Sacred Heart University offers 4 Family Nurse Practitioner Tracks:
- RN to MSN
- MSN
- BSN-to-DNP
- Post-Master’s Certificate
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| RN-MSN | $28K–$66K | 3.5 yrs | 51–153 |
| MSN | $40K | 2–2.5 yrs | 42 |
| BSN-DNP | $70K | 3–4 yrs | 69 |
| Certificate | $23K | 15 mo | 24 |
Sacred Heart’s defining advantage is entry-point breadth backed by real money: it is the only Connecticut school with FNP pathways from ADN entry all the way to a BSN-to-DNP, and its HRSA-funded APNURSE grants pay eligible DNP-FNP students up to $25,000 (full-time) or $15,000 (part-time) to train for underserved and rural community care.
Formats span the full range, so match the track to your geography: the MSN tracks are online with campus residencies, the certificate is online, and the BSN-DNP is a true hybrid averaging six on-campus classes per semester in Fairfield.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | RN-to-MSN, MSN, BSN-to-DNP, Post-Master’s Certificate |
| Format | Mostly Online (RN-MSN, MSN: campus residencies); Hybrid (BSN-DNP); Online (certificate) |
| Clinical Hours | 540 (MSN specialization and certificate); DNP total not clearly stated |
| Clinical Placement | Student-secured near home; significant travel to sites possible |
| Population | Family primary care across the lifespan |
| Distinctive Coursework | FNP and DNP courses interleaved from semester one (DNP track); optional Ireland study (MSN) |
| RN License Requirements | Current unencumbered U.S. RN license |
| Tuition | $390–$1,015/credit depending on track; substantial per-course clinical fees |
| Funding | HRSA APNURSE grants up to $25,000 for eligible DNP-FNP students (underserved/rural focus) |
| Start Terms | One start per year (DNP: fall, rolling until cohort filled; MSN FNP: one annual start) |
| Financial Aid Restriction | Certificate is not eligible for federal financial aid |
| Accreditation | CCNE (master’s, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs) |
RN to MSN (FNP Specialization)
The estimated tuition for the RN to MSN at Sacred Heart University is approximately $28,380 to $65,565, billed at $390 per credit for BSN-level coursework and $955 per credit for FNP-specialization coursework across 51 to 153 total credits. The program can generally be completed in about 3.5 years at the fastest pace, with up to six years allowed. The wide credit range is driven by transfer credit: up to 90 credits can transfer in, leaving as few as 54–57 credits to complete at SHU.
RN to MSN Curriculum
This track earns two degrees in one program: a BSN built around SHU’s signature “Human Journey” core, then the same MSN-FNP coursework master’s students take. The design decision that matters is the split billing rate. BSN-level credits cost $390 while graduate credits cost $955, so nurses who transfer in the maximum 90 credits skip most of the cheap credits but also most of the total cost. The FNP specialization carries a higher GPA gate (3.2, versus 3.0 for non-NP specializations) that you must maintain during the BSN portion to enter the FNP sequence.
- NU 315 The Human Journey in Nursing
- NU 501 Health Care Policy & Ethics for Contemporary Nursing Practice
- NU 601 Principles of Health Care Research for Contemporary Nursing Practice
- NU 602 Evidence-Based Practice for Quality Care
- MSN-FNP specialty sequence (see MSN track below)
RN to MSN Clinical Requirements
- 72 clinical hours in the BSN portion
- 540 clinical hours in the FNP specialization, for 612 total
- Clinicals completed at facilities near you; FNP specialization includes an on-campus residency in Fairfield, CT
The 540-hour FNP requirement sits in the middle of the typical range: above the 500-hour certification floor but below the 600–700+ hours common at competitors (University of Saint Joseph requires 750). The near-home clinical model keeps the program workable for ADN nurses outside Connecticut, though the residency requires at least one trip to campus.
RN to MSN Admissions
The notable gate is the 3.2 GPA requirement specific to the FNP and PMHNP specializations; everything else is standard.
- ADN or Diploma in Nursing with a minimum 3.0 GPA (3.2 for the FNP specialization)
- Official transcripts of all prior nursing and academic work
- Two letters of recommendation, at least one from a direct supervisor
- Completed criminal background check, résumé, statement of professional goals
- Prerequisite undergraduate statistics course (research course recommended)
- No GRE/GMAT; $75 application fee; up to 90 transfer credits accepted
MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner at Sacred Heart University is approximately $40,110 (42 credits at $955/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 2 to 2.5 years, with a single start date each year and a six-year maximum completion window.
MSN Curriculum
The 42-credit curriculum is heavier than many online MSN-FNP programs (36 credits is common) because the clinical courses are unusually large: Primary Care I is 6 credits and Primary Care II is 7, packaging didactic and clinical work together rather than splitting them into small seminar courses.
Two structural features stand out.
First, women’s health and pediatrics get dedicated 4-credit courses rather than being folded into a general lifespan course, which gives more depth in the populations FNP certification exams weight heavily.
Second, SHU offers an optional two-week international study experience in Ireland through its Dingle campus, an option almost no online FNP program can match.
- NU 550 Family and Community Context for Health Care (3)
- NU 551 Advanced Pharmacology for the Nurse Practitioner (3)
- NU 552 Advanced Health Assessment for the Nurse Practitioner (3)
- NU 561 Primary Care I: Comprehensive Primary Care of the Adult (6)
- NU 566 Advanced Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners (3)
- NU 606 Primary Care of Children (4)
- NU 607 Primary Care for Women (4)
- NU 621 Primary Care II (7)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinical Requirements
- 540 clinical hours (per the university’s published specialization figures)
- Students secure their own clinical placements and, per SHU’s own language, “may need to travel significant distances” to reach qualifying sites
- On-campus residencies at the Fairfield, CT campus are required for the FNP specialization
540 hours is adequate but not generous: comfortably above the 500-hour certification minimum, below the 660 hours at Southern Connecticut State University and 750 at University of Saint Joseph. The bigger practical issue is placement. SHU is unusually candid that finding sites is the student’s job and may involve real travel, so nurses in preceptor-scarce areas should weigh this against programs with placement support before enrolling.
MSN Admissions
One annual start date means a missed deadline costs a full year; plan applications accordingly.
- BSN from an accredited program with a minimum 3.0 GPA
- Current RN license required to apply
- No GRE/GMAT requirement
- 6–12 transfer credits may be accepted, evaluated case by case
BSN-to-DNP Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Family Nurse Practitioner at Sacred Heart University is approximately $70,035 (69 credits at $1,015/credit, per the university’s 2026–27 fee schedule). The program can generally be completed in about 3 years full-time or 4 years part-time, with courses running fall, spring, and summer in both plans.
BSN-DNP Curriculum
The design choice that separates this program is sequencing: FNP and DNP coursework are interleaved starting in the very first semester, rather than front-loading doctoral core courses and saving clinical training for the back half.
Year one pairs advanced pathophysiology with health policy; the DNP project develops in parallel with the Primary Care I–III sequence.
For students, this means clinical skills build continuously across all three years instead of being compressed, and the DNP project grows out of live clinical experience rather than preceding it.
Graduates also gain a direct admission pathway into SHU’s Ph.D. in Organization Development, Change & Effectiveness for those heading toward system-level leadership.
- NU 549 Family Theory in the Context of Community (3)
- NU 566 Advanced Pathophysiology for NP (3)
- NU 710 Health Care Policy, Advocacy & Ethics (3)
- NU 556/557 Advanced Pharmacology I & II
- NU 562 Primary Care I: Comprehensive Primary Care of the Adult
- NU 622 / NU 632 Primary Care II & III for FNP/DNP
- NU 821–824 DNP Project sequence (topic, proposal, presentation)
- NU 831/832 Clinical Immersion I & II
More curriculum details are available here.
BSN-DNP Clinical Requirements
- Total clinical hours: not clearly stated on the program page
- Clinical training runs through the Primary Care I–III sequence (years 2–3) plus two dedicated Clinical Immersion courses in year 3
- Hybrid format: an average of six on-campus classes per semester at the Fairfield campus
SHU does not publish a total clinical hour count for the DNP track; verify the figure with admissions, since BSN-to-DNP programs typically require 1,000+ post-baccalaureate hours. The hybrid cadence is a genuine commitment: six campus classes per semester is recurring in-person attendance, so this track only makes sense for nurses within commuting range of Fairfield. The payoff is cohort relationships and direct faculty access that fully online programs cannot replicate.
BSN-DNP Admissions
Two things are unusual: qualified candidates must complete an admissions interview, and there is exactly one start term per year (fall) with rolling review until the cohort fills, so early applications have a real advantage.
- BSN required; 3.0 GPA or above
- Current unencumbered U.S. RN license (plus any advanced practice licensure held)
- Two letters of recommendation and résumé
- Two-page essay on your reasons for pursuing the FNP program and a clinical doctorate
- Non-refundable application fee; official transcripts from all institutions
Post-Master’s FNP Certificate
The estimated tuition for the Post-Master’s FNP Certificate at Sacred Heart University is approximately $22,920 (24 credits at $955/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 15 months, which is fast for a certificate carrying a full 540-hour clinical load.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate is the clinical core of the MSN with the 3 Ps and research courses stripped out, on the assumption your MSN already covered them. Five courses cover adult, pediatric, and women’s health primary care, ending in the 7-credit Primary Care II capstone. Note what’s absent: advanced pharmacology, pathophysiology, and health assessment are not in the certificate course list, so MSN graduates whose original degrees lacked current NP-level 3 P coursework should confirm certification eligibility with SHU before enrolling.
- NU 550 Family and Community Context for Health Care (3)
- NU 561 Primary Care I: Comprehensive Primary Care of the Adult (6)
- NU 606 Primary Care of Children (4)
- NU 607 Primary Care for Women (4)
- NU 621 Primary Care II (7)
Certificate Clinical Requirements
- 540 clinical hours, the same total as the MSN specialization
- Online coursework; no campus residency is stated on the certificate page — verify with admissions, since the sibling MSN-FNP requires Fairfield residencies
- Clinical oversight is faculty-supported and billed per clinical course (see Tuition)
A full 540 hours in a 24-credit certificate is a meaningful signal: many post-master’s certificates gap-fill with fewer hours, but SHU runs certificate students through the complete FNP clinical sequence. That makes the 15-month timeline demanding for full-time working nurses.
Certificate Admissions
Two restrictions matter more than the entry requirements: no transfer credits are accepted, and the certificate is not eligible for federal financial aid, so plan on employer tuition assistance or private funding.
- MSN from an accredited college with a minimum 3.0 GPA
- Current RN license
- No GRE/GMAT requirement; $75 application fee
Tuition
Sacred Heart bills all FNP tracks per credit, at three published rates on the university’s 2026–27 fee schedule:
- $390/credit for BSN-level coursework in the RN-to-MSN
- $955/credit for the online MSN-FNP and post-master’s certificate
- 1,015/credit for the hybrid BSN-to-DNP
Those rates produce estimated tuition of $28,380–$65,565 for the RN-to-MSN (51–153 credits, transfer-dependent), $40,110 for the MSN (42 credits), $70,035 for the BSN-DNP (69 credits), and $22,920 for the certificate (24 credits).
Per-course and per-semester fees add materially to every track:
- Mandatory semester fees: $215 per semester ($115 registration, $40 library, $60 graduate student services)
- Online FNP clinical oversight fees: $2,000 each for NU 561 and NU 621; $1,000 each for NU 606 and NU 607
- Lab fees: $1,300 each for NU 552 and NU 621 (online FNP/PMHNP courses)
- DNP track: $2,000 clinical fee per course for NU 562, 622, 632, 831, and 832 ($10,000 total); $625 general course fee for NU 552, 810, and 820; $400 immersion fee for NU 810 and 820
- The certificate page’s own tuition table omits the $1,000 oversight fees on NU 606 and NU 607 that both its FAQ and the university’s official fee schedule list; budget using the fee schedule
- $75 application fee; textbooks, supplies, and loan fees are not included in estimates
- The certificate is not eligible for federal financial aid
Realistically, expect roughly $7,300 in course fees plus semester fees on the certificate (all-in near $31,000), $8,600+ on the MSN (all-in near $50,000), and $12,000+ on the DNP (all-in around $83,000–$85,000), so budget from the fee schedule, not the headline tuition. Offsetting this, eligible DNP-FNP students committed to underserved or rural community care can receive HRSA APNURSE grants of up to $25,000 (full-time) or $15,000 (part-time), which would cover roughly a third of DNP tuition. The official fee schedule is here.
Why Choose This FNP Program?
Sacred Heart fits nurses whose starting credential doesn’t match the standard BSN-entry mold, and nurses who want grant money attached to a mission.
No other Connecticut school covers the full ladder: ADN nurses enter through the RN-to-MSN at $390/credit for undergraduate coursework, BSN nurses choose between an online master’s and a hybrid doctorate, and MSN-prepared nurses add the FNP in 15 months. The APNURSE grants are the sleeper advantage: up to $25,000 in HRSA funding for DNP students training for underserved and rural care is a larger, more direct subsidy than anything published by SHU’s in-state competitors. And the BSN-DNP’s interleaved FNP/DNP sequencing builds clinical skills across all three years rather than compressing them, a real curricular difference from front-loaded doctoral programs.
The honest caveats: course fees add 20–35% to headline tuition depending on track, clinical placement is your responsibility and may require travel, and every FNP track runs on a single annual start. Compared head-to-head, UConn offers a fully online, flagship-branded alternative at $1,200/credit with a 94% first-attempt pass rate, and University of Saint Joseph delivers 750 clinical hours on a weekly-campus hybrid. Choose Sacred Heart if your entry point, your budget math after grants, or the underserved-care mission lines up; choose those rivals if placement support volume or pass-rate data drives your decision.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate, master’s, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Sacred Heart University are all accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), which means every FNP track on this page sits under full accreditation with no candidacy caveats.
SHU states that MSN-FNP and certificate graduates are prepared to sit for national FNP certification through either the American Nurses Credentialing Center (FNP-BC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (FNP-C), and DNP graduates are eligible for national FNP certification examination per the program page. Dual AANP/ANCC eligibility gives graduates flexibility in choosing their credential.
Compare More Family NP Programs in Connecticut
- Yale University - New Haven
- Goodwin University - East Hartford
- Quinnipiac University - Hamden
- Southern Connecticut State University - New Haven
- University of Connecticut - Storrs
- University of Saint Joseph - West Hartford