Pacific College FNP Programs

School of Nursing • Costa Mesa, CA • Mostly Online • $950/credit

Pacific College offers 1 Family Nurse Practitioner track: an MSN-FNP.

Program highlights:

  • Online didactic coursework with on-campus skills intensives and local clinical placements
  • 40 units over six semesters (about 24 months) full-time
  • 540 clinical hours across three primary-care practicums
  • Curriculum threaded through care for rural, urban, and underserved populations

It’s built for working BSN-prepared RNs, with an explicit focus on primary care in rural and under-served areas. Graduates are eligible to sit for FNP certification through the AANP or the ANCC.

Program Tracks Overview

Program NameEst. TuitionEst. Duration
MSN FNP~$38K tuition (~$44K with fees)24 months (6 semesters)

Pacific College’s online MSN-FNP is built for working nurses aiming at primary care in rural and underserved communities — 24 months, 540 clinical hours, and a curriculum that weaves in care for migrants, refugees, and other under-served populations.

MSN FNP

The estimated cost for the MSN FNP at Pacific College is about $38,000 in tuition ($44,000 with required fees).

The program would take about 24 months (six semesters) to complete on a full-time basis.

MSN Curriculum

The MSN-FNP totals 40 units across core, advanced science, and role-specific courses. Didactic content is delivered online, with three on-campus course/skills intensives.

The sequence covers nursing theory, health policy, research and biostatistics, the APRN “three Ps” (pathophysiology, physical assessment, and pharmacology), a skills lab, and a lifespan primary-care sequence — women’s health, adult/geriatric care, pediatrics, and underserved-population care — anchored by three clinical practicums.

NUR 510 — Theoretical Perspectives of Advanced Practice Nursing (2)
Examines key theories shaping advanced nursing practice, including bioethics, leadership, prevention, and cultural competence. Emphasizes middle-range theories as a foundation for research and clinical decision-making.

NUR 512 — Healthcare Policy, Quality and Safety (2)
Covers healthcare policy, planning, and economics across all system levels. Focuses on quality, safety, equity, and interprofessional decision-making, with introduction to national quality frameworks and healthcare leadership concepts.

NUR 514 — Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
Explores complex pathophysiological processes across the lifespan, from cellular to system levels. Prepares students to apply disease mechanisms to clinical reasoning and patient management.

NUR 516 — Advanced Nursing Research and Biostatistics (3)
Develops skills in research design, data analysis, and evidence-based practice. Includes biostatistics application, critical appraisal of studies, and creation of a research or practice project proposal.

NUR 518 — Advanced Pharmacology (3)
Focuses on pharmacologic management of acute and chronic conditions. Covers drug classifications, mechanisms, safety considerations, prescribing regulations, and patient education.

NUR 520 — Advanced Physical Assessment (3)
Builds advanced assessment and diagnostic skills using subjective and objective data. Includes hands-on practice, clinical reasoning, and health promotion across diverse populations.

NUR 530 — Principles of Advanced Practice Nursing (1.5)
Introduces the roles and competencies of advanced practice nurses and FNPs. Highlights leadership, technology use, collaboration, and evidence-based care.

NUR 531 — Advanced Practice Nursing Skills Lab (0.5)
Provides hands-on training in primary care procedures and clinical skills. Emphasizes safety, patient consent, and effective intervention techniques.

NUR 540 — Advanced Practice Care of Adult/Geriatrics I (2)
Covers management of common adult and geriatric health conditions. Focuses on assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and development of clinical decision-making skills.

NUR 542 — Advanced Practice Care of Women’s Health (1.5)
Prepares students to manage women’s health across the lifespan, including reproductive, prenatal, and menopausal care, with an emphasis on education and prevention.

NUR 544 — Advanced Practice Care of Adult/Geriatrics II (2)
Expands on adult and geriatric care with continued focus on chronic and acute conditions. Strengthens diagnostic reasoning and evidence-based management strategies.

NUR 546 — Advanced Practice Care of Pediatrics (1.5)
Focuses on pediatric assessment and care from infancy through adolescence. Includes development, disease management, prevention, and clinical decision-making.

NUR 550 — Advanced Practice Care of Families, Rural and Urban Communities and Underserved Populations (1)
Explores care strategies for diverse and underserved populations. Emphasizes social determinants of health, cultural competence, and community-based care approaches.

NUR 543 — Advanced Practice Care Clinical I (4; 180 hours)
Initial clinical practicum focused on primary care across the lifespan. Students manage common conditions under supervision while applying prevention and health maintenance strategies.

NUR 547 — Advanced Practice Care Clinical II (4; 180 hours)
Continued clinical experience with broader exposure to prevention levels, women’s health, and pediatrics. Emphasizes primary and community care practice.

NUR 551 — Advanced Practice Care Clinical III (4; 180 hours)
Advanced practicum integrating care for diverse and underserved populations. Focuses on comprehensive management, cultural awareness, and community health.

NUR 596 — Culminating Experience (2)
Finalizes and presents an evidence-based or research project, building on prior coursework to demonstrate mastery of advanced nursing concepts.

MSN Clinicals

The program requires 540 clinical hours across three primary-care practicums (180 hours each), completed in local primary care settings under nurse practitioner or physician preceptors.

  • Total hours: 540 clinical hours (NUR 543, 547, and 551 — 180 each)
  • Setting: local primary care clinical sites
  • Preceptors: advanced practice nurse practitioners or physicians
  • Population focus: lifespan primary care across rural, urban, and underserved communities
  • On-campus: three course/skills intensives

MSN Admissions

Admission requires a BSN, an active RN license, and a panel interview.

  • BSN from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Upper-division physical assessment course (C or better) and a nursing research or evidence-based practice course (C or better)
  • Active, unrestricted US RN license
  • Current CPR/BLS certification
  • Three professional letters of reference (faculty, colleagues, or supervisors)
  • Personal statement of professional goals (up to two pages) and a resume/CV
  • Panel/program-director interview

Admitted students must also pass a physical health exam and complete immunization and background-check requirements before starting nursing courses.

Tuition

Pacific College charges $950 per unit for the MSN-FNP. Across the 40-unit program that’s $38,000 in tuition, plus $6,000 in required fees, for a total program cost of $44,000. Tuition is billed by the unit and does not vary by residency.

See the official cost page for more details: Cost of Attendance.

Accreditation

Pacific College’s baccalaureate, master’s, and post-graduate APRN certificate nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The college is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and approved to operate in California by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. FNP graduates are eligible to sit for national certification through the AANP (AANPCB) or the ANCC.

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