Best DNP Programs in Florida for Working RNs (2026)

UF's DNP program runs two entry points: a BSN-to-DNP track spanning eight semesters (75 to 78 credits depending on specialty) and an MSN-to-DNP track at 35 credits that can be completed in five semesters with minimal campus attendance. Online coursework carries the didactic load; clinical placements are arranged locally. The program is the first nurse practitioner program established in Florida, and that history shows in the breadth of the curriculum. The culminating DNP project is practice-focused and frequently results in publication or conference presentation rather than a traditional dissertation.

At $4,477 per year for Florida residents, the BSN-to-DNP path runs roughly $35,800 across eight semesters at that rate. BLS puts the national median for DNP-prepared nurse practitioners at $132,300 versus $97,550 for a staff RN, a gap of $34,750 annually. At that differential, total tuition cost is recovered in under 12 months of the pay increase alone. The program holds CCNE accreditation, which credentialing bodies require before a graduate can sit for APRN certification. With a 24% admit rate and a 91% graduation rate, UF is selective and its students finish. Hakia Score 97.7 ranks it first in Florida. This is the top pick for Florida RNs who want the lowest in-state cost, the strongest institutional track record, and a program built specifically around APRN practice rather than research.

FSU's DNP is delivered fully online across five tracks: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Executive Health Systems Leadership, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health, and Lifestyle Medicine. That last track is uncommon at this level and is worth noting if your practice interests extend into preventive care and chronic disease management. Students work closely with faculty and preceptors while staying in their current jobs; the online format is designed around working nurses, not recent graduates. FSU also runs a preceptor tuition waiver: approved preceptors receive a waiver of six credit hours for every 300 hours of precepting completed, which can meaningfully reduce total program cost if you are already supervising students in your facility.

In-state tuition is $4,640 per year. FSU carries an 86% graduation rate and a 24% admit rate. U.S. News ranks it No. 1 among DNP programs in Florida and No. 18 among public programs nationally for 2025, a ranking that carries weight in hiring decisions, especially in state-system hospital networks. The BLS national median for DNP-prepared nurse practitioners is $132,300, a $34,750 annual premium over the $97,550 staff RN median. At $4,640 per year in-state, that pay gap closes your program investment in well under a year once you step into an APRN role. Hakia Score 95.9. If the PMHNP track or the Lifestyle Medicine track aligns with your specialty goals, FSU is the clearest choice in the state.

UCF's DNP program is structured around evidence-based practice, leadership, and organizational analysis, with a culminating DNP Project. The program is delivered online and includes an Executive track for nurses whose career trajectory points toward health systems leadership rather than direct clinical practice as an NP. Curriculum objectives cover interprofessional collaboration, population-level care model design, health policy, and data-informed practice. Per-credit-hour in-state rate is $369.65; out-of-state climbs to $1,276.48. UCF's College of Nursing sits within a university of 69,713 students, which means clinical partnership networks across a large Orlando-area health system footprint.

At $369.65 per credit hour in-state, total program cost depends on credit load, but this is one of the most affordable per-credit rates among Florida's public DNP programs. UCF posts a 78% graduation rate and a 40% admit rate, the most accessible admit threshold of the four programs ranked here, making it a realistic option if your GPA or application profile is at the margins. Hakia Score 94.1. The BLS national median for nurse practitioners is $132,300, which is $34,750 above the $97,550 staff RN median. UCF fits RNs who need an online program, want flexibility on program entry, and are drawn to the Executive or evidence-based practice track rather than a specific clinical NP specialty. Verify current CCNE accreditation status directly with the program before applying.

The University of Miami's MSN-to-DNP is an MSN-entry-only program; you need an MSN and an active RN license before you apply. Instruction is hybrid: primarily online, with three to four required face-to-face weekends on campus per semester at the Coral Gables campus. That is a meaningful distinction from fully asynchronous programs. UM also offers separate BSN-to-DNP tracks in Nurse Anesthesia, Family NP, Acute Care, and Primary Care, plus an MSL/DNP dual degree, giving the school one of the more differentiated doctoral nursing portfolios in Florida. Graduates are expected to remain employed during the program, applying coursework directly to their current practice environment.

Tuition is $60,720 per year regardless of Florida residency; this is a private institution. That is a materially higher investment than the public programs ranked above. The math still works: BLS reports a national median of $132,300 for DNP-prepared nurse practitioners versus $97,550 for a staff RN, a $34,750 annual gap. At $60,720 per year, payback period is longer than at a public program, and you should factor in the full cost of the MSN you already hold. UM posts an 84% graduation rate and a 19% admit rate, the most selective of the four programs in this ranking. Hakia Score 92.8. The case for UM is the private-university credential, the clinical simulation infrastructure (the S.H.A.R.E. facility on campus), and specialty tracks not available at public programs. If cost is your primary constraint, one of the public programs above is the stronger financial decision. If credential prestige and specialty depth matter more, UM competes.

USF's College of Nursing runs two separate DNP entry points: a BSN-to-DNP track for nurses going straight from their bachelor's to a terminal practice degree, and an MSN-to-DNP track for nurses who already hold a master's. The BSN-to-DNP concentrations cover Adult Gerontology Acute Care, Adult Gerontology Primary Care (with and without an Occupational Health emphasis), Family Health, and Pediatric Primary Care. Delivery blends online didactic coursework with clinical placements arranged in the student's practice region. The Acute Care concentration adds one firm prerequisite: at least 12 months of full-time critical care or high-acuity experience before the program starts.

At $4,559 per year for in-state students, USF is among the lowest-cost paths to a DNP in the state. The program carries CCNE accreditation, which is a prerequisite for sitting national certification exams in every major APRN specialty. A 43% admit rate makes this one of the more selective programs on this list, so the application needs real depth: a 3.0 minimum nursing GPA, a current Florida RN license, and three professional letters of recommendation. USF's Hakia Score of 92.4 tops this Florida ranking, supported by a 77% graduation rate. At $34,750 per year above the staff-RN median of $97,550, a DNP-prepared NP's BLS median of $132,300 pays back a few years of in-state tuition quickly. If you are a Florida-licensed RN with ICU experience targeting an acute care NP role, the cost-to-credential math here is difficult to match.

FIU's Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing runs a post-BSN to DNP program with four specialty tracks: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP (predominantly online), Family NP (hybrid), Pediatric Primary Care NP (predominantly online), and Psychiatric-Mental Health NP (hybrid). The PMHNP track is notable because it covers care across primary, secondary, and tertiary settings, including crisis centers, correctional health, and inpatient psychiatric units, which is a broader clinical scope than many competing programs. Students in the online-leaning tracks can complete clinical rotations outside FIU's traditional South Florida service area, but they are responsible for identifying their own sites and securing contracts with FIU's clinical placement office before rotations begin.

In-state tuition runs $4,721 per year, keeping the total cost low for Florida residents. Admission is open to BSN-prepared RNs with a current license, and an admit rate of 55% makes FIU the most accessible public program on this ranking. The 74% graduation rate and a Hakia Score of 89.6 reflect a strong but realistic profile: solid outcomes without the hyper-selectivity of USF. Graduates qualify to sit national certification exams in their specialty and apply for Florida ARNP designation. For an RN drawn to mental health practice, FIU is one of the few Florida public programs with a direct BSN-to-DNP PMHNP track at this price point.

UNF's Brooks College of Health runs a post-MSN DNP exclusively, which means admission requires a Master of Science in Nursing and a current RN license. The 48-credit-hour program is delivered fully online with no mandatory on-campus sessions, making it the most flexible structure on this Florida list for APRNs who are already practicing. The curriculum targets clinical excellence, evidence-based practice, organizational leadership, health policy, and quality improvement. The program prepares graduates for roles spanning Nurse Executive, CNP, CNM, CNS, and CRNA leadership positions. Students enroll full-time and can hold a specialty certification before entering or earn it during the program.

In-state tuition sits at $3,996 per year, the lowest on this ranking, and the fully online format avoids relocation or schedule disruption for working professionals. The program is accredited by CCNE. A 53% admit rate and a 69% graduation rate place UNF in the middle of this field on selectivity and completion, with a Hakia Score of 86.9. One practical note: the state employee tuition waiver does not apply to the post-MSN DNP program, so budget accordingly. For an MSN-prepared APRN who wants the DNP credential without changing jobs, UNF's combination of price, online format, and CCNE accreditation is a straightforward case.

The University of Tampa's DNP is a post-master's program built for APRNs already holding an MSN. The 30-credit curriculum runs six semesters and is delivered online with only three required visits to the Tampa campus. Two tracks are available: Advanced Practice Nursing, designed for nationally certified NPs seeking to move into clinical leadership and health policy roles (requires a Florida APRN license); and Leadership in Population Health, open to RNs and APRNs, including those with an MHA, MBA, or MPH, who are targeting healthcare administration or government roles. Coursework covers health policy and advocacy, healthcare informatics, clinical epidemiology, genomics, and research translation. The DNP requires 1,000 total precepted practicum hours post-baccalaureate; MSN-to-DNP students apply 500 hours carried from their prior graduate program, then complete an additional 504 hours during the DNP on a clinical change project in their own practice setting. The next cohort starts Fall 2026.

Tuition runs $32,096 per year regardless of Florida residency, which is the most significant trade-off for a program otherwise built for working professionals. At that rate, total program cost across roughly two years is substantial. CCNE accredits UTampa's DNP, and a 40% admit rate makes it the most selective program on this list. The 64% graduation rate is the lowest here, worth factoring into the decision alongside the private-school tuition. A Hakia Score of 80.4 reflects the balance: strong credential, selective entry, real cost. The BLS median of $132,300 for DNP-prepared NPs still produces a meaningful pay jump over the $97,550 staff-RN median, but the payback period on private tuition is longer than at the public programs above. UTampa makes sense if the three-campus-visit format fits your schedule and the leadership track aligns with where you are headed.

Florida Southern College's DNP is a post-master's, leadership-focused program delivered in an online format, making it accessible to working RNs anywhere in the region. The curriculum covers healthcare policy and advocacy, finance, information systems, project management, and organizational leadership. This is not a clinical APRN track; it is designed for nurses moving into executive and health-systems leadership roles. The online delivery means you arrange your schedule around clinical practicum requirements rather than relocating to Lakeland.

Tuition is $42,900 flat with no out-of-state premium, a meaningful advantage for nurses outside Florida. The program is CCNE-accredited. Florida Southern earned a Hakia Score of 80.2, ranking it 9th among Florida DNP programs. The 64% admit rate and 71% graduation rate suggest a selective but completable path. At $42,900 total cost and a national BLS median of $132,300 per year for DNP-prepared nurse practitioners versus $97,550 for staff RNs, a nurse moving into a leadership role recovers the full tuition cost within about 12 months on the pay differential alone.

Florida Gulf Coast University offers an MSN-to-DNP post-master's program through its School of Nursing in Fort Myers. Entry requires an MSN with an advanced practice focus, specifically nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or certified nurse midwife preparation. The 36-credit curriculum can be completed in 5 semesters full-time or 8 semesters part-time, giving working nurses a realistic path without leaving their jobs. Coursework emphasizes evidence-based practice, patient safety and quality improvement, health policy, and leadership across complex healthcare systems.

FGCU is a public university, and that matters for cost. In-state tuition runs $4,191 per year; out-of-state students pay $22,328 per year. A Florida-resident nurse completing the program full-time over roughly two and a half years faces a total tuition outlay well under $15,000, making this one of the most affordable DNP pathways in the state. The program is CCNE-accredited. FGCU earned a Hakia Score of 79.5, ranking 10th in Florida. The 63% admit rate and 57% graduation rate are worth noting; this is a program that requires commitment to finish. At in-state total cost, a Florida nurse moving from a staff RN salary to the $132,300 BLS national median for nurse practitioners recoups the entire degree cost in well under two months on the pay difference.

Jacksonville University's Keigwin School of Nursing runs two parallel DNP pathways. The post-MSN DNP offers an Advanced Practice track for currently credentialed APRNs and a Leadership track for RNs and APRNs in administrative or education roles. The BSN-to-DNP offers four cognates: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), and Leadership. All four BSN-to-DNP cognates admit once annually in the fall. Graduates of the NP cognates are prepared to sit national certification exams through ANCC or AANPCB and apply for Florida APRN licensure. The program is structured to accommodate practicing nurses' schedules, though the scrape does not specify total clinical hours per track.

Tuition is $46,963 per year with no in-state versus out-of-state distinction, the highest sticker price among these four Florida programs. JU requires a minimum 3.3 undergraduate nursing GPA, and applicants with lower GPAs may be asked for GRE or GMAT scores. The 57% admit rate makes it moderately selective. JU earned a Hakia Score of 75.1, ranking 11th in Florida. The 51% graduation rate is the lowest of this group and is worth factoring into your decision. The pay differential between a staff RN ($97,550 BLS median) and a DNP-prepared nurse practitioner ($132,300) is $34,750 per year; at $46,963 annual tuition, a nurse needs to weigh total program cost carefully against that payback timeline.

Barry University in Miami offers a post-baccalaureate BSN-to-DNP for RNs who hold a bachelor's degree and want to reach terminal practice preparation in a single program. The two tracks are Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP). The program is part-time by design, running across 12 consecutive semesters, which means roughly four years of continuous enrollment. Students complete a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours in their specialization. Graduates are prepared to sit national certification exams and apply for Florida ARNP licensure. The technology-enhanced format allows students to remain employed during the program.

Tuition is $33,600 per year with no out-of-state differential. Over 12 semesters (four years), total tuition approaches $134,400 at the stated annual rate, making the full cost substantially higher than FGCU's public-school pricing. Barry's published certification pass rates from 2015 to 2020 show FNP pass rates ranging from 82% to 98.91% on ANCC and 80% to 95% on AANP; AGACNP pass rates ranged from 80.95% to 95% on ANCC across the same period. Barry earned a Hakia Score of 69.4, ranking 12th in Florida. The 77% admit rate is the most accessible of this group, while the 38% graduation rate is the lowest; prospective students should ask the admissions team directly about current cohort completion figures. The national BLS median for nurse practitioners of $132,300 per year versus $97,550 for staff RNs produces a $34,750 annual pay lift, but a four-year part-time program at roughly $134,000 total requires approximately 3.6 years of that pay differential to break even.