University of Northern Colorado offers 2 Family Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- BSN-to-DNP, FNP concentration (84 credits) — BSN to doctorate, becoming an FNP
- Post-Master’s FNP Graduate Certificate (12–33 credits) — for MSN-prepared nurses
Both run through the UNC School of Nursing in a hybrid format — mostly online with in-person sessions one day a week (Thursdays), primarily at the Greeley campus (some at the Loveland/Centerra center).
A flat $802 per credit applies to all students. Graduates are eligible for FNP national certification through the ANCC or AANP and APRN credentialing in Colorado. Out-of-state applicants should check state licensure eligibility.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| BSN-DNP FNP | $67K | 5 years (part-time) |
| Post-Master’s Certificate FNP | $10K–$26K | Varies (gap analysis) |
UNC offers FNP at the doctoral and post-master’s certificate levels in a hybrid, one-day-a-week format — a flat-rate path to FNP practice for working nurses across Colorado.
BSN-DNP FNP
The estimated cost for the BSN-DNP FNP concentration at the University of Northern Colorado is about $67,368 in tuition (84 credits at $802 each), and the program is completed part-time in about five years.
DNP Curriculum
The post-BSN to DNP is 84 credits — a 22-credit BS-to-DNP nursing science core (policy, theory, epidemiology, genomics, population health, healthcare finance) plus a 28-credit FNP concentration (acute and chronic adult care, women’s and pediatric care, and a four-part FNP clinical sequence), with the remaining credits in DNP scholarly-project work.
BS-to-DNP Core (22 credits)
- NURS 507 — Policy, Leadership and Nursing Issues (3)
- NURS 602 — Theory for Advanced Practice Nurses (2)
- NURS 608 — Advanced Health Care Concepts (3)
- NURS 618 — Epidemiology in Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
- NURS 658 — Applied Nursing Genomics (3)
- NURS 668 — Population Centered Health Care (3)
- NURS 678 — Professional Practice and Healthcare Finance Seminar (3)
- NURS 700 — Advanced Nursing Theory (2)
FNP Concentration (28 credits)
NURS 654 — Acute Care of Adults
Applies theory and research to primary care of adults with acute episodic conditions.
NURS 656 — Care of Chronic Illness in Adults
Applies theory and research to primary care of adults with chronic illness.
NURS 674 — Care of Women and Pediatric Populations
Applies theory and research to primary care for women, obstetric, and pediatric populations.
NURS 675 — FNP Clinical I
Applies FNP diagnostic and management learning in the live clinical setting.
NURS 676 — FNP Advanced Clinical Topics
Applies theory and research to advanced complex conditions in primary care.
NURS 677 — FNP Clinical II
Continues application of FNP diagnostic and management skills in clinical practice.
NURS 669 — FNP Clinical III
Further applies FNP diagnostic and management skills in the live clinical setting.
NURS 689 — FNP Clinical Synthesis
Culminating clinical course integrating FNP coursework into practice.
More curriculum details are available here.
DNP Clinicals
The program requires a minimum of 1,125 applied hours, combining simulation/lab, clinical, and DNP-project hours.
- Total applied hours: 1,125 minimum
- FNP simulation/lab: 90 minimum
- FNP clinical: 765 minimum (at least 180 with a nurse practitioner)
- DNP practicum (scholarly project): 270 minimum
- Placement: supported by a Clinical Placement Coordinator; students help identify preceptors
- Capstone: a DNP Scholarly Project proposal and final defense
DNP Admissions
Admission is Fall-entry and requires a BSN and a Colorado RN license (or eligibility).
- BSN (or higher direct-entry pre-licensure degree) from an ACEN-, CNEA-, or CCNE-accredited institution
- Current, unencumbered Colorado RN license or eligibility
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in the RN-licensure program
- Two reference letters, statement of career goals, CV, and a writing sample (≤10 pages)
- Background check and 10-panel drug screen
- One year of post-licensure clinical experience recommended; no GRE
Applications run through NursingCAS; the priority deadline is February 1 for fall. A personal interview may be required.
Post-Master’s Certificate FNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s FNP Graduate Certificate at the University of Northern Colorado runs about $9,600–$26,500 in tuition (12–33 credits at $802 each), with the final credit count set by a gap analysis of prior coursework.
Duration varies accordingly.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate is for MSN-prepared nurses and covers the FNP specialty courses — health promotion, acute and chronic adult care, women’s and pediatric care, the FNP clinical sequence, and advanced professional role. An individualized plan of study, built from a transcript review and gap analysis, sets which courses each student takes.
- NURS 624 — Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Advanced Practice (3)
- NURS 654 — Acute Care of Adults (3)
- NURS 656 — Care of Chronic Illness in Adults (3)
- NURS 674 — Care of Women and Pediatric Populations (3)
- NURS 675 — FNP Clinical I (4)
- NURS 676 — FNP Advanced Clinical Topics (2)
- NURS 677 — FNP Clinical II (4)
- NURS 669 — FNP Clinical III (3)
- NURS 689 — FNP Clinical Synthesis (1–6)
- NURS 690 — Advanced Professional Role (2)
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
Clinical and simulation-lab hours run through the FNP clinical sequence, with the minimum set by each student’s individualized plan.
- Clinical sequence: FNP Clinical I–III plus Clinical Synthesis
- Hours: minimum set by transcript review and gap analysis
- Placement: supported by a Clinical Placement Coordinator; students help identify preceptors
- Format: hybrid, in-person one day a week (Thursdays)
- Prerequisites: advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment (can be completed at UNC)
Certificate Admissions
The certificate is for nurses holding an MSN.
- Master’s in nursing from an ACEN-, CNEA-, or CCNE-accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 GPA at the master’s level
- Current, unencumbered RN license and Colorado licensure eligibility
- Two reference letters (one addressing independent-practice potential), career-goals statement, and CV
- Background check and 10-panel drug screen
Spots are limited each year — contact the school to confirm applications are open. A personal interview may be required; no GRE.
Tuition
UNC charges a flat $802 per credit for the DNP and FNP certificate, regardless of residency. That puts the 84-credit BSN-to-DNP at about $67,368, and the 12–33-credit FNP certificate at roughly $9,600–$26,500 depending on the gap analysis. Additional costs include malpractice insurance, background check and drug screen, immunizations, and AHA BLS/ACLS certification.
See the official program pages for current rates: Nursing DNP.
Accreditation
The Doctor of Nursing Practice and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at the University of Northern Colorado are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The university is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. FNP graduates are eligible to sit for national FNP certification through the ANCC or the AANP and to be credentialed as an APRN in Colorado. Applicants planning to practice outside Colorado should review the program’s state licensure-eligibility information.
Review More Family NP Programs in Colorado
- Colorado Mesa University - Grand Junction
- Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs
- Regis University - Denver
- University of Colorado, Colorado Springs - Colorado Springs
- University of Colorado, Anschutz - Anschutz