BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice – Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioner happily cares for infant patient whose mother is standing by.
Next Application Deadline:
March 1, 2026
Credit hours: 79
Next Term Start Date:
August 25, 2026

Application Deadline Extended

The BSN to DNP application deadline is extended to March 1, giving you more time to apply for the Autumn 2026 term.

Apply now

Lead neonatal care with a DNP degree – 100% online

Are you looking to become a neonatal nurse practitioner? The Ohio State University offers an online Neonatal Nurse Practitioner DNP program that prepares you upon graduation to provide health care to neonates and infants in various settings, including inpatient and outpatient care, as well as care for neonates with acute or chronic health needs and care during patient transport.

The comprehensive clinical experiences and coursework in this online NNP program will prepare nurse practitioners to deliver specialized care to high-risk newborns, diagnose and manage complex neonatal conditions, and provide critical support in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Students who have previously earned their BSN will earn both their master’s degree and DNP degree as part of this online program.

Graduates of this online DNP NNP program will be eligible for certification as a neonatal nurse practitioner.

Official Recognition

Ohio State's online DNP ranks #9 among public institutions by US News & World Report

Top 10 program

The Ohio State University’s DNP program is ranked #9 in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

Frequently Asked Questions

Application Deadline Extended

The BSN to DNP application deadline is extended to March 1, giving you more time to apply for the Autumn 2026 term.

Apply now

Academic Calendar

Ohio State’s online BSN to NNP doctorate program admits students once-per-year for the Autumn semester.

Academic Calendar

Ohio State’s online BSN to NNP doctorate program admits students once-per-year for the Autumn semester.

Application Deadline Extended

The BSN to DNP application deadline is extended to March 1, giving you more time to apply for the Autumn 2026 term.

Apply now

Admission Criteria

Applications to this online NNP program will be reviewed using a holistic approach, meaning all aspects of who you are as an applicant will be considered. This assessment will include academic preparedness and formative experiences in your professional background, education and life. Applicants for the online BSN to DNP – Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program must have the following:

Who We Are Looking For

Your application will be reviewed using a holistic approach, meaning all aspects of who you are as an applicant will be considered. This assessment will include academic preparedness and formative experiences in your professional background, education and life. We are also looking for candidates that demonstrate a preferred set of attributes, experiences and strengths described in the following list. This list is not all encompassing, but is meant to help guide you in what you may wish to highlight in your written application materials and in your recorded online video interview:

  • Clear understanding of the role of a DNP, your goals for the future and an alignment between the two
  • Clear understanding of the specialty track to which you are applying
  • Experience with evidence-based practice (EBP), quality improvement, research, innovation and scholarship (including publications, presentations or posters)
  • Any experience with the relevant populations of your chosen specialty
  • Demonstration of leadership, interprofessional collaboration and teamwork
  • Evidence of resiliency, the ability to overcome obstacles, to think critically and evidence of growth
  • Community engagement, local to global, and a diversity of thought, perspective and experience
  • Written and oral communication skills, organization of ideas, emotional intelligence
  • Personal attributes such as humility, professionalism, compassion, etc.
  • Overall commitment to nursing

How to Apply

Students must complete the following steps outlined below by the application deadline. Most applicants may review the status of their application any time at appstatus.osu.edu. Failure to complete all required steps of this application process by 11:59 pm ET on the day of the posted deadline will result in your application not being considered for admission, with no exceptions.

Admission Timeline

All required materials listed above must be submitted by the posted application deadline to be considered for admission. Please allow up to five business days for the status of materials to be updated on your application status webpage.

You are not able to defer admittance. If you are unable to begin your studies in the term to which you applied, you will be required to reapply in the future.

NC-SARA Participating Institution logo

The Ohio State University participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA).

SARA is a national initiative that increases student access to distance education courses and programs while maintaining compliance with state regulations. Institutions participating in SARA can offer educational opportunities in all 49 SARA member states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico without seeking individual approval in each state.

California is not a SARA member state, however, OSU may offer online courses and programs to students located in California under the California Private Post-Secondary Act of 2009.

The Application Process

Once you understand your program’s admission criteria, please note the application deadline. You’ll need a quiet space and a variety of materials for your application. To learn more, please see our Admissions page for the full process. Ready to Apply? Find your application here.

Career Outlook

What can you do with a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner DNP degree?

With a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) DNP degree, you can deliver specialized care to high-risk newborns, diagnose and manage complex neonatal conditions, and provide critical support in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). This advanced degree also prepares you for leadership roles in healthcare policy, education, and clinical research, significantly improving neonatal health outcomes.

Top Occupations by Median Income

National occupational information in Ohio State Online’s Career Outlook tool is sourced from O*NET Online and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The median annual wage displayed to the right of each occupational title above is based on the BLS Employment Projections program. Outlook and percent change indicate projected growth or decline over the next 10 years.

Curriculum

Ohio State’s DNP Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program curriculum and field experience allow students to provide healthcare to neonates in a variety of settings. This online BSN to DNP program pathway meets the curriculum guidelines of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties and National Association of Neonatal Nurses.

Below is a curriculum sample for this track of Ohio State’s online BSN to DNP program, along with information on the required clinical hours.

On-campus requirements: Online students are required to attend up to 4 on-campus visits during the last four semesters for in-person learning and evaluation of clinical skills. These required on-campus learning days will be pre-scheduled so students can make travel plans in advance.

Allison Kelly, DNP, APRN-CNP, NNP-BC, NPT-C

Clinical Assistant Professor of Practice

Jodi Ulloa, DNP, APRN-CNP, NNP-BC

Assistant Clinical Professor
Headshot of Jodi Ulloa, BSN-DNP faculty

Nicole Zimmerman, MSN, APRN-CNP, NNP-BC

Clinical Assistant Professor of Practice

Randee Masciola, DNP, APRN-CNP, WHNP-BC, FAANP

Associate Clinical Professor, DNP Program Director
Headshot of Randee Masciola, DNP program director

Tuition Fee Overview

Investing in your future with a higher education degree is one of the best investments you can make for your future success. At Ohio State, we know understanding your program’s cost is an important part of your decision-making process. Below are the tuition fees you can expect with your program, which are estimates based on a 6-credit hour semester as a part-time student and a 8-credit hour semester as a full-time student.

Tuition Fees Part-Time – Per Credit Hour (unless otherwise noted) Full-Time – Total Cost Per Semester (unless otherwise noted)
Instructional Fee $972.50 $7,780.00
General Fee $32.63 $261.00
Program Fee $250.00 $2,000.00
Textbooks & Course Materials (varies per BSN to DNP track) $3,250.00 (per program) $3,250.00 (per program)
Equipment & Additional One-Time Fees (varies per BSN to DNP track) $1,800.00 (per program) $1,800.00 (per program)
Nursing Distance Learning Fee $228.00 (per semester) $228.00 (per semester)
Distance Learning Fee $100.00 (per semester) $100.00
Non-Resident Surcharge (if applicable) $200.00 (per semester) $200.00
International Surcharge (if applicable) $200.00 (per semester) $200.00

Tuition fees are subject to change. The table above serves as a guide and not an official bursar’s bill. Full-Time costs are total tuition costs per semester. 

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