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Admissions:

Review the admission requirements for this online DNP – General program

We know you’re busy, so we’ve streamlined the A-State admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Students who are interested in the online DNP – General program must have a Master of Science in Nursing degree from a CCNE, COA, ACEN or CNEA accredited program and a current unencumbered license.

Admission Requirements:

Online application

MSN degree

Current unencumbered RN license

DNP Admission Guidelines

Complete online application and submit application fee

Master of Nursing (MSN) from a CCNE, COA, ACEN or CNEA accredited program of nursing from a regionally accredited college or university that includes at least 40 faculty-supervised clinical hours

Graduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. (Please note: Beginning Fall 1 2026, this program will require a 3.25 GPA on a 4.0 scale for admission).

Official transcripts from the registrar of the colleges/ universities where the graduate degree (MSN) was earned and courses taken for transfer credit into the graduate program

Current unencumbered RN license

Graduates of an MSN program with a specialty option that did not include the required certification eligibility requirements from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and/or the American Associated of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) (Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology; Advanced Health Assessment, including diagnostics and disease management; Advanced Pharmacology; and/or a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours) are also eligible to apply. A request for a curriculum “Gap Analysis” to determine an individual plan of study will be requested from the program coordinator prior to starting the program.

English Proficiency Requirements

The College of Nursing and Health Professions School of Nursing requires a high level of proficiency in English so that all students will be able to fully meet academic and clinical objectives as well as meet criteria for professional licensure.

Applicants whose primary language is not English or did not attend K-12 in the United States must demonstrate English language proficiency through the following tests: 

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 4.5 on the preferred internet-based test (iBT), 570 on the paper-based test, or 213 on the computer-based test
- For exams taken before January 21, 2026:
  We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 86
- For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026:
  We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 4.5
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of at least 7 and a spoken band score of 7
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) with a score of 63
Accuplacer Exit ESL with a score of 109

The TOEFL and Exit ESL are available at the Testing Center. When taking the exam off campus, the report code for A-State is 6011. All test scores are valid for two (2) years.

Exemptions may apply: See A-State Undergraduate and Graduate admission pages for more information. 

Application Submission Requirements

As part of your file, the following information is required to be completed prior to starting the first course (or the applicable course):

Satisfactory background check completed through Verified Credentials
Completion of the Verification of Clinical Practice by the institution where you earned your MSN (applies to non-Arkansas State MSN graduates)

Note: These documents are not required to render an admissions decision.

Also, the following information is required to be completed by the completion of your first semester:

Current CPR Records
Current TB Skin Test
Hep B Vaccinations
MMR 1 and 2
Professional Liability Insurance

Request all official transcripts be sent directly to A-State from all colleges or universities attended. Save time by requesting transcripts be sent electronically.

Document Submission Address

Submit all documents to:

A-State Online
P.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467

Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]

For Non-US Postal Mail Overnight Delivery Only:

A-State Online
c/o Central Receiving
2713 Pawnee St.
Jonesboro, AR 72401