Admission Criteria


Doctorate of Nursing Practice

Apply to the UTRGV Graduate College:

Submit a UTRGV Graduate Application at utrgv.edu/gradapply. The university application fee of $50 can be paid online by credit card or electronic check (in the online application). All application fees are nonrefundable.

Request your transcripts and other supporting documentation to be mailed to:

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
The Graduate College
Marialice Shary Shivers Bldg. 1.158
1201 W. University Drive
Edinburg, TX 78539-2999

Review and submit all Program Requirements:

  • Master's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or a recognized international equivalent in a similar or related field.
  • Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.
  • Official transcripts from each institution attended. 
  • Personal statement detailing professional goals and reasons for pursuing the graduate degree.
  • Two-three letters of recommendation from professional or academic sources using this reference form.
  • RN license in state of practice.
  • Post-master’s students must also have a master’s degree in nursing in an advanced practice area (NP, CNS, CNM, CRNA).

TOEFL or IELTS Language Proficiency Test with minimum scores: 550 on paper-based, 213 on computer based, or 79 on internet-based for the TOEFL; 6.5 for the IELTS. TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for 2 years.

English translation of educational records.

Transcript Evaluation by the Foreign Credentials Service of America (FCSA). 

View more information about the Doctorate of Nursing Practice(DNP).