Online MSN to DNP Program
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Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) — DNP Overview
Come back stronger and move your nursing career forward. Earn both your master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing seamlessly and be ready to perform at the highest levels of the profession.
- Meet the ongoing call for nurses with advanced education and take the next step toward your DNP. If you possess a bachelor’s in nursing, completing the MSN-to-DNP program is required to enter the Doctor of Nursing Practice.
- Choose from six specialty tracks to align your degree with your career goals and prepare for industry-recognized certifications.
- Complete courses online while meeting the demands of your nursing career.
- Get hands-on experience through local clinicals you can complete where convenient or even at your place of work.
- Build expertise in organizational theory, health care finance, human resources, information and health care technologies, and more.
CCNE Accredited
The master's degree in nursing program at Purdue Global is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.CCNEAccreditation.org).
Dedicated Faculty and Advisors
Current information and techniques are taught by practicing professionals who have advanced degrees in nursing.
Academic advisors and faculty offer personalized academic support as you earn your master's in nursing online.
Note: Residents of TN may not enroll in this program. Residents of the following states and territories may not enroll in the nurse practitioner population focus areas: HI, LA, NY, OR, UT, WA, Guam. In addition, residents of DC may not enroll in the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner population focus area or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner population focus area, and residents of the Virgin Islands may not enroll in the adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner or family nurse practitioner, primary care focus areas. Residents of WA or the Virgin Islands may not enroll in the executive leader concentration.
See Notes and Conditions below for important information.
Purdue Global Is Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
The HLC (HLCommission.org) is an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
The DAISY® Award for Extraordinary Nurses
Purdue Global School of Nursing proudly partners with The DAISY Foundation™ to recognize and celebrate extraordinary nursing students.
Calculate Your Time and Cost
Estimate how much your prior learning credits can reduce your tuition and time to graduation.
What Courses Will I Take?
The online MSN to DNP program includes the core curriculum, concentration or population focus area courses, and an evidence-based project proposal.
Once you complete the master’s degree courses, you’ll move on to Purdue Global’s Doctor of Nursing Practice.
Sample Courses
- Advanced Nursing Roles
- Scientific and Analytic Approaches to Advanced Evidence-Based Practice
- Epidemiology and Health Promotion
- Health Policy, Ethical, and Legal Perspectives of the Health Care System
- Promoting Optimal Models and Systems for Health Care Delivery
Specialty Tracks
Each option includes a guided clinical practice experience:
- Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner
- Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner
- Executive leader
- Family nurse practitioner, primary care
- Nurse educator
- Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
NP Pathways
Other Pathways
1 semester credit hour = 1.5 quarter credit hours
Admissions Requirements
A bachelor's degree with a major in nursing and an approved criminal background check is required. You will need to provide an official transcript that shows completion of your bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, though an unofficial copy may be provided during the application process. Additional requirements apply. Refer to the program-specific policy page in the University Catalog or speak to an Advisor to learn more.
Upcoming Start Dates
We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.
Specialty Tracks
Gain specialized knowledge through one of six tracks:
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Focus on diagnosing, treating, and managing patients’ acute and chronic health conditions.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Promote holistic health care to members of the adult and older adult population through assessment, diagnosis, and comprehensive treatment of chronic health problems.
Executive Leader
Focus on the principles of personnel management, policy development and implementation, budgeting, and the use of information technology.
Family Nurse Practitioner, Primary Care
Promote holistic health care to adults and children in a family systems context through the assessment, diagnosis, and management of chronic health problems.
Nurse Educator
Learn to effectively teach patients and their families, create staff development, and evaluate educational programs.
Nurse Educator
Provide comprehensive psychiatric mental health care through the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of psychiatric mental health disorders, medical organic brain disorders, substance abuse problems, and complex co-occurring disease processes and disorders across the lifespan.
Prepare for Industry Certifications
Upon completion of the MSN to DNP program, you may be eligible to pursue industry-recognized certifications in your selected specialty area.
Nursing credentials demonstrate your adherence to a higher standard and may be a condition for employment in nursing.
As of July 2025, 93.7% is the average pass rate for nurse practitioner students who graduated in 2024 and are known to have attempted a certification exam through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), or American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
Clinical Practice Experiences
Put your knowledge to work with a mentor in a local health care organization. Faculty- and preceptor-guided clinical practice experiences provide knowledge and mentoring specific to your area of interest.
All clinical practice experience hours completed in the master’s program apply toward your doctorate.
See Notes and Conditions below for important information. Contact an Admissions Advisor for information on the number of clinical practice experience hours required in your specialty area.
Ways to Save on Time and Tuition
Purdue Global works with students to find ways to reduce costs and make education more accessible. Contact us to learn about opportunities to save on your educational costs.
Transfer Credits
Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions.
Financial Aid
Learn about federal financial aid programs available for many of our degree programs.
Grants and Loans
Learn about federal and state grants and loan programs that may be available.
Corporate Partner Benefits
Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.
Military Tuition Reduction
Graduate tuition savings for military include a 17–30% reduction per credit for current servicemembers and 14% per credit for veterans for graduate programs.
Prior Military Experience
Earn credit for your military training. We offer credit for ACE-evaluated training and CLEP and DANTES examinations.
View the total cost of attendance for your program.
Possible Behavioral Interview Questions for This Field of Study
- Describe a time you led a quality improvement initiative in a clinical setting.
- Tell me about a situation where you applied evidence-based practice to change a patient care protocol or improve outcomes.
- Share an example of when you had to navigate a complex patient care situation involving multiple disciplines.
- Give an example of how you've used your advanced nursing education to influence policy, either at the unit, organizational, or community level.
- Describe a time when you had to mentor or coach other nurses or students in the clinical environment.
Sample Skills Developed and Used in This Field
- Nurse Practitioner (APRN-CNP)
- Management
- Communication
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
- Leadership
- Research
- Strategic Planning
- Decision Making
- Care Coordination
- Ethical Standards and Conduct
- Patient Education and Counseling
- Problem Solving
- Teamwork
- Critical Thinking
- Professionalism
Take a Career Assessment
Discover your work interests, and use them to chart your ideal career path.
Download the Program Brochure
Download our brochure to learn more about the Online Master of Science in Nursing and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global.
Choosing the Online MSN to DNP Program
Take the next step in expanding your education. Find tools on bridging the gap from your master’s degree to a doctorate in nursing.
Get to Know Our Faculty
Purdue Global faculty members are real-world practitioners who bring knowledge gained through the powerful combination of higher learning and industry experience.
Faculty members who have advanced degrees
Faculty members who have terminal degrees
Faculty publications in 2024–2025
Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2024–2025
Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school- or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, August 2025. 2024–2025 academic year.