Frontier Nursing University offers 3 Family Nurse Practitioner pathways:
- Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner
- Post-Graduate Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner
- Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice
All pathways combine online coursework with supervised clinical experiences completed in the student’s local community. MSN and certificate students complete two on-campus immersion experiences called Frontier Bound and Clinical Bound before entering clinical practicum training.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN Family Nurse Practitioner | ~$37,752 | ~2 to 3 years |
| FNP Post-Graduate Certificate | ~$28,314 | ~2 years |
| Post-Master’s DNP | ~$21,780 | 18 months |
Frontier Nursing University is strongest for nurses who want a flexible online FNP pathway with strong clinical placement support, rural and underserved care training, and one of the longest-running family nurse practitioner programs in the country.
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner at Frontier Nursing University is approximately $37,752 based on 52 credits at $726 per credit hour, and the program typically takes about 2 to 3 years depending on full-time or part-time enrollment.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN-FNP curriculum includes 52 total credits focused on advanced assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacology, primary care management, pediatrics, gynecologic health, and clinical practicum preparation.
- PC701 Foundations of Equitable Care and Health Promotion
- PC705 Advanced Pathophysiology
- PC707 Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
- PC716 Advanced Physical Assessment, Clinical Reasoning & Documentation for APRNs
- FNP700 Role of the Family Nurse Practitioner
- FNP702 Primary Care I
- FNP705 Primary Care II
- FNP706 Primary Care III
- FNP703 Gynecologic Health and Childbearing
- FNP704 Primary Care: Pediatrics
- FNP751 FNP Clinical Practicum I
- FNP752 FNP Clinical Practicum II
- FNP753 FNP Clinical Practicum III
More curriculum details are available through Frontier Nursing University’s official program materials.
MSN Clinicals
The MSN-FNP pathway requires a minimum of 750 clinical hours completed in the student’s home community under the supervision of approved clinician preceptors.
- Minimum 750 clinical hours
- Clinical experiences completed in local communities
- Clinical Bound immersion required before practicum
- Support from Regional Clinical Faculty
- Clinical placement assistance available
- Maximum of 4 clinical sites
- 2 to 3 clinical terms typically required
Students complete required experiences across pediatric, adolescent, adult, geriatric, women’s health, mental health, and chronic illness care populations.
MSN Admissions
Applicants must meet Frontier Nursing University graduate nursing admissions standards.
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing required
- Minimum 3.0 GPA preferred
- Applicants with 2.80–2.99 GPA may submit additional supporting materials
- One year of RN experience required before coursework begins
- Official transcripts required
- Health assessment review may be required
- Frontier Bound orientation required
Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate
The estimated cost for the Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate at Frontier Nursing University is approximately $28,314 based on 39 credits at $726 per credit hour, and the program typically takes about 2 years to complete.
Certificate Curriculum
The FNP Post-Graduate Certificate curriculum focuses on primary care management across the lifespan and prepares APRNs for additional nurse practitioner certification.
- FNP700 Role of the Family Nurse Practitioner
- FNP702 Primary Care I
- FNP705 Primary Care II
- FNP706 Primary Care III
- FNP703 Gynecologic Health and Childbearing
- FNP704 Primary Care: Pediatrics
- FNP751 FNP Clinical Practicum I
- FNP752 FNP Clinical Practicum II
- FNP753 FNP Clinical Practicum III
The certificate pathway requires 39 credits and a minimum of 750 clinical hours.
Certificate Clinicals
Certificate students complete supervised community-based clinical training supported by Frontier’s placement and regional clinical faculty teams.
- Minimum 750 clinical hours
- Clinical practicum completed locally
- Clinical Bound immersion required
- Support from Clinical Outreach and Placement Services
- Regional Clinical Faculty mentorship
Certificate Admissions
The certificate pathway is designed for APRNs seeking additional certification preparation.
- Master’s degree or higher in nursing required
- Current APRN certification required in an approved specialty
- Minimum 3.0 GPA preferred
- Applicants with 2.80–2.99 GPA may submit additional supporting materials
- Three Ps coursework review may be required
- Official transcripts required
Post-Master’s DNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice at Frontier Nursing University is approximately $21,780 based on 30 credits at $726 per credit hour, and the program can typically be completed in about 18 months.
DNP Curriculum
The post-master’s DNP curriculum focuses on evidence-based practice, systems leadership, quality improvement, healthcare outcomes, and advanced nursing leadership.
- Evidence-based practice coursework
- Quality improvement strategies
- Healthcare systems leadership
- Population health and policy coursework
- DNP quality improvement project
The DNP pathway includes a rapid-cycle improvement project completed in collaboration with a clinical site.
DNP Clinicals
The DNP program requires 500 clinical practice hours completed through quality improvement and leadership-focused practicum experiences.
- 500 clinical practice hours
- Quality improvement project required
- Clinical practicum completed collaboratively with healthcare systems
- One required campus immersion orientation
DNP Admissions
Applicants must hold graduate nursing education and meet DNP admission standards.
- Master’s degree in nursing required
- Minimum 3.0 GPA required
- Official transcripts required
- Frontier Bound orientation required
Tuition
Frontier Nursing University charges tuition on a per-credit basis for graduate nursing programs. The Family Nurse Practitioner MSN and Post-Graduate Certificate pathways are currently priced at $726 per credit hour.
| Program | Credits | Estimated Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| MSN Family Nurse Practitioner | 52 | ~$37,752 |
| FNP Post-Graduate Certificate | 39 | ~$28,314 |
| Post-Master’s DNP | 30 | ~$21,780 |
Students should also budget for technology fees, student resource fees, Clinical Bound expenses, travel to Kentucky immersion experiences, textbooks, and clinical-related costs.
See the official tuition page for more details: Frontier Nursing University Tuition and Fees.
Accreditation
The master’s and doctoral nursing programs at Frontier Nursing University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Frontier Nursing University is also institutionally accredited to award graduate nursing degrees and certificates.