The University of Michigan offers 4 Family Nurse Practitioner Tracks:
- MSN (Online)
- MSN (In-Person)
- BSN-DNP
- Dual Nurse-Midwifery/FNP
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN (Online) | $79.5K / $95.2K | 2 years (5 terms) | 54–56 |
| MSN (In-Person) | $80.7K / $162.8K | 2 years (5 terms) | 54–56 |
| BSN-DNP | $109.9K / $221.2K | 3 years (8 terms) | 79–81 |
| Dual CNM/FNP | Not clearly stated | 3 years (MSN) or 4 years (DNP) | Not clearly stated |
Tuition estimates apply Michigan’s 2026–27 School of Nursing full-term graduate rates, with the Distance Learning rate for the online MSN, to each term of the published plan.
Michigan’s defining advantage is that the online and in-person MSN share one curriculum and the same 756 clinical hours, but the online version bills non-residents at a Digital Education rate about $67,600 lower over the degree. Both formats draw on a school-run placement operation with more than 600 clinical partners.
The online MSN is not fully remote. It requires an on-campus orientation and up to three days in Ann Arbor each term, and residents of 18 states cannot enroll.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MSN (online or in-person), BSN-DNP, dual Nurse-Midwifery/FNP (MSN or DNP) |
| Format | Online MSN: Mostly Online. In-person MSN, BSN-DNP, and dual track: Campus |
| Clinical Hours | 756 for the MSN and BSN-DNP; the DNP adds 250 residency hours |
| Clinical Placement | School-coordinated through a network of 600+ partners; DNP page states placements are guaranteed |
| Distinctive Coursework | Standalone procedural skills course, child health course, and a special populations course |
| RN License Requirements | RN license in the clinical state before the first term; no RN experience minimum stated |
| Start Term | Fall only |
| Enrollment Restriction | Online MSN closed to residents of 18 states and to F-1, J-1, and TN visa holders |
| Tuition | Billed per term; full-time flat rate at 9+ credits. Online non-resident rate is 58% of campus |
| Accreditation | CCNE (MSN through 2032, DNP through 2029); ACME for the midwifery half of the dual track |
MSN, Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner (Digital Education)
The estimated tuition for the Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner MSN (Digital Education) at the University of Michigan is approximately $79,495 for Michigan residents and $95,200 for non-residents (five full-time terms at the 2026–27 Digital Education rate, equal to $1,420–$1,472 per credit for residents). The program can generally be completed in about 2 years on the 2-year plan, with a 3-year plan available for students who need a lighter load.
MSN Curriculum
One course sequence, two formats. The school describes the online program as offering “the same rigorous education” as the residential one, and both publish the same 54–56 credit range. The 2-year plan runs five terms (Fall, Winter, Spring/Summer, Fall, Winter), with the only credit variation coming from a 1–3 credit interprofessional education elective in the final term.
Where the sequence differs from a generic FNP plan. Pediatrics is not folded into a lifespan course. A 4-credit child health and wellness course sits in the first Spring/Summer term alongside a 2-credit procedural skills course, before the first major practicum. The second year pairs primary care of ill adults with a separate special populations course, then closes on a family-focused advanced primary care course. Biostatistics is taught through the School of Public Health’s HS 700, which meets live four Thursday mornings per term (recorded).
- NURS 502: Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology (4 credits)
- NURS 503: Advanced Health Assessment (4 credits)
- PHARMACY 620 and 621: Pharmacotherapeutics I and II (6 credits)
- NURS 512: APRN Diagnostic Reasoning (1 credit, 56 clinical hours)
- NURS 554: Procedural Skills in Primary Care (2 credits)
- NURS 557: Child Health and Wellness (4 credits)
- NURS 666: Primary Care of Ill Adults (3 credits)
- NURS 671: Special Populations (3 credits)
- NURS 674: Advanced Primary Nursing of Individuals and Families (3 credits)
- NURS 519, 559, 599: APRN role sequence (1 credit each, one per year segment)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- The Digital Education program plans are rendered dynamically and could not be retrieved. Course and hour figures on this page come from the published in-person 2-year plan; Michigan states the two formats deliver the same program, and both carry the same 54–56 credit range.
- The plan notes that sequencing may change with curriculum evaluation, so confirm the current plan for your entry year.
MSN Clinical Requirements
- Total: 756 clinical hours (56 + 140 + 280 + 280 across four courses)
- Ratio: 70 clinical hours per practicum credit (NURS 593, 693, 680)
- NURS 512 Diagnostic Reasoning: 56 hours, first Winter term
- NURS 593 FNP Advanced Practice I: 140 hours, first Spring/Summer term
- NURS 693 FNP Practicum II: 280 hours, second Fall term
- NURS 680 FNP Advanced Practice III: 280 hours, second Winter term
- Placement: faculty mentors work with each student to identify sites; the school cites 600+ clinical partners and a dedicated placement office
- Online students complete clinicals near home, plus up to three on-campus days per term for skills testing, assessments, and seminars
At 756 hours, Michigan sits above the 600 to 700 hour range common among FNP programs and well above the 500-hour certification floor. The load is back-loaded: 560 of the 756 hours fall in the final two terms, which works out to roughly 19 hours a week across a 15-week term. Plan on reducing work hours for the entire second year rather than a single semester.
You Should Know
- The phrase “guarantee clinical placements” appears on Michigan’s DNP page, not on the MSN or online pages. MSN language describes one-on-one coordination. Ask how placement works for online students outside Michigan, since the partner network is described as concentrated in Michigan and “expanding nationally.”
- The Digital Education page lists “a limited number of real-time sessions each term” in addition to campus days. Times are not published.
- The online MSN is marketed as “Hybrid” on Michigan Online’s program page. It is classified here as Mostly Online because campus visits are a finite, countable event each term.
MSN Admissions
Michigan admits once a year for Fall, requires a recorded video assessment, and does not set an RN experience minimum.
- BSN from a CCNE, ACEN, or CNEA program; applicants may apply before the BSN is conferred
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in nursing bachelor’s coursework; lower GPAs reviewed case by case
- RN license in the state where clinicals will be completed, before the first term
- No GRE
- Personal statement, 700 words maximum (online applicants receive extra word count to address managing online study)
- Three recommendations, ideally from master’s-prepared nurses or higher
- Resume, two pages maximum
- One-way Kira Talent video assessment; live interview only when faculty request one
- Deadlines: Priority December 1, Regular March 1, through NursingCAS ($90 fee)
- Decisions begin mid-February for priority applicants; all decisions by end of April
You Should Know
- 18 states are closed to the online MSN: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, plus U.S. territories. Applicants must remain in the U.S. for the full program.
- Michigan’s pages disagree on the list. The licensure disclosure dated August 1, 2026 names 18 states; the graduate programs page omits Idaho and South Carolina; an older online MSN page still carries a 2019 list that blocks Arizona, Minnesota, and New Jersey, which the current disclosure allows. Use the accreditation and disclosures page.
- Michigan cannot admit F-1, J-1, or TN visa holders to any MSN or DNP program.
- An applicant may apply to only one MSN program per cycle.
MSN, Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner (In-Person)
The estimated tuition for the Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner MSN (In-Person) at the University of Michigan is approximately $80,680 for Michigan residents and $162,805 for non-residents (five full-time terms at the 2026–27 standard graduate rate). The program can generally be completed in about 2 years on the 2-year plan, or 3 years on the part-time plan.
In-Person MSN Curriculum
The course list, credit range, and 756 clinical hours match the online track above. About 17 of the credits are delivered as digital courses even in the residential format, including pathophysiology, both pharmacology courses, theory, and the APRN role sequence. The clinical specialty courses (primary care, child health, special populations, and all three practica) meet face to face in Ann Arbor.
In-Person MSN Clinical Requirements
- 756 clinical hours, same course allocation as the online track
- Placement drawn from the same 600+ partner network, which the school describes as ranging from top-ranked health systems to small rural clinics
The practical difference from the online track is location. Residential students are placed within reach of Ann Arbor, which gives the school the most direct access to its own partner network.
In-Person MSN Admissions
Requirements, deadlines, and the single Fall intake are identical to the online track. The 18-state restriction does not apply, because it covers only online programs.
BSN to DNP, Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the Post-Baccalaureate DNP, Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner at the University of Michigan is approximately $109,870 for Michigan residents and $221,195 for non-residents (five full-time terms plus three part-time terms at 2026–27 rates, about $1,356–$1,391 per credit for residents). The program can generally be completed in about 3 years on the 3-year plan, finishing in the eighth term, or 4 years on the extended plan.
BSN-DNP Curriculum
The MSN plus 25 doctoral credits. The DNP contains the entire MSN FNP course list and layers 25 credits of doctoral work on top: epidemiology, quality and safety, resource management, a research seminar, translation and implementation science, responsible conduct of research, and a four-part DNP project sequence. The FNP clinical courses run on the same calendar as the MSN for the first two years.
Where the doctoral work lands. Year 2 is the heaviest segment, with 15 credits in Fall pairing the 280-hour practicum with a 4-credit quality and safety course. The final FNP practicum is split into two 140-hour halves across Winter and Spring/Summer so doctoral coursework can fit alongside it. Year 3 is two capstone residency terms of 4 credits each.
- HS 802: Epidemiology for Health Professionals (1 credit)
- NURS 815: Quality and Safety (4 credits)
- NURS 832: Effective Resource Management (3 credits)
- NURS 900: Seminar on Research (3 credits)
- NURS 910: Translation and Implementation (3 credits)
- NURS 951: DNP Proposal Development (2 credits)
- NURS 960 and 965: Capstone Residency and Seminar I and II (8 credits, 250 residency hours)
More curriculum details are available here.
BSN-DNP Clinical Requirements
- 756 FNP clinical hours (56 + 140 + 280 + 140 + 140), identical to the MSN
- 250 capstone residency hours (125 in each of the final two terms)
- Placement: Michigan states it guarantees clinical placements aligned with program requirements for BSN-DNP students
The DNP does not add direct FNP patient-care hours. Its extra 250 hours are capstone residency hours tied to the doctoral project. A student choosing between the MSN and DNP is paying for doctoral training and the credential, not for more primary care practice.
You Should Know
- The BSN-DNP is not offered online. Michigan states it currently offers online programs only at the MSN level, and points online MSN graduates to its post-master’s DNP instead.
- The DNP page describes the format as “web-blended” with on-campus learning experiences. It is classified here as Campus because the FNP clinical courses meet face to face in Ann Arbor on the same schedule as the in-person MSN.
BSN-DNP Admissions
Admission mirrors the MSN, with a longer doctoral personal statement.
- Same BSN, 3.0 GPA, GRE waiver, recommendation, resume, and Kira video requirements as the MSN
- Active and unencumbered RN license in the clinical state before the first term
- Personal statement up to 1,000 words, addressing both the specialty and doctoral education
- Same December 1 priority and March 1 regular deadlines, Fall start only
Dual Nurse-Midwifery and Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the Nurse-Midwifery and Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner (Combined) program at the University of Michigan is not clearly stated, because the credit totals were not retrievable. The program can generally be completed in about 3 years as an MSN or 4 years as a DNP, both in person.
- Merges the FNP and nurse-midwifery curricula into one program
- Graduates are eligible to sit for certification exams in both nurse-midwifery and family practice
- Offered in person only; no online option
- Credits, clinical hours, and birth or encounter requirements: not clearly stated on the specialty page
For a nurse who wants to cover both prenatal and birth care and primary care for the whole family, the dual track adds one year to the MSN or DNP timeline rather than requiring a second certificate after graduation. Confirm the credit count and clinical volume with the school before comparing its cost to the single-specialty tracks.
Tuition
Michigan does not charge a flat per-credit rate to full-time students. It bills a flat term rate once a student reaches 9 credits, and every term of the 2-year MSN plan carries 9 or more. Divided across the degree, that works out to a derived $1,420–$1,472 per credit for Michigan residents in the online MSN and $1,700–$1,763 for non-residents. Part-time terms bill at about $1,746 per additional credit for residents.
| 2026–27 Full-Term Rate (9+ credits) | Michigan Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Distance Learning (online MSN) | $15,899 | $19,040 |
| Standard Graduate (in-person MSN, BSN-DNP) | $16,136 | $32,561 |
| Track | Derivation | Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN (Online) | 5 full-time terms | $79,495 | $95,200 |
| MSN (In-Person) | 5 full-time terms | $80,680 | $162,805 |
| BSN-DNP | 5 full-time terms + one 8-credit term + two 4-credit terms | $109,870 | $221,195 |
- Rates are from the Registrar’s School of Nursing graduate full-term table for 2026–27
- The 9+ credit rate is flat, so the 1–3 credit elective range does not change the MSN total
- Online MSN non-residents pay 58% of the in-person non-resident term rate, a saving of about $67,605 over five terms
- For Michigan residents the two MSN formats differ by only $237 per term, about $1,185 in total
- The BSN-DNP costs about $29,190 more than the in-person MSN for residents and $58,390 more for non-residents
- Application fee: $90 through NursingCAS
Be aware that:
- All totals are derived from one year’s rates. The 2026–27 table is applied to every term. Fall 2027 entrants will pay 2027–28 rates and later increases, so expect the real total to run higher.
- Mandatory fees may be extra. The 2025–26 fee bulletin lists about $241 per full term in registration, student government, legal services, and recreation fees (roughly $1,200 over an MSN). The rate table does not say whether it includes them, and the 2026–27 bulletin was not retrieved.
- The 3-year MSN and 4-year DNP plans will cost more. Spreading the same credits over more terms pushes some terms below 9 credits, where per-credit billing applies. Those plans could not be retrieved, so no figure is given.
- The DNP table is not labeled separately. BSN-DNP figures use the School of Nursing graduate table; confirm doctoral billing with the Registrar.
- Residency classification is set by the university, not by where you live at application. Non-residents should check eligibility before assuming either rate.
For a Michigan resident, format barely affects price and the choice should turn on whether you can attend weekly classes in Ann Arbor. For a non-resident in an eligible state, the online MSN is the same degree for close to $95,000 instead of $163,000, before travel for three campus days a term. The BSN-DNP is only offered in person, so a non-resident who wants the doctorate faces the full non-resident rate for three years.
Why Choose This FNP Program?
Best suited for nurses who want a large research university’s clinical network behind their placements, and who either live in Michigan or can use the online rate from an eligible state.
Placement support at scale. Michigan coordinates placements through a dedicated office and more than 600 clinical partners, and faculty mentors work individually with students to match sites. The BSN-DNP carries an explicit placement guarantee. For nurses who have watched colleagues spend months cold-calling preceptors, this is the most practical reason to apply.
A real choice for non-residents. The online MSN delivers the same course list and 756 clinical hours as the residential program at a non-resident rate far below the campus rate. It also has no RN experience minimum, so a BSN graduate can apply before finishing school and start in the Fall after licensure.
Honest drawbacks. Even with the online discount, this is an expensive MSN: roughly $79,500 for residents on the fastest plan, before annual increases. The online track still requires orientation and up to three days on campus every term, and 18 states are excluded. There is one Fall start per year, and the doctorate and the dual midwifery track are available only in Ann Arbor.
Accreditation
The School of Nursing’s MSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) through June 30, 2032. The DNP program and post-master’s APRN certificate are accredited through June 30, 2029. Both FNP formats and the BSN-DNP fall under these approvals.
The nurse-midwifery portion of the dual track is separately accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) through January 2036, which covers the MSN, DNP, and post-master’s midwifery options.
The University of Michigan is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Regional institutional accreditation matters for federal financial aid eligibility and for credit transfer into later doctoral study.
Graduates of the MSN and BSN-DNP FNP tracks are eligible to sit for the national FNP certification exam (AANP or ANCC). Dual-track graduates are also eligible for the nurse-midwifery certification exam.
More FNP Programs in Michigan
- Davenport University - Grand Rapids
- Eastern Michigan University - Ypsilanti
- Grand Valley State University - Grand Rapids
- Madonna University - Livonia
- Michigan State University - East Lansing
- Northern Michigan University - Marquette
- Oakland University - Rochester
- Saginaw Valley State University - University Center
- Spring Arbor University - Spring Arbor
- University of Detroit Mercy - Detroit
- University of Michigan-Flint - Flint
- Wayne State University - Detroit