Anderson University offers 2 Family Nurse Practitioner Tracks:
- MSN
- BSN-DNP
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | $40.8K–$41.4K | 1.7 to 2.7 years (5 to 8 semesters) | 49 |
| BSN-DNP | $66.5K | 3 years (9 semesters) | 75 |
Tuition estimates use Anderson’s 2026-27 graduate per-credit rates plus the per-semester graduate technology fee and the $100 graduation fee.
Both Anderson FNP tracks run the same four clinical courses for the same 750 patient-care hours. The BSN-DNP adds 26 credits, about $25,700, 500 to 600 project hours, and roughly 15 months over the full-time MSN. It does not add FNP clinical training.
That makes the choice about credential and time, not clinical depth. The catch is a rigid calendar: one fall cohort a year, a May 31 deadline, and in-person intensives in South Carolina during select semesters.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | BSN-to-MSN; BSN-to-DNP |
| Format | Mostly Online: online classes plus 2- to 3-day campus intensives in select semesters |
| Clinical Hours | MSN 750; BSN-DNP 750 direct care plus 500–600 DNP project hours |
| Clinical Placement | Student finds preceptors; AU maintains clinical partner relationships to help |
| Population | Pediatrics, adolescents, adults, and older adults |
| Distinctive Coursework | APRN Procedures in Primary Care; FNP Certification Review; Faith and Learning Worldview |
| Start Term | Fall only; cohort-based; May 31 application deadline |
| RN License Requirements | Active, unencumbered RN license |
| Tuition | $805/credit (MSN); $855/credit (DNP); $250/semester technology fee |
| Accreditation | CCNE (MSN and DNP); SACSCOC institutional |
| Enrollment Restrictions | Nursing programs not approved in Arizona, Louisiana, New York, Oregon, or Tennessee |
Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the MSN in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner at Anderson University is approximately $40,795 to $41,420 (49 credits at $805/credit, plus technology and graduation fees). The program can generally be completed in about 1.7 years full-time (5 semesters) or 2.7 years part-time (8 semesters).
MSN Curriculum
Full-time front-loads the specialty. Full-time students finish the advanced practice core in their first fall and begin FNP Clinical I in spring. Every semester after that carries a clinical course. Loads run 8 to 11 credits a term.
Part-time delays clinicals by a year. The part-time plan spends its first four semesters on the core and the leadership, informatics, policy, and scholarship courses. Clinicals start in semester 5 and run through semester 8. Loads stay at 5 to 7 credits.
Coursework worth noting. A 1-credit procedures course runs alongside the first clinical. Care of Aging Adults is a standalone course, not folded into a lifespan survey. A 1-credit certification review course sits in the final semester. A 2-credit faith-integration course reflects Anderson’s Christian mission.
- NUR 540 APRN Procedures in Primary Care (1 cr)
- NUR 541 Primary Care across the Life Span (3 cr)
- NUR 640 Care of Special Populations (3 cr)
- NUR 603 Care of Aging Adults (3 cr)
- NUR 643 Integrated Care of Individuals and Communities (3 cr)
- NUR 627, 637, 647, 657 FNP Clinical I–IV (10 cr total)
- NUR 645 FNP Certification Review (1 cr)
- NUR 510 Faith and Learning Worldview (2 cr)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- Students need a B or higher in seven named courses, including the three core courses and four primary care courses, plus a 3.0 overall GPA.
- The MSN must be finished within five years. Students who sit out three consecutive semesters return under the policies in force at re-enrollment.
MSN Clinical Requirements
- 750 clinical hours across pediatric, adolescent, adult, and older adult populations
- Four clinical courses, 10 credits total: Clinical I and II (2 credits each), Clinical III and IV (3 credits each)
- At 75 hours per clinical credit, that is about 150, 150, 225, and 225 hours per course (derived)
- Full-time: roughly 10 hours a week in the first two clinical terms and 15 in the last two (derived, 15-week terms)
- Students find their own preceptors; AU builds clinical partner relationships to support the search
- In-person intensives of 2 to 3 days in select semesters
750 hours is 250 above the 500-hour certification floor and above the 600 to 700 hours common among FNP programs. That volume is a real advantage for nurses entering primary care without outpatient experience. It also means the student carries more preceptor-finding work, since placement support here is assistance, not a guarantee.
You Should Know
- Anderson publishes the 750-hour total but not the hours per clinical course. The per-course split and weekly load above are derived from credit weights.
- The MSN pages do not state the placement policy. The preceptor language comes from the DNP page and is assumed to apply school-wide.
- Anderson does not say how many semesters include an intensive or where they are held. An older graduate nursing page says most meetings occur at the University Center of Greenville, with occasional trips to the Anderson campus.
MSN Admissions
Admission is to a single fall cohort, with one annual deadline.
- BSN from an institutionally accredited college or university (or a verified foreign equivalent)
- Minimum 3.0 GPA across all prior nursing degree programs; official transcripts from every institution
- Active, unencumbered RN license
- CPR certification; current immunization record by program start
- Two letters of recommendation, personal statement, and resume
- Online application and $40 application fee (waived for AU graduates)
- No RN experience minimum or GRE stated
- Deadline: May 31 each year for August entry
You Should Know
- Anderson’s nursing programs are not approved in Arizona, Louisiana, New York, or Oregon, and Anderson is not approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Residents of those states should not plan on enrolling or completing clinicals there.
- Anderson states its programs prepare students for South Carolina licensure and cannot confirm they meet APRN requirements elsewhere. Out-of-state applicants should check with their own board first.
- The program is not approved for F-1 or M-1 student visas.
BSN to DNP, Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the DNP in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner (BSN-DNP) at Anderson University is approximately $66,475 (75 credits at $855/credit, plus technology and graduation fees). The program can generally be completed in about 3 years (9 semesters, fall start through the third summer).
BSN-DNP Curriculum
Same FNP spine, stretched across three years. The DNP uses the MSN’s core, primary care, and FNP Clinical I–IV courses. The FNP clinicals run in semesters 5 through 8, exactly as in the part-time MSN.
What the extra 26 credits buy. The doctoral layer covers epidemiology, scholarly writing, scientific underpinnings, outcomes improvement, and a three-course DNP project (IRB, implementation, dissemination). Four 1-credit residencies run in parallel with the FNP clinicals, and a transition-to-practice course closes the program. The project can focus on quality improvement, policy change, or protocol development at your own facility.
Certification comes last. The final summer holds the certification review course alongside informatics and leadership, so graduates sit for boards about three years after starting.
- NUR 703 Clinical Epidemiology and Analytical Methods (3 cr)
- NUR 701 Scientific Underpinnings for Nursing Practice (3 cr)
- NUR 707 Improving Health Outcomes (3 cr)
- NUR 704 Clinical Scholarship for Evidence-based Practice (3 cr)
- NUR 702, 705, 708 DNP Project I–III (9 cr total)
- NUR 780–783 DNP Residency I–IV (4 cr total)
- NUR 627, 637, 647, 657 FNP Clinical I–IV (10 cr total)
- NUR 790 DNP Transition to Practice (2 cr)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- Anderson publishes only one BSN-DNP plan, with no part-time variant. Loads run 6 to 11 credits each semester, including summers.
- The DNP must be finished within seven years.
BSN-DNP Clinical Requirements
- 750 direct patient care hours through FNP Clinical I–IV (same courses as the MSN)
- 500 to 600 additional hours designed for DNP project completion
- Total: 1,250 to 1,350 hours (derived)
- Four 1-credit residency courses carry the project hours across semesters 4 through 7
- Student finds preceptors; AU maintains clinical partner relationships to help
The direct-care volume is identical to the MSN’s. The added hours support project work, not more FNP patient care. A nurse choosing the DNP for stronger clinical preparation gets the same patient-care training as an MSN graduate and pays for leadership and scholarship instead.
You Should Know
- The DNP page also states a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours. That figure is lower than the 1,250 to 1,350 hours implied by the 750 plus 500–600 breakdown on the same page. Confirm the requirement with the program.
BSN-DNP Admissions
Requirements, deadline, and state restrictions match the MSN. BSN-prepared RNs apply directly to the DNP.
Tuition
Anderson charges $805 per credit for the MSN and $855 per credit for the DNP in 2026-27. Both rates are published tuition only. A $250 technology fee applies each semester with 6 or more credits ($125 below 6).
| Line Item | MSN Full-Time | MSN Part-Time | BSN-DNP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $39,445 (49 × $805) | $39,445 (49 × $805) | $64,125 (75 × $855) |
| Technology fee | $1,250 (5 × $250) | $1,875 (7 × $250 + $125) | $2,250 (9 × $250) |
| Graduation fee | $100 | $100 | $100 |
| Estimated total | $40,795 | $41,420 | $66,475 |
| Effective per credit | $833 | $845 | $886 |
All totals are derived from Anderson’s 2026-27 tuition and fees page.
- $805 per credit (MSN) and $855 per credit (DNP), the same for all students regardless of residency
- $250 per semester technology fee at 6+ credits; $125 below 6 credits
- $100 graduate graduation fee
- $40 application fee (waived for AU graduates)
- $600 graduate nursing enrollment confirmation fee
Be aware that:
- The 2025-26 schedule listed a $530 per-semester DNP and MSN Graduate Nursing Fee. The 2026-27 schedule omits it. If it still applies, totals rise to about $43,445 (MSN full-time), $45,660 (MSN part-time), and $71,245 (BSN-DNP).
- Anderson does not say whether the $600 enrollment confirmation fee is a deposit credited to tuition or an added charge. It is excluded from the totals above.
- Part-time MSN costs about $625 more than full-time because of the extra semesters of technology fees.
- The MSN rate rose from $780 in 2024-25 to $805 and held flat for 2026-27. The DNP rate has held at $855 for three years. Future increases are not guaranteed to stay flat.
- Travel to campus intensives is out of pocket.
For a private university, Anderson’s pricing is simple: one rate per credential, no residency surcharge, and a modest technology fee. The real risk is the graduate nursing fee. If it still applies, it adds $2,650 to $4,770 depending on the track. Ask the program to confirm before budgeting.
Why Choose This FNP Program?
A strong fit for nurses in the Carolinas who want above-average clinical hours at a single, residency-blind rate, and who can commit to a fall cohort.
The MSN delivers most of the value. The MSN and DNP share the same 750 hours of patient care. Full-time MSN students finish in five semesters for about $40,800 and sit for certification roughly 15 months sooner than DNP students.
The DNP is worth it for specific goals. Choose the BSN-DNP if you want a doctorate for leadership, faculty, or system roles, or if an employer values the credential. Expect to pay about $25,700 more for project and residency work, not added FNP training.
Honest drawbacks. Preceptor placement is your responsibility, which carries more weight with a 750-hour requirement. Anderson admits once a year, and the intensive schedule and location are not clearly stated. Residents of five states face approval limits.
Accreditation
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits Anderson University’s master’s degree program in nursing, its Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and its post-graduate APRN certificate program. Both FNP tracks fall under that accreditation.
Anderson University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) as a Level V institution, authorized to award bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Institutional accreditation affects federal financial aid eligibility, credit transfer, and acceptance of the degree for further graduate study.
The School of Nursing holds full approval from the South Carolina Board of Nursing.
Graduates of both the MSN and BSN-DNP are eligible to sit for the national FNP certification exam (AANP or ANCC).
More FNP Programs in South Carolina
- Clemson University - Greenville
- Francis Marion University - Florence
- Medical University of South Carolina - Charleston
- University of South Carolina - Columbia