Indiana State University FNP Programs

School of Nursing • Terre Haute, IN • Mostly Online • $462/credit

Indiana State University offers 3 Family Nurse Practitioner Tracks:

  • MSN
  • BSN-DNP
  • Post-Master’s Certificate

Program Tracks Overview

ProgramEst. TuitionEst. DurationCredit Hours
MSN$26.2K / $33.3K2.5 years (7 semesters)48-51
BSN-DNP$40.2K / $51.8K2.3 years (7 semesters)78
Certificate$14.8K / $18.8K1.3 years (4 semesters)27

Tuition estimates use Indiana State’s 2026-27 resident ($462) and eligible out-of-state online ($610) per-credit rates plus the $60 per-course online delivery fee and the per-semester program fee.

Indiana State’s defining advantage is fully online coursework with no campus visits at $462 per credit for Indiana residents and $610 for eligible out-of-state online students. Its graduate nursing programs now hold ACEN accreditation with conditions, and its own published FNP completion rates ran between 56% and 76% in recent years.

Quick Facts

FeatureDetails
Program TypesMSN, BSN-DNP, Post-Master’s Certificate
FormatMSN and Certificate: Online. BSN-DNP: Mostly Online (a few scheduled synchronous sessions per semester).
Clinical HoursBSN-DNP: 1,100 (750 precepted + 350 DNP project). MSN and Certificate: not clearly stated.
Clinical PlacementStudent-arranged, in the state(s) where you hold an RN license
PopulationFamily/individual across the lifespan
Distinctive CourseworkAPN 647 Advanced Diagnostics and Procedures; APN 646 Diagnostic Laboratory
RN License RequirementsCurrent, unencumbered RN license, verified through your state board or Nursys
Tuition$462/credit resident; $610/credit eligible out-of-state online (2026-27)
AccreditationACEN, continuing accreditation with conditions; HLC institutionally
Enrollment Restrictions35 states for MSN and Certificate; 33 for BSN-DNP. California, New York, Arizona excluded.
Outcome DataFNP completion 64%, 56%, 76% (2021-22 to 2023-24); certification pass 77% to 94%

MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration

The estimated tuition for the Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner at Indiana State University is approximately $26,226 for Indiana residents (48 credits at $462/credit, plus about $4,050 in program and online delivery fees). The program can generally be completed in about 2.5 years (7 semesters) of part-time study, with a slower part-time plan available.

MSN Curriculum

The MSN runs at a light load: 4 to 10 credits per term, which suits nurses working full time. The first three terms are graduate core and the pharmacology and pathophysiology foundation. FNP clinical work starts in the fourth term and runs in a fixed order: health assessment, chronic and acute care, family health care, then a final preceptorship. The two 7-credit theory courses carry most of the clinical weight.

The 1- to 6-credit culminating experience is the main choice. An evidence-based practice course (3 credits) keeps you at 48 credits. A thesis can push you to 51. Every APN course needs a B or better (83%) to progress.

  • APN 624 Health Assessment and Health Promotion for Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
  • APN 645 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses (3)
  • BIO 633 Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
  • APN 644 Theoretical Foundations of Family Health: Chronic and Acute Health Problems (7)
  • APN 646 Diagnostic Laboratory for Family Nurse Practitioners (1)
  • APN 647 Advanced Diagnostics and Procedures (1)
  • APN 664 Theoretical Foundation in Family Health Care (7)
  • APN 670 Family Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship (6)
  • APN 697 Evidence Based Practice, APN 698R Culminating Project, or APN 699 Master’s Thesis (1-6)

More curriculum details are available here.

You Should Know
  • The catalog labels the FNP concentration “26 credits.” Its course list sums to 32, and only 32 produces the published 48-51 total.
  • Degree-map term labels are off by one credit in Fall Year 2 (labeled 5, lists 4) and Fall Year 3 (labeled 9, lists 10). The 48-credit total is still correct.
  • The degree map spans 7 terms (about 2.3 years from an August start). Indiana State’s marketing page says 2.5 years.

MSN Clinical Requirements

  • Total clinical hours: not clearly stated for the MSN.
  • Clinical courses: APN 644 (4 clinical credits), APN 664 (4 clinical credits), APN 670 (6 clinical credits).
  • Placement: you arrange your own sites in the state(s) where you are licensed.
  • Campus visits: none required.

The MSN uses the same three clinical courses, at the same credit values, as the BSN-DNP, where Indiana State publishes 750 precepted hours. That suggests the MSN also lands near 750, above the 500-hour certification floor and the 600-700 range common among FNP programs. Spread across three clinical terms, 750 hours is roughly 17 hours per week. Self-placement means the hours you can actually log depend on the preceptors you find.

You Should Know
  • The 750-hour figure for the MSN is derived from the shared course structure, not published. Confirm with Indiana State before relying on it for a state-board application.
  • Indiana State does not describe placement support, a clinical coordinator, or how early you must secure preceptors.

MSN Admissions

Admission is competitive and scored by rubric, and an interview may be required.

  • BSN from an accredited program; you may apply in your final BSN semester.
  • Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Verified, unencumbered RN license.
  • Statement of purpose (500 words max, APA) covering RN leadership, community service, and the MSN learning outcomes.
  • Resume with employment history and community service; recommendation forms.
  • TOEFL for non-native English speakers (79-80 iBT); no alternate tests accepted.
  • Two intakes through GradCAS: March 1 for fall, October 1 for spring. The Spring 2027 deadline is extended to November 15, 2026.
  • $100 non-refundable seat fee to accept an offer.
  • After admission: CastleBranch background check, healthcare-provider CPR, School of Nursing immunization form, honor code.

The scoring rubric rewards RN, LPN, CNA, and healthcare administration experience, leadership roles, and community service, so clinical experience helps even though no minimum is set.

You Should Know
  • The program is “no campus visits,” yet the admissions page says a video or in-person interview may be required. Ask for the video option if you live far from Terre Haute.
  • Depending on your state of residence, you may need to sign an attestation that you will seek work in a state where the program meets licensure requirements.
  • Eligible states: Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Saipan. The list is subject to change.

BSN to DNP, Family Nurse Practitioner Track

The estimated tuition for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN-DNP), FNP Track at Indiana State University is approximately $40,216 for Indiana residents (78 credits at $462/credit, plus about $4,180 in program and online delivery fees). The program can generally be completed in about 28 months (7 semesters), the same number of terms as the MSN.

BSN-DNP Curriculum

Same length, heavier load. The BSN-DNP adds 30 credits to the MSN without adding a term. Year-two terms run 12 to 13 credits, roughly double the MSN load in the same semesters. That is the real cost of finishing a doctorate in 28 months while working.

Project runs alongside clinicals. The four DNP project courses (17 credits) start in Fall Year 2 and run in parallel with the FNP clinical sequence. Project courses have a 1:8 faculty-to-student ratio. Doctoral coursework adds informatics, community health planning, analytical methods, epidemiology, culturally competent care, and health policy leadership.

  • APN 810 Community Health Planning (4)
  • APN 822 Organizational Informatics (3)
  • APN 825 Analytical Methods (3)
  • APN 644 Theoretical Foundations of Family Health: Chronic and Acute Health Problems (7)
  • APN 664 Theoretical Foundation in Family Health Care (7)
  • APN 670 Family Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship (6)
  • APN 881 to 884 DNP Project I to Dissemination (17 total)
  • APN 842 Health Policy Leadership (3)

More curriculum details are available here.

You Should Know
  • Degree-map term labels are off by one credit in Fall Year 2 (labeled 13, lists 12) and Fall Year 3 (labeled 12, lists 13). The 78-credit total is correct.
  • Most courses are asynchronous, but each semester includes a few scheduled synchronous sessions for instruction and final presentations. Plan around them.

BSN-DNP Clinical Requirements

  • Total: 1,100 hours (750 precepted clinical practice hours + 350 faculty-supervised DNP project hours).
  • Precepted hours run through APN 644, APN 664, and APN 670.
  • Campus visits: none required.
  • Placement model: not clearly stated on the BSN-DNP page.

The 750 precepted hours sit 250 above the 500-hour certification floor and above the 600-700 range common among FNP programs. The 350 project hours are separate and do not count toward FNP clinical practice. Over the three clinical terms, the precepted load averages about 17 hours per week, on top of 12- to 13-credit course loads.

You Should Know
  • Indiana State’s MSN and certificate pages say students arrange their own placements. The BSN-DNP page does not address placement, so assume the same model unless Indiana State says otherwise.

BSN-DNP Admissions

Admission criteria match the MSN, with a narrower state list.

  • BSN, 3.0 undergraduate GPA, unencumbered RN license; final-semester BSN students may apply.
  • Same March 1 and October 1 GradCAS deadlines (Spring 2027 extended to November 15, 2026).
  • Degree must be completed within 7 years with a 3.0 GPA maintained.
You Should Know
  • Maryland and Washington residents can enroll in the MSN and certificate but not the BSN-DNP. The BSN-DNP list covers 33 states plus Saipan.

FNP Post-Master’s Certificate

The estimated tuition for the Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate at Indiana State University is approximately $14,754 for Indiana residents (27 credits at $462/credit, plus about $2,280 in program and online delivery fees). The program can generally be completed in about 16 months (4 semesters, derived from the course sequence).

Certificate Curriculum

The certificate is the MSN’s FNP clinical spine without the graduate core. It assumes you already hold graduate pharmacology, pathophysiology, and assessment. Missing prerequisites are added after admission, which raises credits and cost.

  • APN 600 Graduate Writing for Healthcare Professionals (1)
  • APN 624 Health Assessment and Health Promotion (4)
  • APN 644 Theoretical Foundations of Family Health (7)
  • APN 646 Diagnostic Laboratory for FNPs (1)
  • APN 647 Advanced Diagnostics and Procedures (1)
  • APN 664 Theoretical Foundation in Family Health Care (7)
  • APN 670 Family Nurse Practitioner Preceptorship (5)
  • APN 675 Role of the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (1)

More curriculum details are available here.

You Should Know
  • The certificate record comes from an older catalog year. It lists APN 624 at 4 credits and APN 670 at 5. The current MSN catalog lists them at 3 and 6. The 27-credit total is the same either way.
  • Without prior pharmacology (APN 645) and pathophysiology (BIO 633), you add up to 6 credits, bringing the total to 33 and about $17,646 for residents.

Certificate Clinical Requirements

  • Total clinical hours: not clearly stated.
  • Clinical courses: APN 624, APN 644, APN 664, APN 670.
  • Placement: you arrange your own sites in the state(s) where you are licensed.
  • Campus visits: none required.

The certificate shares the MSN’s clinical courses, so its hours are likely similar. Self-placement is the main practical burden for a 16-month plan, since a late preceptor can push completion back a term.

You Should Know
  • State boards set their own rules for adding a second APRN population focus. Check your board before enrolling if you are already licensed as an NP.

Certificate Admissions

Applicants need a nursing master’s and a 3.0 graduate GPA, with three prerequisite checks.

  • MSN from an accredited program; final-semester MSN students may apply.
  • Graduate pharmacology (3 credits, B or better) within 5 years of application. Current prescriptive authority meets this.
  • Graduate pathophysiology (3 credits, C or better).
  • Graduate advanced assessment (B or better), with syllabus submitted for review.
  • Same March 1 and October 1 deadlines; an individual or group interview may be required.
You Should Know
  • Some states require pharmacology within 5 years of certification testing, not application. You are responsible for retaking it if needed.
  • The assessment prerequisite is listed even though APN 624 already appears in the certificate’s required courses. Ask whether prior assessment credit replaces APN 624.

Tuition

Indiana State charges $462 per credit for Indiana residents and $610 per credit for out-of-state students admitted to an online program (2026-27). Both rates are published, and neither includes fees. Standard non-resident tuition ($954) does not apply to eligible online admits.

ProgramResident TuitionOut-of-State Online TuitionFees (derived)Resident TotalOut-of-State Total
MSN (48)$22,176$29,280$4,050$26,226$33,330
MSN (51)$23,562$31,110$4,050$27,612$35,160
BSN-DNP (78)$36,036$47,580$4,180$40,216$51,760
Certificate (27)$12,474$16,470$2,280$14,754$18,750

All totals are derived: credits times the per-credit rate, plus program fees and the online delivery fee. Indiana State publishes no program totals.

  • Online education delivery fee: $60 per graduate course (MSN 15 courses = $900; BSN-DNP 23 = $1,380; Certificate 8 = $480).
  • MSN program fee: $450 per semester (7 semesters = $3,150).
  • DNP program fee: $400 per semester (7 semesters = $2,800).
  • Post-Master’s FNP Certificate program fee: $450 per semester (4 semesters = $1,800).
  • $100 non-refundable seat fee on acceptance.

Be aware that:

  • The tuition page says nursing students in specific courses pay a clinical education and faculty course fee. The bursar’s fee schedule limits that fee ($300 to $500 per course) to undergraduate program courses. It is excluded here; confirm with the bursar.
  • The bursar lists one $400 DNP program fee and does not separate BSN-entry from post-master’s DNP students. If the BSN-DNP is billed the MSN rate in its first terms, add up to $350.
  • The out-of-state online rate rose from $603 to $610 between 2025-26 and 2026-27. The resident rate held at $462. Future increases are possible.
  • Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and Midwest Consortium scholarship rates exclude nursing and doctoral students.
  • Expect additional costs for background checks, drug testing, CPR, immunizations, liability insurance, a clinical compliance database, textbooks, and travel to clinical sites.
  • Fee totals assume the 7- and 4-semester degree maps. A slower part-time plan adds program-fee semesters.

For Indiana residents, the BSN-DNP costs about $14,000 more than the MSN for the same number of terms, which makes the doctorate’s price gap small relative to most doctoral programs. Out-of-state students pay about 32% more on tuition, but the online rate keeps them well below standard non-resident pricing. Fees add roughly 12% to 18% on top of tuition, so budget from the all-in figures, not the per-credit rate alone. See the graduate tuition rates and program fee schedule.

Why Choose This FNP Program?

Best suited for nurses who want an inexpensive, fully online FNP path with no travel to campus and who can line up their own preceptors.

Low cost without campus travel. Indiana residents pay $462 per credit, and the online rate keeps out-of-state students at $610. All three tracks list no required campus visits, so there are no travel costs layered on top of tuition. The MSN’s light per-term load also makes it workable alongside full-time employment.

A doctorate in the same 7 terms. The BSN-DNP finishes in 28 months, the same number of terms as the MSN, with 1,100 total hours and a 1:8 project ratio. The trade-off is a much heavier per-term load in year two. Nurses who can carry 12 to 13 credits while working get a doctorate for about $14,000 more than the MSN as residents.

Honest trade-offs. Indiana State publishes its outcome data, and it shows real attrition: FNP completion rates of 64%, 56%, and 76% from 2021-22 to 2023-24, and 67%, 50%, and 57% for the post-master’s certificate. Certification pass rates rose from about 77% in 2022 and 2023 to 94% in 2024. The master’s and DNP programs also carry ACEN accreditation with conditions for 24 months. Add self-arranged placements and a 35-state enrollment list, and this program rewards students who are organized, self-directed, and comfortable asking Indiana State hard questions before enrolling.

Accreditation

The master’s program and post-master’s certificate, and the clinical doctorate, are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The graduate program has held ACEN accreditation since 1989 and the clinical doctorate since 2012.

Indiana State’s accreditation page lists both programs at continuing accreditation with conditions for 24 months, following a September 2026 visit. Conditions mean the programs remain accredited while they address specific ACEN standards. The next full evaluation visit is listed for spring 2034. Ask Indiana State which standards are involved and what the follow-up timeline is.

Indiana State University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Institutional accreditation supports federal financial aid eligibility and the transfer of graduate credit.

Graduates of all three tracks are eligible to sit for the national FNP certification exam (AANP or ANCC).

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