University of Colorado Colorado Springs offers 3 Family Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- MSN-FNP (47 credits) — master’s, for BSN-prepared RNs (an RN-to-MSN entry exists for ADN nurses)
- BSN-to-DNP, Primary Care/FNP (70 credits) — BSN to doctorate; no MSN conferred
- Post-Master’s FNP Certificate (25–34 credits) — for MSN-prepared nurses
All run fully online through the Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences, each requiring clinical hours with preceptors students identify in their area. Graduates are eligible for FNP national certification and prescriptive authority.
Two things to note: UCCS currently accepts students from only 14 states (Florida included), and Western-region (WRGP) states pay the in-state rate.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN FNP | $40.8K in-state | 3 years |
| BSN-DNP FNP | $63K in-state | 3 years |
| Post-Master’s Certificate FNP | $22K–$31K | 2.5 years |
UCCS delivers FNP fully online at the master’s, doctoral, and post-master’s certificate levels — with Western-state residents paying in-state tuition, making it an affordable, flexible path for working nurses in eligible states.
MSN FNP
The estimated cost for the MSN FNP at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs is about $40,796 in-state (or $45,731 out-of-state; 47 credits at $868/$973 per credit), and the program is usually completed in about three years.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN-FNP is 47 credits — an MSN core (philosophical foundations, advanced practice, research, the “three Ps”) plus the FNP specialization (pediatrics, acute and chronic primary care, gender health, and synthesis practicums). It concludes with an evidence-based practice project.
MSN Core (22–23 credits)
- NURS 6100 — Philosophical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 6110 — Advanced Nursing Practice in Healthcare
- NURS 6120 — Research and Knowledge Translation in Nursing
- NURS 6280 — Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics
- NURS 6730 — Advanced Health Assessment
- NURS 6740 — Advanced Pathophysiology
- NURS 7000 — Research Thesis or NURS 7024 — Research Analysis and Application
FNP Specialization (25–26 credits)
- NURS 6900 — Primary Care of Pediatric Patients and Families
- NURS 6915 — Primary Care of Acute Care Conditions
- NURS 6925 — Primary Care of Chronic Care Conditions
- NURS 6960 — Gender Health Primary Care
- NURS 6980 — Synthesis Practicum
- NURS 6982 — Pre-Synthesis Practicum (not required of all students)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
The MSN-FNP requires 630 clinical hours, with UCCS providing placement oversight while students identify their own preceptors.
- Total hours: 630 clinical hours
- Placement: UCCS guides; student identifies preceptors in their area
- Clinical oversight: six students per faculty member
- Population focus: primary care across the lifespan (acute and chronic conditions)
- Capstone: a final evidence-based practice project
MSN Admissions
Admission requires a BSN and an RN license.
- BSN from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited program, with a 3.0 GPA
- Current, unrestricted RN license in the practicum state
- Essay questions, CV/résumé, and a $60 application fee
- TOEFL if English is not the native language
Admission is rolling, with three starts a year (spring, summer, fall). An RN-to-MSN entry exists for ADN nurses (a 6-credit bridge course plus the MSN, 53–55 total credits). UCCS accepts students from only 14 states — confirm eligibility before applying.
BSN-DNP FNP
The estimated cost for the BSN-DNP (Primary Care/FNP option) at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs is about $63,000 in-state (or $68,180 out-of-state; 70 credits at $900/$974 per credit), and it can be completed in as few as three years. No MSN is conferred along the way.
DNP Curriculum
The BSN-to-DNP is 70 credits, layering the FNP primary-care specialty with a DNP core (theory, health policy/ethics/law, population health, economics, organizational leadership) and a five-part DNP project, plus the advanced-practice nursing core (the “three Ps”).
DNP Core (36 credits)
- NURS 6120 — Research and Knowledge Translation in Nursing
- NURS 7010 — Theoretical Foundations of Reflective Practice
- NURS 7030 — Advanced Healthcare Policy, Ethics, and Law
- NURS 7070 — Population-based Health Care for Improving the Nation’s Health
- NURS 7080 — Clinical Nursing Scholarship for Evidence-based Practice
- NURS 7090 — Health Care Economics and Policy
- NURS 7120 — Evaluation of Clinical Research and QI Projects
- NURS 7200 — Organizational Systems Leadership
- NURS 8050–8054 — DNP Project I–V
Advanced Practice Core (9 credits) + FNP Specialty
- NURS 6280 — Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics
- NURS 6730 — Advanced Health Assessment
- NURS 6740 — Advanced Pathophysiology
- FNP courses: NURS 6900, 6915, 6925, 6960, 6980, 6982 (see MSN section)
More curriculum details are available here.
DNP Clinicals
The BSN-DNP requires 1,170 DNP experience hours, completed one-on-one with a preceptor.
- Total hours: 1,170 DNP experience hours
- Placement: one-on-one preceptor work; student identifies preceptors
- Capstone: a DNP project implementing and evaluating practice change in a clinical setting
- NP options at entry: Primary Care, Adult/Gerontology, or Psychiatric/Mental Health (Family)
- Note: no MSN is conferred en route
DNP Admissions
The BSN-to-DNP requires a BSN and an RN license.
- BSN from a nationally accredited program, with a 3.0 GPA
- Current, unrestricted RN license in the practicum state
- CV/résumé and all application materials by deadline
- TOEFL if applicable
The NP option is chosen at application. An MSN-to-DNP track also exists, but it’s for already-certified NPs/CNSs (not an FNP-granting path). Admission is rolling.
Post-Master’s Certificate FNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s FNP Certificate at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs runs about $22,500–$30,600 in-state (25–34 credits at $900/credit), with the final count set by a gap analysis. It takes about 2.5 years.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate is for MSN-prepared nurses moving into the FNP role. Five specialty clinical courses are required; a gap analysis of prior coursework may add the “three Ps” (advanced pathophysiology, health assessment, pharmacotherapeutics) and research courses, which is why credits range from about 25 up to 34.
- NURS 6900 — Primary Care of Pediatric Patients and Families
- NURS 6915 — Primary Care of Acute Care Conditions
- NURS 6925 — Primary Care of Chronic Care Conditions
- NURS 6960 — Gender Health Primary Care
- NURS 6980 — Synthesis Practicum
- Possible add-ons (per gap analysis): NURS 6280, 6730, 6740, 7024
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
The certificate requires 630 hours of preceptor practice, completed fully online with no on-campus requirement.
- Total hours: 630 preceptor-practice hours
- Placement: UCCS guides; student identifies preceptors
- Population focus: primary care across the lifespan
- Recent outcome: >90% FNP certification pass rate
- Scope: actual courses set by gap analysis of prior MSN work
Certificate Admissions
The certificate is for nurses who hold an MSN.
- Completed MSN (25–34 graduate credits assessed via gap analysis)
- Current, unrestricted RN license in the practicum state
- CV/résumé and a $60 application fee
- TOEFL if applicable
A gap analysis determines required coursework. Admission is rolling; confirm your state is on UCCS’s accepted list before applying.
Tuition
UCCS charges by the credit hour, with two rate tiers: the MSN-FNP is about $868 in-state / $973 out-of-state per credit, while the DNP and post-master’s certificate run about $900 in-state / $974 out-of-state.
Importantly, Western-region (WRGP/WICHE) states — including Colorado, California, Arizona, and others — pay the reduced in-state rate. That puts the 47-credit MSN near $40,800 in-state, the 70-credit BSN-DNP near $63,000 in-state, and the 25–34-credit certificate around $22,500–$30,600 in-state. A $60 application fee applies.
See the official tuition page for current rates: Tuition.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate, master’s, post-graduate APRN certificate, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The university is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. FNP graduates are eligible to sit for national FNP certification and to pursue prescriptive authority.
Note that UCCS currently admits students from only 14 states, so applicants should confirm eligibility before applying.
Review More Colorado Family NP Programs
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