Most Affordable Online RN to FNP Programs

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: No
• BSN Included: No
• State Authorization: View

With Franklin’s convenient Online RN to MSN, you only have to take one 4-credit bridge course before you transition into the Online MSN-FNP. The entire program takes around 30 months to complete. Keep in mind that your last year will involve on-site clinicals for 1-2 days per week, depending on course requirements. Additional costs will include clinical course fees and the MSN background check and clinical/practicum screening fee.

Franklin’s Online MSN-FNP contains a number of interesting elements. There are practical courses that are designed to prepare you for independent environments (e.g. Diagnostic Methods for the Nurse Practitioner and Foundations of Nurse Practitioner Practice) and one that’s completely devoted to FNP Certification Prep. You’ll also tackle a final, 4-credit FNP Capstone that includes a clinical.

Location: Ohio | Type: Private University | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: Yes
• BSN Included: No
• State Authorization: View

Do you already have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree? You can use UOPX’s Online Nurse Bridge Program to prepare yourself for the Online MSN FNP. The 9-credit bridge portion will involve 3 undergraduate courses; the MSN can be completed in approximately 30 months. Almost all of the coursework is online, with the exception of one 5-day, in-person residency.

UOPX is a for-profit university, so you’ll need to decide if you wish to have that on your résumé. Talk to your mentors before you make a decision. The Online MSN FNP covers the gamut of care, from pediatrics to geriatrics, and it includes a separate course in women’s health issues. In the 30-week Final Preceptorship, you’ll use precepted clinical experiences to prepare for independent (or semi-independent) practice.

Location: Arizona | Type: For-Profit University | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: Yes/No
• BSN Included: No/Yes
• State Authorization: View

At USA, you have a choice! The cheapest option is the Online RN to MSN for nurses with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree (3 bridge courses). But the university also offers a more expensive Online RN to BSN/MSN. Both programs will lead you to the Online MSN FNP. The MSN includes 2 on-campus intensives that cover skills workshops, simulation labs, and clinical exams. You can study part-time or full-time, as long as you finish within 5 years.

USA offers a huge number of NP tracks, so you can expect the Online MSN FNP to go strong on practicums and certification preparation. This MSN also contains a course in Organizational & Systems Leadership that covers topics such as quality improvement & project planning, assessment of organizational culture, and more. Interested in multiple fields? Check out the dual specialty MSN programs in FNP/Emergency NP and FNP/AGACNP.

Location: Alabama | Type: Public Research University | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: Yes
• BSN Included: No
• State Authorization: View

RNs with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree can use UofM’s Online RN/MSN pathway (9-12 unit bridge sequence) to prep themselves for the Online MSN FNP. This highly ranked master’s degree is primarily online, but it may contain an on-campus orientation, intensives, and/or comprehensive health assessment exams. You can study part-time or full-time, as long as you finish within 5 years.

UofM’s Online MSN FNP follows the standard template for Family Nurse Practitioner programs. There are clinicals in adult health, women’s health, and child health, as well as an FNP Residency. For this practicum, you’ll be expected to conduct full-time, advanced clinical practice in a primary care setting. You’ll finish up with a scholarly project/science paper that you can submit as a manuscript for publication.

Location: Tennessee | Type: Public Research University | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: No
• BSN Included: Yes
• State Authorization: View

Wheeling’s affordable Online RN to BSN/MSN program will help you earn a BSN before you tackle the Online MSN-FNP. Most of the work is online, but visits may be required for the undergraduate course in Assessment. Plus there’s one on-campus presentation during the MSN. The entire program takes approximately 3 years to complete. View the full budget to get a sense of additional costs.

Talk to recent alumni before committing to Wheeling—reviews aren’t always stellar. But we give it credit for creating a sensible FNP curriculum. The Online MSN-FNP includes clinicals in multiple aspects of FNP care (e.g. children, adults, and reproductive health) and a unique Role Seminar. This seminar covers real-world topics such as certification, prescriptive authority, collaborative agreements, professional liability, and more.

Location: West Virginia | Type: Private Roman Catholic University | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: Yes/No
• BSN Included: No
• State Authorization: View

At Rivier, you choose the pathway that suits your level of experience—the Online RN-MS-FNP is for associate degree in nursing holders; the Online MSN Bridge Option is for RNs with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Both programs involve 2 BSN-level courses in leadership & community nursing (6 credits) and coursework for the Online MSN-FNP. The entire program might take 3-5 years to complete.

Rivier’s Online MSN-FNP is a sturdy choice. First-time certification pass rates are respectable (if not outstanding), and the curriculum includes modern coursework (e.g. Biostatistics for the Health Sciences). You have a choice of three term starts and you’ll finish with a Research Capstone that’s supervised by a faculty member (e.g. scholarly paper). Just bear in mind that clinical courses will cost more than nursing courses.

Location: New Hampshire | Type: Private Catholic University | Accreditation: ACEN

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: Yes
• BSN Included: No
• State Authorization: View

RNs with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree should take a look at UAB’s Online RN to MSN (Second Degree). You’ll only have to take 3 bridge courses before tackling the Online MSN-FNP. The master’s degree is designed to be finished in 6-7 semesters on a part-time schedule. Most of the coursework is online, but you will need to plan for 4 on-campus intensives during the last 4 semesters of the program.

UAB is a big public school with an excellent nursing reputation—the Online MSN-FNP frequently features in the top 10 of U.S. News & World Report rankings. The curriculum contains the full range of clinicals, as well as an FNP residency and a 700-level course in Interprofessional Leadership and Role Development for Practice Excellence. Better yet, online tuition rates are the same for in-state and out-of-state students.

Location: Alabama | Type: Public Research University | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: Yes
• BSN Included: No
• State Authorization: View

NAU’s Online RN to MSN is designed for RNs with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. This pathway involves 2 undergraduate courses (8 credits in total) and a 48-credit Online MSN-FNP. You’ll have up to 6 years to complete the master’s degree. One key thing to note—all candidates must have an Arizona RN license or meet Arizona Board of Nursing regulations regarding multistate licensure in order to apply.

If you’re interested in rural nursing, take a close look at this Online MSN-FNP. Courses in Rural Theory & Health Policy and Advanced Roles Transition (for rural nurse leaders) are supported by the School of Nursing’s involvement with communities like the Navajo Nation (e.g. BSN American Indian program). All MSN students complete an Evidence-Based Practice Capstone.

Location: Arizona | Type: Public Research University | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: Yes
• BSN Included: No
• State Authorization: View

BSU is happy to accept RNs with a non-nursing BA or BS into its Online MSN-FNP, but it doesn’t specify how many additional undergraduate credits you’ll be expected to complete. Contact the School of Nursing for more details—we’re estimating that you’ll need to complete at least a semester’s worth of BSN-level work. The master’s degree can be completed in ~8 semesters. All coursework is online.

BSU’s Online MSN-FNP is a solid pick. The School of Nursing is an NLN Center of Excellence with a strong track record in distance learning. The curriculum includes 690 clinical hours in FNP Primary Care and a solid chunk of coursework in technical subjects (e.g. Data Analysis in Nursing Research and Nursing Information Technology). We’ve given you the out-of-state price for our tuition estimate; Indiana residents pay even less!

Location: Indiana | Type: Public Research University | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: No
• BSN Included: Yes
• State Authorization: View

UTA’s Online RN to MSN-FNP is a relatively affordable way to earn both a BSN and an MSN—you’ll graduate with two degrees from the nation’s biggest public college of nursing. The 42-month program is 100% online and clinicals can be completed in your local area. You’ll tackle 9 BSN-level courses and 22 MSN-level courses.

We particularly like the fact that UTA’s Online RN to MSN-FNP is so comprehensive. The BSN portion of the program includes coursework in holistic care, leadership & management, and a capstone. And the MSN portion is stacked with intriguing credits. In addition to standard FNP courses & clinicals, you’ll explore topics in nursing informatics, nursing education, and advanced primary care.

Location: Texas | Type: Public Research University | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: No
• BSN Included: No
• State Authorization: View

If you have an associate degree in nursing—and you don’t need to earn a BSN—Wilkes’s Online RN to MSN might be right up your alley. You’ll only have to complete 3 bridge courses (11 credits, including 45 hours of clinical work) before you pursue the Online MSN-FNP. With the exception of clinicals & 2 residency visits, all coursework is online. The entire program can be dusted off in 36 months/3 years.

Wilkes’s Online MSN-FNP is pretty efficient. The first MSN year covers the “Three Ps” (e.g. Advanced Pharmacology), diagnostic reasoning, and a course that addresses health issues facing culturally diverse, rural and underserved populations. The second year is completely devoted to FNP coursework (e.g. clinicals, residencies, and seminars). You’ll hit the ground running!

Location: Pennsylvania | Type: Private University | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: Yes
• BSN Included: No
• State Authorization: View

USF’s Online RN-BS to MSN program is designed for RNs with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Qualified applicants will be expected to take 9 credits of bridge coursework (e.g. Nursing Research) before proceeding to the Online MSN-FNP. Coursework for the MSN is 100% online. You can begin in the fall or spring semesters.

USF takes a straightforward approach to the Online MSN-FNP. The graduate core examines areas such as Population Health and Biostatistics & Research; the advanced practice core covers the “Three Ps”; and the FNP practica courses include a final Clinical Residency. If you’re interested in teaching, you’re allowed to add optional education credits.

Location: Illinois | Type: Private Catholic University (Franciscan) | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: Yes/No
• BSN Included: No/Yes
• State Authorization: View

Aspiring FNP candidates with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree should take a look at LOYNO’s Online Accelerated RN to MSN. You only have to tackle 6 bridge credits before you hit the Online MSN-FNP. It’s primarily online, with just 2 on-campus intensives. Bridge coursework might take 1 semester; the MSN can be completed in 6 full-time semesters or 8 part-time semesters. Keep in mind that LOYNO also offers an Online RN to BSN & MSN for those without a bachelor’s degree.

LOYNO’s Online MSN-FNP covers every aspect of primary care—from pediatrics to gerontology—and it includes a couple of eminently practical courses (e.g. Integrating Behavioral Health in Primary Care and Informatics & Finance). You also have the option to add electives in statistics and scientific writing if you need to bump up those skill-sets.

Location: Louisiana | Type: Private Jesuit University | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: No
• BSN Included: Yes
• State Authorization: View

Clarkson’s price reflects the thoroughness of the Online RN to MSN program. You’ll earn a BSN and an Online MSN-FNP from a college that’s affiliated with Nebraska Medicine. Full-time RN to MSN students can finish both degrees in 10 semesters; part-time students usually take 14+ semesters. Minimal campus visits are required for FNP students.

Unlike other cookie-cutter NP programs, Clarkson’s Online MSN-FNP includes “service” courses. During Nursing Law & Ethics and Advanced Nutrition, you’ll participate in service experiences that explore key aspects of the topics (e.g. nutrition in a clinical setting). Check out the MSN-FNP certification pass rates & graduation statistics.

Location: Nebraska | Type: Private Health Sciences College | Accreditation: ACEN

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: Yes
• BSN Included: No
• State Authorization: View

NSU’s Online RN to MSN is a bridge program aimed at RNs with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. You’ll be expected to take a 5000-level bridge course in the fall term (6 credits) before progressing to an Online MSN-FNP. The MSN can be completed in 8 semesters on a full-time schedule. Visits to the Palm Beach or Tampa Bay campus are required.

NSU’s Online MSN-FNP follows the standard template for FNP programs. You’ll be expected to complete clinical courses in pediatrics, adult health, and women’s health, as well as a final Primary Care Integration Practicum. This MSN also includes a course in Behavioral Health.

Location: Florida | Type: Private Research University | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: No
• BSN Included: Yes
• State Authorization: View

Interested in a Christian-focused approach to the FNP? ONU’s Online RN-MSN-FNP program will help you earn a BSN along the way to an MSN. On a full-time schedule, you’ll spend 1 year on the BSN and 3 years on the MSN. The BSN portion is 30 credits.

ONU’s Online RN-MSN-FNP is a judicious blend of theory, research, and hands-on work. The curriculum includes an evidence-based practice (EBP) research proposal, 720 FNP clinical hours, and a course in Nursing Informatics. You might also wish to take the optional elective—the FNP Immersion Experience is a supervised week that preps students for the practicums to come.

Location: Illinois | Type: Private Christian University | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: Yes/No
• BSN Included: No/Yes
• State Authorization: View

At Herzing, you have 2 options. If you don’t need a BSN, you can choose the affordable Online Accelerated RN to MSN-FNP pathway. On a turbo-charged schedule, this 64-credit program with 5 bridge courses can be completed in 24 months. Or you can opt for the longer & more expensive Online RN to BSN to MSN-FNP program. This might take 32 months.

Up until 2015, Herzing was a for-profit university, so we recommend you chat to mentors before making a decision. The Online MSN-FNP doesn’t have as many clinical hours as some other programs, but it certainly meets FNP certification requirements. You’ll complete 630 clinical hours with 500 total patient encounters. MSN Practitioner applicants with an undergraduate 3.8+ GPA are also eligible for a tuition scholarship.

Location: Wisconsin | Type: Private University | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: No
• BSN Included: Yes/No
• State Authorization: View

South’s Online RN to MSN-FNP program includes at least 36 undergraduate-level credits and 62 MSN-level credits. Earning a BSN along the way is possible—confer with the Academic Counselor or Program Director to learn more.

Up until 2018, South was a for-profit university with a troubled history. So talk to recent alumni before you make a decision. Having said that, the CCNE-accredited MSN meets FNP certification requirements. You’ll tackle clinicals in all key areas (e.g. pediatrics, women’s health, family health, adult & gerontology) and complete a Graduate Project in Nursing.

Location: Georgia | Type: Private University | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: No
• BSN Included: No
• State Authorization: View

Although it covers a solid chunk of upper undergraduate credits, FDU’s Online RN to MSN-FNP is a one-degree program. You’ll end up with a master’s degree; no BSN is awarded. The entire pathway takes ~4 years to complete. Students must submit non-New Jersey clinical placements for approval.

FDU’s Online RN to MSN-FNP contains a couple of interesting elements. In addition to the usual theoretical & clinical FNP credits (e.g. 640 hours), there’s a 2-credit Master’s Project and a course in Family Systems that helps students gain an understanding of the family unit from a systems perspective.

Location: New Jersey | Type: Private University | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: Yes
• BSN Included: No
• State Authorization: View

Allen’s Online RN to MSN pathway is open to RNs with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and licensure from Iowa or a compact state. You’ll tackle 2 bridge courses (6 credits) and statistics (if needed) before getting stuck into the Online MSN-FNP. The master’s degree might take 2 years on full-time basis or 3-4 years on a part-time basis. NP students must participate in a 3-day residency and occasional face-to-face meetings.

Take a look at Allen if you’re interested in rural healthcare & underserved populations—the College makes a point of focusing on these 2 key areas. It also leans hard on topics like evidence-based practice, informatics, and mental health. All MSN students participate in a Graduate Seminar and complete a Graduate Project.

Location: Iowa | Type: Private Healthcare College | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: No
• BSN Included: No
• State Authorization: View

WCU is a viable choice for Texas, California, and Florida RNs—the university has State Board approval in those 3 states. The Online RN to MSN FNP is a streamlined, 4-year program with online coursework and a small number of weekend intensives (2-3 days each) in Los Angeles. Admissions are year-round.

WCU is a for-profit university, so take a moment to look at reviews and chat to recent alumni before you commit. The curriculum covers required upper undergraduate credits in the first year (e.g. Public Health Nursing); the remaining years are devoted to MSN-level coursework and FNP practicums. You’ll finish up with a Clinical Change Project and an Advanced Health Care Residency.

Location: California | Type: For-Profit University | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: Yes
• BSN Included: No
• State Authorization: View

On a part-time schedule, RNs with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree can finish Tennessee Tech’s Online RN to MSN-FNP program in 8-9 semesters/2.5-3 years. On-site intensives may be required for courses like Advanced Health Assessment—check with the MSN program coordinator.

Tennessee Tech’s Online RN to MSN-FNP covers all the major bases of a FNP degree, with clinical coursework in adult, pediatric, and women’s health populations and a Final FNP Preceptorship. The program also contains a Role Transition to Certification & Practice course that will prepare you for independent (or semi-independent) NP practice.

Location: Tennessee | Type: Public Research University | Accreditation: CCNE

• Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Required: Yes
• BSN Included: No
• State Authorization: View

RNs with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree might want to consider GCU’s Online Bridge (MSN-FNP) program. Successful applicants take 24 undergraduate credits, including a Professional Capstone & Practicum, before diving into the Online MSN-FNP. The 53-credit MSN includes 2 on-campus experiences that cover health assessment & clinical training and certification exam preparation.

Talk to recent alumni before committing to GCU—it’s a for-profit university with a lot of conflicting MSN reviews. If you do end up choosing it for your FNP, you’ll complete 675 clinical hours and courses in standard FNP topics, including an Evidence-Based Practice Project.

Location: Arizona | Type: For-Profit Christian University | Accreditation: CCNE