PROGRAMS

Top Family Nurse Practitioner Programs 2024

MSN, RN, BA, CBC

8 Min Read Published November 7, 2023

Fast Facts About NPs
Ranking Methodology
Top 10 Programs
What to Expect
Choosing the Right Program

Top Family Nurse Practitioner Programs 2024

Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) are currently the most in-demand nurse practitioner specialty. With a shift to preventative medicine versus sick medicine, the need for FNPs will only continue to grow.

Fast Facts About Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs)
Salary	$122,850 per year per Salary.com
Program Length	2-3 Years 40-60 total credit hours
Requirements	High school diploma or GED with minimum GPA or GED score

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program Ranking Methodology

Choosing a Family Nurse Practitioner program is a very large decision. Nurse.org has compiled a list of some of the best online and in-person FNP programs for 2024.

Our ranking system uses the latest and most robust U.S. government data sets, specifically the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and College Scorecard. We take into consideration factors such as graduation rate, student-faculty ratio, program focus, and more to help you find the right nursing program for you.

>> Show Me Online Family Nurse Practitioner Programs

Top 10 Family Nurse Practitioner Programs 2024

1. Thomas Jefferson University

Thomas Jefferson University’s FNP program is one of the top programs in the country and prepares students to deliver comprehensive primary care to patients from infancy to adulthood. The program integrates and utilizes online and in-person learning to help students achieve success. With top hospitals in the Philadelphia region, students are able to have clinical placement at a variety of locations.

Tuition: $1,224 per credit hour
Application Deadline:
- Spring: October 15th
- Summer: February 15th
- Fall: June 1st
Degree Awarded: MSN
Program Length: 36 credits and 672 clinical hours
Online Options: Hybrid - online and in-person
Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (215) 951-2800
- Email Address: enroll@jefferson.edu
- Website

2. Duke University

Duke’s clinicals and state-of-the-art simulation techniques prepare students for clinical practice in a variety of primary care settings such as family practice, internal medicine, community health centers, rural health centers, and academic health care centers.

Tuition: $2,075 per credit hour
Application Deadline:
- Fall: December 1st
- Spring: May 1st
Degree Awarded: MSN
Program Length: 49 credit hours and 728 clinical hours
Online Options: Yes, distance-based with in-person clinical experience
Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (919) 684-2671 or (877) 415-3853
- Email Address: alison.edie@duke.edu or SonAdmissions@dm.duke.edu
- Website

3. University of Rochester

The University of Rochester faculty are a group of pioneering researchers and clinicians that set the standard for nurse practitioners specializing in fields like pediatrics and psychiatric/mental health. The University of Rochester Medical Center — an innovative and leading health care network — provides the ideal setting for in-depth clinical experience.

Tuition: $1,740 per credit hour
Application Deadline:
- Fall: April 15th
- Spring: September 15th
Degree Awarded: MSN
Program Length: 55 credits and 672 clinical hours
Online Options: Hybrid - In-person and online
Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (585) 275-2375
- Contact Email Address: SON_Admissions@urmc.rochester.edu
- Website

4. Stony Brook University

Stony Brook University’s FNP program prepares nurses as expert providers of primary health care to individuals across the lifespan in a variety of health care settings. The primary focus of the program is to prepare the graduate to manage common acute and chronic health problems through health promotion, maintenance, supervision, and restoration.

Tuition:
- Resident: $640.83 per credit hour
- Non-resident: $1,132.83 per credit hour
Application Deadline: October 7th
Degree Awarded: MSN
Program Length: 45 credits and 672 clinical hours
Online Options: Distance Education with On-Site Requirements
Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (631) 444-3200
- Email Address: fnp.nursing@stonybrook.edu
- Website

5. Binghamton University

Binghamton University’s FNP program repeatedly graduates top-tier FNPs from the program. The Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences offers students an affordable degree with either an MSN or DNP.

Tuition:
- Resident: $27,590
- Non-resident: $34,630
Application Deadline: Rolling but March 15th or October 15th is recommended
Degree Awarded: MSN or DNP
Program Length: 48 credits and 540 to 660 clinical hours
Online Options: Distance Education with On-Site Requirements
Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (607) 777-4684
- Email Address: nrouhana@binghamton.edu
- Website

6. Fairfield University

Fairfield University’s Family Nurse Practitioner program prepares advanced practice nurses to provide holistic care to individuals of all ages from newborn babies to older adults, and to address issues associated with women’s health. Students work in all care settings with a focus on delivering patient care management, health promotion, and disease prevention to people with acute and chronic diseases.

Tuition: $960 per credit hour
Application Deadline: July 1st
Degree Awarded: MSN
Program Length: 51 credits and 12 credits of practicum experience.
Online Options: Distance Education with On-Site Requirements
Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (203) 254-4000 ext. 2757 or (203) 254-4184
- Email Address: jconelius@fairfield.edu or gradadmis@fairfield.edu
- Website

7. Union University

Union University offers a 16-month graduate nursing education curriculum for professional nurses to gain academic preparation as a Nurse Practitioner. Available online as well as the three physical locations, this program prepares the graduate for advanced professional nursing practice with specific functional and clinical abilities.

Tuition: $685 per credit hour
Application Deadline:
- Priority: October 1st
- Second priority: December 1st
- Final: April 1st
Degree Awarded: MSN
Program Length: 46 credits and 560 clinical hours
Location: Blended between online and the Jackson, Germantown, and Hendersonville campuses
Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (731) 661-5156
- Email Address: nursingadmissions@uu.edu
- Website

8. Mercer University

The Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track at Mercer University prepares registered nurses to fulfill the role of a competent health care provider responsible for managing the care of families in the primary care setting. Its focus is to provide the knowledge and clinical skills necessary for health promotion, disease prevention, assessment, and management of common acute and chronic illnesses.

Tuition: $10,430 per semester
Application Deadline: July 1st
Degree Awarded: MSN
Program Length: 48 course units and 660 clinical hours
Location: Combination of in-person and online learning
Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (678) 547-6700
- Email Address: anderson_j@mercer.edu
- Website

9. University of Pennsylvania

Established in 1973, this top-ranked FNP program offers diverse clinical experiences and rigorous coursework to prepare students to work with patients from all backgrounds and circumstances. The flexible FNP program offers full-time, part-time, and BSN/MSN study. The full-time program begins each August, is 16 months in length, and concludes the following December.

Tuition: $88,080 per year
Application Deadline:
- Full-time Summer & Fall: November 1st
- Part-time Spring: October 16th
- Part-time Summer: March 15th
- Part-time Fall: March 15th
Degree Awarded: MSN
Program Length: 14-course units and 600 clinical hours
Location: Combination of in-person and online learning
Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (215) 898-4271
- Email Address: admissions@nursing.upenn.edu
- Website

10. Molloy College

Molloy College is a small, private college in Long Island, New York that Money magazine recently ranked one of the nation's top-three value colleges for the second consecutive year. Located less than an hour from Manhattan, Molloy is one of the most affordable private colleges on Long Island.

Tuition: $1,350 per credit hour
Application Deadline:
- Fall: February 1st
- Spring: October 1st
Degree Awarded: MSN
Program Length: 45 credit hours and 690 clinical hours
Location: Combination of in-person and online learning
Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (516) 323-4000
- Email Address: info@molloy.edu
- Website

What to Expect in Family Nurse Practitioner Programs

FNP Curriculum & Coursework

FNP programs adhere to the Nurse Practitioner framework and core competencies established by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing for Nurse Practitioners (AACN). The nine competencies are:

Ethics
Health Delivery System
Independent Practice
Leadership
Policy
Practice Inquiry
Quality
Scientific Foundation
Technology and Information Literacy

Specific courses in a Family NP program generally include,

Advanced Pathophysiology
Advanced Pharmacology
Advanced Physical Assessment
Child and Family Development
Clinical Practicums
Evidence-Based Practice
Health Informatics
Health Policy, Legal and Ethical Dimensions of Practice
Leadership and Critical Decision Making
Management of Primary Care with Young Families
Primary Care Across the Life Span
Primary Care of Middle-Aged and Older Adult
Research Methods and Design

Family Nurse Practitioner Program Prerequisites

Though every Family Nurse Practitioner degree program is different, most have similar entry requirements, which generally include:

At least one year of bedside nursing experience (ideally adult or gerontology nursing)
Completion of undergraduate statistics with a grade of C or better
GRE if applicable
Professional resume or curriculum vitae
Satisfactory completion of an accredited baccalaureate program with at least 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
Submission of official transcripts from all postsecondary schools attended
Successful completion of a personal interview with the Nursing Admissions Committee
TOEFL test if applicable
Two or three professional references
Unencumbered, active RN license in the state of practice (Some programs will require an RN license in the state of the program)
Written statement of professional goals for graduate study and nursing career

>> Show Me Online Family Nurse Practitioner Programs

FNP Program Tuition

Family Nurse Practitioner programs vary greatly in cost. Factors include school, location, online versus, in-person and ultimate degree. Tuition per credit hour can vary between $500 to $2,000 depending on the program. Programs that have brick and mortar locations also have a higher tuition as well.

Doctoral-level programs tend to be more expensive than master's degree programs, in part because more credits are required overall. Tuition costs also include program fees, lab fees, course materials, and other associated expenses. Don’t forget additional fees involved in clinicals such as transportation and gas.

Examples of credit cost include:

Carlow University - $918 / credit
Frontier University - $665 / credit
LaSalle University - $880 / credit
Simmons University - $1,476 / credit

Family Nurse Practitioner Program Accreditation

There are two main accreditation bodies in the United States

When choosing a Family Nurse Practitioner program, you’ll want to ensure yours is accredited by one of these two bodies.

How to Pick the Right Family Nurse Practitioner Program for You

Picking the right Family NP program can be overwhelming especially with the increasing number of available programs throughout the country. Online and hybrid programs have given access to top-tier programs for those that are unable to relocate.

The most important factor when choosing a program is understanding if the state in which you reside allows students to enroll in distance education programs and therefore participate in clinical practicums within the state.

It is important to check with your state board of nursing to see if your state allows this. Licensure requirements vary from state to state and by a professional organization. If you have any questions regarding state eligibility, you can also contact the University’s Office of Enrollment and Student Affairs.

You can use our guide of NP schools by state to find a nurse practitioner program near you!

Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing an FNP Program

How will I pay for the degree? Loans? Scholarships? Tuition Reimbursement?
Does your current job have an affiliation with a specific Family NP program?
Online versus in-person?
Do you prefer obtaining your MSN or DNP?
Consider the program’s accreditation and graduate certification rate.
Consider the entry prerequisites for which you qualify.
Do you want a program that will find your clinical placements?
What is the job placement rate?
Is there program flexibility?
What is your goal after graduation? Hospital? Private practice?

FNP Career Overview >>

What’s the Difference Between FNP-C vs FNP-BC Certifications? >>

Family Nurse Practitioner Salary >>