1. Learn More, Earn More. A DNP Degree from Florida Southern College will prepare you for the highest level of advanced nursing practice. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data clearly show that with each level of education attained, individuals have access to higher level and better paying jobs. In the U.S., the median salary for individuals with a doctoral degree is approximately 20% higher compared to those with a Master's Degree. In 2020, the median pay for health services leaders and managers in the U.S. was $104,280.

2. In High Demand. Employment opportunities for health system leaders and managers are projected to grow by 32% by 2030---much faster than the average for all other occupations in the U.S.

3. Return on Your Investment. DNP Program tuition is competitively priced at $725 per credit hour to provide students with a high rate of return on their investment in education. Out-of-state students pay the same rate and our hybrid-delivery format makes it easy for students living in the region and beyond to complete program requirements.

4. Showcasing Excellence in Scholarship and Evidence Translation. Our students are solving real-life problems in health care organizations through the DNP project and practicum experiences.

FSC Welcomes new DNP students in August each year. Apply today to start next term on Tuesday, August 23, 2022. To learn more complete the form to request your degree e-guide.

DNP students are expected to demonstrate mastery of the core competencies delineated in The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2006):

I.  Scientific Underpinnings for Practice
II.  Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement and Systems Thinking
III.  Clinical Scholarship and Analytic Methods for Evidence-Based Practice
IV.  Information Systems/Technology and Patient Care Technology for the Improvement and Transformation of Healthcare
V.  Health Care Policy for Advocacy in Health Care
VI.  Interprofessional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes
VII.  Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving the Nation’s Health
VIII.  Advanced Nursing Practice​

Take your career to the next level! Complete the form to request your degree e-guide.

• Completed online application
• Official transcripts of all academic work
• A master's degree in nursing from an accredited CNEA, ACEN or CCNE program with certification as a Certified Nurse Midwife, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Clinical Nurse Specialist, or Nurse Practitioner at a regionally accredited college or university  OR  A nursing master's degree in nursing leadership, health policy, population or community health, or informatics from a nationally accredited CNEA, ACEN or CCNE program at a regionally-accredited college or university
• Cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in graduate level course work
• Résumé or CV of educational and work experience
• Professional statement describing rationale for pursuing the DNP degree, professional goals, and how completion of the DNP degree will support attainment of professional goals
• Minimum of three letters of recommendation including one from a current or recent supervisor, one from a former faculty member, and one from a doctoral prepared health professional
• Proof of current active licensure as a registered nurse in the state of Florida
• Live or virtual interview (by invitation only)
• Completion of a criminal background check, proof of immunization, and a ten-panel drug screen prior to beginning the program (if admitted)

What is the focus of your DNP program? Rather than direct patient-practice, our DNP at Florida Southern program focuses on nursing leadership, administration, health care policy and advocacy and project management.

Is this an on-campus program? Our students meet on campus for an immersion weekend once per semester, usually on the first Friday and Saturday of the term. The remainder of the program is delivered in an online format, with regular meetings with faculty and students.

Do you require the GRE for admission? No, we do not require the GRE for consideration for admission to our nursing programs.

How does the DNP differ from a PhD in Nursing?  While both are terminal degrees within nursing, the DNP focuses on practice in direct and indirect care roles while the focus of the PhD is on nursing research. Indirect care roles include health care leadership or administration, health policy, and informatics.

Learn more! Complete the form to request your degree e-guide.