4 Best BSN-to-DNP Programs in Louisiana – 2026
Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
A degree from one of the BSN-to-DNP programs in Louisiana will put your nursing career on the fast track! The knowledge you’ll absorb and the skills you’ll learn will transfer to any clinical practice or executive healthcare management role, and employers will vie for your services: After all, jobs for DNP-educated nurses in the Bayou State are anticipated to rise by 44 percent in the next 10 years. Louisiana-based RNs with Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees make excellent salaries, too, that average $127,830 annually. Ready to level up professionally? The list below of the 4 best BSN-to-DNP programs in Louisiana is a great resource.
WHAT ARE THE BEST BSN-TO-DNP PROGRAMS IN LOUISIANA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2026?
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, listed below are the 4 Best BSN-to-DNP programs in Louisiana (Online & Campus) for 2026.
1. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans
Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Executive Nurse Leader, Nurse Practitioner (Adult Gerontology Acute Care, Adult Gerontology Primary Care, Neonatal, Pediatric - Acute Care, Pediatric - Primary Care, Primary Care Family, & Psychiatric Mental Health), Public Health/Community Health Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia, and Dual Concentrations (AGACNP & AGCNS, AGACNP & PCFNP, AGACNP & PNP-AC, AGACNP & AGPCNP, PCFNP & PMHNP, PMHNP & AGPCNP, & PNP-PC & PNP-AC))
At LSUHSC‑NO, students can choose among seven BSN‑to‑DNP NP concentrations: Adult Gerontology Acute and Primary Care (both 86 credits/1,080 hours), Neonatal (77 credits/1,200 hours), Pediatric Acute and Primary Care (both 91 credits/1,200 hours), Family (86 credits/1,080 hours), and Psychiatric Mental Health (90 credits/1,080 hours). The university also offers non-NP tracks, such as an 83‑credit/1,000‑hour Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS) track, an 80‑credit/1,020‑hour Executive Nurse Leader track, an 84‑credit/1,000‑hour Public/Community Health Nursing track, and a 138‑credit Nurse Anesthesia track with more than 2,000 clinical hours.
Want to expand your scope of practice even further with two related population‑focused specialties? The university offers a dual 112‑credit (1,740‑hour) BSN‑to‑DNP AGACNP + AGCNS track, a dual 110‑credit (1,860‑hour) AGPCNP + FNP track, a 115‑credit (1,920‑hour) AGACNP + PACNP track, a 119‑credit (1,800‑hour) FNP + PMHNP track, and a 115‑credit (1,920‑hour) PACNP + PPCNP track.
LSUHSC‑NO's Nurse Anesthesia track is taught entirely at the university's campus in New Orleans, with clinical training provided at affiliated medical centers throughout Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi, such as Tulane Medical Center, LSU Health Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center, and Keesler Air Force Base Medical Center. Other specialty tracks rely on a combination of in-person classes and synchronous distance learning. All 19 concentration options share a common foundational DNP curriculum, including classes such as "Biostatistical Methods for Nursing," "Research: Design & Methodology," and "Evidence-based Practice for Advanced Nursing Practice," as well as a three-part DNP project. All students are required to complete their practicum hours and other clinical experiences within the state of Louisiana.
Admission Requirements: All applications must be filed through NursingCAS. All applicants must possess a BSN from an accredited nursing program, earn at least a 3.0 GPA, and qualify for RN licensure in Louisiana. Nurse anesthesia applicants must complete a minimum of one year of critical care experience within two years of applying and maintain Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS certification). PACNP hopefuls need two years of acute pediatric care experience; AGACNP candidates need one year of acute adult care experience; and NNP applicants need two years in a Level III nursery.
Why Choose This Program
• APRN grads at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans have an overall first-time pass rate on their national certification boards of more than 90 percent, with FNP grads scoring first-time pass rates of 95 percent.• Ranked 19th nationally by U.S. News & World Report, LSUHSC‑NO's Nurse Anesthesia program maintains a first-time National Certification Exam (NCE) pass rate of 100 percent among its graduates.
2. Southeastern Louisiana University - Hammond
Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Executive Leadership
The program's didactic DNP core curriculum includes classes like "Biostatistics," "Advanced Practice Scholarly & Theoretical Foundations," and "Generating Evidence for Nursing Practice," in addition to three semesters of practicum during which you'll complete your DNP project. All three BSN-to-DNP tracks accept new students in the summer semester and take nine semesters (36 months) to complete.
Admission Requirements: Applicants must hold a Louisiana RN license and a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a minimum GPA of 2.7. This BSN-to-DNP program in Louisiana only accepts candidates who have at least one year of professional nursing experience.
Why Choose This Program
• Want your tuition dollars to stretch farther? Southeastern Louisiana University's DNP program ranks among the most affordable in the Bayou State.• Southeastern Louisiana University's DNP program, developed to address healthcare professional workforce shortages in the Bayou State, emphasizes preventive care, systems leadership, and population health, and many of its graduates stay on to practice in Louisiana.
3. Northwestern State University of Louisiana - Natchitoches
Specialties Offered: Nurse Anesthesia
DNP core courses like "Clinical Scholarship," "Statistics for Improving Health Related Outcomes," and "Population Health" dominate the first three semesters of the nine-semester (36-month) Nurse Anesthesia track, but you won't begin working on your DNP project till the end of your second year. Northwestern State University of Louisiana only accepts full-time students into its BSN-to-DNP/Nurse Anesthesia program.
Admission Requirements: You must submit separate applications to NursingCAS and Northwestern State University's Graduate School. Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. While you may apply to the program with a valid nursing license from any state, by the time the program begins, you must be licensed in Louisiana or a compact state. All applicants must have at least one year of professional critical care experience and hold BLS and ACLS certifications.
Why Choose This Program
• Graduates of NSU's BSN-to-DNP/Nurse Anesthesia program have a first-time NCE pass rate of 84 percent.• This Nurse Anesthesia program was developed to help counter regional shortages of anesthesia professionals throughout northwestern Louisiana, particularly shortages in rural and other medically underserved communities.
4. Loyola University New Orleans - New Orleans
Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthesia, and Dual Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Nurse Anesthesia
You'll complete DNP practicums and supervised patient care experiences at medical facilities throughout New Orleans and the surrounding communities. During your first year, DNP core courses like "Population Health, Epidemiology & Statistical Methods," "Research for Evidence Based Practice," and "Scientific Inquiry and Translational Research" as well as a DNP project will make up a large part of your coursework. Coursework in your clinical specialty begins in the third semester.
The two Nurse Anesthesia tracks accept new students in the fall semester. You can only enroll full-time, and it will take you nine semesters (36 months) to graduate. Both the eight‑semester (32-month) AGACNP option and the 11‑semester (44-month) FNP option offer entry points in the spring, summer, and fall terms.
Admission Requirements: Applications are processed through NursingCAS only. Applicants must have completed a BSN at an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0, earned at least one year of professional RN experience, and secured a Louisiana RN license by the time clinical rotations begin. Nurse Anesthesia applicants must hold BLS, ACLS, PALS, and Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification plus at least one year in a critical care setting; AGACNP candidates must also have at least one year of critical care experience.
Why Choose This Program
• Though Loyola University is a Catholic school in the Jesuit tradition, its nursing curriculum does not explicitly reflect Catholic doctrine, and the university welcomes pupils from all religious backgrounds.• Loyola University caps the number of anesthesia students in the Nurse Anesthesia and Dual Nurse Anesthesia/AGACNP track at 24.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED
1. Who Accredits BSN-to-DNP Programs In Louisiana?
| 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 Louisiana?
| 4 |
3. What Is The Average BSN-to-DNP Salary In Louisiana?
| Hourly | $61.46 |
| Weekly | $2,458 |
| Monthly | $10,650 |
| Annual | $127,830 |
4. On Average, How Much Do Entry-Level BSN-to-DNP Graduates Make In Louisiana?
| Hourly | $45.21 |
| Weekly | $1,808 |
| Monthly | $7,840 |
| Annual | $94,040 |
5. On Average, How Much Do Experienced BSN-to-DNP Graduates Make In Louisiana?
| Level of Experience | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
| 1-4 Years of Experience | $51.16 | $2,046 | $8,870 | $106,410 |
| 5-9 Years of Experience | $60.39 | $2,416 | $10,470 | $125,610 |
| 10-19 Years of Experience | $67.25 | $2,690 | $11,660 | $139,890 |
| 20 Years or More Experience | $80.37 | $3,215 | $13,930 | $167,170 |
6. What Is The Average BSN-to-DNP Salary In Louisiana By Metro?
| Metro | Hourly | Monthly | Weekly | Annual |
| Alexandria | $55.88 | $9,690 | $2,235 | $116,240 |
| Baton Rouge | $62.32 | $10,800 | $2,493 | $129,620 |
| Hammond | $62.92 | $10,910 | $2,517 | $130,880 |
| Houma-Thibodaux | $68.35 | $11,850 | $2,734 | $142,170 |
| Lafayette | $64.00 | $11,090 | $2,560 | $133,110 |
| Lake Charles | $60.83 | $10,540 | $2,433 | $126,530 |
| Monroe | $59.16 | $10,250 | $2,366 | $123,050 |
| New Orleans-Metairie | $61.75 | $10,700 | $2,470 | $128,450 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $62.48 | $10,830 | $2,499 | $129,950 |
7. Average BSN-to-DNP Salary In Louisiana VS. Average Salaries Of Other Closely Related Occupations In Louisiana
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| Podiatrist | $170,450 | -$42,620 | -25.00% |
| Dentist | $164,340 | -$36,510 | -22.22% |
| Optometrist | $131,460 | -$3,630 | -2.76% |
| Nurse With BSN-to-DNP | $127,830 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Pharmacist | $124,770 | +$3,060 | +2.45% |
| Physician Assistant | $123,280 | +$4,550 | +3.69% |
| Veterinarian | $115,450 | +$12,380 | +10.72% |
| Physical Therapist | $97,830 | +$30,000 | +30.67% |
| Occupational Therapist | $93,110 | +$34,720 | +37.29% |
| Radiation Therapist | $88,510 | +$39,320 | +44.42% |
| Chiropractor | $79,800 | +$48,030 | +60.19% |
| Dental Hygienist | $78,980 | +$48,850 | +61.85% |
| Audiologist | $75,210 | +$52,620 | +69.96% |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $74,390 | +$53,440 | +71.84% |
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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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