University of San Francisco offers 2 Family Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- DNP-FNP (77 units) — BSN entry or MSN entry
- Post-Graduate FNP Certificate (35–38 units)
USF delivers FNP only at the doctoral level, taught in a hybrid format on twice-monthly Friday–Saturday “Teaching Weekends” at its San Francisco Hilltop campus, year-round, with the program arranging clinical placements.
Rooted in USF’s Jesuit social-justice mission, it accepts new graduates with no NP experience and prepares graduates for ANCC or AANP FNP certification.
Out-of-state applicants should check USF’s State Authorization list for online eligibility.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| DNP FNP (BSN entry) | $126K | 4 years (10 semesters) |
| DNP FNP (MSN entry) | Lower (fewer units) | 3 years |
| Post-Graduate Certificate FNP | $57K–$62K | ~1 year |
USF offers the FNP only as a doctorate — BSN-to-DNP or MSN-to-DNP — on a twice-a-month Friday–Saturday schedule built for working nurses, rooted in a Jesuit social-justice mission and open even to new graduates with no NP experience.
DNP FNP
The estimated cost for the BSN-to-DNP FNP at the University of San Francisco is about $125,895 in tuition (77 units at $1,635 each), and the program takes four years (10 semesters) full-time.
Master’s-prepared nurses can finish the MSN-to-DNP FNP in about three years with fewer units.
DNP Curriculum
The BSN-to-DNP totals 77 units. It front-loads the DNP core — evidence-based scholarship, epidemiology, population health, policy and ethics, analytics, quality and safety, informatics, finance, and project management — before the NP core and FNP role and clinical courses (the “three Ps,” advanced assessment, lifespan primary-care management, and reproductive/child health), capped by a three-part DNP project and a transition-to-practice practicum.
BSN-entry students may add a concurrent MPH.
Delivery is hybrid, on Teaching Weekends.
Semester 1: Fall (7 units)
NURS 705A — Evidence-Based Scholarship I
Builds doctoral-level writing, presentation, and publication skills through scholarly papers, posters, and oral communication.
NURS 7012 — Population Health Epidemiological Inquiry
Examines population health patterns, epidemiologic methods, and interventions to assess and improve outcomes at local to global levels.
Semester 2: Spring (9 units)
NURS 705B — EB Scholarship II
Expands evidence-based practice skills through problem identification, literature review, appraisal, synthesis, and an integrated review paper.
NURS 7006 — Policy and Ethics in Population Health
Explores health policy, ethics, advocacy, and social justice in population health, with focus on disparities, access, and quality improvement.
NURS 7008 — Pop Health Legal & Risk Management
Covers legal issues, risk management, privacy, and liability in healthcare, with emphasis on preventing loss and protecting data.
Semester 3: Summer (6 units)
NURS 713 — Analytical Methods for Evidence
Introduces statistical methods and data analysis for evaluating interventions and supporting evidence-based quality improvement.
NURS 739 — Quality, Safety, & Performance
Prepares students to lead quality and safety initiatives using performance improvement tools, high-reliability practices, and transformational leadership.
Semester 4: Fall (8 units)
NURS 706 — Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology
Reviews advanced body function and physiologic responses to illness as a foundation for DNP-level clinical decision-making.
NURS 707 — Applied Drug Therapy
Focuses on pharmacology for advanced practice, including medication selection, safety, dosing, interactions, and special populations.
NURS 7100 — Professional Roles for the Nurse Practitioner
Introduces nurse practitioner role development, leadership, ethics, policy, and interprofessional collaboration.
Semester 5: Spring (6 units)
NURS 7210 — Advanced Physical Assessment and Health Promotion for the Advanced Practice Nurse
Develops advanced assessment, differential diagnosis, and health promotion skills across the lifespan with a patient-centered lens.
NURS 7220 — Advanced Physical Assessment and Health Promotion for the Advanced Practice Nurse Practicum
Supervised practicum to apply advanced assessment and health promotion skills across the lifespan.
Semester 6: Summer (7 units)
NURS 763 — Management of Financial Resources
Covers finance, budgeting, reimbursement, and cost analysis for healthcare decision-making and organizational planning.
NURS 7004 — Healthcare Informatics
Explores health information systems, data science, and technology use to improve quality, safety, and coordination of care.
NURS 7007 — Environmental and Occupational Effects on Health
Examines environmental and workplace exposures, related regulations, and anticipatory guidance for individuals and communities.
Semester 7: Fall (9 units)
NURS 7015 — Project Management
Applies planning and management tools to develop an evidence-based practice improvement project.
NURS 7230 — Diagnosis and Management of Acute and Common Conditions for the Advanced Practice Nurse
Builds primary care skills for preventing, diagnosing, and managing common acute conditions across the lifespan.
NURS 7240 — FNP Clinical Practicum I
First FNP practicum focused on supervised clinical application of acute and common-condition management.
Semester 8: Spring (9 units)
NURS 7270 — Management of Chronic Health Conditions and Complex Care for the Advanced Practice Nurse
Focuses on diagnosis and management of chronic illness and complex care needs in primary care.
NURS 7280 — FNP Clinical Practicum II
Second FNP practicum emphasizing supervised care of patients with chronic and complex conditions.
Semester 9: Summer (9 units)
NURS 7250 — Reproductive & Child Health
Covers primary care for children and reproductive health, with emphasis on prevention, diagnosis, and management.
NURS 7260 — FNP Clinical Practicum III
Third FNP practicum providing supervised clinical experience in reproductive and child health.
Semester 10: Fall (7 units)
NURS 7290 — Transition to Practice Practicum
Capstone practicum supporting transition to independent advanced practice through supervised clinical immersion.
More curriculum details are available here.
DNP Clinicals
The DNP-FNP requires over 1,000 hours — a minimum of 750 supervised direct-clinical-practice hours plus roughly 270 hours on the evidence-based DNP project. The program arranges clinical placements.
- Total: over 1,000 hours (at least 750 supervised clinical practice + about 270 DNP project hours)
- Placement: arranged by the FNP program (your workplace may qualify if the preceptor is an NP or physician)
- Transfer: up to 500 master’s-level practicum hours may transfer
- FNP clinical courses: three FNP Clinical Practica plus a Transition to Practice Practicum
- DNP project: a three-part evidence-based quality-improvement project
DNP Admissions
Admission requires a BSN or master’s and a California RN license; new graduates with no NP experience may apply.
- BSN or master’s degree (in any field) from an accredited institution
- Recommended GPA of 3.0 or higher
- California RN license
- Three letters of recommendation (on letterhead, signed)
- Statement of professional goals and a professional résumé
- $55 application fee; no GRE required
Up to 12 units may transfer from a prior master’s or doctorate. New graduates with limited or no experience are accepted, and out-of-state applicants should check USF’s State Authorization Status List for online eligibility.
Post-Graduate Certificate FNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate FNP Certificate at the University of San Francisco is about $57,000 to $62,000 in tuition (35–38 units at $1,635 each).
It can be completed in as little as one year.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate is 35–38 units for MSN- or DNP-prepared nurses and nurse practitioners. It carries the NP core and FNP role and clinical courses; prior NP coursework — professional role, the three Ps, and advanced assessment with its practicum — may be waived or transferred on transcript review (up to 12 transfer credits). Delivery is hybrid and year-round on Teaching Weekends.
- NURS 7100 — Professional Roles for the Nurse Practitioner (2) — waivable with prior NP coursework
- NURS 7210 — Advanced Physical Assessment and Health Promotion (4) — waivable
- NURS 7220 — Advanced Physical Assessment and Health Promotion Practicum (2; 90 clinical hours) — waivable
- NURS 706 — Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology (3) — waivable
- NURS 707 — Applied Drug Therapy (3) — waivable
- Plus the required FNP role and clinical practicum sequence
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
The certificate requires a minimum of 500 supervised, direct-patient-care clinical hours for FNP certification, with placements facilitated by the program.
- Total hours: a minimum of 500 supervised direct-patient-care clinical hours
- Placement: facilitated by the program
- Transfer: up to 12 credit hours of equivalent prior coursework
- Format: hybrid, on Teaching Weekends, year-round
- Prior NP coursework (role, the three Ps, assessment) may be waived on transcript review
Certificate Admissions
The certificate is for nurses who already hold an MSN or DNP.
- Completed MSN or DNP from an accredited program
- Recommended GPA of 3.0 or higher
- One letter of recommendation
- Statement of professional goals and a professional résumé
- Documentation of an unencumbered RN license
- Completed application and fee
Tuition
USF charges $1,635 per unit for the DNP and FNP certificate (2026–27). The 77-unit BSN-to-DNP totals about $125,895 in tuition; the MSN-entry DNP costs less (fewer units, up to 12 transferable); and the 35–38-unit certificate runs roughly $57,000–$62,000.
Notably, USF describes its teaching-intensive tuition as inclusive of supplemental learning materials, hotel accommodations, most meals, and transportation between the hotel and campus during teaching weekends.
Graduate students enrolled in six or more units are charged a USF health-insurance plan (about $4,585/year) unless waived, plus per-course nursing fees (clinical lab, malpractice, HESI).
See the official cost page for more details: Graduate Student Costs.
Accreditation
The University of San Francisco’s baccalaureate, master’s, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs and its post-graduate APRN certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The university is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, and all School of Nursing and Health Professions programs are approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing.
FNP graduates are prepared for national FNP certification through the ANCC or the AANP. Out-of-state applicants should check USF’s State Authorization Status List before enrolling in online study.
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