15 Best DNP Programs in Tennessee – 2025
Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
What’s the greatest thing about a degree from one of the DNP programs in Tennessee? It’s versatile! A DNP can prepare you for a career as an advanced practice clinician, an executive nurse manager, a nursing educator, or a nursing science researcher. A DNP in the Volunteer State offers high compensation and job security. As a DNP-educated RN in the Volunteer State, you can count on making $111,730 a year on average, and the demand for your services is projected to increase by 58 percent within 10 years. This guide to the 15 best DNP programs in Tennessee is an excellent source of information.
WHAT ARE THE BEST DNP PROGRAMS IN TENNESSEE (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?
Based on our Ranking Methodology, listed below are the 15 Best Doctor of Nursing Practice programs in Tennessee (Online & Campus) for 2025.
1. Vanderbilt University - Nashville
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Lifespan), Women's Health/Gender-Related Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health Gender-Related Nurse Practitioner/Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Nurse-Midwifery, Nurse-Midwifery/Family Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Anesthesia
MSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Advanced Clinical Practice, Advanced Systems Practice, Executive Leadership, and Nurse Anesthesia
This clinical doctoral program offers nine traditional solo concentrations and two dual concentrations. The Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PACNP) concentration requires 61 to 63 credits, while the Acute Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP), Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP), and Women's Health/Gender-Related Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) concentrations each entail 63 credits. You must earn 62 credits to complete the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) concentration, 64 credits to complete the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) concentration, and 75 credits to complete the Nurse-Midwifery concentration. The Nurse-Midwifery/FNP combined specialty comprises 78 credit hours, whereas the Women’s Health NP/AGPCNP track involves 80 credit hours.
For the first four semesters, all tracks follow a curriculum that includes foundational APRN courses and core DNP classes like "Leadership for Change," "Integrative Application of Evidence-Based Practice," and " Professionalism, Legal and Ethics." In your fifth semester, you'll begin taking coursework relevant to the knowledge and hands-on skills you'll need to practice in the advanced practice role you've chosen. The curriculum also includes a DNP project, presented as a three-semester Integrative Application course in which you'll develop, implement, and evaluate solutions to a challenge to patient care or healthcare delivery.
Vanderbilt's BSN-to-DNP program is primarily online; however, you may need to attend skills intensives on the university's campus in Nashville, which are typically scheduled as week-long sessions once a semester. You are also required to complete at least 1,000 clinical hours in person, with a minimum of 500 in your chosen specialty and 500 dedicated to DNP practice. Vanderbilt's Clinical Placement Office has an extensive network of high-quality clinical partners throughout the nation, so you'll be able to complete your practicums in the state where you live and work.
Students can complete the solo concentration BSN-to-DNP tracks in seven semesters (28 months) if they enroll full-time and in 10 semesters (40 months) if they enroll part-time. Vanderbilt University welcomes new students into its BSN-to-DNP program each fall.
Vanderbilt University also offers a 90-credit (2,800 clinical hours) BSN-to-DNP/Nurse Anesthesia specialty. This program is taught on the university's Nashville campus, and you'll perform clinical rotations at top-notch hospitals affiliated with the Vanderbilt Health System, including Vanderbilt University Hospital, Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital, and Monroe Carell, Jr. Children’s Hospital. DNP core courses and DNP project stipulations are the same for the Nurse Anesthesia track as they are for the more traditional BSN-to-DNP pathways. This program can be completed in nine semesters (36 months). Classes start in April. Applicants must be licensed as RNs in Tennessee, have BLS (Basic Life Support), ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support), and PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) certification, and at least one year of critical care experience.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: Already have an MSN? You can improve your career prospects and qualify for a higher salary by enrolling in one of Vanderbilt University's three MSN-to-DNP specialties: a 37-credit Advanced Clinical Practice track, a 37-credit Advanced Systems Practice track, and a 36-credit Executive Leadership track. Each of these pathways requires 1,000 clinical hours, but you may be able to apply some or all of your MSN clinical hours towards your DNP clinical requirement.
As a full-time student, you can complete these tracks in five semesters (20 months). Part-time enrollment is also an option. The MSN-to-DNP curriculum contains the same foundational DNP coursework as the BSN-to-DNP curriculum and includes a DNP project. The Advanced Clinical Practice track is only open to APRNs. New cohorts begin this program in the fall.
You can also enroll in the DNP/Nurse Anesthesia track with a nursing master's degree.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• U.S. News & World Report has dubbed Vanderbilt University's DNP program the fourth-best of its kind in the nation.• U.S. News & World Report also puts several of Vanderbilt's DNP concentrations among the top ten in the U.S.: the AGACNP track at #1, the FNP, PMHNP, and Leadership tracks at #2, the AGPCNP track at #4, and the PPCNP track at #5.
• 100 percent of Vanderbilt University's DNP graduates find employment before they complete the program.
• All of Vanderbilt University's DNP instructors hold doctoral degrees.
2. University of Tennessee Health Science Center - Memphis
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Executive, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwifery, Dual Adult-Gerontology Acute Care/Family Nurse Practitioner, Dual Psychiatric Mental Health/Family Nurse Practitioner, Dual Pediatric Acute Care/Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Anesthesiology
MSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Executive, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Midwifery
Specialty tracks vary in concentration-specific coursework, but you'll take the same foundational APRN and DNP courses throughout, including classes like "Leadership and Health Policy," "Philosophy of Science & Theory in Nursing," and "DNP Advanced Practice Role Development." Additionally, all BSN-to-DNP students must complete a four-semester DNP project. You'll be able to access the majority of your coursework online, but all clinical rotations must be completed in person. Furthermore, all students enrolled in the advanced health assessment course must visit the university's Memphis campus four times during the class for skills workshops and up to three times a year for immersive experiences and simulation exercises for the duration of their enrollment.
Students in this DNP program in Tennessee must complete at least 1,000 clinical hours at Memphis Metro area healthcare facilities, such as St. Francis Hospital, Regional One Health, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Some tracks require more than 1,000 clinical hours. The Nurse Midwifery track, for example, calls for 1,200 clinical hours, while the Nurse Anesthesia track requires a minimum of 2,000 clinical hours.
It will take you eight semesters (32 months) to graduate if you enroll full-time and 12 semesters (48 months) if you enroll part-time. New cohorts begin this program in the fall semester.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: The post-Master's DNP program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center-Memphis is designed for MSN-educated RNs aspiring to executive leadership roles in clinical healthcare delivery or at the organizational level. This degree path offers a 39-credit MSN-to-DNP/AGACNP track, a 32-credit MSN-to-DNP/FNP track, a 44-credit MSN-to-DNP/PMHNP track, an MSN-to-DNP/Nurse Executive track, a 48-credit MSN-to-DNP/PPCNP track, a 39-credit MSN-to-DNP/PACNP track, a 34-credit MSN-to-DNP/NNP track, and a 32-credit Nurse Midwifery track. If you are pursuing a second APRN specialty, you'll have fewer credits to complete.
You'll take the same core DNP courses in areas like scientific inquiry, health informatics, organizational efficiency, and financial management as students in the BSN-to-DNP program. You'll also participate in a DNP project. All DNP pathways require a minimum of 1,000 hours of clinical experience, but you can apply your completed MSN practicums toward this total. If you pursue this program full-time, you'll graduate in five semesters (20 months), but you can also enroll part-time.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• The DNP program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the 14th-leading program in the United States.• The University of Tennessee Health Science Center offers a DNP/Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) dual degree.
3. University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Dual Pediatric Primary/Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Anesthesia
Except in the Nurse Anesthesia specialty, courses are taught online, though you will have to visit the university's campus twice each semester for hands-on skills workshops and simulation exercises. Core DNP classes like "Nursing Leadership in Complex Systems," "Evidence Acquisition, Appraisal, and Synthesis and "Principles of Population Health" develop a strong framework for coursework in your chosen APRN specialty. While you can complete your clinical residencies outside Tennessee, it is your responsibility to make sure UT-Knoxville's DNP program has authorization from the Board of Nursing in that state.
The FNP, PMHNP, and PPCNP tracks can be completed in eight semesters (32 months), including a mini-summer session and a mini-winter session. If you enroll in the dual pediatric NP track, you can expect to graduate in 11 semesters (44 months). UT-Knoxville welcomes new cohorts into its BSN-to-DNP program in the fall semester.
The BSN-to-DNP/Nurse Anesthesia track employs a hybrid curriculum that combines synchronous and asynchronous online coursework with campus classes. In addition to the standard DNP curriculum, you'll take courses in the principles and practices of general and regional anesthesia across all general surgery and specialty areas. You must live in the Knoxville area because that's where the majority of your clinical placements will be at healthcare facilities like Parkwest Medical Center, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, Blount Memorial Hospital, and LeBonheur Children’s Hospital. Admission into this Nurse Anesthesia track is highly competitive; a cumulative 3.5 GPA in your undergraduate studies is recommended, and you must have at least one year of critical care experience as well as ACLS & PALS certification and a Tennessee RN license. The Nurse Anesthesia track is 38 months long—a little more than nine semesters. Classes start in the summer semester.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's MSN-to-DNP program features a straightforward 36-credit curriculum that focuses on foundational Doctor of Nursing Practice coursework, a three-part DNP project, and 500 hours of clinical practicum that will allow you to implement and evaluate your DNP project. (You will use the clinical hours you accumulated during your MSN studies to make up the rest of the 1,000-hour DNP requirement.)
This DNP program in Tennessee begins in the fall semester and can be completed in five semesters (20 months). This program is only open to MSN-prepared applicants who hold national certification in a specified APRN population focus.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• UT-Knoxville’s DNP program ranks 22nd among public Doctor of Nursing Practice programs across the U.S., according to U.S. News & World Report.• When you visit UT-Knoxville's campus, you'll participate in doctoral intensives and face-to-face meetings with your instructors and your cohorts that aim to enhance networking and other collaborative experiences.
4. Belmont University - Nashville
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner and Leadership & Innovation
FNP students will complete 800 hours of clinical patient care and 300 clinical hours preparing their DNP project; Leadership & Innovation students will spend 700 clinical hours honing their executive nursing skills and 300 clinical hours on their DNP project. Belmont guarantees clinical placement for students planning to complete practicums in Nashville or other parts of Middle Tennessee, but if you're planning to do clinical rotations elsewhere, you may have to identify your own preceptors and clinical sites.
The BSN-to-DNP/FNP track is eight semesters (32 months) long, and the BSN-to-DNP/Leadership & Innovation track is seven semesters (28 months). The curriculum is delivered using distance learning technology, but you'll visit the university's campus in Nashville three times during your first year and at least once during subsequent years. Classes start in the fall semester. All applicants must have a BSN with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.25.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: Are you an MSN-educated nurse looking for a way to strengthen your professional credentials? Belmont University's 37-credit MSN-to-DNP program is a streamlined curriculum that offers foundational DNP coursework, a DNP project, and no concentrations. Faculty will create a personalized study plan for you based on your prior academic work. You may be able to apply your MSN clinical hours toward your 1,000-hour DNP practicum requirement. Belmont University's MSN-to-DNP program begins in the fall and takes four semesters (16 months) to complete.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• Belmont University is a private Christian institution of higher learning. Students of all religious backgrounds are welcome to enroll, but its Christ-centered values dominate its educational offerings, including its nursing curriculum.• Belmont University's FNP grads have a first-time pass rate of 100 percent on their national certification boards.
• You don't have to have an MSN to enroll in Belmont University's MSN-to-DNP program. The College of Nursing also accepts students with master's degrees in other health-related fields, such as public health (MPH), health informatics (MHI), and health administration (MHA).
• Belmont University's DNP students have the opportunity to participate in international learning experiences in places like India and Tanzania through the Belmont Global Health Initiative.
5. Union University - Jackson
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, and CRNA-to-DNP
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Executive Leadership, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Anesthesia
MSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Executive Leadership, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Anesthesia
Courses like "Faith and Science," "Advanced Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice," and "Technological Transformations of Healthcare" during your first and second semesters will lay the groundwork for coursework in your chosen concentration. You'll also undertake a three-semester DNP project. All four BSN-to-DNP tracks last nine semesters (36 months) and begin in the fall semester. You'll perform your practicums at medical centers throughout Tennessee, such as Jackson-Madison County. General Hospital and Henry County Medical Center, so all applicants must have a Tennessee RN license or an RN license in a compact state.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: Union University's 38-credit MSN-to-DNP pathway offers students with a nursing master's degree the same core DNP courses and DNP projects that BSN-to-DNP students must complete. Though the program is broken down into Executive Leadership, FNP, PMHNP, and Nurse Anesthesia concentrations, you won't be taking any classes in those clinical specialties when you pursue this degree.
Students must participate in 660 hours of practicum experiences; you'll be able to apply the clinical hours you completed during your nursing master's program toward the rest of your DNP requirement. Full-time students can complete the MSN-to-DNP tracks in five semesters (20 months). Union College also offers the MSN-to-DNP track as a part-time option over eight semesters (32 months) and as an accelerated option over three semesters (12 months). This program is only open to applicants who have a Tennessee or compact state RN license and possess either APRN or CRNA certification.
CRNA-to-DNP Program Details: Licensed CRNAs (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) have the opportunity to attain their Doctor of Nursing Practice degree through Union University's unique CRNA/DNP track. This 46-credit program offers foundational DNP coursework and will mentor you through a three-semester DNP project. You'll start this program in the fall semester and graduate in eight semesters (32 months). This program is only open to BSN-prepared CRNAs who hold RN licensure in Tennessee or a compact state.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• Union University is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. While it admits students from a variety of faiths, the university emphasizes a Christ-centered approach to all its educational programs, including nursing.• Union University will accept students with an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or hospital diploma into its DNP program if they have taken academic prerequisites and a careful examination of their professional experience warrants admission.
• Union University offers dual MSN-to-DNP/Master's of Business Administration (MBA) degrees.
• Union University typically accepts 30 students each year into its Nurse Anesthesia track.
6. East Tennessee State University - Johnson City
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Executive Leadership in Nursing/Nursing & Healthcare Leadership, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
MSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Executive Leadership in Nursing/Nursing & Healthcare Leadership, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
ETSU frontloads its curricula with courses related to the concentration you've chosen, but as you get closer to beginning your DNP project in the sixth semester, you'll start taking core DNP classes like "Conceptual Systems for Advanced Nursing Practice" and "Principles of Population Health and Data Analysis for Advanced Nursing Practice." Your DNP project will span three semesters and will focus on preparing APRNs and other nurse leaders on how to translate research evidence into practice improvements in a rural clinical practice setting. You'll participate in practicum experiences at healthcare facilities throughout eastern Tennessee, like Johnson City Medical Center, Holston Valley Medical Center, and Franklin Woods Community Hospital.
If you pursue this program full-time, you'll graduate in nine semesters (36 months). Students who enroll part-time can complete the curriculum in 15 semesters (60 months). This program has an entry point in the fall semester. All applicants must have at least two years of professional nursing experience and a Tennessee nursing license.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: While East Tennessee State University's catalog breaks its MSN-to-DNP program out by concentrations, the AGPCNP, Executive Leadership in Nursing/Nursing & Healthcare Leadership, FNP, and PMHNP tracks are identical to one another, and none of them offer any coursework related to their respective concentrations' specific population foci.
To graduate with this degree, you must complete 38 credits of foundational DNP coursework (including a DNP project) and 500 clinical hours. (You'll be able to augment these clinical hours with the practicums you took in your MSN studies to reach the mandated 1,000 clinical hours that a DNP degree requires.) If you choose to pursue a clinical specialty different from one you are already certified in, ETSU's College of Nursing will customize a longer study plan for you.
The basic curriculum takes just four semesters (16 months) to complete if you're a full-time student and seven semesters (28 months) to complete if you enroll part-time. Courses begin in the summer semester. You'll need a minimum of two years of professional nursing experience and Tennessee RN licensure for acceptance into this program.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• East Tennessee State University partners with Tennessee Technological University on its DNP program.• ETSU will accept students without an MSN into its MSN-to-DNP track so long as they have a BSN and a master's degree in a related field.
7. Lee University - Cleveland
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner and Transformational Executive Nursing Leadership
MSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner and Transformational Executive Nursing Leadership
You'll learn how to apply the principles of translational research to challenges arising in the clinical workplace by developing, implementing, and evaluating a DNP scholarly project. Courses like "Evidence-Based Practice and Translational Research," " Philosophical and Theoretical Dimensions of Nursing," and "Healthcare Policy and Leadership" will provide a framework as you delve deeper into studies exploring your chosen concentration. You'll complete a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours at a healthcare facility in your own local part of Tennessee.
You'll graduate from the BSN-to-DNP/FNP program in nine semesters (36 months) if you're a full-time student and 12 months (48 months) if you enroll part-time. Full-time BSN-to-DNP/ Transformational Executive Nursing Leadership students can graduate in seven semesters (28 months), and part-time students in 10 semesters (40 months). Applicants must have an RN license from Tennessee or a compact state. New students start Lee University's BSN-to-DNP program each fall.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: While Lee University's 28-credit MSN-to-DNP program is divided into FNP and Transformational Executive Nursing Leadership tracks, the basic program only offers foundational DNP coursework (including a DNP project). If you have an APRN and are pursuing this degree to achieve expertise in a new specialty, the university will develop an individualized study plan for you.
You must complete a minimum of 550 faculty-supervised scholarly project hours, which you can combine with clinical hours you completed during your MSN studies to meet the 1,000-hour DNP requirement. Coursework begins in the fall semester. Applications are only open to candidates with national certification in one of the recognized APRN roles, and all applicants must hold Tennessee RN licensure.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• Lee University is another one of the Christian DNP programs in Tennessee. It's affiliated with the Church of God. While non-Christian students can enroll, all students must sign a strict Community Covenant restricting behaviors like alcohol use, premarital sex, and homosexuality, and Christian tenets are reflected in the university's nursing curriculum.• Lee University's DNP program focuses on approaches to rural, global, and disaster healthcare delivery within a Christian worldview.
8. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - Chattanooga
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Nursing Administration Systems, Nurse Practitioner (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner-Adult Gerontology, Family Nurse Practitioner Lifespan, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner), and Nurse Anesthesia
Students enrolled in the nurse practitioner tracks enroll in didactic and clinical courses concurrently so that the skills and nursing theory they're learning will be reinforced in the clinical practice setting. You'll take core DNP courses like "Technology and Transformation of Health Care," "Professional Aspects & Role Development of Nurse Practitioner Practice," and "Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics for the Healthcare Provider." You'll also complete a DNP project tackling a challenge affecting groups of patients, health care organizations, or health care systems.
All tracks involve a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours. Clinical rotation assignments are made to optimize formative experiences in your chosen specialty. Students enrolled in the ACNP-AG track will divvy their time between Hospitalist and Critical Care Intensivist roles. You'll pursue clinical practicums at multiple medical facilities within the Greater Chattanooga Area, including many associated with the Erlanger Health System, such as the Erlanger Baroness Campus, the Erlanger East Campus, and the Children’s Hospital at Erlanger. Some clinical sites may be in Georgia or Alabama.
The BSN-to-DNP/Nurse Anesthesia track is a classroom program headquartered at the university's campus in Chattanooga. This DNP program in Tennessee begins in the spring semester and will take you nine semesters to complete. Applicants must have at least two years of critical care experience and RN licensure in the Volunteer State.
The Nursing Administration Systems and nurse practitioner BSN-to-DNP tracks are primarily taught online, but you will have to visit Chattanooga at least twice for two three-day DNP intensives. The BSN-to-DNP/ Nursing Administration Systems track admits new students in the spring and will take you seven semesters (28 months) to complete. The BSN-to-DNP/NP tracks begin in the fall semester and will take you eight semesters (32 months) to complete. Applicants must have at least one year of professional nursing experience—for ACNP-AG applicants, that experience must be in a critical care setting—and a Tennessee RN license.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: The MSN-to-DNP program at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is expressly designed for RNs with a master's degree in nursing who are interested in leveling up to an even higher degree of professional development. The study plan is a shorter version of the BSN-to-DNP curriculum, focusing exclusively on DNP core courses and the DNP project. You'll be able to apply 500 of your post-baccalaureate clinical hours toward satisfying your 1,000-hour DNP clinical requirement.
Though most of your courses will be delivered via distance learning technology, you must make two three-day visits to the campus for qualifying exams and final project presentations. The program can be completed in six semesters and accepts new cohorts in the spring semester.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• First-time pass rates for all nurse practitioner students at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga are above 96 percent.• UT--Chattanooga partners with North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo on its BSN-to-DNP/Nurse Anesthesia program.
9. Southern Adventist University - Collegedale
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Acute Care—Adult/Gerontology NP, Primary Care—Adult/Gerontology NP, Lifestyle Medicine, Nurse Educator, Primary Care—Family NP, Primary Care—Psychiatric Mental Health NP, and Dual Acute Care + Family NP
MSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Acute Care—Adult/Gerontology NP, Primary Care—Adult/Gerontology NP, Lifestyle Medicine, Nurse Educator, Primary Care—Family NP, Primary Care—Psychiatric Mental Health NP, and Dual Acute Care + Family NP
All tracks entail 77 credits and a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours. You'll be free to pursue practicums in your own community. The curriculum includes foundational APRN courses, specialty-specific courses, coursework exploring Christian attitudes toward healthcare and healing, and core DNP classes such as "Healthcare Technology in Advanced Practice," "Epidemiology and Biostatistics for Advanced Practice," and "Healthcare Policy, Economics and Finance." All DNP candidates must also complete a three-semester DNP project.
The Lifestyle Medicine, Nurse Educator, and PCPMHNP tracks are offered online, while the ACAGNP, PCAGNP, PCFNP, and dual Acute Care + FNP tracks utilize a hybrid format that combines online coursework with in-person classes. All Southern Baptist University students, however, must attend one DNP seminar on campus each fall semester. Full-time students will typically graduate in nine semesters (36 months). New cohorts are accepted into the program in the fall and winter terms.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: Southern Adventist University also offers a post-master's DNP with the following concentrations: a 48-credit MSN-to-DNP/ACAGNP track, a 44-credit Lifestyle Medicine track, a 45-credit Nurse Educator track, a 48-credit ACAGNP track, a 48-credit PCFNP track, and a 50-credit PCPMHNP track. The curriculum focuses on foundational coursework beyond what students mastered in their MSN studies and includes a scholarly DNP project.
Southern Adventist University accepts new students into this program in the fall and winter terms. Applicants must have a minimum of 4,000 hours of professional nursing experience on their resume.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• Southern Adventist University is affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. While the university doesn't restrict admission on the basis of religious beliefs, faith plays a significant role in its educational curricula. DNP students will take courses like "Christian Leadership and Management," "God and Human Suffering," and "Jesus as Healer."• Southern Adventist University offers a dual BSN-to-DNP/MBA degree.
10. Lincoln Memorial University - Harrogate
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Nurse Anesthesia
Lincoln Memorial University has an extensive network of clinical affiliations throughout Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, and Georgia, such as Park West Medical Center, Bristol Regional Medical Center, and Highlands Regional Medical Center. You will complete your clinical practicums at these facilities. Lincoln Memorial University's BSN-to-DNP/Nurse Anesthesia program is nine semesters long and accepts new cohorts in the spring.
This program is only open to BSN-prepared nurses who have at least one year of critical care experience in a Level I or Level II trauma center. Applicants whose undergraduate grade point average is less than 3.4 must take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), and all applicants must have a Tennessee RN license. (Note that since clinical practicums take place in other states as well, you may need additional state licenses.)
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: Lincoln Memorial University also offers an online MSN-to-DNP study plan, which you can complete in six semesters (24 months). This 39-credit program consists of the DNP components of the university's BSN-to-DNP curriculum and requires 1,000 clinical hours, though you may be able to apply some or all of your MSN clinical hours toward that requirement. You'll be able to complete your clinical rotations at a healthcare facility that's a convenient distance from your own home. Courses begin each spring. Applicants must have two or more years of full-time experience working as an RN.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• 100 percent of LMU's DNP graduates are employed in their field of choice within one year of completing their doctoral degree.• Lincoln Memorial University has a deep connection to the Appalachian region, which is reflected in various ways throughout its DNP curriculum.
11. Baptist Health Sciences University - Memphis
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
MSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Both tracks comprise 66 credits and 1,365 clinical hours. You'll spend your first three semesters taking foundational APRN courses and core DNP classes like "Nursing Leadership & Ethics for the DNP," "Evidence-based & Translational Methods for Practice," and "Biostatistics for the DNP." Additionally, you'll spend two semesters working on a scholarly DNP project, which you'll then present and defend to experts in the field your project is in.
Baptist Health Sciences University's BSN-to-DNP program uses a hybrid model of teaching: While some classes are available online, others require classroom attendance. Distance-learning courses utilize a synchronous format. Once you begin participating in clinical rotations in your fourth semester, you'll make two- or three-day visits to the university's campus in Memphis three times every semester. You can enroll full-time in the program and graduate in nine semesters (36 months) or part-time and graduate in 12 semesters (48 months). New cohorts start this program in the spring semester. All applicants must hold RN licensure in Tennessee, and applicants aspiring to the BSN-to-DNP/AGACNP track must have at least three months of recent professional experience in an acute care setting.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details:
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• Through its connection with the Baptist Memorial Health Care System, Baptist Health Sciences University is connected to the Baptist Church. While it's an equal opportunity institution that welcomes students from many different faith backgrounds, Christian doctrines are underscored in some of its nursing education.• The first-time national certification exam pass rate for NP graduates of Baptist Health Sciences University's BSN-to-DNP program is 94 percent.
12. Tennessee Tech University - Cookeville
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
MSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
This is a front-loaded program. In the first four semesters, you will take foundational APRN coursework and classes that will teach you the knowledge and skills you'll need to be a successful nurse practitioner in the population focus you've chosen. You'll begin DNP core courses like "Principles of Population Health and Data Analysis for Advanced Nursing Practice" and "Scholarly Writing" in your fifth semester. You'll also participate in a four-semester DNP project. Clinical practicums will be scheduled at hospitals and clinics throughout the Upper Cumberland area to give you insight into the unique healthcare needs of residents in this area.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: Interested in taking the next step up the learning ladder once you've earned your Master's of Science in Nursing degree? Tennessee Tech University offers four MSN-to-DNP specialties: a 32-credit (500 clinical hours) MSN-to-DNP/WHNP track, a 32-credit (500 clinical hours) FNP track, a 30-credit (500 clinical hours) MSN-to-DNP/PPCNP track, and a 35-credit AGACNP track. To fulfill the DNP 1,000 clinical hours requirement, you'll transfer over some of the practicum hour credits you earned during your MSN.
The core DNP curriculum contains the same doctoral courses that BSN-to-DNP students take. You'll also complete a DNP project. Classes begin in the summer semester. Full-time students pursuing a concentration in which they're already certified will graduate in four semesters (16 months); part-time students in seven semesters (28 months). If you're pursuing a new concentration different from the one you're certified in, the College of Nursing will design an individualized study plan for you, and the program will take longer to complete.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• This DNP program in Tennessee is administered as a partnership between the Colleges of Nursing at East Tennessee State University and Tennessee Tech University. The two universities collaborate on six specialty tracks in total.• Tennessee Tech University only allows students to pursue clinical practicums in Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina. You must hold an RN license in one of those states to be accepted into TTU's DNP program.
13. Carson-Newman University - Jefferson City
Programs Offered: DNP
Applicants must have a BSN and an MSN degree. Carson-Newman University accepts new students into its DNP program in the spring, summer, and fall semesters.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• Carson-Newman University is associated with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. You don't have to be Christian to attend the school, but Christian values shape the content of the university's nursing education.• You must complete at least 400 of your DNP practicum hours at Carson-Newman University.
14. King University - Bristol
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Leadership & Administration
In addition to practicums and classes pertaining to the specialty you've chosen, you'll take assessment, pharmacology, and pathophysiology classes oriented to advanced RN practice as well as core DNP courses like "Social, Cultural & Political Perspectives on Healthcare & Delivery Systems," "Research Designs in Nursing," and "Healthcare Informatics." As a full-time student, you can complete King University's DNP course of study in eight semesters (32 months).
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• King University is a Presbyterian-affiliated institution of higher learning. While it opens its doors to students of all faith backgrounds, a Christian framework informs its educational offerings, including its nursing curriculum.• King University also offers an MSN-to-DNP program that you may be able to enroll in even if you don't have a Master's of Science in Nursing degree, so long as you have a master's degree in business administration, public health, health education, or healthcare administration.
15. South College - Knoxville
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Nurse Anesthesia
Your first four quarters will be front-loaded with core DNP courses like "Translational Science, Quality Improvement, & Evaluation," "Healthcare Policy & Economics," and "Organizational Leadership." In your second year, you'll start working on a five-part DNP project. South College admits a new cohort into this program once a year in January. Applicants must have at least one year of experience in a critical care practice setting and hold BLS, ACLS, PALS, and Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certifications.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: South College's MSN-to-DNP program takes most students 21 months to finish. You'll complete between 28 and 36 quarter-credits since the college may allow you to take credit for a portion of your MSN coursework. Similarly, the number of clinical hours you'll be responsible for completing will vary since the college will allow you to transfer a portion of your MSN clinical hours to meet the minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate clinical hours that a DNP demands.
Apart from practicums, the curriculum will be entirely delivered online, which makes this program excellent for RNs with a nursing master's who want to enhance their professional opportunities at their own pace. South College will allow you to begin the program in the spring, summer, fall, or winter quarter. You must have at least 2,000 hours of professional nursing experience to apply to this program.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• South College maintains clinical satellite locations in Phoenix, AZ; Tucson, AZ; Hartford, CT; Fort Wayne, IN; Alexandria, LA; Bangor, ME; Cincinnati, OH; Dayton, OH; Knoxville, TN; Oak Ridge, TN; Corpus Christi, TX; McAllen, TX; Edinburg, TX; Huntington, WV.• South College employs a unique subscription-based approach to DNP tuition (which the college has dubbed "All You Can Master") that allows students to work through educational materials at their own speed,
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED
1. Who Accredits DNP Programs In Tennessee?
| 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 Tennessee?
| 15 |
3. What Is The Average DNP Salary In Tennessee?
| Hourly | $53.72 |
| Weekly | $2,149 |
| Monthly | $9,310 |
| Annual | $111,730 |
4. On Average, How Much Do Entry-Level DNP Graduates Make In Tennessee?
| Hourly | $39.52 |
| Weekly | $1,581 |
| Monthly | $6,850 |
| Annual | $82,200 |
5. On Average, How Much Do Experienced DNP Graduates Make In Tennessee?
| Level of Experience | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
| 1-4 Years of Experience | $44.72 | $1,789 | $7,750 | $93,010 |
| 5-9 Years of Experience | $52.78 | $2,111 | $9,150 | $109,790 |
| 10-19 Years of Experience | $58.78 | $2,351 | $10,190 | $122,270 |
| 20 Years or More Experience | $70.25 | $2,810 | $12,180 | $146,110 |
6. What Is The Average DNP Salary In Tennessee By Metro?
| Metro | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
| Chattanooga | $54.01 | $2,160 | $9,360 | $112,340 |
| Clarksville | $53.17 | $2,127 | $9,220 | $110,590 |
| Cleveland | $44.28 | $1,771 | $7,680 | $92,100 |
| Jackson | $53.24 | $2,130 | $9,230 | $110,740 |
| Johnson City | $47.23 | $1,889 | $8,190 | $98,230 |
| Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol | $53.08 | $2,123 | $9,200 | $110,410 |
| Knoxville | $51.78 | $2,071 | $8,980 | $107,710 |
| Memphis | $55.25 | $2,210 | $9,580 | $114,920 |
| Morristown | $48.84 | $1,954 | $8,470 | $101,590 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $55.32 | $2,213 | $9,590 | $115,060 |
7. Average DNP Salary In Tennessee VS. Average Salaries Of Other Closely Related Occupations In Tennessee
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| Podiatrist | $185,690 | -$73,960 | -39.83% |
| Dentist | $164,410 | -$52,680 | -32.04% |
| Optometrist | $127,850 | -$16,120 | -12.61% |
| Veterinarian | $125,920 | -$14,190 | -11.27% |
| Pharmacist | $122,820 | -$11,090 | -9.03% |
| Physician Assistant | $113,690 | -$1,960 | -1.72% |
| Nurse With DNP | $111,730 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Physical Therapist | $96,440 | +$15,290 | +15.85% |
| Occupational Therapist | $92,710 | +$19,020 | +20.52% |
| Radiation Therapist | $80,850 | +$30,880 | +38.19% |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $78,210 | +$33,520 | +42.86% |
| Audiologist | $77,880 | +$33,850 | +43.46% |
| Dental Hygienist | $75,920 | +$35,810 | +47.17% |
| Chiropractor | $69,180 | +$42,550 | +61.51% |
Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPHPattie 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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