best 2-year BSN-to-DNP programs in the nation. The following list includes both campus-based and online programs. You can complete these programs in 2 Year or less.)


1. University of Massachusetts Boston - Boston, MA


Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner


Program Length: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (2 Years) and Family Nurse Practitioner (2 Years)


Program Details: If you are a registered nurse with dreams of taking your career to the highest clinical level possible in nursing, earning a degree through a 24-month BSN-to-DNP program could be the perfect way to go! For example, at the University of Massachusetts Boston, you can earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice and specialize as either an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner or a Family Nurse Practitioner.

At the University of Massachusetts Boston, the BSN-to-DNP program requires you to complete a minimum of 70 credits and 1,065 clinical hours. Once you complete 665 clinical hours and 48 credits of coursework, a Master of Science in Nursing degree is conferred. You will then continue in the program until you complete the remaining credits and clinical hours to qualify for the DNP award.

Credits are earned by taking a minimum of 19 core courses and six concentration courses. Core courses include subjects such as Mental & Psychosocial Health of the Urban Family, Advanced Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Across the Lifespan, and Evidence-Based Practice: Designing& Evaluating Improvement Projects.

Practicum hours are an essential part of the program and are designed to relate to the focus of your area of specialization and the topic of your scholarly project. Some of the ways you will complete clinical practicum hours are by providing direct care to patients, participating in practice experiences related to the core responsibilities of your chosen specialty, engaging in relevant research, and by participating in guided preceptorships.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You can complete both the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner BSN-to-DNP pathways at the University of Massachusetts Boston in just two years.


Admission Requirements: Eligible candidates for the BSN-to-DNP program at the University of Massachusetts Boston must have a current RN license in the state of Massachusetts and one year of clinical experience as a registered nurse. You must have earned a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program and provide official transcripts from any college or university you have attended. Additionally, you must provide a personal statement, two letters of recommendation, and a current resume or curriculum vitae.


Why Choose This Program

• The University of Massachusetts Boston believes education should be within everyone’s reach. There are several nursing scholarships available for both undergraduate and graduate nursing students. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship or other financial aid, you can contact a financial aid officer or visit the Cost & Aid website.
• Graduates of the University of Massachusetts Boston BSN-to-DNP program have excellent pass rates on national certification examinations! This success rate speaks highly of the quality of education and level of preparedness students receive in the program.
• At UM-B, you will learn from dedicated faculty with many years of clinical and educational experience in nursing. Their priority is to help you succeed in earning your degree and furthering your career.


2. Abilene Christian University - Abilene, TX


Specialties Offered: Executive Nursing Leadership


Program Length: 12 Months


Program Details: If you are ready to take the next step in your nursing career to become a Doctor of Nursing Practice, but you need more flexibility, Abilene Christian University could be the perfect school for you! Abilene Christian University offers one of the best 2-year BSN-to-DNP programs online in the country, an accelerated pathway for you to earn a terminal nursing degree and specialize in Executive Nurse Leadership. The program admits students in the fall and spring of each year.

The program begins with a sequence of introductory courses designed to help broaden your scope and understanding of pathophysiology, pharmacological interventions, and nurse leadership. After completing the introductory sequence, you will begin the DNP core courses. While you will continue to learn about evidence-based practices and how to integrate research into critical thinking and decision-making, you will expand upon the leadership side of nursing. You will study management and organizational concepts and competencies, learn about data and technology integration, and discover ways of implementing culturally competent leadership models into daily practice.

Some of the courses you will study in this excellent 2-year BSN-to-DNP online program include Spirituality & Nursing Care, Nurse Leaders as Stewards in Healthcare, Advanced Leadership, and Population Health. The practicum component of the program includes 500 clinical hours and two scholarly projects. These parts of the program allow you to apply your knowledge into practice so that you gain an understanding of how your knowledge and leadership can help promote positive patient and organizational outcomes. To demonstrate your understanding, you will develop and implement a clinical program and present your ideas by submitting them for written review.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You can complete the BSN-to-DNP program at Abilene Christian University in as little as 12 months!


Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission to the BSN-to-DNP program at Abilene Christian University, you must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing earned from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited nursing school and an unencumbered United States RN license. You must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale and an undergraduate statistics grade of at least "C." You must provide official transcripts from the accredited college or university where you earned your BSN, two professional letters of recommendation, a Statement of Purpose, and a professional curriculum vitae or resume.


Why Choose This Program

• The Nursing Department at Abilene Christian University features outstanding faculty led by leaders with years of experience in the field, like Dr. Marcia Sotelo, the Program Director and Associate Professor for ACU’s online BSN-to-DNP program. The faculty’s experience and dedication to the nursing profession and student success make it one of the best 2-year BSN-to-DNP programs you will find!
• Abilene Christian University offers several resources to help promote student success. For example, online students receive free subscriptions to Right Now Media, LinkedIn Learning, Grammarly Premium, and the Wall Street Journal. You will also have access to the ACU Online Writing Center, Alpha Scholars Online, Tutor.com, CircleIn, and Writing Center blog.


3. George Mason University - Fairfax, VA


Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner


Program Length: Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (2 Years) and Family Nurse Practitioner (2 Years)


Program Details: George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, is home to an excellent 2-year BSN-to-DNP program with options to specialize as an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner or Family Nurse Practitioner. Applications are accepted on a rolling, space-available basis, with new cohorts admitted in the fall and spring semesters annually. The programs are available in on-campus and hybrid formats.

The BSN-to-DNP pathways feature a 72-credit curriculum. In addition to courses in ethics, theory, statistics, and healthcare delivery systems, you will study advanced-practice courses related to your specialty concentration. You will delve into doctoral-level classes in administration, evidence-based practice, and informatics.

Additionally, in accordance with The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice, you will complete a minimum of 1,000 precepted clinical hours in the program. The curriculum also includes two practice inquiry project courses that you will complete over the course of two semesters, resulting in the completion of a scholarly project.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Both the Adult-Gerontology and Family Nurse Practitioner BSN-to-DNP programs at George Mason University are designed to be completed in two years.


Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission to the BSN-to-DNP program at George Mason University, you must be a graduate of an accredited bachelor’s nursing program and hold an active, unrestricted RN license. Additionally, you must have a current CPR certification and verified work experience as a registered nurse. All candidates must provide copies of all post-secondary transcripts, two letters of professional recommendation, a professional resume, and a Goals Statement.


Why Choose This Program

• George Mason University is ranked by U.S. News & World Report in its Best Grad Schools category for Doctor of Nursing Practice 2024. Receiving this recognition is just one reason I believe the program at GMU should be considered a top 24-month BSN-to-DNP program!
• At George Mason University, there are several scholarships available to students of all levels. The College of Public Health and School of Nursing provide scholarships to students, which can be found on the College of Public Health’s page. Additionally, you will find other scholarship information on the school’s main financial aid page.


4. University of Miami - Coral Gables, FL


Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Family Nurse Practitioner


Program Length: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (2 Years), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (2 Years), and Family Nurse Practitioner (2 Years)


Program Details: Whether you are interested in the care of patients of all ages across the lifespan or have a special interest in either acute or primary care of adults and geriatric patients, the University of Miami has a 2-year BSN-to-DNP program that could be the perfect option! Each pathway admits students in the fall semester annually.

Each of the BSN-to-DNP pathways offered at the University of Miami requires students to complete 1,000 clinical hours. You will be required to complete between 68 and 71 credits, depending on the specialty concentration you choose to pursue. Each of the pathways includes courses such as Healthcare Management Economics, Financing & Ethics, Evaluating the Evidence for Practice, and Global Health. You will also take specialty-specific courses based on your chosen pathway.

The 70-credit Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program offers clinical experiences in various hospitals and healthcare centers. In this program, you will manage the care of critically and acutely ill or injured adults. Your practicum experiences and scholarly projects will be supervised by acute care nurse practitioners, physicians, and interdisciplinary collaborative teams.

The 68-credit Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner pathway prepares you to deliver primary care services for acute and chronic illnesses to patients from adolescents through adults aged 65 and older. This pathway offers clinical rotations in sites, including private medical offices, Veteran’s Administration facilities, assisted living facilities, long-term care facilities, and acute and chronic rehabilitation centers. Clinicals are supervised by program faculty.

The 71-credit Family Nurse Practitioner program includes clinical rotations at clinicals sites, including academic teaching centers and community practice sites that serve a diverse, multicultural population across South Florida. Clinicals for the FNP program are arranged and supervised by program faculty.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The BSN-to-DNP programs at the University of Miami are formatted to be completed in two years.


Admission Requirements: Eligible candidates for the 2-year BSN-to-DNP program at the University of Miami will have a bachelor's degree in nursing earned from a regionally accredited institution. (Accreditation from a CCNE or NLN accredited program is preferred.) You must have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 and show proof of passing an introductory statistics course. You are required to provide three letters of recommendation, including one from an academic source, a Statement of Purpose, a current resume or curriculum vitae, and proof of a current, unrestricted license to practice as a registered nurse in Florida or a Compact State.


Why Choose This Program

• At The University of Miami, you will learn from prestigious faculty who use a patient-centered, evidence-based approach to nursing. Their years of experience and diverse specialties bring a wealth of knowledge to the classroom, making this school an excellent place to earn your DNP.
• The University of Miami is home to S.H.A.R.E., a 5-story Simulation Hospital that offers on-site, extended-reality simulation learning opportunities. S.H.A.R.E. is equipped with realistic and customizable emergency bays, outpatient clinics, operating rooms, intensive care units, medical-surgical units, and labor and delivery suites. This Simulation Hospital offers amazing opportunities to practice hands-on skills and scenarios as you prepare to transition to a terminal nursing degree in your chosen specialty!


VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY


Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA
Darby Faubion is a nurse and allied health instructor with over 20 years of clinical experience. Her work history includes clinical experience in pediatrics, mental health, addiction and behavioral disorders, geriatrics, wound management, and communicable disease. Darby has worked in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health and hospice agencies. Darby also has experience as a nursing and allied health educator at both community college and university levels. Her love for nursing and nursing education led to her becoming a test-taking strategist and NCLEX prep coach.