20 Cheapest RN To FNP Online Bridge Programs
Here are some ADN to FNP programs online for RNs.
Nurse practitioners are increasingly in demand as a career path for RNs looking to progress in the healthcare industry (NP).
If you’re an RN and want to take on more responsibility and have the freedom to work independently, you’ll need to become a nurse practitioner.
RN To FNP Programs Online
Earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree qualifies one for the nurse practitioner profession.
The aspiration of becoming an advanced practice nurse practitioner is within reach for RNs who currently have an ADN or a BSN.
Most Affordable RN To FNP Online Bridge Programs
Below are the best online RN to FNP programs.
1. Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is one of the country’s most prestigious private research universities and has been ranked the best university in Tennessee by the College Consensus.
The Vanderbilt School of Nursing at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, was founded in 1908.
As the nation’s oldest and most progressive nursing school, Vanderbilt University’s School of Nursing has been at the forefront of nursing education’s transition from the hospital and clinical studies to higher education.
The school initially offered the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree at Vanderbilt University’s Nursing School in 1955. Still, it wasn’t until 1975 that a student could specialize in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP).
When it was first offered, the MSN FNP focus at Vanderbilt was cutting-edge, along with other forward-thinking advanced nursing concentrations, including Psychiatric-Mental Health and Nurse-Midwifery.
US News and World Report put VUSN’s FNP specialty at number five in 2019.
An excellent US Family Nurse Practitioner program is now offered in a modified distance learning model that allows students to continue working while completing their graduate degrees.
For the most part, students can complete their lectures online, although sometimes they must come to campus.
Fortunately, you can arrange for the 630 hours of clinical practicum experience that you need close to home. You do not need to be a nurse to become a Family Nurse Practitioner at VUSN.
Applicants with an Associate of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, or a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than nursing may apply.
The educational level of the applicant will influence the requirements.
2. University of Mississippi Medical Center
UMMC consolidated the University of Mississippi’s health programs into a single campus in 1955 and is Mississippi’s leading healthcare leader, producing the state’s most health professionals.
Since it opened in 1948, the School of Nursing at The University of Mississippi in Oxford has been the only Mississippi institution to provide bachelor’s and master’s degree programs for nursing students.
Critical Care, Women and Infants, Adult, and Mississippi’s only Children’s Hospital resides on the University of Mississippi Medical Center campus.
Students who want to become Family Nurse Practitioners can take advantage of the UMMC’s access to training and experience in any population, which is a significant advantage.
It’s possible to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Maryland at College Park (UMMC) in six different online choices, including the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP).
Those with an Associate’s degree in Nursing are eligible for this program. The FNP track of the MSN degree requires 630 hours of clinical work under a university-arranged mentorship.
The institution mandates that these hours be completed in Mississippi, even though tutors can teach much of the curriculum online.
Graduates of this program will be qualified to sit for the ANCC or AANP national tests and a state advanced practice licensure as a Nurse Practitioner.
UMMC’s MSN/FNP program has a 100% pass record on the national certification examinations, making it one of the best online FNP programs available today.
3. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Texas A&M (TAMU) is most commonly associated with the large college town of College Station, Texas, home to the state’s flagship university and a significant center for football.
Although it is one of eleven campuses in the Texas A&M University System, Texas A&M – Corpus Christi has been progressively gaining national attention in science and engineering since it opened for classes in the fall of 2004 in the Gulf Coast city.
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences also offers a TAMU-Corpus Christi RN-MSN program.
The RN-MSN curriculum is designed for those already holding an RN and an AD in Nursing. The RN Bridge must be taken by persons who do not have an RN before they may enroll in the MSN program.
The 49-credit TAMU Corpus Christi Family Nurse Practitioner MSN program graduates will be qualified to practice as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs).
Nurses can take the National Certification Exam after completing the FNP track.
FNP students at Texas A&M Corpus Christi can complete their degrees online while maintaining their full-time jobs.
Six hundred thirty clinical hours and around three years are required to get this degree, like most MSN/FNP paths at other universities.
While it is ultimately the responsibility of the students to arrange and select preceptors for their clinical experiences, program coordinators are available to assist with more information and guidance.
The nursing school supports students who request to do clinical in their home states.
4. Clarkson College
Clarkson College, a private, nonprofit college in Omaha, Nebraska, is recognized by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools as an institution of higher learning (NCA).
First established in 1888, Clarkson College was originally a school of nursing, the first in Nebraska.
More than just a nursing school, Clarkson has grown to include several health-related programs like medical imaging, healthcare management, physical therapy, and other opportunities for healthcare workers to advance their skills and knowledge during the 20th century.
Clarkson remains one of Nebraska’s best colleges for nursing degrees at every level, from the Bachelor of Science in Nursing to the Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP). ACEN and the Nebraska State Board of Nursing have accredited Clarkson University’s nursing programs.
Nurses with an Associate’s degree in nursing can enroll in the Clarkson College MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program (or ADN).
After finishing their BSN courses, students begin with the RN to BSN prerequisites and then transition to the BSN to MSN coursework.
In the final semester, a research-based project wraps off the degree plan. The curriculum is designed for working nurses because the program may complete online, requiring only four campus visits.
To become a certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), students must complete an extra 26 semester hours of coursework.
5. The Ohio State University
The Ohio State University College of Nursing has a long history as a homeopathic hospital nursing training program.
Indeed, OSU was not the first academic nursing school to provide an MS in Nursing, but the fact remains that OSU was the first in Ohio to do so back in 1955.
It also became the first public university in Ohio to provide a Ph.D. in nursing. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) recognizes OSU’s College of Nursing as a member institution (AACN).
They emphasize evidence-based practice and advanced patient care at the college.
The master’s degree includes an excellent online FNP program and clinical and classroom integration of this practice.
The OSU College of Nursing offers eleven MSN degree specialties, including the OSU Family Nurse Practitioner track.
The College of Nursing MSN/FNP track is nationally ranked and meets the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) curriculum requirements and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) FNP Certification criteria.
OSU’s College of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) via Distance Learning, making it convenient for RNs working or unable to relocate.
If you already have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, you can do all of your courses online and complete your clinical in your community. A non-nursing bachelor’s degree must apply to the Graduate Entry track.
OSU’s MSN graduates can appear for certification exams in their particular fields of expertise.
Clinical settings, hospitals, private practices, and government entities will all be within reach once they complete their training.
Graduates will cover all primary care settings, thanks to the wide range of courses and the skills they’ll learn.
6. Duquesne University
The Congregation of the Holy Spirit, an order of Catholic priests and laity, has only one college: Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit.
The First Catholic university in Pennsylvania, Duquesne, was established in 1906 to serve the needs of Catholic students in Pittsburgh.
The healthcare and nursing programs at Duquesne are particularly well-known; Duquesne was the first US university to provide a Ph.D. in nursing entirely online.
The Synergy Model is a part of the nursing curriculum at Duquesne University.
Patients’ outcomes are closely linked to how well nurses perform their jobs, and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses designed this approach to help them do just that.
Duquesne University’s online RN to MSN pathway is a two-step approach for ADN holders who want to pursue an MSN/FNP degree from the university. Online RN to BSN degree students must first finish.
An RN license counts toward 60 of the 120 credits necessary for this RN to BSN program’s prerequisites.
There is a 30-credit-hour RN-BSN requirement for students with a bachelor’s degree in any other discipline and who hold an RN license.
DU understands that each nursing student has a unique educational background, and as a result, the curriculum is tailored to meet the needs of each student.
The Family Nurse Practitioner is one of three MSN specialties available online. There is no better online FNP program than Duquesne’s MSN, with a 93% pass record on the AANP exam.
7. Bradley University
Bradley Institution in Peoria, Illinois, was founded in 1897 by Lydia Moss Bradley, a philanthropist who received her late husband’s fortune and used it to start a small private university.
Instead of establishing an orphanage in honor of her six children, all of whom died as infants, Bradley wanted to show a college focused on practical training.
Interestingly, Bradley University started as a watch-making institution but swiftly grew to include liberal arts and industrial technology departments.
As a result, Bradley is regarded as one of the best universities in Illinois by College Consensus for its market-ready business and healthcare programs.
Students with a registered nurse (RN) license and an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nursing can enroll in Bradley’s online MSN-Family Nurse Practitioner program.
Nine semesters and five clinical practicums make up this 67-credit curriculum.
For example, one unique characteristic of Bradley’s method is a holistic educational outlook on their graduate programs. In contrast, other programs focus on specific clinical abilities.
Bradley places equal emphasis on the present status of health care in the United States and worldwide.
Healthcare delivery is influenced by ethical and legal considerations, such as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Health informatics and data management are two areas they cover in their coursework.
Bradley graduates will be a valuable addition to their future companies and patients if they keep up with the latest information technology advances in healthcare.
8. Grand Canyon University
Since it was formed as a Christian institution in 1949, Grand Canyon University has experienced various ups and downs in online education.
Grand Canyon University (GCU) became the first for-profit Christian college in the world in 2004 when financial difficulties led the board of trustees to sell the university.
Still, in 2018, the accrediting agency permitted Grand Canyon to return to nonprofit status.
The College of Nursing and Health Care Professions at Grand Canyon University has consistently been recognized among the best online nursing degrees in the country.
A whopping 95% of graduates from GCU passed the NCLEX the first time they took it in 2017, which is far above the state’s average.
Nursing care for various patient demographics, current research and data interpretation, and health evaluation are all part of GCU’s 18-credit RN to MSN online bridging program.
The curriculum culminates in an MSN degree in Family Nurse Practitioner specialization. The AACN, IPEC, and ANA have all influenced the design of the MSN/FNP.
GCU’s comprehensive program graduates will be well-equipped to enter primary care practice at any point in the patient’s life cycle and provide comprehensive treatment.
An online program, the MSN also includes two on-campus sessions where students can practice their new abilities in a classroom setting, interact with fellow students and professors, and prepare for national certification exams.
9. George Washington University
Since its establishment in 1821, George Washington University has been one of the most prominent institutions in the Washington, DC, area.
The Virginia Science & Technology Campus in Ashburn, Virginia, home of GWU’s School of Nursing and one of the nation’s oldest medical schools, is consistently included among the nation’s best colleges.
Gettysburg University is one of the nation’s most prominent healthcare educators, collaborating with other universities and healthcare organizations worldwide.
The Alice Lee Centre for Nursing, the National University of Singapore, the Children’s National Medical Center, and the Commonwealth of Virginia Community College System give GW Nursing students opportunities to participate in medical teams that provide care and public health education.
George Washington University’s online RN-to-MSN program is open to current nurses with an Associate Degree in Nursing or an Associate of Science in Nursing.
A part-time schedule (combined with distance-learning online attendance) allows students to balance job and family responsibilities while completing their degree at George Washington University.
To finish the BSN section of the curriculum, students must devote 15 months to the MSN portion.
A certified preceptor is required for 700 hours of clinical practice and the coursework for the MSN.
Preceptors are advised to be located in the student’s immediate neighborhood, making the clinical portion of the program more accessible for working individuals to complete in their free time.
Two on-campus visits are necessary even though the curriculum is entirely online.
FNPs who complete the GW MSN: FNP program serves as role models in their communities, providing high-quality, patient-centered treatment to people of all ages and backgrounds.
10. Loyola University New Orleans
By College Consensus, Loyola University New Orleans ranks as one of the best private research colleges in southern Louisiana and one of the best Catholic universities in the South.
To this day, Loyola New Orleans, founded by the Society of Jesus in 1904, continues to hold its place among the most esteemed Catholic university systems in existence: The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU).
Loyola has significantly impacted New Orleans’ corporate, legal, and medical communities for over a century.
The CCNE-accredited College of Nursing and Health at Loyola New Orleans has been recognized nationally for its on-campus and online degree programs (as well as the Loyola Institute for Ministry, which is part of the college).
For working nurses, Loyola New Orleans’ online MSN degree program has been recognized among the best online nursing degrees in the country.
Students with an RN license and an associate’s degree can take advantage of Loyola’s RN-MSN bridge or RN-BSN-MSN courses, which allow them to pursue a BSN and an MSN simultaneously.
To sit for the national certification exam as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), students must complete a 42-credit program and 720 clinical hours.
11. Millersville University
Pennsylvania’s Millersville University, founded in 1855 as a teacher-training regular school in Lancaster County, is one of the 14 public universities in the state’s Higher Education System.
Millersville became a regional institution routinely regarded as one of the best in the North by organizations like College Consensus, thanks to its basis in experiential learning.
Even though Millersville’s mission has expanded far beyond teacher preparation, the university is still known for its outstanding work in educating students for careers in nursing and other healthcare sectors.
ACEN-accredited nursing programs, including fully online degrees, are offered by the Department of Nursing.
Millersville University’s online RN to BSN to MSN-FNP program is designed to accommodate working students with hectic schedules by providing a flexible online format.
As a result, Millersville evaluates prior credit to push students further along the course, and the self-paced model gives flexibility to the process for working nurses.
Students who have completed the RN to BSN program can proceed directly to the online MSN, likewise geared for part-time study.
Six hundred seventy-two clinical hours and 43 classroom hours are needed to complete the program.
Scholarships and grants are also offered to students at all levels of study at Millersville, which may or may not be based on academic ability or financial need.
12. MCPHS University
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences – currently known as MCPHS University – is recognized as one of the top health-related universities in the country.
MCPHS is a “teaching” institution.
Faculty members are primarily concerned with mentoring students instead of research institutions, where instructors are under pressure to advance their careers first.
MCPHS graduates are ranked as the top (#1) university in the United States for “Earning Power” in the 2018 Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings.
According to the United States Department of Education, MCPHS alums earn an average of $112,700 ten years after graduation, placing them among the top earners in New England.
With a student-to-teacher ratio of 15:1 and more than 90% of instructors holding the highest degree in their profession, MCPHS provides a range of healthcare-specific programs highly regarded on the job market.
The MCPHS University part-time MSN program offers two start dates (Spring and Summer) available online or in-person at one of two Northeast campus sites (Worcester and Manchester).
While the online model offers the most flexibility, the on-campus program is still a practical alternative for students within driving distance, as sessions meet only once a week.
MCPHS emphasizes the value of networking and provides services such as the Center for Professional and Career Development (CPCD).
The CPCD offers individualized counseling, training, and 24/7 online employer and career information access.
While the MSN-FNP program’s coursework is entirely online, students must attend two brief 1-3 day residencies throughout their degree.
These residencies comprise orientation for incoming students, a second-year residency, and a final residency in May, which coincides with graduation. A 91 percent pass rate on the FNP board demonstrates that the MCPHS online FNP program is a winner.
13. University of South Alabama
A wide range of courses in business, engineering, and the liberal arts are offered at the University of South Alabama (USA), established in 1963 and has served the Southern Gulf region ever since.
In 1973, the College of Medicine was established, and soon after, the Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions was established.
USA Medical Center, USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital, USA Mitchell Cancer Institute, and USA Physicians Group are all within a few miles of the university in its region.
These vital institutions in the Gulf Coast region provide life-saving healthcare services.
Students pursuing an online MSN degree from the University of South Alabama can choose to specialize in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP).
The program’s coursework includes advanced nursing theory, research, and practice issues.
These courses are only available online. Preceptors in the student’s native state or region are frequently available to meet the clinical requirements.
Two mandatory on-campus visits – Phase 1 and Phase 2 – are required for students in the Family Nurse Practitioner specialization and include workshops on basic skills, simulation laboratories, and clinical tests.
14. Delta State University
About 3500 students are enrolled in Delta State University, a public research university.
Delta State University was established in 1924 to serve the educational needs of Mississippi’s working adults and professionals as a teacher training school (on a former agricultural high school).
The DSU mascot is okra because the school is firmly rooted in Mississippi culture. According to mythology, DSU’s Fighting Okra (a student-created mascot with a penchant for mayhem) is an Angry Okri, and the school’s athletic teams’ motto is “Fear the Okra.”
Delta State University has recently emerged as one of the best regional colleges in Mississippi, educating the next generation of leaders.
Mississippi healthcare workers are being educated at the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing at Delta State University. The CCNE has accredited Delta State’s online MSN program.
Among the many specializations available with this two-year online MSN degree are Nurse Administrator, Nurse Educator, and Family Nurse Practitioner, to name just a few.
When it comes to bridging the divide between rural and urban health care in Mississippi, where there is a severe shortage of physicians, the FNP specialty is particularly critical. DSC’s MSN-FNP program’s unique online courses and on-campus seminars set it apart.
Students can schedule their clinical practice in their home regions with the agreement of professors, making the online program even more accessible for distance learners.
15. Rivier University
Rivier University was founded in 1933 by the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary and Sister Madeleine of Jesus as a private, Catholic liberal arts university.
The Presentation of Mary Blessed Anne-Marie Rivier, founded in Nashua, New Hampshire, has a rich history of educating the whole person.
In keeping with Catholic tradition, Rivier emphasizes the integration of body, mind, and spirit. Its emphasis on service is evident in its curriculum, with more than half of its students majoring in education or nursing.
In recent years, Rivier has increased the number of online degree programs as part of its outreach efforts. As part of Rivier University’s aim to ‘transform hearts and minds to serve the world,’ they urge students to volunteer in their communities and professions.
In addition to five undergraduate and eight graduate-level degrees, Rivier’s online nursing program allows students to earn their degrees from the comfort of their own homes.
This includes the Rivier RN to MSN-FNP track, a 43-credit-hour curriculum that will take roughly 3-5 years depending on the full-time or part-time study and current transferable credit.
The same dynamic faculty will be available to online and classroom students.
To help students accomplish their academic goals, reduced class sizes make faculty members more accessible and available to answer questions or explain ideas.
The fact that the FNP national certification exams have a 100% pass rate is impressive.
16. Herzing University
As Henry and Suzanne Herzing’s computer training school, Herzing University was founded in 1965.
Herzing began as a small technical institute in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but the school’s objectives were not, and it grew over the next 50 years, adding programs and becoming a university in 2009.
Additionally, Herzing University has a substantial online presence, offering a wide range of online degree programs in various fields such as business, computer science, healthcare, and more.
Herzing became a nonprofit university in 2015 to better serve its student body nationwide.
Two steps are involved in Herzing’s online RN to MSN-FNP program.
Nursing students holding an RN license can complete the first portion of the program in as short as 12 months of full-time study, allowing them to earn their BSN.
Students can choose between 8-week or 16-week periods and rolling enrollment, allowing greater flexibility.
US News & World Report named the CCNE-accredited MSN-FNP program one of the best online graduate nursing schools in the US after students completed the BSN.
The online Family Nurse Practitioner program includes 675 clinical hours and continuing education opportunities.
17. Frontier Nursing University
Frontier Nursing University’s moniker, one of the most unusual nursing schools, tells you everything you need to know about its roots.
As part of the Frontier Nursing Service, a program that midwife Mary Breckenridge started in 1925 to deliver modern healthcare to rural Kentucky, Frontier Nursing was created in 1939 as a private, nonprofit graduate college.
As a pioneer in women’s and children’s health, Frontier began the first Family Nurse Practitioner program in the United States in 1970 and the nation’s first online nurse-midwifery program.
According to US News & World Report, FNU’s Family Nurse Practitioner program is one of the best in the country.
Full- and part-time students can enroll in FNU’s online MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program.
Family Nurse Practitioner studies, as pioneered by FNU, are designed to prepare students not only for careers as advanced clinicians but also as entrepreneurs in the modern healthcare industry.
With only two short residencies, students can finish all of their coursework and complete the 675 clinical hours required in their home community under the guidance of a practicing FNP.
MSN students can enter the DNP program with just 19 more courses.
18. Sacred Heart University
For more than half a century, Sacred Heart University has been an autonomous Catholic university that has evolved into the second-largest Catholic university in New England; it is also the first Catholic college in the United States that laypeople entirely staff.
It’s no coincidence that US News and World Report have ranked Sacred Heart University as one of the North region’s top universities; the university has become well-known for its comprehensive curriculum, which includes the effective Common Core foundations program (designed around leadership and responsibility).
Sacred Heart is particularly well-known for its high-quality healthcare services.
An active Global program at Sacred Heart’s College of Nursing encourages students to participate in medical mission work or clinical investigations that count toward their degree’s clinical hours.
Sacred Heart University’s RN-MSN program is designed for registered nurses with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nursing.
SHU’s MSN program is designed to be finished in eight classes rather than the usual twelve that other programs require.
All students will graduate from the MSN program with an emphasis on primary care and the ability to work with patients of all ages.
Graduates will pass national certification examinations from the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the American Academy of Nursing Practitionersssed flying colors by graduates (AANP).
For nurses who want to pursue a career in nursing leadership, an online DNP is also an option.
19. Otterbein University
There are no jungle-themed buildings at Graceland University, despite our wildest fantasies. Elvis Presley did not find the university.
This institution was formed by the Community of Christ, a Mormon branch and second-biggest Mormon sect, in 1895. (after the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
While Graceland developed into a university, it never lost sight of its mission to serve Iowa’s people and become the state’s first accredited junior college.
Also, Graceland University boasts one of Iowa’s oldest nursing programs, dating back to 1909.
When Graceland began offering correspondence courses for working nurses in 1987, it pioneered distance education.
Graceland’s online RN-to-BSN-to-MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program continues this tradition of exceptional distance education.
The Higher Learning Commission recognized Graceland University’s first graduate degree program, the MSN, in 1995.
Modules include Pharmacotherapeutics, Advanced Health Assessment, Diagnostic Reasoning, and Leadership Roles and Issues in Nursing; all aim to provide nurses with the advanced practice and leadership abilities they need to become autonomous Family Nurse Practitioners, according to the CCNE.
It’s possible to conduct clinical in one’s town, and students can ” stop out” at the BSN level.
20. Chamberlain University
St. Louis-based Chamberlain University has taught and developed healthcare professionals for over 125 years.
In the Deaconess tradition of 19th-century Europe, Chamberlain was first founded when women committed themselves to five years of community service (in this case, healthcare) – the same practice to which Florence Nightingale, the originator of modern nursing, belonged.
Chamberlain University used to be known as Deaconess College of Nursing until 2006, when the school changed its name to its current form.
Of course, Chamberlain University has high expectations given its illustrious history, but it has already achieved national acclaim for its nursing programs, particularly its online offerings.
For qualifying RN students, Chamberlain’s online MSN degree program permits them to finish their BSN and enroll in the MSN program simultaneously.
The student will choose from one of five specialty tracks: Educator, Executive, Family Nurse Practitioner, Healthcare Policy, or Informatics, as they progress through the MSN sequence.
There is only one “immersion weekend” in Chamberlain’s curriculum, a two-day visit to the campus in the seventh week of the program.
FNP online students at Chamberlain can benefit from interactive discussion threads and clinical simulations to master theory and practice.
Chamberlain’s FNP track MSN program graduates will be ready to sit for the FNP certification exam and work in various healthcare settings after completing the program in just eight semesters of year-round, full-time study.
Conclusion
Nurses can expect to earn more money and develop their careers due to more education.
It takes a lot of work to become an FNP, but it is well worth it. Clinical hours are required for all FNP programs (they are necessary to qualify for the AANP or ANCC exams).
However, the best online FNP programs allow students to arrange clinical experiences at locations close to home, sometimes even in their workplaces.
We need these innovations to ensure enough Family Nurse Practitioner programs to meet our national healthcare demands.