Eight Minnesota schools offer 14 FNP-preparing tracks, all at the doctoral or post-graduate level. Pathways include BSN-DNP, entry-level MSN to DNP, post-master’s DNP, and post-graduate certificates. No school currently admits new students to an MSN FNP. Every program is Mostly Online or Hybrid, so none is fully online. Resident tuition runs about $24K to $105K, and programs take 2 to 4 years.
Highlights include:
- College of Saint Benedict lets students direct a 240-hour clinical block to mental health, acute care, or another specialty
- Augsburg University attaches practicum credit to cultural-immersion coursework, starting with a five-day residential orientation
- Winona State University requires a standalone primary care procedures course
- Metropolitan State University builds a custom DNP plan for nurses holding an outside MSN
Compare Minnesota Family NP Programs
| School | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
| Augsburg University | Hybrid | 1–2 sessions monthly | $1,090 | BSN-DNP | Transcultural practice |
| College of Saint Benedict | Mostly Online | 2–3 visits per semester | $1,050 | BSN-DNP | Elective specialty rotation |
| Metropolitan State University | Mostly Online | In-person skills labs | $1,228 | BSN-DNP, ELMSN-DNP, MSN-DNP | Individualized MSN-DNP plans |
| Minnesota State Mankato | Mostly Online | About 4 seminars per semester | $1,309 | BSN-DNP | Family systems focus |
| St. Catherine University | Mostly Online | 1–3 sessions per semester | $1,200 | BSN-DNP, certificate | Newer BSN graduates |
| The College of St. Scholastica | Mostly Online | 1–3 days per semester | $1,007 | BS-DNP, certificate | Rural practice |
| University of Minnesota | Hybrid | Biweekly days, plus one week per semester | $1,207 | BSN-DNP | Arranged population practica |
| Winona State University | Hybrid | Recurring campus classes | $1,205 | BSN-DNP, post-master’s DNP, certificate | Procedures training |
CPC is derived and inclusive of mandatory per-credit fees, rounded to the nearest dollar, with every rate residency-neutral except Minnesota State Mankato’s resident figure; full rate breakdowns are on each school profile.
What’s the Best FNP Program for You?
Best Doctoral Value
College of Saint Benedict carries the lowest BSN-DNP tuition in Minnesota at about $74K, with placements assigned by the program.
Best for Certified Nurse Practitioners
St. Catherine University’s certificate reuses nine doctoral courses and the same 810 clinical hours for about $26K.
Best for Rural Practice
The College of St. Scholastica requires a rural and emergent practicum plus a psychiatric primary care course.
Best Placement Support
University of Minnesota arranges all eight practicum courses, with separate pediatric, reproductive health, and older adult rotations.
Best for Entry-Level MSN Graduates
Metropolitan State University’s 67-credit ELMSN-DNP carries its own graduates to FNP practice in about three years for roughly $82K.
Best for Master’s-Prepared Nurses
Winona State University’s post-master’s DNP delivers the full FNP course set and 840 direct care hours for about $52K.
Minnesota DNP FNP Programs
All eight schools offer a doctoral FNP route, making the DNP the default credential in Minnesota. Metropolitan State and Winona State add entry points for nurses who already hold a master’s degree. Clinical volume runs high statewide, and most schools arrange placements rather than leaving the preceptor search to students. The trade-off is time: expect three to four years and regular campus travel.
| School | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Augsburg University | $87K | 4 years | 1,035 hrs |
| College of Saint Benedict | $74K | 3 years | 1,140 hrs |
| Metropolitan State University (BSN-DNP) | $92K | 4 years | 1,275+ hrs |
| Metropolitan State University (ELMSN-DNP) | $82K | 3 years | 1,275+ hrs |
| Metropolitan State University (MSN-DNP) | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Minnesota State Mankato | $105K | 3 years | 1,050 hrs |
| St. Catherine University | $83K | 3–4 years | 810+ hrs |
| The College of St. Scholastica | $79K | 3–4 years | 1,580 hrs |
| University of Minnesota | $83K–$98K | 3–4 years | 1,460 hrs |
| Winona State University (BSN-DNP) | $87K | 3–4 years | 1,440 hrs |
| Winona State University (Post-Master’s DNP) | $52K | 2–3 years | 1,200 hrs |
Totals include DNP project or practicum hours; St. Catherine’s figure covers FNP clinicals only, and direct care splits are on each school profile.
- Lowest BSN-DNP tuition: College of Saint Benedict — $74K resident at the 2026–27 rate
- Lowest post-master’s cost: Winona State University — $52K resident for 43 credits
- Highest clinical volume: The College of St. Scholastica — 1,080 direct care hours plus 500 project hours
- Only residency premium: Minnesota State Mankato — $105K resident, about $20K more for non-residents
Minnesota Post-Graduate Certificate FNP Programs
Three schools offer a post-graduate FNP certificate, each built from the same specialty courses as its doctorate. St. Catherine limits enrollment to nurses already certified in another APRN population focus. St. Scholastica and Winona State set final credits through a gap analysis of prior coursework, so quoted totals shift with transfer credit. None of the three trims clinical hours for certificate students.
| School | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| St. Catherine University | $26K | 2 years | 810 hrs |
| The College of St. Scholastica | $24K–$43K | 2 years | 1,080 hrs |
| Winona State University | $35K | 2 years | 840 hrs |
- Lowest fixed certificate price: St. Catherine University — $26K resident for 22 credits
- Widest price range: The College of St. Scholastica — $24K–$43K depending on gap analysis
- Named procedures course: Winona State University — Primary Care Procedures for APRNs is required
National Online FNP Options
Minnesota’s programs leave three gaps. No school admits to an MSN FNP, every program requires campus travel, and several require a Minnesota RN license before or during enrollment. Walden University, based in Minneapolis, offers CCNE-accredited FNP programs at the MSN, DNP, and post-master’s certificate levels, including an RN-to-MSN entry point. Purdue Global offers CCNE-accredited BSN-to-MSN, MSN-to-DNP, and post-master’s certificate FNP tracks with continuous start dates. Both suit nurses who want a master’s route or cannot commit to regular trips to a Minnesota campus.
FAQ
How many FNP programs are in Minnesota?
Eight schools offer 14 FNP-preparing tracks: 11 doctoral routes and 3 post-graduate certificates.
Are any Minnesota FNP programs fully online?
No. Five are Mostly Online with periodic campus sessions, and three are Hybrid with monthly or biweekly attendance.
Which Minnesota FNP program has the lowest tuition?
St. Scholastica’s certificate starts near $24K when the full gap-analysis block transfers, and St. Catherine’s fixed-price certificate runs about $26K. For a BSN-DNP, College of Saint Benedict is lowest at about $74K.
Which Minnesota schools offer a DNP FNP?
All eight: Augsburg, College of Saint Benedict, Metropolitan State, Minnesota State Mankato, St. Catherine, St. Scholastica, University of Minnesota, and Winona State.
How often do I need to visit campus?
It ranges from one session per semester at St. Catherine and St. Scholastica to biweekly campus days at the University of Minnesota. Augsburg also requires a five-day residential orientation in year one.
Can I complete clinicals locally?
Usually within reach of the home campus. Augsburg, College of Saint Benedict, Metropolitan State, St. Catherine, University of Minnesota, and Winona State arrange or assign sites through their own networks, which cluster around the Twin Cities, central Minnesota, and Rochester. St. Scholastica places students near home when possible. Minnesota State Mankato offers coordinator support, so students still take part in the search.
Can out-of-state nurses enroll?
Often, with conditions. Augsburg and College of Saint Benedict require a Minnesota RN license before the program starts, and Minnesota State Mankato’s curriculum does not meet APRN requirements in 13 states. The other seven schools charge one rate regardless of residency, though recurring campus days at the Hybrid programs make distance the real constraint.