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 Program must have earned a master's degree in nursing or a related field and are required to provide a letter from an adviser detailing the total number of supervised clinical hours they completed as part of that program. Applicants are required to have passed the NCLEX exam and earned at least one year of experience working as a registered nurse. The desired candidates will have obtained an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 in a bachelor's degree of nursing program. 

Required Documents

An application consists of the following:

• Completed application form

• $45 application fee

• Updated resume or curriculum vitae

• Personal statement addressing the following:

  • professional goals and motivations

  • a nursing experience that has influenced or shaped your practice

  • a potential health care site for the DNP quality improvement project

• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended

• Proof of an active registered nurse (RN) license

• 2 letters of recommendation (professional or academic)

• A completed background check that will include:

  • Social security number validation/verification

  • Criminal record searches (statewide, county and federal searches)

  • National criminal database search

  • Sex offender registry search

  • OIG/SIG

  • Sanctions based search

• Verification from your master’s program indicating the total number of supervised fieldwork hours, if any, that you completed. A minimum of 1,000 hours of fieldwork observation will be required within the DNP program, and up to 500 hours from a master’s program may be applied toward that number. 

  Download and print the verification form

• All accepted students will also be required to complete a background check and drug screen following acceptance and before the start of classes. Acceptances are conditional prior to the satisfactory completion of both

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.