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DNP Programs in Iowa

Find all of Iowa’s DNP programs in one easy directory! This practical guide also contains rankings of the best and most affordable DNP programs in Iowa, details on online & hybrid IA doctorates, and ideas for BSN to DNP options. Hoping to compare programs in specific DNP specialties? Jump ahead to our listings.

Top Iowa DNP Programs

To locate the best DNP programs in IA, we evaluated independent rankings for nursing graduate degrees, prioritizing any Iowa school with a high DNP placement in U.S. News & World Report. In the final analysis, we also considered factors such as independent reviews, pass rates, reputation, and state board approval.

1. University of Iowa

Superb national rankings, great student reviews, fantastic professors—these are just a few of the reasons why UI’s College of Nursing (CON) and its DNP program made our #1 spot. Sure, we were impressed with the College’s top 20 ranking for the DNP and its top 10 rankings for many specialties (e.g. Nursing Anesthesia, AGACNP, AGPCNP, CNL, etc.). But we also liked seeing all of the other quality markers. Practicum preceptors are arranged for students. University DNP scholarships are available. Faculty continue to practice in community health care clinics and in-home geriatric care. And pass rates for NP certification exams hover around 100% (rates are often published in the College’s Annual Report).

One of the College’s key strengths is research, especially in areas of gerontology, health systems improvement, and pain. The College has been designated as an NIH Center for Excellence in Pain Education (COEPE) and its maintains partnerships with a number of outside institutions (e.g. Veterans Health Administration). It runs the Center for Nursing Classification and Clinical Effectiveness (CNC) and the Center for Advancing Multimorbidity Science (CAMS), and invests in plenty of outreach programs. As you might expect, reviews of UI’s undergraduate & graduate nursing programs on independent sites are universally positive, but you can contact DNP alumni directly for an insider’s opinion!

2. Clarke University

Can’t afford UI? Clarke University’s hybrid DNP program is an excellent alternative for Iowa residents. It typically ranks in the top 120 DNP programs in the nation and it’s available in a number of specialties. The Department of Nursing is staffed by experienced professors, class sizes are small, and the university has ties to local healthcare providers (e.g. Unity Point Health/Finley Hospital, Mercy Medical Center, etc.). Better yet, pass rates on national certification exams are strong (e.g. 100% for FNP); the Department assists with clinical locations; and all students are precepted one to one.

This DNP program may be a particularly good fit for folks who are interested in rural healthcare. The university is located in Dubuque, near the border of Wisconsin and Illinois. According to one graduate reviewer, this means Clarke DNP students have opportunities to work in clinically underdeveloped areas and gain exposure to patients of different backgrounds. Clarke is a private Catholic university, so it’s not the cheapest option in Iowa. But it’s certainly nowhere near the most expensive. If you need ideas for funding, the university has a listed of external graduate scholarships for DNP students.

3. Graceland University

Graceland’s DNP in Organizational Leadership made our #3 spot on the strength of its graduate nursing student reviews, its top 100 ranking for Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs (this includes the DNP), and its approval from the Iowa Board of Nursing. The online doctorate is the brainchild of Graceland’s School of Nursing, which has solid NCLEX pass rates and a good reputation among FNP graduates. Reviewers often say that graduate programs are rigorous and nursing professors are caring, helpful, and communicative. In particular, one DNP student loved the online learning experience and the participation that was required.

Graceland’s DNP is no-nonsense, distance learning program for post-master’s candidates. If you’re looking to compare NP specialties, you could also throw Morningside College’s DNP program into the mix. It often has a highly respectable ranking for Online Graduate Nursing Programs and it offers plenty of tracks. You may want to double-check that its DNP has been approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing.

Most Affordable DNP Programs in Iowa

Our ranking of the cheapest DNP programs is Iowa in based on the lowest per credit tuition rate for the Doctor of Nursing Practice. When we were analyzing public universities in Iowa, we opted for the in-state rate. Unfortunately, UI is—by far—the most expensive school in the state. You pay for quality in Iowa.

1. Briar Cliff University

DNP Tuition & Fees

Even when you add the mandatory student fees to the per credit tuition rate, this is still the most affordable online post-master’s DNP in Iowa. Bear in mind that there may be fees for any clinical courses.

2. Morningside College

DNP Tuition & Fees

Morningside’s per credit tuition rate is around $150 more than Briar Cliff’s rate. But its doctorate is also offered in a lot more specialties, including BSN to DNP tracks. When you’re putting together your budget, be sure to factor in fees (e.g. clinical tracking program fee for practicums, graduation fee, etc.).

3. Allen College

DNP Tuition & Fees

Allen’s graduate tuition rate is around $270 more than Briar Cliff’s rate. You may also need to pay for fees (e.g. lab & clinical fees). However, according to the school, students enrolling in the DNP program are automatically eligible for a 25% tuition scholarship.

Online DNP Programs in Iowa

All of the Iowa DNP programs in our listings are either hybrid or online. Each one is structured a little differently, so we recommend you talk to the program coordinator to establish how much time you’ll need to spend at the university.

Online BSN to DNP Programs in IA: Iowa BSN to DNP programs are almost always going to be hybrid, with some campus elements. For example:

  • Clarke’s cohort-based BSN to DNP program includes face-to-face meetings on the first and third Thursdays of each month.
  • Morningside’s online BSN to DNP includes at least one on-site residency; more residencies may be required for students in NP tracks (we noticed that the MSN has three residencies).
  • Allen’s BSN to DNP is a bit of a mystery—we’re assuming it’s hybrid, with online coursework, but you’ll need to check with the coordinator.
  • UI’s BSN to DNP programs are a mix of on-site and online coursework. Some tracks are predominantly online (e.g. Health Systems). Others will have on-campus components and required visits (e.g. NP specialties).

Online Post-Master’s DNP Programs in IA: Post-master’s students will have more freedom. All of the schools in our Iowa listings try to keep the campus time to a minimum. For example:

  • Briar Cliff, Allen, and Graceland don’t mention any campus components on their post-master’s DNP program websites (check with the program coordinator).
  • Morningside’s online post-master’s DNP only has a one-day, on-site residency.
  • Clarke’s MSN-DNP has occasional required face-to-face meetings on campus.
  • UI’s Post-MSN/ARNP to DNP program has an on-campus orientation and a poster defense at the end of the program; there are no other on-site components.

Whichever online DNP program you choose, be sure to ask about state authorization for NP specialties and distance learning restrictions. For example, as of 2020, Graceland University’s nursing program could not accept students who lived in Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina or Tennessee.

Note: Want to expand your search beyond Iowa? Check out the directory of Online DNP Programs. They are organized by state.

BSN to DNP Programs in Iowa

You’ll find plenty of choice for Iowa BSN to DNP programs in our listings. The most prestigious pick is the University of Iowa. It offers the only COA-accredited Nurse Anesthesia DNP program in the state. It has also developed BSN to DNP tracks for aspiring AGNPs, FNPs, PNPs, PMHNPs, and healthcare administrators. Whatever specialty you’re interested in, this top-ranked university is almost bound to have it.

Because UI is both expensive and competitive, you may also want to take a closer look at BSN to DNP programs in private Iowa universities. These include:

  • Allen College, which has a dizzying array of specialties in adult NP areas, leadership, community nursing, and healthcare information.
  • Morningside College, which might appeal to FNP, AGNP, and CNL candidates.
  • Clarke University, which offers hybrid tracks in the FNP, PMHNP, and Health Leadership & Practice.

Note: Looking for more options? Consult our listings of on-campus and online BSN to DNP programs.

Iowa Nursing Organizations

  • Iowa Board of Nursing
  • Iowa Association of Nurse Practitioners (IANP)
  • Iowa Nurse Practitioner Society (INPS)
  • Iowa Association of Nurse Anesthetists (IANA)
  • Iowa Organization of Nurse Leaders (IONL)

Below you'll find a list of all of the Doctor of Nursing Practice programs available in Iowa.

Full list of Iowa DNP Programs

6 schools

Allen College

Waterloo, Iowa
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
BSN to DNP - Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
BSN to DNP - Community/Public Health Nursing[online][BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
BSN to DNP - Family Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
BSN to DNP - Leadership in Health Care Delivery[online][BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
BSN to DNP - Leadership in Health Information Technology[online][BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
BSN to DNP - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)[MSN required]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Students who are interested in pursuing the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Allen College must possess a current and active nursing license without encumbrances. In order to earn the degree, students must complete a minimum of 33 credit hours as well as 400 contact hours of clinical or practicum experience. The curriculum includes coursework in the following subject areas: Clinical Prevention and Population Health, Analytic Methods for Evidence-Based Practice, Health Care Economics, Finance, and Policy, and Health Care Informatics. The DNP program offered at Allen College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Briar Cliff University

Sioux City, Iowa
Accreditation: CCNE
Online Doctor of Nursing Practice[online][MSN required]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Students accepted to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Briar Cliff University can choose from two tracks of study - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Adult/Gerontology Practitioner (AGP). Coursework for both tracks includes classes in: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention throughout the Lifespan, Ethical Issues Influencing Practice and Research in Health Disparities, and Health Operations and Financial Management for Health Leaders. Advanced courses in health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and practice skills lab are mandatory. Briar Cliff University's DNP program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and is offered in a hybrid format. The program is a collaboration between the university's Department of Nursing and the College of Nursing at South Dakota State University.

Clarke University

Dubuque, Iowa
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Health Leadership and Practice[BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
BSN to DNP - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner[BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP - FNP)[online][BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Post-Master's DNP - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner[MSN required]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Students accepted to the DNP program at Clarke University can choose from two areas of concentration: Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP) or Nurse Educator/Organizational Leadership (DNP-NEOL). The university offers BSN to DNP and MSN to DNP programs in both concentration areas. The DNP-FNP program is a cohort program (limited to only 20 students per cohort) and courses are offered both online and on campus. Graduates of the DNP-NEOL program will be eligible to sit for the certification exams for Nurse Educators (CNE) or Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNL), depending on their chosen career path. Clarke University's DNP program is accredited by the CCNE and approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing.

Graceland University-Lamoni

Lamoni, Iowa
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)[online][MSN required]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Graceland University is accredited by the CCNE and delivered in an online format. This is a post-master's program and the curriculum follows the AACN DNP Essentials. Organizational Leadership is offered as an area of concentration. The program includes coursework in Health Systems Policy and Regulation, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Healthcare Informatics, and Applied Transformational Research. Students accepted to the program have to complete the required number of supervised practice hours, which is determined by the practice hours they completed for their MSN or post-master certificate degree. The culminating experience is the completion of a DNP Capstone Project.

Morningside College

Sioux City, Iowa
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP - Direct Patient Care[online][BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
BSN to DNP - Transformative Leadership[online][BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
MSN to DNP - Direct Patient Care[online][MSN required]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
MSN to DNP - Transformative Leadership[online][MSN required]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
The online DNP at Morningside College is targeted at full-time RNs. Moreover, it has an adjustable study plan that allows students to take a semester off if needed. Since Morningside runs fall, spring, and summer starts, enrollees should be able to easily hop back into the classes they need. The college offers two tracks. The first is Direct Patient Care, which is for budding nurse practitioners in the family primary care or adult gerontology fields. RNs can enter the BSN-DNP program, whereas current APRNs can take the shortened MSN-DNP option. The second track is Transformative Leadership, which recruits nurses who work in administration, policy, informatics, and other indirect care positions. Students may enter with either a BSN or an MSN. The college's MSN-DNP options take two years to complete.

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
Accreditation: CCNE
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[online][MSN required]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[online][MSN required]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner[online][MSN required]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Family Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Family Nurse Practitioner[online][MSN required]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Health Systems[online][MSN required]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Health Systems - Nursing Administration & Leadership[online][BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Nurse Anesthesia[online][BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care[online][MSN required]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care[online][MSN required]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Psych/Mental Health Nurse Pracitioner[online][BSN to DNP option]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner[online][MSN required]
Admissions InfoCost InfoCurriculum Info
The post-baccalaureate CCNE-accredited DNP program at the University of Iowa offers the following APRN specializations: Adult/Gerontology NP, Adult/Gerontology - Acute Care, Family NP, Pediatric NP, and Psychiatric Mental Health NP. These programs can be pursued on a full-time basis only. There is also a Nursing Anesthesia DNP program that is jointly sponsored by the College of Nursing and the Department of Anesthesia at the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. Additionally, the university offers a DNP - Health Systems program with a focus on nursing administration and leadership. There is also a post-master's DNP program that allows students to choose from the following areas of concentration: Health Systems, Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner, and Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care.

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