Compare Accredited Online DNP Programs and Scholarships
Review program formats, entry pathways, campus requirements, and published funding routes before choosing a Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
Information checked August 2026 · Always verify details with the universityStart With Your Entry Pathway
Use your current nursing education and career goal to narrow the comparison.
BSN-to-DNP
For eligible bachelor's-prepared registered nurses pursuing advanced practice, leadership, or another doctoral nursing role.
Post-Master's DNP
For master's-prepared nurses seeking practice-doctorate preparation in clinical leadership, systems improvement, policy, or education.
Service-Linked Funding
For students willing to accept formal employment or service obligations through programs such as Nurse Corps or NFLP.
Accredited Online and Hybrid DNP Options
These are examples for further research, not a ranking. Filter the cards by pathway or funding type, then verify the exact specialty and state availability.
Duke University
Online DNP coursework with focused in-person intensives on Duke's campus.
- Published graduate and DNP merit scholarships
- Automatic consideration for eligible new students
- Employee and nurse-faculty financing may apply
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Distance-accessible DNP pathways; required intensives and schedules vary by specialty.
- One nursing scholarship application
- Need- and merit-based awards
- Limited traineeships when funded
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Online coursework with required executive sessions in published post-master's options.
- Nursing scholarships after admission
- FAFSA required for school scholarship eligibility
- State enrollment rules apply
University of Arizona
Hybrid DNP specialties with online coursework, campus intensives, and clinical practice.
- College of Nursing scholarships
- Specialty-specific workforce grants when available
- Grant service and placement conditions may apply
UNC–Chapel Hill
Online or distance-based study with required campus immersions depending on the pathway.
- Nursing financial-aid resources
- Nurse Faculty Loan Program for eligible students
- Full- and part-time options
UMass Amherst
Online DNP concentrations with local practice requirements and published state restrictions.
- Nursing scholarship opportunities
- Selected workforce awards
- NFLP for eligible DNP students
University of South Alabama
Online DNP coursework with clinical and specialty requirements completed under program rules.
- Nursing-focused scholarship database
- University and external opportunities
- Clinical placement availability varies by location
No programs match this filter.
Quick Comparison Table
Use this as a starting point, then request current written details from each university.
| University | Published format | Entry examples | Funding route | Verify before applying |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | Online + campus intensives | Post-master's | Limited merit scholarships | Current award amount and visits |
| UAB | Distance-accessible; specialty visits | BSN-to-DNP specialties | Need, merit, traineeships | Specialty and state eligibility |
| TTUHSC | Online + executive sessions | BSN and post-master's | School scholarships | FAFSA and session schedule |
| Arizona | Hybrid + clinical practicum | BSN-to-DNP specialties | Scholarships and workforce grants | Grant cycle and service terms |
| UNC | Online + campus immersions | BSN and post-master's | School aid and NFLP | Loan-cancellation conditions |
| UMass Amherst | Online + local practice | BSN and post-master's | Scholarships, grants, NFLP | State and concentration rules |
| South Alabama | Online coursework | BSN and post-master's | University/external database | Clinical placement availability |
Understand the Funding Type
A scholarship, reimbursement, and forgivable loan can produce very different obligations.
University and AACN Awards
Merit, need-based, specialty, leadership, or doctoral nursing awards that normally do not require repayment when all terms are met.
Browse official AACN awards →Nurse Corps
Selected students can receive tuition, fees, educational costs, and a stipend in exchange for service at an eligible critical-shortage facility.
Review Nurse Corps terms →Nurse Faculty Loan Program
NFLP starts as a loan. Eligible graduates may receive substantial cancellation after completing qualifying nurse-faculty employment.
Read official NFLP information →Estimate Your DNP Net Cost
Enter estimates from a university's official cost sheet. This calculator stores and sends no information.
Five Checks Before You Apply
Complete these checks before paying an application fee or relying on a scholarship estimate.
Verify current nursing-program accreditation
Search the program directly in the accreditor's official directory, not only on a ranking or advertising page.
Confirm state and licensure eligibility
Ask whether the school can enroll you, place clinical experiences in your state, and prepare you for the intended certification or license.
Request the complete visit schedule
Count orientation, intensives, simulation, testing, project presentations, and any required campus residency.
Get the preceptor policy in writing
Determine whether the university finds placements, assists with them, or requires students to secure their own sites and preceptors.
Separate awards from debt
Record scholarships, grants, reimbursements, ordinary loans, and service-cancelable loans on separate lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these programs fully online?
No single description applies to every pathway. Some deliver didactic courses online but require campus intensives, clinical placements, practicum hours, simulation, or an in-person project presentation. Verify the exact specialty and plan of study.
Does accreditation guarantee licensure in every state?
No. Accreditation, state authorization, clinical-placement permission, certification preparation, and professional licensure are separate issues. Confirm all of them before enrolling.
Are scholarships guaranteed after admission?
Usually not. Automatic consideration means the university reviews eligible students without a separate scholarship application; it does not mean every admitted student receives an award.
Is NFLP the same as a scholarship?
No. The Nurse Faculty Loan Program begins as a loan. Cancellation depends on completing qualifying employment and every requirement in the promissory agreement.
Can international students use these funding options?
Some institutional or private scholarships may accept international applicants, but many federal programs require U.S. citizenship, national status, permanent residency, or another qualifying status. Clinical programs can also require an active U.S. nursing license.
How should I compare scholarship offers?
Compare the remaining net cost after tuition, fees, books, travel, clinical expenses, and lost income. Check the number of funded semesters, renewal GPA, enrollment rules, and any service or employment obligation.
Verify Accreditation Before Shortlisting
Accreditation status can change. Search the official CCNE directory using the university's exact name, then confirm the selected DNP pathway directly with the school.
Check the CCNE Directory →Educational information only. This page does not rank, endorse, or represent any university. Program formats, accreditation, tuition, state availability, scholarships, and deadlines may change. Confirm all information with the university and relevant accrediting or licensing authority.