DNP Programs in Idaho – 2025
Written By: Darby Faubion RN, BSN, MBA
In the Gem State, top healthcare employers prefer recruiting graduates of DNP programs in Idaho for their primo healthcare jobs. These employers know that DNP-educated nurses are trained to the highest standards of clinical excellence and executive expertise. With a DNP in the Gem State, you can become an expert clinical practitioner or an ace nurse manager, depending on where your interests lie. RNs with Doctor of Nursing Practice diplomas can expect to earn $134,170 annually on average in Idaho, and their job opportunities will soar by 60 percent within one decade. Could this be the next step on your professional nursing path? Learn more by reading this list of the best DNP programs in Idaho.
WHAT ARE THE BEST DNP PROGRAMS IN IDAHO (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?
Based on our Ranking Methodology, listed below are the Best Doctor of Nursing Practice programs in Idaho (Online & Campus) for 2025.
1. Boise State University - Boise
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner
The BSN-to-DNP program admits students twice each year in the fall and spring semesters. You can complete the program in as few as three years if you enroll full-time. Part-time students typically take four years to earn the post-baccalaureate DNP. The hybrid learning format combines the flexibility of online learning with periodic campus-based intensives. This learning structure supports working professionals and students who live in rural areas.
The post-baccalaureate DNP program offers two tracks: Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (Acute Care) and Family Nurse Practitioner. Each pathway requires students to complete a minimum of 73 credits. The curriculum plans include graduate major courses and emphasis-specific coursework, as well as clinical practicums and a DNP Scholarly Project. You will study in classes, including Diagnosis & Management of Health & Illness Across the Lifespan, Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics Across the Lifespan, and Advanced Physiology & Pathology Across the Lifespan.
As a student in this program, you will participate in on-campus intensives, which include high-fidelity simulation to enhance procedural skills and clinical reasoning. Additionally, you will complete a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate clinical hours. Program faculty offer clinical placement support, ensuring you have adequate experiences with qualified nurse practitioner and physician preceptors.
BSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: Admission to the BSN-to-DNP program is available to registered nurses who have earned a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program and who hold an active, unrestricted RN license. You are required to submit a Personal Statement, a resume or curriculum vitae, three letters of recommendation, and transcripts from all post-secondary schools you have attended. A minimum baccalaureate GPA of 3.0 is required. If your application is approved to move through the review process, you will be invited to a video visit with program faculty. Interviews are only extended to highly competitive applicants.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: Boise State offers a post-master’s DNP program. The MSN-to-DNP program admits students in the fall and spring each year and follows a cohort model. The track takes approximately two years to complete. Online didactic coursework is combined with occasional on-campus intensives and in-person clinical practicums.
The program is available to registered nurses with or without an APRN certification. If you have a master’s degree and hold a current APRN certification, you can earn the DNP by completing 30-36 credits. If you do not have a current APRN certification, you are required to choose a specialty emphasis, and the courses needed to earn that certification will be added to your study plan. All DNP students are required to complete at least 1,000 post-baccalaureate clinical hours. A GAP analysis of your previous master’s nursing transcripts will be used to determine a personalized plan of study upon admission.
MSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission to the MSN-to-DNP program at Boise State University, you are required to have a baccalaureate and a master’s degree in nursing with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. All applicants are required to submit a Graduate Admission Application and relevant admission materials. You need to provide a current curriculum vitae or resume, a Personal Statement, three letters of recommendation, proof of a valid, unencumbered RN license, and proof of an APRN license, if applicable. The final step in the admission process is to interview with program faculty. Interviews are by invitation only.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• As you search for the DNP program in Idaho that best suits your goals, I encourage you to look for one with a proven track record of student success. One thing you should consider is the program's retention and graduation rates. For example, the Boise State University BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP programs have excellent completion and graduation rates. These rates are important to consider, as they indicate a strong program where students thrive.• As a nurse from a small, rural community, I understand the need for qualified nurses to provide care to underserved populations. At Boise State University, the DNP curriculum and clinical placements emphasize care for underserved populations. This approach to patient care prepares you to address health disparities in frontier and rural communities.
• Clinical experiences are an integral part of any high-quality nursing program and a cornerstone of the DNP tracks at Boise State University. Clinical placement support is provided to all students, ensuring you will learn from experienced practitioners and physicians. Clinicals occur in inpatient and outpatient settings relevant to your chosen specialty track.
2. Idaho State University - Pocatello
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Anesthesia
MSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
While most didactic coursework is delivered online, some campus visits are required. Students in the Family Nurse Practitioner track must come to campus two to four days each semester to participate in clinical intensives. Psychiatric Mental Health NP students are required to visit campus for new student orientation and for intensives during the Health Assessment course. The FNP and PMHNP programs require the completion of 83 and 85 credits, respectively. Both pathways include 1,008 clinical hours, which are coordinated by program faculty.
The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia program is a three-year, full-time, campus-based program. It is designed in a “front-loaded” format, with the first year of the curriculum dedicated to didactic components. The second and third years involve the clinicals. This program is a 99-credit pathway that includes over 2,000 direct care clinical hours and 100 lab hours.
BSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: If you wish to be considered for admission to the BSN-to-DNP program at Idaho State University, you need a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a nursing program accredited by the CCNE or another nationally recognized nursing education accrediting body and a valid, current, unencumbered RN license.
Along with an application for admission, you are required to submit official transcripts from each post-secondary school you have attended, three professional references, a professional CV or resume, an admission essay, and a copy of your current RN license. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 for your BSN degree or for the last 60 credits of college coursework is required. Additionally, DNAP applicants must provide proof of completion of the following prerequisite courses: two semesters of Anatomy & Physiology, either Basic Chemistry, Organic, or Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Pathophysiology.
Two years of documented experience in nursing or a relevant healthcare field before admission is preferred, but not required, for the Family NP and Psychiatric Mental Health NP pathways. If you wish to enroll in the DNAP program, you must have a minimum of one year of full-time experience as a registered nurse in a critical care setting.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: The post-master’s DNP program at Idaho State University is designed for Registered Nurses who hold national certification as either a Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The program admits new students in the fall semester annually and takes four semesters to complete.
The MSN-to-DNP curriculum comprises 29 credits. You will take classes, including Genetics for Healthcare Professionals, Research & Practice in Rural & Global Communities, Statistical Analysis in Evidence-Based Practice, and Leadership & Health Policy. To earn the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, all students must accomplish at least 1,000 post-baccalaureate clinical hours. A review of the clinical hours completed in your previous master’s degree advanced nursing practice program will determine the actual number of clinical hours you must complete in the MSN-to-DNP program.
MSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: To be eligible for admission to the MSN-to-DNP program at Idaho State University, you must possess a Master of Science in Nursing degree and hold a current certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Candidates with at least two years of nursing experience are preferred. A three-to-four page professional essay, three professional references, a resume or curriculum vitae, and copies of all post-secondary transcripts must be submitted. A cumulative college GPA of 3.0 or higher is required.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• Idaho State University is home to the state’s first Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program. The introduction of this program (Effective Fall 2025) reflects the school’s commitment to advancing nursing education.• As a nurse educator, I encourage prospective students to carefully consider their options when choosing a nursing program or school. One of the most important factors to consider is the type of resources and support offered. For example, at Idaho State University, you will have an academic advisor who works with you from admission to the DNP program until you graduate. You will also have mentors who provide career services and job placement assistance, ensuring you get off to a fast start in your DNP career after graduation.
• If you want to earn your DNP but worry that finances may keep you from pursuing your dream, Idaho State University is worth considering! The ISU- School of Nursing awards over $100,000 in scholarships annually. There are also other sources of Funding and Scholarships available to graduate students. Financial aid advisors are available to help you find resources.
• Idaho State University’s College of Nursing creates opportunities to help you get the best possible training and education. One of the things I find appealing about the DNP program at the college is that it includes campus-based learning intensives held in the Human Simulation Lab. The lab is equipped with high-fidelity manikins that mimic real patients. Each manikin has pulses, heart, lung, and bowel sounds, eyes that blink, dilate, and constrict, and a microphone through which instructors can respond to students’ questions.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED
1. Who Accredits DNP Programs In Idaho?
| 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 DNP Programs In Idaho?
| 2 |
3. What Is The Average DNP Salary In Idaho?
| Hourly | $64.50 |
| Weekly | $2,580 |
| Monthly | $11,180 |
| Annual | $134,170 |
4. On Average, How Much Do Entry-Level DNP Graduates Make In Idaho?
| Hourly | $47.46 |
| Weekly | $1,898 |
| Monthly | $8,230 |
| Annual | $98,710 |
5. On Average, How Much Do Experienced DNP Graduates Make In Idaho?
| Level of Experience | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
| 1-4 Years of Experience | $53.70 | $2,148 | $9,310 | $111,690 |
| 5-9 Years of Experience | $63.38 | $2,535 | $10,990 | $131,840 |
| 10-19 Years of Experience | $70.59 | $2,824 | $12,240 | $146,830 |
| 20 Years or More Experience | $84.36 | $3,374 | $14,620 | $175,460 |
6. What Is The Average DNP Salary In Idaho By Metro?
| Metro | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
| Boise City | $65.64 | $2,626 | $11,380 | $136,540 |
| Coeur d'Alene | $65.06 | $2,602 | $11,280 | $135,320 |
| Idaho Falls | $57.75 | $2,310 | $10,010 | $120,130 |
| Lewiston | $64.89 | $2,596 | $11,250 | $134,980 |
| Pocatello | $60.37 | $2,415 | $10,460 | $125,570 |
| Twin Falls | $63.24 | $2,529 | $10,960 | $131,530 |
7. Average DNP Salary In Idaho VS. Average Salaries Of Other Closely Related Occupations In Idaho
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| Dentist | $171,880 | -$37,710 | -21.94% |
| Nurse With DNP | $134,170 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Pharmacist | $129,140 | +$5,030 | +3.89% |
| Veterinarian | $122,590 | +$11,580 | +9.45% |
| Podiatrist | $115,070 | +$19,100 | +16.60% |
| Physician Assistant | $113,870 | +$20,300 | +17.83% |
| Optometrist | $104,020 | +$30,150 | +28.98% |
| Radiation Therapist | $103,190 | +$30,980 | +30.02% |
| Physical Therapist | $92,400 | +$41,770 | +45.21% |
| Audiologist | $89,630 | +$44,540 | +49.69% |
| Occupational Therapist | $89,550 | +$44,620 | +49.83% |
| Dental Hygienist | $84,390 | +$49,780 | +58.99% |
| Chiropractor | $75,220 | +$58,950 | +78.37% |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $73,890 | +$60,280 | +81.58% |
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.
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