UT San Antonio Health Science Center offers two Family Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- BSN-DNP
- Post-Graduate Certificate
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSN-DNP | $55.7-64.8K / $110.9-120.0K | 3-4 years (8-11 semesters) | 76 |
| Certificate | $24.6K / $46.3K | 1.3 years (4 semesters) | 28-30 |
Tuition estimates apply the 2026-2027 School of Nursing graduate schedule ($398.27 resident, $1,124.15 non-resident per credit) plus its per-credit technology fee and per-semester required fees to each plan of study, shown in-state first.
Low per-credit tuition at UT San Antonio Health Science Center comes with about $3,000 in flat fees every semester. For Texas residents on the three-year BSN-DNP, those fees add roughly $25,500 to $30,269 in tuition, and the four-year plan costs $9,061 more for the same 76 credits.
In return, the school guarantees clinical placement and arranges rotations through more than 400 clinical affiliates. Both tracks are Hybrid, with campus attendance one to three days per week.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | BSN-DNP and Post-Graduate Certificate; the MSN FNP track was phased out after 2019 |
| Format | Hybrid; campus one to three days per week, depending on full-time or part-time enrollment |
| Clinical Hours | 810 direct-care FNP hours; BSN-DNP adds 270 DNP project hours (1,080 total) |
| Clinical Placement | Guaranteed for the BSN-DNP; school arranges rotations through 400+ clinical affiliates |
| Population | Primary care for patients of all ages |
| Distinctive Coursework | Standalone Women’s Health Management course; diagnostic tests and procedures lab; disaster and environmental-exposure content |
| Concentrations | None listed for FNP |
| RN License Requirements | Texas RN license or multistate compact license |
| Tuition | $398.27/credit resident, $1,124.15 non-resident, plus $2,880-$3,073.50 flat fees per semester |
| Accreditation | CCNE through December 31, 2028; SACSCOC institutional accreditation |
| Experience Gate | BSN-DNP: one year (2,000 hours) of clinical RN experience |
| Start Terms | BSN-DNP starts in fall; certificate starts in spring |
BSN to DNP, Family Nurse Practitioner Track
The estimated tuition for the BSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner track at UT San Antonio Health Science Center is approximately $55,728 for Texas residents on the three-year plan (76 credits at $398.27/credit, plus $25,459 in required fees). The program can generally be completed in about 3 years (8 semesters) full-time or 4 years (11 semesters) on the part-time plan.
BSN-DNP Curriculum
Year one is doctoral core, not FNP content. The first three semesters cover leadership, informatics, epidemiology, statistical quality improvement, and two knowledge translation courses. Advanced pathophysiology (4 credits) and pharmacotherapeutics also fall here. Health assessment and its 90-hour clinical lab come in the fourth semester.
The FNP sequence always starts in spring. On the three-year plan, it begins in the second spring. On the four-year plan, it begins in the third spring. From there, the sequence is fixed: three Diagnosis and Health Management courses, three clinicals, and three clinical seminars over four terms.
The two plans handle the DNP project differently. The three-year plan runs the project alongside the first FNP courses, so the second summer combines 90 project hours with 180 clinical hours. The four-year plan finishes project implementation and evaluation before FNP coursework begins. That separation is the main workload advantage of the slower plan.
- NURS 6430 Advanced Pathophysiology (4 credits)
- NURS 6321 and 6121 Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (3 + 1 credits)
- NURS 6333 Women’s Health Management (3 credits)
- NURS 6146 FNP Diagnostic Tests and Clinical Procedures (1 credit, simulation and procedures lab)
- NURS 6476, 6477, 6478 FNP Diagnosis and Health Management I-III (4 credits each)
- NURS 7320 Statistical Process Control and Quality Improvement Methods (3 credits)
- NURS 7415 Health Systems Policy, Economics, and Financial Planning (4 credits)
- NURS 7328, 7211, 7212, 7213 DNP Project sequence (9 credits)
- NURS 6227 Advanced Practice Nurse Role and Transition to Practice (2 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- The catalog says the degree takes 9 semesters full-time and 15 part-time. The published plans show 8 and 11 terms. The program page says three years; the catalog says three to four years and 32 months for the three-year plan.
- The catalog course list still includes legacy FNP courses (such as NURS 6453, 6457, and 6354) that do not appear in the current plans of study.
- No more than one C is allowed in required courses. A C in certain fundamental APRN courses results in dismissal.
BSN-DNP Clinical Requirements
- FNP Clinical I (NURS 6231): 180 hours
- FNP Clinical II (NURS 6328): 270 hours
- FNP Clinical III (NURS 6440): 360 hours
- Direct-care total: 810 hours, at 90 clinical hours per credit (1:6 ratio for students entering Fall 2025 or later)
- DNP project hours: 270 (90 each in NURS 7328, 7211, and 7212)
- Program total: 1,080 clinical/practicum hours, above the 1,000-hour post-baccalaureate DNP minimum
- Separate 90-hour health assessment lab in NURS 6121
- Placement: guaranteed; the school arranges the clinical rotation through 400+ affiliates
- Supervision: clinical preceptor with faculty oversight, plus a clinical seminar each clinical term
At 810 direct-care hours, the FNP sequence sits above the 600 to 700 hours common among FNP programs and well above the 500-hour certification floor. The load builds steadily. On a roughly 15-week semester, Clinical II works out to about 18 hours a week and Clinical III to about 24, alongside a seminar and, in fall, a 4-credit didactic course. The placement guarantee removes the preceptor search that many programs leave to students, which matters most in that final 360-hour term.
You Should Know
- Students who entered before Fall 2025 follow a 1:4 ratio (60 hours per credit). Older figures from those cohorts do not apply to new entrants.
- The plan-of-study tables show 0 clinical hours for the three FNP clinicals. The hour counts come from the course descriptions.
- The catalog notes that more hours may be required to complete project or program requirements.
- Where affiliate sites are located, and how far students may need to drive, is not clearly stated.
BSN-DNP Admissions
The BSN-DNP screens applicants with a one-year RN experience gate, an embedded online interview, and a single fall start.
- BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program
- Texas RN license or multistate compact license
- 3.0 minimum GPA on the last 60 credit hours
- One year (2,000 hours) of clinical RN experience, documented on your resume
- NursingCAS application with embedded online interview and admission essay
- Three professional references and a current resume or CV
- $45 School of Nursing application fee, plus the separate NursingCAS fee
- Current AHA BLS, required immunizations, proof of health insurance, and a clear background check
- TOEFL or IELTS scores for international applicants
You Should Know
- The admissions page lists the fall deadline as March 1 in one place and April 1 in another. The Fall 2026 cycle has closed, so plan around the earlier date until the next cycle is posted.
- The program page asks for the experience at application. The catalog says it must be documented by the first day of admission.
- Compact-license holders from other states can apply, but they pay non-resident tuition, and the weekly campus schedule assumes you live within commuting range of San Antonio.
Post-Graduate Certificate, Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the Post-Graduate Certificate at UT San Antonio Health Science Center is approximately $24,559 for Texas residents (30 credits at $398.27/credit, plus $12,611 in required fees). The program can generally be completed in about 1.3 years (4 semesters, spring through the following spring), derived from the catalog plan of study.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate is the BSN-DNP’s FNP sequence taken on its own. The courses, order, and clinical hours match the final four terms of the doctoral track, without the DNP core or project. Applicants must already have graduate pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment. Final credit requirements are set case by case after admission.
- NURS 6476, 6477, 6478 FNP Diagnosis and Health Management I-III (4 credits each)
- NURS 6333 Women’s Health Management (3 credits)
- NURS 6146 FNP Diagnostic Tests and Clinical Procedures (1 credit)
- NURS 6231, 6328, 6440 FNP Clinical I-III (2, 3, and 4 credits)
- NURS 6123, 6126, 6127 FNP Clinical Seminar I-III (1 credit each)
- NURS 6227 Advanced Practice Nurse Role and Transition to Practice (2 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- The catalog says students take a minimum of 28 credits, but the FNP plan of study sums to 30. A gap analysis after admission could add courses.
- The sequence is term-locked, so spring is the only practical entry point.
Certificate Clinical Requirements
- Same three clinicals as the BSN-DNP: 180, 270, and 360 hours
- Total: 810 direct-care hours
- Clinicals begin in the first summer and run through the final spring
- Preceptor supervision with faculty oversight and a seminar each clinical term
Completing 810 hours in about 12 months is a heavy clinical year for a nurse who is already working. It is also more supervised practice than many post-master’s FNP certificates require, which helps nurses moving from a different specialty.
You Should Know
- The placement guarantee appears on the BSN-DNP pages only. Whether certificate students receive the same guarantee is not clearly stated.
- State boards set their own rules for adding a second APRN population focus. Nurses licensed outside Texas should confirm recognition with their board.
Certificate Admissions
The certificate has no published RN experience gate, but it requires prior graduate coursework in the three core sciences.
- MSN from a program accredited by ACEN (formerly NLNAC) or CCNE
- Texas RN license or multistate compact license
- 3.0 minimum GPA on the last 60 credit hours
- Graduate or advanced health assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology, each with a B or better
- Application deadline: August 1 for spring entry
You Should Know
- The program page still shows the Spring 2026 deadline. Treat August 1 as the annual spring deadline until the next cycle is posted.
- How recent the prerequisite courses must be is not clearly stated.
Tuition
UT San Antonio Health Science Center charges $398.27 per credit in tuition for Texas residents and $1,124.15 per credit for non-residents in 2026-2027. Both rates are derived by adding the tuition components on the School of Nursing graduate schedule.
| Per-Credit Component | Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory tuition | $50.00 | $478.00 |
| Differential tuition | $100.00 | Not charged |
| Designated tuition | $46.00 | $46.00 |
| Designated tuition (deregulated) | $202.27 | $600.15 |
| Tuition per credit | $398.27 | $1,124.15 |
| Computer and technology fee | $17.00 (first 10 credits per term) | $17.00 (first 10 credits per term) |
| Flat Fee Per Semester | Fall or Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate academic advising | $1,354.00 | $1,354.00 |
| Clinical skills | $1,073.00 | $1,073.00 |
| Fitness center | $180.00 | $120.00 |
| Student portfolio | $140.00 | $140.00 |
| Library | $139.00 | $92.00 |
| Student services | $99.00 | $44.00 |
| Medical services | $85.50 | $54.00 |
| Liability insurance | $3.00 | $3.00 |
| Total | $3,073.50 | $2,880.00 |
| Track (Derived) | Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| BSN-DNP, three-year plan (8 terms) | $55,728 | $110,894 |
| BSN-DNP, four-year plan (11 terms) | $64,789 | $119,955 |
| Certificate (4 terms) | $24,559 | $46,335 |
- Tuition: $398.27 per credit resident, $1,124.15 non-resident
- Computer and technology fee: $17 per credit, capped at $170 per term
- Flat fees: $3,073.50 per fall or spring term, $2,880 per summer term
- LINC fee: $135, one time, for new students
- Graduation fee: $220
Be aware that:
- The schedule also bills health insurance: $1,412 in fall, $2,295 in spring (covering summer), $1,371 for graduating spring students, and $996 for new summer entrants. Adding it raises the three-year resident BSN-DNP to about $65,925 and the resident certificate to about $29,637. Admission requires proof of coverage, but whether outside coverage waives the charge is not clearly stated.
- The four-year plan costs $9,061 more than the three-year plan for both residents and non-residents. The difference comes entirely from three extra terms of flat fees.
- The catalog fee policy lists a $100 BSN to DNP fee that does not appear on the schedule. How often it is charged is not clearly stated.
- The bursar posts separate Post-BSN to DNP and Post-Graduate Certificate schedules. These estimates use the School of Nursing graduate schedule, which carries a Doctor of Nursing Practice label. The program-specific schedules could differ.
- Estimates apply 2026-2027 rates to every term. The Board of Regents sets rates each year.
- Course lab fees vary by course. The schedule also lists an out-of-state distance instruction charge without a clearly matched amount.
For Texas residents, required fees add 84% to tuition on the three-year BSN-DNP and exceed tuition on the certificate and four-year plan. That puts the real resident cost near $733 per credit on the three-year plan, not $398. Because most fees are charged per term, full-time study is the cheaper route. For non-residents, fees are a smaller share, but the three-year total still passes $110,000.
Official rates are on the 2026-2027 tuition and fee schedules page.
Why Choose This FNP Program?
Best suited for Texas RNs in the San Antonio area who want placement handled for them, can be on campus weekly, and can study full-time.
Placement is arranged, not hunted. The BSN-DNP guarantees clinical placement and assigns rotations through more than 400 affiliates. For a working nurse, that removes the preceptor search that delays many FNP students.
More supervised practice than most FNP programs. Both tracks require 810 direct-care hours, and the doctoral track adds 270 project hours. The certificate delivers the same clinical sequence in about 16 months for nurses who already hold an MSN.
The trade-off is pace and proximity. Flat semester fees reward full-time study, and the part-time plan costs $9,061 more. Weekly campus attendance limits the program to nurses who can commute to San Antonio. If you can do the three-year plan locally, the guarantee and clinical volume justify the fees. If you need part-time study or live outside commuting range, the same credential costs more and demands more of your schedule.
Accreditation
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits the School of Nursing’s master’s, DNP, and Post-Graduate Certificate programs. That scope covers both FNP tracks. Following an April 2018 on-site evaluation, accreditation runs through December 31, 2028.
The health science center became part of The University of Texas at San Antonio on September 1, 2025. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accredits the merged university. Institutional accreditation supports federal financial aid eligibility and the recognition of your credits by other schools and employers.
Graduates of the BSN-DNP FNP track and certificate completers are eligible to sit for the national FNP certification exam (AANP or ANCC).
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