Purdue Global offers 3 Family Nurse Practitioner pathways:
- Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner Primary Care
- Postgraduate Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner Primary Care
- MSN-DNP Path – Family Nurse Practitioner Primary Care
All pathways combine online coursework with supervised local clinical experiences. Students prepare for ANCC or AANP Family Nurse Practitioner certification and complete coursework focused on primary care across the lifespan.
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN Family Nurse Practitioner | ~$25,200 | ~2 years |
| FNP Postgraduate Certificate | ~$25,200 | ~1.5 years |
| MSN-DNP Path FNP | ~$37,800 | ~2 years before DNP progression |
Purdue Global is strongest for working nurses who want a fully online FNP pathway with flexible scheduling, local clinical placements, multiple annual start dates, and relatively affordable graduate tuition.
Program Tracks Overview
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner Primary Care at Purdue Global is approximately $25,200 based on 60 quarter credits at $420 per quarter credit, and the program can typically be completed in about 2 years.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN Family Nurse Practitioner curriculum includes 60 quarter credits focused on advanced assessment, pharmacology, pathophysiology, primary care management, women’s health, pediatric health, and transition-to-practice preparation.
- NU551 Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan
- NU552 Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
- NU553 Advanced Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics
- NU566 NP I – Introduction to Primary Care for the Nurse Practitioner
- NU568 FNP I – Primary Care Across the Lifespan
- NU569 FNP I Clinical – Lifespan Health Focus
- NU576 NP II – Primary Care of Women’s Health
- NU577 NP II Clinical – Women’s Health Focus
- NU580 FNP II – Primary Care of Children and Adolescents’ Health
- NU581 FNP II Clinical – Children and Adolescent Health Focus
- NU605 Transition to Practice
- NU610 NP III Clinical – Primary Care Focus
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
The MSN-FNP pathway includes faculty- and preceptor-supported clinical practice experiences completed in the student’s community. Clinical coursework focuses on lifespan primary care, women’s health, pediatric care, and transition-to-practice preparation.
- Local community clinical placements
- Faculty-supported preceptor experiences
- Women’s health clinical rotations
- Pediatric and adolescent health clinical rotations
- Primary care across-the-lifespan training
- Transition-to-practice clinical preparation
The school states that additional clinical hours may be required in some states depending on APRN licensure regulations.
MSN Admissions
Applicants must meet Purdue Global graduate nursing admissions standards and APRN pathway requirements.
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing required
- Minimum 2.5 GPA required
- Approved criminal background check required
- Official transcripts required
- Program availability varies by state
- Residents of some states may not enroll in NP pathways
Family Nurse Practitioner Postgraduate Certificate
The estimated cost for the Family Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Postgraduate Certificate at Purdue Global is approximately $25,200 based on 60 quarter credits at $420 per quarter credit, and the program can typically be completed in about 1.5 years.
Certificate Curriculum
The FNP postgraduate certificate curriculum mirrors the primary care nurse practitioner specialty sequence and focuses on diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and primary care management across the lifespan.
- NU551 Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan
- NU552 Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
- NU553 Advanced Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics
- NU566 NP I – Introduction to Primary Care for the Nurse Practitioner
- NU568 FNP I – Primary Care Across the Lifespan
- NU569 FNP I Clinical – Lifespan Health Focus
- NU576 NP II – Primary Care of Women’s Health
- NU577 NP II Clinical – Women’s Health Focus
- NU580 FNP II – Primary Care of Children and Adolescents’ Health
- NU581 FNP II Clinical – Children and Adolescent Health Focus
- NU605 Transition to Practice
- NU610 NP III Clinical – Primary Care Focus
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
Certificate students complete supervised clinical experiences with approved preceptors in primary care, women’s health, pediatric, and lifespan-focused settings.
- Clinical experiences completed locally
- Women’s health clinical training
- Pediatric and adolescent health clinical training
- Faculty-supported preceptor coordination
- Transition-to-practice experience included
Certificate Admissions
The postgraduate certificate is designed for nurses who already hold graduate nursing education.
- Master’s degree in nursing or DNP required
- Minimum 2.5 GPA required
- Approved criminal background check required
- Official transcripts required
- State availability restrictions apply
MSN-DNP Path FNP
The estimated cost for the MSN-DNP Path – Family Nurse Practitioner Primary Care at Purdue Global is approximately $37,800 based on 90 quarter credits at $420 per quarter credit, and the MSN portion can typically be completed in about 2 years before progressing into the Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
DNP Curriculum
The MSN-DNP Path combines graduate nursing core courses with Family Nurse Practitioner specialty coursework and doctoral preparation. Students complete evidence-based practice, population health, healthcare systems, policy, and advanced primary care coursework.
- NU501 Advanced Nursing Roles
- NU502 Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Practice Nursing
- NU504 Scientific and Analytic Approaches to Advanced Evidence-Based Practice
- NU505 Clinical Epidemiology and Population Health Promotion
- NU506 Health Policy, Ethical, and Legal Perspectives of the Health Care System
- NU507 Promoting Optimal Models and Systems for Health Care Delivery
- NU551 Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan
- NU552 Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
- NU553 Advanced Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics
- NU568 FNP I – Primary Care Across the Lifespan
Students complete MSN coursework before formally progressing into the DNP program.
More curriculum details are available here.
DNP Clinicals
The MSN-DNP Path includes local clinical practice experiences supervised by qualified preceptors. Clinical work focuses on advanced primary care and nurse practitioner competency development.
- Local community clinical placements
- Faculty-supported clinical coordination
- Women’s health and pediatric clinical experiences
- Primary care across the lifespan focus
- Potential additional clinical hours based on state licensure requirements
DNP Admissions
Applicants must meet MSN-DNP Path nursing admissions standards and complete an informational interview.
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing required
- Minimum 3.0 GPA required
- Statistics and nursing research coursework required
- Approved criminal background check required
- Informational interview with Admissions Advisor required
- Program availability restrictions apply by state
Tuition
Purdue Global charges $420 per quarter credit hour for master’s programs and graduate certificates in nursing. Based on that rate, the 60-quarter-credit MSN-FNP and FNP Postgraduate Certificate pathways each cost approximately $25,200 before fees and additional expenses.
The MSN-DNP Path may require up to 90 quarter credits depending on the chosen pathway, bringing estimated tuition to approximately $37,800 before fees.
| Program | Credits | Estimated Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| MSN Family Nurse Practitioner | 60 Quarter Credits | ~$25,200 |
| FNP Postgraduate Certificate | 60 Quarter Credits | ~$25,200 |
| MSN-DNP Path FNP | 90 Quarter Credits | ~$37,800 |
Students should also budget for technology fees, books, travel related to clinicals, background checks, immunization compliance, and licensing expenses.
See the official tuition page for more details: Purdue Global Tuition and Fees.
Accreditation
The master’s degree in nursing program and postgraduate APRN certificate programs at Purdue Global are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Purdue Global is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).