DNP
Advance your leadership and clinical practice skills through one of two specializations.
Health care is complex and rapidly evolving. Today’s nurses need a high level of scientific knowledge and practical expertise to deliver safe, effective care. That’s why our courses focus not only on technical know-how but also leadership and policy. The Regis DNP program is aligned with Jesuit values and focuses on serving vulnerable, underserved and diverse populations.
There are over three million nurses in the U.S. health care workforce. Yet, fewer than one percent hold a doctoral degree in nursing, or in a nursing-related field. The highest clinical degree in the field – a DNP – can broaden your career options and increase your value to employers. A doctorate can give you a seat at the table among physicians, administrators, and other health team members as you make decisions about patient care.
Program Format
Online classes
8-week terms
Credits for Completion
28-33 credit hours
Tuition for the 25-26 Academic Year
$1,108 per credit hour
Assess and plan population health promotion and disease prevention through the foundations of epidemiology, including epidemiological models, determinants of health and illness, methods and data measurements and examining the epidemiology of populations across the lifespan.
Analyze public policy at all levels, from local to international, and the implications of policy to consumers, professionals and policymakers by evaluating the financial and legal influences. Strategize ways to drive policy supportive of health care, health care delivery, health care education and the practice of nursing.
Study advanced practice models for nurse practitioners, including scope of practice, standards of care, practice guidelines and credentialing. Through collaborative models of care, examine the role of the nurse practitioner as a member of health care delivery teams focused on coalition building, human relationship development and conflict negotiation.
The DNP with the Advanced Leadership in Health Care (ALHC) specialization is for those with a background in nursing leadership. By becoming a leader in our nursing community, you’ll go on to help improve the practice of nursing and patient outcomes, while strengthening health care delivery overall.
The DNP with the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) specialization is for those with a background as an advanced practice nurse. A DNP degree will increase your level of clinical education and help strengthen your leadership abilities.
As one of the top nursing schools in Colorado, the Loretto Heights School of Nursing has been training generations of nursing professionals since 1948. Our graduates are recognized for their knowledge, competence, compassion, ethics and leadership abilities, as well as their commitment to social justice and community service.
The Loretto Heights School of Nursing (LHSON) at Regis University in Denver, Colorado is fully accredited by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (AACN-CCNE).
To apply directly to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, you will need:
Eligibility:
The first step in the application process is to contact an admissions counselor, who can evaluate your prior learning credit, provide information regarding financial aid and tuition assistance and help you through the entire application process.
Tuition for the 2025-2026 academic year: $1,108 per credit hour
Total program credits: 28-33 credit hours
Tuition is one part of the overall cost of attendance, which includes all expenses students may have, including basic living costs. For more information about tuition, fees and your estimated cost of attendance, visit our Cost of Attendance for Doctoral Students page. Tuition and fees are subject to change.
Additional fees may include background check and drug screen costs, application fees and clinical fees, among others. Credit hours required for program completion are calculated based on the number of clinical hours completed during your master's program.
Regis offers a variety of scholarships, grants and other programs to help you pay for school. Visit Financial Aid for more information.
We offer two plans of study for the Doctor of Nursing Practice program: a two-year (six-semester) option, or a three-year (nine-semester) option.
You need to earn a total of 1,000 hours post-BSN. The specific amount needed is dependent on the number accrued in your MS in Nursing. Generally, those with an MS in Nursing: Nurse Practitioner enter with ~ 600 hours, and those with an MS in Nursing: Leadership Management or Education enter with ~100-200 hours.
Yes, most students complete their capstone project in their current place of employment. Students identify the vulnerable, underserved or diverse populations with whom they are working, establish a practice problem and review the relevant literature in preparation for establishing their practice change initiative.
There are no prerequisites to begin the online nursing curriculum, however, applicants must have completed a statistics course with a grade of C or better prior to enrolling in NR 707 – Clinical Research.
If you have not yet taken a statistics course, you are still eligible to apply, but admitted students must complete statistics prior to NR 707. Regis University offers several statistics courses and offers one specific to healthcare professionals (MT 274 Statistics for Health Professionals). We allow students to enroll in these courses as non-degree-seeking students. Additionally, the course can be taken at any regionally accredited college or University including community colleges. For those in the Colorado area looking at the community college offerings, MAT 135 Introduction to Statistics will fulfill this requirement.
No, the program is offered 100% online. We welcome and encourage you to visit campus for graduation!
The Doctor of Nursing Practice is offered by the historic Loretto Heights School of Nursing within the Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions.