You’re ready to take on new responsibilities and lead in your field. To fast-track this professional decision, you have chosen to seek out accessible, flexible, affordable BSN to DNP programs online. Online programs allow the greatest work-life balance as you explore the many authoritative positions your career is opening up to. Who should pursue online BSN to DNP programs versus a PhD in Nursing? Those most interested in direct patient care in areas such as emergency medicine, psychiatry, women’s health, and more. Online BSN to DNP programs offer integrative experience, on-campus intensives, and on-the-job training in your field.
Now that you’ve chosen what type of degree you want, it’s time to factor in cost. According to Payscale, the average annual salary of the DNP graduate can reach upwards of $103,000. However, with student loan debt soaring, the difference between the cheapest and most expensive programs greatly affects the academic experience and outcomes.
GetEducated has compared 84 accredited BSN to DNP programs online from 37 schools across the country to curate this “Best Buy” ranking for you. The following list of the 38 most affordable BSN to DNP programs represents the next phase of your professional journey, providing the most accessible economic options available today. With a difference in cost of almost $125,000 between the most affordable and expensive online programs, it pays to do some research before committing to your degree.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$68,000
Least Expensive: University of Central Arkansas ~$23,725
Most Expensive: Johns Hopkins University ~$148,325
Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There’s no fancy formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and therefore factually showcase the cheapest BSN to DNP programs online. The degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2021 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Most Affordable BSN to DNP Programs Online
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | University of Central Arkansas | (AR) | $23,725.00 | All Students |
2 | New Mexico State University | (NM) | $27,159.00 $16,500.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
3 | University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center | (OK) | $33,379.50 $76,135.50 | In-State Out-of-State |
4 | Troy University | (AL) | $34,100.00 | All Students |
5 | The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga | (TN) | $36,409.00 $39,088.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
6 | University of Southern Mississippi | (MS) | $37,004.00 | All Students |
7 | Radford University | (VA) | $37,227.00 $64,146.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
8 | Troy University | (AL) | $38,500.00 | All Students |
9 | Jacksonville State University | (AL) | $41,004.00 | All Students |
10 | University of Wyoming | (WY) | $43,764.00 $82,740.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
11 |  Liberty University | (VA) | $44,532.00 $21,700.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
12 | Chatham University | (PA) | $46,236.14 | All Students |
13 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | (IL) | $46,698.40 | All Students |
14 | Washburn University | (KS) | $47,775.00 | All Students |
15 | Liberty University | (VA) | $48,301.00 $23,500.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
16 | Idaho State University | (ID) | $49,665.00 | All Students |
17 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | (MO) | $50,297.80 $91,330.80 | In-State Out-of-State |
18 | University of Missouri-St Louis | (MO) | $51,875.40 $98,040.60 | In-State Out-of-State |
19 | Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing | (IL) | $52,385.00 | All Students |
20 | Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing | (IL) | $52,520.00 | All Students |
21 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | (TN) | $54,475.00 $59,500.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
22 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | (TN) | $54,925.00 $60,025.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
23 | Gardner-Webb University | (NC) | $55,815.00 | All Students |
24 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | (TN) | $55,825.00 $61,000.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
25 | Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing | (IL) | $56,180.00 | All Students |
26 | University of Missouri-St Louis | (MO) | $58,569.00 $110,691.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
27 | Michigan State University | (MI) | $58,879.00 $60,629.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
28 | University of Mobile | (AL) | $59,040.00 | All Students |
29 | University of Utah | (UT) | $59,238.76 $131,893.24 | In-State Out-of-State |
30 | University of Utah | (UT) | $59,478.76 $132,133.24 | In-State Out-of-State |
31 | Nebraska Methodist College | (NE) | $60,939.00 | All Students |
32 | University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences | (CA) | $61,595.00 | All Students |
33 | University of Arizona | (AZ) | $64,096.00 | All Students |
34 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | (TN) | $64,875.00 $70,875.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
35 | Gardner-Webb University | (NC) | $65,340.00 | All Students |
36 | Regis College | (MA) | $66,800.00 $56,825.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
37 | University of Arizona | (AZ) | $67,100.50 | All Students |
38 | University of Utah | (UT) | $67,116.36 $149,330.64 | In-State Out-of-State |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
University of Arizona | (AZ) | $68,102.00 | All Students | |
Bay Path University | (MA) | $68,250.00 | All Students | |
Bradley University | (IL) | $69,199.00 | All Students | |
Medical University of South Carolina | (SC) | $72,650.00 $91,802.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
University of Utah | (UT) | $73,370.44 $163,232.56 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Messiah University | (PA) | $74,820.00 | All Students | |
University of Connecticut | (CT) | $77,700.00 | All Students | |
Gonzaga University | (WA) | $83,850.00 | All Students | |
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions | (UT) | $91,275.00 | All Students | |
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | (TN) | $94,875.00 $103,650.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
SUNY Polytechnic Institute | (NY) | $97,918.14 | All Students | |
The George Washington University | (DC) | $100,720.00 | All Students | |
University of Arizona | (AZ) | $104,252.50 | All Students | |
Texas Christian University | (TX) | $117,290.00 | All Students | |
Texas Christian University | (TX) | $121,000.00 | All Students | |
Texas Christian University | (TX) | $122,790.00 | All Students | |
Johns Hopkins University | (MD) | $137,375.00 | All Students | |
Johns Hopkins University | (MD) | $139,200.00 | All Students | |
Johns Hopkins University | (MD) | $142,850.00 | All Students | |
Johns Hopkins University | (MD) | $148,325.00 | All Students |
Accreditation & Program Notes
To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.
ACEN Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
CCNE Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
14 Options for this program have changed since publication.
Rankings Note
These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Spring 2021 review of regionally accredited BSN to DNP programs online. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online doctorate degree programs in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules.
The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost
Editorial Note
Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers a doctorate degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.
These rankings of the cheapest online schools for nursing may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best BSN to DNP programs online for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.
Career Guide: BSN to DNP Programs Online
If you are currently working as a nurse practitioner (or another type of nursing or medical professional) and you want to advance your earning potential and job opportunities, a BSN to DNP program may be perfect for you. In this education, you’ll be fast-tracked to not only earn a master’s degree, but also a doctorate of nursing practice degree, making this one of the top options for hardworking medical professionals.
Why Enroll in BSN to DNP Online Programs?
These programs are for registered nurses who currently have a bachelor’s degree (BSN) and would like to not only earn a master’s, but also a doctorate-level education. A DNP will not make you a physician, but it will mold you into one of the most skilled and experienced medical experts in the industry.
When complete, you’ll be able to transition from your current role as a registered nurse into one of the many “advanced practice registered nurses” (APRNs), a catch-all term used to describe a variety of positions, including nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, and nurse midwife.
These professionals play an important role in the healthcare industry. APRNs are important for administering healthcare, diagnosing patients, communicating with families, and performing many other important roles that create the excellent medical organizations we all utilize.
But there are many paths to healthcare careers, so why choose an online BSN to DNP program? Because it helps you go straight from a bachelor’s to a doctorate with less time and (usually) less cost.
The classes you complete during an online BSN to DNP program will vary, but you can expect science- and health-related courses to be mixed with healthcare-industry classes. You might take a class addressing finances for medical facilities in the morning, then complete an advanced physiology class in the afternoon. Classes may include healthcare leadership, medical research, pharmacology, and more.
You’ll also have the chance to choose a concentration for your DNP classes. While there will be core classes that everyone will take, you can also select a concentration that makes you skilled in a specific area of healthcare. DNP concentrations can include gerontology, family health, pediatric care, healthcare management, occupational health, and more.
When you complete a DNP degree, you’ll have the skills to work in a variety of challenging but rewarding professions, including…
Nurse Practitioner
- Median Salary: $109,820
- Job Growth: 52%
- Education: Master’s
- Training/Work Experience: None
A nurse practitioner is one of the primary and secondary care providers in the healthcare industry. They assess patients, diagnose problems, create healthcare plans, and even administer care when needed. This is a career with excellent pay, but it stands out because of the large expected growth; the career is predicted to grow roughly 52% between 2019 and 2029.
Nurse Midwife
- Median Salary: $105,030
- Job Growth: 12%
- Education: Master’s
- Training/Work Experience: None
A nurse midwife primarily provides care to women, which can include exams, family-planning services, and prenatal care. They are often involved in the delivery of babies, and usually manage labor procedures to ensure the best possible outcome for mother and child. After delivery, they may provide education on nutrition and wellness for children and parents, but the care of a baby usually goes to a pediatrician. (In other words, once the child is born, the pediatrician takes over care of the baby while the midwife continues to provide support for the mother.)
Both of these career require a master’s degree, but it’s not uncommon for advanced practice registered nurses to have DNP degrees.
Licensing, Certification & Experience Requirements
Specific licensing will depend on the exact career, but if you are working in the healthcare industry you can expect certification requirements. Nurse midwives, for example, need to be certified through the American Midwifery Certification Board, an organization that offers the Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM). You’ll also need to re-certify on a regular basis, which is done through the Certificate Maintenance Program.
If you are working as a nurse practitioner, you’ll need certification through the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA), which administers the National Certification Examination (NCE).
Regardless of exact profession, you can assume that if you are working directly with patients or making decisions regarding a patient’s care, you will need proper licenses and certifications.
BSN to DNP programs online are perfect for busy professionals who want to advance their careers and enjoy better pay and more job opportunities. Most importantly, they offer a cost-effective, efficient way to complete your degree from a world-class institution. And with online learning, it can all be done from the convenience of your own home.