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OHSU or U of P? Oregon or out-of-state? If you have questions, we have answers. This guide & directory contains rankings of the best and most affordable DNP programs in Oregon, notes on online doctorates, and tips on BSN to DNP options. Have a school in mind? Jump ahead to our listings.
Top Oregon DNP Programs
Only two OR universities offer a doctorate, so take this ranking of the best DNP programs in Oregon with a grain of salt! We’ve profiled them to give you a sense of their unique quality factors.
1. Oregon Health and Science University
Excellent national rankings & independent reviews. Superb APRN certification pass rates (e.g. 100%). A close affiliation with a teaching hospital. These are just a few of the reasons why OHSU’s DNP program and its School of Nursing deserve the #1 spot. The School is consistently ranked in the top 30 of nursing graduate programs (DNP, MSN & Online) and the top 5 of Nurse Midwifery programs. It has research strengths in all kinds of areas, including cancer survivorship. It’s involved in a number of interprofessional initiatives (e.g. Interprofessional Care Access Network (I-CAN)). And it runs its own Hartford Center of Gerontological Excellence.
Clinical instruction is a big part of the School’s mantra. In addition to work in the Simulation and Clinical Learning Center (SCLC), BSN to DNP students take part in a wide variety of real-world experiences. Toward the end of their program, FNP students live & work alongside other OHSU medical students during a 4-week rural immersion rotation. Nurse midwifery students gain experience in the OHSU Nurse-Midwifery Faculty Practice. And future CRNAs have access to all kinds of Nurse Anesthesia clinical sites. If you’re worried about the price, have a look at the section on the School of Nursing scholarships. There are options for DNP students (e.g. Scholars for a Health Oregon).
2. University of Portland
U of P’s DNP program may not achieve the same rankings as OHSU, but it’s still a worthy choice. The School of Nursing frequently earns a top 60 place for the DNP and it offers the doctorate in a convenient format (e.g. small cohorts & weekend intensives). The School also makes a point of emphasizing an integrative health approach to practice, with a focus on the “whole person.” Independent reviewers often mention the supportive atmosphere and rigorous coursework.
Talk to the DNP program about clinical experiences—U of P states that FNP students will have assistance in setting up clinical practice sites. In addition, the School collaborates with a number of clinical partners to operate Dedicated Education Units (DEUs) in hospitals & medical centers (e.g. Providence Health, VA Portland, Kaiser Westside, etc.). You may also wish to attend one of the university’s DNP Information Sessions and ask about FNP certification pass rates—we didn’t see them quoted on the website.
Most Affordable DNP Programs in Oregon
There aren’t any cheap DNP programs in Oregon—OHSU and U of P are invested in maintaining clinical & instructional quality. Having said that, OHSU’s per credit tuition rate is pretty darn reasonable for Oregon residents.
1. Oregon Health & Science University
DNP Tuition & Fees
Tuition rates for the DNP at OHSU will depend on the program. There are different rates for the Post-Master’s DNP, the BSN to DNP, and the Nurse Anesthesia program. In-state students pay less than out-of-state students, but everyone is responsible for significant additional fees per term.
Do you live near Oregon? You may be eligible for a tuition break. Applicants who reside in border counties may qualify for in-state tuition. The non-resident portion of the DNP tuition is also waived for students in states that take part in the Western Regional Graduate Program of WICHE.
2. University of Portland
DNP Tuition & Fees
U of P is a private Catholic university, so all students pay the same per credit DNP tuition rate, regardless of their state of residency. There may also be professional tuition fees (e.g. nursing course fee per credit hour).
Online DNP Programs in Oregon
You won’t find many online DNP programs in the Oregon listings. OHSU and U of P favor a blended/hybrid format, with a fair amount of time on campus. For instance:
- Hybrid BSN to DNP Programs in OR: U of P’s hybrid BSN to DNP in FNP includes online courses and on-campus learning immersions. These take place on the weekends, 3-4 times per semester. At OHSU, most tracks are face-to-face programs, with some non-clinical courses available in an online format (e.g. AGACNP). However, it does offer the FNP and PMHNP in a “Distance Program” format. Students still have to visit one of OHSU’s regional campuses for occasional visits (up to twice a month) and the Portland campus for intensive, hands-on skills & training sessions (approximately once per term).
- Online Post-Master’s DNP Programs in OR: A few courses in OHSU’s online MSN to DNP pathway require a face-to-face intensive meeting for instruction. In the graduate handbook, OHSU states that students can expect to come to campus at least twice each year.
- Hybrid Post-Master’s DNP Programs in OR: On its website, U of P notes that the DNP is hybrid, with online courses and learning immersions. This format may hold true for the NP to DNP pathway, but we recommend you check with the program coordinator.
Most of these programs are designed to appeal to Oregon residents and students in nearby states. If you’re an out-of-state student, talk to the DNP program coordinator about state authorization & distance learning restrictions. Programs like OHSU’s MSN to DNP should be fairly straightfoward (see OHSU’s section on State Authorization). But any program involving APRN certification is going to have limitations.
Note: Wondering about online degrees in neighboring areas? Check the directory of Online DNP Programs. They are organized by state.
BSN to DNP Programs in Oregon
To speed your search, we’ve listed individual BSN to DNP tracks in the listings. You can either apply for one of OHSU’s many specialties, including Nurse Anesthesia, or opt for U of P’s FNP track. OHSU is well-worth trying for—as we mentioned in our rankings, clinical training and certification pass rates at the university are superb.
Alternatively, you could consider hybrid or online BSN to DNP programs in Washington and California. California is chock-full of options, including online programs (e.g. Brandman, USF, and UCI).
Note: We also have a nationwide directory of on-campus and online BSN to DNP Programs.
Oregon Nursing Organizations
- Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN)
- Nurse Practitioners of Oregon (NPO)
- Northwest Organization of Nurse Executives (NWone)
- Oregon Association of Nurse Anesthetists (ORANA)
- Oregon Council of Clinical Nurse Specialists (OCCNS)
Below you'll find a list of all of the Doctor of Nursing Practice programs available in Oregon.
Full list of Oregon DNP Programs
2 schools