Doctor of Nursing Practice

Embracing and evolving from the challenges of innovation, education, and leadership forges from a person’s perseverance and the spirit of exploration and reflection to face past, current, and future endeavors in the healthcare industry.

If I had to encapsulate my journey in The Valley Foundation School of Nursing DNP program at San Jose State University in three words, it was genuinely inspiring, transformational, and evolving. I hope my experience can inspire others in their journeys.

-- Janice Yao Valadez, RN, MS, DNP

Our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is a 5-semester post-master's degree program designed to mesh with a full-time professional work schedule.

Quick Jump guide:

• Eligibility and Prerequisites
• Application Deadlines and Proceedures
• Tuition and university fees
• Applicant Resources
• DNP Program Information Page

Prospective students applying for admission to the DNP program must have the following: 

• Active, unrestricted California RN licensure and (if applicable) an advanced practice national certification
• Master's Degree in Nursing Science (MS or MSN). Or, a Master’s Degree in a health-related field (e.g. Public Health, Health Administration) with additional post-baccalaureate courses in nursing theories, research methods, trans-cultural nursing, and informatics.
  • Master’s degree must be completed/received no later than Aug 1st prior to admission
• GPA of 3.0 or above, in pre-doctoral courses
• Meet requirements of San José State University Graduate Admissions
• Demonstrate sufficient preparation and practice experience as an APN, nurse manager, nurse administrator, executive, educator, or professional nurse. 
• A personal written statement of purpose. Must be doubled-spaced and address the following: what you expect to accomplish in the DNP program and how the DNP program will advance your nursing career and practice. You may include your potential area of focus, which should be your primary area of focus for your DNP project.
• U.S citizenship or U.S permanent residency

The DNP program admits students in the Fall semester only. Admitted students will progress through the program as a cohort.

Three Steps to Admission

• Date Disclaimer

  • All dates are subject to change and/or update.

• Step One: Cal State Apply Application

  • Application Window: October 1st - May 31st

    Apply to SJSU through Cal State Apply.

    Complete this application as early as possible to allow time for all required university documentation to be processed. Documents include official transcripts, residency status information, and more.

    Choose Fall of the appropriate year in the drop-down menu (the DNP program admits students in the Fall only); indicate that your degree goal is a Graduate or Professional Degree; and select the Doctor of Nursing Practice program/major option.

    For applicant support during the application process, please contact Cal State Apply directly at 857-304-2087.

    Submit transcripts as directed (see Have Applied and Next Steps for more information).

    See SJSU's required steps to complete your Graduate Admissions/university application for additional guidance.

    For a preview of documents which will be required during the Cal State Apply process, and to let the DNP program team know of your interest, fill out this brief survey.

• Step Two: Interview with Program Coordinator(s)

  • Window: November 1st - May 31st

    Once completed, Cal State Apply applications will be reviewed, and applicants who meet the minimum criteria for admission will be contacted for an interview with the Program Coordinator(s). Once the interview has taken place and a decision has been made, those accepted will be sent an acceptance letter with next-step instructions.

• Step Three: Receive Admitance Notifications

  • Window: November – June

    Acceptance notifications will be sent after completion of the Cal State Apply application and after a successful interview with the Program Coordinators. Once the Acceptance notification is received, applicants will be prompted to confirm their Intent to Attend, will be asked to produce a Doctoral Project Brief (template will be provided), and will need to comply with University Registrar’s instructions.

    Application to scholarship and tuition reimbursement programs should be made as soon as possible after acceptance has been received.

For up-to-date tuition information, visit the Bursar's Office website.

1. Select the appropriate Semester (Fall, Spring, or Summer)
2. Scroll down to the "Doctoral" section for the DNP (called "Nursing" on the Bursar's site) tuition and fee breakdown

For special cases and details, please reach out to the Bursar's Office team for assistance.

Funding Support

All accepted students are encouraged to explore scholarship and other opportunities for financial support. This list can serve as a tool to help begin a scholarship search; it should not be considered comprehensive - rather, a jumping off point to begin a search.

• DNP Information Sessions: online info sessions are held throughout the Fall/Spring semesters. The schedule can be found on the Future Student Advising page.
• Applicants Residing Outside of CA: We are not currently accepting out-of-state applications. This is being actively pursued; please contact the program team at [email protected] for inquiries.
• Financial Aid
• College of Graduate Studies pre-application advising