“Rasmussen assigns a dedicated coordinator to find and secure your practicum site — a task many FNP programs leave entirely to the student.”
Rasmussen University offers 2 Family Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- MSN – Nurse Practitioner with FNP Specialization
- Post-Graduate Certificate – Nurse Practitioner with FNP Specialization
Both programs are delivered entirely online with no geographic restrictions on coursework and practicums completed in the student’s own community.
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN FNP | ~$51,130 | 27 months |
| Post-Master’s Certificate FNP | ~$29,087 | 21 months |
The self-paced Empowered Learning® format — with no weekly deadlines — makes Rasmussen a strong fit for full-time nurses who need scheduling flexibility above all else. A one-weekend on-campus residency is required for both tracks.
Program Tracks Overview
MSN FNP
The estimated cost for the MSN Nurse Practitioner with FNP Specialization at Rasmussen University is approximately $51,130 (including tuition and fees).
The program takes about 27 months to complete on a full-time basis.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN-NP totals 69 credit hours split between 28 MSN core credits and 41 FNP specialization credits. Core coursework is competency-based and covers graduate-level nursing foundations.
The FNP specialization layer moves through lifespan primary care — adult-gerontology, reproductive health, and pediatrics — before four sequential practicum courses.
Three elective courses expand coverage of diagnostic techniques, practice management, and complementary and alternative therapies.
Students must also demonstrate completion of a college-level statistics course as a prerequisite or corequisite to two core courses; this course is not eligible for financial aid.
FNP Specialization Courses:
NGR6001: Foundations of Family Nurse Practitioner Practice (3 credits)
Introduces the FNP role, scope, and standards of practice. Emphasizes diagnostic reasoning and the integration of theory and evidence to deliver person-centered primary care, while examining legal, ethical, cultural, and global influences on healthcare across the lifespan.
NGR6211: Principles of Adult-Gerontology Primary Care (4 credits)
Focuses on advanced pathophysiology and management of common conditions in adult and elderly populations. Students apply evidence-based diagnostic reasoning to develop differential diagnoses and implement pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic care strategies.
NGR6234: Reproductive Health of the Family (4 credits)
Covers assessment and management of reproductive health conditions in men and women. Includes family planning, preconception care, and primary care management of pregnancy and postpartum patients, with an emphasis on prevention and health promotion.
NGR6330: Principles of Pediatric Primary Care (4 credits)
Prepares students to provide family-centered care for pediatric patients from infancy through young adulthood. Focuses on growth and development, disease management, and evidence-based approaches to common pediatric conditions.
NGR6365: FNP Practicum I (6 credits)
Provides initial clinical experience in primary care settings, emphasizing reproductive health and childbearing families. Students apply foundational skills in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning across the lifespan.
NGR6366: FNP Practicum II (6 credits)
Builds clinical competency in caring for pediatric and young adult patients. Students develop and implement evidence-based treatment plans, focusing on diagnosis, intervention, and health maintenance.
NGR6367: FNP Practicum III (6 credits)
Focuses on primary care management of adult and geriatric populations. Students refine advanced assessment and diagnostic skills while developing treatment plans that support health promotion and disease management.
NGR6368: FNP Practicum IV (6 credits)
Final clinical practicum allowing students to specialize in a population of interest. Emphasizes independent practice, advanced clinical decision-making, and comprehensive care across the lifespan.
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
Practicum experiences are completed locally under the supervision of a master’s or doctorally prepared nurse preceptor, with a dedicated clinical coordinator helping identify and secure placement sites. A one-weekend on-campus residency is also required in addition to practicum hours.
- FNP Practicum I: Reproductive disorders and the childbearing family
- FNP Practicum II: Pediatric and young adult patients
- FNP Practicum III: Adults, aging adults, and frail elderly patients
- FNP Practicum IV: Student-chosen sub-population or clinical area of interest
- Virtual immersion experience completed prior to in-person practicums
- One-weekend on-campus residency required
- Preceptor must hold a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing
Total practicum hours are not clearly stated on the official program page.
MSN Admissions
Admission requires a BSN with a minimum 3.0 GPA and an active RN license; no GRE is required.
- BSN from a regionally or nationally accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (applicants with 2.8–2.99 may request an exception via written essay)
- Current unencumbered RN license valid in the state where clinicals will be completed
- Two professional letters of recommendation
- Professional essay (as prescribed in application packet)
- Resume or CV
- Official transcripts
- Cleared criminal background check
- Statistics course (prerequisite or corequisite — not part of financial aid eligibility)
- Program not available to residents of AL, ID, MD, or PA
Start dates: July 6, 2026 and January 4, 2027.
Post-Master’s Certificate FNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner at Rasmussen University is approximately $29,087 (including tuition and fees).
The program takes about 21 months to complete on a full-time basis.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate spans 53 credit hours of FNP specialization coursework across 12 courses.
The curriculum is identical to the FNP specialization layer of the MSN program, covering lifespan primary care across adult-gerontology, reproductive health, and pediatrics, followed by four practicum courses.
The admissions dean reviews incoming transcripts to determine whether any NP core courses may be satisfied with transfer credit. Three elective courses covering diagnostics, practice management, and complementary therapies are also included.
- NGR6001: Foundations of Family Nurse Practitioner Practice (3 credits)
- NGR6211: Principles of Adult-Gerontology Primary Care (4 credits)
- NGR6234: Reproductive Health of the Family (4 credits)
- NGR6330: Principles of Pediatric Primary Care (4 credits)
- NGR6365: FNP Practicum I (6 credits)
- NGR6366: FNP Practicum II (6 credits)
- NGR6367: FNP Practicum III (6 credits)
- NGR6368: FNP Practicum IV (6 credits)
Certificate Clinicals
Practicum structure mirrors the MSN track, with four sequential community-based experiences covering the full lifespan. A dedicated clinical coordinator assists with placement, and a one-weekend on-campus residency is required.
- FNP Practicum I: Reproductive disorders and childbearing family
- FNP Practicum II: Pediatric and young adult patients
- FNP Practicum III: Adults, aging adults, and frail elderly
- FNP Practicum IV: Student-chosen sub-population or area of interest
- Virtual immersion experience required before in-person clinicals
- One-weekend on-campus residency required
- Practicum sites may require immunization records, TB testing, and background check
Total practicum hours are not clearly stated on the official program page.
Certificate Admissions
Applicants must hold a graduate nursing degree; the program accepts MSN, MSN-NP, and DNP graduates.
- Master’s or doctoral degree in nursing from an accredited program
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (exception process available for 2.8–2.99)
- Current unencumbered RN license valid in the state where clinicals will be completed
- Two professional letters of recommendation
- Professional essay
- Resume or CV
- Official transcripts
- Cleared criminal background check
- Program not available to residents of AL, ID, MD, or PA
Tuition
MSN tuition is split by course type: core MSN credits are $290 per credit hour (28 credits), and NP specialization credits are $915 per credit hour (41 credits), totaling $45,635 in tuition plus $5,495 in fees for an all-in estimate of $51,130.
The Post-Graduate Certificate charges a flat $464 per specialization credit hour across 53 credits, totaling $24,592 in tuition plus $4,495 in fees for an estimated $29,087.
Tuition does not appear to vary by resident status for online programs.
The MSN NP specialization courses are not eligible for Title IV federal student aid, though this changed effective February 9, 2026 for the Winter 2026 quarter and beyond for both the MSN and certificate programs.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The MSN degree program and the Post-Graduate APRN Certificate at Rasmussen University are both accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Rasmussen University holds institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Both programs have been approved by the Minnesota State Board of Nursing.