DNP Programs in Vermont – 2025

Written By: Darby Faubion RN, BSN, MBA

Doesn’t it make sense to optimize the investment you’re making in your Vermont nursing education by getting the most highly valued and versatile diploma? As a graduate of one of the DNP programs in Vermont, you’ll be qualified to practice in multiple clinical practice settings. You can also develop the executive skills essential for leadership roles in hospital units, healthcare facilities, and nursing education. DNPs in the Green Mountain State make excellent salaries, averaging $135,840 a year. They’re highly sought after by healthcare employers, too, and demand for their services is expected to rise by 26 percent over the next decade. This guide to the best DNP programs in Vermont can tell you more.

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

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

1. University of Vermont - Burlington

Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, and Direct Entry DNP

BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner

MSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Executive Nurse Leader and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

Direct Entry DNP Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner

BSN-to-DNP Program Details: If you are a registered nurse interested in earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, you probably know there are many options to consider. Finding the right school that offers the pathway you want to pursue is crucial. The University of Vermont understands how important this decision is and what it takes to help students succeed. The school is home to one of the top DNP programs in Vermont and offers three pathways to a nursing doctorate, including the BSN-to-DNP program.

The post-baccalaureate DNP program can be completed in three calendar years. You can choose to specialize as an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner or Family Nurse Practitioner. The program is designed as a full-time, campus-based pathway.

The FNP pathway features a 76-credit curriculum, and the Adult-Gerontology NP pathway features a 69.5-credit curriculum. Students in both pathways take classes such as Advanced Neuropharmacology, Genetics for Clinicians, Biostatistics & Epidemiology, and Management of Acute & Common Health Conditions. A minimum of 1,000 clinical hours is required of all DNP students. Clinical hours are classified as either direct, involving direct patient care, or indirect, earned through the completion and dissemination of the DNP Scholarly Project.

BSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission to the BSN-to-DNP program, you need a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program and a current, unencumbered RN license in Vermont. You must provide three letters of recommendation, college transcripts reflecting a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and have completed prerequisite courses in Basic Physical Assessment and Statistics. Candidates with practice experience are preferred. Additionally, although GRE scores are not required, if you have taken the exam and have satisfactory scores, you may submit your scores to complement your application.

MSN-to-DNP Program Details: If you have earned a master’s degree in nursing, you have the option to pursue the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree through the MSN-to-DNP program at the University of Vermont. This post-master’s DNP program in Vermont has two pathways: Executive Nurse Leader and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. The program admits new students in the fall semester each year and takes an average of two years of full-time study to complete. While some coursework may be completed online, the program is considered a campus-based pathway.

The curriculum for the Executive Nurse Leader Track is designed to provide you with didactic and clinical instruction to develop the essential knowledge and skills to take on leadership roles in care delivery and evaluation, healthcare policy development, and population health strategy implementation. The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse path offers flexibility to customize a study plan based on your long-term career aspirations, whether in business, public health, administration, or nursing education.

The Executive Nurse Leader Track requires completion of 33 credits. The APRN track features a 32-credit curriculum. However, a GAP analysis will be performed to determine if you have completed courses in nursing theory, nursing research, healthcare policy, and biostatistics (within the past five years). If those courses are lacking, they will be added to your plan of study.

To fulfill DNP requirements, you must have at least 1,000 clinical practice hours from your MSN program and the DNP program combined. After verification of your master’s level clinical hours, your study plan will be personalized to ensure you complete the minimum required hours to earn the DNP and sit for national certification.

MSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: Registered nurses with a master’s degree in nursing and a current RN and APRN license (if applying for the primary care track) are eligible to apply to the MSN-to-DNP program. In addition to completing an admission application, you are required to provide official transcripts from all post-secondary schools you have attended and three letters of recommendation. An interview with program faculty will be conducted to assist in a GAP analysis of your previous coursework.

Direct Entry DNP Program Details: The University of Vermont believes anyone with a passion for nursing should have the opportunity to earn a degree and specialize. The school offers a Direct-Entry DNP program for individuals with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree who wish to pursue a clinical doctorate in nursing. The program reviews applications on a rolling basis and admits new cohorts for each fall semester.

As a Direct-Entry DNP student, you can fast-track your nursing career by earning a DNP in just 11 semesters. You may choose to specialize in the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner or Family Nurse Practitioner concentration. The first year of the program is the pre-licensure year, and it requires campus attendance. The remaining three years are mostly hybrid. While you are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN after completion of the pre-licensure year, no degree is conferred. Instead, the program is designed to allow you to progress seamlessly to the DNP degree.

The program comprises 106 to 112.5 credit hours, depending on which specialty you pursue. Students in both pathways complete courses, including Comprehensive Nursing care of Adults and Elders, The Science of Nursing: Mental Health, and The Science of Nursing, Gynecologic Care & Families. After completion of the pre-nursing year, you will follow the traditional AGNP or FNP track for the Doctor of Nursing Practice curriculum. Additionally, you will complete 800 to 870 direct patient care clinical hours, and 240 practicum hours related to the DNP Scholarly Project.

Direct Entry DNP Admission Requirements: If you wish to be considered for admission to the Direct Entry DNP program at the University of Vermont, you need a non-nursing bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. You are required to submit an admission application, a Personal Statement, a resume, and three letters of recommendation. Additionally, you must provide official transcripts from each post-secondary school you attended and have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Your transcripts should also show proof of completion of the prerequisite courses Anatomy & Physiology I & II, Nutrition, Microbiology, and Statistics, each with a grade of “B” or higher. Prerequisite coursework must be no more than 7 years old to be accepted.

Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students

• As a nurse educator, I stress to all prospective students the importance of finding a nursing program that offers diverse clinical opportunities and excellent mentorship. This is an important factor to consider when choosing a DNP program in Vermont, as your clinical experiences will lay the foundation for how you practice and provide patient care, both as a student and later as an independent practitioner and nurse leader. At the University of Vermont, clinical practicums are the cornerstone of the DNP programs. You will complete preceptorships with experienced nurse practitioners and physicians in a variety of settings, including community health centers, rural health sites, hospitals, and primary care clinics.
• Simulated learning is an awesome tool used by nursing programs today. Top nursing programs use simulation to help students develop clinical reasoning and essential hands-on skills. One of the things I love about the DNP program at the University of Vermont is that the school has integrated Virtual Reality simulation into its nursing curriculum. This approach to simulated learning allows students to experience complete immersion in virtual hospitals. The VR simulation uses lifelike avatars of the same size as humans. The avatars follow students with their eyes and respond using machine learning and natural language processing.
• The DNP programs at the University of Vermont are led by expert faculty who remain active in clinical practice. Faculty are experienced researchers, educators, and clinicians dedicated to your academic success and professional growth.
• At the University of Vermont, small class sizes mean more personal attention from faculty and staff. Small cohort sizes and the on-campus format foster strong engagement with faculty, peers, and preceptors.


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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED

1. Who Accredits DNP Programs In Vermont?

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3. What Is The Average DNP Salary In Vermont?

4. On Average, How Much Do Entry-Level DNP Graduates Make In Vermont?

5. On Average, How Much Do Experienced DNP Graduates Make In Vermont?

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7. Average DNP Salary In Vermont VS. Average Salaries Of Other Closely Related Occupations In Vermont

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