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Best 10 DNP Programs in Florida in 2024

January 26, 2024 | Admin

Best DNP programs in Florida badge

Nursing professionals who wish to earn the highest practice-focused clinical degree available choose to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice  (DNP) degree. With an aging U.S. population and a healthcare system in need of an overhaul, nursing professionals who earn a DNP degree find their medically proficient skills in great demand. DNP programs in Florida offer nursing professionals an opportunity to assist an already-strained healthcare system in treating an ever-increasing senior population.

Nurse practitioners who are DNP-educated work as clinical administrators or advanced practice nurses (APRNs), effecting change among the upper levels of nursing and medical management and helping to fill the void created by a pattern that reveals a growing shortage of physicians.

Top 5 DNP Programs in Florida

Rank School Location
1Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida
2The University of Central FloridaOrlando, Florida
3Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, Florida
4 Florida State UniversityTallahassee, Florida
5The University of FloridaGainesville, Florida

DNP programs in Florida and beyond are designed to offer nursing professionals two distinct entry points, as follows –

  • The BSN-DNP programs in Florida permit Registered Nurses who hold a baccalaureate degree an entry into a doctoral-level program that allows nursing students to seamlessly complete their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree and then their DNP degree. BSN-DNP programs often provide an academic path that leads to APRN certification, with many programs requiring at least 90-semester credits to graduate. The full-time study allows students to graduate in about three years.  
  • The MSN-DNP programs in Florida permit Registered Nurses who hold a master’s degree (who also may already have an APRN certification) to complete one of the quality DNP programs in Florida in preparation for nursing leadership roles of clinical capacities. MSN-DNP programs generally require 30 to 36 credits to graduate, over 1.5 to 2 years of full-time study.

Both campus-based and distance-learning DNP programs in Florida offer students the flexibility required to complete these programs as working learners (offering part-time options) or accelerated formats for full-time learners.

Accredited DNP programs in Florida consist of three fundamental parts – a core curriculum, specialty coursework in the student’s chosen focus, and a final project that demonstrates the students’ mastery of nursing skills in their specialty.

The DNP programs in Florida listed below represent available doctoral-level academic degree options available from institutions of higher education that are both regionally accredited (in the case of southern schools, this accreditation is from SACSCOC. Additionally, each of the nursing degree programs shown below includes programs that have been accredited by –

  • The CCNE– The Commission of Collegiate Nursing
  • The ACEN – The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing

Further, midwifery and nurse anesthesia programs may be accredited by ACME or COA.

Best 10 DNP Programs in Florida

1

Florida Atlantic University

  • Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University’s Lynn Nursing College offers both BSN to DNP and Post-Masters to DNP programs in Florida that are considered among the best available in the marketplace. U.S. News and World Report recognize Florida Atlantic University’s DNP programs in Florida atop of the available DNP programs.

  • Available DNP Programs in Florida
    • BSN to DNP programs are offered in these nursing specialties that require a minimum of 1,000 clinical practicum hours and the completion of 80 to 81-semester credits-
      • Family Nurse Practitioner
      • Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioners
    • Post-Master’s to DNP programs require the completion of 43 credit units over eight semesters.

School Overview

Tuition Fees: $303.71 per credit for Florida residents or non-residents.
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2

The University of Central Florida

  • Orlando, Florida

The Nursing College at the University of Central Florida offers both hybrid and online DNP programs in Florida with a variety of nursing disciplines. These CCNE-accredited nursing DNP programs in Florida have received accreditation from the CCNE. U.S. News recognizes UCF as among the most innovative of higher learning institutions in the nation.

  • Available DNP Programs in Florida
    • BSN to DNP programs are offered through a hybrid delivered system and offer these specialties–
      • Adult-Gerontology (w/two sub-specialties)
      • Family Nurse Practitioner
    • BSN to the Ph.D. program is offered online with two onsite visits.
    • Post-Masters to DNP programs are offered online with these academic specialties –
      • Advanced Practice
      • Nurse Executive

School Overview

Tuition Fees: $327.32  graduate online per credit – Florida Residents.
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3

Florida Gulf Coast University

  • Fort Myers, Florida

Florida Gulf Coast University’s Marieb College of Human Services School of Nursing offers both BSN to DNP and MSN to DNP programs in Florida that are accredited by CCNE and COA. BSN-DNP studies require 81 to 112 credit units depending on the major.  MSN to DNP degree candidates are required to complete 36 credit units, which can be done in only five semesters studying full-time. Programs are delivered using f2f, hybrid and virtual modalities.

  • Available DNP Programs in Florida
    • BSN to DNP programs offering these nursing specialties –
      • Nurse Practitioner Major
        • Family Nurse Practitioner
        • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (planned for Fall 2022)
      • Nurse Anesthesiology Major
    • MSN to DNP
    • MSN to DNP Nurse Anesthesiology

School Overview

Tuition Fees: $ 373.38 per graduate credit unit for Florida Residents.
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4

Florida State University

  • Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University offers one of the quality DNP programs in Florida that can be completed entirely online. FSU’s nursing programs have been developed to align with the AACN’s Doctoral Education Standards.

 

  • Available DNP Programs in Florida
    • BSN to DNP programs offer these online specialties, which include 76 – 79 credits hours and 1,035 clinical hours to meet program requirements–
      • Adult-Gerontology (A.G.) Acute Care
      • Family Nurse Practitioner
      • Psychiatric Mental Health/Nurse Practitioner

School Overview

Tuition Fees: $ 428.44 per graduate credit unit for Florida Residents.
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5

The University of Florida

  • Gainesville, Florida

The University of Florida Nursing College offers both BSN to DNP and MSN to DNP programs in Florida that are recognized among the best available in the marketplace. Students enrolled in U.F.’s DNP degree programs are prepared using the latest technology in cutting-edge labs.

  • Available DNP Programs in Florida
    • BSN to DNP programs are campus-based with these specialties-
      • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
      • Family Nurse Practitioner
      • Pediatric (w/acute care, primary care, or mental health sub-specialties)
    • An MSN – DNP program that offers a generalist track of 35-semester credits over five semesters.

School Overview

Tuition Fees : $ 448.82 per graduate credit for Florida Residents.
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6

The University of South Florida

  • Tampa, Florida

The University of South Florida (USF Health) offers DNP programs in Florida that are designed for students who hold a BSN or an MSN degree from an accredited university. The BSN to DNP programs are campus-based and offer students health care research and partnership opportunities during their school tenure.

  • Available DNP Programs in Florida
    • BSN to DNP programs are campus-based with these specialties –
      • Adult-Gerontology (with acute and primary care sub-specialties)
      • Nurse Anesthesia
      • Family Health
      • Pediatric Health
      • Occupational Health/Adult-Gerontology Primary Care

School Overview

Tuition Fees: $ 467.34 per credit
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7

The University of North Florida

  • Jacksonville, Florida

The University of North Florida (UNF – Jacksonville) Brooks Nursing School offers four DNP programs in Florida that have received accreditation from CCNE. UNF accepts up to 45 earned credits if the credits meet eligibility requirements.

  • Tuition Fees –
    • $493.53 per graduate credit for Florida Residents.
    • $523.25 per credit ( (MSN-DNP Psych-Mental Health) for all students.
    • $601.70 per credit (Nurse Anesthetist) for Florida Residents.
  • Available DNP Programs in Florida
    • BSN to DNP programs offer these campus-based options –
      • Nurse Anesthetist
      • Family Nurse Practitioner
    • MSN to DNP programs are offered with these academic tracks –
      • Clinical Nursing Practice
      • Psych-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
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8

Jacksonville University

  • Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville University offers a variety of quality DNP programs in Florida that are also accredited by the CCNE. These DNP programs in Florida offered by Jacksonville University offer flexibility and convenience to working learners and prepare nursing students for leadership roles in informatics, education, and policy-making, to name a few.

  • Available DNP Programs in Florida
    • BSN to DNP programs are offered through a hybrid delivered system and offer these specialties-
      • Leadership
      • Family Nurse Practitioner
    • Post-MSN – DNP programs are offered through a hybrid delivered system and offer these specialties-
      • Advanced Practice
      • Leadership

School Overview

Tuition Fees: $ 650.00 per credit hour.
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9

University of Saint Augustine of Health Sciences

  • St. Augustine, Florida

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences’ School of Nursing (USAHS) offers several CCNE-accredited DNP programs in Florida that are available entirely online. BSN to DNP students who wish to earn an FNP credential must complete two campus clinical immersions.

  • Available DNP Programs in Florida
    • BSN to DNP programs & MSN to DNP programs are offered through the distance-learning platform with these specialties –
      • Nurse Executive
      • Family Nurse Practitioner

School Overview

Tuition Fees: $900 per credit (Nurse Executive), $918 per credit (FNP)
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10

Barry University

  • Miami Shores, Florida

The Nursing & Health Sciences College, a recognized Center of Excellence in Nursing Education (NLN), at Barry University, offers several options for DNP programs in Florida. Barry University’s doctoral degree programs in nursing have received accreditation from the CCNE.

  • Available DNP Programs in Florida
    • BSN to DNP programs typically require four years to complete this part-time program, with 1,000 clinical hours, and offer these clinical tracks –
      • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
      • Family Nurse Practitioner
    • Post-Master’s to DNP programs are delivered in a hybrid format with these specialties-
      • Anesthesiology
      • Family Practice
      • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care

School Overview

Tuition Fees: $1,125 per credit for doctoral-level programs.
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Our Ranking Methodology

The DNP programs in Florida listed above include an analysis and assessment of each program based on the school’s affordability factors and academic quality. These ten DNP programs in Florida offer a comprehensive cross-section of both public and private higher learning institutions in the Sunshine State – and are both regionally and programmatically accredited by sanctioned accrediting agencies.

The tuition fees were analyzed based on a ‘per-credit basis because each program mandates differing requirements. The DNP programs in Florida noted above are listed with the most affordable programs shown first.

Additionally, students are offered additional school and programmatic information in making the most educated decision about which of the available DNP programs in Florida would best meet their needs. Because graduate and doctoral level nursing degrees typically offer refined specialties, particular attention was focused on the specialized education offered by the many BSN to DNP and MSN to DNP programs in Florida.

Would you like to update the information for any of the DNP programs in Florida noted-above?

At BestValueSchools.org, we welcome your input and ask that you please reach out to BestValueSchools.org with any edits or updates regarding the information noted in the above analysis.  

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