Fall 2025 Applications Available: September 1, 2024
Deadline: March 1, 2025 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time)
The DNP Program uses a rolling admissions process. Early application is highly recommended due to cohort size limitations.
Applicants must submit fully completed applications meeting all requirements for both the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) Graduate Division and the Department of Nursing (DON) to be reviewed for admission to the program. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed and cannot be re-submitted. Applicants can apply only once per annual admission cycle. Each applicant is evaluated on the merit of their individual application. Notifications about decisions occur following review of the completed application by the admissions team.
We encourage applicants to apply beginning September 1 both in the Nursing Centralized Admission Service (NCAS) system and the UHM Graduate Division. Incoming students are admitted on a first-come first-served basis until the incoming cohort numbers are met. Please check NCAS and the UHM Graduate Division for a full listing of application requirements.
Two-Step Application Process
Application Requirements are found on the websites listed below.
Step 1 – Apply to UH Manoa Graduate Division
- https://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/how-to-apply/
- Fee: $100
- Select “DNP in Nursing Practice” as the planned course of study
Step 2 – Apply to Nursing’s Centralized Application Service
Application deadlines for NCAS are set to Eastern Standard Time (EST) and will close at midnight EST the date of the deadline.
- http://www.nursingcas.org
- Fee: $80
- Select “Doctor of Nursing Practice (PMH) Track for Applicants with a Masters Degree” for the planned course of study
Admission Requirements
Education
Master of Science degree in Nursing – from an accredited college or university with evidence of successful completion of the following APRN-level courses: Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology and Advanced Physical and Health Assessment. Please note, if you have already been awarded a Doctor of Nursing Practice (or equivalent) degree in a different specialty, you cannot be awarded an additional DNP specialty degree.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
Graduate GPA 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
Licensure
Current unrestricted APRN license in the United States or evidence of passing the NCLEX-RN exam and have a current RN license in the state.
English Language Proficiency
If an applicant’s native language is not English or has not obtained a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an English speaking college, then the applicant must submit official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores with a minimum score of 600/100 (paper/internet) and subtest scores of 25 for listening and 25 for speaking or Grad International English Language Testing System (IELTS) minimum score of 7.00.