Samuel Merritt University FNP Programs

School of Nursing • Oakland, CA • Mostly Online • $1,883/unit/credit

Samuel Merritt University offers 3 Family Nurse Practitioner tracks:

  • MSN-FNP (48 units) — for BSN-prepared RNs
  • DNP-FNP (65 units) — a BSN-to-doctorate path
  • Post-Graduate APRN FNP Certificate (38 units) — for MSN-prepared nurses

All three are delivered online with required on-campus residencies at the Sacramento campus, and SMU’s clinical coordinator helps place students in local practicum sites.

SMU is a California nursing-focused university with strong post-graduate employment outcomes; its MSN-FNP was ranked #4 in California for 2025.

Program Tracks Overview

Program NameEst. TuitionEst. Duration
MSN FNP$90K20–28 months
DNP FNP$108K32–39 months
Post-Graduate Certificate FNP$71K4–6 semesters

Samuel Merritt is a California nursing university that offers the entire FNP pathway — master’s, doctorate, and post-graduate certificate — fully online, with a clinical team that helps place students near home and employment outcomes among the strongest in the state.

MSN FNP

The estimated cost for the MSN FNP at Samuel Merritt University is about $90,382 under the school’s all-inclusive program pricing (48 units).

The program takes about 20 months full-time or 28 months part-time.

MSN Curriculum

The MSN-FNP totals 48 units of online coursework. It covers the APRN core (pathophysiology, physical assessment with an on-campus lab intensive, and pharmacology), professional role and leadership, population health, health policy, and evidence-based practice, built around a lifespan primary-care sequence — health promotion, acute/episodic conditions, and chronic conditions — with three paired clinical practicums and an evidence-based capstone.

NURSG 619 — Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
Explores advanced disease processes and their clinical presentation across the lifespan. Emphasizes diagnostic reasoning, differential diagnosis, and culturally responsive care in primary care settings.

NURSG 671 — Advanced Physical Assessment (2)
Develops advanced assessment skills for patients across the lifespan. Focuses on data analysis, cultural considerations, and clinical decision-making in primary care practice.

NURSG 671L — Advanced Physical Assessment Lab (1)
Provides hands-on training in advanced assessment techniques through an on-campus intensive, reinforcing clinical skills and diagnostic accuracy.

NURSG 677 — Advanced Pharmacology (3)
Covers pharmacologic management of common acute and chronic conditions. Emphasizes safe prescribing, drug interactions, and patient adherence across diverse populations.

NURSG 668 — Professional Role, Ethics, & Leadership (3)
Examines leadership, ethics, and professional role development in advanced nursing. Focuses on advocacy, collaboration, and quality improvement in complex healthcare systems.

NURSG 674 — Health Protection, Promotion & Screening (3)
Focuses on preventive care and health promotion strategies across the lifespan. Integrates evidence-based interventions with social, cultural, and environmental considerations.

NURSG 676 — Care of Chronic & Complex Conditions (3)
Addresses management of chronic and multi-system conditions. Emphasizes improving quality of life, care coordination, and community-based treatment approaches.

NURSG 675 — Care of Acute & Episodic Conditions (3)
Focuses on diagnosis and management of acute illnesses. Highlights evidence-based care, diagnostic testing, and patient-centered treatment planning.

NURSG 675L — Care of Acute & Episodic Conditions Lab (1)
Offers practical experience in managing acute conditions, reinforcing diagnostic and procedural skills in a clinical setting.

NURSG 667 — Population Health & Healthcare Systems (3)
Explores population health principles, healthcare delivery systems, and health disparities. Emphasizes strategies to improve access, quality, and equity in care.

NURSG 706 — Information Systems & Technology for Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
Examines the use of health information technology to improve care delivery. Focuses on evaluating, implementing, and designing tech-driven solutions in practice.

NURSG 700 — Evidence-Based Translation for Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
Focuses on applying research evidence to clinical practice. Students design and evaluate projects that promote quality, equity, and interprofessional collaboration.

NURSG 702 — Health Care Policy for Advocacy in Health Care (3)
Analyzes healthcare policy and its impact on practice. Emphasizes advocacy, leadership, and policy development across healthcare systems.

NURSG 669 — Evidence-Based Capstone (3)
Guides development of a final evidence-based project addressing real-world healthcare challenges. Focuses on innovation, outcomes evaluation, and leadership.

NURSG 678L — Clinical Practicum I (4; 210 hours)
Introduces supervised clinical practice with a focus on health promotion and preventive care. Applies evidence-based standards in diverse care settings.

NURSG 679LA — Clinical Practicum II (3; 210 hours)
Expands clinical experience with emphasis on acute and episodic care. Strengthens application of evidence-based practice across patient populations.

NURSG 680LA — Clinical Practicum III (4; 210 hours)
Advanced clinical practicum focusing on chronic and complex condition management. Integrates assessment, diagnosis, and treatment across the lifespan.

MSN Clinicals

The MSN-FNP requires 630 clinical hours across three precepted practicums (210 hours each), arranged in the student’s community with help from SMU’s clinical coordinator. Two on-campus residencies at the Sacramento campus are also required.

  • Total hours: 630 (three practicums × 210 hours)
  • Placement: local precepted sites, secured with the clinical coordinator
  • Preceptors: MDs, DOs, NPs, PAs, and midwives
  • On-campus: two Sacramento intensives (a 2-day assessment lab and a 3-day competency intensive)
  • Capstone: an evidence-based capstone project

MSN Admissions

Admission requires a bachelor’s degree and an active RN license in an approved state.

  • BSN from a regionally accredited institution (RNs with a non-nursing bachelor’s are evaluated case-by-case)
  • Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or higher
  • Active, unencumbered RN license in an approved state
  • Evidence of recent RN clinical practice experience
  • Criminal background check (and drug test, if required)
  • TOEFL (minimum 100) for international applicants

SMU runs three starts per year, with deadlines around December (Spring), April (Summer), and August (Fall). Applications go through NursingCAS ($80 fee), with a $350 deposit to hold a seat.

DNP FNP

The estimated cost for the DNP FNP at Samuel Merritt University is about $108,362 under the all-inclusive program pricing (65 units).

The program takes about 32 months full-time or 39 months part-time.

DNP Curriculum

The DNP-FNP totals 65 units and takes BSN-prepared RNs straight to the doctorate. It pairs the FNP clinical core with doctoral coursework in leadership, health policy, informatics, population health, and evidence-based practice, plus a three-part Advanced Nursing Practice Residency and scholarly project.

Coursework is online with embedded on-campus intensives.

  • NURSG 770 — Advanced Physical Assessment (2)
  • NURSG 770L — Advanced Physical Assessment Lab (2; 2-day on-campus intensive)
  • NURSG 773 — Ethical Foundations and Role Development of the Advanced Practice Nurse (3)
  • NURSG 719 — Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
  • NURSG 777 — Advanced Pharmacology (3)
  • NURSG 706 — Information Systems & Technology for Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
  • NURSG 707 — Family-Centered Health Promotion (3)
  • NURSG 701 — Interprofessional Collaboration: Improving Health Outcomes (3)
  • NURSG 774 — Population Health & Clinical Prevention (3)
  • NURSG 705 — Leadership Development (3)
  • NURSG 772 — Nursing & Healthcare Science for Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
  • NURSG 776 — Care of Chronic and Complex Conditions (3)
  • NURSG 700 — Evidence-based Translation for Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
  • NURSG 775 — Care of Acute and Episodic Conditions (3)
  • NURSG 775L — Care of Acute and Episodic Conditions Lab (1)
  • NURSG 702 — Health Care Policy for Advocacy in Health Care (3)
  • NURSG 778L — FNP Clinical I (4; 175 hours)
  • NURSG 779L — FNP Clinical II (4; 175 hours; 3-day on-campus intensive)
  • NURSG 781L — FNP Clinical III (4; 175 hours)
  • NURSG 730 — Advanced Nursing Practice Residency I (3)
  • NURSG 731 — Advanced Nursing Practice Residency II (3)
  • NURSG 732 — Advanced Nursing Practice Residency III (3; on-campus project presentation)

DNP Clinicals

The DNP-FNP includes a minimum of 525 FNP clinical practice hours (three 175-hour clinicals) plus 500 DNP practice hours tied to the residency and scholarly project — about 1,025 practice hours in total.

  • FNP clinical hours: 525 minimum (FNP Clinical I, II, and III — 175 each)
  • DNP practice hours: 500, across the three-part Advanced Nursing Practice Residency
  • Placement: local precepted sites via the clinical coordinator
  • On-campus: a 2-day assessment lab, a 3-day competency intensive, and a final on-campus project presentation
  • Scholarly work: a DNP project carried through the residency sequence

DNP Admissions

Admission requires a BSN (or higher) and an active RN license, plus a mandatory advisory session.

  • BSN or higher from an accredited program
  • Cumulative undergraduate/graduate GPA of 2.75 or higher
  • Active, unencumbered RN license in an approved state
  • Government-issued photo ID from an approved state
  • Mandatory program advisory session for conditional admits (SMU alumni exempt but welcome)

The DNP-FNP uses rolling admissions; for Fall 2026, the priority deadline is July 1 and the standard deadline is August 7. Applications go through NursingCAS ($80 fee), with a $350 deposit.

Post-Graduate Certificate FNP

The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate APRN FNP Certificate at Samuel Merritt University is about $71,133 under the all-inclusive program pricing (38 units).

It runs four semesters (APRN-prepared track) or six semesters (non-APRN track), and can drop to three semesters when courses transfer.

Certificate Curriculum

The certificate is a 38-unit post-graduate APRN option for MSN-prepared RNs. It carries the 3P core (pathophysiology, physical assessment, pharmacology), role development, and the FNP clinical and specialty sequence.

Common courses — role development and the 3Ps — may transfer from prior NP, midwife, or CNS graduate education taken within five years, which can shorten the program; transferred 3P content triggers an on-campus OSCE competency check.

  • NURSG 719 — Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
  • NURSG 770 — Advanced Physical Assessment (2)
  • NURSG 770L — Advanced Physical Assessment Lab (2; 3-day on-campus intensive)
  • NURSG 777 — Advanced Pharmacology (3)
  • NURSG 773 — Ethical Foundations and Role Development of the Advanced Practice Nurse (3)
  • NURSG 776 — Care of Chronic and Complex Conditions (3)
  • NURSG 775 — Care of Acute and Episodic Conditions (3)
  • NURSG 775L — Care of Acute and Episodic Conditions Lab (1)
  • NURSG 707 — Family-Centered Health Promotion (3)
  • NURSG 774 — Population Health & Clinical Prevention (3)
  • NURSG 778L — FNP Clinical I (4; 175 hours)
  • NURSG 779L — FNP Clinical II (4; 175 hours; 3-day on-campus intensive)
  • NURSG 781L — FNP Clinical III (4; 175 hours)

Certificate Clinicals

The certificate requires 525 clinical hours across three FNP clinicals (175 hours each), placed locally via the clinical coordinator, with two on-campus intensives at the Sacramento campus.

  • Total hours: 525 (FNP Clinical I, II, and III — 175 each)
  • Placement: local precepted sites via the clinical coordinator
  • Preceptors: MDs, DOs, NPs, PAs, and nurse midwives
  • On-campus: two intensives at the Sacramento campus
  • Transfer note: prior 3P/role coursework may transfer (an OSCE competency check applies)

Certificate Admissions

The certificate is designed for master’s-prepared RNs.

  • Master’s degree from an accredited program
  • Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher
  • Active, unencumbered RN license in an approved state
  • Prior RN experience required
  • Government-issued photo ID from an approved state

Deadlines: Summer 2026 — priority April 1, standard April 8; Fall 2026 — priority July 1. Applications go through NursingCAS ($80 fee), with a $350 deposit. The certificate’s online approval covers a slightly narrower state list than the degree programs (it excludes Missouri and Nebraska).

Tuition

Samuel Merritt uses an all-inclusive, fixed program price — one locked total that bundles tuition and most fees (books, graduation fees, healthcare, and parking are excluded), held flat as long as the student progresses on schedule.

For Fall 2026 starts, the MSN-FNP totals $90,382 (48 units), the DNP-FNP $108,362 (65 units), and the post-graduate APRN FNP certificate $71,133 (38 units).

Applicants pay an $80 NursingCAS application fee and a $350 tuition deposit to hold a seat.

See the official tuition page for more details: Tuition and Fees.

Accreditation

Samuel Merritt University is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Its master’s nursing program, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program are each accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). FNP graduates are eligible to sit for the national FNP certification examinations and to apply for California (and other approved-state) NP licensure.

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