Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice

The DNP is the terminal practice degree in nursing. Graduates move into advanced practice, nurse executive and clinical leadership, faculty, and health-system roles.

Yes. The program is offered online or in a hybrid format.

Online students attend synchronous class sessions, so you meet in real time with faculty and classmates, and the degree can be completed full-time or part-time in 18 to 24 months while you keep working.

Fairfield’s Post-Master’s DNP is designed for nurses who already hold a master's degree, including Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (FNP, ANP, PNP, CNM, and others) and master's-prepared nursing leaders. It is an MSN-to-DNP pathway, not an entry-level or BSN-to-DNP program.

If you don’t have an MSN but you would like to continue your nursing education with a DNP, consider Fairfield’s Nurse Anesthesia and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) programs. 

Yes. Non-psychiatric Nurse Practitioners can add a specialization in advanced practice psychiatric nursing.

The track provides the didactic and clinical courses required to sit for the ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) certification exam.

The Post-Master's DNP is typically completed in 18 to 24 months. It is offered full-time or part-time, with fall (September) and spring (January) start dates.

Priority application deadlines are July 15 for fall and December 1 for spring.

Applicants to the DNP program must hold an MSN from an accredited college or university, or its international equivalent, with a grade point average of 3.2 or higher both overall and within the nursing major.

Those applying as Advanced Practice candidates must also be eligible for APRN licensure in the state of Connecticut.

All applications are reviewed by the Graduate Admission Committee.

The program is 30 to 32 credits at $1,220 per credit, an estimated $36,600 to $39,040 based on the 2026–27 rate (excluding fees).

Financial aid and additional resources are available for graduate students.

A DNP is a practice doctorate focused on clinical leadership, translating research into care, and improving outcomes.

A PhD in nursing is research-focused. The DNP fits nurses who want to lead advanced practice and health systems rather than pursue an academic research career.