BSN Entry to DNP — Advanced Nursing Focus

Lead innovative change in health care and health policy with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from UCSF.

DNP-prepared nurses have the expanded skills, judgment, and confidence to develop innovative solutions to the most complex health issues and transform care for our diverse communities. The DNP degree catapults nurses in their careers and paves the way for additional professional opportunities.

As one of the nation’s leading academic and health care institutions, UCSF is uniquely positioned in preparing nurses to achieve the DNP degree. Our faculty are nationally and internationally recognized experts whose innovation, research, and advocacy have shaped health care in the United States and beyond.

The BSN Entry to DNP pathway prepares nurses who hold a BSN to become experts and leaders in an advanced practice specialty and health policy-public health. Choose from multiple specialties, including multiple specialties ranked among the best nationwide. Among them, our Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialty is tied for fifth, our Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner specialty is tied for third, our Family Nurse Practitioner specialty is tied for eighth, and our Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialty is ranked second in the country in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings. Graduates will gain the knowledge and skills to sit for the national certification exam in the specialty of their choice and attain the profession’s highest clinical degree: the DNP degree.

Applications for fall 2026 will open Sept. 15, 2025, and close Feb. 15, 2026.

Program Structure

This 11-quarter, hybrid program combines in-person and online courses with hands-on training at clinical sites throughout the San Francisco Bay Area that we arrange.

Students will develop competencies in knowledge and skills in their chosen advanced nursing specialty and pursue advanced studies in the DNP curriculum. They will complete an evidence-based scholarly project that addresses health care and practice issues.

A key component of this program is an infrastructure of student success support. The school’s Office of Student Affairs is committed to supporting students throughout their academic journey.

International students — Please note that the BSN Entry to DNP pathway is structured in a hybrid format, with the majority of courses held online. Applicants who are required to have an F-1 visa to study in the United States will not be able to meet the visa requirement for attending in-person courses. Please contact us if you have additional questions regarding this requirement.

Clinical Placements

Many of our nursing students receive clinical training at our UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center, which is consistently ranked among the finest hospitals in the country. We also partner with renowned hospitals and clinics throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, including Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Stanford Health Care, and Kaiser Permanente, to provide hands-on clinical training to our students.

Below is a sample list of clinical sites that we partner with to place our students:

• UCSF Health
• Sutter Health
• Kaiser Northern California
• Alameda Health Systems
• Dignity Health
• SFDPH/ZSFGH
• John Muir Health
• Stanford Health Care
• Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital
• Veterans Affairs

Our Specialties

Choose from multiple specialties and develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to excel in an advanced nursing role.

Tuition

Up-to-date information on tuition and fees can be found on the UCSF Registrar's website.

Regular status employees of the University of California in these eligible titles who meet our admission requirements are eligible for a two-thirds reduction in the Student Services Fee and Tuition when enrolled in regular session courses of up to 12 units or four courses per quarter, whichever provides the greater benefit to the employee. This tuition and fee reduction for employees is available through spring 2031.

We’re Here to Help

If you have questions after reviewing the program information, please contact us and a member of our Student Affairs team will respond to your inquiry. 

Schedule an Admissions Appointment: Meet one-on-one with a member of our admissions team to learn more about our academic programs and the admissions process. Contact [email protected] to schedule an appointment.

Sign up to receive announcements about this pathway, including our upcoming information sessions.

Attend a Virtual Information Session

The fall 2025 and spring 2026 virtual information session schedule will be posted here soon. Check back for more information and details.

Campus and School Resources

The School of Nursing is committed to the holistic care and development of our students. Visit our school and campus resources page to learn about services to help new and continuing students thrive during their time at UCSF. 

Accreditation

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at the University of California, San Francisco is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). 

The BSN Entry to DNP, Advanced Practice pathway is one track in the DNP program and is currently under review by the California Board of Registered Nursing.

The Nurse-Midwifery specialty of the BSN Entry to DNP pathway at UCSF has received conditional accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME), 2000 Duke St., Suite 300, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; For information about accreditation, please contact ACME directly by calling 703-835-4565 or by email at [email protected] or visit theacme.org.