Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) admissions requirements and application process

Have a question about the DNP or BS to DNP programs? Please refer to our DNP frequently asked questions to see if we have already addressed it.

You need to hold a master’s degree in nursing — from a program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) — with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Applicants with a graduate GPA below 3.0 may still apply by submitting official GRE scores and/or documentation of at least 12 graduate-level credit hours. GRE scores may be entered in the NursingCAS Academic History section, and a copy of the score report may be uploaded as an "Other" document in the Documents section or mailed to the College of Nursing. All required documentation must be received by the application deadline.

You must have an active and unrestricted US nursing license to be eligible for admission.

Due to the clinical nature of the nursing profession, all students must meet the following communication standards, as outlined in the Technical Standards of our Student Handbook:

1. A student must be able to communicate clearly and effectively in English with clients, teachers, and all members of the health care team. Written and oral communication must use standard, professional medical terminology.
2. A student must communicate with clients clearly and effectively in English to elicit information regarding history, emotional status, and activity, and to perceive nonverbal communications.
3. Communication includes speech, hearing, reading, writing, and computer literacy.
4. A student must be able to clearly and effectively report in English to members of the health care team. Additionally, students must be able to relay appropriate information to clients, as well as teach, explain, direct, and counsel a wide variety of individuals.
5. In some instances, the student will be required to provide clear, direct communication in English during highly stressful, crisis situations. These skills necessitate a strong command of the English language and prompt timely interpretation of pertinent patient data.
6. A student must be able to communicate online in a timely, professional manner, e.g., enter an electronic medical record immediately after the patient visit.

If your primary language is not English, or if you are an International Student, you will need to demonstrate required English language proficiency by meeting one of the following criteria:

1. You are a citizen of a country whose official, language of daily use and language of instruction is English.
2. You have obtained at least a total minimum score on one of the following tests:
   

Test	Minimum Required Score	CU Anschutz Nursing Exam Code
Internet Based TOEFL, if taken AFTER January 1, 2026	Overall score of 4, speaking sub-score of 5	3377
Internet Based TOEFL, if taken PRIOR to January 1, 2026 *scores are valid for 2 years after the test	Overall score of 83, speaking sub-score of 26	3377
IELTS	Total score of 6.5 minimum speaking sub-score of 8	Send directly to CU Anschutz College of Nursing

3. For other minimum sub-scores see CU Denver Internal Admissions.
4. You have graduated from the University of Colorado Denver’s ESL Academy or comparable post-secondary program earned at a regionally accredited institution.
5. You have graduated from a USA or UK accredited school abroad with English as the medium of instruction.
6. You have earned a Bachelor’s degree in the U.S. or you have successfully completed a minimum of 2 semesters of full-time study in a master’s program at an accredited institution in the U.S.
7. Successfully completed English Composition and English Literature at a regionally accredited institution.

For non-international applicants whose primary language is not English (i.e.permanent residents), there may also be an opportunity to complete an English language evaluation to demonstrate language proficiency if adequately trained staffing is available. Candidates may be identified and contacted during the application cycle if proof of English language proficiency is required.

Our university participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), a national initiative overseen by the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. This allows our college to offer online education and out-of-state learning opportunities, promoting equitable education for all students. However, individual state's board of nursing, educational, and licensure requirements may differ from the College of Nursing's requirements. This may impact whether or not you can be admitted to one of our programs.

If you live in a state other than Colorado, please check the State Authorization and Professional Licensure material before applying.

Applicants requiring an F-1 visa should contact the CU International Student and Scholars Office prior to applying.

Applicants are responsible for understanding the immigration and visa process, obtaining the required documentation, and completing all necessary forms in a timely manner. An F-1 applicant requiring an F-1 visa should contact the CU International Student and Scholars Office prior to applying.

Applicants are responsible for understanding the immigration and visa process, obtaining the required documentation, and completing all necessary forms in a timely manner. An F-1visa is required for any on-campus components, including required campus visits and clinical coursework.

Please note that CU nursing graduate programs are primarily delivered online; therefore, student visas cannot be issued for individuals seeking full-time study in the United States.

Primary application fee ($85) paid directly to NursingCAS and supplemental application fee ($50) paid to CU Anschutz Nursing directly. Please have a method of payment ready when you submit your application. Instructions for payment are included in the NursingCAS application.

Applicants must upload a current CV/resume into their NursingCAS application.

Three (3) reference letters are required. It is highly recommended that at least one come from an academic source, like a professor or college advisor. Instructions on how to upload your letters are available in the NursingCAS Applicant Help Center.

All applicants must request official transcripts from each former/current institution attended. You will need to order all official transcripts to be sent directly to NursingCAS for verification (regardless of the years attended or previous coursework completed). This includes any concurrent/dual enrollment courses you took in high school; you must submit official transcripts for any post-secondary school(s) from which you earned college credit while in high school. For additional information regarding submitting official transcripts, please visit the NursingCAS transcripts help section.

Applicants holding a degree from an international or foreign institution require a course-by-course transcript evaluation. For additional information regarding submitting international transcripts and course-by-course evaluations, please visit the NursingCAS transcripts help section.

Within your NursingCAS application, you will be asked to upload an essay which responds to the following prompts. Your completed essay can be uploaded into the “Documents” section of your NursingCAS application.

• Please describe your professional and educational goals and how participation in the DNP program will enhance these goals. Discuss professional issues in your area of interest. Describe a clinical problem you have solved for a particular population or a clinical innovation your developed to improve health outcomes of a particular population.

• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP-APN). Applicants with an MS in nursing and a specialty certification, and graduate course work at the post-MS level, will complete the DNP program. This path prepares students for leadership roles in the clinical setting.
• Doctor of Nursing Practice/Master of Public Health (DNP/MPH). The DNP/MPH option leads to both a DNP and a Master of Public Health (dual degree) for those wishing to have a nursing leadership role in public health.
• Doctor of Nursing Practice – Public Health Nursing (DNP-PHN). The DNP-PHN program leads to a Doctor of Nursing Practice with a public health focus for those already in public health.
• The Post-Graduate DNP Health Systems Leadership Program prepares nurse leaders across the continuum of care (i.e. primary care, acute care, long-term care, school nursing, home care, etc.).

Applications usually open one year before the start of a program. A priority deadline occurs approximately 6 months after they open. Give yourself time to fill in your application details and upload documents. If you submit your application by the posted deadline, we provide a 10-day grace period to allow any outstanding materials to arrive.

Application tip: You can submit your application before your recommendations and transcripts are posted to your NursingCAS account. If the application is received by the deadline, and materials are posted within the 10-day grace period, your file will be reviewed.

Apply by the priority deadline for your chosen program. This increases your chances of admission and scholarships. We may extend the deadline if space is available. Check the application deadlines and your email regularly for updates.

After the priority deadline, things work a bit differently. Some programs might still have space available, and we'll list these openings on our website. If spots remain, these programs will review applications on a first-come, first-served basis.

You are required to complete and pass a drug screening, which includes screening for marijuana.

Admitted applicants must complete a background check prior to enrollment.

Admission may be revoked if a criminal history or pending charge prevents participation in required clinical placements.

You’ll need to be up to date on required immunizations before you start school and participate in clinical activities.