Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice – Clinical Expert

Man with DNP degree in a white coat and red tie stands proudly amongst peers.
Next Application Deadline:
March 1, 2026
Credit hours: 38
Next Term Start Date:
August 25, 2026

Earn your DNP online and become a clinical nurse leader

Reach the highest levels of patient care expertise with the online clinical leadership DNP program at Ohio State. This online MSN to DNP program is designed for nurses like you who are interested in enhancing your clinical innovation skills to develop new practices and processes to significantly impact patient outcomes.

Throughout the online courses, you will learn in an inter-professional and collaborative environment with a robust evidence-based practice curriculum.

Two doctors in white coats have a discussion.

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.

Academic Calendar

Ohio State’s online Post-Master’s DNP Clinical Expert program admits students once-per-year for the Autumn semester.

Academic Calendar

Ohio State’s online Post-Master’s DNP Clinical Expert program admits students once-per-year for the Autumn semester.

Admission Criteria

To be eligible to apply for this online clinical DNP program, applicants must have the following:

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

Graduates of our Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice – Clinical Expert degree program can advance in their career path as Nurse Practitioners (NP) and Clinical Nurse Specialists, becoming leaders having a greater impact on policies, initiatives, and patient care.

Nurses with their DNP degree in this track may aspire to be Assistant Professors in APRN nursing programs, Directors of Evidence-Based Practice, or Chief and Lead Advanced Practice Providers in their clinical organization.

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 clincial DNP program curriculum consists of coursework that develops advanced leadership skills to improve patient outcomes in complex health systems. A curriculum sample can be found below.

Year 1

Year 2

Kelly Casler, DNP, APRN-CNP, CHSE, EBP-C, FAANP

Associate Clinical Professor
Headshot of Kelly Casler, BSN-DNP faculty

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
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 DNP track) $3085.00 (per program) $3085.00 (per program)
Equipment & Additional One-Time Fees (varies per DNP track) $1,300 (per program) $1,300 (per program)
Nursing Distance Learning Fee $228.00 (per semester) $228.00
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. 

Get Started

Connect with a knowledgeable Enrollment Advisor who can help answer your questions and explain different aspects of the more than 80 online degrees and certificates offered at Ohio State. They are here to help you on your education journey.

Contact an Enrollment Advisor
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