Nursing students working in the simulation lab
Lienhard School of Nursing

Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP

Candidates For The DNP Program Must:

  • Be a graduate of an accredited advanced practice nursing master’s degree program.
  • Be state certified and board eligible as an adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
  • Be licensed as a registered nurse in New York State.
  • Have a minimum GPA of 3.3 in a master’s degree program in nursing, or equivalent professional experience.
  • Evidence of successful completion of an undergraduate statistics course is required (grade of B or higher).
  • No standardized admission test (GRE or Miller Analogy) required.

Qualified applicants will be interviewed by the DNP Admissions Committee. During the interview, applicants will be required to write a 250-500 word abstract on a clinical question they have identified in their practice.

Students must complete the AGACNP-DNP, FNP-DNP or PMHNP-DNP with a total of 1,000 supervised practice hours.

*If seeking admission to the DNP bridge program, applicants will need to meet with the DNP program director for a gap analysis to determine eligibility and additional requirements.

Instructions For Application

Application and admission information.

There is a $70 non-refundable application fee that can be paid via credit card when completing the online application.

Submit the following with your online application:

  • Submit a current professional resume that outlines your work history and professional experience. Include significant community, professional, or college extracurricular activities as well as recognitions of publications, presentations, and achievements you have received (e.g., licenses, awards, etc.).
  • Submit a typewritten essay, not to exceed 1,000 words, that responds to both of the following:
    • Discuss your two (2) major reasons for pursuing the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Additionally, share how your professional experiences to date have prepared you for doctoral study, and how you foresee the degree enhancing your practice or advancing your career.
    • Identify one issue in the United States healthcare system and explore how DNP-prepared advanced practice nurses can help address the issue. Discuss the issue in relation to the DNP Essentials [American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2006). The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (PDF).
    • Essays should be submitted in Times New Roman, 12-point font size, double spaced, with one-inch margins. Include your name and the title of your statement.
    • Additional information regarding your academic performance or professional experience may also be included as a supplement.
  • Submit two letters of recommendation that describe your (advanced) clinical practice, the potential for achievement in doctoral study, and the potential for professional achievement. The letters of recommendation should address your intellectual ability, the ability to work with others, ability in written and oral expression, maturity, initiative/independence, and creativity/originality.
    • Letters may be sent by your recommenders electronically or forwarded to graduate admissions in sealed envelopes. Letters sent electronically to graduateadmission@pace.edu must meet the following requirements:
    • Letters must be sent directly from recommender.
    • Letters sent directly from applicants will not be accepted.
    • Letters must be on official letterhead and must include the recommender’s signature.

Official Transcripts

Transcripts from every accredited college or university attended (not just the degree granting institution) must be sent either to Pace University, directly from the academic institution electronically or by mail, or forwarded by the applicant in sealed envelopes from the academic institution.

Academic records issued in a language other than English are required to be translated and attested to by the institution of origin or a Pace-approved translation agency accredited through NACES. Transcripts are considered official only if they are sent directly to Pace University from the educational institution of origin, or forwarded by:

Applicants may send unofficial copies of all transcripts to graduateadmission@pace.edu for the initial processing and review of your application. Please include your name and program of interest. If you are admitted, your offer is contingent upon the receipt and verification of all official printed transcripts.

Applicants who have earned a degree or completed coursework at Pace University will not be required to submit a transcript from Pace University but are required to indicate on the application that they have attended Pace. Transcripts from all other institutions attended are required and must be submitted to be considered for admission.

Application Deadline

Admission to the DNP program is highly competitive. All applications must be completed and submitted by March 1 for priority consideration for this cohort class of no more than 24 students. Applications received after March 1 will be considered on a space-available basis until April 15, or until classes are filled.

For more information, please contact Graduate Admission Office at (212) 346-1531 or graduateadmission@pace.edu.

Check the status of your application