DNP in Nursing Leadership Admissions

Application Timeline

Applications for full-time and part-time study are accepted on a rolling basis. Final deadlines are generally two weeks prior to the start of classes.

• Spring start application deadline (begin classes in January): January 3, 2025

• Fall start application deadline (begin classes in August): August 8, 2025

Applications are evaluated once all materials are received by Quinnipiac. Students are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible for their desired semester.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program must have earned a master’s degree in nursing or another discipline with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher. The desired candidate will have also earned a GPA of 3.0 in their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. A verification of the number of clinical hours completed in the master’s program, if any, must be provided after acceptance. Applicants are required to have at least one year of experience (or approximately 2,000 hours) as a registered nurse or APRN.

Required Documents

An application consists of the following:

• Completed application form

• $45 application fee

• Resume

• Official transcripts from every college and/or university attended

• Copy of unencumbered and unrestricted RN or APRN license

• Proof of passing a graduate-level statistics class with grade B- or better (alternatively students may take a Quinnipiac statistics course)

• Optional - submission of a publication or presentations (maximum of two)

• References

  • Competitive applicants will provide a minimum of one reference from professional supervisor or faculty member who can speak to the applicant’s professionalism, strengths and opportunities for improvement, and also provide an example of practice excellence that indicates the applicant’s potential for doctoral study.

• Personal statement

After acceptance, nurses will complete a background check and drug screen; instructions will be provided by our School of Nursing.

Personal Statement

Please answer the following essay questions while staying within the maximum limit of 300 words per question:

1. What is your motivation for pursuing a DNP degree, and how do you envision that doing so will advance your nursing career and practice?

2. Describe a significant challenge you have faced in your nursing practice and how you addressed it. What did the experience teach you about leadership in healthcare?

3. How do you plan to use your DNP education to improve patient outcomes and contribute to the advancement of the nursing profession?

Quinnipiac University supports equality of educational and employment opportunity. No person shall be denied admission to any educational program or activity or be denied employment on the basis of race, color, disability, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin.