4 Schools • 1 Fully Online • 4 Mostly Online
Five Arizona universities prepare family nurse practitioners across ten credential tracks plus one bridge pathway, covering MSN, BSN-DNP, post-master’s DNP, and post-graduate certificate entry points. Four schools deliver mostly online programs built around finite campus events; one runs fully online. Tuition spans $19K to $73K, with completion times from roughly 16 months to 3.5 years.
Per-credit rates range from $540 to $1,061, a near-twofold spread across five schools in one state.
Highlights include:
- Northern Arizona University is the only fully online option;
- Arizona State University sets the highest clinical requirement at 1,125 practicum hours;
- Grand Canyon University is the only school with a priced bridge for nurses holding a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
Compare each school’s online format, campus commitment, cost, and degree options below.
Compare Arizona Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
| School | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
| Arizona State University | Mostly Online | Downtown Phoenix immersions; (2 to 3 times per semester) | $869 CPC | DNP, Post-Graduate Certificate | APRNs adding family scope through the state’s shortest certificate |
| Grand Canyon University | Mostly Online | 2 Phoenix sessions (5 days total) | $760 | MSN, Post-MSN Certificate, RN-to-MSN Bridge | RNs whose bachelor’s degree is in another field |
| Northern Arizona University | Online | None stated for either track | $698 | MSN, Post-Master’s Certificate | Nurses aiming at rural and tribal-community primary care |
| University of Arizona | Mostly Online | Tucson clinical immersions | $1,061 | BSN-DNP, Post-Master’s DNP, Graduate Certificate | Doctoral applicants who want placements arranged with approved preceptors |
| University of Phoenix | Mostly Online | One five-day residency | $540 | MSN | Experienced RNs wanting one fixed cost on a defined 29-month schedule |
How We Classify Program Formats
To make comparing schools easier, we classify every program based on the actual student experience, not the school’s marketing language.
- Online: No required campus attendance. Clinical rotations completed locally are not considered campus requirements.
- Mostly Online: Coursework is primarily online, but students must attend one or more required campus visits, such as orientations, skills labs, or intensives.
- Hybrid: Online coursework combined with recurring scheduled on-campus classes or labs throughout the program.
- Campus: Most coursework is completed in person.
Our classifications are based on published attendance requirements and may differ from how a university markets its program.
What’s the Best FNP Program for You?
Best Overall Value
University of Phoenix charges the state’s lowest per-credit rate at $540 and delivers a 48-credit master’s for roughly $28K on a stated 29-month timeline.
Lowest-Cost Credential
Arizona State University prices its 22-credit FNP graduate certificate at about $19K before fees, less than half the cost of any other Arizona certificate.
Best for Rural and Tribal Primary Care
Northern Arizona University builds its FNP emphasis around rural and underserved family practice and states partnerships with tribal communities as a program purpose rather than a marketing claim.
Strongest Doctoral Pathway
University of Arizona pairs 720 supervised outpatient hours with preceptor-arranged placements, minimum pediatric and rural hour floors, and both full-time and part-time schedules.
Best Entry Point for Non-Nursing Degree Holders
Grand Canyon University publishes a sequenced 24-credit bridge at the undergraduate rate that feeds directly into its MSN, instead of leaving applicants to assemble prerequisites elsewhere.
Arizona DNP FNP Programs
Two Arizona universities offer doctoral FNP preparation, and both require campus attendance. Arizona State admits BSN- or MSN-prepared nurses into an 84-credit DNP; the University of Arizona runs separate BSN-entry and post-master’s routes. Both doctorates land near $73K, reached by opposite routes: more credits at a lower rate, or fewer credits at the state’s highest rate.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Arizona State University | DNP Advanced Nursing Practice, FNP (84 credits) | $73K | Not clearly stated | 1,125 practicum hours |
| University of Arizona | BSN-DNP (69 units) | $73K | 2.5 years full time, 3.5 years part time | 720 |
| University of Arizona | Post-Master’s DNP | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated |
- Most clinical hours: Arizona State University — 1,125 practicum hours, including 585 family-focused community hours.
- Thinnest disclosure: University of Arizona — the post-master’s DNP publishes no cost, length, or clinical hour total
- Heaviest campus load: Arizona State University — Phoenix immersions plus regional preceptor sourcing for anyone living outside Maricopa County.
Arizona MSN FNP Programs
Three schools offer master’s-level FNP entry, and price separates them more than structure does. University of Phoenix runs the lowest rate and the shortest published timeline. Grand Canyon adds five days of Phoenix attendance and 750 clinical hours. Northern Arizona charges a modest credit rate, then layers on a per-semester program fee that reshapes the real total.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Grand Canyon University | MSN (53 credits) | $40K | About 31 months | 750 hrs |
| Grand Canyon University | RN-to-MSN Bridge (24 credits) | $8K | About 8 months | Prerequisite coursework |
| Northern Arizona University | MSN (48 credits) | $56K with fees | About 6 semesters | 780 hrs |
| University of Phoenix | MSN (48 credits) | $28K | 29 months | Not clearly stated |
- Lowest master’s cost: University of Phoenix — $28K at $540 per credit, roughly half Grand Canyon’s rate for the same 48-credit load.
- Only non-nursing entry route: Grand Canyon University — 24 undergraduate credits at $345 each, conferring no credential and not guaranteeing MSN admission.
- Highest hour requirement: Northern Arizona University — 780 clinical activity hours with shadowing explicitly excluded from counting.
Arizona Post-Graduate Certificate FNP Programs
Four schools offer certificates for graduate-prepared nurses, and credit loads run from 22 to 39 because eligibility differs. Arizona State admits only nurses already board certified in another APRN specialty, so its certificate is the shortest and cheapest. Grand Canyon and Northern Arizona re-require most graduate core coursework. The University of Arizona alone publishes a transfer-credit discount.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Arizona State University | FNP Graduate Certificate (22 credits) | $19K plus fees | Not clearly stated | 585 |
| Grand Canyon University | Post-MSN FNP Certificate (37 credits) | $28K | About 24 months | 750 |
| Northern Arizona University | FNP Graduate Certificate (39 credits) | $42K with fees | About 5 semesters | 780 total, minimum 500 direct |
| University of Arizona | FNP Graduate Certificate (34 units) | $36K | 1 year 4 months | 720 |
- Smallest credit load: Arizona State University — 22 credits against 34 to 39 elsewhere, because entry requires existing APRN board certification.
- No credit for prior supervised hours: Grand Canyon University — practicing APRNs complete the same 750 hours as BSN-entry students, with no waiver published.
- Only transfer discount published: University of Arizona — nine approved units for completed advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and assessment coursework cuts tuition by roughly $10K.
FAQ
How many online FNP programs are in Arizona?
Five Arizona universities offer FNP preparation: Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University, Northern Arizona University, the University of Arizona, and University of Phoenix. Between them they run ten credential tracks plus one bridge pathway.
Which Arizona FNP programs are fully online?
Northern Arizona University is the only school whose FNP tracks state no campus attendance requirement. Grand Canyon’s bridge pathway also lists none, but the MSN it feeds requires five days in Phoenix. The other three schools are mostly online with finite in-person events.
Which Arizona FNP program has the lowest tuition?
Arizona State University’s 22-credit graduate certificate at about $19K before fees is the least expensive credential in the state, though it admits only nurses already certified in another APRN specialty. Among master’s programs, University of Phoenix is lowest at roughly $28K and $540 per credit.
Which Arizona schools offer a DNP FNP?
Arizona State University and the University of Arizona. Arizona State runs one 84-credit DNP; the University of Arizona offers separate BSN-entry and post-master’s routes. Grand Canyon’s only doctorate is in organizational leadership and does not prepare FNPs.
Do Arizona FNP programs require campus visits?
Four of five do. Arizona State holds immersions at its Downtown Phoenix campus, the University of Arizona requires Tucson clinical immersions across all tracks, Grand Canyon requires two sessions totaling five days, and University of Phoenix requires one five-day residency. Northern Arizona states none.
Can I complete clinical hours near home?
Generally yes, but support varies. The University of Arizona arranges placements with approved preceptors. Grand Canyon and Arizona State expect students to identify local sites with faculty involvement. Northern Arizona does not publish who secures preceptors, the largest open question among Arizona programs.
Do I need an Arizona RN license to enroll?
Northern Arizona University requires an Arizona license, Arizona license eligibility, or a multistate license meeting Arizona Board of Nursing rules, plus an IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Other schools require an unencumbered RN license valid where clinicals are completed, not specifically Arizona.