4 Best DNP Programs in Nebraska – 2025

Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

Are you a Nebraska nurse looking to make a bigger impact in the workplace? Graduating from one of the DNP programs in Nebraska will increase your salary prospects and raise your desirability in the competitive Nebraska healthcare marketplace. DNP-educated RNs in the Cornhusker State earn a median yearly salary of $131,070 a year, and their employment opportunities will jump 36 percent in just 10 years. With a Doctor of Nursing Practice diploma, you can focus on advanced nurse practice, executive leadership, informatics, nursing education, and more. Interested in checking out the DNP option? The guide below to the 4 best DNP programs in Nebraska is the place to start.

WHAT ARE THE BEST DNP PROGRAMS IN NEBRASKA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?

Based on our Ranking Methodology, listed below are the 4 Best Doctor of Nursing Practice programs in Nebraska (Online & Campus) for 2025.

1. University of Nebraska Medical Center - Omaha

Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP

BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Leader/Executive, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary & Acute Care (Dual) Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

BSN-to-DNP Program Details: The University of Nebraska Medical Center is the Cornhusker State's premier training ground for highly skilled healthcare professionals. Its clinical nursing doctorate program is widely considered one of the top DNP programs in Nebraska. When you enroll in UNMC's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)-to-Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), you can specialize in seven concentrations: an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) track, an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) track, a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track, a Nurse Leader/Executive track, a Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP) track, a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track, and a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) track. The Nurse Leader/Executive concentration comprises 61 credits, and the WHNP concentration comprises 69, but all the other concentrations require 68 credits. The university also offers an 80-credit dual PPCNP/Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track.

UNMC's BSN-to-DNP program is a hybrid program, with classroom and online components. The university has campuses in Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney, Norfolk, and Scottsbluff, where you'll come for hands-on learning. You must participate in a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours, which you can complete in your own community. Full-time students will be able to complete this program in eight semesters (32 months), while part-time students will graduate in 10 semesters (40 months). New cohorts enter this program in the fall semester.

Courses like "Implementing Evidence Based Practice," "Methods for Assessing Clinical Practice Outcomes," and "Changing Complex Systems to Improve Health Care" will prepare you to undertake a DNP project, based upon evidence-based analysis and data from either your own clinical practicums or epidemiological studies. To graduate from this program, you must also develop a professional nursing portfolio.

BSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: Applicants to the University of Nebraska Medical Center's BSN-to-DNP program must have a valid RN license in the state where they will be doing clinical residencies and a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

MSN-to-DNP Program Details: Are you a nurse with a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) looking for a way to enhance your employment opportunities and earn a higher salary? Full-time students can complete the University of Nebraska Medical Center's BSN-to-DNP's 35-credit MSN-to-DNP program in just five semesters (20 months); part-time students can complete it in seven semesters (28 months). As a new student, you'll begin classes in the summer semester.

You'll take the same foundational DNP coursework that post-baccalaureate students take. You'll be assigned a minimum of 500 practicum hours, which you can fulfill at hospitals, clinics, or community agencies located near your home. You'll be able to transfer the additional hours you need to meet your DNP clinical requirement from your MSN studies.

MSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: For acceptance into the University of Nebraska Medical Center's MSN-to-DNP, you must have a nursing master's degree and a valid RN license in the state where you plan to do your clinical practicums.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students

• UNMC is the only Nebraska-based clinical nursing doctorate program that's on U.S. News & World Report's list of the top American DNP programs.
• The University of Nebraska Medical Center's nurse practitioner grads have a first-time pass rate of 95 percent on their national certification exams.

2. Creighton University - Omaha

Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP

BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Dual Pediatric Primary & Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Administration & Leadership, and Nurse Anesthesia.

MSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Dual Pediatric Primary & Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner, and Nursing Administration & Leadership

BSN-to-DNP Program Details: Creighton University's BSN-to-DNP program offers seven solo tracks and one dual track: a 70- to 71-credit AGACNP specialization, a 74- to 75-credit FNP specialization, a 70- to 71-credit Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) specialization, a 73- to 74-credit PMHNP specialization, a 69-credit Nursing Administration & Leadership specialization, a Nurse Anesthesia specialization, and a 70-credit dual degree BSN-to-DNP/PPCNP + PACNP specialization. While the Nurse Anesthesia specialty is a blended learning opportunity that offers many courses online, you are expected to be physically present in Omaha for the duration of the program. Most of the required coursework for the other six specialties is offered online, though you will have to make periodic trips to the university's campus in Omaha for skills workshops and other hands-on learning experiences.

All specialties require 1,200 clinical hours except Nurse Anesthesia, which requires 2,500, and Nursing Administration & Leadership, which requires 1,125. Clinical experiences take place in Omaha metro-area hospitals, including CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center University Campus and CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center Bergan Campus, as well as in rural and specialty hospitals and community clinics across other parts of Nebraska.

All seven tracks in this DNP program in Nebraska teach the same foundational DNP core. Courses like "Statistics and Data Analysis for Evidence-Based Nursing Practice," "Evaluative Methods for Evidence-Based Nursing Practice," and "Exploring Evidence for Improving Outcomes" will impart the knowledge and skills you need to undertake a two-semester DNP project. Creighton University's Nurse Anesthesia program starts in the fall, but the other BSN-to-DNP tracks have start dates in the spring, summer, and fall. The Nurse Anesthesia track takes three years to complete and is available only on a full-time basis. Most students complete the other six tracks in four years, but if you want to take a more intensive course load, you can finish in three. Part-time enrollment is also available to accommodate working nurses.

BSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: All applicants must have an active Nebraska RN license and a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Applicants to the NNP track must have at least 4,000 hours of professional nursing experience in a Level III or Level IV neonatal intensive care unit.

Family NP, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP, and Nursing Administration and Leadership applicants must have 2,000 hours of professional nursing experience in direct patient care. PMHNP applicants must have 2,000 hours of direct patient care nursing experience in psychiatric settings; applicants to the dual pediatric NP track must have 2,000 hours of direct patient care nursing experience in pediatrics.

Nurse Anesthesia applicants must have at least a year of experience working in a critical care setting as well as Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification. Additionally, they must spend time shadowing a licensed Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

MSN-to-DNP Program Details: Creighton University offers all its BSN-to-DNP specialties as MSN-to-DNP specialties, except for Nurse Anesthesia. You can enroll in a streamlined 27- to 29-credit post-graduate MSN-to-DNP track, which focuses on the same foundational DNP coursework that BSN-to-DNP students take, or you can combine that track with a Post-Graduate Certificate program and acquire a new specialty. Choose between a 46- to 48-credit (525 clinical hours) MSN-to-DNP/AGACNP track, a 45- to 47-credit (525 clinical hours) MSN-to-DNP/FNP track, a 50-credit (675 clinical hours) MSN-to-DNP/NNP track, a 38- to 40-credit (750 to 900 clinical hours) MSN-to-DNP/ Nursing Administration and Leadership track, a 48- to 51-credit (675 clinical hours) MSN-to-DNP/PMHNP track, and a 43- to 45-credit (525 clinical hours) joint degree MSN-to-DNP/PPCNP + PACNP track.

The teaching format is hybrid, combining online courses with occasional on-campus residencies. You can transfer MSN clinical hours toward your DNP clinical hours requirement. Creighton University's MSN-to-DNP program accepts new students in the spring, summer, and fall. Full-time students will graduate in two years, part-time students in three.

MSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: For acceptance into this program, you must have a Nebraska RN license and an MSN with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. If you're applying to the streamlined MSN-to-DNP track, you must hold Nebraska certification as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students

• Creighton University is a Catholic, Jesuit institution of higher education. While Catholic doctrines provide a foundation for learning, they are not integrated into the nursing curriculum per se, and the university accepts students from many different faith backgrounds.
• 99 percent of the nurse practitioners graduating from Creighton University pass their national NP certification exams on their very first attempt.

3. Clarkson College - Omaha

Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP

BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Anesthesia

BSN-to-DNP Program Details: Clarkson College was initially founded as a training school for Clarkson Memorial Hospital. After the hospital merged with the Nebraska Medical Center (now known simply as Nebraska Medical), Clarkson retained its identity as a specialized health sciences college and is recognized as having one of the best DNP programs in Nebraska. Clarkson College offers four clinical nursing doctorate specialties: a 71-credit FNP track, a 71-credit AGACNP track, a 73-credit PMHNP track, and an 89-credit Nurse Anesthesia track.

The Nurse Anesthesia track is front-loaded with DNP core courses, which you will complete online before beginning your specialty training at the college's campus in Omaha. The DNP core includes courses such as "Healthcare Informatics and Data Analytics," "Evidence-Based Practice," and "Biostatistics/Epidemiology," culminating in a three-semester DNP project. Once you've completed your classroom Nurse Anesthesia training, you will spend a minimum of 2,00 hours participating in clinical residencies at some of the most prestigious healthcare facilities in Omaha and the surrounding areas, including Nebraska Medicine, CHI Health, the Methodist Health System, and various Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals.

Students enrolled in Clarkson's three nurse practitioner tracks pursue the same foundational DNP curriculum as Nurse Anesthesia students. Most of your coursework will be available online, but you will have to visit the Omaha campus for one weekend during your "Advanced Physical Assessment" course for hands-on skills training. You'll be able to fulfill your 1,000-hour clinical requirement at a hospital, clinic, or community agency in your own hometown.

The Nurse Anesthesia track is a nine-semester (36-month) program that begins in the spring semester and can only be pursued full-time. You can enroll in the nurse practitioner tracks full-time and graduate in 10 to 11 semesters (40 to 44 months) or part-time and graduate in 18 semesters (72 months). The nurse practitioner tracks accept new students in the fall, spring, and summer semesters.

BSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: All applicants must have a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Nurse practitioner applicants must have a valid license in the state where they'll be completing their clinical residencies.

Nurse Anesthesia applicants must hold a Nebraska RN license and have the equivalent of one year of critical care experience. Cohort size for Nurse Anesthesia students is capped at 24.

MSN-to-DNP Program Details: Already have an MSN? Seeking to take your nursing expertise to the next level so you can benefit from more employment opportunities and a higher salary? Clarkson College offers a 28-credit online MSN-to-DNP program that focuses on the same core DNP coursework that BSN-to-DNP students complete. This program entails a minimum of 300 practicum hours, which you can complete at a healthcare facility in your own local area; you'll be permitted to transfer the remaining clinical hours you need to satisfy your DNP requirement from your MSN studies.

This program takes four semesters (20 months) to complete, and you can start classes in the spring, summer, or fall semesters. If you prefer to enroll part-time, you can graduate in 10 semesters (40 months).

MSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: Clarkson College's MSN-to-DNP program is only open to MSN-educated applicants with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. You'll also need a current RN license in the state where you'll be completing your practicums.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students

• 100 percent of Clarkson College's Family Nurse Practitioner graduates passed their national NP certification exams on their first try.
• 98 percent of Clarkson College's DNP grads find employment in their chosen field within one year of completing their doctorate program.

4. Nebraska Methodist College - Omaha

Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP, MSN/MPH-to-DNP, and APRN-to-DNP

BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist

MSN/MPH-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Public Health Policy

BSN-to-DNP Program Details: Nebraska Methodist College's three BSN-to-DNP concentrations include an FNP track, an AGPCNP track, and an Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS) track. All three tracks entail 75 credits and 1,080 clinical hours. This DNP program in Nebraska is primarily a distance-learning pathway with synchronous and asynchronous components, but you will visit the college's campus in Omaha three times on weekends during the summer semester. Full-time students who begin in the fall semester can graduate in nine semesters (36 months). Part-time students can start the program in the fall or spring and take anywhere from 11 semesters (44 months) to 15 semesters (60 months) to graduate.

You'll be able to fulfill your clinical hours at a clinic, community agency, or other healthcare facility in your own geographic location. Courses like "Research," "Biostatistics," and "Population Health" will prepare you for a rigorous four-semester DNP project.

BSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: All applications must be submitted through NursingCAS. This program is only open to applicants with a BSN who've maintained a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Professional RN experience is preferred but not required, but if you're a new BSN grad, you must have an RN license in the state where you'll be completing clinical residencies by June 30th of the year you start the program.

MSN/MHP-to-DNP Program Details: Are you an MSN-educated nurse who wants to help drive systemic reforms that enhance patient outcomes on a population level? Nebraska Methodist College's 50-credit (960 clinical hours) MSN/Master's of Health Policy (MPH)-to-DNP is an ideal degree for you. In addition to the same foundational DNP classes BSN-to-DNP students take, you'll take specialized health policy courses like "Civic Health" and "Community Health Program Planning."

Apart from practicums and two trips to the Omaha campus, this program is online. You'll be able to complete your clinical practicums at healthcare facilities near your home. If you enroll full-time, you'll graduate in six semesters (24 months). Part-time students can complete the program in nine to 12 semesters (36 to 48 months). Nebraska Methodist College's MSN/MHP-to-DNP program has entry points in the fall and spring.

MSN/MHP-to-DNP Admission Requirements: Applicants to this program must have an MSN from an accredited nursing program and a valid nursing license in the state where they plan to pursue practicums.

APRN-to-DNP Program Details: As an advanced practice nurse with a DNP, you'll be prepared to assume leadership roles that will help you improve patient outcomes at both the clinical and organizational levels. Nebraska Methodist College's 34-credit APRN-to-DNP track highlights the same foundational DNP curriculum that BSN-to-DNP students complete, including a capstone DNP project where you'll apply research to practice in a meaningful way. Though the bulk of the program is online, you'll make two trips to the college's Omaha campus for skills workshops.

This program calls for the completion of 540 practicum hours. You'll be able to apply clinical credits from your MSN studies to fulfill the remainder of your 1,000-hour DNP requirement. A new cohort begins this program each spring, and if you enroll full-time, you can expect to complete the curriculum in two years.

APRN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: This program is only open to applicants with an MSN from an accredited nursing program and APRN certification.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students

• While Nebraska Methodist College is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, it's primarily a healthcare institution—in fact, its full name is "Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing and Allied Health." Religious dogma is not reflected in its nursing curriculum.
• Nurse practitioner grads from Nebraska Methodist College have a 100 percent first-time pass rate on their national certification boards.


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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED

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3. What Is The Average DNP Salary In Nebraska?

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