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Last updated on March 5th, 2025

Thinking of Rhody for your doctorate? Our guide & directory contains rankings of the most affordable DNP programs in Rhode Island, details on hybrid RI doctorates, and advice on BSN to DNP options. Have a certain school in mind? Jump ahead to our listings.

Top Rhode Island DNP Programs

There are only 3 schools that offer a nursing doctorate in Rhode Island: URI’s DNP, RIC’s post-master’s DNP and COA-accredited Nurse Anesthesia offering with St. Joseph Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia, and Salve Regina’s post-master’s DNP. You’ll find full details on each one in our listings.

We decided not to rank them for a number of reasons. Each school was offering different pathways, with different criteria. Reviews on the DNP programs were scant or non-existent. And only URI made U.S. News & World Report’s national rankings for the DNP (it often appears in the top 120). In the end, we felt we didn’t have enough data to make an evaluation.

To decide if Rhode Island is right for you, have a look at the program websites, talk to recent DNP alumni, and ask to see examples of capstone projects. Once you have a university in mind, you may want to compare it to top schools in neighboring states (e.g. Massachusetts).

Most Affordable DNP Programs in Rhode Island

To find the cheapest DNP programs in Rhode Island, we ranked each school by the lowest per credit tuition rate for the doctorate. In the case of URI and RIC, this was the in-state rate.

1. Rhode Island College

DNP Tuition & Fees

Even when you include mandatory fees, the DNP tuition rate at RIC is very low for Rhode Island residents. Students who qualify for the Northeast Neighbors tuition break pay around $200 more per credit for the DNP. The out-of-state rate is almost double the resident rate. Keep in mind that there’s a separate per credit tuition rate & substantial program fees for the Nurse Anesthesia program.

2. University of Rhode Island

DNP Tuition & Fees

URI’s part-time graduate tuition rate for Rhode Island residents is substantially higher than RIC, but the university is willing to offer BSN to DNP tracks. The regional rate can be over $1,000 per credit. The out-of-state rate is comparable to expensive private universities.

3. Salve Regina University

DNP Tuition & Fees

Salve Regina is a private university in Newport, so the DNP tuition rate is the same for all students, regardless of their state of residency. The program carries some additional fees (e.g. registration, graduation, etc.).

Online DNP Programs in Rhode Island

Rhode Island universities have yet to jump on the online bandwagon. The programs in our state listings are primarily hybrid, with campus expectations. For example:

  • Hybrid BSN to DNP Programs in RI: URI’s BSN to DNP includes day & evening classes that are offered at the Nursing Education Center in Providence. You will need to check with the DNP program coordinator about campus expectations & online elements.
  • Hybrid Post-Master’s DNP Programs in RI: The same principle holds true for URI, RIC, and Salve Regina’s MSN to DNP tracks. There will always be some on-campus coursework.

Note: Want to expand your search to DNPs in neighboring areas? See our directory of Online DNP Programs. They are organized by state.

BSN to DNP Programs in Rhode Island

We’ve listed individual BSN to DNP tracks under each school in the Rhode Island listings. As you might expect, your options are fairly limited.

  • FNP & AGNP: URI has the FNP and separate tracks for aspiring AGACNPs and AGPCNPs. If you’re intrigued by the program description, ask the DNP program coordinator for recent certification pass rates and details on clinical placements. Do you have to organize your own preceptors and practicum sites?
  • Nurse Anesthesia: The joint program between RIC and St. Joseph Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia is COA-accredited. As of 2020, it was transitioning from a master’s degree to a DNP. Check the program website to make sure its accreditation status is up-to-date.

Note: We also have nationwide listings of on-campus and online BSN to DNP Programs.

Rhode Island Nursing Organizations

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

Full list of Rhode Island DNP Programs

3 schools

Rhode Island College

Providence, Rhode Island
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-Master's DNPOnlineMSN required
Admissions Info Cost Info Curriculum Info
Registered nurses can apply for entry to the post-master's DNP program at Rhode Island College if they have an MSN or a BSN and a closely related master's degree. Advanced practice status is not required for the program, which includes diverse coursework in epidemiology, information technology, population health, advocacy, and business management. The school uses rolling admissions, and students can enter in either the spring or the fall. Enrollees choose between a five-semester, full-time plan of study and a seven-semester, part-time plan. Though students continue taking didactic coursework throughout the program, they ease off during the lone summer term, using it to focus on their DNP project proposal. Rhode Island College uses a hybrid format and admits working nurses from across the country.

Salve Regina University

Newport, Rhode Island
Accreditation: CCNE
Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing PracticeOnlineMSN required
Admissions Info Cost Info Curriculum Info
For its post-master's DNP program, Salve Regina recruits working nurses interested in healthcare leadership. The part-time program takes 21 months to complete. During that time, students take three courses for their scholarly project, plus a research methods course. The remaining four classes explore ethics, epidemiology, organizational and systems leadership, and healthcare law and business. Salve's program uses a hybrid model that mixes online coursework and evening classes at the university's Center for Adult Education in Warwick.

University of Rhode Island

Kingston, Rhode Island
Accreditation: CCNE
BSN to DNP in Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
Cost Info
BSN to DNP in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
Cost Info
BSN to DNP in Family Nurse PractitionerBSN to DNP option
Cost Info
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Post B.S. to DNPBSN to DNP option
Cost Info
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Post M.S. to DNPMSN required
Admissions Info Cost Info Curriculum Info
Applicants to the post-master's Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Rhode Island must have their MSN degrees with an advanced practice specialization. The program is offered on-site. Students accepted to the program have the option of earning their DNP degree on a full-time or part-time basis. The curriculum includes coursework in administration and leadership, evidence-based strategies in health care, and qualitative and quantitative research methods. The university coordinates with the Colleges of Pharmacy, Human Science & Services, and Business to offer interdisciplinary courses such as epidemiology, organizational design and decision making, and social and health care policy. The completion of a capstone project that leads to quantifiable system level change is a requirement for graduation.