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The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at UMass Lowell is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Overview

A UMass Lowell student stands next to her research poster.

The online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at UMass Lowell prepares you to advance your career as a clinical leader and change agent in health care. 

Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), this program is designed for advanced practice nurses who want to improve health care systems and patient outcomes. You’ll deepen your clinical expertise, expand your leadership skills, and gain the tools to translate evidence into practice. 

Offered in a flexible format, the DNP program combines online courses with four two-day on-campus intensives — providing valuable opportunities for networking, mentorship, and scholarly collaboration. This doctorate degree can be completed in two years as a full-time student or within three years when pursued part-time. 

For program-specific questions, please contact Lisa Ann Marchand, DNP, FNP-C, FNAP, Clinical Associate Professor at: Lisa_Marchand@uml.edu

Please note: This online program is not open to international applicants.

Doctor of Nursing Curriculum

Choose between two pathways for completion of the DNP degree:

  1. Master of Science (MS) to DNP Degree Pathway - This 33-credit (for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse - APRN) and 36-credit (for non-APRN) online pathway is for applicants with an MS in nursing.
  2. Bachelor of Science (BS) to DNP Degree Pathway - This 75-credit direct degree pathway is for applicants with a BS in nursing. Be prepared as an Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner or a Family Nurse Practitioner.

You will also complete a final scholarly project, using evidence-based research to design, implement, and evaluate a project that improves outcomes and demonstrates your leadership in practice.

Types of scholarly projects include: 

  • Quality Improvement 
  • Financial Analysis to Compare Models of Care 
  • Implement and Evaluate Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines 
  • Design and Evaluate New Models of Care 
  • Analyze a Policy and Revise and Implement the amended policy
  • Develop and Implement a New Policy

View completed DNP scholarly projects.

For a complete list of courses and academic requirements, please visit the Academic Catalog.

Why Get Your DNP at UMass Lowell?

UMass Lowell Clinical Associate Professor Patricia MacCulloch stands next to a nursing student.

Expert Faculty

Gain personalized teaching and support from distinguished nursing faculty with real-world health care experience.

A UMass Lowell nursing student stands in front of her research poster titled, "Impact of Educational Deprescribing Intervention on Provider Confidence, Knowledge and Polypharmacy in the Nursing Home Setting."

Interdisciplinary Curriculum

Gain in-depth knowledge in evaluation research, health policy, organizational leadership, financing, evidence-based practice and health care informatics. You will also build advocacy skills to influence policy decisions.
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On-Campus Intensives

Four two-day intensives allow you to engage directly with peers and faculty on campus. Intensives include guest speakers, presentations, development of scholarly projects, networking events, and more, along with optional tours and field trips.

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Scholarship Opportunity

Pursue eligibility for the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP), which covers 85% of tuition and fees.

Meet Our Students & Alumni

Karen Melillo and Sue Mullaney
Susan Mullaney ’93, ’15
Nursing

Susan Mullaney, who earned a doctorate in nursing practice in 2015, is a vice president at UnitedHealth Group, where she focuses on keeping seniors healthy. She joined the board of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, which sets curriculum standards for nursing degrees.

It’s my mission to get more people educated about geriatrics.
Read More About Susan Mullaney 
Headshot of Maribel Ortiz.
Maribel Ortiz '13
Doctor of Nursing Practice

Maribel Ortiz is learning leadership skills in the DNP program that are helping her evaluate the quality of treatments, analyze processes and find ways to provide equal care for all populations.

My goal is to teach clinicians about being more culturally aware of what patients of different backgrounds may be thinking about a certain treatment or diagnosis.
Read More About Maribel Ortiz 
UMass Lowell DNP student Michelle Flanagan poses next to her research poster.
Michelle Flanagan '18, '25
MS in Nursing (Family Health Nurse Practitioner track), Doctor of Nursing Practice

With a passion for women’s health, Michelle Flanagan earned advanced nursing practice degrees to support patients.

Every step in my career has brought me closer to understanding how I can better support patients, and it’s my UMass Lowell education that opened those doors.
Read More About Michelle Flanagan 
Professional headshot of Diane Grimaldi.
Diane Grimaldi '14
Doctor of Nursing Practice

After many years of counseling clients in her private psychotherapy and psychopharmacology practice, Diane Grimaldi decided to enrich her knowledge by enrolling in UMass Lowell’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program.

The DNP program provided an opportunity for me to be immersed in research data, literature and outcomes, which has improved my clinical efficacy.
Read More About Diane Grimaldi 

Tuition and Admissions

Eligible students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for financial assistance.

Complete the FAFSA

Take the Next Step

Start your online application today!

Request More Information

Take a Virtual Tour of UMass Lowell

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Explore UMass Lowell from anywhere in the world. See the spaces where our students study, create, learn and live through a self-guided, interactive tour.

Questions? Contact Us!

Phone:
800-656-4723 (U.S. Students)
978-934-2390 (International Students)

Email
Graduate_Admissions@uml.edu