Texas Wesleyan University offers three Family Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- MSN
- BSN-DNP
- Postgraduate Certificate
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | $35.9K | 2 years (6 semesters) | 48 |
| BSN-DNP | $64.2K | 3 years (9 semesters) | 86 |
| Certificate | $35.9K | 2 years (6 semesters) | 48 |
Tuition estimates use Texas Wesleyan’s published $747 per-credit rate, which the school describes as covering tuition and fees.
Texas Wesleyan’s FNP tracks lead to two certification exams, not one. A required nurse coaching course, with 90 practicum hours, qualifies graduates to sit for the national nurse coaching certification exam alongside the FNP boards. Two mandatory skills intensives in Fort Worth teach procedures in person rather than leaving them to preceptors: suturing, incision and drainage, IUD placement, casting, and X-ray and ECG reading.
Those extras use up part of the degree. The coaching course takes 3 of the MSN’s 48 credits, 90 of its 855 clinical hours, and a weekly live session at a set time. The intensives, plus a one-day orientation, mean at least three trips to Fort Worth, and the BSN-DNP adds a fourth for its two-day project defense.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MSN, BSN-DNP, postgraduate certificate |
| Format | Mostly Online: three campus visits (four for BSN-DNP), plus one weekly live online class |
| Clinical Hours | 855 (MSN, certificate); 1,035 (BSN-DNP) |
| Clinical Placement | Student arranges sites from school-provided contact lists; school handles contracts; no current employer |
| Population | Outpatient and primary care settings; optional service trips to underserved communities |
| Distinctive Coursework | Nurse coaching course with certification exam eligibility; procedural skills intensives |
| Concentrations | None |
| RN License Requirements | Unencumbered RN license in the state where clinicals take place |
| Tuition | $747/credit, all tracks |
| Accreditation | CCNE; CCNE on-site evaluation scheduled November 2026 |
| Start Terms | Spring (January) and Summer (May) cohorts |
| Enrollment Restrictions | Program does not meet licensure requirements in 17 states, including California, Georgia, Illinois, and New York |
Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP)
The estimated tuition for the Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner at Texas Wesleyan is approximately $35,856 (48 credits at $747/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 2 years; the 6-semester count is derived from clinicals starting in semester three and running through the last four semesters.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN is a BSN-entry degree built around a single FNP practicum sequence that grows each term. Clinical load rises from 135 hours in FNP I to 225 hours in the closing FNP Residency, so the heaviest clinical semester comes last.
Coursework you won’t find in most FNP programs. Introduction to the Art and Science of Nurse Coaching carries 90 practicum hours and is the program’s only live class, meeting weekly for 1.5 hours. Practice Management for the Advanced Practice Nurse covers the business side of running a clinic.
- Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (4 credits, 90 practicum hours)
- Advanced Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
- Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (3 credits)
- Introduction to the Art and Science of Nurse Coaching (3 credits, 90 practicum hours)
- Practice Management for the Advanced Practice Nurse (2 credits)
- Family Nurse Practitioner I (5 credits, 135 hours)
- Family Nurse Practitioner II (6 credits, 135 hours)
- Family Nurse Practitioner III (7 credits, 180 hours)
- Family Nurse Practitioner Residency (6 credits, 225 hours)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinical Requirements
- 855 total hours: 90 (health assessment) + 90 (nurse coaching) + 135 + 135 + 180 + 225 (FNP practicum sequence)
- FNP rotation hours alone: 675
- Clinicals begin in semester three and run through the last four semesters
- Settings: outpatient or primary care
- Clinical hours cannot be completed at your current workplace
- Placement: Texas Wesleyan does not assign preceptors; it supplies lists of past placements and preceptor contacts, you make contact, and the school handles contracting and approval
- Faculty step in if you cannot secure a site; some faculty precept students in their own practices
- Campus: one-day orientation plus two mandatory skills intensives in Fort Worth
At 855 hours, the MSN sits well above the 500-hour certification floor and above the 600 to 700 hours common in FNP programs. The 675 rotation hours alone still fall inside that common range. Spread over four semesters, that averages about 214 hours per term, or roughly 14 hours a week in a 15-week term (derived). The placement model is support, not assignment: expect to do the outreach yourself, with faculty as a backstop.
You Should Know
- 180 of the 855 hours sit in health assessment and nurse coaching rather than FNP rotations. Compare the 675 rotation hours, not the headline figure, when weighing clinical depth against other programs.
- Students licensed outside Texas and its compact states may face additional requirements before a clinical site is approved.
- Intensive length (number of days) is not clearly stated.
MSN Admissions
Admission includes a required virtual interview, and there is no RN experience minimum and no GRE.
- BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program
- Unencumbered RN license in the state where clinicals will take place
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in upper-division nursing courses and 2.8 overall
- Undergraduate statistics and research courses with a B or higher
- Resume, three professional or academic references, official transcripts, RN license number, and evidence of continuing education
- Virtual interview: applicants should be able to state a clear philosophy of primary care
- Transfer credit: up to 12 graduate credits with a B or higher, earned within the past five years
- Start terms: Spring (January) and Summer (May); the next listed deadline is December 1 for the January 2027 start
- After acceptance: $500 deposit, background check, drug screen within one month of classes, immunizations, BLS, and TB results before you can register
You Should Know
- Texas Wesleyan states its FNP programs do not meet licensure education requirements in 17 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin. Nebraska is not listed either way.
- Applicants in a non-approved state can enroll only by attesting that they intend to work in a state that accepts the program. The list is updated every May.
- Applicants below the GPA or prerequisite minimums may be admitted conditionally and must earn a 3.0 in their first semester (minimum 6 credits).
- The MSN program FAQ omits the statistics and research prerequisite that the admissions page and catalog admission criteria list. Plan on needing it.
- A Summer application deadline is not published.
BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP)
The estimated tuition for the Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner at Texas Wesleyan is approximately $64,242 (86 credits at $747/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 3 years (9 semesters, derived from year-round semester enrollment).
BSN-DNP Curriculum
The DNP-FNP contains the full MSN clinical spine and adds 38 credits. The additions fall into two groups: doctoral coursework in policy, informatics, population health, and quality improvement, and two extra practica on chronic illness management.
What the extra 38 credits buy. Primary Care for the Chronically Ill 1 and 2 add 180 practicum hours, so the DNP’s FNP rotations alone total 855 hours, equal to the MSN’s entire clinical requirement. Family Systems and Vulnerable Populations appear only in the doctoral track. The degree ends with a DNP project defended on campus.
- Applied Statistics for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
- Population Health and Emerging Diseases (3 credits)
- Health Care Informatics (3 credits)
- Health Care Policy (3 credits)
- Family Systems (3 credits)
- Vulnerable Populations (3 credits)
- Primary Care for the Chronically Ill 1 and 2 (4 credits each, 90 hours each)
- Evidence-Informed Practice I and II (2 credits each)
- DNP Transition and DNP Project (3 credits each)
More curriculum details are available here.
BSN-DNP Clinical Requirements
- 1,035 total hours: 90 (health assessment) + 90 (nurse coaching) + 135 + 135 + 180 + 90 + 90 + 225 (FNP and chronic care practica)
- FNP and chronic care rotation hours alone: 855
- Clinicals begin in the third full-time semester
- Same placement model, settings, and current-employer exclusion as the MSN
- Campus: one-day orientation, two skills intensives, and a two-day project defense and poster session
1,035 hours is roughly double the 500-hour floor. Spread from semester three through semester nine, the load averages about 148 hours per term, or near 10 hours a week (derived). That lighter weekly pace is the practical advantage of the longer route.
BSN-DNP Admissions
Admission requirements, interview, transfer rules, start terms, and state restrictions match the MSN.
Family Nurse Practitioner Postgraduate Certificate
The estimated tuition for the Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate at Texas Wesleyan is approximately $35,856 (48 credits at $747/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 2 years (6 semesters, derived from clinicals running through the last four semesters).
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate is for nurses who already hold an MSN, DNP, or PhD in nursing. On the program site, it matches the MSN course for course: the same 12 courses, 48 credits, 855 clinical hours, campus intensives, and price. In practice, it is the MSN without the degree.
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- Texas Wesleyan’s FAQ says certificate students skip foundational courses already covered in their MSN, but the curriculum and tuition pages list all 48 credits.
- The university cashier’s page lists the certificate at 37 credits, which would be about $27,639 at the current rate (derived).
- Request a written gap analysis before enrolling. The difference could be up to 11 credits, or about $8,217.
Certificate Clinical Requirements
Hours, sequence, placement model, and campus requirements match the MSN: 855 hours across the last four semesters.
Certificate Admissions
The certificate uses a single GPA threshold and requires a graduate nursing degree. Interview, transfer credit, start terms, post-admission credentialing, and state restrictions match the MSN.
- Graduate degree in nursing (MSN, DNP, or PhD) from a nationally accredited program
- Unencumbered RN license in the state where clinicals will take place
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in the previous degree
You Should Know
- Nurses who already hold another APRN certification should confirm with their state board how a second population focus is recognized.
Tuition
Texas Wesleyan charges a published $747 per credit for every FNP track, with no resident or non-resident split. The school says this rate covers tuition and fees.
| Track | Credits | Rate | Published Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | 48 | $747 | $35,856 |
| BSN-DNP | 86 | $747 | $64,242 |
| Certificate | 48 | $747 | $35,856 |
The cashier’s office still shows prior-year components, which track how the bundled rate has moved:
| Year | Tuition | Fees | Total/Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | $659 | $130 | $789 |
| 2025-26 | $582 | $150 | $732 |
| Current | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated | $747 |
Confirmed costs:
- $747 per credit, all tracks
- MSN: $35,856; BSN-DNP: $64,242; certificate: $35,856
- $500 enrollment deposit, due within 90 days of acceptance
- $35 enrollment fee for a semester payment plan
- Books and course materials billed separately
Be aware that:
- The same tuition page lists a $130-per-credit technology fee as an “additional expense.” If it is charged on top of $747, the MSN rises to $42,096 and the BSN-DNP to $75,422 (derived). The $130 figure matches the 2024-25 fee component, so it may be outdated. Confirm with the cashier’s office.
- The current rate rose $15 (2.0%) from 2025-26 (derived). Rates are set yearly, and no cohort price lock is stated.
- The cashier’s page lists the MSN at 45 credits and the certificate at 37. The catalog and program site list 48 for both.
- Whether the $500 deposit is applied to tuition is not clearly stated.
- Travel to Fort Worth for three or four campus visits is not included.
- The federal Grad PLUS loan closed to new borrowers on July 1, 2026, so new students cannot use it for this program.
- Employees of organizations in the AllCampus Workplace Network may qualify for a 10% tuition discount. Eligibility depends on your employer.
A private-school rate with no residency split makes the price the same for a Texan and an out-of-state applicant. The unresolved technology fee is the figure to settle first, since it moves the MSN total by $6,240. With Grad PLUS closed, financing a $64,000 doctorate now requires more planning than it did a year ago.
Why Choose This FNP Program?
A good match for nurses who value extra credentials and hands-on procedures enough to accept a few trips to Fort Worth and a rate that needs confirming.
The nurse coaching credential has real value for some roles. Graduates leave eligible for two national exams. That matters most for FNPs headed into chronic disease management, wellness-focused care, or independent practice. For nurses aiming at urgent care, the course mainly costs credits and a weekly live session.
Procedures and practice management add practical value. Suturing, IUD placement, casting, and imaging interpretation are taught in person rather than left to preceptors. Paired with a dedicated practice management course, that suits nurses planning to work in rural clinics or open their own practice.
The DNP is the better value; the certificate is not. The BSN-DNP costs $28,386 more than the MSN, but it adds a doctorate, 180 chronic care practicum hours, and a lighter weekly clinical pace. The certificate, as published, costs exactly what the MSN costs. MSN-prepared nurses should get a written gap analysis before treating it as a shortcut.
Watch the state list and fee question. Nurses in the 17 non-approved states, including California, Georgia, Illinois, and New York, face an attestation requirement. Every applicant should confirm whether the $130 technology fee is already inside the $747 rate before budgeting.
Accreditation
Texas Wesleyan states that its DNP-FNP, MSN-FNP, and FNP Certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The DNP-FNP first earned CCNE accreditation in 2020.
CCNE has scheduled an on-site evaluation for November 4-6, 2026, which Texas Wesleyan describes as re-accreditation of the MSN-FNP. This is a standard periodic review, and CCNE is accepting written third-party comments until October 14, 2026.
The university is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award master’s and doctoral degrees. Institutional accreditation supports federal financial aid eligibility and credit transfer.
Graduates of all three tracks are eligible to sit for the national FNP certification exam (AANP or ANCC). Texas Wesleyan reports a 92.6% FNP board pass rate against an 83% national average, without naming the cohort years. Completing the nurse coaching course also qualifies graduates for the national nurse coaching certification exam.
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