UCSF Family Nurse Practitioner Programs

School of Nursing • San Francisco, CA • Mostly Online • $1,300/credit

UCSF’s FNP DNP is ranked tied 8th nationally and arranges all clinical placements at institutions like UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center, Stanford Health Care, and Kaiser Permanente — a 3-year terminal degree program from one of America’s top NIH-funded nursing schools.

The University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing offers 1 Family Nurse Practitioner track:

  • BSN-to-DNP FNP (11 quarters, hybrid, San Francisco Bay Area)
  • All 1,000+ practice hours school-arranged at elite Bay Area clinical partners
  • Strong focus on health equity, structural racism, and health policy integrated throughout the curriculum
  • Cohort-based model; once admitted to the FNP specialty, students remain in that specialty for the duration of the program

The program suits BSN-prepared nurses who are California-licensed or prepared to become California-licensed, who want a terminal practice degree from a nationally ranked program, and who are committed to a full-time, immersive three-year course of study.

Students should plan to limit employment to no more than 60% of their time during the academic year. The program is hybrid — the majority of courses are delivered online, with in-person requirements increasing in Years 2 and 3 as clinical training intensifies.

Program Track Overview

ProgramEst. TuitionEst. Duration
BSN-to-DNP FNP~$148K CA resident / ~$181K non-resident (incl. health insurance)3 years (11 quarters)

BSN-to-DNP FNP

The estimated cost for the BSN Entry to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner at the University of California, San Francisco is approximately $148,000 for California residents or $181,000 for non-residents over 11 quarters (including health insurance, based on 2025–26 rates).

Without health insurance (for students with their own coverage), estimated totals are approximately $119,000 (CA resident) and $153,000 (non-resident). The program takes 3 years (11 academic quarters) to complete on a full-time basis.

DNP Curriculum

The BSN-to-DNP FNP spans 11 academic quarters across three continuous years on the quarter system (10-week sessions in fall, winter, spring, and summer).

Year 1 builds a shared foundational layer for all BSN-to-DNP specialty students: introduction to the program and advanced practice concepts, structural racism and health care, principles of genomics, health policy and advocacy, nursing scholarship foundations, clinical prevention and population health, interprofessional practice, advanced health assessment, clinical pharmacology, physiology and pathophysiology, quality improvement and safety, and a DNP scholarly project foundation.

FNP specialty-specific coursework begins in the winter quarter of Year 1 and intensifies through Years 2 and 3.

In the second and third years, students spend the majority of their time in in-person clinical training and specialty-focused courses to complete their clinical residencies.

A DNP scholarly project — typically an evidence-based quality improvement initiative completed at the student’s workplace — runs across multiple quarters beginning in Year 1 and is formally presented upon completion.

Year 1 foundational courses (28 units — shared across all specialties):

  • Summer: NURSADVPR 200 – Concepts and Theory Application for Advanced Practice Nurses (3 units)
  • Summer: NURSADVPR 202 – Essentials of Human Genomics for the Advanced Practice Nurse (1 unit)
  • Summer: NURSADVPR 203 – Structural Racism, Healthcare and Social Justice (2 units)
  • Summer: NURSADVPR 210A – Introduction to the PB-DNP Program: Prelude to DNP Success (2 units)
  • Fall: NURSADVPR 204 – Advanced Health Policy and Advocacy (3 units)
  • Fall: NURSADVPR 205 – Evidence Appraisal for the Nurse Leader (3 units)
  • Fall: NURSADVPR 206 – Principles of Clinical Prevention and Population Health (3 units)
  • Fall: NURSADVPR 207A – Foundations of Interprofessional Practice for Nurse Leaders (0 units)
  • Winter: NURSADVPR 208 – Health Assessment for Advanced Practice (2 units)
  • Winter: NURSADVPR 209 – Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Practice (3 units)
  • Winter: NURSADVPR 211 – Physiology and Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice (2 units)
  • Winter: FNP specialty courses begin this quarter
  • Spring: NURSADVPR 207A – Foundations of Interprofessional Practice (1 unit)
  • Spring: NURSADVPR 212 – Improving Health Outcomes by Advancing QI and Safety (3 units)

FNP-specific specialty course titles, credits, and schedules for Years 2 and 3 are not publicly detailed in the available source material. Current students access the full curriculum on the DNP Student Hub (MyAccess credentials required). Prospective students should contact the FNP Specialty Coordinator for a complete plan of study overview.

DNP Clinicals

All students must complete a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice hours for DNP degree conferral. All clinical placements are coordinated and arranged by the UCSF School of Nursing’s Office of Clinical Placements — students are not responsible for finding their own preceptors.

Clinical training occurs throughout the San Francisco Bay Area at some of the most prestigious health systems in the country.

  • Minimum practice hours: 1,000 post-baccalaureate hours
  • All placements arranged by the UCSF Office of Clinical Placements
  • FNP settings: community-based and primary care across the lifespan, diverse populations, varied clinical environments
  • Clinical partner sites include: UCSF Health, UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center, Sutter Health, Kaiser Northern California, Alameda Health Systems, Dignity Health, SFDPH/Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, John Muir Health, Stanford Health Care, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Veterans Affairs
  • Majority of clinical training occurs in Years 2 and 3
  • Students should plan for approximately 3 weekdays per week devoted to coursework and clinical application
  • DNP scholarly project work begins in Year 1 and most projects are completed at the student’s workplace

DNP Admissions

The BSN-to-DNP FNP requires a BSN, California RN licensure, and a minimum 3.0 GPA; no GRE required; admissions are reviewed on a rolling basis with a final deadline of February 15 for fall entry.

  • BSN from an accredited college or university required; MSN plus a non-nursing bachelor’s is also eligible
  • Minimum GPA: 3.0 (all transcripts reviewed)
  • California RN licensure required; non-California applicants must pursue licensure by endorsement before enrollment
  • Statistics course completed within 5 years of program start (college-level, for credit, at a regionally accredited institution — community college and online courses accepted)
  • Resume or CV (2–5 pages, PDF, chronological, with detailed position descriptions)
  • Goal statement (500 words maximum, double-spaced, PDF; AI-generated text strictly prohibited)
  • Personal statement (background influences on decision to pursue graduate degree)
  • 3 letters of recommendation: one from current/recent employer or supervisor (preferably an advanced practice nurse in FNP if possible), one from a faculty member who can assess academic performance, one from a professional acquaintance not related to the applicant
  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
  • No GRE required
  • Application fee: $120 (US citizens and permanent residents) / $140 (international applicants); fee waivers available for qualified applicants demonstrating financial need
  • Periodic Application Review Process: applications open September 15, 2025; final deadline February 15, 2026 for fall 2026 entry; reviewed in order received — early submission strongly encouraged
  • FNP specialty does not require prior clinical practice experience (unlike PNP-AC and AGACNP specialties)
  • Admission decisions made 8–10 weeks after application is deemed complete; 2 weeks to accept an offer
  • Note: The BSN Entry to DNP, Advanced Practice pathway is currently under review by the California Board of Registered Nursing
  • International applicants: TOEFL minimum 92 (internet-based), 24 speaking, 24 writing; IELTS minimum 7.0; F-1 visa holders may face restrictions due to the hybrid format — contact the program directly

Tuition

UCSF charges a Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition of $5,976 per quarter in addition to standard UC tuition ($4,380/quarter fall/winter/spring, $4,380/quarter summer) for the Post-BSN DNP program.

For California residents, total fees including health insurance run approximately $53,719 per academic year (all four quarters); for non-residents, total fees including health insurance run approximately $65,964 per year. Over 11 quarters (~3 years), estimated totals are approximately $148,000 for California residents and $181,000 for non-residents, including health insurance.

Students with existing health coverage may waive the UCSF health insurance premium ($10,391/year), reducing totals to approximately $119,000 (CA resident) or $153,000 (non-resident).

Regular-status University of California employees in eligible titles may qualify for a two-thirds reduction in the Student Services Fee and Tuition for up to 12 units or 4 courses per quarter; this benefit is available through spring 2031. Scholarships and financial aid are available through the School of Nursing Student Funding Office and UCSF Financial Aid Office.

See the official tuition and fees page for more details.

Accreditation

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of California, San Francisco is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The BSN Entry to DNP, Advanced Practice pathway is currently under review by the California Board of Registered Nursing. Graduates of the FNP specialty are eligible to sit for the national board certification examination through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

California graduates are also eligible for the California Board of Registered Nursing Nurse Practitioner certificate, the Nurse Practitioner Furnishing certificate, and a national DEA license upon completion of the program.

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