Choose your path from MSN to DNP
You can choose from several nursing specialties to take the next step up to new heights in your career.
AG-Acute Care NP
MSN to DNP-AGACNP
AG-Primary Care NP
MSN to DNP-AGPCNP
Family Nurse Practitioner
MSN to DNP-FNP
Leadership & Administration
MSN to DNP-NLA
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
MSN to DNP-PNP
Public Health
MSN to DNP-PH
Psychiatric Mental Health NP
MSN to DNP-PMHNP
Women's Health NP
MSN to DNP-WHNP
DNP - No Specialization
MSN to DNP
Quick facts about the MSN to DNP pathways with Herzing University
| Accreditation | CCNE accredited†, Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Pathways | Choose one of several advanced nursing specialization options |
| Format | 100% online didactic classes, hands-on clinical experience, and completion of a DNP Practice Project |
| Clinicals | We pledge your clinical placement |
| Admissions | Eligibility requirements include a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and a minimum 3.0 GPA |
| Curriculum | Competency-based; developed in compliance with the model for advanced nursing education of the AACN new Essentials (2021) |
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Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online graduate nursing programs in 2025
Find your pathway to the terminal degree in nursing
The MSN to DNP pathway offers you the opportunity to both pursue an advanced nursing specialty and earn the terminal degree in nursing – accelerating your climb to the top of the nursing field.
Our program is built for working nurses who hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and is supported by experienced practicing faculty with extensive real-world experience. We support your every step to earning a DNP and reaching your highest career goals in nursing.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Your Clinical Placement is Our Pledge
We understand securing clinical placement as part of an MSN to DNP program is one of the biggest concerns students face. At Herzing, we offer guidance and support through our step-by-step Clinical Guidance Process to ensure you can get the clinical practice experiences you need. As a Herzing student, we’ll encourage you to find your own preceptor and clinical sites as there are many benefits to doing so. However, we provide extensive support should you find difficulty along the way. With Herzing, you are never on your own. Because of our strong relationships with healthcare providers across the U.S. and our comprehensive Clinical Guidance Process, we are confident in our ability to help you find clinical placement. So much so that if you are unable to find a clinical site on your own, we pledge to step in and help you secure clinical placement.*
*Subject to terms and conditions outlined in the enrollment documents.
Accreditation & Recognition
Our accredited & recognized online school
We strive to earn rank as one of the top private, nonprofit universities in the United States. Just as you work every day to become the best version of yourself, so do we as a university.
We are proud to have attained institutional and programmatic accreditation in addition to industry recognition for our accomplishments helping students earn a college education and find career success.
✝The doctor of nursing practice program at Herzing University Madison is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin.
Ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the best online graduate nursing degree programs in 2025.
Herzing University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.
Meet our DNP Leadership
"The ‘I’m Possible’ campaign at Herzing University is not just a marketing tagline! It is a reality for any student that invests time and energy in their education. Join us in the DNP program where we will invest our time and energy with you!"
Dr. Julie Penick PhD, DNP, FNP-BC
DNP Program ChairJulie Penick is an experienced educator and certified Family Nurse Practitioner who serves as the DNP Program Chair. Her clinical practice is delivered through application of a mind-body-spirit care approach. She completed her ASN through LSU Health Sciences in New Orleans, LA; her BSN through Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA; her MSN at UMKC, her PMC-FNP at UMC, and her DNP at UMSL (all in the state of Missouri). Rapidly approaching 40 years of experience in nursing, with the last 28 years as an FNP and 14 years as a nurse educator, Dr. Penick has an experiential, multi-dimensional foundation that translates positively in the service to students.
Faq
Frequently Asked Questions
Didn't find the answer to your question? Send us an inquiry and we will be happy to answer all your questions!
The DNP is a practice-focused doctoral degree, while a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing is a research-focused degree. Some key differences include:
- PhD students are trained to develop new knowledge for both the science and practice of nursing, while DNP students learn the skills necessary to translate evidence from the research and put it into practice. Program curriculums vary accordingly.
- PhD students complete a dissertation, while DNP students complete a minimum number of clinical hours and/or a scholarly project
- Credit requirements can vary
- Unique employment opportunities upon graduation
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioners earn an average salary of $132,000 per year ($63.46 per hour). Pay depends on many factors, including your location, what healthcare institution you work for and your level of experience.*
Discover the average nurse practitioner salary by state and find out what nurse practitioners make on average near you.
In October of 2004, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) endorsed the Position Statement on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing, which recommended moving the current level of preparation needed for advanced nursing practice from the master’s to doctorate level.
The AACN set an initial goal to phase out master’s level prep for APRNs and transition fully to DNP by 2015. That deadline has come and gone, and a master’s level education remains the minimum requirement to practice as an APRN (additional requirements vary per certification).
However, the transition has been discussed for many years—and not only by AACN. The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) set a goal of 2025 to move all entry-level nurse practitioner education to the DNP degree.
While enrollment in DNP programs has increased continuously for 20 years running as of the AACN’s most recent Annual Survey, a DNP has not yet become required to practice as an APRN.
However, the landscape is changing and the DNP is trending towards becoming the standard for APRNs at the highest level.
Nurse practitioner represents an advanced practice role in nursing—it’s not an easy job, and our goal is to prepare you best for success! We strive to keep coursework manageable, but provide you with the knowledge, skills, and valuable clinical experiences to succeed as a nurse practitioner.
Our goal is to help you balance the challenge of an NP curriculum with everything else in your life, including your work, family and friends. You can take courses at the right pace for you, so you can get the most out of going back to school and be ready to practice as a nurse practitioner.
The DNP represents the terminal degree in nursing, meaning it’s the highest degree you can earn in nursing. It’s one level higher than the MSN. The main differences include:
- Curriculum differences
- Certification requirements
- Enrollment trends
- Salary potential
- How long it takes to earn
Learn more about the difference between MSN vs. DNP.
Yes! There are many reasons why it’s worth pursuing a DNP, including:
- Reach the height of the nursing profession with the terminal degree in nursing
- Advance your skills regardless of your specialty
- Prepare for future APRN education requirements
- Doctorally-prepared nurses are needed to translate evidence and research
- Earn a key role in improvement science
- Become a better educator/teacher
- The healthcare system needs doctorally-prepared nurses
Here’s a selection of the most common types of nurse practitioners:
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
Each specialty has its own unique requirements in terms of job experience and certification.
Nursing administrators fall under the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) medical and health services manager category. According to the BLS, the average salary for medical health and service managers is $137,730 per year ($66.22 per hour).*
Discover how much nurse administrators can make by state and find salary estimates in the area near you.
Program Finder
MSN to DNP - Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
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MSN to DNP - Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
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MSN to DNP - Family Nurse Practitioner
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MSN to DNP - Nursing Leadership & Administration
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MSN to DNP - Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
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MSN to DNP - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
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MSN to DNP - Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
OnlineTo learn more about this program, click the Request Info button.
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The Student Experience at Herzing
I’m just getting started and can’t wait to see where I end up next.
Emmalee Dixon
Healthcare | Online CampusDisclosures
* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.
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Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.