UTMB offers 3 Family Nurse Practitioner Tracks:
- MSN
- BSN-DNP
- BSN-DNP Dual FNP/AGACNP
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | $30.3K | 2.3 years (7 semesters) | 49 |
| BSN-DNP | $46.4K | 3.7–4 years (11–12 semesters) | 75 |
| Dual FNP/AGACNP | $54.1K | 4.3 years (13 semesters) | 87 |
Tuition estimates use UTMB’s 2026–27 in-state / out-of-state per-credit rates plus its $70 per-credit distance education fee and flat per-semester fees.
UTMB is built for Texas nurses who want a primary care and an acute care NP credential from one admission. Its dual FNP/AGACNP DNP adds 12 credits, 360 clinical hours, and two semesters to the standard BSN-DNP, and it prepares graduates for two national certification exams.
The trade-off is pace and place. Every track is part-time only, admits once a year in fall, and requires a Galveston campus visit each semester. UTMB arranges clinical sites in the Houston and Galveston area; students elsewhere must find their own site and preceptor.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MSN; BSN-DNP; BSN-DNP dual FNP/AGACNP |
| Format | Mostly Online: orientation plus 2–3 campus days in Galveston each semester |
| Clinical Hours | MSN not clearly stated; BSN-DNP 1,020; dual track 1,380 |
| Clinical Placement | School arranges Houston/Galveston sites; elsewhere, students find sites for UTMB approval |
| Population | Family across the lifespan; dual track adds adult-gerontology acute care |
| Distinctive Coursework | Five-course Systems Thinking project sequence (DNP); NP role and business principles (MSN) |
| Concentrations | None; the dual FNP/AGACNP option is a separate track |
| RN License Requirements | Unencumbered RN license or multistate privilege in every state where clinicals occur |
| Tuition | $462/credit in-state; $913–$923 out-of-state; plus about $1,035 per semester in flat fees |
| Accreditation | CCNE (MSN and DNP); SACSCOC institutional |
| Enrollment Structure | Part-time only; single fall intake; about two courses per semester |
| Admission Gates | One year of recent RN experience; faculty interview for DNP tracks |
Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner Track
The estimated tuition for the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Track at UTMB is approximately $30,252 in-state and $52,841 out-of-state (49 credits at $462 or $923/credit, plus flat semester fees). The program can generally be completed in about 2.3 years (7 part-time semesters), a year figure derived from UTMB’s published seven-semester plan.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN runs in three blocks. Semesters 1–3 cover foundations, including a 2-credit diagnostic reasoning and procedures course. Semesters 4–6 each pair one 6-credit clinical course with a smaller support course. Semester 7 closes with the FNP role practicum.
The clinical block moves from adult common problems to pediatrics to chronic adult illness. That order puts children’s primary care between two adult courses rather than at the end. Semester 6 also includes a course on NP professional role and business principles, which is useful for nurses planning independent or clinic-based practice. Loads stay between 5 and 9 credits per term.
- Nursing Theory and Research (3)
- Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
- NP Diagnostic Reasoning and Procedures (2)
- Common Problems of Adults (6)
- FNP Primary Care of Children (6)
- Primary Care of the Chronically Ill Adult (6)
- Nurse Practitioner: Professional Role and Business Principles (3)
- FNP Clinical Role Practicum (3)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinical Requirements
- Total clinical hours: not clearly stated for the MSN.
- Clinical courses: Common Problems of Adults, FNP Primary Care of Children, and Primary Care of the Chronically Ill Adult (6 credits each), then the FNP Clinical Role Practicum (3 credits).
- Placement model: course faculty and a Clinical Placement Coordinator arrange sites in the Houston and Galveston area, with student participation.
- UTMB vets preceptors and sites and secures affiliation agreements.
- Outside Houston and Galveston: students identify the site and preceptor; UTMB must approve both and negotiates the agreement.
- Campus: orientation plus 2–3 days on campus each semester.
Without a published hour total, the MSN cannot be measured against the 500-hour certification floor or the common 600–700 hour range. The MSN uses the same three 6-credit clinical courses as the BSN-DNP, but the DNP adds Clinical Practicum II, a synthesis course, and a larger role practicum. Expect the MSN total to sit below the DNP’s 1,020 hours. The placement model is strongest for students near Houston and Galveston. Everyone else is effectively self-placing, with UTMB handling approval and contracts.
You Should Know
- Ask UTMB for the MSN’s total and per-course clinical hours before applying. Some state boards set their own minimums.
- UTMB’s program highlights and DNP FAQ describe 2–3 campus days per semester. The MSN FAQ says 3–4 days for some tracks and links a campus-visit table that was not publicly accessible. Confirm the count for your track.
- UTMB’s FAQ says out-of-state students may need to complete clinical rotations in Texas, which can require a Texas or multistate RN license.
MSN Admissions
The MSN admits once a year for fall, requires one year of recent RN experience, and lists no interview.
- BSN from an accredited college or university
- Minimum 3.0 GPA overall and 3.0 in upper-division coursework
- At least one year of recent RN experience
- Active, unencumbered RN license in each state where clinicals occur
- Resume, official transcripts, and a personal statement (under 500 words)
- Three professional references, one from a current clinical manager or similar authority
- Application through NursingCAS
- Early notification window runs September 15 to March 15 each cycle, with a decision by April 15
You Should Know
- Applications after March 15 are reviewed only on a space-available basis.
- Transfer credit is capped at 12 hours, including for nurses who already hold an MSN.
- UTMB’s MSN FAQ says it does not offer an MSN-DNP program, yet the school runs an MSN to DNP pathway that accepts up to 500 master’s clinical hours. The FAQ likely refers to a combined program; confirm before planning a later DNP.
- UTMB’s state distance-education approval list did not display on its accreditation page. Confirm your state is approved, and ask what happens if you move mid-program.
- Students on educational visas are not eligible because the program is online.
BSN to DNP, Family Nurse Practitioner Track
The estimated tuition for the BSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner Track at UTMB is approximately $46,444 in-state and $80,269 out-of-state (75 credits at $462 or $913/credit, plus flat semester fees). The program can generally be completed in about 3.7 years (11 part-time semesters), though UTMB’s FAQ lists 12 semesters.
BSN-DNP Curriculum
DNP core first. Semesters 1–3 are entirely doctoral core: transformational leadership, professional writing, data analysis, health care policy, population health, and health care economics. Pathophysiology does not start until semester 4. No FNP clinical course begins until semester 7, so the first two years build the project and systems skills before patient care.
Parallel project sequence. From semester 7 onward, each FNP clinical course runs alongside one step of a five-course Systems Thinking sequence: foundation, planning, proposal, implementation, and evaluation. The scholarly project must address a vulnerable population and produce a practice change. Semester 10 is the only three-course term.
- Transformational Leadership (3)
- The Economics and Business of Healthcare (3)
- Quality Improvement for Clinical Practice (3)
- Common Problems of Adults (6)
- FNP Primary Care of Children (6)
- Primary Care of the Chronically Ill Adult (6)
- FNP Clinical Role Practicum (4)
- Clinical Practicum II (3)
- Systems Thinking I–V, Project Foundation through Evaluation and Dissemination (12 total)
- Clinical Practice Synthesis (1)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- The published course plan totals 11 semesters and 75 credits, but the program FAQ says single-certification tracks take 12 semesters. A 12th semester would add about 4 months and roughly $1,037 in flat fees.
BSN-DNP Clinical Requirements
- Total clinical hours: 1,020 (published)
- Clinical courses fall in semesters 7–11: three 6-credit FNP courses, the 4-credit role practicum, Clinical Practicum II, and Clinical Practice Synthesis
- Per-course hours: not clearly stated
- Clinical practice experiences are shaped by each student’s interests; a faculty advisor guides the scholarly project
- Placement model and campus visits: same as the MSN (see above)
At 1,020 hours, this track is roughly double the 500-hour certification floor and well above the common 600–700 hour range. Spread across its five clinical semesters, that averages about 200 hours per term (derived). For a working nurse, those final terms are the ones to plan around.
You Should Know
- UTMB does not say how many of the 1,020 hours are direct patient care versus scholarly project work. Ask for the split, since it affects how much FNP clinical exposure you actually get.
BSN-DNP Admissions
The BSN-DNP adds a required faculty interview and a narrower BSN accreditation rule than the MSN.
- BSN from a CCNE- or CNEA-accredited program
- Minimum 3.0 GPA overall and in upper-division coursework
- At least one year of recent RN experience at the time of application
- Current, unencumbered RN license or multistate privilege in each clinical state
- Personal interview with faculty
- Three references: one professional, one academic, and one from a current clinical manager or similar authority
- Short-answer personal statement prompts in NursingCAS (150 words maximum per prompt)
You Should Know
- ACEN is not listed as an accepted BSN accreditor. Graduates of ACEN-accredited BSN programs should confirm eligibility before applying.
- Out-of-state applicants face the same clinical-location and state-approval caveats listed under the MSN.
BSN to DNP, Dual Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Track
The estimated tuition for the Dual FNP and AGACNP Track at UTMB is approximately $54,065 in-state and $93,302 out-of-state (87 credits at $462 or $913/credit, plus flat semester fees). The program can generally be completed in about 4.3 years (13 part-time semesters), a year figure derived from the published 13-semester plan.
UTMB describes this as the first dual FNP-AGACNP nurse practitioner program in Texas.
Dual Track Curriculum
Semesters 1–10 match the FNP BSN-DNP course for course. The acute care content is added at the end. In semester 11, AGACNP Episodic and Acute Care replaces Topics in Clinical Practice. Semesters 12 and 13 are single-course terms: Complex and Critical Care, then a 3-credit Acute Care Role Practicum.
This sequencing matters. Students complete every FNP clinical course before starting acute care coursework. The net cost of the second population focus is 12 credits.
- Common Problems of Adults (6)
- FNP Primary Care of Children (6)
- Primary Care of the Chronically Ill Adult (6)
- FNP Clinical Role Practicum (4)
- AGACNP Episodic and Acute Care (6)
- AGACNP Complex and Critical Care (6)
- Acute Care Role Practicum (3)
- Systems Thinking I–V (12 total)
More curriculum details are available here.
Dual Track Clinical Requirements
- Total clinical hours: 1,380 (published), 360 more than the FNP BSN-DNP
- Acute care clinical courses fall in semesters 11–13
- Split between FNP and AGACNP hours: not clearly stated
- Placement model and campus visits: same as the MSN
The dual track keeps the full FNP clinical sequence and adds acute care hours on top. Semesters 12 and 13 carry only 6 and 3 credits, but they are clinical terms, so the lighter credit load does not mean a lighter week. Acute care rotations typically need hospital-based preceptors, which can be harder to arrange for students outside the Houston and Galveston area.
You Should Know
- Ask UTMB how the 1,380 hours divide between the family and acute care populations. Each certifying body and some state boards look at population-specific hours.
- The AGACNP course sequence in this track differs from UTMB’s single AGACNP DNP track: the role practicum is 3 credits here versus 4, and the dual plan omits Topics in Clinical Practice and Project Mentoring.
Dual Track Admissions
Admission requirements match the FNP BSN-DNP, with one addition that shapes competitiveness.
- At least one year of recent RN experience in an intensive care unit, progressive high-level intermediate unit, or flight nursing is highly preferred
You Should Know
- Critical care experience is listed as highly preferred, not required. Applicants without it should ask how it is weighed.
- State boards set their own rules for licensing an APRN in two population foci. Confirm that your state will recognize both the FNP and AGACNP roles from a single dual program.
Tuition
UTMB charges $462 per credit for Texas residents in 2026–27: $392 in tuition ($50 resident, $286 designated, $56 differential) plus a $70 distance education fee on online courses. Out-of-state students pay $923 per credit in the MSN ($455 nonresident, $398 designated, $70 distance) and $913 per credit in the DNP tracks ($388 designated). Flat fees are billed on top every semester, regardless of credit load.
Figures come from UTMB’s School of Nursing tuition and fee sheets (SON Graduate for the MSN, SON Doctor of Nursing Practice for the DNP tracks).
| Fee Component | MSN | DNP Tracks | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition, in-state | $392 | $392 | Per credit |
| Tuition, out-of-state | $853 | $843 | Per credit |
| Distance Education Fee | $70 | $70 | Per credit |
| Health Education Center Fee | $445.00 | $445.00 | Per semester |
| Library Acquisition Fee | $246.00 | $246.00 | Per semester |
| Educational Support Software | $123.74 | $123.74 | Per semester |
| Materials Fee | $75.00 | $78.00 | Per semester |
| Educational Technology, Registration, Student Center, Campus Security | $144.50 | $144.50 | Per semester |
| Liability Insurance | $2.74 | $2.74 | Per academic year |
| ID Badge and New Student Orientation | $175 | $175 | Once |
| Graduation and Commencement Fees | $191 | $198 | Final term |
Estimated program totals (derived: credits × per-credit rate, plus flat fees for each planned semester, annual liability insurance, and one-time fees):
| Track | Credits | Semesters | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | 49 | 7 | $30,252 | $52,841 |
| BSN-DNP | 75 | 11 | $46,444 | $80,269 |
| Dual FNP/AGACNP | 87 | 13 | $54,065 | $93,302 |
- In-state per-credit charges: $22,638 (MSN), $34,650 (BSN-DNP), $40,194 (dual)
- Out-of-state per-credit charges: $45,227 (MSN), $68,475 (BSN-DNP), $79,431 (dual)
- Recurring flat fees: $1,034.24 per MSN semester and $1,037.24 per DNP semester
- Flat fees over the plan: about $7,240 (MSN), $11,410 (BSN-DNP), and $13,484 (dual)
Be aware that:
- Flat fees make up about a quarter of the in-state MSN total. Because every track is part-time, students pay them for 7 to 13 semesters.
- The Materials Fee and Health Education Center Fee carry no frequency marker on the fee sheets. These estimates assume both are billed each semester, as the sheets show.
- If the BSN-DNP takes 12 semesters, as UTMB’s FAQ states, add about $1,037 (roughly $47,481 in-state and $81,306 out-of-state).
- Student health insurance, course and lab fees, outside proctoring fees, and travel for campus visits are not included.
- Several fee-sheet rows contain errors. The MSN 2-credit nonresident row lists a $15 orientation fee, two nonresident rows (MSN 4-credit, DNP 8-credit) use older fee amounts, and the DNP 3-credit resident row lists a $445.22 fee. These estimates use the consistent rows.
- Rates are published for 2026–27 only. Multi-year totals assume no increases.
- Late registration ($100 MSN, $110 DNP) and late payment ($100) fees apply when deadlines are missed.
The real in-state cost works out to about $617 to $621 per credit once flat fees are included, not $462. Residency is the largest cost variable: out-of-state students pay roughly 75% more for every track. Between tracks, the dual option adds about $7,600 in-state over the FNP BSN-DNP for a second population focus.
Why Choose This FNP Program?
UTMB is a strong fit for Gulf Coast nurses who want a doctorate or a second acute care credential and can sustain a slow, part-time schedule.
Three credentials on one clinical spine. All three tracks share the same FNP clinical courses, so the choice is about how much you add. The BSN-DNP adds 26 credits, doctoral project work, and about $16,200 in-state over the MSN. The dual track adds 12 more credits and acute care certification eligibility. This differs from UTHealth Houston, whose emergency NP option is a concentration within FNP training rather than a second AGACNP population focus. MSN graduates who want a doctorate later can use UTMB’s separate MSN to DNP pathway.
Location shapes the experience. Students in the Houston and Galveston area get coordinator-arranged placements with preceptors UTMB has already vetted. Students elsewhere find their own sites, then wait for UTMB’s approval and contract. The per-semester campus trip is also easier from the Gulf Coast than from West Texas or out of state.
Questions to settle before applying. Do you need acute care scope, or is FNP enough? Can you reach Galveston every semester for 7 to 13 terms? Will your clinicals be near Houston? Can you start only in fall and stay part-time for up to four years? If you plan the MSN, will UTMB confirm its clinical hour total? If most answers are yes, UTMB’s structure works in your favor.
Accreditation
The Master’s degree program in nursing and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at UTMB are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). That covers the MSN, BSN-DNP, and dual FNP/AGACNP tracks. UTMB’s graduate nursing programs are also approved by the Texas Board of Nursing.
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston holds institutional accreditation from 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 the transfer of graduate credit.
Graduates of all three tracks are prepared to sit for the national FNP certification exam (AANP or ANCC). Dual track graduates are also prepared for adult-gerontology acute care NP certification through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Corporation or ANCC.
More FNP Programs in Texas
- Baylor University - Dallas
- Houston Christian University - Houston
- Midwestern State University - Wichita Falls
- Stephen F. Austin State University - Nacogdoches
- Texas A&M University - Bryan
- Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi
- Texas Christian University - Fort Worth
- Texas State University - Round Rock
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center - Lubbock
- Texas Wesleyan University - Fort Worth
- Texas Woman's University - Denton
- University of Houston - Houston
- University of Texas at Arlington - Arlington
- University of Texas at Austin - Austin
- University of Texas at Tyler - Tyler
- UT San Antonio Health Science Center - San Antonio
- UTHealth Houston - Houston