3 Best BSN-to-DNP Programs in Iowa – 2026
Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Graduates of BSN-to-DNP programs in Iowa have career advancement opportunities that aren’t available to RNs with lesser degrees. Interested in clinical care? A DNP will best educate you on how to implement evidence-based practice. Are you drawn to executive nursing management? A DNP will teach you how to help create positive patient outcomes in diverse practice settings. Iowa RNs with DNP degrees make an average of $140,920 annually. They have numerous professional opportunities, too, and jobs earmarked for DNPs are projected to rise by more than 50 percent in the next decade. Get more information by reading this guide to the 3 best BSN-to-DNP programs in Iowa.
WHAT ARE THE BEST BSN-TO-DNP PROGRAMS IN IOWA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2026?
Based on our Ranking Methodology, listed below are the 3 Best BSN-to-DNP programs in Iowa (Online & Campus) for 2026.
1. University of Iowa - Iowa City
Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Health Systems: Administration / Executive Leadership, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthesia, DUAL Adult Gerontology Acute Care/Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, DUAL Adult Gerontology Primary and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, DUAL Adult Gerontology Primary Care/Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, DUAL Family/Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, DUAL Family/Adult Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, DUAL Family/Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, DUAL Pediatric AC/Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, DUAL Pediatric PC/Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and DUAL Pediatric Primary & Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
UI highlights the breadth of its BSN-to-DNP program further by offering nine dual NP programs: a BSN-to-DNP/AGACNP + PMHNP track, a BSN-to-DNP/AGACNP + AGPCNP track, a BSN-to-DNP/AGPCNP + PMHNP track, a BSN-to-DNP/FNP + PMHNP track, a BSN-to-DNP/FNP + AGACNP track, a BSN-to-DNP/FNP + PACNP track, a BSN-to-DNP/PACNP +PMHNP track, a BSN-to-DNP/PPCNP + PMHNP track, and a BSN-to-DNP/PACNP + PPCNP track. These tracks are structured so that students pursuing two nurse practitioner specialty sequences complete anywhere from 95 to 103 credits.
The Nurse Anesthesia option is a campus-based track, taught on UI's Iowa City campus. The track's clinical components are scheduled at urban and rural healthcare facilities throughout Iowa, including the University of Iowa Health Care System, Iowa Lutheran Hospital, and Stead Family Children's Hospital. Although the nurse practitioner tracks include online components, you will spend at least one day a week attending classes in the University of Iowa's classrooms, and you'll complete your clinical experiences at hospitals and clinics throughout the Hawkeye State. You can earn your BSN-to-DNP/Health Systems: Administration/Executive Leadership degree entirely online; however, you'll still have to complete clinical rotations in Iowa.
All of the University of Iowa's BSN-to-DNP tracks share a common core DNP curriculum, with courses like "Evaluating Evidence for Practice," "Clinical Data Management and Evaluation," and "Quality and Safety." You'll complete a four-part DNP project for which you'll analyze healthcare delivery within a clinical or organizational setting.
The Nurse Anesthesia track can be completed in nine semesters (36 months) and accepts new students in the summer semester. Full-time students in all other BSN-to-DNP tracks begin courses in the fall semester and graduate in nine semesters (36 months). The University of Iowa also offers part-time enrollment with options of graduating in 12 semesters (48 months) or 15 semesters (60 months).
Admission Requirements: Admission into this program is highly selective. All applicants must have a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher; applicants to the dual degree specialties must have a GPA of 3.5. You will be completing clinical experiences in the Hawkeye State, so you must have an RN license from Iowa or a compact state.
Applicants to any of the FNP or acute care tracks must have at least two years of professional nursing experience. Applicants to the Nurse Anesthesia track must have a minimum of one year of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) experience and Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications.
Why Choose This Program
• The University of Iowa's DNP program is ranked 12th nationally by U.S. News & World Report, while its AGPCNP, AGACNP, and Nurse Anesthesia tracks place 4th, 6th, and 10th, respectively.• 86 percent of UI Nurse Anesthesia grads pass their national certification boards the very first time they take them. 100 percent of UI Nurse Anesthesia grads are employed by the time they get their board results.
• The PPCNP track has a first-time certification exam pass rate of 100 percent.
• This BSN-to-DNP program in Iowa deliberately keeps its BSN-to-DNP cohorts small to facilitate clinical placements, faculty access, and preceptor quality. For example, the Nurse Anesthesia program admits only 16 students each year, and the AGACNP track admits only 12.
2. Allen College - Waterloo
Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and Leadership in Health Care Delivery-Administration
All five tracks are built upon the same foundational DNP coursework, involving classes like "Epidemiology and Biostatistics," "Quality Outcomes for Organizations and Systems," and "Analytic Methods for Evidence-Based Practice I, II, & III," as well as a four-semester DNP project that focuses on designing, implementing, and evaluating a practice change within the healthcare system. Students spend 400 clinical hours working on their DNP projects and 600 clinical hours providing supervised nursing care to patients within their chosen specialty.
All clinical experiences must be completed in Iowa. Allen College maintains a close clinical relationship with the UnityPoint Health network, and many students end up completing their clinical experiences at a UnityPoint facility. Allen College is one of the BSN-to-DNP programs in Iowa that relies upon a hybrid teaching format using synchronous technology. New cohorts can be admitted into this program in the spring and fall semesters. Full-time students can complete this degree in nine semesters (36 months), while part-time students can complete it in 12 semesters (48 months).
Admission Requirements: This program is only open to applicants with a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited program who've maintained an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Why Choose This Program
• Allen College's APRN grads have a first-time pass rate of 100 percent on their national certification boards.• Allen College began as a hospital‑affiliated school of nursing and has remained focused on healthcare, so its teaching methods are particularly well-suited to nursing students.
3. Clarke University - Dubuque
Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner, Health Leadership & Practice, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Most of your coursework will be accessible online, but you will have to attend classes at the university's campus in Dubuque on the first and third Thursdays of each month. Iowa-based students can complete clinical experiences at healthcare facilities throughout the Hawkeye State, including UnityPoint Health/Finley Hospital, MercyOne Medical Center, Hospice of Dubuque, and Regional Cancer Center, but non-residents may be able to arrange practicums and preceptor-supervised patient care experiences at hospitals and clinics within their own communities. Full-time students typically complete this program in 9 semesters (36 months), whereas part-time students complete it in 15 semesters (60 months). New students join the program in the fall semester.
Admission Requirements: For admission, candidates must have a valid RN license in their clinical‑practice state and a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Why Choose This Program
• Though Clarke University is a Catholic school, its doors are open to students from all religious backgrounds, and its nursing curriculum doesn't reflect specifically Catholic doctrine.• Clarke University's APRN grads have a 100 percent first-time pass rate on their national certification exams and a 100% job placement rate within one year of completing the program.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED
1. Who Accredits BSN-to-DNP Programs In Iowa?
| S.No. | Accrediting Agency |
| 1 | Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) |
| 2 | Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) |
2. How Many Schools Offer Accredited BSN-to-DNP Programs In Iowa?
| 3 |
3. What Is The Average BSN-to-DNP Salary In Iowa?
| Hourly | $67.75 |
| Weekly | $2,710 |
| Monthly | $11,740 |
| Annual | $140,920 |
4. On Average, How Much Do Entry-Level BSN-to-DNP Graduates Make In Iowa?
| Hourly | $49.84 |
| Weekly | $1,994 |
| Monthly | $8,640 |
| Annual | $103,670 |
5. On Average, How Much Do Experienced BSN-to-DNP Graduates Make In Iowa?
| Level of Experience | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
| 1-4 Years of Experience | $56.40 | $2,256 | $9,780 | $117,310 |
| 5-9 Years of Experience | $66.57 | $2,663 | $11,540 | $138,470 |
| 10-19 Years of Experience | $74.14 | $2,966 | $12,850 | $154,210 |
| 20 Years or More Experience | $88.60 | $3,544 | $15,360 | $184,290 |
6. What Is The Average BSN-to-DNP Salary In Iowa By Metro?
| Metro | Hourly | Monthly | Weekly | Annual |
| Ames | $68.60 | $11,890 | $2,744 | $142,680 |
| Cedar Rapids | $65.58 | $11,370 | $2,623 | $136,410 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $65.15 | $11,290 | $2,606 | $135,520 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $68.45 | $11,860 | $2,738 | $142,370 |
| Dubuque | $66.13 | $11,460 | $2,645 | $137,550 |
| Iowa City | $63.80 | $11,060 | $2,552 | $132,710 |
| Sioux City | $72.79 | $12,620 | $2,912 | $151,410 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $70.57 | $12,230 | $2,823 | $146,780 |
7. Average BSN-to-DNP Salary In Iowa VS. Average Salaries Of Other Closely Related Occupations In Iowa
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| Dentist | $186,420 | -$45,500 | -24.41% |
| Podiatrist | $163,700 | -$22,780 | -13.92% |
| Nurse With BSN-to-DNP | $140,920 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Physician Assistant | $129,230 | +$11,690 | +9.05% |
| Pharmacist | $127,780 | +$13,140 | +10.28% |
| Optometrist | $122,970 | +$17,950 | +14.60% |
| Veterinarian | $106,040 | +$34,880 | +32.89% |
| Physical Therapist | $91,850 | +$49,070 | +53.42% |
| Occupational Therapist | $85,790 | +$55,130 | +64.26% |
| Audiologist | $83,620 | +$57,300 | +68.52% |
| Dental Hygienist | $83,220 | +$57,700 | +69.33% |
| Radiation Therapist | $82,310 | +$58,610 | +71.21% |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $82,210 | +$58,710 | +71.41% |
| Chiropractor | $69,650 | +$71,270 | +102.33% |
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Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.
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