Rivier University offers 2 Family Nurse Practitioner Tracks:
- MSN
- Post-Master’s Certificate
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | $41.1K–$45.7K | 3–5 years (9–15 semesters) | 45–51 |
| Certificate | $21.1K–$39.5K | 1–2 years (3–6 semesters) | 19–43 |
Tuition estimates use Rivier’s 2026-27 rates of $769 per nursing credit and $1,200 per clinical credit.
Rivier charges two tuition rates, and the split matters. The three FNP practicum courses (15 credits) bill at $1,200 per credit, so one-third of the MSN’s credits produce 44% of its tuition. Rivier also posts a 97.26% first-time ANCC pass rate for FNP graduates (2022–2024), against an 85% national rate.
The trade-off is travel and eligibility. Coursework is online, but every student completes three on-campus intensives in Nashua (nine days total). Rivier also turns away applicants from some states, and its catalog requires a New Hampshire RN license alongside a license in the practicum state.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MSN; Post-Master’s Certificate |
| Format | Mostly Online: online coursework plus three campus intensives (nine days) in Nashua |
| Clinical Hours | Not clearly stated; three 5-credit practicum courses |
| Clinical Placement | Practicums may be completed in your home area; placement support not clearly stated |
| Population | Family/individual across the lifespan |
| Start Terms | September, January, or May; rolling review |
| RN License Requirements | License in the practicum state plus New Hampshire (catalog, certificate admissions) |
| Enrollment Restrictions | Some states not accepted; check Rivier’s state guide |
| Tuition | $769/credit nursing courses; $1,200/credit clinical courses (2026-27) |
| Accreditation | ACEN (MSN and post-master’s certificates); NECHE institutional |
MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner (Online) at Rivier University is approximately $41,070 (30 nursing credits at $769 plus 15 clinical credits at $1,200). The program can generally be completed in about 3 to 5 years, which works out to 9 to 15 semesters on Rivier’s three-term calendar (semester count derived).
MSN Curriculum
The catalog lists 14 courses totaling 45 credits. The structure is simple: a 21-credit graduate core and APRN foundation, then a paired theory-and-practicum FNP sequence.
FNP sequence. Two theory courses (Advanced Family Nursing Theory I and II) run alongside three 5-credit Practicum and Seminar courses. Each practicum bundles clinical time with a seminar, so the practicum is where most of the specialty teaching happens.
Research and policy core. Biostatistics, Quality Healthcare Improvement, Evidence-Based Practice, Advanced Health Policy, and a 2-credit Research Capstone Advisement give the MSN a heavier research component than some FNP-only curricula.
Early start option. You can take up to four courses (12 credits) from an approved list before matriculating. That lets you test the online format, and spread cost, before committing to the full program.
- NURS 507 Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
- NURS 516 Advanced Health Assessment (3)
- NURS 518 Advanced Pharmacology (3)
- NURS 510 / 512 Advanced Family Nursing Theory I and II (3 each)
- NURS 511 / 513 / 515 FNP Practicum I–III and Seminar (5 each)
- NURS 517 Advanced Role of the Nurse (1, seven weeks)
- NURS 620 Biostatistics for the Health Sciences (3)
- NURS 606 Research Capstone Advisement (2)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- The program page lists 45–51 credits, but the catalog lists 45. Rivier does not explain the extra 6 credits; they likely apply to some entry routes (“multiple entry points based on degree entry”).
- Rivier’s brochure describes “six seven-week terms per year,” while the program page lists 14-week courses on a three-term calendar. The 14-week structure matches the current catalog.
- The brochure labels the course format “100% online.” The program page requires nine campus days, which is why this profile classifies the MSN as Mostly Online.
MSN Clinical Requirements
- Total clinical hours: not clearly stated on Rivier’s program, brochure, or catalog pages
- Clinical courses: NURS 511, 513, and 515 (15 credits combined)
- Location: practicums may be completed in your geographic area
- Compliance: clinical/practicum requirements must be completed four months before practicum courses begin
- Campus: three on-campus intensives in Nashua, nine days total
Without a published hour total, you cannot benchmark Rivier against the 500-hour certification floor or the 600 to 700 hours common among FNP programs. Ask admissions for the per-practicum hour count before applying. The four-month compliance deadline is the practical constraint: you need a preceptor and paperwork lined up well before the term starts.
You Should Know
- Rivier does not say whether it finds preceptors or expects you to. “May be completed in student’s geographic location” describes where hours can happen, not who arranges them.
- The timing and length of each campus intensive are not published. Budget for three trips to Nashua.
MSN Admissions
Admission is rolling with three start terms, and there is no application fee.
- Active RN license
- Undergraduate statistics course (or evidence of completion)
- Minimum 3.0 GPA, with nursing experience and application quality reviewed (graduate nursing catalog criteria)
- Starts: September, January, or May
You Should Know
- Rivier cannot accept students from some states, based on higher-education and board-of-nursing rules. Its out-of-state acceptance chart (updated January 2025) is color-coded by state; check it or call the program director before applying.
- The catalog asks certificate applicants for an RN license in the practicum state “and NH is required.” Confirm with admissions whether the same New Hampshire license rule applies to MSN students.
- Progression is strict: a single F, or a second grade below B, results in dismissal.
Post-Master’s Certificate, Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate (Online) at Rivier University is approximately $21,076 to $39,532 (19 to 43 credits, with 15 clinical credits at $1,200 and the rest at $769). The program can generally be completed in about 1 to 2 years, or 3 to 6 semesters, with three semesters as the published average (year range derived).
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate uses the MSN’s FNP sequence. Every student takes the three practicum courses; the two family theory courses are waived only if you already completed them. Faculty build an individual plan after reviewing your prior master’s coursework.
- NURS 510 Advanced Family Nursing Theory I (3, unless already completed)
- NURS 512 Advanced Family Nursing Theory II (3, unless already completed)
- NURS 511 FNP Practicum I and Seminar (5)
- NURS 513 FNP Practicum II and Seminar (5)
- NURS 515 FNP Practicum III and Seminar (5)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- Rivier’s published minimum is 19 credits, but the required course list adds up to 15 credits (practicums only) or 21 credits (with both theory courses). Ask how the 19-credit floor is built.
- Applicants without clinical work in their master’s program must take additional coursework, which drives the 43-credit upper end.
Certificate Clinical Requirements
- Clinical courses, hours, compliance timing, and campus intensives match the MSN
- Three on-campus intensives, nine days total
- Practicums may be completed in your geographic area
Because all 15 practicum credits are mandatory, at least $18,000 of certificate tuition is clinical-rate billing. That floor does not shrink with transfer credit, so prior coursework lowers cost only on the $769 side.
Certificate Admissions
The certificate carries recency rules on prior APRN core courses.
- MSN degree and RN license for the practicum state, plus a New Hampshire RN license
- Graduate Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits) within the last five years
- Graduate Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits) within the last 10 years
- Graduate Advanced Health Assessment course
- Resume or CV, statement of purpose, course-of-study form, signed clinical practicum form
- Undergraduate statistics; minimum 3.0 GPA
You Should Know
- Recency waivers for pharmacology, pathophysiology, and health assessment are considered for practicing nurse practitioners, not for other MSN holders.
- Rivier states that certificate students are responsible for confirming which courses qualify them for national certification. State boards also set their own rules for adding a second APRN population focus.
Tuition
Rivier charges $769 per credit for graduate nursing courses and $1,200 per credit for graduate nursing clinical courses in 2026-27. The blended MSN rate works out to about $913 per credit (derived).
| Component | MSN (45 credits) | Certificate (19 credits) |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing credits × $769 | 30 × $769 = $23,070 | 4 × $769 = $3,076 |
| Clinical credits × $1,200 | 15 × $1,200 = $18,000 | 15 × $1,200 = $18,000 |
| Tuition (derived) | $41,070 | $21,076 |
| Technology fee ($25/course) | 14 × $25 = $350 | Varies by plan |
| Graduation fee | $175 | $175 |
| Estimated total (derived) | $41,595 | About $21,300+ |
Confirmed costs:
- No application fee
- Technology fee: $25 per course
- Graduation fee: $175
- Liability insurance: varies, charged for nursing clinicals
Be aware that:
- A 51-credit MSN plan would add about $4,614 at the nursing rate, for roughly $45,700 in tuition.
- Rivier does not say whether the $1,200 rate applies to all 5 credits of each Practicum and Seminar course or only a clinical portion. This estimate applies it to all 15.
- Travel and lodging for nine Nashua campus days are not included.
- Rates are reviewed annually; 2026-27 figures may rise over a 3- to 5-year MSN.
- Course materials vary by course, and Rivier estimates $1,470 per year for textbooks and supplies.
Expect an all-in MSN cost near $41,600 before travel. The practicum years are the expensive ones: a 5-credit practicum costs $6,000, so cash flow peaks once clinicals start. Rivier lets employer-reimbursed students defer payment until 30 days after the term ends, which helps during those semesters. See Rivier’s graduate tuition page.
Why Choose This FNP Program?
Rivier fits working New England RNs who want online coursework, a few in-person skills days, and a program with a strong certification record.
Certification outcomes. A 97.26% first-time ANCC pass rate over 2022–2024 is well above the 85% national rate. For nurses worried about board readiness after an online program, that number is the strongest evidence Rivier publishes.
Flexible entry. Three start terms, rolling review, no application fee, and up to 12 credits before matriculation make it easy to start slowly. The 3- to 5-year range suits nurses who plan to keep working full time.
Trade-offs. Rivier publishes no clinical hour total and no placement policy, so you carry more uncertainty than at schools that do. The New Hampshire license rule and state exclusions limit who can enroll, and nine campus days mean real travel for anyone outside driving distance of Nashua. Nurses already licensed in New Hampshire, or in a compact state near it, face the fewest hurdles.
Accreditation
Rivier’s MSN and post-master’s certificate programs in Nashua are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The most recent ACEN decision for both the master’s program and the post-master’s certificates is Continuing Accreditation, so both FNP tracks fall under that review.
Rivier University is institutionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Institutional accreditation supports federal financial aid eligibility and credit transfer, and many employers and doctoral programs check for it.
Graduates of both tracks are eligible to sit for the national FNP certification exam (AANP or ANCC). Rivier’s own outcome data comes from the ANCC FNP-BC exam.
More FNP Programs in New Hampshire
- Southern New Hampshire University - Manchester
- University of New Hampshire - Durham