A family nurse practitioner (FNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who provides family-centered care to patients of all ages. FNPs provide a broad range of care to patients as young as infants through adolescence and adulthood.
Choosing a family nurse practitioner program is a huge decision that requires careful consideration. Fortunately, Nurse.org put a list together of some of the best online family nurse practitioner schools.
Walden’s online programs for nursing meet rigorous standards for academic quality and integrity, and the School of Nursing teaching faculty all hold doctorates. With three degree completion options, you can choose a bachelor’s in nursing path that makes sense for your busy, unpredictable schedule.
Accreditation Prerequisite RN RequiredEnrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
MSN - Family NP Post-Master's Cert - Family NP MSN - Pediatric NP - Primary Care
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At Ohio University, we provide aspiring and current nursing professionals programs and credentials that will help them launch their careers and advance toward leadership positions.
Accreditation Prerequisite RN RequiredEnrollment: Nationwide, except AL, AZ, CO, DE, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MD, ND, NE, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, and WY
MSN - Family NP Post-Grad Cert - Family NP
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As a working RN, you need a flexible, transfer-friendly program to help you save time and money as you take the next step in your nursing career. In our CCNE-accredited4
RN to BSN program, you can transfer in up to 134 credits—which is nearly 75% of program requirements. Your transfer credits can be reviewed in one business day (on average).
Enrollment: FL
MSN - Family NP MSN - Pediatric NP - Primary Care
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Nursing@Georgetown delivers Georgetown University’s MS in Nursing program online, preparing RNs with a BSN to pursue certification in an APRN specialty. Students can earn their degree in as few as 19 months.
Accreditation Prerequisite RN RequiredEnrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.
MSN - Family NP DNP - Family NP
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GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
Accreditation Prerequisite RN RequiredEnrollment: Nationwide
MSN - Family NP
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Our ranking system considers many factors, such as accreditation, graduation rates, and student-faculty ratios.
It is essential to mention that all online nurse practitioner programs require in-person clinical rotations. However, most, or all, classroom coursework takes place in a distance-based, online format.
Program Name
Accreditation
Tuition
Program Length
Rush University
$1,344 per credit hour
Duke University
$2,166 per credit hour
George Washington University
$1,530 per credit hour
Ohio State University
Resident: $52,904.70 total cost
Non-Resident: $53,904.70 total cost
University of South Alabama
$594 per credit hour
Vanderbilt University
$1,997 per credit hour
Texas A&M University
Resident: $787.89 per credit hour
Non-Resident: $1,319.40 per credit hour
Duquesne University
$1,765 per credit hour
Georgetown University
$2,358 per credit hour
23 to 27 months
University of Southern California
21 to 33 months
FNP graduates earn a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree at Rush University. Online nursing classes are recorded and easily accessible for student use during study times that are convenient for them. Students have the option to attend their program full-time or part-time. Clinical practice sites are in and around Chicago, so students must live locally.
Ranked the #1 FNP school in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report, Duke offers an online, distanced-based FNP program. Students earn a master's in nursing science (MSN) degree and take the FNP certification examination upon graduation. The university boasts faculty with extensive experience in clinical practice, teaching, and research. In addition, the program has opportunities for clinical work in international sites.
Students enrolled in George Washington University’s FNP program complete most courses through an online distance track. Clinical practicum rotations take place in the student's local community. Students must complete two in-campus components and are responsible for travel-related expenses. To earn an FNP from George Washington University, students must complete 48 credit hours and 600 clinical hours.
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
Accreditation Prerequisite RN RequiredEnrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
MSN - Family NP Post-Master's Cert - Family NP MSN - Pediatric NP - Primary Care
Learn More
At Ohio University, we provide aspiring and current nursing professionals programs and credentials that will help them launch their careers and advance toward leadership positions.
Accreditation Prerequisite RN RequiredEnrollment: Nationwide, except AL, AZ, CO, DE, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MD, ND, NE, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, and WY
MSN - Family NP Post-Grad Cert - Family NP
Learn More
As a working RN, you need a flexible, transfer-friendly program to help you save time and money as you take the next step in your nursing career. In our CCNE-accredited4
RN to BSN program, you can transfer in up to 134 credits—which is nearly 75% of program requirements. Your transfer credits can be reviewed in one business day (on average).
Enrollment: FL
MSN - Family NP MSN - Pediatric NP - Primary Care
Learn More
Nursing@Georgetown delivers Georgetown University’s MS in Nursing program online, preparing RNs with a BSN to pursue certification in an APRN specialty. Students can earn their degree in as few as 19 months.
Accreditation Prerequisite RN RequiredEnrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.
MSN - Family NP DNP - Family NP
Learn More
GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
Accreditation Prerequisite RN RequiredEnrollment: Nationwide
MSN - Family NP
Learn More
Ohio State has two MSN tracks for FNP students: one for in-person learning and one for distance learning. All students complete their clinical experiences within their local communities. FNP students in the distance FNP program must spend two days on campus for in-person learning and evaluating their clinical skills during their second clinical course.
The University of South Alabama was one of the first to adopt fully online MSN programs for registered nurses already working in their careers. All online FNP students pair with preceptors or mentors at their approved clinical facility. Students can also complete clinical requirements at a University of South Alabama Health-affiliated hospital or clinical facility. All students enrolled in the FNP program are required to attend one mandatory clinical skills intensive on-campus.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Vanderbilt's online FNP program as one of the top FNP programs in the country. The program offers students a state-of-the-art education and access to top facilities, including a simulation lab. Students are placed in clinical sites within a 150-mile radius of the school.
Texas A&M is one of the best nurse practitioner schools in Texas, offering a top-tier hybrid online FNP program. Students only come to the Bryan School Station campus for a limited number of class activities. Besides an on-campus orientation and these few in-person requirements, the coursework is entirely online. Students may attend in a part or full-time capacity.
Although the FNP program at Duquesne University may not be as popular as others on this list, it is ranked as one of the best online FNP programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report. There are three convenient start dates during the year, and no GRE is required. Students complete 42 credit hours of didactic work and 700 clinical hours.
Georgetown University* offers a distance-based, online MSN program for BSN-trained nurses who want to become FNPs. This program includes didactic content, online class sessions, and in-person intensive clinical training. The university website reports that the university’s average ANCC school certification rate was 100%. Students can complete the FNP program in 27 months, and there are two mandatory in-person clinical intensives.
The online MSN FNP program at the University of Southern California has full-time and part-time tracks to help students complete their advanced degrees to balance work, school, and life in a way that works best for them. The full-time track takes about 21 months, and the part-time track takes 33 months. While students complete the coursework online and clinicals at a site of their choosing, there are two mandatory in-person intensives.
Walden’s online programs for nursing meet rigorous standards for academic quality and integrity, and the School of Nursing teaching faculty all hold doctorates. With three degree completion options, you can choose a bachelor’s in nursing path that makes sense for your busy, unpredictable schedule.
