Quick facts about the MSN to DNP-Family Nurse Practitioner program
| Accreditation | CCNE accredited†, Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Curriculum | Complete specialty FNP courses and core doctoral-level courses to earn the terminal degree in nursing and prepare for certification in a new specialty |
| Format | 100% online didactic classes, hands-on clinical experience, and completion of a DNP Practice Project; final DNP project work is woven throughout the program |
| Admissions | Eligibility requirements include successful completion of an accredited MSN program with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 |
| Certification | We pledge your clinical placement |
| Certification prep | Curriculum designed to help you prepare for the AANP FNP-C and/or ANCC FNP-BC certification exam(s) |
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Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online graduate nursing programs in 2025
Earn a foundational FNP education and a Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2 years
The MSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - Family Nurse Practitioner degree is a 68-credit graduate program which prepares you for a career as a DNP-prepared FNP. This online degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in improvement science, collaborative practice, telehealth, systems-based practice, as well as FNP specialty topics.
Begin making your impact in the lives of patients of all ages in a variety of potential settings as a family nurse practitioner. Your pathway to greater heights in the nursing field starts with your education. Take the first step with Herzing University..
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Your pathway: courses & curriculum details
The MSN to DNP-FNP curriculum is designed both for nurses with an MSN seeking certification in their first specialty, as well as those in an existing specialty looking to become a family NP—while completing the doctoral courses required to become a leader in the nursing profession.
All didactic courses are delivered online. The curriculum includes 945 combined clinical/project hours, comprising of hands-on FNP clinical experience and the DNP Practice Project.
| Program | Months i | Semester Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor of Nursing Practice in Family Nurse Practitioner – MSN to DNP | 24 | 59 |
i. Average number of months for students to complete program.
Required Courses
All courses, 39.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition & Cost
The cost of tuition for the MSN to DNP-FNP program is $770 per credit.
You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.
Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through Herzing University and several national scholarship websites.
Military/Veteran Discounts
Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10-20% tuition discount.
Admissions requirements
Requirements to enroll in the MSN to DNP-FNP program include the following criteria:
- Hold a current, active, and unrestricted license as a registered nurse (RN) in the same state in which they live. (Note: Holding a multi-state, compact state license and being a resident in a compact license state will be deemed to have met this requirement.)
- Successful completion of an MSN program with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.00 or higher
- MSN must be an ACEN, CCNE, or NLN accredited program
- Must not have failed from previous doctoral program
- Completion of a background/clinical compliance check
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- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
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- Michigan
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- New Mexico
- North Carolina
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- Ohio
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- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Your clinical placement is our pledge.
We understand securing clinical placement as part of an MSN to DNP-FNP program is one of the biggest concerns students face. At Herzing, we offer guidance and support through our step-by-step Clinical Guidance Process to ensure you can get the clinical practice experiences you need.
As a Herzing student, we’ll encourage you to find your own preceptor and clinical sites as there are many benefits to doing so. However, we provide extensive support should you find difficulty along the way. With Herzing, you are never on your own.
Because of our strong relationships with healthcare providers across the U.S. and our comprehensive Clinical Guidance Process, we are confident in our ability to help you find clinical placement. So much so that if you are unable to find a clinical site on your own, we pledge to step in and help you secure clinical placement.*
* Subject to terms and conditions outlined in the enrollment documents.
Accreditation & Recognition
Our accredited & recognized online school
We strive to earn rank as one of the top private, nonprofit universities in the United States. Just as you work every day to become the best version of yourself, so do we as a university.
We are proud to have attained institutional and programmatic accreditation in addition to industry recognition for our accomplishments helping students earn a college education and find career success.
✝The doctor of nursing practice program at Herzing University Madison is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin.
Ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the best online graduate nursing degree programs in 2025.
Herzing University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Waived Enrollment Fee
Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.
Pursue an FNP specialty and earn the terminal degree in nursing
Our program is designed to provide you the fastest path to both earn the highest degree in nursing and begin practicing as an FNP.
The current minimum degree requirement for FNP certification is a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with an FNP specialization.
However, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) has favored increasing the degree requirement to the DNP level for several years. The knowledge and skills earned in a DNP degree program can potentially better prepare you for the broad and complex care demanded from nurse practitioners in the present and future.
Job Outlook
Graduate from a DNP program with an FNP specialization and you’ll be prepared to join a career field expected to grow rapidly over the next 10 years.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of nurse practitioners is expected to rise 46% from 2023-2033.*
Program Finder
MSN to DNP - Family Nurse Practitioner
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The Student Experience at Herzing
If I’ve learned anything from this experience, it’s that you can achieve anything you put your mind toward.
Lynn Simon
Nursing | Brookfield/Milwaukee CampusThe faculty here make themselves available during their designated office hours, but if you need extra help, they will meet at times that will work for YOU.
Barbara Mulcahy
Nursing | Madison CampusWhile I thought this would be challenging in the beginning, I completed my degree with few issues!
Sushma Rawat
Nursing | Online CampusMy experience in hospice care taught me so much about providing compassionate care and the importance of treating not only the patients but also their families.
Jenelle Ward
NursingMy class had to work through the COVID-19 pandemic. Thankfully, we worked quite hard with our professors to stay on track and still learned everything we needed!
Elizabeth Robins
Nursing | Brookfield/Milwaukee CampusDisclosures
* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.
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Waived Enrollment Fee
Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.