18 Schools • 4 Online • 11 Mostly Online • 3 Hybrid
Texas has 18 schools offering 40 family nurse practitioner tracks. Pathways include the MSN, an RN-to-MSN bridge, the BSN-DNP, a dual FNP/AGACNP doctorate, post-master’s DNPs for practicing FNPs, and post-graduate certificates. Four schools are fully online, 11 are Mostly Online, and three are Hybrid. Estimated resident tuition runs from about $10,000 to $162,000, and most tracks take one to four years.
Highlights include:
- UTHealth Houston runs the only Emergency Nurse Practitioner concentration in Texas, open to FNP students before graduation
- Texas Wesleyan makes every FNP graduate eligible for national nurse coaching certification
- Baylor requires a low-resource or international clinical in its BSN-DNP
- Texas Tech Health Sciences Center teaches well-child care and mental health as standalone courses before clinicals
Compare Texas Family NP Programs
| School | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
| Baylor University | Mostly Online | Required immersions | $1,250 | BSN-DNP, post-master’s DNP | Underserved and mission care |
| Houston Christian University | Online | None | $530 | MSN | Shift-working Texas RNs |
| Midwestern State University | Mostly Online | Up to 2 visits per term | $493 | MSN, certificate | Compact-license nurses |
| Stephen F. Austin State University | Mostly Online | Two 2-day seminars | $518 | MSN, certificate | Part-time working RNs |
| Texas A&M University | Mostly Online | 1–2 visits per semester | $383 | MSN, certificate | In-person skills evaluation |
| Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | Online | None | Not clearly stated | MSN, certificate | Practice finance training |
| Texas Christian University | Mostly Online | Orientation plus up to 3 intensives | $2,315 | BSN-DNP, certificate | Fall or spring DNP entry |
| Texas State University | Online | None | $502 | MSN | High clinical volume |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | Mostly Online | Course intensives; DNP each semester | $408 | MSN, BSN-DNP, certificate | Pediatric and behavioral focus |
| Texas Wesleyan University | Mostly Online | Orientation plus 2 intensives | $747 | MSN, BSN-DNP, certificate | Nurse coaching credential |
| Texas Woman’s University | Mostly Online | One intensive (online track) | $560–$635 | MSN, certificate | Assigned clinical placements |
| University of Houston | Hybrid | Every Wednesday (MSN) | $619 | MSN, post-master’s DNP | Weekly in-person classes |
| University of Texas at Arlington | Online | None | $654 | MSN, RN-MSN, certificate | ADN-prepared RNs |
| University of Texas at Austin | Hybrid | Weekday classes | $495 | BSN-DNP, certificate | Small-cohort campus DNP |
| University of Texas at Tyler | Mostly Online | 1–2 days per semester | $476 | MSN, certificate | Year-round MSN entry |
| University of Texas Medical Branch | Mostly Online | 2–3 days per semester | $462 | MSN, BSN-DNP, dual DNP | Dual FNP/AGACNP credential |
| UT San Antonio Health Science Center | Hybrid | 1–3 days per week | $415 | BSN-DNP, certificate | Guaranteed placement |
| UTHealth Houston | Mostly Online | Lab and simulation days | $378 | MSN, BSN-DNP, certificate | Emergency NP pathway |
CPC is derived and inclusive of mandatory per-credit fees at Texas resident rates, rounded to the nearest dollar, and private and flat-rate online programs charge the same rate regardless of residency. Full rate breakdowns are on each school profile.
What’s the Best FNP Program for You?
Best Doctoral Value
UTHealth Houston prices its BSN-DNP at about $30K for residents and pairs it with 1,140 clinical hours.
Best Fully Online MSN
Texas State requires no campus visits and gives students access to more than 1,000 clinical agreements across Texas, though students contact sites themselves.
Best for Out-of-State Nurses
Texas Woman’s University enrolls online FNP students from 28 states and secures clinical sites and preceptors for every rotation.
Best for ADN Nurses
UT Arlington’s RN-MSN moves associate-degree nurses into the MSN on a transition form rather than a second graduate application.
Best Placement Guarantee
UT San Antonio Health Science Center guarantees BSN-DNP clinical placement through more than 400 affiliates, in exchange for weekly campus attendance.
Best Dual Credential
UTMB’s dual FNP/AGACNP doctorate adds acute care certification eligibility for 12 more credits than its standard BSN-DNP.
Texas DNP FNP Programs
Nine Texas schools offer 11 doctoral tracks. Eight are BSN-DNPs, one is a dual FNP/AGACNP doctorate, and two post-master’s DNPs serve nurses who already hold FNP preparation. Every doctoral track carries some campus requirement, and published clinical totals start at 1,000 hours. Private pricing at Baylor and TCU runs well above the public university options.
| School | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Baylor University (BSN-DNP) | $94K | 3.3 years | 1,125 hrs |
| Baylor University (Post-Master’s DNP) | $46K | 1.5–2 years | 1,000+ hrs |
| Texas Christian University | $162K | 3–4 years | 1,000+ hrs |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | $39K | 3–4 years | 1,080+ hrs |
| Texas Wesleyan University | $64K | 3 years | 1,035 hrs |
| University of Houston (Post-Master’s DNP) | $27K–$31K | 3 years | 1,000+ hrs |
| University of Texas at Austin | $35K | 3 years | 1,020 hrs |
| University of Texas Medical Branch (BSN-DNP) | $46K | 3.7–4 years | 1,020 hrs |
| University of Texas Medical Branch (Dual FNP/AGACNP) | $54K | 4.3 years | 1,380 hrs |
| UT San Antonio Health Science Center | $56K–$65K | 3–4 years | 1,080 hrs |
| UTHealth Houston | $30K | 4 years | 1,140 hrs |
Doctoral totals include DNP practicum or project hours, and the Baylor and University of Houston post-master’s totals also count hours from the student’s MSN.
- Lowest post-master’s DNP: University of Houston — $27K resident, for nurses with prior FNP preparation.
- Most clinical hours: UTMB (Dual FNP/AGACNP) — 1,380 hrs across two population foci.
- Smallest cohort: UT Austin — 10 to 12 FNP students admitted each fall.
- Placement coordination: Baylor University — coordinators secure sites and preceptors for every rotation.
Texas MSN FNP Programs
Fourteen schools offer 16 MSN routes, including UT Arlington’s RN-MSN bridge and a separate Dallas hybrid version at Texas Woman’s. Resident estimates run from $15K to $38K. Clinical requirements vary more than price: published totals range from 512 to 900 hours, and three schools do not publish an MSN total. Several programs admit only Texas residents or Texas-licensed RNs.
| School | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Houston Christian University | $28K | 2.3 years | 733 hrs |
| Midwestern State University | $25K | 2 years | 512 hrs |
| Stephen F. Austin State University | $24K | 3 years | 840 hrs |
| Texas A&M University | $18K | 2–2.7 years | 646 hrs |
| Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | Not clearly stated | 2.7 years | 630 hrs |
| Texas State University | $22K | 2 years | 900 hrs |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | $22K–$23K | 2–3 years | Not clearly stated |
| Texas Wesleyan University | $36K | 2 years | 855 hrs |
| Texas Woman’s University (Online) | $29K | 2 years | 780 hrs |
| Texas Woman’s University (Dallas Hybrid) | $27K | Not clearly stated | 780 hrs |
| University of Houston | $33K | 3 years | Not clearly stated |
| University of Texas at Arlington (MSN) | $30K | 2.7–3 years | 720 hrs |
| University of Texas at Arlington (RN-MSN) | $38K | 3.5 years | 720 hrs |
| University of Texas at Tyler | $25K | 2 years | 750 hrs |
| University of Texas Medical Branch | $30K | 2.3 years | Not clearly stated |
| UTHealth Houston | $15K | 1.7–2.3 years | 660 hrs |
- Lowest MSN cost: UTHealth Houston — $15K resident, before course and technology fees.
- Most clinical hours: Texas State University — 900 hrs, including 750 in direct care.
- Year-round entry: UT Tyler — rolling admission, with every FNP course offered each term.
- Out-of-state pricing: Midwestern State University — online courses billed at the $25K in-state rate.
Texas Post-Graduate Certificate FNP Programs
Thirteen schools offer post-graduate FNP certificates. Most are the MSN’s specialty block without the core, so clinical hours rarely shrink. Several price by gap analysis, and eligibility differs: Texas Woman’s requires current APRN licensure, TCU requires a doctorate, and Texas A&M expects advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment before admission.
| School | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Midwestern State University | $18K | 1.5 years | 512 hrs |
| Stephen F. Austin State University | Varies | Varies | Not clearly stated |
| Texas A&M University | $10K | 1.7 years | 601 hrs |
| Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | Not clearly stated | 2 years | 630 hrs |
| Texas Christian University | $58K–$79K | 1.5 years | Not clearly stated |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | $18K–$19K | 2 years | Not clearly stated |
| Texas Wesleyan University | $36K | 2 years | 855 hrs |
| Texas Woman’s University | $17K | Not clearly stated | 780 hrs |
| University of Texas at Arlington | $16K–$24K | 1–2 years | 720 hrs |
| University of Texas at Austin | $12K–$14K | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated |
| University of Texas at Tyler | $13K–$18K | 1.3–1.7 years | 750 hrs |
| UT San Antonio Health Science Center | $25K | 1.3 years | 810 hrs |
| UTHealth Houston | $12K–$15K | Varies | 1,020 hrs |
- Lowest certificate cost: Texas A&M University — $10K resident for 27 credits.
- Most clinical hours: UTHealth Houston — 1,020 hrs, more than its own MSN requires.
- Core-course waiver: Midwestern State University — current APRNs can skip 10 credits, cutting cost to about $13K.
National Online FNP Options
Most Texas FNP programs are built for Texans. Houston Christian, Texas State, Texas A&M, University of Houston, UT Tyler, and UTHealth Houston require Texas residency or a Texas RN license, and only UT Arlington and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi accept ADN-prepared RNs. Every Texas DNP also requires some campus time. Walden University offers FNP routes from RN-to-MSN through BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP, and a post-master’s certificate, and lists CCNE accreditation. Purdue Global offers BSN-to-MSN, MSN-to-DNP, and post-master’s certificate FNP options with continuous start dates. Confirm clinical placement policies and Texas Board of Nursing requirements before enrolling in any national program.
FAQ
How many FNP programs are in Texas?
Eighteen Texas schools offer 40 FNP tracks across MSN, RN-MSN, BSN-DNP, post-master’s DNP, and post-graduate certificate pathways.
Which Texas FNP programs are fully online?
Houston Christian, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas State, and UT Arlington have no required campus attendance. Houston Christian and Texas State admit only Texas-licensed RNs.
Which Texas FNP program has the lowest tuition?
UTHealth Houston has the lowest resident cost per credit in Texas at $378, with Texas A&M close behind at $383. Program totals by degree appear in the tables above.
Which Texas schools offer a DNP with an FNP focus?
Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, Texas Wesleyan, University of Houston, UT Austin, UTMB, UT San Antonio Health Science Center, and UTHealth Houston. Baylor, TCU, and UT Austin offer no MSN route to FNP practice.
Do Texas FNP programs require campus visits?
Fourteen of 18 do. Most require a countable number of intensives or skills days. University of Houston meets every Wednesday, UT San Antonio Health Science Center requires one to three days a week, and UT Austin holds weekday classes on campus.
Can I complete clinicals near home?
Usually, but placement models differ. Texas Woman’s and Baylor secure sites, UT San Antonio Health Science Center guarantees BSN-DNP placement, and UTHealth Houston contracts with more than 2,000 sites. Midwestern State, Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, UT Arlington, and UT Tyler expect students to find their own preceptors.
Can nurses outside Texas enroll?
Some can. Baylor accepts applicants from 24 states plus DC, and Midwestern State accepts compact-license nurses at in-state online rates. Texas Tech Health Sciences Center excludes 12 states plus DC, and Texas Wesleyan does not meet licensure requirements in 17 states.