Spalding University offers 4 Family Nurse Practitioner Tracks:
- MSN
- RN-MSN
- RN-MSN Bridge
- Post-Master’s Certificate
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | $42.1K–$42.5K | 2–3 years (6–9 semesters) | 49 |
| RN-MSN | $55.0K–$55.4K | About 3–4 years (8–11 semesters) | 73 |
| RN-MSN Bridge | $45.9K–$46.3K | About 2.5–3.5 years (7–10 semesters) | 56 |
| Certificate | $21.5K–$40.0K | About 1–3 years (3–9 semesters) | 25–46 |
Tuition estimates use Spalding’s 2026-27 graduate rate of $825/credit, the $15/credit MSN technology fee, and $150/semester in university fees.
Spalding built its FNP for working nurses in the Louisville metro. Classes meet on campus once a week, coursework fills in online, and the school arranges clinical placements across Louisville and nearby suburban and rural sites. The 770 clinical hours end in a 350-hour final-semester internship that Spalding positions as an early-recruitment channel for local employers.
The trade-off is geography. A weekly campus class makes this a commuter program, and placements stay in the Louisville region. Nurses outside driving range of Spalding’s downtown campus should look elsewhere.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MSN; RN-MSN (ADN entry); RN-MSN Bridge (ADN plus non-nursing bachelor’s); Post-Master’s Certificate |
| Format | Hybrid: once-weekly campus class plus online courses |
| Clinical Hours | 770 across three rotations (210 + 210 + 350) |
| Clinical Placement | School-arranged in the Louisville metro and surrounding suburban and rural areas |
| Population | Family/individual across the lifespan |
| Distinctive Coursework | Advanced Practice Informatics and Telehealth; 350-hour Professional Identity and Internship |
| RN License Requirements | Unencumbered RN license (or compact license) valid in the state where clinicals occur |
| Tuition | $825/credit plus $15/credit technology fee (2026-27) |
| Accreditation | CCNE (master’s and post-graduate APRN certificate) |
| Start Term | One cohort each May; an August cohort may open depending on enrollment |
| Interview | Required with graduate faculty, in person or virtual |
Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the MSN at Spalding University is approximately $40,425 (49 credits at $825/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 2–3 years, depending on whether students follow the faster or slower of Spalding’s two published progressions.
Spalding’s Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner is a 49-credit cohort program that starts each May.
MSN Curriculum
Structure. The 49 credits split into a 3-credit MSN core, a 21-credit nurse practitioner core, and a 25-credit FNP block. Students choose between Progression 1 (2–3 courses per semester) and Progression 2 (1–2 courses per semester). Progression is a pace choice, not a different curriculum.
What stands out. Spalding requires a full 3-credit course in advanced practice informatics and telehealth, which many FNP programs fold into a single module. The FNP block also separates pharmacology into two courses: a 3-credit advanced pharmacology course in the NP core and a 2-credit applied pharmacology course tied to primary care. The specialty sequence ends with a 5-credit internship that must be taken in the final semester.
- NURS 626 Advanced Practice Informatics and Telehealth (3)
- NURS 625 Advanced Practice and Health Care Systems (3)
- NURS 602 Advanced Nursing Leadership (3)
- NURS 641 Child and Adolescent Primary Care Nursing (3)
- NURS 649 Adult Primary Care Nursing (3)
- NURS 680 Health Promotion and Reproductive Health (3)
- NURS 642 Differential Diagnosis and Applications (3)
- NURS 638 Applied Pharmacology (2)
- NURS 681 Nurse Practitioner Professional Identity and Internship (5)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinical Requirements
- Total: 770 clinical hours
- NURS 673 Clinical Practicum I: 210 hours plus seminar (3 credits)
- NURS 674 Clinical Practicum II: 210 hours plus seminar (3 credits)
- NURS 681 Professional Identity and Internship: 350 hours plus seminar (5 credits), final semester only
- Placement: arranged by Spalding across the Louisville metro and adjacent suburban and rural areas
- All FNP faculty are currently in clinical practice
At 770 hours, Spalding sits above the 600 to 700 hour range common among FNP programs and well above the 500-hour certification floor. The load is uneven. Each 210-hour practicum works out to about 14 hours a week over a 15-week term, while the 350-hour internship runs about 23 hours a week. Students working full time should plan for reduced hours in the final semester. School-arranged placement removes the preceptor search that consumes many online FNP students, and Spalding presents the internship as a way for clinical partners to recruit students before graduation.
You Should Know
- Spalding’s program page heads the placement section “Guaranteed Clinical Placements,” but the text describes intentional placements rather than a written guarantee. Ask how placements are assigned and whether students can request specific sites.
- Weekly hour figures are derived from a 15-week term. Spalding does not publish term length for the practicum courses.
MSN Admissions
Applicants face an April priority date, a required faculty interview, and a single annual cohort.
- BSN from a regionally accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Unencumbered RN license in the state where clinical hours are completed, or a compact license covering that state
- Two recommendations, preferably one from an employer and one from an academic or professional reference
- In-person or virtual interview with graduate faculty
- Undergraduate statistics, research, or evidence-based practice coursework preferred
- Health records (TB, hepatitis series, immunizations) and active health insurance; personal malpractice insurance preferred
- No GRE
- Rolling admission; applicants are encouraged to complete files by late April for the May cohort
You Should Know
- Admission is first-come, first-served until the cohort fills. Applying early in the cycle matters more than the April date suggests.
- Transfer credit limits conflict. The FNP admissions page allows up to 6 credits; the graduate catalog allows up to 12 graduate credits for MSN programs generally. Assume 6 for the FNP until Spalding confirms otherwise.
- Any undergraduate deficiencies must be completed before full admission. Provisional acceptance is possible but decided case by case.
RN to MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the RN-MSN at Spalding University is approximately $53,025 (24 undergraduate credits at $525/credit plus 49 graduate credits at $825/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 3–4 years, a derived estimate based on the BSN block plus the MSN’s two- to three-year cohort sequence.
The RN to MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner admits associate-degree nurses and awards the MSN.
RN-MSN Curriculum
Students complete 24 credits of online BSN-level courses first, then join the May FNP cohort for the same 49-credit graduate sequence as the MSN. BSN-level courses start every eight weeks, so the online portion can begin at several points in the year.
- NURS 472 Population Centered Care (4)
- NURS 420 Health Promotion Across the Lifespan (4)
- NURS 465 RN to BSN Capstone Experience (4)
- NURS 483 Principles and Application of Nursing Technologies (3)
- NURS 677 Nursing and Healthcare Policy and Regulations (3), which replaces NURS 625 in this track
- FNP block identical to the MSN (25 credits)
RN-MSN Clinical Requirements
Clinical requirements match the MSN: 770 hours across the same three practicum courses, with school-arranged Louisville-area placements.
RN-MSN Admissions
- ADN from a regionally accredited institution and an unencumbered RN license
- Up to 60 transfer credits for the associate degree and up to 30 credits for an active nursing license
- All other MSN-FNP requirements apply, including the faculty interview
You Should Know
- All BSN-level courses must be finished before nurse practitioner coursework begins. The BSN block effectively determines which May cohort you can join.
- Spalding’s RN-to-MSN page states “60 credit hours,” but that figure matches the Nurse Educator track. The 2026-27 FNP plan of study totals 73 credits.
RN to MSN Bridge: Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the RN-MSN Bridge at Spalding University is approximately $44,100 (7 undergraduate credits at $525/credit plus 49 graduate credits at $825/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 2.5–3.5 years, a derived estimate based on one term of bridge courses plus the MSN sequence.
The RN to MSN Bridge serves associate-degree nurses who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field.
RN-MSN Bridge Curriculum
Only two BSN-level courses are required: NURS 472 Population Centered Care (4) and NURS 455 Health Care Policy (3). Spalding counts the ADN as 30 hours and the non-nursing bachelor’s as 90 hours. The remaining 49 credits match the MSN exactly, including the 770-hour clinical sequence.
RN-MSN Bridge Admissions
- ADN, a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline, and an unencumbered RN license
- All other MSN-FNP requirements apply
You Should Know
- Bridge students do not earn a BSN and cannot stop out with one. Leaving before finishing the MSN leaves you with no new credential.
- ⚠️ Spalding’s RN-to-MSN page lists the Bridge at 43 credits, but the 2026-27 FNP Bridge plan of study sums to 56 (7 + 3 + 21 + 25). The 43-credit figure matches the Nurse Educator Bridge.
Post-Master’s Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the Post-Master’s Certificate at Spalding University is approximately $20,625–$37,950 (25–46 credits at $825/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 1–3 years, a derived estimate that depends on which version applies and on the gap analysis.
Spalding offers the certificate in two versions, and a faculty gap analysis sets each student’s exact plan.
Certificate Curriculum
- Previous NP certification (25 credits): the 25-credit FNP block only, including all three practica
- No previous NP certification (46 credits): the MSN core, six NP core courses, and the FNP block; only Advanced Nursing Leadership is dropped from the MSN plan
- Certificate-to-DNP pathway (34 credits): for certified NPs, adds leadership, health care systems, and telehealth courses to the FNP block
For an MSN-prepared nurse without NP certification, the certificate is 46 of the MSN’s 49 credits. Spalding’s DNP is a separate 36-credit post-master’s program and does not award FNP preparation on its own.
Certificate Clinical Requirements
Both versions list all 770 clinical hours (210 + 210 + 350). The gap analysis may credit prior competencies, but Spalding does not say whether clinical hours can be reduced for certified NPs.
Certificate Admissions
- Master’s degree in nursing and an unencumbered RN license
- Gap analysis by the NP Program Director and Graduate Director
You Should Know
- Certificate tuition is derived from the MSN-FNP rate. Spalding’s rate table does not list a separate certificate rate.
- State boards set their own rules for adding a second APRN population focus. Certified NPs in other specialties should confirm their board accepts a 770-hour certificate built on a gap analysis.
Tuition
Spalding charges $825 per credit for MSN-FNP coursework in 2026-27, plus a $15/credit MSN technology fee, for an all-in graduate rate of $840 per credit. The rate is the same for every state of residence. BSN-level courses in the RN-MSN tracks are estimated at the $525/credit undergraduate online rate.
| Track | Credits | Tuition | Est. Total with Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | 49 | $40,425 | $42,060–$42,510 |
| RN-MSN | 24 UG + 49 grad | $53,025 | $54,960–$55,410 |
| RN-MSN Bridge | 7 UG + 49 grad | $44,100 | $45,885–$46,335 |
| Certificate (prior NP) | 25 | $20,625 | $21,450–$21,600 |
| Certificate (no prior NP) | 46 | $37,950 | $39,540–$39,990 |
Totals with fees add the $15/credit technology fee on graduate credits and $150 per semester in university fees across the derived semester range. All totals are derived; Spalding does not publish program totals.
- Graduate tuition: $825/credit (MSN-FNP, 2026-27)
- MSN technology fee: $15/credit
- Student Services Fee: $100/semester
- AI Access Fee: $50/semester
Be aware that:
- Spalding’s 2026-27 rate table lists the MSN-FNP at 45 credits. The current catalog plan is 49 credits. Budget on 49.
- The $825 rate was unchanged from 2025-26 (up from $815 in 2024-25), but Spalding reviews rates annually. Cohort pricing locks are not mentioned.
- The undergraduate rate applied to RN-MSN BSN-level courses is our assumption. Spalding does not state how those courses are billed for FNP students.
- Spalding estimates $725 a year for graduate books, which is not included above.
- Weekly campus attendance adds commuting and parking costs that fully online programs avoid.
For a BSN-prepared nurse, the true cost of the MSN runs about $42,000 to $42,500 depending on pace. The technology fee adds $735 over the program, and the slower progression adds about $450 in semester fees. The bigger cost question for most applicants is the weekly campus day, which costs work hours rather than tuition.
Why Choose This FNP Program?
Best suited for Louisville-area RNs who want face-to-face classes, a school-arranged preceptor, and a clinical internship that can turn into a local job.
Local placement as a job pipeline. Spalding arranges clinical sites across the Louisville region and frames the 350-hour final internship as a chance for clinical partners to recruit students early. For a nurse who plans to practice in the same metro, those rotations double as extended job interviews. The University of Louisville also provides preceptors, but its FNP runs mostly online with a few campus days per semester; Spalding asks for a weekly campus class in exchange for more in-person faculty contact.
Entry doors for nurses without a BSN. Spalding admits ADN-prepared nurses through two routes. The Bridge is the shorter path for nurses who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s, requiring only 7 BSN-level credits. The standard RN-MSN adds 24 BSN-level credits but completes them online on eight-week starts before the cohort begins.
Who should look elsewhere. Nurses outside commuting range, those who cannot commit to a weekly class day for two to three years, and those who need a spring or fall start. The single May cohort and first-come admission also mean late applicants may wait a full year.
Accreditation
The master’s degree program in nursing and the post-graduate APRN certificate program at Spalding University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). That scope covers the MSN, both RN-MSN routes, and the post-master’s certificate. Spalding’s baccalaureate and DNP programs are also CCNE-accredited.
Spalding University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate through doctoral degrees. Institutional accreditation supports federal financial aid eligibility and the transfer of graduate credit.
Graduates who complete the final precepted course are eligible to sit for the national FNP certification exam (AANP or ANCC).
More FNP Programs in Kentucky
- Bellarmine University - Louisville
- Eastern Kentucky University - Richmond
- Frontier Nursing University - Versailles
- Kentucky Christian University - Grayson
- Morehead State University - Morehead
- Murray State University - Murray
- Northern Kentucky University - Highland Heights
- University of Kentucky - Lexington
- University of Louisville - Louisville
- University of the Cumberlands - Williamsburg
- Western Kentucky University - Bowling Green