Seventeen Ohio schools offer accredited FNP preparation across MSN, BSN-to-DNP, post-master’s DNP, post-graduate certificate, RN-to-MSN, and graduate-entry pathways. Delivery runs from two fully online programs through mostly online formats built on countable campus intensives to two hybrid programs with recurring scheduled class attendance. Tuition spans roughly $11K to $98K depending on credential, and published completion times run from 16 months to four years.
Highlights include:
- Miami guarantees clinical placement
- Cedarville requires the state’s heaviest clinical load
- Youngstown State publishes an exact dollar total for every credential
- Ohio State admits non-nurses through a graduate-entry route
Compare each school’s online format, campus commitment, cost, and degree options below.
Compare Ohio FNP Programs
| School | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
| Case Western Reserve University | Mostly Online | Nine 3–6 day Cleveland intensives | $2,449 | MSN, Certificate, Dual MSN/DNP | Blending FNP with a second NP major or master’s degree |
| Cedarville University | Mostly Online | 4 visits totaling 8 days | $707 MSN, $750 DNP | MSN, BSN-DNP, Post-Grad DNP | Christian-framed graduate study with high clinical volume |
| Cleveland State University | Mostly Online | One Cleveland residency | $655.90 | MSN, Certificate | Three intakes a year with staffed placement support |
| Franciscan University of Steubenville | Hybrid | Evening classes on the Steubenville campus | $680 | MSN, Certificate, RN-to-MSN | Ohio Valley nurses who want placement brokered for them |
| Kent State University | Hybrid | About 1 campus day per week | $630 | MSN, Certificate, BSN-DNP | Northeast Ohio nurses who can commit to weekly attendance |
| Miami University | Mostly Online | One 2-day skills workshop | $795 | MSN | Guaranteed placement plus hands-on procedural training |
| Mount Carmel College of Nursing | Mostly Online | 1–2 day Columbus immersions | $1,009 | MSN, Certificate | Fastest published route to certification eligibility |
| Ohio State University | Mostly Online | Two-day visits in each of the final three semesters | $1,055.07 | MSN, BSN-DNP, Post-Master’s, Graduate Entry | Career changers entering nursing without an RN license |
| Ohio University | Mostly Online | Brief intensives at Athens or Dublin; | $699 | MSN, Certificate, BSN-DNP | Clinical volume at a fee-inclusive public rate |
| University of Cincinnati | Mostly Online | Immersions; 3-day Cincinnati immersion from Spring 2027 | $893 | MSN, Certificate, BSN-DNP | Fee-inclusive pricing with a negligible non-resident premium |
| University of Mount Union | Mostly Online | Two credit-bearing intensives in Alliance | $800 | MSN, Certificate | A tuition rate locked at your entering cohort |
| University of Toledo | Mostly Online | In-person labs; clinicals in Ohio or Michigan only | $745.12 MSN, $884.10 DNP | MSN, Certificate, BSN-DNP | Dual Ohio–Michigan licensees wanting verifiable clinical hours |
| Ursuline College | Mostly Online | Format varies by semester and is not clearly stated | $1,351 MSN, $974 DNP | MSN, MSN with Bridge to DNP, Certificate | Adult-gerontology NPs adding family scope |
| Walsh University | Mostly Online | Two intensives, one virtual and one on campus (2–3 days) | $785 | MSN, Certificate | Certified NPs eligible for the three-course waiver |
| Wright State University | Mostly Online | Dayton visits during clinical courses; | $800 | MSN, Certificate | Individualized plans of study written at admission |
| Xavier University | Online | No campus visits stated | $739 | MSN, Certificate | Asynchronous study with dual certification eligibility |
| Youngstown State University | Online | None stated for any track | $559.29 | MSN, Certificate, Advanced Placement Certificate | Four-state applicants who want an exact published total |
What’s the Best FNP Program for You?
Best Overall Value
Ohio University charges a fee-inclusive $28K for a 40-credit master’s in which 750 clinical hours account for nearly half the credits, with a non-resident differential of $22 per credit.
Lowest Published Cost
Youngstown State publishes exact dollar totals for all three credentials, running from $26K for the master’s down to $11K for its 19-credit advanced placement certificate.
Strongest Placement Commitment
Miami is the only Ohio school that states it guarantees clinical placement for every FNP student.
Deepest Clinical Preparation
Cedarville requires 800 direct patient care hours across four 200-hour semesters, identical on all three of its FNP credentials.
Widest Range of Entry Points
Ohio State runs four separate FNP pathways, including a graduate-entry MSN open to applicants with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
Most Flexible Admission
Cleveland State admits three times a year with no interview or GRE, and offers a non-degree route for applicants below its 3.0 GPA minimum.
Ohio DNP FNP Programs
Eight Ohio schools route to a doctorate with family practice preparation, split between BSN-entry doctorates and post-master’s doctoral conversion. Doctoral clinical volume varies more than tuition does: Cedarville holds 800 hours at the doctorate, Ohio University and Ohio State hold 750 and 675, and Toledo’s direct FNP hours fall below its own master’s figure. Several schools do not publish doctoral-stage hours at all.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Case Western Reserve University | Post-Licensure dual MSN/DNP | $98K plus DNP stage | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated |
| Cedarville University | BSN-to-DNP | $58K | 12 semesters | 800 hrs |
| Cedarville University | Post-Graduate DNP (NP) | $51K | 10 semesters | 800 hrs |
| Kent State University | BSN-to-DNP, FNP concentration | $47K | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated |
| Ohio State University | BSN to DNP | $98K | 3–4 years | 675 |
| Ohio University | BSN-DNP, FNP focus | $43K | 9–12 semesters | 1,000 total hrs |
| University of Cincinnati | FNP DNP | $69K–$71K | 3 years | Not clearly stated |
| University of Toledo | Post-Baccalaureate to DNP, NP track | $61K–$65K | 10 semesters | 540–630 hrs |
| Ursuline College | MSN with Bridge to DNP | $77K–$92K | 3 years | Not clearly stated |
- Lowest doctoral cost: Ohio University — $43K fee-inclusive, and the only Ohio doctorate that bundles a post-graduate APRN certificate into the enrollment.
- Deepest doctoral clinical load: Cedarville — 800 hours on both doctoral routes, matching its master’s exactly.
- Doctorate that buys fewer patient hours: Toledo — 540 to 630 direct FNP hours against 780 in its own MSN.
Ohio MSN FNP Programs
Every Ohio school on this page offers a master’s route to FNP preparation, and the spread is unusually wide. Credit counts run from 40 at Ohio University to 59 at Ohio State, and clinical hours run from the 500-hour certification floor at Mount Carmel to 800 at Cedarville. Two schools add non-standard entries: Franciscan runs an RN-to-MSN bridge, and Ohio State admits non-nurses through graduate entry.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Case Western Reserve University | MSN, FNP major | $98K | 4 semesters | 600 hrs |
| Cedarville University | MSN | $32K | 7 semesters | 800 hrs |
| Cedarville University | MSN with Nursing Education Certificate | $40K | Not clearly stated | 800 hrs |
| Cleveland State University | MSN-FNP | $31K | 6 semesters | 780 hrs |
| Franciscan University of Steubenville | MSN, FNP track | $33K | 6 semesters | 540 minimum |
| Franciscan University of Steubenville | RN to MSN | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated | 540 minimum |
| Kent State University | MSN, FNP concentration | $30K | 2–3 years | Not clearly stated |
| Miami University | MSN-FNP | $37K | 21 months | 750 hrs |
| Mount Carmel College of Nursing | Master of Science, FNP | $48K | 18 months | 500 hrs |
| Ohio State University | MSN, FNP | $68K | 5–7 semesters | 675 hrs |
| Ohio State University | Graduate Entry MSN, FNP | Not clearly stated | 3 years | Not clearly stated |
| Ohio University | MSN–FNP | $28K | 6 semesters, part-time | 750 |
| University of Cincinnati | MSN FNP | $46K | 2 years | 672 |
| University of Mount Union | MSN FNP | $37K | 22 months | 750 |
| University of Toledo | MSN, FNP concentration | $37K | 7 terms | 780 |
| Ursuline College | MSN track, FNP | $58K | 8 semesters | Not clearly stated |
| Walsh University | MSN-FNP | $35K | 6 semesters | 700 |
| Wright State University | M.S., FNP concentration | $39K | Individualized | 616 |
| Xavier University | MSN-FNP | $34K | 28 months | 600 |
| Youngstown State University | MSN–FNP | $26K | 22 months | 750 or 600 |
- Lowest master’s cost: Youngstown State — $26K, published to the cent and reconciling exactly against its per-credit rate.
- Clinical floor: Mount Carmel — 500 hours, the national certification minimum, which is how 48 credits compress into 18 months.
- Only route for non-nurses: Ohio State — Graduate Entry admits a non-nursing bachelor’s, but FNP-specific credits, cost, and hours are all unpublished.
- Only RN-entry bridge: Franciscan — automatic MSN admission on BSN completion, with no published credit count or total cost.
Ohio Post-Graduate Certificate FNP Programs
Fifteen Ohio schools offer a post-master’s route to family scope, and four of them price it only after a gap analysis. The more useful divide is clinical: Mount Union, Toledo, Cleveland State, Ohio University, and Wright State hold certificate students to the same hours as their degree students, while Cincinnati sets a 504-hour floor. Youngstown State runs two certificates, one of them an advanced placement route for nurses who already hold NP preparation. Cedarville and Miami offer no certificate at all.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Case Western Reserve University | Post-Graduate APRN Certificate | Varies by gap analysis | Varies by gap analysis | Not clearly stated |
| Cleveland State University | Post-Graduate Certificate | $23K | 4–6 semesters | 780 hrs |
| Franciscan University of Steubenville | Post-Master Certificate | $20K | 4 semesters minimum | 540 hrs |
| Kent State University | FNP Graduate Certificate | $21K | 2–3 years | Not clearly stated |
| Mount Carmel College of Nursing | Post-Graduate Certificate (Traditional) | $24K | 3–4 semesters | 500 hrs |
| Ohio State University | Post-Master’s Study Option | Varies by gap analysis | Varies by gap analysis | Not clearly stated |
| Ohio University | Post-Graduate FNP Certificate | $14K plus prerequisites | 3 semesters | 750 hrs |
| University of Cincinnati | Post-Graduate Certificate | Varies by gap analysis | Varies by gap analysis | 504 minimum |
| University of Mount Union | Post-Master’s FNP Certificate | $19K | 4 semesters | 750 hrs |
| University of Toledo | FNP Graduate Certificate | $16K | 3 semesters | 780 hrs |
| Ursuline College | Post-Graduate Certificate | $19K estimated | Varies by gap analysis | Not clearly stated |
| Walsh University | Post-Master’s Certificate | $16K–$24K | 6 semesters | 700 or 750 |
| Wright State University | FNP Graduate Certificate | $14K | 1–2 years | 616 hrs |
| Xavier University | Post-Master’s Certificate | $13K–$20K | 21 months | 600 hrs |
| Youngstown State University | Post-Master’s Certificate | $21K | 22 months | 600 hrs |
| Youngstown State University | FNP Advanced Placement Certificate | $11K | 16 months | 600 hrs |
- Lowest published price: Youngstown State — $11K for a 19-credit advanced placement route, though clinical hours are not reduced for prior NP practice.
- Waiver-driven pricing: Walsh — three courses waivable for currently certified, currently practicing NPs, a $7K swing.
- Full clinical load at half the credits: Mount Union, Toledo, and Ohio University — 750, 780, and 750 hours respectively, identical to their own master’s tracks.
FAQ
How many FNP programs does Ohio have?
Seventeen schools on this page offer accredited FNP preparation, collectively running more than thirty-five distinct tracks across MSN, BSN-to-DNP, post-master’s DNP, post-graduate certificate, RN-to-MSN, and graduate-entry pathways.
Which Ohio FNP programs are fully online?
Xavier and Youngstown State are the only schools with no campus attendance stated in their published material. Most Ohio programs are mostly online, built on countable intensives or immersions. Franciscan and Kent State are hybrid: Franciscan runs evening classes in Steubenville, and Kent State requires roughly one campus day per week during the practicum sequence.
Which Ohio FNP program has the lowest tuition?
Youngstown State, on both counts. Its 19-credit advanced placement certificate at $11K is the lowest published figure of any credential in the state, and its $26K master’s is the lowest MSN. Youngstown State also carries the lowest per-credit rate in Ohio at $559.29 for residents.
Which Ohio schools offer a DNP FNP program?
Eight: Case Western, Cedarville, Kent State, Ohio State, Ohio University, Cincinnati, Toledo, and Ursuline. Cedarville and Ohio State also offer post-master’s doctoral routes. Walsh’s DNP is not currently accepting applications, and Miami’s post-MSN DNP is a leadership degree without an FNP population focus.
Do Ohio FNP programs require campus visits?
Most do. Commitments range from Miami’s single two-day workshop and Mount Union’s two intensives to Cedarville’s eight days across four visits and Case Western’s roughly nine multi-day intensive blocks. Ohio State requires two-day visits in each of the final three semesters, and Ohio University requires intensives at Athens or Dublin on a count it does not fix. Kent State and Franciscan require recurring attendance rather than discrete events. Xavier and Youngstown State state none.
Can I complete clinical hours near home?
It depends on the school. Cleveland State, Cincinnati, Miami, and Ohio State place students locally where possible. Toledo restricts clinical sites to Ohio and Michigan, and Youngstown State to those two states plus Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Kent State and Mount Union require practicum hours in your state of residence and licensure. Miami is the only school stating a placement guarantee; Mount Carmel, Kent State, Wright State, and Youngstown State leave preceptor sourcing largely or entirely to the student.
Which Ohio FNP programs restrict enrollment by state?
Eleven of the seventeen name an explicit limit. Miami and Youngstown State each admit from four states; Cleveland State from sixteen; Mount Union designs for six; Walsh accepts twenty-three; Cedarville’s FNP track is closed in twenty-six states plus DC and eight territories; Xavier blocks twenty-six jurisdictions; Cincinnati closes seven states and all territories; Ursuline excludes eight; Toledo requires dual Ohio–Michigan licensure; and Ohio University uses an approved-state list it does not publish. Confirm your state before applying anywhere.