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Master's Degree

RN to FNP Online Program
Accelerate from ADN to Family NP

Calendar

CLASSES START
May 6th

24 Mo.

Program Length

64

Credits

Online

Format

630 Hrs

Clinicals

Master's Degree

RN to FNP Online Program
Accelerate from ADN to Family NP

Bridge to the next level in your nursing career

AccreditationCCNE accredited,1 Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Our pledgeHerzing pledges your clinical placement
Clinicals630 total clinical hours with 500 total patient encounters; 64 credits required to graduate from the Accelerated RN to MSN program
Format100% online coursework with inter-professional educational opportunities
OptionsGo from ADN to FNP in our accelerated RN to MSN program, or earn your BSN on the way in our RN to BSN to MSN-FNP track
QuickPathsTransfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University
Family Nurse Practitioner FNP High Fiving Child Patient
US News Best Graduate Nursing Programs 2024

Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online graduate nursing programs in 2024

RN to MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
US News Best Graduate Nursing Programs 2024

Overview: Accelerated Online RN to MSN-FNP Program

The RN to Master of Science in Nursing in Family Nurse Practitioner degree is a 64-credit graduate program (RN to MSN) which prepares you for a career as an FNP.

The online degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in advanced pathophysiology and pharmacology, health promotion across the life span, adult, geriatric, and pediatric healthcare, and much more.

SVG
Career-focused curriculum

Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.

SVG
Flexible schedule

We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.

SVG
Virtual services

Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.

SVG
Lifelong support

We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.

SVG
Rolling admissions

No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.

Classes Start May 6th

Learn More Today

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Curriculum

RN to MSN-FNP classes and curriculum details

The Herzing RN to MSN curriculum offers graduate-level nursing coursework as well as career-focused education, from foundational and core courses to valuable clinical experience.

All classes are delivered online with clinicals totaling 630 hours with 500 unique patient encounters.

ProgramMonthsiCredits
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Family Nurse Practitioner - Accelerated RN-MSN (MSNFNPA)2464

i. Average number of months for students to complete program

RN to BSN to MSN-FNP Track

This track combines our online RN to BSN and BSN to MSN-FNP degree programs. You can view their respective curriculums with all course information here:

Required Bridge Courses

All courses, 16.00 semester credit hours, are required prior to completing graduate level coursework.

Required Core Courses

All courses, 15.00 semester credit hours, are required.

Required Direct Care Courses

All courses, 9.00 semester credit hours, are required.

*Students in the FNP program must take NU 610 and NU 611 in the same semester.

Required Specialty Courses

All courses, 24.00 semester credit hours, are required.

+ Chair approval is needed for PMC students to take NU 627 with another clinical course simultaneously.

Clinical Proficiency Exam

The following courses are 0.00 semester credit hours associated with the policy outlined above. Students are required to take as co-requisite courses along with NU 611, NU 664, or NU 671, depending on the program of study. NSG 0600 - Clinical Proficiency Exam Semester Credit Hours: 0.00 NSG 0600R - Clinical Proficiency Remediation Course (if needed) Semester Credit Hours: 0.00

Tuition & Cost

Tuition & Cost

The cost of tuition for the RN to MSN-FNP program is $735 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.

Find my estimate

 Scholarships & Financial Aid

You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants—including our Nurses Circle of Achievement scholarship, which offers up to 10% tuition reduction.

Find scholarships and grants 

 Military/Veteran Discounts

Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10% tuition discount or tuition reduction to $250 per credit.

VA/Military benefits 

Requirements
Requirements

RN to FNP program enrollment prerequisites

Enrollment requirements are the same whether you choose the accelerated RN to MSN-FNP or RN to BSN to MSN-FNP track. Prerequisites include:

  • Live in a state where Herzing University is authorized to offer the RN to MSN program
  • Hold a current, active and unrestricted license as a registered nurse (RN) in the same state in which they practice
  • Hold an associate degree (ADN/ASN/AASN) in nursing from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university
  • Participate in an interview to identify your goals and determine if the program is right for you

Eligible states for enrollment: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District Of Columbia.

MSN Clinical Placement Pledge Herzing Badge

Your clinical placement is our pledge.

We understand securing clinical placement as part of an RN to MSN-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.

Pathways

Choose your path to go from RN to FNP

RN to BSN to MSN-FNP Path

Earn your BSN, then work towards a master’s degree in nursing.

  • Curriculum built to help you earn a BSN and MSN faster
  • How long? 32 months on average
  • Earn a bachelor’s degree that may be required by some employers
Accelerated RN to MSN-FNP

Bridge directly from an ADN to FNP in the Herzing Accelerated RN to MSN program.

  • Curriculum built to accelerate your MSN-FNP completion
  • How long? As few as 2 years (24 months)
  • Ideal for nurses looking to advance their practice and leap forward in their career

Classes Start May 6th

Waived Enrollment Fee
Careers

Your career as a nurse practitioner IS possible

Become a family nurse practitioner and you’ll develop skills to handle patient care across the lifespan under the umbrella of family practice.

After earning your master’s degree, you can qualify to become an important contributor in many different types of settings in patient care:

  • Family practice
  • Primary care
  • Public health
  • Retail health clinics
  • Acute care
  • Psychiatry/mental health
  • Urgent care clinics
  • Emergency rooms
  • Veterans administration
  • Women's Health

Job outlook

 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of nurse practitioners is expected to rise 45% from 2022-2032, far surpassing the average across all U.S. occupations.*

Now is a great time to begin earning the education you need to join a rapidly growing field in healthcare.

How can I continue advancing my career? Nurse practitioners considering an additional credential in teaching or instruction may be interested in a post-master’s certificate in nursing education.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Nurse practitioners have an expanded scope of practice compared to registered nurses. In addition to RN duties, nurse practitioners may also write prescriptions, order lab tests, diagnose illnesses, and more (although specifics vary by state). NPs have greater autonomy in delivering patient care, and for that reason, the education requirement is higher. 

Learn more about the main differences between RN vs. NP.

No. Registered nurses holding an associate degree who enroll in an accelerated RN to MSN (Nurse Practitioner concentration/track) program may skip earning a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) on their way to earning their MSN.

Those who want to become an NP but only have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree may be eligible to enroll in our online Direct Entry MSN program, which makes it possible to earn a master’s degree in nursing in as few as 20 months without earning a BSN on the way.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioners earn an average salary of $124,680 per year ($59.94 per hour). Pay depends on many factors, including your location, what healthcare institution you work for and your level of experience.*

Discover the average nurse practitioner salary by state and find out what nurse practitioners make on average near you.

Completing the Accelerated RN to FNP option with Herzing takes 24 months. If you choose this path you will not earn a BSN.

If you choose to earn your BSN first, you’ll need 12 months to go from RN to BSN, and another 20 months to go from BSN to FNP in our MSN-FNP program—for a total of at least 32 months.

Here’s a selection of the most common types of nurse practitioners:

Note: Herzing does not offer a track in Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP).

Each specialty has its own unique requirements in terms of job experience and certification.

Increasingly yes, but it ultimately depends on the institution who issued the degree.

As the popularity of online degrees continues to rapidly trend upward in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, so has mainstream acceptance of online degree programs.

Attitudes toward online degrees were already becoming more positive before the pandemic forced the issue. According to a 2019 study from Northeastern University, 61 percent of HR leaders say online learning is “of equal or greater quality to more traditional methods.” More than half believe that in the future, most advanced degrees will be online.

Regarding nursing applicants who earned online degrees, there are a few important factors employers consider:

  • The school and degree program’s accreditation. Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and programmatically accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).i
  • If you have earned nursing licensure. Our programs are designed to help you pass any necessary exams and become licensed before getting your first job.
  • The school’s reputation and history of producing excellent employees. Consider our many happy graduates and 50+ years producing more than 40,000 alumni.

For all these reasons employers know what it means when they see “Herzing University” on a resume!

i. Programmatic accreditation varies by program and by campus location. Find details about all Herzing University accreditations and approvals.

Sometimes hospitals form partnerships with schools like ours to provide employees with unique benefits should they choose to pursue an advanced nursing degree.

Employees of Herzing partners can potentially earn college credit for prior work or military experience, transfer existing credit, or earn a scholarship to make going back to school more affordable.

If you are currently an RN considering becoming a nurse practitioner, view our educational partnerships or check with your employer for potential possibilities.

We offer multiple options for current nurses of all types, including pathways for ASN/ADN, BSN, and MSN degree holders.

View our available online Family Nurse Practitioner programs.

Nurse practitioner represents an advanced practice role in nursing—it’s not an easy job, and our goal is to prepare you best for success! We strive to keep coursework manageable, but provide you with the knowledge, skills, and valuable clinical experiences to succeed as a nurse practitioner.

Our goal is to help you balance the challenge of an NP curriculum with everything else in your life, including your work, family and friends. You can take courses at the right pace for you, so you can get the most out of going back to school and be ready to practice as a nurse practitioner.

Choose your NP pathway

Choose your NP pathway

Considering all of your options for nurse practitioner specialties?

Herzing University offers multiple nurse practitioner programs for current nurses holding an associate, bachelor's, or master's degree in nursing.

Our goal is to help you walk your career path no matter where you are, or where you want to go.

Explore Herzing NP programs
Disclosures

Accreditation

Accreditation & Disclosures

1. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and master's degree program in nursing at Herzing University - Madison are 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.

Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

View Herzing University Accreditation and Approvals

* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.

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By selecting this button you agree to receive updates and alerts from Herzing University. Text HELP to 85109 for help, Text STOP to 85109 to end. Msg & Data Rates May Apply. By opting in, I authorize Herzing University to deliver SMS messages and I understand that I am not required to opt in as a condition of enrollment. By leaving this box unchecked you will not be opted in for SMS messages. Click to read Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Herzing Tuition Wizard

When do you want to start classes?

The program has an automatic transfer of credits, and allows you to transfer up to additional credits.

  Transfer Credits

The program allows you to transfer up to credits.

  Transfer Credits

The program allows you to transfer up to credit hours.

  Transfer Credit Hours
RN to MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner Online Campus
Tuition
Cost per Credit$735.00
Base Tuition$47,040.00
Savings from Transfer Credits (9 x $735.00 )(-$6,615.00)
Estimated Tuition Cost*$40,425.00
Fees
One-time Program Fee$0.00
Per-semester Program Fee$750.00
Per-semester Learner Resource Fee$530.00
Estimated Total Fee*$7,680.00
Total Semesters 1
RequiredNeeded
66
Total Credits
RequiredNeeded
6455
Estimated Cost 2
Base CostYour Cost
$54,720.00$48,105.00
Estimated Savings*
$6,615.00

Available Scholarships & Loan Options

Who Can Apply

Recipients and the amounts of the scholarships vary.

Requirements

Scholarship recipients, amounts, and terms and conditions are determined by Herzing University and its donors and are subject to change. An endowment is an amount of money (fund) that is given to the University with a stipulation that the funds are invested to earn annual interest rather than spent immediately. Students and alumni can learn more through the following channels: email give@herzing.edu, call (262) 735-6189, or visit https://www.herzing.edu/make-donation-herzing-university.

Who Can Apply

Any student in a degree-seeking program that makes on-time, out of pocket payments toward tuition and fee expenses.

Requirements

The amount of the payments made that exceed the amount of excess loan funding received will be used to calculate total award. Eligible students must make on-time payments, according to a predetermined payment plan. Restrictions may vary.

  • Matching percentage is based on student’s EFC at the time of application.
  • Student’s with a Pell eligible EFC will receive a 100% match
  • Students will non-Pell eligible EFC will receive 50% match
  • Students who do no complete the FAFSA will automatically qualify for the 50% match.
Who Can Apply

Available to applicants in any program that demonstrate a financial need, who are unable to cover cost of attendance with alternative resources

Requirements

Must show financial need and are unable to cover cost of attendance with alternative resources

Who Can Apply

Available to Herzing graduates who have re-enrolled in a higher-level degree

Requirements

Alumni may qualify as many times as they re-enroll in a higher-level degree

Who Can Apply
  • ASN or BSN: Must have completed the TEAS Assessment Score of 78+ or Kaplan Test Score of 66+.
  • MSN: must have a 3.8+ GPA upon entering the program.
Requirements
  • Applicants in the ASN and BSN, must maintain a 3.0 GPA while enrolled.
  • Applicants in the MSN program must maintain a 3.8 GPA.
Who Can Apply

Employees of a business participating in the Herzing Partnerships Program

Requirements
  • Documentation showing proof of employment is required
  • Recipients must be packaged at direct cost (receiving financial aid for tuition and fees only)

Questions?

Reach out to a member of the Financial Aid team at the Online campus:

Financial Aid Team
(866) 508-0748
fa@herzing.edu

1 

Actual semesters to complete are dependent upon university approved transfer credits and program mapping.

2 

Estimated program length, estimated number of semesters, and estimated program shown above are standard by program for each student based on: a student taking a full-time course load each semester, the student not having any transfer credits (from previous Herzing experiences or from other post-secondary institutions), and successful completion of each course.

Current tuition rates for all programs are effective through the Summer 2024 semester.