Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center offers 3 Family Nurse Practitioner Tracks:
- MSN
- Post-Graduate Certificate
- BSN-DNP
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | $22.0K-$23.3K | 2-3 years (6-8 semesters) | 45 |
| Certificate | $17.8K-$19.0K | About 2 years (5-7 semesters) | Up to 36 |
| BSN-DNP | $39.3K | 4 years (12 semesters) | 77 |
Tuition estimates use TTUHSC’s 2026-2027 resident rates plus per-credit and per-semester mandatory fees, applied across each track’s estimated number of terms.
Six credits in every TTUHSC FNP pathway go to two standalone courses: Foundations of the Well Child and Mental Health in Primary Care. Both come before the population-focused clinical courses. For students admitted from Summer 2026 on, the MSN and certificate also run a heavier clinical sequence of about 765 hours (derived).
The trade-off is missing detail. TTUHSC does not publish MSN or certificate completion times, its 2026-2027 catalog is still in review, and out-of-state applicants must confirm eligibility before applying. All three tracks require campus trips for intensives, OSCEs, or skills labs.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MSN (BSN entry), Post-Graduate FNP Certificate, BSN-DNP |
| Format | Mostly Online, all three tracks; campus intensives, OSCEs, or skills labs |
| Clinical Hours | MSN and certificate: about 765 (derived). BSN-DNP: 1,080 minimum |
| Clinical Placement | MSN and certificate: not clearly stated. BSN-DNP: students find preceptors with faculty help |
| Population | Family across the lifespan; rural and underserved settings named |
| Distinctive Coursework | Foundations of the Well Child; Mental Health in Primary Care; DNP adds Telehealth and Rural Service Delivery |
| Concentrations | None |
| RN License Requirements | Unencumbered RN license; BSN-DNP page specifies a Texas or compact license |
| Tuition | $288.29/credit resident tuition plus $119.51/credit fees; $589/credit out-of-state online |
| Accreditation | CCNE (MSN, DNP, post-graduate APRN certificate); SACSCOC institutional |
| RN Experience | 1 year (MSN, certificate); 2 years (BSN-DNP) |
| Start Terms | MSN: fall. Certificate: summer or fall. BSN-DNP: summer only |
| Enrollment Restrictions | Out-of-state eligibility not guaranteed; F-1 and F-2 visa holders ineligible |
Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner at TTUHSC is approximately $22,044 to $23,275 for Texas residents (45 credits at $407.80/credit including per-credit fees, plus $615.50 in flat fees across 6 to 8 semesters). The program can generally be completed in about 2 years (6 semesters) full-time or about 3 years (8 semesters) part-time (derived, since TTUHSC publishes no semester sequence).
MSN Curriculum
Three blocks. The plan for students admitted after Summer 2026 has a 9-credit MSN core, a 19-credit block of foundation courses, and a 17-credit population-focus block of three clinical courses.
Dedicated pediatric and mental health courses. Foundations of the Well Child and Mental Health in Primary Care sit in the foundation block, ahead of clinicals. Each gets its own 3-credit course rather than a unit inside a broader primary care course.
What changed. The earlier plan ran 48 credits. The new plan drops Leadership for Healthcare, merges health assessment and diagnostic methods into one 4-credit course, and grows the clinical block from 15 to 17 credits with more weekly clinical time.
- NURS 6318 Mental Health in Primary Care (3)
- NURS 5309 Foundations of the Well Child (3)
- Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (4, on-campus intensive)
- NURS 5343 Pharmacotherapeutics for Nurses in Advanced Practice (3)
- NURS 5345 Advanced Practice Nursing: Application of Pathophysiology (3)
- Advanced Practice Nursing Role: Role and Leadership Essentials (3)
- Primary Care I (5, on-campus OSCE)
- Primary Care II (6, OSCE)
- NURS 6660 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum (6, on-campus OSCE)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- The 2026-2027 catalog carrying the 45-credit plan is marked “in review, not approved.” Several new courses still show placeholder numbers.
- The MSN program page gives no curriculum and directs applicants to contact the School of Nursing.
- TTUHSC’s tuition page still lists the FNP program at 48 credits, the pre-Summer 2026 plan.
MSN Clinical Requirements
- Total hours: not published; about 765 derived from weekly hours over 15-week terms
- Primary Care I: 12.75 hours per week (about 191 hours)
- Primary Care II: 17 hours per week (255 hours)
- FNP Practicum: 21.25 hours per week (about 319 hours)
- Campus: health assessment intensive, plus on-campus OSCEs in Primary Care I and the practicum
- Placement model: not clearly stated
- ACLS certification required before the first population-focus clinical course
About 765 hours sits above the 600 to 700 range common among FNP programs and well above the 500-hour certification floor. The 15-week basis is supported by the BSN-DNP, where the same method reproduces TTUHSC’s published 1,080 hours exactly. The final practicum runs about 21 hours a week, close to three clinic days, so most working nurses will need to cut hours that term.
You Should Know
- The catalog says nurse practitioner clinical credits convert at 1 to 3.5. That ratio matches the old plan (about 525 hours) but not the new weekly figures. Applied to the new plan, it would yield 630 hours.
- The program page labels the MSN “Hybrid,” but no weekly or biweekly campus schedule is published. Campus events are tied to specific courses, so it is classified Mostly Online here.
- TTUHSC does not say where MSN campus events take place or how many days each lasts.
MSN Admissions
The MSN requires one year of RN experience before applying and admits for fall and spring.
- Application windows: November 1 to February 15 for fall; May 1 to August 1 for spring
- BSN from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program
- Valid, unencumbered RN license
- Undergraduate research and statistics courses with a C or better
- Minimum 3.0 GPA for baccalaureate coursework
- Personal statement (500 words maximum), track essay questions, resume or CV
- Current BLS certification and three professional references
- TTUHSC computer literacy test before applying
- Interview if requested
- $75 application fee; $175 placement fee and mandatory orientation after admission
You Should Know
- The FNP program page lists only the fall window. The School of Nursing site and the catalog both show a spring intake as well, so confirm the term you are applying for.
- TTUHSC currently cannot accept students living in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Louisiana, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, or Washington. The list changes, so verify before applying.
- TTUHSC’s April 2024 licensure disclosure also notes that Iowa requires an Iowa license for clinicals and that Nevada and Oklahoma require in-state licensed faculty.
- International students on F-1 or F-2 visas are not eligible for online programs.
- These restrictions apply to all three tracks.
Post-Graduate Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate
The estimated tuition for the Post-Graduate Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate at TTUHSC is approximately $17,758 to $18,989 for Texas residents (36 credits at $407.80/credit, plus $615.50 across 5 to 7 semesters). The certificate can generally be completed in about 2 years (5 to 7 semesters), depending on pace and transfer credit (derived, since TTUHSC publishes no semester sequence).
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate is the MSN without its 9-credit core. It keeps every foundation and clinical course, including Foundations of the Well Child and Mental Health in Primary Care. “Up to 36” reflects a gap analysis: applicants complete a transcript evaluation before applying, and prior coursework may reduce the plan.
- NURS 5309 Foundations of the Well Child (3)
- NURS 6318 Mental Health in Primary Care (3)
- NURS 5329 Advanced Practice Nursing: Role and Leadership Essentials (3)
- NURS 5430 Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (4, on-campus intensive)
- NURS 5343 Pharmacotherapeutics (3) and NURS 5345 Application of Pathophysiology (3)
- NURS 5540 Primary Health Care I (5, on-campus skills lab)
- NURS 5641 Primary Health Care II (6, on-campus skills lab)
- NURS 6660 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum (6, on-campus skills lab)
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinical Requirements
- Total hours: not published; about 765 derived (same three clinical courses as the MSN)
- Weekly hours: 12.75, 17, and 21.25 across the three clinical courses
- Campus: health assessment intensive plus an on-campus skills lab in each clinical course
- Placement model: not clearly stated
- ACLS certification required before the first population-focus clinical course
The certificate carries the full MSN clinical load, so nurses adding FNP to another specialty get no reduced-hour track. That volume clears the 500-hour floor with room to spare, but it also means at least four courses with campus requirements.
You Should Know
- The program page labels the certificate “Online,” yet four courses require campus attendance. It is classified Mostly Online here.
- The catalog lists 13.75 weekly hours for Primary Health Care I; the program page and MSN plan list 12.75. The higher figure would put the total near 780.
- Nurses already certified in another APRN population should confirm how their state board treats a second population focus.
Certificate Admissions
The certificate requires a transcript evaluation before you apply, and the catalog lists interviews by invitation.
- Application window: November 1 to February 15 for summer or fall (2027 cycle)
- MSN from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in graduate nursing coursework (lower GPAs reviewed case by case)
- One year of RN experience
- Transcript evaluation: email unofficial graduate transcripts and a resume to applynursing@ttuhsc.edu
- Personal statement, track essay questions, resume or CV, BLS, three references
You Should Know
- The catalog requires ACLS or PALS at application and a personal statement of at least 500 words. The program page lists ACLS before the first clinical course and does not set an essay length.
- The catalog also lists a spring intake (May 1 to August 1) not shown on the program page.
BSN to DNP, Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the BSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner at TTUHSC is approximately $39,315 for Texas residents (77 credits at $407.80/credit, plus $659.50 per semester for 12 semesters). The program can generally be completed in about 4 years (12 semesters), or 3 years (9 semesters) on an accelerated plan with program director approval.
BSN-DNP Curriculum
Didactic first. Semesters I through VI carry 6 credits each with no FNP clinical course. Clinicals start in semester VII, after pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, diagnostics, and both population courses.
DNP layer. Doctoral content covers statistics, evidence-based inquiry, systems leadership, informatics, population health, policy, and APRN finance. Three DNP practicums close the program.
Rural and telehealth coursework. A 2-credit Telehealth and Rural Service Delivery course runs alongside the FNP practicum. The DNP also adds Advanced Pharmacologic Management for Primary Care, which the MSN does not include.
- NURS 6304 Foundations for the DNP APRN Role (3)
- NURS 6318 Mental Health in Primary Care (3)
- NURS 5309 Foundations of the Well Child (3)
- NURS 6343 Advanced Pharmacologic Management for Primary Care (3)
- NURS 6439 Primary Care I BSN-DNP (4, OSCE)
- NURS 6541 Primary Care II BSN-DNP (5, OSCE)
- NURS 7660 FNP Practicum BSN-DNP (6, OSCE)
- NURS 5201 Telehealth and Rural Service Delivery (2)
- NURS 7450, 7451, 7452 DNP Advanced Practicum I-III (4 each, OSCE)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- Credit totals conflict: 77 in the review-mode catalog (which sums correctly), 78 in the program FAQ, and 74 on the doctoral fee schedule. This page uses 77.
- There is no option to stop out with an MSN after entering the DNP.
BSN-DNP Clinical Requirements
- Total hours: 1,080 minimum (published)
- FNP clinical courses: 600 hours (8, 12, and 20 hours per week over 15-week terms)
- DNP practicums: 480 hours (8, 12, and 12 hours per week)
- Leadership, informatics, and policy courses add about 1 clinical hour per week each
- Campus: at least once per semester, 1 to 2 days, for orientation, OSCEs, project presentations, and DNP sessions
- Campus locations: Lubbock, with some intensives in Austin and Dallas
- Placement: students find preceptors; faculty and a preceptor team help select and contract sites
The FNP portion alone reaches 600 hours, inside the common 600 to 700 range, and the DNP practicums add 480 more. The weekly load peaks at 20 hours in the FNP practicum. TTUHSC strongly advises working part-time only, since clinical courses require several days a week on site.
You Should Know
- Twelve semesters means at least 12 campus trips, some to Austin or Dallas rather than Lubbock. Travel costs are not covered.
- Finding preceptors is the student’s responsibility, even with faculty support.
BSN-DNP Admissions
The BSN-DNP is the most selective track: two years of RN experience, an invitation-only faculty interview, and a single summer start.
- Application window: September 1 to January 15; the next cohort starts May 24, 2027
- Two years of RN experience at application
- BSN from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program
- Undergraduate research and statistics with a C or better, taken within five years (catalog)
- Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA
- Critical analysis essay, personal statement (300 words maximum), CV on TTUHSC’s template
- Three references: a current manager, a practice peer, and a former faculty member
- Oath of Residency, BLS, computer literacy test
- Faculty interview by invitation
- Estimated class size: 10 to 15
You Should Know
- The program page asks for a Texas or compact RN license; the catalog asks only for a valid, unencumbered license.
- The program page calls a 3.0 GPA “preferred”; the catalog sets it as the minimum.
- TTUHSC publishes a 100% graduation rate without naming the cohorts it covers.
Tuition
TTUHSC’s 2026-2027 resident graduate tuition is $288.29 per credit. Mandatory per-credit fees raise the effective rate to $407.80 per credit (derived). Residents also pay $615.50 in flat fees each semester, or $659.50 on the doctoral schedule. Out-of-state students living outside Texas in online programs pay $589 per credit, or $739 on the doctoral schedule.
The fee stack below reconstructs TTUHSC’s published 1-, 6-, and 9-credit rows exactly.
| Charged Per Credit (Resident) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Statutory tuition | $50.00 |
| Board tuition | $50.00 |
| Designated tuition | $188.29 |
| Education technology fee | $75.00 |
| Information technology fee | $25.11 |
| Learning resources fee | $19.40 |
| Total per credit | $407.80 |
| Charged Per Semester | Amount |
|---|---|
| Academic department assessment fee | $400.00 |
| Student services fee | $132.00 |
| Health screening and management fee | $42.50 |
| Student malpractice insurance | $17.00 ($61.00 doctoral) |
| Record processing, ID card, international education | $24.00 |
| Total per semester | $615.50 ($659.50 doctoral) |
| Track | Texas Resident | Out-of-State (Online) | Non-Resident Living in Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN (45, 6-8 terms) | $22,044-$23,275 | $29,390-$29,684 | $41,304-$42,535 |
| Certificate (36, 5-7 terms) | $17,758-$18,989 | $23,541-$23,835 | $33,166-$34,397 |
| BSN-DNP (77, 12 terms) | $39,315 | $62,162 | $72,271 |
All totals are derived, and the MSN and certificate ranges reflect their estimated term counts. Out-of-state online figures use $633.51 per credit for the MSN and certificate ($589 plus learning resources and IT fees) and $783.51 for the DNP. They add a $15 record fee and up to $132 in student services each term, plus $17 malpractice per year. The official estimator is on TTUHSC’s tuition estimates page.
- Resident tuition: $288.29 per credit
- Per-credit mandatory fees: $119.51
- Flat semester fees: $615.50 (MSN, certificate), $659.50 (doctoral)
- Non-resident tuition: $716.29 per credit, same fee stack
- Out-of-state distance rate: $589 per credit (master’s and certificate), $739 (doctoral schedule)
- Application fee: $75; placement and orientation fee: $175
Be aware that:
- The distance rate applies to non-residents living outside Texas in online programs. TTUHSC labels the MSN “Hybrid,” so confirm which rate an out-of-state MSN student pays.
- The distance-rate description does not say whether the $75 education technology fee or the $400 department assessment fee also apply. If they do, out-of-state costs rise.
- The $739 doctoral distance rate comes from a fee schedule labeled 74 credits, not the 77 in the DNP catalog.
- Student health insurance is billed every term unless waived with qualifying coverage: up to $1,509 in fall, $2,279 in spring, and $1,252 in summer ($5,040 a year).
- One row of the post-master’s schedule lists $455 in non-resident statutory tuition, but its totals use $478.
- TTUHSC notes rates can change by legislative or regent action and the schedule may not include every charge.
Per-credit fees add 41% to resident tuition, and the $400 department assessment fee lands every semester. That makes pace a cost decision: each extra MSN or certificate semester adds $615.50. On the BSN-DNP, the accelerated 9-semester plan cuts flat fees from $7,914 to $5,936. For non-Texans, the online rate costs about 55% more per credit than residents pay, but far less than the standard non-resident rate.
Why Choose This FNP Program?
Best suited for nurses who expect a family caseload with many children and behavioral health needs, and who want those skills taught as standalone courses before clinicals.
Pediatric and mental health depth. Every TTUHSC FNP pathway requires Foundations of the Well Child and Mental Health in Primary Care. For nurses coming from adult inpatient settings, that puts pediatric and behavioral health content in place before the first patient visit. The DNP adds a telehealth and rural service course on top.
A heavier clinical sequence for new entrants. Students admitted from Summer 2026 on move from about 525 derived clinical hours under the old plan to about 765 under the new one, with 3 fewer total credits. The certificate carries the same load, so post-master’s students get the full clinical sequence.
A fixed doctoral commitment. The BSN-DNP adds 480 practicum hours, keeps cohorts at 10 to 15, and runs 12 semesters with no MSN exit. It suits nurses sure they want the doctorate, not those who want to keep an MSN fallback.
Honest drawbacks. Completion times for the MSN and certificate are unpublished, the new plan sits in an unapproved catalog, and twelve states and the District of Columbia are currently closed to APRN enrollment. TTUHSC’s own program pages note that students found the workload and clinical demands overwhelming at times.
Choose by practice setting. If you plan to work in family practice with heavy pediatric volume or limited behavioral health referral options, the required courses add real value. If you plan to serve rural or telehealth-heavy communities and want a doctorate, the BSN-DNP fits best. If your goal is adult-only primary care, the pediatric emphasis matters less and other programs may fit better.
Accreditation
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits TTUHSC’s master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program. That scope covers all three FNP tracks: the MSN, the BSN-DNP, and the Post-Graduate FNP Certificate.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accredits TTUHSC to award baccalaureate, master’s, doctoral, and professional degrees. TTUHSC has held separate accreditation from Texas Tech University since 2004, and its next reaffirmation is scheduled for 2029. Institutional accreditation supports federal financial aid eligibility and transfer of credit.
National certification boards and state boards of nursing generally require graduation from a nationally accredited graduate nursing program, so CCNE status matters for licensure. The CCNE scope explicitly names the post-graduate APRN certificate, which certificate applicants should confirm at any school.
Graduates of the MSN and the Post-Graduate Certificate are eligible to sit for the national FNP certification exam (AANP or ANCC). BSN-DNP graduates meet the qualifications for national FNP certification on completing the degree.
More FNP Programs in Texas
- Baylor University - Dallas
- Houston Christian University - Houston
- Midwestern State University - Wichita Falls
- Stephen F. Austin State University - Nacogdoches
- Texas A&M University - Bryan
- Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi
- Texas Christian University - Fort Worth
- Texas State University - Round Rock
- Texas Wesleyan University - Fort Worth
- Texas Woman's University - Denton
- University of Houston - Houston
- University of Texas at Arlington - Arlington
- University of Texas at Austin - Austin
- University of Texas at Tyler - Tyler
- University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston
- UT San Antonio Health Science Center - San Antonio
- UTHealth Houston - Houston