Spring Arbor University FNP Programs

School of Nursing, Health, and Sciences • Spring Arbor, MI • Mostly Online • $810/credit

Spring Arbor University offers 3 Family Nurse Practitioner Tracks:

  • MSN
  • RN-MSN Bridge
  • Post-Master’s Certificate

Program Tracks Overview

ProgramEst. TuitionEst. DurationCredit Hours
MSN$42.1K2.4 years (about 7 semesters)52
RN-MSN$58.7K4 years (12 semesters)87
Certificate$18.6K–$25.9K1.5–2 years (5–6 semesters)23–32

Tuition estimates use Spring Arbor’s published 2025-2026 online per-credit rates and program totals, before per-semester fees.

Spring Arbor is built for nurses who want to keep working full time: courses run one at a time in seven-week blocks, with six MSN starts a year and three entry points (ADN, BSN, or MSN) feeding the same 625-hour FNP sequence. The only campus obligation is a single four-day residency.

The trade-off is pace and placement. The part-time design stretches the BSN-entry MSN to about two and a half years, and SAU describes its clinical placement role as support rather than a guarantee.

Quick Facts

FeatureDetails
Program TypesMSN, RN-MSN bridge, post-master’s certificate
FormatMostly Online: asynchronous 7-week courses, one four-day campus residency
Clinical Hours625 (MSN and RN-MSN); 250–625 (certificate, by prior NP role)
Clinical PlacementSAU “works with you” through a clinical partner network; not a guarantee
PopulationFamily/individual across the lifespan, including a childbearing-family course
Distinctive CourseworkNUR 645 Family Systems and Clinical Management of the Childbearing Family
RN License RequirementsUnrestricted, unencumbered RN license in state of practice, kept current
Tuition$810/credit graduate; $499/credit for some RN-MSN courses
Enrollment RestrictionsNursing programs not authorized in Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, or New York
Start TermsSix MSN starts per year; certificate starts vary by prerequisites
AccreditationCCNE (MSN and post-master’s certificates); HLC institutional

BSN to MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner

The estimated tuition for the Online MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner at Spring Arbor University is approximately $42,120 (52 credits at $810/credit). The program can generally be completed in about two years and five months of part-time study, which works out to roughly seven semesters (derived).

MSN Curriculum

Foundation block. Every MSN student, regardless of specialty, completes a 24-credit foundation of eight 3-credit courses plus the zero-credit residency. It carries more non-clinical content than many FNP programs: separate courses in ethics, nursing theory, role development and leadership, research methods, and population health sit alongside the three core APRN courses. That is a large part of why the FNP MSN totals 52 credits.

FNP sequence. The 28-credit FNP concentration adds an NP-level pharmacology course, three primary care courses (adult, older adult, child), a dedicated childbearing-family course, three practicums, and a capstone evidence-based practice course. NUR 645 is the notable inclusion: a full course on antepartum care and at-risk pregnancy, which many FNP curricula fold into a broader women’s health unit.

Sequencing gates. NUR 510, 522, and 532 must be passed before health assessment and the residency. No practicum can begin until advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, and the residency are complete. Research methods (NUR 551) must be passed before the capstone.

  • NUR 510 Moral and Ethic Decision Making
  • NUR 522 Theoretical Perspectives for Advanced Practice
  • NUR 602 Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (with NUR 602R MSN Residency)
  • NUR 612 Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan
  • NUR 628 Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan for Nurse Practitioners
  • NUR 645 Family Systems and Clinical Management of the Childbearing Family
  • NUR 685, 686, 687 Advanced Practice in Primary Care I, II, III
  • NUR 781 Advanced Integration of Evidence-Based Practice

More curriculum details are available here.

You Should Know
  • NUR 687 is titled “Advanced Practice in Primary Care III” in the catalog and “Primary Care of the Child” on the marketing page. The course descriptions indicate pediatric primary care.
  • The program page cites an 88% certification pass rate but names no exam, year, or cohort size.

MSN Clinical Requirements

  • 625 supervised clinical practice hours: NUR 760F (2 credits, 125 hours), NUR 770F (4 credits, 250 hours), NUR 780F (4 credits, 250 hours). SAU’s ratio is 2 credits = 125 hours.
  • SAU counts only direct patient time: “actual time spent caring for/working with a patient at the bedside (typically one patient seen per hour).”
  • Placement: SAU “works with you to secure clinical placements that match your preferred location,” with training and access to a clinical partner network.
  • Campus: one four-day residency (NUR 602R) in year two, covering hands-on skills practice and a full history and physical check-off.
  • Extra hours: students whose state board requires more than 625 hours can register for NUR 782 (2 credits) or NUR 783 (4 credits) with clinical department approval, at added cost and time.

At 625 hours, Spring Arbor sits inside the 600 to 700 hour range common among FNP programs and 125 hours above the 500-hour certification floor. The strict direct-care definition matters: indirect time such as charting away from the patient does not appear to count. The load is back-loaded into three practicums. SAU does not publish practicum length, but if a 250-hour course ran inside one seven-week block, that would mean about 36 clinical hours a week on top of a job.

You Should Know
  • “Works with you” and “support” describe assistance, not guaranteed placement. Ask admissions who contacts preceptors and what happens if no site is found before a practicum start.
  • Clinical term length is not clearly stated, so the weekly load above is an estimate. Confirm whether practicums run over one seven-week block or a full semester.
  • Hours added through NUR 782 or 783 are billed at $810 per credit: about $1,620 for 125 hours or $3,240 for 250 hours (derived from the 2-credit = 125-hour ratio).

MSN Admissions

Admission is standard for the category, though the catalog lets the committee require a conference-call interview.

  • BSN from a CCNE-, ACEN-, or CNEA-accredited nursing program
  • 3.0 GPA calculated on the most recent 60 academic credits
  • Unrestricted, unencumbered RN license from the state or country of practice, kept current throughout
  • Two- to three-page personal goal statement; official transcripts from all institutions
  • Prerequisites before NUR 551: a nursing research course and statistics at the 100 level or above (CLEP score of 50 accepted)
  • Transfer: maximum 12 graduate credits, course-for-course match required
  • No minimum RN experience requirement is stated
You Should Know
  • SAU’s nursing programs are not authorized in Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, or New York. Residents of those states cannot enroll.
  • Washington is authorized with conditions. The state authorization page says SAU is approved for Washington residents’ practice experiences in its MSN programs and FNP certificate, but the accreditations page lists Washington approval only for the PNP-PC and PMHNP programs. Washington applicants should get written confirmation for the FNP.
  • Minimum grade to progress is B- in prerequisite courses.

RN to MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner

The estimated tuition for the Online RN to MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner at Spring Arbor University is approximately $58,652 (87 credits at $499 or $810/credit, depending on course). The program can generally be completed in about four years, or roughly 12 semesters (derived).

RN-MSN Curriculum

ADN and diploma nurses complete the BSN portion first, then move into the same 52-credit MSN and 625-hour FNP sequence described above. Two bridge courses, NUR 510 and NUR 522, count toward both the BSN and the MSN. Students earn both degrees. Progression into the MSN requires a 3.0 GPA at BSN completion.

SAU’s published total implies 49 credits at $810 and 38 at $499 (derived from $58,652). SAU does not publish which courses fall at each rate.

You Should Know
  • The RN-MSN FNP page states that graduates are prepared for the “national PMHNP certification exam (PMHNP-BC).” This appears to be a copy error on SAU’s page; the FNP track leads to FNP certification.
  • BSN-portion course descriptions are in the undergraduate catalog, not the graduate catalog linked on this page.

RN-MSN Clinical Requirements

  • Same 625 FNP clinical hours and practicum sequence as the MSN
  • One four-day campus residency, scheduled in year three

RN-MSN Admissions

  • Associate degree or diploma in nursing leading to RN licensure
  • 3.0 GPA on the most recent 60 academic credits
  • Unrestricted, unencumbered RN license from the state of employment, kept current
  • Short personal statement and official transcripts

Post-Master’s Certificate, Family Nurse Practitioner

The estimated tuition for the Online Post-Master’s FNP Certificate at Spring Arbor University is approximately $18,630 to $25,920 (23 to 32 credits at $810/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 18 to 24 months, depending on prior NP certification and prerequisites.

Certificate Curriculum

Plans are individualized. Admissions reviews prior coursework and direct-care hours, then sets the required courses and number of clinical semesters. There are two entryways: NP to FNP for current APRNs, and Non-NP to FNP for MSN holders without NP preparation.

The catalog’s full plan totals 26 credits: the FNP sequence plus NUR 610 Foundation of Post-Graduate Nursing (1 credit). Students missing advanced health assessment, pathophysiology, or pharmacology take them as prerequisites. Those who skip NUR 602 and 602R must submit a video head-to-toe assessment in NUR 610 before any clinical course.

  • NUR 610 Foundation of Post-Graduate Nursing (1 credit)
  • NUR 628 Advanced Pharmacology for Nurse Practitioners
  • NUR 645 Family Systems and Clinical Management of the Childbearing Family
  • NUR 685, 686, 687 Advanced Practice in Primary Care I, II, III
  • NUR 760F, 770F, 780F FNP Clinical Experience I, II, III

More curriculum details are available here.

You Should Know
  • The marketing range of 23 to 32 credits does not reconcile with the catalog. The full catalog plan is 26 credits, and adding all three APRN prerequisites (while dropping NUR 610) gives 34. Your individual plan will set the real figure.
  • The certificate page’s NUR 687 description covers neurobiology and psychopathology, which matches a psychiatric course rather than pediatric primary care. The catalog title is Advanced Practice in Primary Care III.
  • The certificate must be completed within three years of admission, and courses are planned consecutively without significant breaks.

Certificate Clinical Requirements

  • Range: 250 to 625 direct-care hours, based on prior NP role
  • AGNP to FNP: up to 375 primary care hours may transfer, leaving a 250-hour minimum
  • Other NPs: a maximum of 125 hours may transfer, leaving a 500-hour minimum (derived)
  • Non-NPs: full 625 hours unless prior direct-care hours are approved for transfer
  • Clinical agreements, affiliation, and preceptor verification forms are due at least four weeks before any clinical course

The 250-hour floor applies only to adult-gerontology primary care NPs, whose adult hours overlap the FNP scope. Psychiatric, pediatric, and acute care NPs should plan on at least 500 hours, which is close to a full MSN clinical load.

Certificate Admissions

The certificate has one financial gate that the MSN does not: it is not eligible for federal financial aid.

  • MSN or doctorate in nursing from a regionally accredited institution and accredited nursing program
  • 3.0 cumulative GPA in MSN and all post-graduate coursework (the marketing page cites the most recent 60 credits)
  • CV or resume and a two- to three-page personal goal statement
  • Unrestricted, unencumbered RN license, plus APRN license if applicable
  • Conditional admission is possible with verified degree completion and an anticipated conferral date
You Should Know
  • Students must arrange a payment plan with the Business Office after admission, since federal aid does not apply.
  • If prerequisites include NUR 602R, the campus residency applies to certificate students as well.

Tuition

Spring Arbor charges a published $810 per credit for graduate nursing coursework, the same for every FNP track and every state of residence. RN-MSN students pay $499 per credit for some courses, per SAU’s 2025-2026 online rate table.

TrackCreditsPublished TuitionEst. with Fees
MSN52$42,120$43,585
RN-MSN87$58,652$60,917
Certificate23–32$18,630–$25,920$19,430–$26,880

Fee estimates are derived: $160 per semester (tech plus registration) times estimated semesters (MSN 7, RN-MSN 12, certificate 5 to 6), plus the $345 residency fee for the MSN and RN-MSN.

  • Graduate tuition: $810 per credit (SAU tuition and fees)
  • Tech fee: $115 per semester
  • Registration fee: $45 per semester
  • MSN residency fee: $345, one time
  • No residency-based rate difference; one rate for all states

Be aware that:

  • SAU’s rates are labeled 2025-2026 and “subject to change.” A 2026-2027 table was not published at the time of review.
  • Semester counts behind the fee estimate are derived; SAU does not publish them.
  • The certificate is not eligible for federal financial aid.
  • Certificate students who need NUR 602R likely pay the $345 residency fee, bringing the high end to about $27,225.
  • Additional state-required clinical hours (NUR 782 or 783) add $1,620 to $3,240.
  • Residency travel and lodging for the four-day campus visit are not included.

For the BSN-entry MSN, the realistic all-in figure is about $43,600 plus one trip to Michigan. Because SAU charges one rate nationally, out-of-state nurses pay the same as Michigan residents, and fees add less than 4% to tuition. The larger cost risk is outside the fee table: extra practicum credits in high-hour states and lost time if a preceptor falls through.

Why Choose This FNP Program?

This program fits working nurses who need a steady, one-course-at-a-time schedule and a single short campus trip, and who can line up their own clinical sites with some help.

For BSN nurses working full time. The 7-1-7 model limits the didactic load to one course at a time, and six start dates a year mean no waiting for a fall cohort. The pace is the price: about 29 months to finish, and 52 credits, several of them non-clinical foundation courses that a leaner FNP program would drop.

For ADN nurses who want one enrollment. The RN-MSN keeps an associate-degree nurse in one program from BSN through FNP, with two courses counting toward both degrees. Four years is a long commitment, but it avoids reapplying after the BSN.

For adult-gerontology NPs adding family practice. The certificate’s 375-hour transfer allowance cuts the AGNP-to-FNP clinical load to 250 hours. Other NPs get far less credit, and no certificate student can use federal aid.

Drawbacks to weigh. Placement is supported, not guaranteed, and practicum length is unpublished. The school’s own pages carry several copy errors (a PMHNP exam reference on the RN-MSN FNP page, a mismatched NUR 687 description, a certificate credit range that doesn’t match the catalog). Confirm details with admissions in writing.

Accreditation

The master’s degree program in nursing and the post-master’s certificates at Spring Arbor University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). That covers all three FNP tracks: the MSN, the RN-MSN (whose baccalaureate portion is also CCNE-accredited), and the post-master’s FNP certificate.

CCNE conducted an on-site visit in March 2026 for continuing accreditation of the MSN, DNP, and post-graduate certificate programs. SAU’s pages continue to list the programs as accredited.

Spring Arbor University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a regional accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Institutional accreditation supports federal aid eligibility for degree programs and the transferability of credits.

Graduates of the MSN and RN-MSN, and completers of the post-master’s certificate, are eligible to sit for the national FNP certification exam (AANP or ANCC).

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