Wichita State University offers 2 Family Nurse Practitioner Tracks:
- BSN-DNP
- Post-Master DNP (for practicing APRNs)
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSN-DNP | $35.7K / $77.0K | 3–4 years (10–12 semesters, derived) | 77 |
| Post-Master DNP | $14.6K (all states) | 2–3 years (6–9 semesters, derived) | 31 |
Tuition estimates use Wichita State’s FY2027 graduate per-credit tuition, three per-credit mandatory fees, and the tiered Student Support Services Fee.
Wichita State’s BSN-DNP is built for Kansas nurses. A resident pays about $390 per credit all-in for a 77-credit doctorate, and admission requires a Kansas RN license. The school now carries the Ascension Via Christi name, reflecting a long partnership with one of the state’s largest health systems.
That pricing does not travel. Nonresidents pay $925.92 per credit, more than double, because the BSN-DNP is not billed as a fully online program. Admission is fall-only with a May 1 deadline, and the school does not publish clinical hours, placement support, or the BSN-DNP’s campus schedule.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | BSN-DNP (FNP); Post-Master DNP for licensed, certified APRNs |
| Format | BSN-DNP: Hybrid (campus schedule not published). Post-Master DNP: completely online |
| Clinical Hours | Not clearly stated; 11–16 practicum credits in the BSN-DNP |
| Clinical Placement | Not clearly stated; preceptors must be APRNs or physicians, not PAs |
| Distinctive Coursework | Mental disorders management, practice management, women’s and pediatric primary care, procedures course |
| RN License Requirements | BSN-DNP: active Kansas RN license. Post-Master: active APRN license |
| Tuition | $390.25/credit resident; $925.92 nonresident; Post-Master at resident rate everywhere |
| Accreditation | CCNE (DNP); Kansas State Board of Nursing approved |
| Start Terms | BSN-DNP: fall only (May 1). Post-Master: spring only (October 15) |
BSN to DNP, Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the DNP in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner (Postbaccalaureate) at Wichita State is approximately $35,741 for Kansas residents (77 credits at $390.25/credit, plus the Student Support Services Fee) and about $76,987 for nonresidents. The program can generally be completed in about 3 to 4 years, a derived estimate based on full-time graduate loads, since Wichita State does not publish a plan of study.
BSN-DNP Curriculum
The 77 credits split into three blocks: 40 credits of core and preparatory courses, 28 credits of FNP specialization, and 9 credits of DNP project work. All FNP specialty training sits inside the doctorate. Wichita State stopped admitting MSN students to APRN tracks in 2012, so there is no master’s exit point.
Population coverage built as separate courses. Women’s primary care, pediatric primary care, and diagnosis and management of mental disorders each get their own course. Many FNP programs fold these populations into broader management courses, so the stand-alone format gives each one dedicated time.
A procedures course and a practice management course. NURS 728 Advanced Practice Technology and Skills (3 credits) adds hands-on procedural training. NURS 956 Practice Management covers the business side of running a clinical practice, which is useful for nurses heading into rural or independent settings.
A four-stage DNP project. The project runs from translational research through four project courses and two labs, ending in an oral defense. Project IV repeats until requirements are met, which can extend completion.
- NURS 793 / 824 Advanced Pathophysiology I and II (6 credits)
- NURS 795A / 795B Applied Drug Therapy I and II (6 credits)
- NURS 854 Diagnosis and Management of Mental Disorders
- NURS 907 Primary Care of Women; NURS 908 Pediatric Primary Care
- NURS 728 Advanced Practice Technology and Skills
- NURS 803 / 903 / 913 FNP Primary Care I–III
- NURS 804 / 904 FNP Primary Care Practicum I and II
- NURS 952 Advanced Nursing Practice Preceptorship; NURS 960 Residency
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- The current program page and catalog list 77 credits. An earlier version of the program page and the school’s DNP info sheet list 74, so confirm which plan applies to your entering class.
- Wichita State’s online program page promotes a “family care” DNP that is fully online. That page describes the Post-Master DNP, which does not prepare nurses for FNP certification.
BSN-DNP Clinical Requirements
- Total clinical hours: not clearly stated in the program page or catalog
- Named practicum courses: NURS 804 (4 credits), NURS 904 (4), NURS 952 (3) = 11 credits
- Possible additional clinical credit: NURS 951 Clinical Application and Role Transition (3) and NURS 960 Residency (2)
- Preceptors: APRNs or physicians, licensed in their specialty, with at least one year of experience if newly prepared
- Physician assistants cannot precept APRN students under current Kansas State Board of Nursing rules
- Faculty keep ongoing contact with preceptors and are responsible for student evaluation
- NP student liability coverage ($1M/$3M) required before practicum courses
At a common 60-hours-per-credit ratio, the 11 named practicum credits would produce about 660 hours, and 960 if role transition and residency also count. Either figure clears the 500-hour certification floor, and the upper figure sits well above the 600 to 700 hours common in FNP programs. Wichita State has not published the ratio, so treat both numbers as estimates until the school confirms them.
You Should Know
- The clinical-hour range above is derived using an assumed 60:1 ratio. Ask the program for its published per-credit ratio and total.
- Wichita State does not say whether it arranges clinical placements or expects students to find their own preceptors. Ask directly before applying.
- The PA restriction narrows the preceptor pool in rural Kansas clinics staffed mainly by PAs.
BSN-DNP Admissions
Admission is fall-only with one application deadline, and every applicant needs an active Kansas RN license.
- BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program
- 3.0 GPA in undergraduate coursework, all undergraduate nursing courses, and any graduate courses
- 3.0 combined GPA in anatomy/physiology, microbiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology, with no grade below C
- Approved graduate-level statistics course within the last 10 years
- Active Kansas RN license
- Application to the Graduate School by May 1 for fall admission; specialization chosen at application
- Technical standards and basic computer literacy
You Should Know
- The program page applies the 3.0 GPA to the last 60 undergraduate credits. The catalog applies it to all undergraduate coursework.
- The program page accepts BSNs accredited by CCNE, ACEN, or NLN. The catalog names only NLN or CCNE.
- Wichita State participates in SARA but states it cannot confirm whether its programs meet licensure requirements outside Kansas. Nurses planning to practice in another state should check that board’s rules first.
Post-Master DNP, Individual/Family Focus
The estimated tuition for the Post-Master Doctor of Nursing Practice at Wichita State is approximately $14,572 (31 credits at $390.25/credit, plus the Student Support Services Fee). The program can generally be completed in about 2 to 3 years, with full- and part-time options.
This track is for nurse practitioners who are already licensed and board certified. It adds a doctorate, not a new population focus. Certified FNPs continue in the family specialty they completed in their master’s program.
Post-Master DNP Curriculum
The 31 credits cover 22 credits of systems, policy, and advanced practice courses plus the same 9-credit DNP project sequence used in the BSN-DNP. The project is typically built in the student’s current practice site, so working APRNs can apply it to their own clinic.
- NURS 924 Advanced Pharmacotherapy for Advanced Practice Nursing
- NURS 824 Advanced Pathophysiology II
- NURS 801 Health Policy; PHS 807 Healthcare Informatics
- NURS 901 Organizational Systems and Leadership
- NURS 902 Population and Social Determinants of Health
- NURS 956 Practice Management
- NURS 757 Teaching Strategies for Nursing Education
- NURS 826–962 Evidence-Based Nursing Project I–IV with labs
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- The program description mentions residency hours taken in 2-, 4-, or 6-hour increments, but no residency course appears in the 31-credit course list.
- The two tracks describe the project proposal defense at different points: Project II in the BSN-DNP, Project III in the Post-Master DNP.
Post-Master DNP Clinical Requirements
- Clinical hours: not clearly stated
- Students are expected to be in active clinical practice as APRNs
- The quality improvement project is led in the student’s practice site, community, or alongside a WSU faculty researcher
Because students already hold national certification, the track carries no new NP practicum. Most post-master DNP programs require graduates to reach a cumulative 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice hours. Wichita State does not say how it counts prior master’s hours toward that total.
Post-Master DNP Admissions
Admission is spring-only, and the GPA bar is higher than the BSN-DNP’s.
- Master’s degree in nursing from an accredited school with a 3.5 GPA in master’s coursework
- Active APRN license
- National certification (or eligibility) as an NP, CNM, CRNA, or CNS
- Approved graduate-level statistics course within the last 10 years
- Application deadline October 15 each year (priority deadline July 15) for spring entry
You Should Know
- The 2026 deadline has passed. The next opening is the October 15, 2027 cycle for spring 2028 entry.
- The program page lists a bachelor’s degree in nursing as the requirement. The catalog requires a nursing master’s degree, which governs.
Tuition
Wichita State’s graduate cost per credit is $390.25 for Kansas residents: $367.92 tuition plus $22.33 in per-credit mandatory fees. The same $390.25 applies to every Post-Master DNP student, since Wichita State bills fully online programs at the resident rate regardless of where students live. BSN-DNP nonresidents pay $925.92 per credit.
| Component (per credit, FY2027) | Resident | Shocker Select / MSEP | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate tuition | $367.92 | $551.89 | $903.59 |
| Campus Infrastructure & Support Fee | $20.58 | $20.58 | $20.58 |
| Technology Fee | $1.00 | $1.00 | $1.00 |
| Transportation Fee | $0.75 | $0.75 | $0.75 |
| Total per credit | $390.25 | $574.22 | $925.92 |
Estimated totals (derived):
- BSN-DNP, resident: 77 × $390.25 = $30,049 + $5,691 Student Support Services Fee = $35,741
- BSN-DNP, Shocker Select or MSEP rate: 77 × $574.22 = $44,215 + $5,691 = $49,906
- BSN-DNP, nonresident: 77 × $925.92 = $71,296 + $5,691 = $76,987
- Post-Master DNP, all states: 31 × $390.25 = $12,098 + $2,475 = $14,572
Confirmed costs:
- Graduate tuition and per-credit fees as listed above, set by the Kansas Board of Regents for FY2027
- Student Support Services Fee per semester: $742.35 at 7+ credits, $494.90 at 4–6.75 credits, $247.45 at up to 3.75 credits; summer amounts are half
- Online-program tuition is set at the resident rate for all students
Be aware that:
- The Student Support Services Fee totals are derived. The BSN-DNP estimate assumes 9 credits each fall and spring and 6 each summer; the Post-Master estimate assumes about 5–6 credits per term over two years. A slower pace adds more semesters of this fee.
- The BSN-DNP is not listed as a fully online program, so the online resident rate does not appear to apply to nonresidents. Confirm with the school.
- The Shocker Select rate covers eight neighboring states, and the MSEP rate covers seven Midwest states. MSEP excludes limited-access programs, and the BSN-DNP may qualify as one.
- Course fees, clinical tracking software, background checks, and liability insurance are not included.
- Rates are subject to change by the Kansas Board of Regents each year.
For Kansas residents, a doctorate near $36,000 all-in is a strong value, and the Post-Master DNP under $15,000 is low for any doctorate. The calculation changes outside Kansas: a nonresident BSN-DNP student pays more than twice the resident total, which removes the cost advantage. Full details are on Wichita State’s tuition and fees page.
Why Choose This FNP Program?
Best suited for Kansas RNs who want a low-cost doctorate close to home, and for certified NPs anywhere who want an affordable online DNP.
Resident cost for a full doctorate. A Kansas nurse can complete BSN-to-DNP FNP training for about $35,700 in tuition and fees. That price covers a 77-credit program with separate women’s, pediatric, and mental health courses, plus procedures and practice-management training.
A cheap online path for certified FNPs. The Post-Master DNP is completely online and billed at the resident rate in every state. Practicing FNPs can earn a doctorate for under $15,000 while building the project in their own clinic.
Gaps to close before applying. The school does not publish BSN-DNP clinical hours, placement support, campus requirements, or a plan of study. Applicants also face a fall-only intake, a Kansas RN license gate, and a nonresident rate that erases the price advantage. Ask the program office for its plan of study and placement policy before committing.
Accreditation
Wichita State’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). That accreditation covers both the BSN-DNP and the Post-Master DNP, since both are entry points to the same degree.
The Kansas State Board of Nursing approves the DNP program. Kansas board approval matters for the BSN-DNP in particular, since graduates apply for APRN licensure through the state.
Wichita State University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Institutional accreditation supports federal financial aid eligibility and the transfer of graduate credit.
Graduates of the BSN-DNP are prepared to sit for the national FNP certification exam (AANP or ANCC). Post-Master DNP students already hold national certification in their specialty.
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