University of Houston FNP Programs

Andy & Barbara Gessner College of Nursing • Houston, TX • Hybrid • $619/credit

The University of Houston offers 2 Family Nurse Practitioner Tracks:

  • MSN
  • Post-Master’s DNP (for Practicing FNPs)

Program Tracks Overview

ProgramEst. TuitionEst. DurationCredit Hours
MSN$33.2K 3 years
(8 semesters)		47
Post-Master’s DNP$27.0K–$30.7K 3 years
(8 semesters)		37–43

Tuition estimates use the University of Houston’s Academic Year 2027 consolidated Nursing rate per credit plus four mandatory university fees for each of eight semesters, shown in-state / out-of-state.

The University of Houston schedules every MSN class, lab, and exam on Wednesdays at its Katy campus. The FNP track runs part-time for eight semesters, and students can add a 9-credit nurse educator or nurse administrator certificate along the way.

That weekly campus day is also the program’s biggest limit. It works only for Texas RNs who can reach Katy every Wednesday, apply in a single spring window for a fall start, and accept clinical sites assigned on availability.

Quick Facts

FeatureDetails
Program TypesMSN (FNP); Post-Master’s DNP for nurses who already hold FNP preparation
FormatMSN: Hybrid, weekly Wednesdays in Katy. DNP: Mostly Online, two campus days per term
Clinical HoursMSN: not published, about 720 derived. DNP: 540–585, plus up to 500 MSN hours
Clinical PlacementCollege finds sites on availability; preferred sites not guaranteed
PopulationFamily, across the lifespan; clinical sites in greater Houston and the Gulf Coast
Distinctive CourseworkDiagnostic Tests and Procedures, Healthcare Informatics, Biostatistics, Population Health
ConcentrationsOptional 9-credit Nurse Education or Nurse Administration certificate alongside the FNP
RN License RequirementsCurrent, unencumbered Texas RN license for both tracks
Tuition$619.10/credit resident, $1,147.10 non-resident; mandatory university fees extra
AccreditationCCNE (MSN and DNP); SACSCOC institutional
Start TermFall only; applications open February 1 and close June 1
Enrollment StatusMSN is part-time only
InterviewRequired for the MSN; DNP by invitation

Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner

The estimated tuition for the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Track at the University of Houston is approximately $33,226 (47 credits at $619.10/credit, plus $516 in mandatory fees per semester). The program can generally be completed in about 3 years (8 semesters), running part-time from a fall start to a spring finish, summers included.

MSN Curriculum

Fixed sequence, didactic first. UH requires students to take courses in the published order because of prerequisites. The first four semesters are didactic. Clinical courses begin in semester five. This front-loading is why UH lets new BSN graduates start right away: they can build RN experience before clinicals begin.

Clinical progression. The four clinical courses move from adults, to women and children, to mixed lifespan settings, and end with a capstone. Each pairs with a matching didactic course in the same semester, so theory and practice run together.

A broader MSN core. The core includes informatics, biostatistics, population health, and a policy and economics course. The catalog also lists Diagnostic Tests and Procedures as its own 2-credit course, separate from physical assessment.

Optional role certificate. UH’s degree plan shows optional Nurse Education (NURS 6312, 6313, 6314) or Nurse Administration (NURS 6309, 6317, 6319) courses running alongside the FNP sequence. Each certificate is 9 credits, and students need a B or higher in every certificate course.

  • NURS 6230 Diagnostic Tests and Procedures (2 credits)
  • NURS 6330 Advanced Physical Assessment (3 credits)
  • NURS 6331 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (3 credits)
  • NURS 6338 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
  • NURS 6320 Healthcare Informatics (3 credits)
  • NURS 6332 Biostatistics (3 credits)
  • NURS 6335/6336 Management of Health Disorders in Adults, with Clinical (6 credits)
  • NURS 6345/6346 Management of Health Disorders in Women and Children, with Clinical (6 credits)
  • NURS 6355/6356 Management of Health Disorders Across the Lifespan in Diverse Settings, with Clinical (6 credits)
  • NURS 6366 FNP Capstone Clinical (3 credits)

More curriculum details are available here.

MSN Clinical Requirements

  • Four 3-credit clinical courses: NURS 6336, 6346, 6356, and 6366 (12 clinical credits).
  • Total hours: not published. Derived estimate of about 720 hours. The catalog lists NURS 6366 at 12 lab contact hours per week, which is 180 hours over a 15-week semester. UH’s DNP catalog uses the same 60-hours-per-credit ratio for its practicums.
  • Sequence (from the degree plan): adults in spring of year two, women and children in summer, lifespan settings in fall, capstone in the final spring.
  • Cadence (from the FAQ): usually 1 day per week in the first clinical semester, then 2 to 3 days per week.
  • Placement: the college works with students to find sites and has existing sites. It places students on availability and does not guarantee a site of choice.
  • Student-proposed sites: must go through the Clinical Learning Team early. UH says securing a site can take three months or more.
  • Clinical readiness requirements must be met before each semester.

A derived 720 hours sits well above the 500-hour certification floor and at the top of the 600 to 700 hour range common among FNP programs. At 180 hours per course, a standard semester works out to about 12 hours per week, or one and a half shifts. The summer clinical runs in a shorter term, so weekly hours rise then. Because UH assigns sites on availability, plan on clinicals across greater Houston rather than near your home or employer.

You Should Know
  • UH’s application checklist says all clinical, practicum, and lab experiences are offered on Wednesdays. The FAQ says later clinical semesters run 2 to 3 days per week. Expect clinical days beyond Wednesday and confirm with advising.
  • The FAQ describes clinical days for semesters “2” through “5,” a five-semester pattern. The degree plan shows four clinical courses. Neither source publishes an hour total.
  • The 720-hour figure applies one catalog contact-hour listing to all four clinical courses. Ask UH for the handbook total before comparing programs on hours.

MSN Admissions

Admission is fall-only, interview-based, and capped each year by faculty and clinical site capacity.

  • Apply through NursingCAS. The application opens February 1 and closes June 1 for fall entry.
  • BSN from a nationally and regionally accredited institution.
  • Current, unencumbered Texas RN license.
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. GRE scores (within 5 years) are required for conditional admission with a GPA of 2.75 to 2.99.
  • One-page personal statement covering nursing experience, five-year goals, why UH, and planned contributions.
  • Resume or CV.
  • Two letters of recommendation: one from a university faculty member and one from an employer.
  • Interview with graduate admission personnel.
  • One year of RN experience as a BSN-prepared nurse is preferred, not required.
  • International applicants: TOEFL score of 89.
  • Mandatory program orientation.
You Should Know
  • The June 1, 2026 deadline has passed. The next window is February 1 to June 1, 2027, for a fall 2027 start. Applications do not roll forward, and UH keeps no waiting list.
  • UH’s checklist says a 3.0 GPA is needed to be eligible, yet the same page offers conditional admission at 2.75 to 2.99 with GRE scores. Confirm eligibility before paying the NursingCAS fee.
  • Document timing conflicts: the catalog says submit to NursingCAS at least 2 weeks before the deadline; the checklist says 6 weeks. Use 6.
  • One UH admissions page accepts an APRN in place of a university faculty member for the first letter.
  • UH publishes no out-of-state licensure disclosure for the FNP. The Texas RN requirement and weekly Katy attendance limit the program to Texas-based nurses in practice.

Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner Track

The estimated tuition for the Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of Houston is approximately $27,035 to $30,749 (37 to 43 credits at $619.10/credit, plus $516 in mandatory fees per semester). The program can generally be completed in about 3 years (8 semesters), part-time; the year count is derived and assumes year-round enrollment like the MSN plan.

Post-Master’s DNP Curriculum

Built for FNPs, not future FNPs. This track does not prepare students for FNP certification. It adds doctoral coursework and practice hours for nurses who already completed an MSN FNP. The FNP track takes a Complex Health Deviations seminar and practicum, where the administration track takes leadership courses.

Interdisciplinary and project-driven. A required Interdisciplinary Care seminar and clinical draw on other UH health disciplines. The DNP ends in a scholarly project, a portfolio, a final manuscript, oral and poster presentations, and a defense before a chair and committee.

  • NURS 8225 Complex Health Deviations Seminar (2 credits)
  • NURS 8326 Complex Health Deviations Practicum (3 credits)
  • NURS 8205 Interdisciplinary Care Seminar (2 credits)
  • NURS 8306 Interdisciplinary Focus Clinical (3 credits)
  • NURS 8304 Systems Management Vulnerable Populations (3 credits)
  • NURS 8302 Advanced Practice Finance and Economics (3 credits)
  • NURS 8356 Scholarly Project Development/Implementation (3 to 6 credits)
  • NURS 8336 Advanced Synthesis Practicum (3 to 6 credits)
  • NURS 8207 Writing for Publication (2 credits)

More curriculum details are available here.

You Should Know
  • Credit totals conflict across UH pages: 36–40 (DNP landing page), 37–42 (DNP program description), and 37 in the catalog. Two catalog courses carry 3 to 6 variable credits, which allows up to 43. Your advisor sets the final count.

Post-Master’s DNP Clinical Requirements

  • Graduation requires 1,000 post-baccalaureate clinical hours.
  • Up to 500 hours transfer from the MSN. MSN hours counted must fall outside the student’s normal paid employment.
  • The FNP track adds 585 hours per the DNP program page, for more than 1,000 in total.
  • Practicum courses: NURS 8326, 8306, and 8336 (9 credits at base).
  • Applicants with fewer than 500 MSN hours complete a portfolio review and a plan to close the gap.
  • Hours come through 204 active clinical affiliation agreements in greater Houston and the Gulf Coast, per UH.
  • Keep MSN syllabi available as evidence of prior clinical hours.

The 1,000-hour total follows the AACN standard for DNP graduates, so the added volume is typical rather than unusual. At 180 hours per 3-credit practicum, the load is about 12 hours per week in practicum semesters. Local placement through UH’s regional agreements suits Houston-area FNPs; it offers little to nurses elsewhere in Texas.

You Should Know
  • UH states the DNP hour requirement three ways: 585 added hours (program page), 540+ clock hours (catalog), and a minimum of 500 in the UH DNP (curriculum page). The catalog’s 540 matches 9 practicum credits at 60 hours each.
  • The Advanced Synthesis Practicum can run up to 6 credits, which raises both hours and tuition.

Post-Master’s DNP Admissions

Unlike the MSN, the DNP requires a year of NP experience and a GRE or MAT score, with a waiver route for strong UH graduates.

  • Apply through NursingCAS. The application opens February 1 and closes June 1 for fall entry. Submit documents at least 6 weeks early.
  • BSN and a master’s in an advanced nursing specialty, both from nationally accredited programs.
  • Current, unencumbered Texas RN license; APRN certification if applicable.
  • At least one year of experience as a nurse practitioner.
  • GPA of 3.0 or higher in upper-division nursing and graduate courses.
  • GRE or MAT scores from the last 5 years.
  • 500-word statement: practice interest, career goals, why a DNP over a PhD, and project ideas.
  • Resume or CV.
  • Two letters: one from a doctorally prepared nursing faculty member and one from an employer.
  • Interview with DNP faculty, if invited.
  • Security screening and clinical readiness requirements, including immunizations.
  • International applicants: TOEFL 79 (internet) or 550 (paper), or IELTS 6.5.
You Should Know
  • UH waives select criteria for its own MSN FNP and MSN Administration graduates (including former UH-Victoria graduates) with a GPA of 3.3 or higher. The waiver note is attached to the GRE/MAT requirement; UH does not list the other criteria it covers.
  • The catalog says successful applicants start the fall after spring MSN graduation. That timeline cannot meet the one-year NP experience rule unless the rule is also waived. Ask which applies.
  • The MSN FAQ says the MAT is no longer available, but DNP pages still list it as an option.

Tuition

The University of Houston charges $619.10 per credit for Texas residents and $1,147.10 per credit for non-residents in graduate nursing for Academic Year 2027 (fall 2026 through summer 2027). This consolidated rate includes nursing course fees. It does not include four university fees billed each semester.

Mandatory Fee (per semester)Amount
Student Services Fee$260
Recreation and Wellness Center Fee$121
University Center Fee$135
Subtotal$516
Online Education Fee (students in online courses)$279
EstimateMSNPost-Master’s DNP
Credits4737–43
Resident tuition$29,098$22,907–$26,621
Non-resident tuition$53,914$42,443–$49,325
Mandatory fees (8 × $516)$4,128$4,128
Resident total$33,226$27,035–$30,749
Non-resident total$58,042$46,571–$53,453

All totals are derived: credits × per-credit rate, plus $516 in mandatory fees for each of eight semesters.

  • Resident rate: $619.10 per credit; non-resident rate: $1,147.10 per credit.
  • Nursing tuition includes all course fees, per UH’s MSN FAQ.
  • Mandatory university fees: $516 per semester.
  • Optional Nurse Education or Nurse Administration certificate: 9 credits, or $5,572 in resident tuition.
  • Official rates: UH Graduate Tuition and Fees

Be aware that:

  • The fee amounts come from UH’s most recently retrievable graduate fee schedule (fiscal year 2026). The Academic Year 2027 fee page could not be verified, so fees may differ. Summer fees may also be prorated.
  • The $279 Online Education Fee applies to students in online courses. UH does not say whether hybrid MSN or DNP students pay it. If charged every semester, it adds $2,232.
  • The FAQ’s 2024 figure of $3,714.60 for 6 credits matches the current rate, so the rate has held since then. UH publishes no rate lock, so increases during enrollment remain possible.
  • The DNP estimate assumes billing at the Nursing master’s and professional rate, the only nursing rate UH publishes.
  • Parking is not part of the fee schedule. Weekly MSN attendance in Katy makes it a recurring cost.
  • Adding a role certificate raises semester loads and total tuition.

For a Texas resident, the MSN costs about $33,200 all-in, with tuition making up roughly seven-eighths of that. Spread over eight part-time semesters, that is about $4,150 per term, a pace many nurses can cash-flow while working. Non-residents pay about $58,000, but the Texas RN license requirement means few will face that rate.

Why Choose This FNP Program?

Best suited for Texas RNs in west Houston or the Katy area who can protect one weekday for school and prefer in-person classes to online study.

A schedule you can plan around. UH puts MSN classes, labs, and testing on Wednesdays, on a fixed part-time sequence. A working nurse can request a standing Wednesday off for years ahead. Stephen F. Austin State University uses a similar part-time, eight-semester, fall-entry design, but delivers coursework online with up to two campus seminars. UH’s version trades that flexibility for weekly face-to-face teaching and college-assisted local placement.

Room to add a second role. FNP students can stack a 9-credit nurse educator or nurse administrator certificate onto the same degree plan for about $5,600 in tuition. That suits nurses who want to teach clinicals or move into leadership later. UH graduates with a 3.3 GPA also get select DNP admission criteria waived. The college reports that its FNP graduates have passed the national certification exam every year since the program began.

Check your calendar before you apply. The Wednesday model works best with a fixed day-shift schedule and a short drive to Katy. It works poorly for travel nurses, rotating-schedule nurses, or anyone outside greater Houston. Later clinical semesters appear to need 2 to 3 days per week, sites are assigned on availability, and UH publishes no clinical-hour total. If you cannot miss one fall application window or cannot commit those extra clinical days, compare other Texas options first.

Accreditation

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits the University of Houston’s baccalaureate, master’s, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. That scope covers both the MSN FNP track and the Post-Master’s DNP. UH reports that the DNP received full initial accreditation from CCNE.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accredits the university. Institutional accreditation supports federal financial aid eligibility and credit recognition by other schools. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and SACSCOC have also approved the DNP program.

CCNE accreditation matters for licensure and certification. National certification boards and state boards of nursing generally require graduation from a nationally accredited graduate nursing program. Confirm current CCNE status before enrolling, since accreditation is reviewed on a set cycle.

MSN FNP graduates are eligible to sit for the national FNP certification exam (AANP or ANCC). The Post-Master’s DNP does not add a new certification; its students already hold FNP preparation from their MSN.

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