Old Dominion University FNP Programs

Ellmer School of Nursing • Virginia Beach, VA • Mostly Online • $662–$672/credit

Old Dominion University offers an MSN Family Nurse Practitioner track.

Program Tracks Overview

ProgramEst. TuitionEst. DurationCredit Hours
MSN$29.9K in-state / $29.5K out-of-stateNot clearly stated44

Tuition estimates use ODU’s Fall 2026 graduate per-credit rates plus the $8/credit Innovation Fee.

Old Dominion puts every FNP student in front of standardized patients each semester through its partnership with the Sentara Center for Simulation and Immersive Learning, a center with more than 115 trained patient actors ages 14 to 84. Faculty also evaluate every clinical site each semester through virtual telehealth visits, so supervision does not depend on where you live.

That simulation model comes with travel. Students go to the Virginia Beach campus about once per semester for training or testing, and the final comprehensive exam must be taken there in person. ODU also helps with clinical placement but does not guarantee it.

Quick Facts

FeatureDetails
Program TypesMSN (post-professional certificate admissions paused)
FormatMostly Online: 8-week online courses plus campus visits about once per semester
Clinical HoursNot published; about 600 derived from 10 practicum credits
Clinical PlacementCoordinator assists; students should identify sites before starting
PopulationFamily/individual across the lifespan, with pediatric and women’s health rotations
Distinctive CourseworkBusiness of Advanced Practice; Aging in the 21st Century; standardized-patient simulation each semester
ConcentrationsNone
RN License RequirementsCurrent, unencumbered RN license
Tuition$672/credit in-state; $662/credit out-of-state online; $450 program fee per semester
AccreditationCCNE
Application DeadlineMarch 1 (single annual deadline listed in the catalog)
Clinical Site LocationSites must be in SARA states and support HIPAA-compliant telehealth

Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner

The estimated tuition for the MSN in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner at Old Dominion University is approximately $29,920 for Virginia residents or $29,480 for out-of-state online students (44 credits at $680 or $670/credit, including the Innovation Fee). Program length is not clearly stated in ODU’s published materials.

MSN Curriculum

Foundation courses. The 19-credit core is shared across ODU’s MSN tracks. Beyond the standard advanced pharmacology, pathophysiology, and physical assessment, it includes a full 3-credit Business of Advanced Practice course. That is useful for nurses who expect to work in independent or small-group practice, where billing and contracts fall on the NP.

FNP specialty sequence. The 25-credit concentration pairs each management course with a practicum. Acute illness management (NURS 762) runs alongside Practicum I, and chronic illness management (NURS 765) alongside Practicum II. Population courses cover children, women, and a dedicated aging course. Courses run in an accelerated 8-week format with few set meeting times, though some designated courses include required live video-streamed sessions.

DNP progression. MSN students who declare DNP intent before their final semester can take NURS 805 and NURS 865 during that final MSN term. Students who do not declare must reapply later with the general post-master’s pool.

  • NURS 706 Business of Advanced Practice (3)
  • NURS 719 Family and Community Primary Care Assessment (1)
  • NURS 705 Primary Care Approaches for Children (3)
  • NURS 766 Primary Care Approaches for Women (3)
  • NURS 721 Aging in the 21st Century (3)
  • NURS 762 Advanced Family Nursing I: Management of Acute Illnesses (3)
  • NURS 765 Advanced Family Nursing II: Management of Chronic Illnesses (3)
  • NURS 760, 764, 767 Advanced Family Nursing Practicums I to III (3, 4, 3)

More curriculum details are available here.

You Should Know
  • The graduate catalog lists 44 total credits. The ODUGlobal program page lists a minimum of 49. ODU does not explain the 5-credit difference.
  • No semester-by-semester plan of study is published, so completion time cannot be confirmed.
  • Students cannot transfer between ODU MSN tracks. Switching means reapplying in the next regular cycle.
  • A comprehensive portfolio evaluation is required before graduation.

MSN Clinical Requirements

  • Three practicum courses totaling 10 credits (NURS 760, 764, 767)
  • Total clinical hours: not published. At a common 60-hours-per-credit ratio, 10 practicum credits equal about 600 hours (derived).
  • Required settings include primary care, pediatrics, and women’s health
  • Preceptors and sites must be approved by faculty
  • A Student Clinical Services Coordinator helps locate sites and secures affiliation agreements
  • Site requests are due at least three months before each clinical course
  • Faculty conduct site visits every semester, done virtually; sites must have HIPAA-compliant telehealth technology
  • Standardized-patient simulation each semester, with campus visits about once per semester
  • Final comprehensive exam taken in person at the Virginia Beach campus

If the 600-hour derivation holds, ODU sits inside the 600 to 700 hour range common among FNP programs and comfortably above the 500-hour certification floor. The bigger practical issue is placement. ODU’s model is assisted, not arranged: the school “strongly encourages” students to line up sites before starting the program. Nurses with an established network of local providers will find this manageable. Those without one should start the search well before the first practicum. The telehealth requirement for faculty visits is unusual and can rule out smaller practices that lack compliant video software.

You Should Know
  • Sites must be in states that participate in SARA. Confirm your state on ODU’s state licensure disclosure directory before applying.
  • Campus frequency is described two ways: “usually once in the semester” on the ODUGlobal page, and “one or more times during a semester” on the nursing FAQ.
  • Per-course clinical hours are not published, so the 600-hour figure is an estimate.

MSN Admissions

ODU lists one application deadline, March 1, and requires two prerequisite undergraduate courses before that date.

  • BSN from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Current, unencumbered RN license
  • Undergraduate physical/health assessment course and undergraduate statistics or research course, completed before the deadline
  • Three letters of recommendation: at least one from a former faculty member and one from an employer in the RN role
  • 500 to 700 word goals essay
  • Up to 12 graduate transfer credits (grade B or better, under eight years old, not part of a conferred degree); requests due within two weeks of admission
  • Physical exam, CPR, immunizations, background check, and drug screen
You Should Know
  • RN experience is listed as “preferred, but not required” in the catalog. The ODUGlobal page lists one year of recent clinical experience as a requirement.
  • Degree requirements differ by page. The catalog requires a BSN, while the FAQ and ODUGlobal page also accept a “related” science field.
  • The catalog shows a single March 1 deadline, while ODUGlobal advertises an October 19, 2026 start date. Confirm which intake applies before planning.
  • Applicants missing either prerequisite course by the deadline are not reviewed.
  • A B is the minimum passing grade in all NURS courses. Two course failures end enrollment in the program.

Post-Professional FNP Certificate (Admissions Paused)

ODU’s 23 to 24 credit post-professional certificate for APRNs seeking FNP certification has had admissions on hold for program review since Fall 2025. When open, it took applications by August 1 for January entry and ran four semesters. APRNs interested in an FNP credential should contact the Ellmer School directly for its status.

Tuition

ODU’s FNP MSN costs $672 per credit for Virginia residents ($510 standard tuition plus $162 mandatory auxiliary tuition) and $662 per credit for out-of-state students taking online courses at the ODUGlobal rate. Both rates are published for Fall 2026. An $8/credit Innovation Fee applies to all students.

ComponentVirginia ResidentOut-of-State (Online)
Standard tuition$510/credit$662/credit
Auxiliary tuition$162/creditNot charged
Innovation Fee$8/credit$8/credit
Effective rate$680/credit$670/credit
44-credit total (derived)$29,920$29,480

Confirmed costs:

  • Tuition: $672/credit in-state or $662/credit out-of-state online
  • Innovation Fee: $8/credit
  • FNP program fee: $450 per semester, non-refundable
  • General Services Fee: $18 per semester
  • ID Card Fee: $4 per semester

Be aware that:

  • Semester fees ($472 combined) are not included in the totals above because ODU does not publish the program’s semester count.
  • The $30/credit Technology Delivered Course Fee applies to “campus students” taking online courses. If Virginia residents are billed it, the in-state total rises to about $31,240.
  • If the ODUGlobal 49-credit figure is correct, totals rise to about $33,320 in-state and $32,830 out-of-state.
  • The Student Health Fee ($170) and Transportation Fee ($63) apply only in semesters with Norfolk campus-designated courses.
  • Travel to Virginia Beach each semester and for the final exam is an out-of-pocket cost.
  • Rates are effective Fall 2026 and subject to change.

The real all-in figure is roughly $30,000 plus $472 per semester and travel. ODU’s pricing has an unusual feature: out-of-state online students pay $10 less per credit than Virginia residents, because the ODUGlobal rate excludes auxiliary tuition. Over 44 credits that is a small gap ($440), but it means residency does not penalize distance students here. See ODU’s tuition rates page for current figures.

Why Choose This FNP Program?

A strong fit for nurses who learn best through hands-on assessment practice, can travel to coastal Virginia each semester, and already have connections to local preceptors.

Simulation is built into every term. Many online FNP programs limit in-person skills work to one or two intensives. ODU schedules standardized-patient sessions each semester and ends with an in-person comprehensive exam. Students get repeated, graded practice with live patients before and during clinicals.

Out-of-state students are not priced out. The ODUGlobal rate puts non-residents slightly below the in-state rate, around $29,500 in tuition for the 44-credit catalog program. For a nurse within driving distance of Virginia Beach, such as in North Carolina or Maryland, that combination is practical.

Faculty oversight travels with you. ODU is one of 17 programs funded to build a technology-supported preceptor infrastructure. Virtual site visits each semester mean faculty still evaluate your clinical work when you train far from campus.

The trade-offs are real. Recurring campus travel is a hard requirement, not an option. Placement depends heavily on your own network. Published materials also disagree on credits, RN experience, and the intake calendar, so confirm all three with an advisor before applying.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate, master’s, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at Old Dominion University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The FNP MSN falls under the master’s-level accreditation.

The FNP MSN is also approved by the Virginia Joint Boards of Nursing and Medicine, which regulate nurse practitioner licensure in Virginia.

Old Dominion University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist, and doctoral degrees. Institutional accreditation supports federal financial aid eligibility and credit recognition by other schools.

Graduates are eligible to sit for the national FNP certification exam (AANP or ANCC). ODU reports certification pass rates of 96% for 2023 and 93% for 2022.

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