Advanced Public Health Nursing DNP

Rush's approach: Advanced Public Health Nursing

You’ll learn from faculty who are active practitioners in a variety of community-based organizations. This means all of our faculty have clinical experience that will enrich your learning.

Online learners receive personalized support from expert faculty who serve as both academic and DNP project advisors throughout the program. Each student is paired with a certified public health nurse who brings real‑world experience, ongoing guidance and consistent mentorship. This ensures you’ll feel supported, connected and confident from your first course through completion of their DNP project.

You’ll also gain hands-on, immersive, real‑world experience by completing more than 1,000 clinical and DNP project hours at sites matched to your interests and background.

Working with the same organization throughout the program allows you to become an integrated member of the team while mastering advanced public health competencies and helping implement and evaluate population‑level initiatives that improve community health outcomes.

We offer tracks for both bachelor’s- and master’s-prepared nurses.

Advanced Public Health Nursing program length and location

Our program is offered full- or part-time. It takes approximately three to three and a half years on a part-time basis or two to two and a half years on a full-time basis to complete for students with bachelor’s degrees.

Students with master’s degrees generally complete the program in three years on a part-time basis.

Most coursework takes place online. 

All students are required to be on campus for the following activities:

• DNP project proposal presentation: Two days, just before beginning DNP project implementation during the third term of clinical work
• DNP project final presentation: Generally two days during the last term of the program

Advanced Public Health Nursing program tuition

We know your education is a big investment. We want to make sure you have all the information you need to make the best financial decisions for you and your family.

Tuition for the Advanced Public Health Nursing DNP Program is $1,493 per credit hour.

Learn about student financial aid

Advanced Public Health Nursing DNP career opportunities

Graduates of the APHN Program have gone on to impactful leadership careers across the public health ecosystem. They serve as public health directors, program managers, community health strategists, population health managers, quality and safety leaders, educators and policy experts. They often work in FQHCs, nonprofit organizations, health systems, institutions of higher learning and accrediting or regulatory bodies.

They shape public health policy and practice, strengthen programs and drive system‑level improvements by applying advanced public health nursing expertise to real‑world challenges.

Our alumni hold leadership positions in the following settings:

• Local and state health departments such as the Alaska Department of Public Health
• Professional organizations such as the American Lung Association and the Joint Commission
• Population health programs, including the CDC Foundation
• School health settings like Chicago Public Schools
• Other community-based settings, such as faith-based organizations and federally qualified health centers

Further, our students are nationally recognized for their expertise through election to leadership positions in a variety of professional nursing organizations including:

• The Association of Community Health Nurse Educators
• The Association of Public Health Nurses
• The National Association of School Nurses
• The National Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association
• The Illinois Pioneer Coalition

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in nursing are expected to grow by 35% from 2024-34. This is much faster than the average for other professions.