25 Reasons to Get Your DNP Degree in 2025

by Imed Bouchrika, Phd

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

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What can I expect from a DNP degree program?

• Advanced Clinical Content: The curriculum is centered on advanced topics in pharmacology, diagnostics, and patient care management, building upon your existing nursing knowledge.
• Leadership and Systems-Level Training: Expect intensive coursework focused on healthcare policy, organizational leadership, and health informatics to prepare you for roles that improve entire healthcare systems.
• Scholarly Project: A capstone scholarly project is a core component. You will design, implement, and evaluate a practice-based initiative that addresses a real-world healthcare problem.
• Extensive Clinical Hours: Most DNP programs require a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate clinical hours, providing a deep, immersive experience in your chosen specialty.
• Interprofessional Collaboration: The programs emphasize teamwork, preparing you to collaborate effectively with doctors, specialists, and other healthcare professionals.

Where can I work with a DNP degree?

• Hospitals and Medical Centers: Take on leadership roles as a Nurse Manager, Director of Nursing, or a specialized APRN in departments like critical care or surgery.
• Private Practice and Clinics: Work as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or other specialized NP, potentially with full practice authority in states that allow it.
• Academia and Education: Become a full-time nursing faculty member, professor, or academic leader in a university setting.
• Public Health and Government: Influence policy and lead public health initiatives for local, state, or federal government agencies.
• Consulting and Healthcare Tech: Apply your expertise in informatics and systems analysis to advise organizations on optimizing their healthcare delivery.
• Specialty Clinics: Work in high-demand, high-paying specialties like anesthesiology, oncology, or psychiatry in outpatient care centers and specialty hospitals.

How much can I make with a DNP degree?

• Nurse Practitioner (NP) Roles: The median salary for nurse practitioners was $129,210 in May 2024, with the top 10% earning more than $217,270 (BLS).
• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA): One of the highest-paying DNP roles, CRNAs earned a median annual wage of $223,210 in May 2024 (BLS).
• Leadership and Executive Roles: While not tracked directly by the BLS, positions such as Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) can command salaries well over $200,000 annually, depending on the size and location of the organization.
• Salary Growth: A DNP degree provides a strong long-term return on investment, with many experienced DNPs earning between $150,000 and $200,000+ annually in advanced practice or leadership positions.

Pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree offers more than just academic achievement—it represents a pathway to leadership, influence, and innovation in modern healthcare. As patient care grows more complex and demand for advanced practice nurses continues to rise, earning a DNP equips nurses with the clinical expertise, policy knowledge, and leadership skills needed to drive meaningful change.

From higher earning potential to expanded career opportunities across practice, education, and administration, and extending to DNP roles and responsibilities, the DNP degree stands out as one of the most impactful investments a nurse can make in their future. 

Here are 25 reasons to get your DNP degree in 2025.

What academic and educational opportunities does a DNP offer?

A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree provides a solid foundation for advancing your academic journey and professional capabilities. It’s an ideal credential for nurses who want to take on roles that require a high level of clinical knowledge and strategic thinking, setting you up to lead the next generation of healthcare professionals.

1. Advancing your role without leaving clinical practice: The DNP is the highest degree for clinical practice, allowing you to advance your career without leaving hands-on patient care. This degree is highly applicable and useful to society, as it keeps expert clinicians at the bedside and in the clinic to directly improve patient care.

2. Becoming a nurse educator: A DNP degree is an ideal credential for nurses who want to transition into teaching. It provides the highest level of clinical knowledge, making it easy to translate real-world experience into effective classroom instruction. By choosing this path, you are contributing directly to the future of the healthcare system.

3. Taking on a role in academia: A DNP can open doors to leadership positions within academic institutions. You will gain the unique blend of clinical expertise, leadership skills, and understanding of organizational systems necessary to lead a nursing program and manage faculty. This benefits society by ensuring nursing programs are led by experienced clinicians.

Many consider the cheapest BSN to DNP programs as well in preparing for an academic career.

How does a DNP degree impact patient care and clinical practice?

A DNP degree is fundamentally about translating knowledge into action to improve patient outcomes and care delivery. The rigorous curriculum is designed to enhance your clinical skills and prepare you to lead improvements at the point of care.

4. Enhanced clinical expertise: A DNP degree significantly enhances a nurse's clinical skills beyond a master's program. The curriculum dives deeper into advanced diagnostics and pharmacology, equipping you to handle complex patient cases with confidence and precision. This higher level of expertise can translate into greater earning potential, similar to how WHNP graduate certificate salary reflects the financial value of specialized nursing credentials. The result is more accurate diagnoses, effective treatment, and better health outcomes for patients.

5. Greater professional autonomy: A DNP degree is instrumental in achieving greater professional autonomy, which is a key factor in gaining full practice authority as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in many states. This strengthens the healthcare system by enabling nurses to address disparities and provide care more efficiently.

6. Improved patient safety and outcomes: A core component of the DNP curriculum is quality improvement and patient safety. DNP-prepared nurses are trained to analyze data, identify systemic weaknesses, and implement evidence-based projects to improve care delivery.

7. Leadership in evidence-based practice: DNPs are “translators of research,” uniquely qualified to bridge the gap between academic research and clinical practice. They ensure that patients receive the most current, effective, and safe care.

8. Leading interdisciplinary teams: DNP programs emphasize the skills needed to lead and collaborate with doctors, therapists, and other professionals. This results in improved communication, streamlined workflows, and a holistic approach to patient care.

9. Specialization in your passion: A DNP offers the opportunity to specialize in areas such as pediatrics or psychiatric mental health, allowing for deep expertise that improves outcomes for specific patient populations.

How does a DNP degree allow me to influence the healthcare industry?

Moving beyond the individual patient, a DNP degree empowers you to have a significant impact on the wider healthcare industry. It prepares you to tackle systemic issues and contribute to public health on a larger scale.

10. Bridging the healthcare gap: With a shortage of primary care providers, especially in rural and underserved areas, DNP-prepared nurses are well-positioned to increase access to care and address a major public health challenge.  This is similar to how choosing what to major in for occupational therapy can strategically position graduates to meet healthcare needs in growing and underserved sectors.

11. Influencing health policy: The DNP curriculum includes training in health policy, preparing you to analyze policy and influence decision-makers at institutional and governmental levels.

12. Positive impact on public health: A DNP degree prepares nurses to design community health programs, manage disease prevention initiatives, and use data to address public health crises.

13. Starting your own practice: For nurses with an entrepreneurial spirit, a DNP provides the knowledge and credentials to start and manage an independent practice, increasing the number of accessible care providers.

Some systemic issues continue to plague the nursing industry, as shown in the graphic below. In 2025, 58% of registered nurses (RNs) reported experiencing burnout on most days, a rate that has shown improvement from 68% in 2023 but remains a serious concern (Statista, 2025). This highlights a high-stress environment, as four in 10 nurses face frequent verbal abuse from patients, and one in eight experience it from coworkers. As a result of these working conditions, over 80% of nurses favor flexible scheduling for retention, and a similar percentage supports lower patient-to-nurse ratios to improve their work environment (Statista, 2025).

The nursing profession continues to grapple with a high cost of turnover, with the average cost to replace one RN rising to $61,110 in 2024, an 8.6% increase from the previous year. While the overall RN turnover rate in 2024 was 16.4%, down from 27.1% in 2021, it still varies significantly by specialty, ranging from 12% to 23% for mental health and substance abuse nurses. To address these issues, hospitals in 2024 spent an average of 83 days, or about 12 weeks, on recruiting a single RN.

These trends underscore the ongoing challenges of nurse retention and the financial and human costs associated with a high-turnover environment.  For nurses looking to pivot into roles that are in high demand and offer more stability, exploring masters in nursing education jobs can be a strategic way to expand career opportunities while addressing workforce needs.

What personal and professional growth can I expect with a DNP degree?

Pursuing a DNP is a journey of significant personal and professional growth. It’s an investment in yourself that pays dividends in both your career and your sense of purpose.

14. High pass rates on certification exams: The DNP’s rigorous curriculum helps graduates achieve higher certification pass rates compared to MSN-prepared peers.

15. Clear educational path: The DNP is the clear next step for nurses aiming for the highest level of clinical expertise. Whether you enter with a BSN or MSN, streamlined and flexible online programs exist to help you achieve this goal.

16. Skills in informatics and technology: DNP programs teach you how to use health information systems, interpret data, and lead technological improvements, making healthcare more efficient and data-driven.

17. Professional fulfillment: For many nurses, the DNP represents the pinnacle of clinical practice, offering a deep sense of accomplishment and professional pride.  For those considering broader career options, comparing potential earnings with other fields—such as a religious studies degree salary—can provide perspective on the financial benefits of advanced education.

18. Staying current in the field: A DNP prepares you to be a lifelong learner, with the skills to adapt to scientific advancements and remain a leader in modern healthcare.

What professional and career advancement opportunities does a DNP offer?

A DNP degree is a strategic career move that unlocks a wide range of professional opportunities. It positions you as a leader and expert, leading to increased responsibility, job security, and higher earning potential.

19. Access to remote work: The rise of telehealth has created new opportunities for DNP-prepared nurses to work in remote or hybrid roles, offering greater work-life balance.

20. Becoming an advanced practice leader: The DNP equips you with systems thinking and organizational leadership skills to lead teams and healthcare organizations.

21. Job security: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners will grow by 40% from 2023 to 2033, significantly outpacing the average growth rate for all occupations, as shown in the graphic below. 

22. Increased earning potential: DNP-prepared nurses generally earn higher salaries than MSN-prepared nurses, with top-tier roles like CRNAs among the highest-paid in nursing. As of May 2024, the median annual wage for nurse practitioners was $132,050, with the top 10% earning over $217,270. The number of jobs in 2023 was 349,600, with a projected job growth of 40% from 2023 to 2033, a trend that is much faster than the average for all occupations. 

23. Meeting an industry standard: The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has endorsed the DNP as the new standard for advanced nursing practice, making it a future-proof credential.

24. Opening doors to executive roles: A DNP degree can lead to executive-level positions such as Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), Director of Nursing Services, and other high-level roles.

25. Pursuing in-demand careers: A DNP opens doors to high-demand specialties in both clinical practice (NP roles) and non-clinical fields like informatics, policy, and administration.

What is the financial investment for a DNP career?

The financial investment for a DNP career goes beyond just tuition; it also includes associated costs and potential loss of income. Understanding these elements is crucial for accurate financial planning, even in the most affordable DNP programs.

• Employer Support: A number of healthcare organizations offer tuition reimbursement programs, especially if the DNP will be used to enhance skills in an in-demand area or lead to a leadership role within the organization.
• Loss of Income: For nurses who choose to study full-time, the greatest financial challenge may be the loss of income from their full-time job. This should be factored into the overall cost.
• Program Length: The length of the program directly impacts cost. A post-BSN to DNP program can take four to six years, while a post-MSN to DNP program can be completed in as little as 16 months.
• Return on Investment (ROI): The significant increase in salary and career opportunities for DNP-prepared nurses often means the degree pays for itself over time, providing a positive long-term return on the initial financial investment.
• Financial Aid and Scholarships: Many schools offer a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, and loan forgiveness programs, to help offset the cost.
• Tuition and Fees: The total cost of a DNP program can vary widely, but in 2025, tuition generally ranges from $32,000 to over $110,000. Fees for technology, health services, and specific courses can add hundreds or even thousands of dollars to the total.

A DNP is a significant financial commitment, but with careful planning, it can be a highly strategic and manageable investment in your future.

What skills and qualities do I need for a successful DNP career?

A successful DNP career requires a blend of advanced clinical knowledge and high-level leadership and communication skills. These abilities are developed throughout the DNP program and are essential for influencing patient outcomes and leading organizational change.

• Advocacy: You will need the skills to advocate for patients, the nursing profession, and healthcare policies at local, state, and national levels.
• Commitment to Evidence-Based Practice: A core responsibility is to bridge the gap between research and practice. This requires a strong ability to find, evaluate, and apply the latest research findings to real-world clinical settings.
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills: A DNP must be able to communicate effectively with patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams. This includes translating complex medical jargon and mentoring colleagues.
• Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: DNPs must be able to critically analyze patient data, research, and organizational dynamics to make evidence-based decisions and solve complex problems.
• Leadership and Systems Thinking: The DNP is a practice doctorate focused on leadership. A strong DNP will be able to apply high-level thinking to complex organizational issues, creating and implementing new policies and procedures.
• Technological Proficiency: With the rapid integration of technology in healthcare, a successful DNP must be proficient in using and implementing health informatics, big data, and other technologies to improve patient care and organizational efficiency.

Success in a DNP career hinges on a combination of advanced clinical expertise and the "soft skills" of leadership, communication, and strategic thinking. This also applies to accelerated DNP programs.

According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, among nursing program directors in 2023–2024, 837 individuals, or 49.7%, held a doctoral degree. The data show a clear trend: the percentage of directors with doctoral degrees is higher in more advanced programs.

For example, a majority of directors in diploma programs (51.9%), bachelor’s programs (89.2%), accelerated BSN programs (78.0%), and master’s entry programs (92.3%) held a doctoral degree. In contrast, fewer directors in LPN/VN programs (26.7%) and associate’s programs (41.3%) held a doctoral degree.

This trend, shown in the graph below, underscores the nursing community’s emphasis on doctoral-level leadership as programs become increasingly clinically complex and academically advanced.

What specializations are available in DNP programs?

DNP programs offer a wide range of specializations, allowing you to tailor your education to a specific patient population, clinical setting, or leadership role. Choosing a specialization allows you to gain deep expertise in a particular area of nursing.

• Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner: This includes both primary care (AGNP) and acute care (AGACNP), focusing on the unique health needs of adult and geriatric populations.
• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA): A highly specialized and in-demand role focused on administering anesthesia and monitoring patients during surgical procedures.
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS): A CNS applies expertise to a specific clinical setting or patient population, often serving as a mentor, consultant, and educator.
• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP): This specialization prepares you to provide comprehensive primary care to individuals across their lifespan.
• Nurse Executive: This is for nurses who want to lead healthcare organizations, managing budgets, personnel, and strategic initiatives at a high level.
• Nurse Midwifery: This specialization prepares nurses to provide a full range of primary healthcare services to women throughout their lives, including gynecological care and childbirth.
• Nursing Informatics: This focuses on the intersection of nursing science, computer science, and information science to improve patient care through technology.
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP): This specialization is for nurses who want to diagnose, treat, and manage mental health conditions for patients of all ages.
• Public Health/Population Health: This specialization focuses on improving health outcomes for entire communities through prevention, education, and policy.

With the diversity of available specializations, a DNP program can be customized to match your career goals and professional passions. For those looking for executive leadership roles, online DNP programs without clinicals may be for you.

Based on recent data from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), DNP programs are experiencing widespread growth and popularity across the country. In 2025, there were 439 schools in the U.S. enrolling students in DNP programs, with over 100 more programs in the planning stages. These programs are now available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

From 2023 to 2024, the number of students enrolled in DNP programs increased from 41,831 to 42,767. During the same period, DNP graduates grew from 11,718 to 12,336. These statistics, shown in the graphic below, highlight a clear trend toward increased student demand and a growing number of DNP-prepared nurses entering the workforce. The expansion of these programs signals the nursing profession's strong commitment to preparing a highly educated workforce to meet the nation's evolving healthcare needs.

How much can I earn with a DNP degree?

A DNP degree is a significant investment in your earning potential, leading to salaries that are often substantially higher than those for nurses with a master's degree. The specific amount you can earn depends on your specialization, experience, and geographic location.

• Influence of Location and Experience: Salaries vary by state and city, with higher-paying regions like California and Wyoming offering salaries that can be over $40,000 more than the national average. Experience is also a key factor, with salaries increasing significantly after the first few years.
• Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA): This is consistently one of the highest-paying DNP roles, with a mean annual salary of around $212,650, which can exceed $280,000 in some states.
• Nurse Practitioner (NP): A DNP-prepared NP can expect a median salary of approximately $126,260, with a notable bump in pay compared to their MSN-prepared colleagues.
• Overall DNP Average: The average annual salary for a DNP-prepared nurse is around $117,859, with top earners making upwards of $185,000.
• Leadership Roles: Executive positions like chief nursing officer (CNO) can command salaries well over $200,000, reflecting the increased responsibility and business acumen required.

The 2025 PayScale data shown in the graph below displays a clear trend: as roles shift from instruction and general practice to specialized clinical work and executive leadership, salaries increase significantly.

A nursing instructor earns an average of $75,433, while a postsecondary professor earns a similar salary of $85,325. Moving into more advanced roles, a gastroenterology nurse practitioner makes $98,315, and a nursing director earns $101,601. Pediatric nurse practitioners typically earn $104,459, and adult nurse practitioners and family nurse practitioners earn slightly more, at $107,711 and $107,888, respectively.

The average for an advanced practice registered nurse is $109,050, with nursing managers and certified nurse midwives earning $111,073 and $111,701. Other advanced practice roles include an advanced registered nurse practitioner at $113,502, a nurse practitioner at $114,292, a women's health nurse practitioner at $118,312, and a cardiovascular advanced registered nurse practitioner at $119,475.

Roles requiring greater clinical specialization continue the upward trend, with a clinical nurse specialist earning $121,459, an acute care nurse practitioner earning $123,570, and a neonatal nurse practitioner earning $125,514. Moving into administrative and high-level clinical roles, an executive director earns $128,141, a psychiatric nurse practitioner earns $128,758, and a hospitalist advanced registered nurse practitioner makes $130,153. A director of nursing earns $133,346.

The highest-earning positions are in executive leadership and specialized clinical practice. A dean of nursing earns $147,244, while a chief nursing officer (CNO) makes $147,998. One of the top clinical roles, a nurse anesthetist (CRNA), earns an average of $195,158. Finally, the highest-paying role is a combined chief operating officer (COO) / chief nursing officer (CNO) position, at $211,133.

The salary progression demonstrates that one's DNP salary by specialty can lead to roles with substantially higher earning potential as responsibilities shift from direct care to high-level clinical specialization or executive management. This range highlights the versatility and financial return of pursuing a DNP.

What are some current and future trends in advanced nursing practice?

Advanced nursing practice is a dynamic field that is constantly evolving. Staying ahead of these trends is crucial for a successful career, and a DNP degree prepares you to be a leader in these areas.

• DNP as the Entry-Level Standard: Major nursing organizations like the AACN have endorsed the DNP as the entry-level degree for all Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). This trend will make a DNP a requirement for new nurses entering these roles in the future.
• Growing Demand for Primary Care: With a national shortage of primary care physicians, DNP-prepared NPs are increasingly filling this gap, especially in rural and underserved areas.
• Increased Use of Telehealth: The expansion of telehealth is a major trend, creating new opportunities for DNPs to provide remote patient monitoring, diagnostics, and mental health services.
• Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Informatics: AI and other technologies are becoming central to patient care. DNPs are trained to use these tools to analyze data, streamline workflows, and make more informed clinical decisions.
• Specialization in Mental Health: There is a significant and growing demand for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) to address the rise in mental health concerns across the country.

By preparing you to lead in these emerging areas, a DNP degree ensures you will remain at the cutting edge of the nursing profession.

Here's What Graduates Say About Their DNP Degrees

Other Things You Should Know About DNP Degrees

What clinical skills do I gain with a DNP?

A DNP degree hones your clinical skills, allowing you to practice at the highest level of nursing. While an MSN program provides foundational advanced skills in areas like assessment and diagnosis, a DNP focuses on preparing you to use these skills to address complex healthcare challenges. You gain expertise in applying evidence-based practice to a specific population, managing intricate patient conditions, and leading change to improve clinical outcomes and patient safety across entire healthcare systems.

Beyond individual patient care, a DNP program prepares you to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical programs and use data to implement improvements. You'll gain a deep understanding of health informatics, data analysis, and emerging technologies, enabling you to use tools like predictive analytics to improve diagnostics and streamline workflows. This allows you to serve as an expert clinician, a mentor to other nurses, and a driving force for positive change in any clinical setting.

What is the difference between a DNP and an MSN?

The primary distinction between a DNP and an MSN is their philosophical focus. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is a graduate-level degree that prepares nurses for advanced clinical practice, education, or management roles. The DNP, however, is a terminal practice degree—the highest level of education in clinical nursing. While both can lead to the same advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) roles, the DNP curriculum emphasizes leadership, quality improvement, and systems-level thinking.

Simply put, an MSN teaches you how to be an expert in your chosen specialty, while a DNP teaches you how to be an expert who can also lead and transform healthcare practice. The DNP requires a more extensive curriculum, including a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate clinical hours and a scholarly project that applies research to a real-world problem. In contrast, an MSN program is typically shorter and focuses more narrowly on clinical skills.

What certifications can I pursue with a DNP?

A DNP degree provides the academic foundation to pursue a wide array of advanced practice certifications, especially for APRN roles. The certifications you can obtain are based on the specialization track you choose within your DNP program, which focuses on a specific patient population, setting, or health issue.

Common certifications available to DNP graduates include Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C), Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP), and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP). Other in-demand options are Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). You can also pursue certifications in non-clinical specialties, such as informatics, nurse executive, or nurse educator. These certifications, when combined with your DNP, validate your expertise and are crucial for securing top-tier positions.