The KU School of Nursing seeks applicants who are open to coaching and committed to becoming the best version of themselves. Our competency-based curriculum is designed to support continuous feedback, reflection, and growth as students expand their confidence and competence for advanced nursing roles.

Explore these common questions:

• Am I eligible for the doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program?
• How do I apply to the DNP program?
• What are the costs and financial aid options?

Eligibility and Admission Requirements

• Completion of a bachelor’s or master's degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program (NLNAC or CCNE).
  • New BSN graduates must obtain RN licensure prior to the first semester of enrollment.
  • Minimum of one year of clinical work experience as an RN is recommended.
• Minimum cumulative graduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Potential for leadership and application of scholarship in nursing.
• Potential to provide expert advanced clinical care or expert service in functional areas
• National certification in specialty area, where applicable (e.g., post-master's DNP Completion).
  • For all other specialties, national certification is preferred but not required.
• Graduate-level statistics course
  • May be completed prior to admission or during the first semester of enrollment.
• Satisfactory criminal background check, to be completed once an offer of admission has been extended to the applicant.
• Affirmation of Technical Standards for Admission
• English Language Proficiency
  • All applicants for study at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) whose native language is not English must demonstrate an established level of English language proficiency through either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the academic format of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). The test must have been taken within two years of the first semester of enrollment. When submitting test scores to KU Medical Center, please submit only original scores sent directly from the testing agency. Photocopies will not be accepted. For testing purposes, the ETS school code is 6895. Contact the Office of International Programs for more information.

All applicants are considered on an individual basis. Space in the School of Nursing graduate programs is limited, and admission is competitive.

Application and Admittance Process

The following materials are required for application to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program. All application materials, including transcripts and references, must be received by the posted deadline in order to be considered for admission.

START YOUR DNP APPLICATION

Application Deadlines

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) specialty applications, except for the Nurse‑Midwifery specialty, must be received by June 1, 2026, for the fall 2026 semester.

Applications for a the Nurse-Midwifery specialty will open by October for a fall 2027 start. Please check back for updates.

How to Apply

The following items are required when applying to the DNP program.

• KU Application: Apply online.
• Payment: $75 non-refundable application fee
• Transcript(s): You must submit an official transcript from every college or university you have attended.
• Submit official transcript(s) of all college coursework to:

  KU School of Nursing
  Mail Stop 2029
  3901 Rainbow Blvd.
  Kansas City, KS 66160
  sontranscripts@kumc.edu

• Three (3) Letters of Reference: Three references from advanced practice nurses, nursing faculty or physicians who are able to attest to the applicant's potential ability for advanced practice and engagement in scholarly activity and leadership roles.
• An application vitae, as outlined in the Application Vitae for DNP Applicants (pdf).
• RN Licensure: Evidence of current registered nurse licensure in at least one state of the United States. Upon admission, students will need to meet additional licensure and participation requirements. Please see the section regarding enrollment in nursing courses for more information.
• An informational on-campus or telephone interview with a School of Nursing representative. To schedule an appointment, call (913) 588-1619 or email Student Affairs.

Admission Decisions

Admission decisions are granted within 4-6 weeks after we receive your completed application.

All applicants are notified of their admission status via letter and email from the Associate Dean for Student Affairs at the KU School of Nursing.

Background Check

For KU programs to maintain accreditation status, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations requires that all persons, employees, volunteers and students involved in patient care activities have background checks. This status is very important to health care organizations to demonstrate to patients and professionals that they meet the highest standards for patient care.

This background check will be done at the applicant's expense after provisional acceptance has been granted. The information from this report is held in confidence by the school. Learn more about background checks for students.

View KU Medical Center's data protection privacy notice.

View KU Medical Center's privacy statement.

Costs: Tuition and Fees

The cost of an education at the University of Kansas is competitive with other top programs in nursing.

TUITION AND FEES

Visit the KUMC Registrar's Office for current tuition rates and required campus fees for the Community DNP program. If you have specific questions, reach out to them by emailing kumcregistrar@kumc.edu.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available to qualified students. Please visit the KUMC Student Financial Aid website (opens in a new tab) for additional information about paying for your education.

Scholarships

Once admitted, students will be sent detailed information about scholarships and how to apply for them.