The Office of Admissions is available to help you whether you are just beginning to consider the right university or already have a focused plan and are ready to apply.
Office of Admissions General Inquiries:
Email: SONAdmissions@dm.duke.edu
Phone: 877-415-3853
Physical Address: 307 Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710
Mailing Address: DUMC 3322, Durham, NC 27710
For technical assistance with your application, email SONApplication@dm.duke.edu.
We offer DROP-iN Chat for virtual Q+A Sessions along with PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSIONS for application help.
Application Deadline
Applications are being accepted for the MSN, BSN-DNP, and PGC programs currently. Contact your admissions officer with questions about which term will be appropriate for you.
- Applications received between September and December 1st receive priority consideration for the next available Fall term.
- Applications received after December 1 are reviewed on a space available basis.
- Applications received between January – May 1st receive priority consideration for the next available Spring term.
- Applications received after May 1st are reviewed on a space available basis.
Holistic Admissions
Duke School of Nursing is committed to holistic admissions.
A holistic review is a university admissions strategy that considers a candidate's unique experiences alongside their academic performance, such as grades and test scores.
Duke School of Nursing considers a range of factors, including academic readiness, contribution to the incoming class, and potential for success as a professional.
Program Admission Requirements
It is recommended, but not required that applicants have one year of nursing experience before applying.
Note: Some Programs have additional experience requirments.
- Prerequisite: General Statistics or Introductory Statistics with a grade of C or better is required. 3 credit course required.
- Transcripts: All post-secondary transcripts from every school where college credit was earned, not just degree-granting institutions.
- Recommendations: Using our secure, personalized form, three (3) professional recommendations that attest to the applicant's academic ability, professional competency, and personal character must be submitted electronically by each recommender during the application process. If NP applicant, the maximum weight will be given if at least one letter is from a provider (MD, DO, PA, NP) in the major in which you are applying.
- Personal Statement: Three comprehensive written essays are required with your application. Use the text boxes in the Personal Statements section of the application. Text responses have a character limit of 2000. All prompts are required to be answered.
- Resume/CV: Resume and/or CV must be uploaded to the application.
- Official GRE Scores: The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required.
- GPA: Preferential admissions consideration will be given to applicants with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
- Degree: Earned bachelor of science in nursing from an accredited Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education School of Nursing, or an earned associate's degree in nursing from an accredited school in addition to a bachelor's degree in any field.
- Licensure: Current licensure as a registered nurse in the state in which practice will occur.
Additional Program Admission Requirements
Each program has specific admission requirements in addition to the application materials above.
- Post-Graduate Certificate
- Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program - ANCC PMH Nurse Generalist Certification is recommended prior to applying.
Students with International Credits
If you are applying for admission to the ABSN, MSN, DNP or certificate programs, please review our Requirements for International Applicants.
Duke University's Annual Clery Security Report
as Mandated by Federal Statute 20 USC § 1092
The Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report include institutional policies concerning campus safety and security, as well as statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Duke University property and on public property adjacent to campus and fires that have occurred in residence halls. A copy of this Report can be obtained by contacting the Duke Police Department at 684-4602 or writing to 502 Oregon Street, Durham, NC 27708, or by accessing: The Annual Clery Security Report
Accreditation and State Authorization
In addition to maintaining national educational and nursing accreditation, each state’s higher education and nursing governance boards may set unique requirements for online or distance-based clinical MSN programs that lead to licensure in their state. Please note that these requirements only apply if you are a prospective online or distance-based clinical MSN student. If you are a non-clinical MSN student, state authorization requirements do not apply to the Duke University School of Nursing application. If you are a prospective clinical MSN student, view Accreditation and State Authorization to learn the status of your state regarding the potential for obtaining a nursing license
Technical Standards
All Duke University School of Nursing Students should review the Technical Standards required of them.
Students with Disabilities
Duke University encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, don't hesitate to contact the Duke Student Disability Access Office before your participation or visit.
To complete your application:
- Answer all required questions and submit the form.
- Pay the application fee.
- Upload final versions of all required documents. NOTE: Once uploaded, they cannot be changed.
- Send electronic recommendation forms using our secure portal.
- An unofficial copy of all post-secondary educational transcripts can be uploaded to your self-service portal only for the review process. An official copy of all post-secondary educational transcripts will be required for enrollment and can be either mailed or sent electronically to SON-DOCUMENTS@dm.duke.edu or in a sealed envelope to:
Duke School of Nursing
Office of Admissions
DUMC 3322
307 Trent Dr.
Durham, NC 27710
When your application is complete, it will be submitted and held for review by the program’s admission committee. If any information is missing, your application will not be considered.
Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQs
Office of Admissions and Student Services
Box 102400
307 Trent Drive
Durham, NC 27710
Yes, electronic transcripts can be emailed to SON-DOCUMENTS@dm.duke.edu.
Transcripts may be faxed for an unofficial transcript receipt. The fax number is (919) 668-4693.
Yes. The prerequisite courses can be completed at any regionally accredited college/university or community college. Online courses are acceptable if the institution is accredited.
Interviews are by invitation only. If selected for an interview, applicants will be contacted via email to schedule. We recommend adding SONAdmissions@Duke.edu to your contacts so as not to miss any critical communications. If you would like to schedule a campus visit, please get in touch with the admissions office to schedule an appointment at SONAdmissions@dm.duke.edu.
As a general rule, the School of Nursing does not permit deferrals unless there are extenuating circumstances beyond a student’s control that would prevent them from enrolling in the term they were admitted. If you are concerned about your ability to start the semester admitted, please don't hesitate to contact the Office of Admissions and Student Services.
MSN & Post-Graduate Certificate Program FAQs
The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required.
R5156
It typically takes 10 to 15 days for a score to reflect in the Duke system once the testing agency releases it.
It is recommended, but not required that applicants have one year of nursing experience before applying.
- Applicants to the Nurse Anesthesia Program are required to have at least one year of acute care RN experience.
- All Neonatal Nurse Practitioner applicants need two years of clinical experience before starting clinical courses.
- Applicants for the Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program must have at least one year of acute care pediatric nursing experience.
- Applicants for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program must have at least one year of acute care nursing experience.
Each applicant and DUSON student is unique, but there are some features that many successful students share. In addition to demonstrating academic excellence and aptitude for demanding graduate coursework, successful candidates can clearly articulate the role for which they are applying and demonstrate an understanding of the daily responsibilities and prominent issues for the field.
The admissions committee reviews each application, including the personal statement. It considers the applicant's potential success in a graduate program that requires critical thought and the ability to form logical arguments in writing.
The admissions committee also considers the applicant’s potential for leadership and advancing practice, service, research, or teaching in the chosen field.
Duke University and Duke University School of Nursing respect and appreciate diversity in all its forms. The personal statement provides an opportunity for applicants to share, if you wish, a perspective you bring or experiences you've had to help us understand you better.
Every applicant is unique, and we recognize that individuals have a variety of work and educational experiences and personal circumstances.
Three professional letters of reference are required. The letters of reference should address your academic ability as well as your abilities, character, and accomplishments in nursing.
Successful applicants typically have at least one reference letter from a professor or teacher and one reference letter from a work supervisor.
If you are applying to a nurse practitioner program, at least one of your references should be from a medical provider (MD, DO. NP, PA).
Individuals providing letters of reference should have had recent (within the last five years) educational or professional relationships with the applicant. Letters from current work supervisors are particularly helpful to the MSN Admissions Committee.
In addition, letters of reference from individuals with the degree/credential from the program the applicant is applying for can be used to demonstrate that the applicant understands the role they are seeking, which is an essential admissions consideration.
Yes, Duke University School of Nursing's MSN program curriculum meets the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification as a nurse practitioner in all U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia.
If you are a board-certified Nurse Practitioner who is actively practicing in a population outside your certification and have been practicing full-time for at least one year, you may qualify for our Certification Alignment Postgraduate Certificate program.
This is a competency-based program that recognizes expertise in your practice area and applies it to the course of study. The purpose of this program is to support and expand Nurse Practitioner scope of practice.
Please email SONAdmission@dm.duke.edu to collaborate with faculty and confirm your eligibility as a Certificate Alignment Postgraduate applicant.