6 Best BSN to DNP Programs in Indiana – 2025
Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org
Are you a BSN-educated nurse in Indiana wondering what the most sure-fire method is for opening new career opportunities? Enrolling in one of the BSN to DNP programs in Indiana can qualify you for nursing jobs in upper-level management, clinical practice specialties, and academia. As a Doctor of Nursing Practice, you’ll learn the most effective ways of staying on top of healthcare trends, and your annual salary in the Hoosier State will be $130,430 annually. Education may be the only thing holding you back from taking your career to a higher level, so take the next step by reading through this list of the 6 best BSN to DNP programs in Indiana for 2025.
WHAT ARE THE BEST BSN TO DNP PROGRAMS IN INDIANA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?
(Based on our
ranking methodology, the following are the 6 Best BSN to DNP Programs in Indiana (Online & Campus).)
Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)
Program Details: Are you a working nurse who is ready for career advancement? Do you want to influence change at the health systems level? If your answer is an astounding yes to both these questions, then the first step should be to enroll in a credible online BSN to DNP program, such as the one offered by the University of Indianapolis. Counted among the best online BSN-to-DNP programs in Indiana, the program prepares you for advanced nursing practice at the highest level, all this, through the convenience of online classes.
This BSN to DNP program comes with three focus areas, including family health, adult gerontology care, and neonatal care, so you can choose your patient population, based on your interests. Further, the coursework is offered online, so you’ll be able to continue full-time employment while pursuing your doctoral studies. Because this BSN to DNP program is designed for full-time working nurses, all three DNP tracks are offered as part-time enrollment, taking anywhere around 10 consecutive semesters to complete. Also, with three start dates per year, you’ll be able to start when it's right for you.
Regardless of the BSN to DNP track you choose, graduation requires you to complete around 65 credits in graduate core and track-specific courses. Further, in addition to didactic online classes, the program requires you to attend a few on-campus intensives. Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared to take the certification exam with your chosen area of focus.
Admission Requirements: This BSN-to-DNP program in Indiana is open to BSN-prepared registered nurses who have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Further, to qualify, you must have at least two years of nursing work experience before starting with the practicum. You are also required to submit your letters of recommendation, a resume, and official transcripts.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential University of Indianapolis BSN-to-DNP Students
• University of Indianapolis’s BSN-to-DNP program graduates proudly report a 100% pass rate on the national certification exam.
• The U.S. News & World Report recognizes the University of Indianapolis as among the top nursing schools in the nation.
• University of Indianapolis nursing school secures the clinical placement for you without any additional charges. The BSN to DNP program’s placement coordinator not only helps you find a site that matches your goals but also ensures it's within your geographical location.
Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner
Program Details: If you are ready to accelerate your nursing career to advanced practice nursing, then Valparaiso University’s BSN to DNP program can help you achieve this goal. Counted among the best BSN-to-DNP programs in Indiana, here, you will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to improve outcomes and influence change at all levels of the population.
Valparaiso’s BSN to DNP program prepares you for the role of a family nurse practitioner by combining core graduate courses with courses related to the FNP specialty. The coursework is primarily offered online, requiring only a few on-campus visits for intensives. The 70-credit coursework takes three years to complete. Also included are 1000 hours of clinical training in various primary care settings. This BSN-to-DNP program in Indiana mainly emphasizes topics such as ethical issues in practice nursing, family theories, primary healthcare management, and health promotion & disease prevention across the lifespan.
Admission Requirements: To apply to this BSN to DNP program, you must have a BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Besides, your RN license must be valid and unencumbered in the state you intend to practice. Other application requirements include the submission of official transcripts, a resume, a personal goal statement, and letters of recommendation.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Valparaiso University BSN-to-DNP Students
• Valparaiso University’s BSN-to-DNP program reports a 100% placement rate, having all graduates find suitable jobs within six months of leaving school.
• Valparaiso University nursing school is ranked among the top nursing schools in the nation as per the U.S. News & World Report rankings.
• At Valparaiso University nursing school, you’ll be mentored by expert educators who are active practitioners and researchers. Further, the small-sized classes, where you receive personalized attention enhance learning, leading to a positive outcome. Little wonder that the nursing school reports an excellent pass rate on the FNP certification exam.
• Valparaiso University’s BSN to DNP program provides you with a global perspective by offering service learning trips to several countries, including Costa Rica, China, Ireland, Germany, and Thailand, to name a few. These unique experiences not only excite the travel bug inside you but also enrich the overall learning process.
Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care (AG-ACNP) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details: If you are seeking to obtain your doctoral education from one of the best BSN-to-DNP programs in Indiana, then in you are in the right place as Saint Mary's College’s BSN-to-DNP program can be a great choice. The school has been producing several nursing professionals who are offering patient-centered care across the nation. With a choice of two BSN to DNP specializations, you can either enroll in adult gerontology acute care or family health, based on where you find your calling.
Regardless of the BSN to DNP specialization you choose, you’ll require completing 78 credits and at least 1000 hours of clinical practice. Some of the core topics covered include healthcare policy & advocacy, ethical foundation for advanced practice nursing, human population ecology, statistics, advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, advanced health assessment, and diagnostic reasoning.
The program also includes business and leadership concepts such as social entrepreneurship & the business of healthcare, data analytics, quality & safety in organizational systems and resources, and practice management. Further, the program equips you with the skills and knowledge to provide care for your chosen patient population.
Admission Requirements: To be eligible for this BSN-to-DNP program in Indiana, you must have an accredited BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Further, your RN license must be unencumbered and valid in Indiana or the state you intend to practice. To fulfill the admission requirements, you must have completed a course in statistics and must be prepared to submit the required documents. The required documents include three letters of recommendation, a current resume, and official transcripts.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Saint Mary's College BSN-to-DNP Students
• Saint Mary's College’s BSN to DNP program prepares you for the challenges of nursing leadership through a real-world curriculum that is delivered by an expert faculty. The faculty ensures you leave the school, equipped with strong critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills.
• Saint Mary’s College’s faith-based doctoral education, not only provides a nurturing learning environment inside the class but also provides you with several opportunities to participate in service learning and voluntary activities outside the classroom.
• At Saint Mary’s College, you can expect to receive some sort of funding assistance to make your BSN to DNP affordable. It's good for you to know that here, 100% of students receive scholarships or grants.
Specialties Offered: Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute, Adult Gerontologic Clinical Nurse Specialist, Family Nurse Practitioner, Organizational & Systems Leadership, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details: By graduating from one of the best online BSN-to-DNP programs in Indiana such as the one offered by the University of Southern Indiana, you’ll be able to gain high-quality doctoral education without keeping your job on hold. This flexible, highly interactive online program offers five BSN to DNP track options, including, Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute, Adult Gerontologic Clinical Nurse Specialist, Family Nurse Practitioner, Organizational & Systems Leadership, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Regardless of the BSN to DNP track you choose, you’ll be able to choose between part-time or full-time enrollment. While full-time students complete this program within four years, the part-time program spans five years.
This BSN to DNP program comprising 78 to 80 credits, starts with graduate core courses and ends with a DNP project. All the BSN to DNP tracks cover topics such as evidence-based practice, systems leadership & interprofessional collaboration, healthcare policy & strategic planning, wellness promotion, applications in population health, and nursing leadership. Aside from this, each track includes courses specific to your chosen area of focus.
Admission Requirements: This BSN-to-DNP program in Indiana is designed for baccalaureate-prepared registered nurses who have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Also, your RN license must be valid and current. To complete the application requirements, you must submit your official transcripts, a resume, a personal essay, and professional references.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential University of Southern Indiana BSN-to-DNP Students
• University of Southern Indiana’s online BSN to DNP program implements the Quality Matters review process. This means the quality of the online education you receive is of high standards and constantly updated to stay relevant to the evolving needs of the nursing field.
• University of Southern Indiana nursing school offers robust support to make your online learning experience rather seamless. As an online BSN to DNP, student, you’ll have access to several academic and technical resources that help you succeed.
• To make your BSN to DNP education affordable, the University of Southern Indiana offers several financial resources, including grants, loans, scholarships, work-study, and assistantships. Here, the majority of students receive some sort of funding assistance, so ensure you contact the financial aid office.
5. Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion
Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details: Indiana Wesleyan University’s BSN to DNP program is rooted in Christ-based values. Counted among the reputable online BSN-to-DNP programs in Indiana, the school makes you a world changer by strengthening your professional skills and developing your character. Here, you can choose from two DNP track options; family health and psychiatric mental health.
The DNP-FNP program comprises 19 courses, whereas the DNP-PMHNP program requires the completion of 22 courses. However, both tracks consist of 70 credits. With mostly an online coursework, you require to visit the campus minimally for intensives.
The BSN to DNP curriculum equips you with skills and knowledge in several key areas of evidence-based practice, epidemiology & population health, systems & organizational leadership, and information management. Also, you’ll learn about healthcare across cultures, advanced health policy, data management, advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and diagnostic reasoning. Besides, the FNP track trains you in the primary healthcare management of individuals across the lifespan, whereas the PMHNP track focuses on the healthcare management of mental health patients of all ages.
Admission Requirements: To apply to this BSN-to-DNP program in Indiana, you must foremost have an accredited BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.2. Further, your RN license must be current and unencumbered. Additionally, submission of official transcripts, a resume, a personal goal statement, and three professional references are required.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Indiana Wesleyan University BSN-to-DNP Students
• At Indiana Wesleyan University nursing school, eligible BSN to DNP students have access to several financial aid resources, including grants, loans, scholarships, and employer reimbursements. Also, the school offers financial benefits to students coming from the military.
• Indiana Wesleyan University has more than 20 years of experience in online education. Thus its online BSN to DNP program is built on these two decades of experience, which not only offers flexibility but is also result-oriented.
• Indiana Wesleyan University’s BSN-to-DNP program comes with affordable tuition costs, so you won’t break the bank along the way to your doctorate.
Specialties Offered: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and Family Nurse Practitioner
Program Details: Marian University offers a Catholic environment that integrates Franciscan values into every aspect of your BSN to DNP education. As one of the sought-after BSN-to-DNP programs in Indiana, the program takes your baccalaureate education in nursing to the highest possible level. Here, the BSN to DNP comes with two track options, nursing anesthesia, and family health.
The BSN to DNP-FNP track is a 71-credit curriculum that prepares you to provide evidence-based care to patients suffering from chronic and critical health conditions. Most students graduate with a DNP-FNP degree within eight semesters. On the other hand, the BSN to DNP-nursing anesthesia track comprises 87 credits and takes nine semesters to complete. Both these BSN to DNP tracks offer a fine balance of didactic and clinical training. The clinical practice which forms an integral part of your training combines lab simulation with real-world clinical experiences at a variety of partner sites.
The BSN to DNP curriculum makes you adept in core courses such as advanced physiology, & pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, nursing research, healthcare informatics, health policy, healthcare finance, healthcare quality improvement, and professional leadership & collaboration.
Admission Requirements: To gain admission into this BSN-to-DNP program in Indiana, regardless of the track, you must have an accredited BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Also, your RN license must be valid and current in your practice state. To fulfill the admission requirements, you must be prepared to submit a personal essay, three letters of recommendation, and your official transcripts. Additionally, the school requires you to complete a course in statistics.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Marian University BSN-to-DNP Students
• Marian University ranks among the top universities in the nation as per the U.S. News & World Report.
• Marian University’s BSN-to-DNP program reports a consistently high pass rate on the national certification exam. Also, 100% of graduates find suitable placements within the community.
• Marian University offers an intimate learning environment, where BSN to DNP students receive personalized attention to navigate through the challenges of their rigorous curriculum. Also, the faculty is highly accomplished and at the same time invested in your academic and professional success.
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