75 Most Affordable Nurse Practitioner Online Programs – 2025
Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Have you put your dream of becoming a nurse practitioner on hold because you think APRN education programs are too expensive? You shouldn’t have to. U.S. News & World Report says nurse practitioners hold the second-best jobs in the healthcare industry. As a nurse practitioner, you’ll earn a high salary, and there will always be demand for your services. Best of all, 82 percent of nurse practitioners are satisfied with their career choice. Becoming an NP is an excellent career move.
Why not go back to school but keep your costs down? If you’ve been wondering, “What are the cheapest online nurse practitioner programs?” we’ve put together this detailed list of the 75 most affordable accredited online nurse practitioner programs in 2025. We’ve covered everything from credits, curriculum, and clinical hour requirements to tuition and financial aid opportunities. Keep reading because one of the NP programs we’ve profiled below may be right for you.
Table Of Contents
Typically, On an Average, How Much Do Nurse Practitioner Programs Cost?
Nurse practitioner programs can cost anywhere between $25,000 and $250,000. Keep in mind that nurse practitioner programs aren’t stand-alone tracks; they’re typically coupled with academic degrees like the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree or the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. You can also pursue an NP as a post-master’s graduate certificate, but in that case, the cost of your MSN should really be factored into the overall cost of your NP.
Both the MSN and the DNP degrees prepare you for advanced practice nursing roles. But MSN coursework generally prepares you for leadership within a clinical setting, while DNP coursework prepares you to apply evidence-based research to the search for healthcare solutions on a broader scale. MSN programs can cost between $35,000 and $100,000, whereas DNP programs can cost between $25,000 and $250,000. If cost is your primary consideration, then enrolling in an NP program that’s affiliated with an MSN program is your best option.
What Exactly is the Goal of an Affordable Nurse Practitioner Program?
The goal of affordable nurse practitioner online programs is to prepare you to pass the certification exam in your specialty offered by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) without exhausting your financial resources.
What are the Top 3 Benefits of Enrolling in the Cheapest Online Nurse Practitioner Programs?
Cost-savings are the main advantage of the cheapest nurse practitioner online programs. But affordable online nurse practitioner programs have other significant benefits, too:
1. You can continue to work:
Many affordable online NP programs are specifically designed to accommodate working nurses. Having money coming in while you’re enrolled in school will greatly reduce your debt load. And working is a way of expanding your clinical time since your work environment will provide a natural laboratory where you’ll see many of the issues you’re studying in your coursework play out. This will enhance your understanding of them.
2. Lower expenses all around:
Affordable online NP programs save you tuition and cut down on other incidental expenses that campus students find themselves out of pocket for, like transportation and restaurant meals.
3. Self-paced learning:
Many inexpensive distance-learning NP programs rely upon asynchronous instructional technology, which will enable you to learn at the speed most comfortable for you.
How Much Do the Cheapest Nurse Practitioner Online Programs Cost?
Tuition for reasonably priced NP programs ranges from $30,000 to $50,000. Anything under $25,000 is an absolute bargain, and anything under $20,000 is a steal. For the most part, MSN programs are less expensive than DNP programs, and post master’s certificate programs are the least costly of all—unless you count the costs of the more expensive graduate nursing program you have to finish that qualifies you to apply to the post master’s certificate program.
The cheapest online nurse practitioner programs tend to be options at public colleges or universities in the state where you live. Many colleges charge out-of-state residents significantly higher tuition than they charge state residents, even when coursework is delivered via a distance learning platform.
Residents of the
Lone Star State at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center will pay $11,520 in total tuition for the FNP and AGACNP tracks associated with the MSN program.
Georgia State University charges tuition of $29,953 for all four of its MSN-NP tracks.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center students enrolled in the FNP or PMHNP tracks associated with the DNP degree, on the other hand, will pay $20,670 for the program if they live in Texas and $57,642 if they live out of state. And Georgia State University’s post-master’s nurse practitioner certificates are significantly less expensive than the concentrations offered with its MSN track:
$17,372 for the FNP, PPCNP, and PMHNP certificates, $16,968 for the AGACNP certificate, and $16,200 for the AGPNP certificate.
What are the Typical Admission Requirements For the Cheapest Nurse Practitioner Online Programs?
Admission requirements for the cheapest online NP programs are fairly standard:
• Depending on the pathway you choose to apply to, you must either have a BSN, an MSN, or a DNP from an accredited nursing program
• You must have a cumulative GPA ranging between 2.75 and 3.5, depending upon the school you’re applying to
• You must have a current, unencumbered RN license in the state where you’re planning to complete your clinical rotation
• You may be asked to submit supporting materials with your application. These are most often a statement of purpose, a resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV), and three professional references.
• Fewer than one-third of the cheapest nurse practitioner online programs still require the Graduate Record Exam (GRE.)
What are the Typical Courses You’ll Take in the Cheapest Nurse Practitioner Online Programs?
Typically, graduate nursing studies are comprised of core degree classes and intensive training in advanced practice competencies. Both learning tracks involve didactic coursework and clinical training.
Nurse practitioner classes specifically reflect the core and population-focus competencies outlined by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Expect courses to include:
• Statistics
• Clinical pharmacology
• Disease prevention and wellness promotion
• Advanced practice nursing roles
• Field-specific classes that explore family primary care, adult-gerontology, psychiatry and mental health, pediatrics, and other specialized NP skills you’ll need to practice.
What are the Cheapest MSN Nurse Practitioner Online Programs in the Nation?
(Based on the latest In-State per credit hour data from
National Center for Education Statistics, the following are the 30 Most Affordable Accredited Online BSN-TO-MSN-Nurse Practitioner Programs in the nation for the year 2025.)
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
Looking for an affordable Nurse Practitioner program that you can complete in less than two years? Full-time students can complete Georgia Southwestern State University’s 44-credit Family Nurse Practitioner program in just 22 months (five semesters.) A part-time, three-year completion track is available, too, for RNs whose work/life balance requires it.
This cheap online nurse practitioner program entails 765 clinical hours divided over five classes. Your clinical rotations begin your very first semester. GSW’s FNP program coordinators set up preceptors and clinical sites, but they’ll make every effort to find one as close as possible to your community. Your other coursework will be delivered online, using a blend of synchronous and asynchronous distance learning technology. Your courses will include “Diagnostic & Clinical Reasoning for Advanced Practice Nurses,” “Primary Care of Adults Across the Lifespan I & II,” and “Health Care Delivery Models.” The full-time FNP track starts in the fall; part-time FNP tracks begin in the fall and spring.
How Affordable is Georgia Southwestern State University's Online MSN-NP Program:
Like many of the most affordable online nurse practitioner programs, Georgia Southwestern University charges the same tuition and fees to online students whether they’re residents of the Peach State or live in another state: $385 per credit hour. Your total costs for the 44-credit program will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $16,940.
Georgia Southwestern State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
Georgia Southwestern State University has many nursing scholarships, several of which graduate students can apply for. The university also offers a Graduate Nursing Financial Emergency Scholarship, which offers one-time assistance with unexpected financial issues.
Admission Requirements:
This program is only open to nurses with a BSN and an active, unencumbered RN license. You’ll have to submit a resume and three professional letters of reference along with your application.
2. Middle Georgia State University - Macon, GA
Specialties Offered:
Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - AGACNP
Program Details:
Middle Georgia State University’s 43-credit Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Practitioner (AGACNP) program will prepare you to provide critical care in emergency rooms, intensive care units, trauma units, specialty clinics, long-term care facilities, and other acute treatment settings. This cheap NP online program aims to help remedy Georgia’s chronic shortage of critical care RNs, which has worsened following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program includes 11 courses and 630 practicum hours. Cohorts begin classes every fall and spring and complete the program in two years. Every semester, you’ll spend two full days at the Middle Georgia State University campus in Macon, Georgia, participating in skills intensives. Clinical rotations will occur at Navicent Healthcare’s hospital in Macon or any Georgia healthcare facility you choose, provided that Middle Georgia State’s MSN program coordinator signs off on it. Other than learning labs and clinicals, you’ll access your coursework online using asynchronous technology.
How Affordable is Middle Georgia State University's Online MSN-NP Program:
Middle Georgia State University charges $301 per credit for online classes. While there’s no tuition cap for online rates, this program is one of the affordable nurse practitioner online programs that pro-rates tuition and fees: Thus, you’ll be charged $1,831 rather than $2,107 if you enroll for seven credits (a 13 percent savings) and $3,871 rather than $4,515 if you enroll for 15 credits (a 14 percent savings.) Your total tuition and fees for 43 credits will come to around $11,353.
Middle Georgia State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
The Middle Georgia State University Foundation administers 16 dedicated nursing scholarships, and graduate nursing students may qualify for a few. The U.S. Department of Education has approved Middle Georgia State’s loan program for master’s degree students through Nelnet and third-party lenders.
Admission Requirements:
For consideration, you must have a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. You’ll have to submit a statement of goals, a resume, and three professional references. This program is only open to RNs with active, unrestricted Georgia licenses.
3. Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi, TX
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
If you’re a working RN searching for a flexible and cost-effective way to expand career opportunities, the cheap online NP program at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi should be on your radar. TAMU-CC’s 49-credit Family Nurse Practitioner program includes basic MSN core courses such as “Introduction to Advanced Practice Role Development” and “Health Policy and Cultural Diversity” as well as classes such as “Advanced Physiology with Pathophysiological Applications” and “Advanced Health Assessment and Differential Diagnosis “ that are designed to enhance your clinical skills.
You’ll need to complete 630 hours of clinical rotation and spend one weekend participating in an immersive skills intensive at the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi campus. Other than that, you’ll access all your coursework online using asynchronous distance education technology. You can take the lead in finding a preceptor and clinical placement site close to where you live, but your choice must be approved by TAMUCC’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
This is one of the affordable nurse practitioner programs online that only admits new students at the beginning of the fall semester. The program is designed to be a part-time track that can be completed in two years. You must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to graduate.
How Affordable is Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi's Online MSN-NP Program:
Texas A&M University charges residents of the Lone Star State—who are the only applicants accepted into this NP program—$327 per credit for tuition and fees. That means you’ll spend about $16,023 for this MSN-Family Nurse Practitioner program.
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences administers 30 nursing-specific scholarships, some of which may be designated for graduate nursing students. Depending upon the information you submit in your FAFSA form, you may be eligible for a Stafford loan.
Admission Requirements:
You’ll need to submit dual applications to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and the College of Nursing Health Sciences. Successful applicants will have a current, unrestricted RN license with authorization to practice in Texas. You must be a graduate of an accredited BSN program. You’ll also need to submit three professional references, an essay describing your professional goals, and a resume.
4. Angelo State University - San Angelo, TX
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
Angelo State University’s 49-credit FNP program consists of 16 classes and 600 clinical hours. As with the other most affordable nurse practitioner online programs, coursework is divided into core MSN classes like “Informatics & Health Care Technology for Advanced Nursing” and “Population Health Epidemiology for Advanced Nursing” and FNP specialization classes like “Family Primary Care I & II.”
You must complete your clinical practicums at healthcare facilities within Texas. You can select your own preceptors and sites, but Angelo State’s Department of Nursing must approve them. You’ll also be required to make three visits over the course of the program to Angelo State University’s campus in San Angelo, Texas. Apart from that, all your coursework will be delivered online. This cheap nurse practitioner online program has two completion tracks: Full-time students will complete the program in six terms (two years), while part-time students will complete the program in nine terms (three years.) Both completion tracks begin in the fall.
How Affordable is Angelo State University's Online MSN-NP Program:
Tuition plus fees for Texas residents comes to $232.30 per credit, so tuition plus fees for the 49-credit FNP program will come to $11,382.70. Angelo State University does not accept out-of-state residents into its online Family Nurse Practitioner Program.
Angelo State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
While Angelo State University doesn’t offer any dedicated nursing scholarships, the university participates in low-interest loan programs available through the U.S. Department of Education.
Admission Requirements:
For admission into this cheap nurse practitioner program, you must have a BSN from an accredited nursing program and have graduated with a cumulative BSN of 3.0 or higher. This program is only open to RNs licensed in Texas. You must submit three professional references and an essay addressing how FNP licensure will advance your professional goals.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner and
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
The Wilson School of Nursing at Midwestern State University offers two affordable online nurse practitioner programs: a 48-credit Family Nurse Practitioner program and a 48-credit Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program. Both programs admit full-time students at the beginning of the fall semester.
Both the FNP and the PMHNP programs include identical MSN core courses such as “Pathological Processes for Advanced Nursing Practice” and “Population Health in Graduate Nursing.” The specialization track for PMHNP students includes courses like “Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practicum I, II, & III,” while the specialization track for FNP students includes classes like “Advanced Practice Across the Lifespan” and “Advanced Practicum I & II.”
The FNP program requires 512 hours of clinical rotations plus a 60-hour observational practicum. The PMHNP program requires 576 hours of clinical rotations plus a 64-hour observational practicum. You may be required to complete some portion of your clinical rotations in Texas. Additionally, RNs in both nurse practitioner tracks will be required to make multiple trips to the Midwestern State University campus in Wichita Falls, Texas, to participate in hands-on skills training workshops.
How Affordable is Midwestern State University's Online MSN-NP Program:
Graduate tuition for MSU students who reside in Texas is approximately $385 per credit, so you’ll spend around $18,480 when you enroll in either of these programs.
Midwestern State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
The Wilson School of Nursing administers a few scholarships that are specifically designated for graduate nursing students. Additionally, the university administers grants and loans for MSN students based on the information you submit in your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
Admission Requirements:
You’ll need an RN license that allows you to practice in Texas for admission into this program. You’ll also need a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in your most recent 60 credits of work. Applicants to the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program will need at least one year of professional experience in a mental health setting. Applicants to the Family Nurse Practitioner program will need at least one year of professional experience in a general nursing setting.
Specialties Offered:
Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner,
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Family Nurse Practitioner,
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center offers not only one of the cheapest nurse practitioner programs online but also one of the most varied, covering five different population foci: a 51-credit ACPNP degree, a 48-credit AGACNP degree, a 48-credit FNP degree, a 49-credit PPCNP degree, and a 49-credit PMHNP degree. Students pursuing the AGACNP, FNP, and PPCNP degrees must do 630 clinical hours. Students pursuing the PACNP must do 735 clinical hours, while students pursuing the PMHNP degree must do 576 clinical hours.
All five programs have a part-time completion track, which is designed to be completed in three years (nine terms.) You can start these programs in either the fall or spring semesters. The PMHNP program also has a full-time track, which you can complete in two years (three terms.) Clinical rotations can be completed in your home community so long as the TTUHSC School of Nursing approves your preceptor. Each NP track requires five visits to the TTUHSC campus in Lubbock, Texas, for objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs.) Apart from clinical rotations and campus visits, all your coursework will be delivered online using asynchronous distance learning technology.
How Affordable is Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center's Online MSN-NP Program:
Tuition for all five nurse practitioner tracks is $2,160 per nine credit hours (240 per credit) for Texas residents and $5,832 per nine credit hours ($648) for out-of-state residents. Total AGACNP and FNP tuition for residents is $11,520 and for non-residents is $31,104. Total PPCNP and PMHNP tuition for residents is $11,760 and for non-residents is $31,752. Full PACNP tuition for residents is $12,240 and for non-residents is $33,048. Other fees may also apply.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
All Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center students are required to apply for financial aid every year by filling out a FAFSA form. Nursing scholarships may also be available from external sources.
Admission Requirements:
All five TTUHSC NP tracks require a BSN from an accredited program with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Applicants must have an active, unrestricted RN license. The two pediatric NP tracks require at least two years of professional experience in a pediatric setting. The AGACNP track requires at least one year of experience in an ICU, ER, or another acute care setting, while the FNP track requires at least one year of floor nursing. At this time, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is not accepting NP students from Arizona, California, Louisiana, New York, Oregon, or Washington State.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP),
Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP),
Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP (AGPCNP), and
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)
Program Details:
University of Texas Medical Branch allows you to enroll in one of four affordable nurse practitioner programs online. The 49-credit FNP track entails 720 clinical hours and 14 classes, while the 46-credit NNP track comprises 740 clinical hours and 12 courses. Both the Acute Care and the Primary Care Adult-Gerontology NP tracks involve 49 credits, 720 clinical hours, and 14 classes.
This is one of the cheapest nurse practitioner online programs that offer all NP tracks as part-time options: Each NP track starts in the fall semester and lasts 28 months (seven semesters.) The AGACNP, AGPCNP, and FNP tracks require four campus visits, but the NNP track only needs three. Students can schedule their clinical rotations close to where they live and work. Except for clinicals and visits to the University of Texas Medical Branch campus in Galveston, Texas, to learn clinical skills, all coursework is delivered via distance learning platforms using asynchronous technology.
How Affordable is University of Texas Medical Branch's Online MSN-NP Program:
UTMB’s tuition and fees come to $1,417.67 per credit for Texas residents and $1,834.54 for non-residents. That means students who live in the Lone Star State can expect to pay $69,465.83 for the FNP, AGACNP, and AGPCNP tracks and $65,212.82 for the NNP track. Students who live outside Texas can expect to pay $89,892.46 for the FNP, AGACNP, and AGPCNP tracks and $84,388.84 for the NNP track.
University of Texas Medical Branch's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
University of Texas Medical Branch administers more than 100 nursing scholarships, many of which graduate students may qualify for. MSN students may also be eligible for grants and loans depending upon the information they submit in their FAFSA forms.
Admission Requirements:
For acceptance into this cheap nurse practitioner program, you must have a valid, unencumbered RN license from the state where you’ll be doing your clinical rotations. You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a BSN from an accredited nursing program. For admission into the FNP and AGPMNP tracks, you’ll need one year of recent experience as an RN. For entry into the NNP track, you’ll need two years of recent experience in a Level III nursery, while for admission into the AGACNP track, you’ll need one year of experience in an ICU, ER, or another acute healthcare setting.
8. Arkansas State University - Jonesboro, AR
Specialties Offered:
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and
Family Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
Arkansas State University’s cheap NP program offers two online tracks: an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program and a Family Nurse Practitioner program. Both programs require 41 credits divided between MSN core classes, practicums, and specialization courses, as well as 720 clinical hours. Some of the MSN core classes, such as “Theory Development in Nursing” and “Advanced Assessment and Diagnostic Evaluation,” overlap, but the practicums and specialization courses are unique to each NP track’s population locus.
Courses are seven weeks long, and there are two seven-week terms to a semester. Both NP tracks offer multiple start dates throughout the year. Full-time students can graduate in six terms (two years.) This cheap nurse practitioner online program also offers a part-time completion track.
How Affordable is Arkansas State University's Online MSN-NP Program:
Both of Arkansas State University’s nurse practitioner tracks charge the same tuition: $331 per credit hour or $13,571 for the entire 41-credit course sequence.
Arkansas State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
Arkansas State University administers 14 scholarships specifically designated for nursing students, and MSN students are eligible to apply to some of them. MSN students may be eligible for federally disbursed grants and loans depending upon the information they file in their FAFSA forms.
Admission Requirements:
Successful applicants will have a BSN from an accredited university with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher. You’ll need a current, unrestricted RN license.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
Program Details:
Despite its name, Texas Woman’s University accepts both men and women into its two distance-learning nurse practitioner tracks. The online Family Nurse Practitioner track and the online Pediatric Nurse Practitioner both consist of 45 credits with 14 courses and 780 clinical hours. Clinical placements will be arranged by Texas Woman’s University’s clinical placement team.
Your didactic courses will be divided between core MSN classes like “Theoretical Foundations and the Advanced Nursing Role” and “Health Policy and Health Care Delivery for Advanced Nursing Practice,” and courses that pertain specifically to your chosen specialization. The FNP track includes specialization courses like “Primary Care Management of Common Acute Illnesses across the Lifespan” and “Synthesis and Transition to Professional Practice for the Family Nurse Practitioner.” Nurses preparing for the pediatric advanced practice role take classes like “Foundational Concepts for the Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner” and “Acute and Chronic Illness in Pediatric Primary Care.”
Courses are taught over 13-week terms. The FNP track has fall, spring, and summer start dates. Full-time students will finish the FNP track in two years; part-time students will finish it in 2.5 to three years.
How Affordable is Texas Woman's University's Online MSN-NP Program:
Tuition and fees for both clinical specialties in TWU’s cheap NP online program are $572.40 per credit or $25,758 for the entire 45-credit sequence.
Texas Woman's University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
Texas Woman’s University administers more than 75 scholarships designated for nursing students. Online MSN students may qualify for some of them. Online students may also be eligible for federal grants and loans depending on the information they include in their FAFSA forms.
Admission Requirements:
For admission into TWU’s affordable nurse practitioner online programs, you’ll need an active, unrestricted RN license and a degree from an accredited BSN program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
10. Texas A&M Health Science Center - Bryan, TX
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
Texas A&M Health Science Center in Bryan, Texas, offers an online Family Nurse Practitioner program with 48 credits and 585 clinical hours. You’ll take classes like “Advanced Health Assessment,” “Primary Care of Families I, II, & III,” and “Prevention and Population Health.” You’ll be able to arrange your clinical rotations in the community where you live so long as the FNP coordinator signs off on your site and preceptor.
This cheap online nurse practitioner program includes a lot of time on the Bryan campus. You’ll complete 45 clinical hours—not included in the total above—in two separate visits to the campus early in the program to refine your clinical skills in a simulated healthcare environment. After that, you’ll make two visits per semester for skills training and objective structured clinical exams. Except for clinicals and campus immersions, all your coursework will be available online. Texas A&M Health Science Center offers two completion tracks for its FNP degree: Full-time students will finish in six semesters, while part-time students will finish in eight.
How Affordable is Texas A&M Health Science Center's Online MSN-NP Program:
Online MSN seekers who live in Texas can anticipate spending $6,464 on tuition and fees. Online MSN seekers from out of state can expect to pay $12,818.
Texas A&M Health Science Center's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
Texas A&M Health Science Center administers more than 20 nursing specific-scholarships, and online MSN students may be eligible for some of them. Graduate nurses pursuing this cheap nurse practitioner online program may also qualify for Stafford Loans, depending upon the information in their FAFSA forms.
Admission Requirements:
You’ll need a BSN from an accredited nursing program and a current, unrestricted RN license. Preference is given to applicants with one to two years of professional nursing experience.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner,
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
With a price tag under $10,000, Georgia College & State University’s three online nurse practitioner programs are among the most affordable in the nation. The 40-credit FNP track entails 12 classes and 630 clinical hours; the 39-credit PMHNP track consists of 12 courses and 570 clinical hours, while the 40-credit WHNP track requires 12 classes and 675 clinical hours. Full-time students will complete any of the three specialty tracks comprising this cheap nurse practitioner program in six semesters (two years), while part-time students will complete them in nine semesters (three years.)
Clinical rotations must be scheduled for a healthcare facility in Georgia. Students can arrange their own preceptors and sites, but those must be approved by the GCSU School of Nursing’s clinical coordinator. All three tracks begin in the summer with a mandatory four-day immersion experience at the GCSU campus in Milledgeville, Georgia. Depending upon the NP tracks, students will make up to six additional trips to campus, including a 45-hour hands-on intensive clinical instruction in conjunction with their “Advanced Assessment” course.
Apart from clinicals and campus intensives, all classes are online. Synchronous class meetings are scheduled for Tuesdays, but students can also access online modules and recorded lectures at their own pace.
How Affordable is Georgia College & State University's Online MSN-NP Program:
The total tuition and fees for all three of these cheapest online nurse practitioner programs is $7,400.
Georgia College & State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
Georgia College & State University administers a number of alumni and foundation scholarships for which online nurse practitioner students may qualify. Students may also be eligible for federally backed grants and loans depending upon the information they enter in their FAFSA forms.
Admission Requirements:
Entrance into any of the three tracks associated with this cheap NP online program is highly competitive. Students must have a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a GPA of 2.75 or higher in their last 60 credits of undergraduate work. They must hold an active, unencumbered Georgia RN license. They must submit a resume, three professional references, and a statement of purpose. One year or more of clinical experience is preferable.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
The University of Nevada’s cheap online NP program offers a Family Nurse Practitioner track and a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track. Both tracks require 18 credits of MSN core classes such as “Advanced Health Assessment,” “Informatics and Quality Improvement,” and “Health & Public Policy for Advanced Practice of Nursing.” Then you’ll take an additional 27 credits in coursework that specifically pertains to the population focus you’ve chosen.
UNLV guarantees clinical placements within the greater Las Vegas metropolitan area for students holding Nevada RN licensure. Out-of-state students are encouraged to partner with the School of Nursing to identify potential preceptors and sites in their local community. Both NP tracks admit students once a year in the fall semester, and all students must travel to the University of Nevada campus in Las Vegas for a two-day orientation. You’ll also visit the campus up to seven times throughout your studies for skills intensives. Other than that, your coursework is delivered online. Both NP tracks offer full-time and part-time enrollment options.
How Affordable is University of Nevada's Online MSN-NP Program:
UNLV tuition for Nevada residents is $314 per credit, while out-of-state residents pay $659.50 per credit. That means the entire tuition for both affordable nurse practitioner online programs at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas is $14,130 for in-state residents and $29,677.50 for out-of-state residents. Other fees may also apply.
University of Nevada's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
UNLV’s School of Nursing disburses several scholarship funds, and online NP students may be eligible for some. Financial aid assistance in the form of grants, loans, and waivers may also be available.
Admission Requirements:
This cheap nurse practitioner online program is only available to residents of Nevada, Alaska, Montana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Utah. You must apply to the University of Nevada’s Graduate College and its School of Nursing. You must have a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and have practiced as a BSN-prepared RN for at least 2,000 hours. Be prepared to submit a resume, a statement addressing your professional goals, and three letters of professional reference.
Specialties Offered:
Family Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse (AGNP)
Program Details:
Morningside University’s cheap online nurse practitioner program offers two specialization tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. The 47-credit FNP track comprises 19 classes and 600 clinical hours, while the 46-credit AGPCNP class entails 18 classes and 600 clinical hours. Both specializations can be pursued as full-time (four semesters/two years) or part-time (six semesters/three years) options.
Like all the most affordable nurse practitioner online programs, Morningside’s NP curriculum is divided into MSN core classes and classes specific to either the FNP or AGPCNP specialization. MSN core classes include “Healthcare Policy/Economics,” “Quality, Safety, Informatics,” and “Role Development.” FNP specialization classes include “Adult Primary Care I & II,” while AGPCNP specialization classes include “Complex Elderly Care.”
In addition to clinical rotations, both NP tracks involve three on-site residencies at the Morningside University campus in Sioux City, Iowa. Both tracks culminate with an evidence-based capstone project designed to showcase the critical role of the nurse practitioner.
How Affordable is Morningside University's Online MSN-NP Program:
Morningside University’s tuition for online MSN programs is $590 per credit, so you can expect to spend $27,730 on tuition if you enroll in the university’s FNP or AGPCNP tracks.
Morningside University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
Morningside University doesn’t offer any nursing-specific scholarships. Nurse practitioner students may be eligible for state and federal grants and loans based on the information they include in their FAFSA form.
Admission Requirements:
Applicants must have a bachelor's degree with a major in nursing from an accredited program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. You must have an active, unencumbered Iowa RN license or a license from a compact state that allows you to practice in Iowa. Additionally, you’ll need to submit two professional references, a resume or a CV, and an essay that describes how the program you’re applying to will help you meet your professional goals.
Specialties Offered:
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner,
Family Nurse Practitioner,
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
The Orvis School of Nursing at the University of Nevada in Reno offers five NP tracks in its cheap nurse practitioner program: the 48- to 50-credit AGACNP specialization, the 44- to 46-credit AGPCNP specialization, the 46- to 48-credit FNP specialization, the 44- to 46-credit PACNP specialization, and the 48- to 50-credit PMHNP specialization. The total number of credits necessary to complete your degree depends upon whether you choose to do a one- to four-credit capstone project or write a one- to six-credit thesis at the end of your NP training.
All five tracks start at the beginning of the fall semester. The AGACNP, FNP, and PMHNP tracks are only offered as full-time options, which will take five semesters to complete. The FNP and AGPCNP tracks are also offered as part-time options, which will take eight semesters to complete. Students who are Nevada residents will be assigned a clinical rotation site within the Greater Reno Metropolitan Area. Students who live outside Nevada will need to assist the Orvis School of Nursing in finding appropriate clinical sites and preceptors. You’ll also participate in one three- to five-day immersion experience during the summer to learn specific clinical procedures.
How Affordable is University of Nevada’s Online MSN-NP Program:
The University of Nevada in Reno has a complicated fee schedule. In the spring and fall, Nevada residents will pay a registration fee of $314 per credit plus a nursing differential fee of $239.50 per credit and an online learning fee of $157.34 per credit; in the summer, Nevada residents will pay the registration and nursing differential fees described above, but the distance education fee will be $128 per credit. Out-of-state residents will pay a registration fee of $345.50 per credit; their other fees will be similar to those described above.
University of Nevada’s Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
Neither the University of Nevada in Reno nor the Orvis School of Nursing offers nursing-specific scholarships. Full-time nurse practitioner students may be eligible for state and federal grants and loans depending on the information they submit in their FAFSA form.
Admission Requirements:
You’ll have to apply separately to the University of Nevada’s Graduate School and the Orvis School of Nursing. This cheap NP online program only accepts BSN graduates from accredited nursing programs who’ve maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. You must have a current, unencumbered Nevada RN license or a compact license that allows you to practice in the Silver State. You’ll also have to submit a statement of purpose and three professional reference letters.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
The 45-credit Family Nurse Practitioner track at Henderson State University is a reasonably priced APRN program that consists of 11 classes and 540 clinical hours. Like other NP programs among the most affordable nurse practitioner programs online, Henderson’s FNP curriculum is divided into MSN core classes and FNP specialty classes. The MSN core includes courses like “Advanced Nursing Leadership and Roles” and “Healthcare Economics and Systems” while the FNP specialty component includes courses like “Advanced Physical Assessment” and “Advanced Nursing Pharmacology.”
In addition to clinical practicums, you’ll also be expected to participate in a two-day intensive at Henderson State University’s campus in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, during your first semester, where you’ll have the opportunity to master clinical procedures. Apart from this campus visit and your clinical coursework, all your coursework will be delivered online.
How Affordable is Henderson State University's Online MSN-NP Program:
Tuition for students pursuing online MSN degrees at Henderson State University is $435 per credit. Your total tuition for the 45-credit FNP degree will be $19,575.
Henderson State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
HSU doesn’t offer any dedicated nursing scholarships. However, they do have tuition payment plans. You may also be eligible for state and federal financial aid based on the information you include on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid form.
Admission Requirements:
You must have a BSN from an accredited nursing program. An active, unencumbered Arkansas RN license is preferred, but Henderson will accept applicants with out-of-state RN licenses. This program is only open to applicants with at least 2,000 hours of professional nursing experience. You’ll need to apply separately to Henderson State University Graduate School and the HSU Department of Nursing.
16. University of the Cumberlands - Williamsburg, KY
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
The cost-effective family nurse practitioner online nursing master's program at the University of the Cumberlands blends distance learning with clinical rotations. This cheap nurse practitioner online program’s curriculum consists of 12 classes and 720 clinical hours for a total of 48 credits. Your courses will include “Issues in Advanced Practice,” “Advanced Health Assessment,” and “Advanced Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice.” You’ll need to finish your didactic coursework before beginning your clinical rotations.
Though you’ll have some influence in choosing your clinical site, the ultimate responsibility will rest with the university. Clinical placements will be scheduled in primary care clinics rather than hospitals or other inpatient settings. All your other coursework will be taught online.
How Affordable is University of the Cumberlands's Online MSN-NP Program:
Tuition for the University of the Cumberland’s online Family Nurse Practitioner program is $500 per credit. There’s also an additional $50 technology fee per eight-week term. Your tuition for this cheap nurse practitioner online program will be around $24,000.
University of the Cumberlands's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
Though the University of the Cumberlands doesn’t offer any dedicated nursing scholarships, the university will help you identify any external nursing scholarships you may qualify for. You may also be eligible for state and federal grants and loans depending on the information you entered in your FAFSA form.
Admission Requirements:
You must have a current, unrestricted RN license and a diploma from an accredited BSN program where your cumulative GPA is 3.0 or higher. You’ll need to submit two essays addressing how this FNP program will help you achieve your professional goals.
Specialties Offered:
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Family Nurse Practitioner with Primary Care,
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner,
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across The Lifespan)
Program Details:
The University of Texas at El Paso offers a flexible and cost-effective way for you to advance your APRN career goals. UTEP has six nurse practitioner concentrations, the most of any of the most affordable nurse practitioner programs online.
UTEP options include a 49-credit AGACNP track with 20 classes and 720 clinical hours; a 49-credit FNP track with 20 classes and 775 clinical hours; a 48-credit NNP track with 21 classes and 765 clinical hours; a 54-credit PACNP track with 24 classes and 765 clinical hours; a 46-credit PPCNP track with 20 classes and 675 clinical hours; and a 49-credit PMHNP track with 22 classes and 675 clinical hours.
UTEP admits students into these six tracks in the fall and spring. This is one of the cheapest online nurse practitioner programs specifically designed to accommodate working nurses: The program only accepts part-time students. PACNP students will complete their track in eight semesters; students enrolled in the five other specialties will complete their track in seven semesters. Required clinical rotations may be completed at a healthcare facility close to where you live.
Depending upon your NP concentration, you may also be required to visit the University of Texas campus in El Paso up to nine times to participate in lab simulation and other clinical skill immersion intensives.
How Affordable is University of Texas at El Paso's Online MSN-NP Program:
Resident student tuition is $552 per credit, while non-resident tuition is $782 per semester. Then, total tuition for Texas residents is $27,048 for the AGACNP, FNP, and PMHNP tracks; $26,496 for the NNP track; $29,808 for the PACNP track; and $25,392 for the PPCNP track. Total tuition for non-residents is $38,318 for the AGACNP, FNP, and PMHNP tracks; $37,536 for the NNP track; $42,228 for the PACNP track; and $35,972 for the PPCNP track.
University of Texas at El Paso's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
UTEP has several scholarships for graduate nursing students, including a recent bequest from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation New Careers in Nursing Scholarship Program. You may also qualify for federal and state grants and loans whose eligibility is determined by FAFSA form information.
Admission Requirements:
You’ll need a valid, unrestricted RN license in the state where you plan to do your clinical rotations. You must have a BSN from an accredited nursing program. You’ll also need to submit a resume and a statement of purpose addressing your professional goals.
18. Columbus State University - Columbus, GA
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
Columbus State University’s Family Nurse Practitioner program was launched to help alleviate the Peach State’s worsening shortage of primary healthcare providers. This cheap online NP program is offered in conjunction with Georgia Southwestern University as part of the Georgia Intercollegiate Consortium for Graduate Nursing Education initiative. The FNP track involves 13 classes (44 credits) and 765 clinical hours. Classes include “Health Care Delivery Models, Economics and Policy,” “Health Promotion of Women and Children,” and “Health Promotion of the Elderly.”
You can complete your clinical rotations at a healthcare facility close to your home. Apart from clinical rotations, your coursework will be delivered entirely online. Full-time students will graduate in five semesters (two years.) Like many of the other most affordable nurse practitioner programs online, CSU’s FNP program also offers part-time enrollment.
How Affordable is Columbus State University's Online MSN-NP Program:
Georgia and out-of-state residents pay the same tuition at Columbus State University. Tuition plus the technology fee comes to $464 per credit, so students will pay approximately $20,416 for the entire 44-credit FNP program.
Columbus State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
Columbus State University has designated 16 scholarships solely for the support of nursing students. Graduate students qualify for several of these. They may also be eligible for other financial aid, such as grants and loans, based on the information they submit in their FAFSA forms.
Admission Requirements:
For consideration, you’ll need a current, unencumbered RN license in the state where you’ll be doing your clinical rotations and a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. You’ll also need to submit three professional letters of reference and a resume or a curriculum vitae.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Program Details:
Flexibility and affordability are two hallmarks of the University of North Alabama’s cheap nurse practitioner online program. UNA’s NP program offers two concentrations: a 41-credit Family Nurse Practitioner track (12 classes, 600 clinical hours) and a 38-credit Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track (11 classes, 500 clinical hours.) The MSN core, common to both concentrations, includes courses like “Health Policy, Social Issues, and Theory” and “Advanced Pharmacology for Nurses.” FNP specialization classes include “Family Nurse Practitioner I, II, III, & IV,” while PMHNP specialization classes include “Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I, II, III, & IV.”
Both NP tracks offer spring and fall admission. Students can help identify preceptors and clinical sites in the geographical areas where they live, but all choices must be approved by the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of North Alabama. FNP and PMHNP students must attend two intensives at the University of North Alabama’s campus in Florence. Full-time students will complete these tracks in six semesters (two years.) Part-time enrollment options are also available.
How Affordable is University of North Alabama's Online MSN-NP Program:
The University of North Alabama charges tuition of $350 per credit plus a distance learning fee of $50 per credit. There is also an additional surcharge of $320 per course for FNP-specific classes. Students enrolled in UNA’s FNP track will spend approximately $20,925 (including textbooks), while those enrolled in UNA’s PMHNP track will pay roughly $15,200.
University of North Alabama's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
The University of North Alabama offers a New Start Scholarship to all new online students, which allows them to take their first online class for free. Though UNA has no scholarships designated explicitly for MSN students, its financial aid department has information on external nursing scholarships. Depending on the information you enter in your FAFSA form, you may also be eligible for federal and state grants and loans.
Admission Requirements:
You’ll need a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a valid, unrestricted RN license in the state where you plan to do your clinical rotations. Be prepared to submit a resume, a statement of professional goals, and two professional references.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
Kentucky Christian University’s Family Nurse Practitioner program may be just what you’ve been searching for if you want an inexpensive APRN program that integrates Christian values into nursing practice. The 47-credit program has start dates in the fall and spring and is designed to be completed in seven semesters. You’ll complete 528 hours of clinical rotation. Every effort will be made to identify clinical sites close to where you live.
Like other affordable nurse practitioner online programs, Kentucky Christian University’s FNP curriculum is divided into core MSN classes and courses focusing on the FNP concentration. You’ll take classes like “Professional Role Development,” “Improving Nursing Practice with Technology,” and “Advanced Nursing Care of Women & Children.” Aside from clinical rotations, your coursework can be accessed entirely online using asynchronous distance learning technology.
How Affordable is Kentucky Christian University's Online MSN-NP Program:
MSN/FNP students pay $525 per credit hour. Students enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner program can expect to be charged $24,675 over the course of their studies. Other fees, such as a nursing student fee, a first-time student fee, and an independent stub fee, may also apply.
Kentucky Christian University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
Kentucky Christian University doesn’t administer any endowed scholarships for nursing students. MSN-FNP students may be eligible for federal and state grants and loans based on their FAFSA information.
Admission Requirements:
You must have a valid, unrestricted RN license and have maintained an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. You’ll also need to submit two professional references and a writing sample addressing your professional goals.
21. University of West Florida - Pensacola, FL
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
There’s a reason why
The Princeton Review listed the University of West Florida’s Family Nurse Practitioner program among the best online nursing school master’s programs for 2022. UWF’s FNP program is known for its affordability and its high quality. You’ll be taking nine credits of MSN direct core classes, 12 credits of MSN common core classes, and 24 credits of FNP specialization coursework for a total of 45 credit hours. Your courses will include “Advanced Health Assessment,” “Health Systems Leadership and Policy Strategies,” and “Care of the Child and Family.” You can transfer up to nine credits from another school if you’ve previously taken any part of the MSN direct core sequence.
UWF’s FNP track includes 630 hours of clinical rotations. UWF will make every reasonable effort to help students find practicums near their homes. Students must attend a mandatory orientation and skills intensive at the University of West Florida’s campus in Pensacola the summer before practicums begin. Apart from clinical rotations and this intensive, all coursework will be delivered via a distance learning platform using asynchronous technology. This cheap nurse practitioner online program has start dates in the spring, summer, and fall. It only accepts full-time students; you can expect to graduate in six semesters (27 to 30 months.)
How Affordable is University of West Florida's Online MSN-NP Program:
The University of West Florida’s FNP program is one of the few cheapest nurse practitioner programs online that charges by semester rather than by credit. That said, tuition and fees run to approximately $500 a credit, so the entire six-semester sequence will likely set you back $22,500. If you can transfer over nine credits, you’ll end up paying tuition costs of $18,000.
University of West Florida's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
Online MSN graduates are eligible for federal Stafford loans and other financial aid. UWF administers more than a dozen nursing-specific scholarships, some of which can be awarded to MSN students.
Admission Requirements:
You’ll need a BSN from an accredited program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher. You’ll need a current unencumbered RN license. Additionally, you’ll need to submit a curriculum vitae and a statement of purpose that addresses how attending the University of West Florida will help you meet your career goals.
22. University of Missouri-Columbia - Columbia, MO
Specialties Offered:
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care,
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and
Family Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
Are you trying to find a convenient and affordable way to acquire nurse practitioner skills? The University of Missouri-Columbia’s cheap nurse practitioner program offers three different NP tracks. The 47-credit Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care track entails 15 classes and between 600 and 720 clinical hours. The 43-credit Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track involves 14 courses and 720 clinical hours. The 47-credit Family Nurse Practitioner track comprises 15 classes and 780 clinical hours.
As with several other affordable nurse practitioner online programs, nurse practitioner coursework at Mizzou is divided into three categories: MSN core classes, MSN clinical classes, and concentration classes. This is an integrated program, meaning that your clinical rotations will be incorporated into your didactic coursework. You’ll also be required to visit the Columbia, Missouri campus for clinical skills-building workshops once a year. Besides clinical rotations and immersion experiences, all your coursework will be available online. Most students elect to enroll in these programs part-time, graduating in three years.
How Affordable is University of Missouri-Columbia's Online MSN-NP Program:
Tuition plus fees for the PPCNP and FNP tracks is $646.41 per credit hour, so the estimated cost of the PPCNP and FNP tracks is $30,381.40. Tuition plus fees for the PMHNP track is $662.40 per credit hour, so the estimated cost of the PMHNP track is $28,483.10. Active military members and veterans may qualify for a 10 percent tuition reduction.
University of Missouri-Columbia's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
The Sinclair School of Nursing administers more than 80 nursing-specific scholarships, many of which are designated explicitly for NP students. Graduate students may also qualify for state and federal financial aid in the form of grants and loans.
Admission Requirements:
You must apply separately to the University of Missouri-Columbia’s graduate division and the Sinclair School of Nursing. You’ll need a valid, unrestricted RN license in the state where you’ll be doing your clinical rotations and a BSN from an accredited program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Depending upon the NP concentration, restrictions may apply to applicants from Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, North Dakota, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Specialties Offered:
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
Georgia State University’s online MSN program offers four nurse practitioner concentrations: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Each NP specialty consists of 48 credits: 22 hours of MSN core classes and 26 hours of specialty courses pertaining to your chosen concentration.
Students must attend an in-person orientation at the Georgia State University campus in Atlanta. Depending on their NP concentration, they may also be required to participate in other campus-based immersion experiences. Apart from these, though, they’ll complete their required coursework online. Full-time students can complete these NP programs in two to three years; part-time students will take three to four years.
How Affordable is Georgia State University's Online MSN-NP Program:
Georgia State University charges Peach State residents who are pursuing online MSN degrees $514 per credit in tuition and fees. The university charges out-of-state residents $1,375 per credit. Total tuition and fees for Georgia residents, then, will be approximately $24,672, while full tuition and fees for non-residents will be approximately $66,000.
Georgia State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
The Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions oversees a number of nursing scholarships, and some of them are earmarked for graduate nursing students. You may also qualify for grants, loans, and other types of financial aid based on the information you submit with your FAFSA for.
Admission Requirements:
This cheap online nurse practitioner program is open to ADN-prepared nurses as well as BSN-prepared nurses so long as they have a valid, unrestricted RN license. ADN-prepared nurses will complete additional undergraduate coursework as prerequisites to master’s coursework. Applicants must also submit a resume, a statement of purpose, and two professional references.
Specialties Offered:
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Family Nurse Practitioner, and
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
If you’re a practicing nurse wondering how to take your career to the next level without breaking the bank, the University of Indiana’s cheap nurse practitioner program may be just what you’re looking for.
U.S. News & World Reports ranks this online nursing master’s program as the 29th best in the U.S.
This online master’s degree in nursing program offers a 42-credit AGACNP track that requires 705 clinical hours, a 42-credit FNP track that requires 665 clinical hours, and a 44-credit PMHNP track that requires 655 clinical hours. Clinical rotations can be completed in your own community, but you will have to identify an appropriate preceptor and clinical site. The program offers start dates in the spring, summer, and fall. Full-time and part-time study options are available.
Like several of the other most affordable nurse practitioner online programs, the University of Southern Indiana divides its NP curriculum into three parts: MSN core courses such as “Evidence-Based Practice for Advanced Nursing” and “Healthcare Informatics for Advanced Nursing Practice;” MSN core clinical classes such as “Advanced Health Assessment;” and specialty coursework such as Psychiatric/Mental Health Care of Families I, II, and III,” “Management of Acutely III Adults I, II, and III;” and “Primary Care Nursing of Families I, II, and III.”
How Affordable is University of Southern Indiana's Online MSN-NP Program:
Resident and non-resident students pay the same tuition: $419.06 per credit. There is also a surcharge of $100 per credit for MSN students. FNP and AGACNP students will pay approximately $21,800.52 in tuition, while PMHNP students will pay $22,838.64.
University of Southern Indiana's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
While the University of Southern Indiana doesn’t offer any nursing-specific scholarships, its financial aid office can connect you with external nursing scholarship sources. You may also be eligible for financial aid through federal and state sources.
Admission Requirements:
You must have an active, unrestricted RN license and a BSN degree from an accredited program with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Preference is given to applicants who’ve completed at least one full year of professional work experience.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP)
Program Details:
Though Alcorn State University is a historically Black college, its educational offerings are open to students of other races. The 44-credit Family Nurse Practitioner program admits students once a year in the fall. Full-time students will complete the FNP curriculum in five semesters by taking four classes in the first (fall) semester, four classes in the second (spring) semester, three classes in the third (summer) semester, five classes in the fourth (fall) semester, and two classes in the fifth (spring) semester.
You’ll take classes like “Theoretical Foundations in Nursing,” “Advanced Health Assessment,” and “Clinical Management Theory I, II, and III.” You’ll also complete 660 clinical hours. Out-of-state residents can do their clinical rotations at healthcare facilities close to where they live. Alcorn’s FNP program is one of the few cheapest nurse practitioner programs online to require a master’s thesis.
How Affordable is Alcorn State University's Online MSN-NP Program:
Tuition for Alcorn State University’s nursing master’s program is $432 per credit for Mississippi residents and non-residents alike. The total tuition for the FNP program will be $19,008.
Alcorn State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
Alcorn State doesn’t have any in-house nursing scholarships, but the university can connect students with external nursing scholarship sources. The university also disburses grant and loan funds from state and federal sources that determine eligibility on the basis of FAFSA form information.
Admission Requirements:
You must have a BSN from an accredited program with a cumulative BSN of 3.0 or higher. You must have a current, unrestricted RN license in the state where you’ll be doing your clinical rotations. You’ll need to provide three letters of professional reference. Alcorn State University is one of the few affordable nurse practitioner programs online that require the Graduate Record Exam (GRE.)
26. University of Missouri-Kansas City - Kansas City, MO
Specialties Offered:
Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner,
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner,
Family Nurse Practitioner,
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner,
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner,
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
The University of Missouri-Kansas City is one of the only cheapest online nurse practitioner programs to offer seven nurse practitioner concentrations. You can enroll in a 52-credit PACNP track, a 46-credit AGNP track, a 46-credit FNP track, a 45-credit NNP track, a 46-credit PNP track, a 46-credit PMHNP track, and a 46-credit WNP track. Like many of the cheapest nurse practitioner online programs, the NP curriculum is divided into core MSN classes and coursework pertaining to the specific population concentration.
These NP tracks blend clinical rotations and on-campus intensives with online instruction. Your online coursework will utilize both synchronous and asynchronous technologies. All seven tracks have full-time and part-time completion options. Full-time students take three courses a semester and graduate in six semesters (two years.) Part-time students take one or two classes a semester and graduate in nine semesters (three years.)
How Affordable is University of Missouri-Kansas City's Online MSN-NP Program:
Online students pursuing MSN degrees pay $646.41 per credit in tuition and fees regardless of whether they live in Missouri or another state. Students enrolled in the AGNP, FNP, PNP, PMHNP, and WNP tracks will pay approximately $29,734.86 in tuition and fees. Students enrolled in the PACNP track will pay approximately $33,613.32 in tuition and fees, while students enrolled in the NNP track will pay approximately $29,088.45.
University of Missouri-Kansas City's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
UMKC offers several needs-based and merit-based scholarships, which are open to MSN students. By filling out a FAFSA form, students may qualify for federal and state grants and loans.
Admission Requirements:
You’ll need a BSN from an accredited program with a minimum GPA of 3.2. You’ll need a current unencumbered RN license in the state where you plan to complete your clinical rotations. The University of Missouri-Kansas City’s MSN programs is among the few cheapest nurse practitioner online programs requiring personal interviews. This cheap NP online program can’t accept students from Washington State, California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Louisiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, and New York.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
Want a cost-effective way to take your nursing career to the next level? Auburn University’s 48-credit Family Nurse Practitioner track was designed to be affordable. You’ll take 13 classes and complete 780 clinical hours. Students are responsible for finding acceptable preceptors and sites for their clinical rotations, but final approval lies with Auburn University at Montgomery. Students will visit the campus in Montgomery, Alabama, several times throughout the eight-semester course for orientation, evaluation, and simulation experiences.
This cheap online nurse practitioner program has a summer start date. The curriculum was set up to be completed in eight semesters. Classes include MSN core classes such as “Ethics, Legal Issue & Health Policy” and “Advancing Quality, Safety, & Prevention,” as well as FNP concentration classes such as “Adolescent/Adult Primary Care” and “Adult/Gerontologic Primary Care.”
How Affordable is Auburn University at Montgomery's Online MSN-NP Program:
Alabama residents pay $434 per credit hour in tuition and $50 an hour on online course and technology fees for a total of $484 per credit hour. Out-of-state residents pay $477 per credit hour in tuition and $50 an hour on online course and technology fees for a total of $527 per credit hour. Residents of the Cotton State will pay approximately $23,232 for the entire 48-credit MSN-FNP program, while non-residents will pay $25,296.
Auburn University at Montgomery's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
AUM’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences administers several scholarships that online graduate students may qualify for. You may also be eligible for state and local grants and loans depending upon the information you submit in your FAFSA form.
Admission Requirements:
You’ll need a valid, unencumbered RN license and a BSN from an accredited nursing program. You’ll also need to submit a resume, a personal statement, and three professional references.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
U.S. News & World Report dubbed Ball State University’s online MSN the nation’s 20th-best online nursing graduate program. The university’s MSN programming has also been commended by the NLN Center of Excellence in Nursing Education. The 47-credit FNP program consists of 14 classes and 690 clinical hours. Students are expected to assist in identifying preceptors and clinical sites and can complete their clinical rotations in the locations where they live. This cheap NP online program has no other on-site requirement; you can access your orientation materials, clinical training modules, and other coursework online using asynchronous technology.
Your classes will be divided into an MSN research core, an MSN clinical nursing core, and coursework pertaining to your Family Nurse Practitioner concentration. FNP-specific courses include “Primary Care of the Adult 1 & 2,” “Primary Care of Women,” and “Primary Care of Children.” Ball State University’s FNP program offers full-time and part-time enrollment tracks. Most students take two courses per semester and complete the program in six to eight semesters.
How Affordable is Ball State University's Online MSN-NP Program:
Indiana residents pay $461 per credit in tuition and fees for Ball State University’s online FNP program. Students who reside in other states pay $679 per credit. Sooner State residents will pay approximately $21,667 for the entire 47-credit FNP program, while out-of-state students will pay approximately $31,913. Indiana residents over 60 may qualify for a tuition reduction of up to 50 percent.
Ball State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
The university administers more than 25 nursing-specific scholarships. All nursing students are automatically considered for any they might qualify for. You may also be eligible for state and federal financial aid depending on the information you submit with your FAFSA form.
Admission Requirements:
Ball State University can only admit students from Indiana, Oregon, Utah, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and Florida into its FNP program. You must have a current, unencumbered RN license and have graduated from an accredited BSN program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher. Required application materials include a statement of professional goals and three professional references.
29. Indiana State University - Terre Haute, IN
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
Indiana State University’s affordable nurse practitioner online program was designed to be flexible to accommodate the needs of nurses who want to keep working while they advance their educational goals. Depending upon whether you choose to write a thesis or participate in a capstone project at the end of your coursework, the Family Nurse Practitioner track is 48 or 51 credits long.
The curriculum includes 15 classes and at least 675 clinical hours. You’ll take courses like “Nursing Theory Development” and “Management of Common Chronic and Acute Health Problems I & II.” You’ll arrange your clinical rotations yourself in the state where you reside. No campus visits are required. Full-time and part-time completion tracks are available. Most part-time students can complete this affordable online NP program in two and a half to three years.
How Affordable is Indiana State University's Online MSN-NP Program:
Residents of Indiana pay tuition of $432 per credit for Indiana State University’s affordable online nurse practitioner program. Out-of-state residents pay tuition of $562 per credit. For the entire 48- or 51-credit FNP tuition, Indiana residents will pay around $20,736 or $22,032, while out-of-state residents will pay about $26,976 or $28,662. Other fees will also apply.
Indiana State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
Indiana State University at Terre Haute administers more than 40 nursing-specific scholarships, some of which are open to graduate nursing students. Online nursing graduate students may be eligible for grants, loans, and other financial assistance if they submit a FAFSA form.
Admission Requirements:
This program is mainly open to BSN-educated nurses who’ve maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at an accredited nursing program. However, Indiana State University will consider nurses in their final semesters of a BSN program. The program does not accept applicants from Alaska, Oregon, California, Idaho, Arizona, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, New York, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Alabama.
30. Frostburg State University - Frostburg, MD
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner and
Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
Although 90 percent of Frostburg State University’s FNP and PMHNP tracks are offered online, you will have to visit the campus in Frostburg, Maryland, at least once per semester to complete your degree. This affordable nurse practitioner program has a rural focus and was explicitly designed to prepare advanced practice RNs to work in rural, medically underserved areas.
The 55-credit Family Nurse Practitioner track includes nine MSN core classes and 11 FNP-specific classes; the 60-credit Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track entails nine MSN core classes and 15 PMHNP-specific classes. Students enter the two programs in the fall, and courses must be taken in the specific order in which they appear in the catalog.
You’ll be required to complete 535 practicum hours for the FNP degree and 630 practicum hours for the PMHNP degree. You’ll be able to do your clinical rotations close to where you live, and you’ll be expected to help identify an appropriate preceptor and clinical site. Your online coursework will utilize synchronous technology. Full-time students will be able to graduate from the FNP program in six consecutive semesters and from the PMHNP program in seven consecutive semesters. Part-time students will be able to complete the FNP program in 10 consecutive semesters and the PMHNP track in 13 consecutive semesters.
How Affordable is Frostburg State University's Online MSN-NP Program:
The tuition rate for Maryland residents is $512 per credit hour, while out-of-state residents pay $700 per credit hour. Maryland residents thus will pay approximately $28,160 for the FNP track and $30,720 for the PMHNP track, while out-of-state residents will pay about $38,500 for the FNP track and $42,000 for the PMHNP track.
Frostburg State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for MSN-NP Students:
FSU administers nursing-specific scholarships, and you may qualify for some of them as an online graduate nursing student. You may also be eligible for grants, loans, and other types of financial aid depending on the information you’ve submitted with your FAFSA form.
Admission Requirements:
For admission into this program, you’ll need a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a valid, unrestricted RN license. You’ll need to submit an essay addressing your professional goals, a current CV, and three letters of professional reference.
What are the Cheapest BSN-to-DNP Nurse Practitioner Online Programs in the Nation?
(Based on the latest In-State per credit hour data from
National Center for Education Statistics, the following are the 30 Most Affordable Accredited Online BSN-TO-DNP-Nurse Practitioner Programs in the nation for the year 2025.)
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
The Family Nurse Practitioner track associated with the BSN-to-DNP program at Fort Hays State University is a cost-effective way to sharpen your clinical skills and enhance your understanding of the healthcare industry. The 75-credit DNP-FNP track involves 26 classes and 1,000 clinical hours. You’ll have some input into setting up your clinical rotation, but your preceptor and site must be in Kansas, Nebraska, or Oklahoma, and Fort Hays’ Department of Nursing must approve it. Depending upon individual course requirements, you may also visit the Fort Hays State University campus in Fort Hays, Kansas.
You’ll take courses like “Foundations for the Doctoral Leader,” “Evidence-Based Practice and Scholarly Tools,” and “Nurse Practitioner Roles in Primary Care.” Classes begin in the summer semester, and the degree takes four years to complete. The program culminates in a DNP project where you’ll use the knowledge you’ve learned in your classes to implement a solution to a challenge you’ve encountered during your clinical rotations.
How Affordable is Fort Hays State University's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Kansas residents and out-of-state residents pay the same tuition for this affordable NP online program: $400 per credit or $30,000 for the complete BSN-to-DNP FNP track.
Fort Hays State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
Fort Hays State University’s financial aid office can help you apply for Stafford Loans, other types of loans, and grants that may be able to offset some of your educational costs. While the university doesn’t administer many nursing-specific scholarships, the financial aid office can help identify external nursing scholarship sources.
Admission Requirements:
For admission into this program, you’ll need a BSN from an accredited program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. You must have a valid, unrestricted RN license from Kansas, Nebraska, or Oklahoma. You’ll also need to submit a personal statement, two professional references, and a resume.
2. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center - Lubbock, TX
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner and
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
Two of the five nurse practitioner options Texas Tech University Health Sciences bundles with its MSN track are also bundled with its DNP track. Both the 78-credit Family Nurse Practitioner concentration and the 78-credit Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentration offer an accelerated three-year (nine semesters) completion option and a standard four-year (12 semesters) completion option.
Both the FNP and PMHNP concentrations combine online coursework with supervised clinical experiences and campus visits. You can expect to visit the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s campus for orientation, objective structured clinical examinations, final project presentations, and selected DNP sessions at least twice a semester. Curricula include DNP core courses such as “Foundations for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice” and “Practical Application of Statistics in Healthcare” as well as classes specific to the two population foci such as “Foundations of the Well Child” and “Advanced Family Psychiatric Nursing Care I & II.” You’ll spend a minimum of 1,000 hours in clinical rotations, and you will be expected to identify your own preceptors and clinical sites.
How Affordable is Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Texas residents enrolled in this cheap nurse practitioner online program will spend $265 per credit on tuition or around $20,670 for either of the 78-credit NP tracks. Students who live outside the Lone Star State will pay $739 per credit on tuition or around $57,642 for either of the 78-credit NP tracks.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center doesn’t offer scholarships specifically for online graduate nursing students, but the financial aid office will be happy to direct you toward external scholarship sites. All students must submit FAFSA forms every year.
Admission Requirements:
You must have a current unencumbered RN license. Successful candidates will have a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. You’ll need to submit a current CV or resume, a personal statement, and three professional references. Candidates will interview with a member of the DNP Admissions Committee faculty. This affordable NP program cannot admit students from Arizona, California, Louisiana, New York, Oregon, or Washington State.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP), and Dual Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) & Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
Program Details:
The University of Texas Medical Branch is the only one of the cheapest online nurse practitioner programs to offer a joint FNP/AGACNP track. The joint FNP/AGACNP track and the individual FNP and AGACNP tracks are concentrations associated with the university’s BSN-to-DNP degree.
Both the 75-credit Family Nurse Practitioner track and the 76-credit Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks require 24 courses and 1,020 clinical hours; both tracks are designed to be completed in 12 semesters. The 88-credit dual Family Nurse Practitioner/ Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track requires 26 courses and 1,389 clinical hours; it’s designed to be completed in 13 semesters.
The University of Texas Medical Branch only admits NP students in the fall. In addition to your clinical rotations, you’ll be required to visit the University of Texas Medical Branch campus in Galveston approximately once a semester for two to three days. Most of your coursework will be delivered online, utilizing a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning platforms.
How Affordable is University of Texas Medical Branch's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Texas residents pay $1,018 per credit in tuition and fees at UTMB, so the 75-credit FNP track will cost $76,350, the 76-credit AGACNP track will cost $77,368, and the 88-credit dual FNP/AGACNP track will cost $89,584. Students who live outside the Lone Star State pay $1,426.15 per credit in tuition and fees at UTMB, so the FNP track will cost $106,961.25, the AGACNP track will cost $108,387.40, and the dual FNP/AGACNP track will cost $125,501.20.
University of Texas Medical Branch's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
Students pursuing this cheap online NP program qualify to apply for more than 50 nursing-specific scholarships administered by the University of Texas Medical Branch’s School of Nursing. You may also be eligible for grants and loans based on the information you enter on your FAFSA form.
Admission Requirements:
You’ll need a valid, unencumbered license in the state where you plan to do your clinical rotations. This program is only available to students who’ve graduated from an accredited BSN program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher in all upper-division classwork. You must have worked as an RN for at least one year. You’ll need to submit a resume, a personal statement, and three professional references. A UTMB School of Nursing faculty member must interview all DNP applicants.
Specialties Offered:
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner,
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and
Psychiatric/ Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Program Details:
Georgia Southern University bundles four reasonably priced clinical tracks with its BSN-to-DNP program. All four tracks include 31 classes that account for 77 credits. You don’t have to complete a DNP to earn your nurse practitioner degree: Coursework is divided into MSN core courses, coursework pertaining to your chosen concentration, and DNP core courses; providing you complete the first two regimens, you can drop out of the DNP course as a master’s-educated nurse practitioner. Students who opt to graduate with an MSN complete nine semesters (three years) and 720 clinical hours. Students who opt to continue with the entire DNP program complete 14 semesters and 1,350 clinical hours.
Clinical rotations take place at hospitals, clinics, and community agencies throughout the Greater Savannah Metropolitan Region. Some classes will require visits to the Georgia Southern University campus in Statesboro. Otherwise, your classwork will be delivered electronically. Synchronous classes are scheduled for Tuesdays; you can access asynchronous class materials whenever you wish.
How Affordable is Georgia Southern University's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Students enrolled in Georgia Southern University BSN-to-DNP affordable nurse practitioner online program pay $389 per credit for tuition. Tuition for any of the four 77-credit nurse practitioner tracks will come to $29,953. Other fees, including a per-credit technology fee, will also apply.
Georgia Southern University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
BSN-to-DNP students at Georgia Southern University may qualify for federal and state grants and loans depending upon the information they entered in their FAFSA forms. The university administers more than 20 nursing scholarships for which online NP students may be eligible.
Admission Requirements:
This program is only open to RNs with active, unencumbered Georgia licenses. You’ll be asked to submit a resume or CV emphasizing your work history and three professional references. You’ll need to hold a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
The Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing at Montana State University offers an affordable online nurse practitioner program in conjunction with its BSN-to-DNP degree track. The university’s Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentrations were launched to provide rural and medically underserved parts of Montana with better access to primary healthcare providers.
Each of the two 82-credit concentrations includes 23 courses and 1,000 clinical hours. Classes are divided between DNP core courses like “Ethics, Law, and Policy for Advocacy in Healthcare” and “Evidence-Based Practice I & II” and concentration-specific courses like “Advanced Primary Care Skills and Procedures” and “Introduction to Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing.” Like several of the other cheapest nurse practitioner programs online, this cheap NP program culminates in a scholarly DNP project that showcases how advanced nursing knowledge can improve health outcomes. Full-time students should be able to earn their nurse practitioner degrees from Montana State University in three years.
How Affordable is Montana State University's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Montana residents pay $416.47 per credit in tuition and fees, so the FNP and PMHNP BSN-to-DNP tracks will set them back $34,150.54. Out-of-state residents pay $1,330.93 per credit in tuition and fees, so the FNP and PMHNP BSN-to-DNP tracks will set them back $109,136.26.
Montana State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
Montana State University participates in the Rural Ready Nurse Practitioner program, which awards a stipend covering tuition and other expenses to eligible NP students. MSU also offers needs- and merit-based scholarships to qualifying NP students in the BSN-to-DNP program. Students may also qualify for financial aid like grants and loans depending on the information they enter on their FAFSA forms.
Admission Requirements:
You’ll need a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Your undergraduate coursework must include physical assessment, community/public health, research, statistics, and psych/mental health classes if you’re applying to the PMHNP concentration. MSU’s NP program only accepts students from Montana, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington State, Colorado, and Alaska.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
The University of Nevada’s Family Nurse Practitioner track is offered in conjunction with its BSN-to-DNP track and its BSN-to-MSN track. The FNP concentration entails 18 classes (68 credits) and requires completing a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours. You’ll take DNP core courses like “Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision Making for the APRN” and “Strategies for Management of Healthcare Systems and Performance Improvement” as well as FNP-specific courses like “FNP Adult and Women's Health” and “FNP Geriatric and Chronic Illness.”
Before you can graduate, you’ll be required to complete a DNP project that’s similar in scope to a Ph.D. thesis. The project will focus on implementing a solution to a challenge you encountered during your FNP clinical rotations based on the knowledge you’ve learned in your didactic coursework.
How Affordable is University of Nevada's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Nevada residents pay tuition of $314 per credit at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, so they’ll pay $21,352 in total for the FNP option of the BSN-to-DNP program. Out-of-state residents pay tuition of $659.50 per credit at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, so they’ll pay $44,846 in total for the FNP option of the BSN-to-DNP program. Other fees will also apply.
University of Nevada's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
The School of Nursing at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas administers several scholarships for which BSN-to-DNP students may be eligible. Depending on the information you submit in your FAFSA form, you may also qualify for federal and state grants and loans.
Admission Requirements:
You must have a valid, unrestricted RN license and a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher to be accepted into this program. This affordable NP online program is open to BSN-prepared and MSN-prepared applicants who want to pursue APRN licensure.
Specialties Offered:
Family Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
Morningside University’s Direct Patient Care DNP track is for RNs who want to become family nurse practitioners or adult-gerontology nurse practitioners at the doctoral level. The curricula for both concentrations consist of core DNP courses such as “Transformative Leadership Role Integration I, II, III, & IV” and “Analytical Methods in Evidence-based Practice,” as well as classes that pertain specifically to your concentration.
The Family Nurse Practitioner track involves 77 credits, while the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner track entails 76 credits. Both NP tracks accept new enrollments in the spring, summer, and fall. You must complete a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours to complete the requirements for a DNP degree. You can select your own practicum site and preceptor, and you may be able to complete your clinical rotation in the healthcare facility where you work.
Morningside University is another one of the affordable nurse practitioner online programs that requires some campus residency. You’ll participate in a three-day residency at the Morningside University campus in Sioux City, Iowa, to learn the hands-on skills you’ll use during your NP practice. You’ll also be required to come to campus to present your DNP project and demonstrate your competence. Other than that, all coursework is delivered online. You’ll be awarded your MSN degree before earning your DNP degree.
How Affordable is Morningside University's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Total tuition and fees for the BSN-to-DNP FNP program are $48,090. Total tuition and fees for the BSN-to-DNP AGNP program are $47,520.
Morningside University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
You’ll need to submit a FAFSA form to learn what financial aid you qualify for. Morningside University doesn’t designate any scholarships specifically for nursing students.
Admission Requirements:
This program is only open to applicants who’ve graduated from an accredited BSN program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. You must have an RN license in Iowa or a compact RN license that allows you to practice in Iowa. You must also submit a resume or CV, an essay addressing how this affordable nurse practitioner program will help you achieve your professional goals, and two professional references.
Specialties Offered:
Adult Gerontology & Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
The University of Nevada in Reno offers the same five NP concentrations in its BSN-to-DNP program as are coupled with its BSN-to-MSN program: the 62- to 71-credit Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program; the 73- to 78-credit Family Nurse Practitioner program; the 72-credit Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program; the 68-credit Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program; and the 69-credit Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. All five concentrations are offered as full-time programs that can be completed in eight semesters or as part-time programs that can be completed in 11 or 12 semesters.
Like all of the cheapest online nurse practitioner programs, the BSN-to-DNP program offered by the Reno branch of the University of Nevada requires a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours, whichever concentration you choose to specialize in. You’ll be required to visit the University of Nevada campus in Reno for orientation and to defend your DNP project, but otherwise, you’ll be able to access all your coursework online. This affordable online NP program enrolls new students in the fall and spring.
How Affordable is University of Nevada's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
The University of Nevada at Reno uses a differential tuition model based on degree pathways. Nursing classes in the BSN-to-DNP pathway are $239.50 per credit higher than the base tuition per credit of $314 per credit. Nevada residents and out-of-state DNP nursing students will pay $34,317 to $39,298.50 on AGACNP tuition, $40,405.50 to $43,173 on FNP tuition, $39,852 on PMHNP tuition, $37,638 on AGPCNP tuition, and $38,191.50 on PACNP tuition.
University of Nevada's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
None of the scholarships administered by the Reno campus of the University of Nevada are specifically designated for nursing students. By submitting a FAFSA form, you may qualify for other forms of financial aid, such as state and federal grants and loans.
Admission Requirements:
Students accepted into this program must have a current, unrestricted Nevada RN license or a compact license that permits them to practice in Nevada. The program is only open to BSNs who’ve graduated from an accredited nursing program with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
You’ll have to apply separately to the University of Nevada’s Graduate School and the Orvis School of Nursing. You’ll also have to submit a statement of purpose and three professional reference letters.
Specialties Offered:
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and
Family Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
The University of North Carolina-Wilmington bundles two reasonably priced nurse practitioner concentrations with its BSN-to-DNP program. UNCW’s 70-credit PMHNP track consists of 23 classes and 1,000 clinical practice hours. UNCW’s 70-credit FNP track consists of 22 classes and 1,000 clinical practice hours.
Like many of the most affordable online nurse practitioner programs, the university divides the curricula used in its NP concentrations into DNP core courses and courses specific to the NP track’s population focus. Full-time students will be able to complete either of these two tracks in eight semesters (three years); part-time students will complete the tracks in 14 semesters (five years.)
Students are expected to be proactive in identifying their preceptors and clinical sites though all choices will have to be approved by UNCW’s clinical placement team. All students will be expected to complete a DNP project evaluating a program they’ve come across during their clinical rotations in terms of its effectiveness in improving healthcare outcomes.
How Affordable is University of North Carolina-Wilmington's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Residents of North Carolina pay $369.74 per credit in tuition and fees, so the FNP or PMHNP concentration will set them back $25,881.80. Out-of-state students pay $1,138.02 per credit in tuition and fees, so the FNP or PMHNP concentration will set them back $79,661.40.
University of North Carolina-Wilmington's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
Needs-based scholarships and state and federal grants and loans are awarded based on the information you include in your FAFSA form. The University of North Carolina-Wilmington has a limited number of merit-based scholarships, but none are specifically designated for nursing students.
Admission Requirements:
Applicants should have a current, unrestricted RN license in the state where they’ll be doing their clinical rotations and be graduates of an accredited BSN program where they maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. You’ll also have to submit three professional references, a resume, and a video URL that speaks to how this affordable online NP program will help you meet your professional goals.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
Wondering whether there’s a cost-effective way for you to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and an NP certification? Radford University offers two reasonably priced nurse practitioner concentrations. The 81-credit Family Nurse Practitioner track consists of 28 courses (including three electives), while the 79-credit Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track consists of 27 classes (including three electives.) BSN-to-DNP students must complete a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours.
One of Radford’s clinical associate coordinators will assist you in identifying a preceptor and a clinical site. You’ll visit the Radford University campus two to three times during your studies for intensives designed to develop hands-on competencies through advanced workshops and skills assessments. All your other coursework will be delivered online. At the end of the program, students must participate in a DNP capstone project based on a challenge they encountered during their clinical rotation.
How Affordable is Radford University's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Tuition and fees for this cheap nurse practitioner online program are $539 per credit hour for residents of Virginia and $1,050 for residents of other states. The 81-credit FNP track will cost Virginia residents $43,659 and non-residents $85,050. The 79-credit PMHNP track will cost Virginia residents $42,581 and non-residents $82,950.
Radford University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
The Radford University Foundation oversees more than 40 nursing-specific scholarship opportunities. Graduate nursing students may be eligible for some of these. You may also qualify for grants and loans based on the information in your FAFSA form.
Admission Requirements:
This affordable nurse practitioner online program is only available to graduates of accredited BSN programs who’ve maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. You’ll need to have practiced as an RN for at least 2,000 hours. You’ll have to hand in three professional references, two written statements addressing your professional goals, and a resume or curriculum vitae. All viable candidates for admission will be interviewed.
11. University of Missouri-Columbia - Columbia, MO
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner,
Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan), and
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner- Primary Care
Program Details:
The University of Missouri-Columbia is another one of the cheapest online nurse practitioner programs that bundle the same NP programs with its BSN-to-DNP program as it does with its BSN-to-MSN program. UMC’s Sinclair School of Nursing offers three NP concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. At the DNP level, these tracks involve 72 credits and 1,050 to 1,230 clinical hours.
All three tracks are designed to accommodate working nurses. BSN-prepared students should be able to finish this affordable online nurse practitioner program in five or six years of part-time enrollment, but students can also enroll full-time. (The program also accepts MSN-prepared students who should be able to finish in three years of part-time enrollment.) Most of your coursework will be accessible over a distance learning platform, but you’ll be required to visit the University of Missouri campus in Columbia for a five-day orientation. You’ll also be making other campus visits, approximately once a year, to participate in skills intensives. The FNP and PMHNP tracks accept new students in the spring, summer, and fall, but the PPCNP track only takes new students in the summer and fall.
How Affordable is University of Missouri-Columbia's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Online students pay $600.87 per credit in tuition and fees regardless of whether they live in Missouri or out of state. The estimated cost of these three 72-credit NP tracks is $43,262.64.
University of Missouri-Columbia's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
Graduate nursing students may be eligible for the 80-plus nursing-specific scholarships overseen by the Sinclair School of Nursing. You may also qualify for federal and state loans and grants depending on the information you include in your FAFSA form.
Admission Requirements:
You’ll need a BSN from an accredited program with a minimum GPA of 3.5 to be accepted into this program. Some of Mizzou’s NP programs may be restricted in Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, North Dakota, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Specialties Offered:
Adult Health-Gero NP, Pediatric NP, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health NP
Program Details:
Trying to figure out a way to earn that NP certification you’ve been dreaming of without exhausting your financial resources? The Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions at Georgia State University offers four affordable nurse practitioner tracks: Adult Health-Gero NP, Pediatric NP, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric-Mental Health NP. Each of the tracks requires 81 credits and 1,000 clinical hours. This affordable NP program was designed to be completed in 10 semesters.
Like other affordable nurse practitioner online programs affiliated with a BSN-to-DNP degree, the curriculum is divided into DNP core courses and courses relevant to your NP specialization. Your studies will culminate with a DNP project that translates research into practice, applying the knowledge you learned in your didactic coursework to a program or practice model you encountered during your clinical rotations. You’ll attend one-day skills intensives at the Georgia State University campus in Atlanta at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. Apart from that, your coursework will be taught online using a blend of synchronous and asynchronous technology.
How Affordable is Georgia State University's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Tuition and fees for graduate nursing students at Georgia State University are $404 per credit for Georgia residents and $1,265 for students who live out of state. Residents of the Peach Tree State will pay approximately $32,724 to complete any of these four NP tracks, while non-residents will pay $102,465.
Georgia State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
The Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions earmarks some nursing scholarships it administers specifically for graduate nursing students. You may also qualify for state and federal financial aid, but you’ll have to file a FAFSA form to find out for how much.
Admission Requirements:
For consideration, you’ll need a BSN with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher from an accredited nursing program. You must have a current, unencumbered RN license from the state where you will be doing your clinical rotations. You’ll need a minimum of professional RN work experience, too. Along with your application, you must provide a personal statement, three letters of professional reference, and a resume or CV.
Specialties Offered:
Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute,
Family Nurse Practitioner, and
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
The University of Southern Indiana offers three concentrations in conjunction with its BSN-to-DNP affordable online nurse practitioner program. The Adult-Geriatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner tracks involve 78 credits and 1,000 clinical hours, while the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track entails 80 credits and 1,000 clinical hours. If you enroll full-time, you’ll be able to complete the entire program in four years. If you enroll part-time, you’ll be able to complete the entire program in five years.
Clinical rotations can be set up at a healthcare facility close to your home. You’ll be expected to identify the preceptor and clinical site you want to work with. All three NP concentrations require you to visit the University of Southern Indiana campus in Evansville for a two-day orientation. You’ll also make other campus visits to attend immersive skills intensives. Coursework is divided into core DNP didactic and clinical coursework, DNP project courses, and specialty courses related to your concentration. You’ll begin taking your NP specialization classes in your final year. All three NP concentrations start classes in the fall semester.
How Affordable is University of Southern Indiana's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Students enrolled in the University of Southern Indiana’s online BSN-to-DNP program are charged $569.06 per credit, regardless of whether they live in Indiana or out of state. Tuition and fees for the ADACNP and FNP tracks are $44,386.68, while tuition and fees for the PMHNP track are $45,524.80.
University of Southern Indiana's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
The University of Southern Indiana oversees 17 scholarships that are specifically designated for nursing students, and graduate nursing students may qualify for many of them. Your eligibility for federal and state grants and loans will be determined based on the information you include in your FAFSA form.
Admission Requirements:
You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in a BSN course from an accredited nursing program to apply to this affordable NP online program. You’ll need a valid, unencumbered RN license, too. You must submit a CV or resume with your application.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
Program Details:
Looking for cost-effective ways to advance your professional nursing career? Jacksonville State University offers two NP tracks: a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration and an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration. Both concentrations require the completion of 69 credits and 1,330 clinical hours. Courses are divided between core DNP classes like “Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement in Health Care” and “Organizational & Systems Leadership for APN” and specialization-relevant classes like “Advanced Family NP 1, II, III, & IV” and “Advanced Adult Gerontology I, II, III, & IV.”
Although most of your coursework will be delivered online, some visits to the Jacksonville State University campus may be scheduled for experiences like orientations, on-site simulated learning experiences, and dissemination of scholarly projects. Both of these affordable online nurse practitioner programs are offered part-time and take 12 semesters (four years) to complete. To graduate, you’ll have to complete a DNP project, assemble an electronic portfolio, and pass a comprehensive exam similar to the exam you’ll have to pass to be certified in your NP specialty.
How Affordable is Jacksonville State University's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Jacksonville State University offers a one-price tuition plan for all DNP students regardless of track and regardless of whether you live in Alabama or another state. Tuition and fees for the JSU DNP program are $18,000.
Jacksonville State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
Jacksonville State University administers nursing scholarships for which DNP students may qualify. Depending on the information submitted in your FAFSA form, you may also be eligible for federal and state financial aid.
Admission Requirements:
For consideration, you must possess a current, unencumbered RN license and a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. You’ll need to submit three professional letters of reference as well.
15. University of Missouri-Kansas City - Kansas City, MO
Specialties Offered:
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP),
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP),
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP), and
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
Program Details:
The University of Missouri’s BSN-to-DNP nurse practitioner tracks are tailored to the working nurse. Most nurses pursuing this affordable nurse practitioner online program opt to enroll part-time and finish their degree in four or five years by taking one or two courses per semester. The AGPCNP, PNP, and WHNP concentrations each require 74 credits for completion, while the FNP concentration requires 79. Students must complete a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours to satisfy DNP degree requirements.
You’ll be able to select a preceptor and site for your clinical rotations close to where you live, although your choice will need to be approved by UMKC’s School of Nursing. All four NP concentrations require a mandatory summer residency at the campus of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Other campus visits may also be required. For the most part, though, your coursework will be taught online using synchronous and asynchronous instruction technology.
How Affordable is University of Missouri-Kansas City's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Tuition and fees for the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s BSN-to-DNP program are $904.20 per credit. Students pursuing the AGPCNP, PNP, and WHNP concentrations will end up paying $66,910.80 during the course of their studies; students pursuing the FNP option will pay $71,431.80.
University of Missouri-Kansas City's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
UMKC administers several nursing-specific scholarships for which DNP students may qualify. DNP students may also be eligible for federal and state grants and loans based on the information they enter in their FAFSAs.
Admission Requirements:
This program requires a BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.2 from an accredited nursing program and an active unrestricted RN license in the state where you plan to do your clinical rotations. This program is one of the few cheapest online nurse practitioner programs that require a personal interview.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
Strictly speaking, the Family Nurse Practitioner concentration Western Carolina University offers in conjunction with its BSN-to-DNP degree isn’t an online program but a hybrid program since students are required to be at Western Carolina University’s campus in Biltmore Park one full day a week. But the rest of the coursework is delivered online.
The 83-credit FNP track consists of 29 courses and 1,000 clinical hours. Coursework is divided between DNP core classes such as “Advanced Applied Health Assessment and Diagnostics” and “Health Care Policy & Ethics” and classes that pertain to the Family Nurse Practitioner concentration such as “Primary Care of Adults” and “Primary Care of Children and Adolescents.”
The program is only offered full-time and takes nine semesters (three years) to complete. Classes begin in May. Clinical rotations start in the third semester. You’ll be responsible for selecting your preceptor and clinical site within guidelines established by Western Carolina University.
How Affordable is Western Carolina University's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Western Carolina University aggregates tuition and fees by semester. BSN-to-FNP students who are North Carolina residents will pay $5015.40 per semester, so the entire program will cost them $45,138.60. BSN-to-DNP students who live outside the Tar Heel State will pay $10,218.90 per semester, so the entire program will cost them $91,970.10.
Western Carolina University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
Western Carolina University’s Financial Aid Office may be able to connect you with scholarships and other financial aid opportunities.
Admission Requirements:
This cheap NP online program only admits 18 students a year. You must have a North Carolina RN license or be eligible for North Carolina licensure. The program only accepts nurses who hold a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and who’ve worked as an RN for at least one year. You’ll also need to submit a resume, a professional statement, and three professional references.
Specialties Offered:
Family nurse practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric nurse practitioner (PMHNP)
Program Details:
Washburn University’s distance learning format utilizes synchronous and asynchronous instructional technologies so that working nurses who are short on time can get the most out of the NP tracks the university offers. This affordable NP online program offers a 75-credit Family Nurse Practitioner track that requires 1,230 clinical hours and a 76-credit Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse practitioner track that requires 1,020 clinical hours.
Both NP tracks offer curricula combining core DNP coursework with classes focusing on advanced practice RN knowledge and competencies. DNP core coursework includes classes like “Accounting and Finance for Managers” and “Informatics/Health Care,” while advanced practice specialty coursework includes classes like “Primary Care I, II, & III” and “Advanced Psych 1 & II.” You’ll work closely with Washburn University advisors to select your clinical rotation sites, and whenever possible, those sites will be at a location close to your home. You’ll be asked to attend up to three intensives a year at the Washburn University campus in Topeka, Kansas.
How Affordable is Washburn University's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
DNP students pay tuition of $692 per credit at Washburn University regardless of where they live. The total tuition for the FNP degree is $51,900, while the total tuition for the PMHNP degree is $52,592.
Washburn University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
Though Washburn University doesn’t offer any scholarships for graduate nursing students, the School of Nursing oversees a few scholarships for which graduate students are welcome to apply. Graduate students may also qualify for grants and loans whose eligibility is determined by the information you submit on your FAFSA forms.
Admission Requirements:
You’ll need a BSN from an accredited program with a minimum GPA of 3.25. You’ll also need an active, unrestricted RN license in the state where you plan to do your clinical rotations. Additionally, you must submit a resume and three professional references.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
You should check out the FNP track that’s part of the University of Arkansas’s BSN-to-DNP program if you’re looking for an affordable online nurse practitioner program. This 78-credit Family Nurse Practitioner curriculum combines core DNP coursework like “Evaluation Methods and Translational Research for Evidence-based Practice” and “Healthcare Economics and Finance” with classes that focus on FNP competencies such as “Common Problems in Primary Care” and “Complex Problems in Primary Care.”
You’ll be required to complete somewhere between 1,080 and 1,125 clinical hours. You can arrange your clinical practicums at a healthcare facility in your community. You’ll be required to visit the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville for orientation, but apart from that, your coursework will be taught online. Full-time students should be able to complete this curriculum in two years; part-time students will take three years to finish.
How Affordable is University of Arkansas's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Graduate nursing students pay $583.11 per credit in tuition and fees, so the total cost of this Family Nurse Practitioner program will be $45,482.58.
University of Arkansas's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
BSN-to-DNP students at the University of Arkansas are eligible for scholarships and loans under the terms of the Arkansas Graduate Nursing Education Student Loan and Scholarship Program. Students may also qualify for federal grants and loans based on the information they include in their FAFSA forms.
Admission Requirements:
You’ll have to apply separately to the University of Arkansas Graduate School and the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing. You must have a BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in your most recent 60 credits. You’ll also need a valid, unencumbered RN license. This program is unavailable to students in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, Washington, DC, or Wyoming.
Specialties Offered:
Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner,
Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP),
Dual Role (Family NP/Emergency NP),
Family Nurse Practitioner,
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner,
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner,
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
The University of South Alabama leads the pack when it comes to the number of NP tracks it bundles with its BSN-to-DNP program. USA offers eight distinct nurse practitioner concentrations and two dual NP concentrations. The AGACNP, AGPCNP, NNP, PACNP, PPCNP, PMHNP, and WHNP tracks each involve 69 credits and 1,1040 clinical hours. The FNP/AGACNP dual track requires 81 credits and 2,160 clinical hours, while the FNP/ENP track entails 81 credits and 1,380 clinical hours.
The University of Alabama tries to arrange clinical rotations in communities close to students’ homes, but if the university is unsuccessful, students may need to travel. You’ll be required to visit the University of South Alabama’s campus in Mobile for a clinical skills intensive, and students enrolled in the dual track will have to make two visits. This affordable nurse practitioner program culminates with a DNP project, based on evidence you’ve collected during your clinical rotations, that details an improvement that could positively affect healthcare outcomes.
Full-time students should be able to complete this cheap NP online program in 10 semesters. Part-time students should be able to complete it in 12 semesters. This BSN-to-DNP program accepts new students in the summer, fall, and spring.
How Affordable is University of South Alabama's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Tuition and fees for online graduate nursing students at the University of South Alabama are $594 per credit. Students enrolled in the single-track nurse practitioner specialties will pay $40,986; students in the dual nurse practitioner specialties will pay $48,114.
University of South Alabama's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
The University of South Alabama oversees more than 70 nursing-specific scholarships. As a graduate nursing student, you may qualify for some of them. Needs-based financial aid may also be available through federal grants and loans based on the information you submit in your FAFSA form.
Admission Requirements:
You must be a citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S. to be accepted into this program. You’ll need a current, unrestricted RN license and a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. You’ll also need at least two years of experience practicing as a registered nurse in the area you hope to specialize in as a nurse practitioner.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
Delta State University’s BSN-to-DNP Family Nurse Practitioner track is an affordable nurse practitioner online program that you can complete in six semesters as a full-time student. The 69-credit FNP concentration requires 1,020 clinical hours and combines DNP core classes such as “Advanced Theory and Ethical Issues in Advanced Nursing Practice” and “Advanced Statistics for Clinical Practice” with concentration-specific coursework such as “Family Nurse Practice I, II, & III.”
All clinical rotations must be completed in either Mississippi or Arkansas. You’ll be required to visit the Delta State University campus in Cleveland, Mississippi, one to three times per semester throughout your enrollment. You’ll also be required to complete a DNP project, which will involve implementing a programmatic change based on the research you do during your clinical rotations, writing a paper, and then giving an oral presentation about your experiences.
How Affordable is Delta State University's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Delta State University’s BSN-to-FNP program is one of the cheapest nurse practitioner programs online. Graduate students pay $469 per credit. DSU’s Family Nurse Practitioner program will set you back $32,361.
Delta State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
You may be eligible to get federal and state grants and loans based on the information you submit in your FAFSA form. DSU’s Robert E. Smith School of Nursing also administers many nursing-specific scholarships, some of which you may be eligible to apply for.
Admission Requirements:
You’ll need a current, unrestricted RN license in the state where you plan to do your clinical rotations. (Since DSU only permits students to do clinical rotations in Mississippi or Arkansas, your license must be from one of those states.) You’ll also need a BSN with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. All applicants to this cheap nurse practitioner online program must sit for a personal interview and submit a resume. You must also have at least one year of working experience as an RN.
Specialties Offered:
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Family Nurse Practitioner,
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner,
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and
Dual Pediatric Acute & Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
According to
U.S. News & World Report, the University of Florida’s DNP program is the 25th best in the nation. UF offers five single nurse practitioner tracks: a 76-credit AGACNP concentration (1,008 clinical hours), a 75-credit FNP concentration (1,008 clinical hours), a 78-credit PACNP concentration (1,008 clinical hours), a 78-credit PPCNP concentration (1,008 clinical hours), and a 76-credit PMHNP concentration (1,008 clinical hours). The University also offers a dual PACNP/PPCNP concentration that entails 93 credits and 1,392 clinical hours.
All students must start the program in the fall semester. As a full-time student, you’ll be able to finish the single nurse practitioner concentrations in eight semesters (32 months) and the dual concentration in 10 semesters (40 months.) If you enroll part-time, it will take 12 semesters (48 months) to complete the single nurse practitioner concentrations and 14 (56 months) semesters to complete the dual concentration. Every effort will be made to schedule your clinical rotation within a two-hour drive of where you live. You’ll be required to visit the University of Florida’s campus in Gainsville for orientation and several other times throughout your studies for skills workshops.
How Affordable is University of Florida's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
The University of Florida has a reputation as one of the cheapest online nurse practitioner programs. Florida residents enrolled in online programs pay $129.18 in credit and fees, which means the single-track NP programs will set you back anywhere between $9,688.50 and $10,076.04, while the dual-concentration program will cost you $12,013.74.
University of Florida's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
The College of Nursing’s Office of Student Affairs has a limited number of scholarships available for BSN-to-DNP students. You may also apply for federal grants and loans by filling out a FAFSA form.
Admission Requirements:
This affordable online nurse practitioner program only admits RNs licensed in Florida or eligible for Florida licensure. You must be a graduate of an accredited BSN program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. You must also be a U.S. citizen or hold a valid visa.
22. Liberty University - Lynchburg, VA
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Program Details:
Liberty University offers two online nurse practitioner concentrations in conjunction with its reasonably priced BSN-to-DNP program: a 78-credit Family Nurse Practitioner program and a 72-credit Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program. Each of these specialist pathways contains the 1,000 clinical hours you’ll need to complete to earn a DNP degree.
Your curriculum will include DNP core nursing classes, advanced practice courses, your clinical practicums, your DNP project, and coursework pertaining to your FNP or PMHNP concentration. You can fulfill your practicum requirements at a healthcare facility close to your home. You’ll also be required to attend one skills intensive at the Liberty University campus in Lynchburg, Virginia. Besides practicums and that one campus intensive, all your coursework will be taught online using synchronous and asynchronous technology.
This cheap nurse practitioner online program concludes with a scholarly project in which you’ll apply the knowledge you have learned to a real-life situation you encountered during your practicums. Most full-time students can complete this BSN-to-DNP program in nine semesters. Note that Liberty University is a Christian institution, and biblical principles will be emphasized as part of your studies.
How Affordable is Liberty University's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Tuition and fees for Liberty University’s BSN-to-DNP program are $1,200 per credit. You’ll pay $93,600 for the Family Nurse Practitioner track and $86,400 for the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track. Liberty offers significant discounts to active military members, military spouses, and veterans.
Liberty University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
Liberty University doesn’t appear to offer any nursing-specific scholarships, but graduate nursing students may be eligible for one of Liberty’s other scholarship packages. Filling out a FAFSA form may qualify you for federal grants and loans.
Admission Requirements:
You’ll need to be a graduate of an accredited BSN program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. You must have at least one year of work experience as an RN. Your RN license must be active and unencumbered. You’ll also need to submit a curriculum vitae, a writing sample, and three letters of recommendation.
Specialties Offered:
Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
East Tennessee State University bundles three cost-efficient nurse practitioner tracks with its BSN-to-DNP program: an 85-credit Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner concentration, an 83-credit Family Nurse Practitioner concentration, and an 80-credit Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentration. All three concentrations require the completion of 1,000 clinical hours.
Coursework is divided into three parts: BSN-DNP core classes, classes relevant to the NP option you’ve selected, and coursework pertaining to your DNP project. You’ll have input into the selection of your preceptor and clinical site, but the university’s nursing faculty will make the final decision. You’ll be required to visit the East Tennessee State campus in Johnson City once or twice every semester, but apart from that, your coursework will be delivered online using a blend of synchronous and asynchronous technology. You’ll be able to finish the NP concentration in nine semesters if you enroll full-time and in 15 semesters if you enroll part-time.
How Affordable is East Tennessee State University's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Tennessee residents will pay approximately $535.67 per credit in tuition and fees to enroll in this cheap nurse practitioner online program. The AGPCNP concentration will set you back $45,532, the FNP concentration will set you back $44,461, and the PMHNP concentration will set you back $42,854.
East Tennessee State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
East Tennessee State University has more than 25 nursing-specific scholarships for which BSN-to-DNP students may qualify. You may also be eligible for federal and state financial aid based on what you enter in your FAFSA form.
Admission Requirements:
For acceptance into this program, you’ll need a Tennessee RN license or eligibility for licensure in Tennessee. You must be a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and must have worked as an RN for at least two years. You’ll need to sit for an interview and submit a cover letter, a writing sample, a resume or CV, and three professional references.
Specialties Offered:
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) and
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
Florida State University offers two NP tracks as part of its BSN-to-DNP program: a 76-credit Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration (1,035 clinical hours) and a 71-credit Family Nurse Practitioner concentration (1,020 clinical hours.) Both concentrations can be completed in eight semesters if you enroll full-time. This affordable nurse practitioner program also has a 14-semester part-time completion track.
You’ll be able to complete your clinical rotations at a healthcare facility near your home. Most of your coursework will be delivered online using synchronous instructional technology, but starting in your second year, you’ll be required to make five visits to FSU’s campus in Tallahassee for skills workshops, objective clinical skills exams, and the presentation of your DNP project. You must maintain a GPA of 3.0 throughout your enrollment. These NP tracks must be completed within seven years of beginning the program.
How Affordable is Florida State University's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Florida residents pay tuition of $444.26 per credit, so they can expect to pay $33,611.76 for the AGACNP track and $31,542.46 for the FNP track. Students who live outside Florida pay tuition of $1,075.66 per credit, so they can expect to pay $81,750.16 for the AGACNP track and $76,371.86 for the FNP track. Each online course also carries an additional fee of $100.
Florida State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
FSU’s College of Nursing oversees several scholarships for which online DNP students may be eligible. You may also qualify for federal and state grants and loans determined by the information you submit on your FAFSA form.
Admission Requirements:
You must apply separately to FSU’s Graduate School and its College of Nursing. This cheap nurse practitioner online program only accepts 24 students a year.
You’ll need a current, unrestricted RN license and a BSN from a nationally accredited program with an upper division grade point average of 3.0 or higher. FSU requires the GRE. Along with your application, you must submit three recommendation letters, a CV or resume, a writing sample, and a five-minute video addressing your professional nursing experiences and how FSU can help you meet your professional goals.
25. University of Southern Mississippi - Hattiesburg, MS
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Program Details:
Would you like to earn nursing’s highest advanced degree while taking your clinician skills to the next level? The University of Southern Mississippi offers an affordable BSN-to-DNP program with two affordable nurse practitioner concentrations: a 71-credit Family Nurse Practitioner track and a 73-credit PMHNP option. You’ll be required to complete at least 1,000 clinical hours with either track. Both tracks are designed to be completed in three years if you enroll as a full-time student.
Courses must be taken in a prescribed order. Coursework is divided into DNP core courses like “Policy and Politics in Healthcare” and “Economics and Finance in Healthcare Systems” and classes that are relevant to nurse practitioner concentrations such as “Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Diagnosis and Management with Individuals” and “Family Nurse Practitioner Diagnosis, Management I & II.” You’ll be able to choose your own preceptor and site for your clinical rotation. You’ll only need to visit the University of Southern Mississippi’s campus in Hattiesburg twice for orientation to the program and to defend your DNP project. The rest of your coursework will be accessed using distance learning technology.
How Affordable is University of Southern Mississippi's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Tuition and fees for this cheap nurse practitioner online program amount to approximately $525.03 per credit. Completing the Family Nurse Practitioner track will cost you around $37,277, while completing the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track will cost you $38,327.19.
University of Southern Mississippi's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
The University of Southern Mississippi’s College of Nursing receives funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that goes toward grants for DNP students who want to work with rural and medically underserved populations. USM also administers several nursing scholarships that DNP students may be eligible for.
Admission Requirements:
You must have a valid, unrestricted Mississippi RN license to be admitted into this program and a baccalaureate degree from an accredited nursing program with a GPA of 3.0 in all nursing courses. You must have at least one year of experience as a working RN. This program also requires taking the GRE.
Specialties Offered:
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
Kent State University’s online Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner tracks are structured somewhat differently than other most affordable online nurse practitioner programs. DNP coursework is not integrated into your advanced practice nursing coursework. Instead, you’ll take all the classes that will prepare you to practice in the NP concentration you’ve chosen, receive your MSN, and then embark upon your DNP coursework and scholarly project. If you want to accelerate the process, you can begin taking DNP core courses while you’re taking your advanced practice nursing coursework.
The PMHNP track comprises 79 credits and 1,200 clinical hours, while the WHNP track entails 71 credits and 1,050 clinical hours. Both tracks accept new students in the fall and in the spring. Most students complete their DNP degree in four years. This affordable online nurse practitioner program requires no campus visits, and you’ll be able to complete your clinical rotation in the state where you live.
How Affordable is Kent State University's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Ohio residents pay tuition of $549.90 per credit plus a distance learning fee of $15 per credit. The total cost of their BSN-to-DNP PMHNP track will be about $44,627, while the WHNP track will be about $40,107.90.
Out-of-state residents pay tuition of $559.90 per credit plus a distance learning fee of $15 per credit. The total cost of their BSN-to-DNP PMHNP track will be about $45,417, while the WHNP track will be about $40,818.
Kent State University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
The College of Nursing offers nine scholarships, some of which BSN-to-DNP students may apply for. You may also be eligible for state and federal grants and loans depending on the information you entered in your FAFSA form.
Admission Requirements:
For admission into this BSN-to-DNP program, you’ll need a valid, unencumbered RN license in the state where you’ll be doing your clinical rotations. You must have an accredited BSN degree and have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in your undergraduate studies. Kent State University requires the GRE for admission into its BSN-to-DNP program.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
The 77-credit Family Nurse Practitioner track associated with Ashland University’s BSN-to-DNP program takes four years to complete if you enroll full-time. Part-time enrollment options are also available. The FNP curriculum is divided into DNP core classes like “Scientific Basis for Advanced Nursing Practice” and “Health Policy and Advocacy” and coursework that focuses on building the skills you’ll be using as a family nurse practitioner such as “Primary Care Pediatrics & Women’s Health” and “Primary Care Adults & Older Adults.” As with all the other most affordable nurse practitioner programs online that are affiliated with BSN-to-DNP programs, you’ll be required to complete a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours.
Online coursework is chiefly delivered using asynchronous technology, but you’ll be required to attend an orientation at the Ashland University campus in Ashland, Ohio, as well as make five other visits to the campus for intensive skills workshops. The program starts in the summer semester.
How Affordable is Ashland University's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Ashland University charges students enrolled in its BSN-to-DNP program tuition of $745 per credit. The entire cost of this affordable nurse practitioner online program will come to around $57,365.
Ashland University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
Ashland university administers a handful of nursing scholarships that BSN-to-DNP students may qualify for. Graduate nursing students can also apply for federal and state grants and loans by filling out a FAFSA form.
Admission Requirements:
For consideration, you’ll need a valid, unrestricted RN license and at least one year of professional experience as an RN. This program is only open to RNs with a Bachelor of Science in nursing from an accredited institution with a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0. You’ll also need to sit for an interview with a member of Ashland University’s faculty.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Program Details:
Indiana Wesleyan University is a school to check out if you’re looking for a BSN-to-DNP nurse practitioner track that integrates Christian teachings into its educational offerings. IWU offers two 70-credit nurse practitioner tracks: a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration that requires 19 courses and a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentration that requires 22 courses. DNP courses like “Evidence-Based Project Planning” and “Advanced Healthcare Policy” are a part of both curricula. The other part of the curriculum consists of NP concentration-specific coursework such as “Advanced Health Status Assessment for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner” and “Primary Care Across the Lifespan.”
You’ll have to do a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours to graduate from this program. IWU maintains strict academic standards: You must maintain a GPA of 3.25 to remain in good standing. This cheap online nurse practitioner program requires completing, defending, and submitting a scholarly DNP Project. Most students will be able to complete Indiana Wesleyan University’s BSN-to-DNP program in 48 months, but you’ll have up to 78 months to graduate. This BSN-to-DNP program has multiple start dates throughout the year.
How Affordable is Indiana Wesleyan University's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Indiana Wesleyan University charges DNP students $859 per credit in tuition. Both nurse practitioner concentrations will take $60,200 to complete.
Indiana Wesleyan University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
IWU doesn’t appear to have any nursing-specific scholarships, but you may qualify for federal and state grants and loans based on the information in the FAFSA form you submit.
Admission Requirements:
For admission into this affordable nurse practitioner online program, you’ll need a valid, unrestricted RN license and a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a minimum GPA of 3.25. You must submit a resume or curriculum vitae, three letters of professional recommendation, and a statement addressing your professional goals along with your application.
Specialties Offered:
Dual Leadership/Family Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
Salisbury University is the only one of the cheapest nurse practitioner programs online to offer a dual Leadership/Family Nurse Practitioner track. This track consists of 80 credits and 1,000 clinical hours. You’ll take classes like “Quality Improvement in Health Care,” “Quantitative Research in Health Care,” and “Family Nursing.” You’ll also complete an evidence-based DNP project that will provide a basis for future scholarship focusing on improving healthcare outcomes.
You’ll be working with instructors employed in a clinical capacity at healthcare facilities throughout central Maryland. Your clinical rotations will focus on the improvement of patient healthcare outcomes both at the individual and aggregate levels. Most clinical rotations will be set up at healthcare facilities in Maryland. This affordable NP online program is designed for working RNs, and most full-time students will be able to complete it in three years (nine semesters.)
How Affordable is Salisbury University's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Maryland residents pursuing a BSN-to-DNP degree at Salisbury University pay tuition of $665 per credit, so they will pay around $53,200 for the entire Leadership/FNP sequence. Out-of-state residents pay $840 per credit, so they will pay around $67,200 for the entire Leadership/FNP sequence.
Salisbury University's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
Submitting a FAFSA form may qualify you to receive state and federal loans and grants. Salisbury University’s Nursing Department oversees the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Society Scholarship, which graduate nursing students are eligible to apply for.
Admission Requirements:
This program is only open to applicants with a current, unrestricted RN license who have graduated from an accredited BSN program with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. You’ll need to submit a resume or CV, three letters of recommendation, and an essay exploring how earning a DNP will advance your professional goals.
Specialties Offered:
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
The University of Toledo offers five BSN-to-DNP NP concentrations that will let you level up your clinical nursing skills while keeping an eye on your bottom line. The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentrations consist of 74 credits, the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner concentration comprises 73 credits, while the Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner concentration entails 71 credits. Students pursuing these tracks will complete between 1,080 and 1,170 clinical hours.
You’ll be able to complete your clinical rotation at a healthcare facility in your own location. Most of your coursework will be delivered online using both synchronous and asynchronous formats. However, you will be required to visit the University of Toledo campus in Toledo, Ohio, for two intensive skills workshops. Full-time students will be able to complete the entire BSN-to-DNP program, including the NP concentration, in four and a half years. Students must earn a grade of “B” or higher in all classes to remain in the program.
How Affordable is University of Toledo's Online BSN-to-DNP NP Program:
Ohio residents in the University of Toledo’s BSN-to-DNP program pay tuition of $769.44 per credit hour, so the AGACNP and PMHNP tracks will cost them $56,938.56, the AGPCNP and FNP tracks will cost them $56,169.12, and the PPCNP track will cost them $54,630.24. Out-of-state residents pay tuition of $1,242.86 per credit hour, so the AGACNP and PMHNP tracks will cost them $91,971.64, the AGPCNP and FNP tracks will cost them $90,728.78, and the PPCNP track will cost them $88,243.06.
University of Toledo's Scholarships & Financial Aid for BSN-to-DNP NP Students:
While the University of Toledo doesn’t oversee any scholarships explicitly designated for graduate nursing students, the university may be able to connect you with external nursing scholarship sources. Filling out a FAFSA form may qualify you for federal and state grants and loans.
Admission Requirements:
You’ll need to possess a current, unencumbered RN license in the state where you plan to do your clinical rotation. You must also have a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher. You’ll also need to submit a resume or CV, a statement of purpose, and three professional references with your application.
What are the Cheapest Post-Masters Certificate Online Programs in the Nation?
(Based on the latest In-State per credit hour data from National Center for Education Statistics, the following are the 15 Most Affordable Accredited Online Post-Masters Certificate Nurse Practitioner Programs in the nation for the year 2025.)
1. Angelo State University - San Angelo, TX
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
Angelo State University’s Family Nurse Practitioner certificate consists of eight classes and 600 clinical hours. Your clinical rotations must be scheduled at a healthcare facility in Texas. Coursework will include classes like “Advanced Skills for Advanced Practice Nurses,” “Population Health and Epidemiology for Advanced Nursing,” and “Family Primary Care I & II.”
This affordable nurse practitioner online program only requires 25 credits for completion, but students who haven’t completed prerequisite requirements as part of their previous graduate nursing studies may need to take up to 37 credits. Full-time students can expect to complete this certificate in three semesters (12 months); part-time students will complete it in five semesters (20 months.) This cheap NP online program has a spring start date.
How Affordable is Angelo State University's Online Post-Master’s Certificate-NP Program:
You’ll spend $232.30 per credit plus fees to enroll in this FNP certificate program. The entire program will cost you $5,807.50.
Admission Requirements:
For consideration into this program, you must have an MSN or DNP degree from an accredited program, reside in the Lone Star State, and have a current, unrestricted Texas RN license. You must have at least one year of professional RN work experience. You’ll also need to be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S. You’ll need to submit a CV, three professional references, and a personal statement with your application.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
If you already have a graduate nursing degree, Midwestern State University’s Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner tracks are a cost-effective way to acquire additional advanced practice skills. The 33-credit FNP certificate consists of nine classes, such as “Diagnostic Studies/Ambulatory Procedures,” “Role of the Advanced Nurse Practitioner,” and “Advanced Practice Across the Lifespan.” The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate also requires 33 credits with courses like “Population Health in Graduate Nursing” and “Diagnostics for Mental Disorders.”
The FNP certificate entails 512 clinical hours, while the PMHNP certificate involves 576 clinical hours. Students already working as advanced practice nurses may only need to take some of the classes that are part of the curriculum.
How Affordable is Midwestern State University's Online Post-Master’s Certificate-NP Program:
Tuition and fees for Texas-based nursing students at MSU come to $348.70 per credit, so the entire cost of both the FNP and PMHNP certificate programs is $11,507.10.
Admission Requirements:
You must submit separate applications to MSN’s Graduate School and the Wilson School of Nursing. You’ll need a Texas RN license and a degree from an accredited MSN or DNP program for admission into this program.
Specialties Offered:
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Family Nurse Practitioner, and
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
Three of the five nurse practitioner options Texas Tech University Health Sciences bundles with its MSN track are also available as post-graduate certificates. The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner certificates entail 36 credits and 10 classes, while the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate requires 29 credits and 11 courses.
You should be able to complete any of these three NP certificates in six semesters (18 months.) Like all of the most affordable nurse practitioner programs online, these three certificates require clinical rotations, which students can complete in healthcare facilities close to where they live. Otherwise, all coursework is delivered online.
How Affordable is Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center's Online Post-Master’s Certificate-NP Program:
Texas residents enrolled in Texas Tech’s NP certificate programs pay $265 per credit in tuition and fees, so the total cost of the AGACNP and FNP certificates will be $9,540. Out-of-state residents enrolled in Texas Tech’s NP certificate programs pay $673 per credit in tuition and fees, so the total cost of the PMHNP certificates will be $19,517.
Admission Requirements:
This certificate program is only open to applicants with MSN degrees from accredited nursing programs whose cumulative GPA was 3.0 or higher. You must have a valid, unrestricted RN license. With your application, you must also submit a personal statement and three professional references. This cheap nurse practitioner online program cannot accept students from Arizona, California, Louisiana, New York, Oregon, or Washington State.
4. Arkansas State University - Jonesboro, AR
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
Arkansas State University’s 21-credit Family Nurse Practitioner certificate has start dates in the summer, fall, and spring and takes 16 months to complete. If a GAP analysis determines you are missing some prerequisites, you may be required to take nine additional credits. Required coursework consists of six classes, including “FNP Clinical Management I & II” and “FNP Clinical Synthesis,” and you’ll be expected to complete clinical practicums.
Coursework is delivered online using an accelerated format. You’ll have the option of visiting the Arkansas State University campus in Jonesboro for a one-day intensive skills workshop, but the visit isn’t mandatory.
How Affordable is Arkansas State University's Online Post-Master’s Certificate-NP Program:
Tuition and fees for this cheap online nurse practitioner program come to $331 per credit. You’ll spend $6,951 on the entire certificate NP track.
Admission Requirements:
Only applicants with active, unrestricted RN licenses will be admitted into this program. You must also have an MSN from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
5. Georgia Southern University - Statesboro, GA
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner,
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner,
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
Georgia Southern University offers the same four advanced practice nurse NP tracks for DNP-NP students and graduate certificate program students. The Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks each entail 19 credits, which include five courses and 630 clinical hours.
Clinical rotations will be scheduled for healthcare facilities throughout the Greater Savannah–Hinesville–Statesboro Metropolitan Area. Your remaining coursework will be accessible online through a blend of synchronous and asynchronous technology. All four NP tracks begin in the fall semester. You should be able to finish this cheap online nurse practitioner program in five semesters (20 months.)
How Affordable is Georgia Southern University's Online Post-Master’s Certificate-NP Program:
Earning an NP certificate at Georgia Southern University will cost you $277 per credit in tuition and fees. That means you’ll pay $5,263 for the entire NP certificate sequence.
Admission Requirements:
This affordable nurse practitioner online program is only open to students who are already certified in an APRN specialty and possess Georgia RN licensure. You must have an MSN degree from an accredited program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher. You’ll need to submit a resume or CV and three professional references with your application.
6. Texas Woman's University - Denton, TX
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
You don’t have to be a woman to pursue Texas Woman’s University’s 34-credit Family Nurse Practitioner post-Master’s certificate. This cheap online NP program is open to men and women alike and admits new students in the spring, summer, and fall. You’ll take nine classes, six of which contain clinical practicums. You can arrange your clinical rotations at a healthcare facility close to your home.
You’ll take one course per semester and finish in just over two years. Semesters are approximately 13 weeks long. TWU will develop an individualized class schedule for you, which may allow you to get credit for classes you’ve already taken.
How Affordable is Texas Woman's University's Online Post-Master’s Certificate-NP Program:
Tuition and fees for this cheap online nurse practitioner program are $572.40 per credit. You will spend $19,461.60 on the entire NP certificate track.
Admission Requirements:
TWU’s FNP certificate program is authorized in 30 states, including Texas. You must have a current RN license and an MSN from an accredited nursing program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher.
7. Montana State University - Bozeman, MT
Specialties Offered:
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
Montana State University’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate track is a 31-credit curriculum comprising six courses, four of which contain clinical components. Courses include “Introduction to Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing” and “Advanced Psychopharmacology.” This affordable nurse practitioner online program was set up partly in response to Montana’s worsening shortage of primary mental healthcare providers.
You may be required to travel to the Montana State University campus in Bozeman for immersive skills workshops. Otherwise, all your coursework will be delivered via distance learning technology.
How Affordable is Montana State University's Online Post-Master’s Certificate-NP Program:
Residents of Montana will pay $416.47 per credit for this affordable online NP program, so the entire PMHNP certificate track will cost $12,910.57. If you live outside Montana, you’ll pay $1,330.93 per credit in tuition and fees, and the entire PMHNP certificate track will cost $41,258.83.
Admission Requirements:
This cheap online nurse practitioner program is only available to licensed MSNs or DNPs in Montana, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington State, Colorado, or Alaska who already have APRN certification in another nursing specialty.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
If you already have a graduate nursing degree and are interested in adding an advanced practice nursing specialty, Georgia College & State University’s Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner certificate programs are a reasonably priced way to do so.
The 31-credit FNP concentration consists of 14 classes and 630 clinical hours, the 32-credit PMHNP concentration consists of 13 classes and 540 clinical hours, and the 31-credit WHNP concentration consists of 13 classes and 675 clinical hours. Once you’re admitted into any one of the certificate tracks, GCSU does a GAP analysis to see whether you can transfer any credits from your previous graduate work that will reduce the number of credits you have to take for this cheap online nurse practitioner program.
All clinical rotations will be arranged at healthcare facilities in Georgia. All three certificate programs begin in the summer semester and take six semesters (24 months) to complete.
How Affordable is Georgia College & State University's Online Post-Master’s Certificate-NP Program:
Tuition and fees for GCSU’s NP certificates come to $405.50 per credit. You’ll pay around $12,570.50 for the FNP and WHNP certificate tracks and around $12,976 for the PMHNP track.
Admission Requirements:
For this program, you’ll need a current unencumbered RN license in Georgia and an MSN from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher. You must provide a resume or a CV, two letters of recommendation, and a statement of professional goals with your application.
9. University of Nevada - Las Vegas, NV
Specialties Offered:
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner for the FNP
Program Details:
The University of Nevada in Las Vegas offers two advanced post-master’s NP certificates: a 28-credit Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentration and a unique 21-credit Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner for the FNP concentration. The straight PMHNP track consists of eight classes like “Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision Making for the APRN” and “Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan” and a minimum of 500 clinical hours. The PMHNP for FNPs curriculum consists of five classes and a minimum of 500 clinical hours.
PMHNP students will be required to visit the University of Nevada campus in Las Vegas for a two-day orientation at the beginning of the fall semester. PMHNP for FNPs will make their orientation visit to campus at the beginning of the spring semester. There will be other mandatory campus workshops throughout these NP programs.
While UNLV will make every effort to help you find a clinical rotation in your home community, if you can’t, you may be required to acquire a Nevada RN license and do your clinical rotation within 75 miles of Las Vegas. The PMHNP track can be completed in four semesters, while the PMHNP for FNPs track can be completed in three.
How Affordable is University of Nevada's Online Post-Master’s Certificate-NP Program:
Tuition and fees for nursing courses at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas numbered 700 or higher is $710.25 per credit. Students enrolled in the PMHNP certificate track will pay $19,887; students enrolled in the PMHNP for FNPs certificate track will pay $14,915.25.
Admission Requirements:
This affordable online nurse practitioner program is only available to individuals with a graduate degree in nursing from an accredited program who possess a valid, unrestricted RN license. You must submit a resume or VC, three recommendation letters, and a statement of purpose with your application. This program is only open to RNs with current, unencumbered licenses in Nevada, Alaska, Montana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, or Utah.
10. Morningside University - Sioux City, IA
Specialties Offered:
Family Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
If you already have a graduate nursing degree and are looking for an affordable way to add an advanced practice RN concentration, take a look at the post-master’s nursing certificates Morningside University has to offer. The 34-credit Family Nurse Practitioner certificate is a 14-class curriculum that requires 600 clinical hours and three on-site residencies; the 33-credit Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certificate is a 13-class curriculum that requires 500 clinical hours and three on-site residencies.
Both of these nurse practitioner certificates require two visits to the Morningside University campus in Sioux City, Iowa, for immersive skills workshops. Your clinical rotation will be arranged at a healthcare facility in Iowa.
How Affordable is Morningside University's Online Post-Master’s Certificate-NP Program:
Morningside University charges tuition of $570 per credit for post-master’s certificate programs. Tuition for the 34-credit FNP concentration will be $19,380; tuition for the 33-credit AGPCNP concentration will be $18,810.
Admission Requirements:
If you want to be accepted into this program, you’ll need an Iowa RN license or licensure in a state that participates in the Nurse License Compact. You must have a master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program with a minimum GPA of 3.0. You’ll need to submit a professional goal essay, a resume or CV, and two professional references with your application.
11. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - Edinburg, TX
Specialties Offered:
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley offers a streamlined Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentration that full-time students should be able to complete in three semesters (12 months.) This affordable nurse practitioner online program consists of five classes and 520 clinical hours for a total of 18 credits. If you are not certified as an advanced practice RN, there are prerequisites such as human pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology classes you’ll have to take before you can be admitted into this certificate program.
No more than 75 telehealth clinical hours can be utilized as a part of your practicum requirements. You’ll be responsible for finding a clinical site and preceptor on your own, but UTRGV will have to approve your choice. Apart from clinical rotations, all your coursework will be delivered online. Plan on spending between 15 and 20 hours a week on your schoolwork.
How Affordable is University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's Online Post-Master’s Certificate-NP Program:
Texas residents will pay $528.30 per credit in tuition and fees for this PMHNP certificate, so the total cost of the certificate will be $9,509.34. Out-of-state residents will pay $936.30 per credit, so the total cost will be $16,853.34. Tuition for fall and spring courses is slightly more than tuition for summer courses.
Admission Requirements:
This PMHNP program is only open to applicants with MSN degrees from accredited nursing programs who have an active, unencumbered RN license. Applicants from Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Tennessee are not eligible for admission.
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Program Details:
The University of North Alabama’s post-master’s Family Nurse Practitioner certificate is a 23-credit curriculum comprising six classes and 600 clinical hours. If you haven’t already taken advanced courses in health assessment, clinical pathophysiology, and pharmacology, you’ll have to take them as part of your certificate training, which will raise the number of credits you’re responsible for completing to 32. You’ll collaborate with your UNA instructor in finding an appropriate practicum preceptor and site at a healthcare facility in your community.
You won’t be required to visit campus; all your coursework will be delivered online, utilizing synchronous and asynchronous technologies. You’ll be able to complete this FNP track in eight to 18 months if you enroll full-time and in 12 to 16 months if you enroll part-time.
How Affordable is University of North Alabama's Online Post-Master’s Certificate-NP Program:
The University of North Alabama charges $400 per credit for this program. If you enroll for 23 credits, you’ll end up paying $9,200; if you enroll for 32 credits, you’ll pay $12,800.
Admission Requirements:
For acceptance into this cheap nurse practitioner online program, you must have a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing from an accredited program where your cumulative grade point average was 3.0 or higher. You must hold an active, unencumbered RN license in the state where you plan to complete your clinical practicums. You’ll also need at least one year of professional nursing experience.
13. Radford University - Radford, VA
Specialties Offered:
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
If you’re already a nurse practitioner with a graduate nursing degree, Radford University’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate is a cost-effective way to enhance your clinical skills. The 23-credit curriculum consists of five courses and 540 clinical hours. Coursework includes classes like “Advanced Nursing Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health: Theory & Practice” and “Neuropathophysiology & Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders: A Lifespan Approach.”
Full-time students should be able to complete this certificate in three semesters (12 months), while part-time students should complete it in 18 to 24 months. Your instructors for this affordable nurse practitioner online program will all be DNP-prepared RNs who are certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners licensed to practice in Virginia.
How Affordable is Radford University's Online Post-Master’s Certificate-NP Program:
Virginia residents will pay $538 per credit in tuition and fees for this PMHNP certificate track, so the entire cost will be $12,374. Students who live outside the Old Dominion State will pay $1,050, so the entire cost will be $24,150.
Admission Requirements:
If you want to be admitted into this program, you’ll need to be a nurse practitioner with a current, unencumbered license to practice and a graduate of either an accredited MSN program or an accredited DNP program with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. You must submit a resume or CV, a letter describing how completing this certificate will advance your career goals, and three professional reference letters.
14. University of Missouri-Columbia - Columbia, MO
Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner and
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
Most nurses who pursue the University of Missouri-Columbia’s Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate tracks enroll part-time and complete the programs in six semesters (24 months.) The 19.5-credit Family Nurse Practitioner concentration consists of six courses and 570 clinical hours; your coursework will include classes like “Newborn Through Adolescence Primary Care” and “Reproductive and Sexual Health Primary Care.” The 18.5-credit Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track requires five classes and 630 clinical hours; your coursework will include courses like “Diagnostics and Psychopharmacology for Mental Health Nurses” and “Group Therapy and Social Skills Training.”
Your clinical rotations will be arranged at community agencies and other outpatient healthcare settings pending approval from your Mizzou nursing faculty. Though most of your coursework will be delivered online, visits to the University of Missouri campus in Columbia will be required.
How Affordable is University of Missouri-Columbia's Online Post-Master’s Certificate-NP Program:
The University of Missouri-Columbia estimates that the cost of the FNP certificate is $16,549.80 while the cost of the PMHNP certificate is $12,399.05.
Admission Requirements:
This certificate concentration only accepts applicants with advanced practice RN credentialing who are graduates of accredited master’s nursing degree programs. Your cumulative GPA for your most recent 60 hours of work must be 3.0 or higher.
Specialties Offered:
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Primary Care,
Family Nurse Practitioner,
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Details:
Are you an advanced practice RN who wants to add a second or third clinical nursing specialty without depleting your bank account? Georgia State University offers five NP certificate training tracks: a 42-credit Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certificate track (500 clinical hours), a 40-credit Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certificate track (500 hours), a 43-credit Family Nurse Practitioner certificate track (585 clinical hours), a 43-credit Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certificate track (600 clinical hours) and a 43-credit Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate track.
All clinical rotations will be scheduled in healthcare facilities throughout the Peach State. All five certificates accept new students in the spring and the fall. Georgia State University is one of the affordable online nurse practitioner programs that require multiple campus visits: You’ll be required to visit the Georgia State University campus in Atlanta for a week-long orientation at the start of your certificate training, and you’ll visit several times again throughout the duration of the program for skills testing.
How Affordable is Georgia State University's Online Post-Master’s Certificate-NP Program:
Georgia State University charges $404 per credit in tuition and fees for its graduate nursing programs. You’ll pay around $17,372 for the FNP, PPCNP, and PMHNP certificates, $16,968 for the AGACNP certificate, and $16,200 for the AGPNP certificate.
Admission Requirements:
Georgia State University only accepts registered nurses with Georgia licensure into this certificate track. You must have a master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program and one or two years of professional nursing experience in the specialty track you’d like to pursue. You’ll need to hand in two professional references, a resume, a writing sample, and a statement of professional goals along with your application.
Where Do the Majority of Graduates of Affordable Online Nurse Practitioner Programs Work?
You’ll find graduates of affordable nurse practitioner online programs working in practically every healthcare setting, including medical systems, medical centers, hospitals, clinics, urgent care centers, other ambulatory care centers, government agencies, community clinics, and home healthcare agencies.
What Starting Salary Can New Graduates of Affordable Online Nurse Practitioner Programs Expect?
Graduates of affordable online nurse practitioner programs can expect to earn $38.21 an hour when they first start working. This comes to $1,528 a week, $6,620 a month, or $79,470 a year.
Hourly | $38.21 |
Weekly | $1,528 |
Monthly | $6,620 |
Annual | $79,470 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
What Average Salary Can Experienced Graduates of Affordable Online Nurse Practitioner Programs Expect?
Expect your average salary as an experienced graduate of one of the cheapest online nurse practitioner programs to be $56.75 an hour, $2,270 a week, $9,840 a month, or $118,040 a year.
Hourly | $56.75 |
Weekly | $2,270 |
Monthly | $9,840 |
Annual | $118,040 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Bonus! 5 Tips to Make Your Affordable Online Nurse Practitioner Program Even More Cheaper
When you’re returning to school after a few years in the employment market, saving money can become a huge priority because you’d like to protect your standard of living as much as possible. Here are five tips to make your online nurse practitioner program even more affordable.
1. Choose a program in the state where you hold an RN license:
It may seem a bit odd for a distance-learning affordable NP program to charge differential tuition rates for in-state and out-of-state residents since physical proximity is essentially irrelevant. But many of them do. Your best bet for keeping educational costs down is to choose an affordable NP program in a state where you are licensed.
2. Choose a nurse practitioner program at a public college or university:
Public universities are partly funded by state tax revenues. This means that for in-state students, public universities almost always cost less than private universities. This is true for all academic offerings at public universities, not just nurse practitioner programs. If you want to minimize costs, look into what public universities have to offer.
3. Enroll full-time if that’s feasible:
Although part-time students may pay less in tuition per semester, in the long run, they can end up spending more. Many affordable NP programs offer a flat semester-based tuition rate, so the fewer semesters you enroll for, the more money you’ll save. Also, part-time students aren’t usually eligible for money-saving federal and state grants and loans.
4. Continue to work if that’s feasible:
Working while you’re enrolled in an affordable nurse practitioner program can help reduce your debt burden because it guarantees you’ll continue to have income coming in. Working may also help offset tuition expenses because many employers offer tuition reimbursement as an employment benefit.
5. Transfer as many credits as possible:
Nurse practitioner curricula consist of two coursework categories: classes relevant to the MSN or DNP degree and classes that pertain to the advanced practice concentration track. If you can successfully transfer past coursework to the affordable NP program you’re currently taking, you’ll cut down on tuition costs.
Are Affordable Nurse Practitioner Online Programs Worth It – My Final Thoughts
Going back to school is always a challenge when you’ve been working for a few years. But if you’re seriously interested in getting the most out of your professional nursing career, resuming your academic education to become a nurse practitioner is definitely worth it.
Of course, you’ll want to minimize the financial hit, and that means finding a nurse practitioner program that meets your quality standards but is still reasonably priced. This article discussed the 75 most affordable accredited online nurse practitioner programs in 2025 at length. So, if you’ve been wondering, “What are the cheapest online nurse practitioner programs?” now you have a comprehensive answer.
Frequently Asked Questions Answered by Our Expert
1. What Is The Most Affordable Online Nurse Practitioner Program In The Nation?
Middle Georgia State University and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi may be the nation’s least expensive MSN-NP programs. Tuition for the former works out to be around $11,353; tuition for the latter is about $16,023. But neither program is open to out-of-state residents. The least expensive MSN-NP program among affordable nurse practitioner online programs open to non-resident students is Georgia Southwestern State University, which charges tuition of $16,940.
2. Are There Any Free Online Nurse Practitioner Programs?
No, there are no free online nurse practitioner programs.
3. Do The Cheapest Online Nurse Practitioner Programs Offer The Same Quality Of Education As Regular Online Nurse Practitioner Programs?
Affordable online NP programs that are accredited are held to the same high standards as traditional campus-based NP programs and offer the same quality of education.
4. Are The Cheapest Online Nurse Practitioner Programs Hard To Get Into?
This depends on the program. Admission into many of the cheapest nurse practitioner online programs is very competitive.
5. What Is The Minimum GPA Required To Get Into The Cheapest Nurse Practitioner Online Programs?
This depends upon the school. Most affordable nurse practitioner programs stipulate a minimum grade point of 3.0, but a few accept students with a cumulative GPA of 2.75, while some will only accept students whose cumulative GPA is 3.25 or higher.
6. How Credible Are The Cheapest Online Nurse Practitioner Programs?
Accredited affordable nurse practitioner online programs are as credible as traditional campus nurse practitioner programs.
7. Do Employers Respect The Cheapest Online Nurse Practitioner Degrees?
Employers don’t distinguish between prospective employees with degrees from inexpensive online nurse practitioner programs and prospective employees with degrees from traditional campus nurse practitioner programs. Employers only care that you passed your NP certification exam and meet your state's advanced practice licensure requirements.
8. Does Accreditation Matter For The Cheapest Online Nurse Practitioner Programs?
Yes. Accreditation ensures the quality and integrity of the nurse practitioner program.
9. Will The Faculty Of Affordable Nurse Practitioner Online Programs Be Experienced?
Yes. Instructors associated with affordable nurse practitioner online programs have a wide range of relevant nursing experience.
10. Do The Cheapest Online Nurse Practitioner Programs Have Lesser Credits?
No. The cheapest nurse practitioner online programs offer coursework with credits equivalent to those offered by traditional campus-based nurse practitioner programs.
11. Are The Cheapest Nurse Practitioner Online Programs Part-Time Or Full-Time?
Many schools allow you to take affordable nurse practitioner online programs either full-time or part-time, depending on your preferences.
12. Can I Work Part-Time And Successfully Complete Affordable Nurse Practitioner Online Programs?
Yes. In fact, many of the cheapest online NP programs set up their programs of study specifically to accommodate working nurses.
13. Can I Work Full-Time And Successfully Complete Affordable Nurse Practitioner Online Programs?
You can, but it’s likely to be stressful. Full-time enrollment in one of the cheapest nurse practitioner online programs entails a serious time commitment. Between your studies and your job, you’ll have very little time left over for anything else.
14. Do Affordable Nurse Practitioner Online Programs Offer Scholarships?
Many schools that offer affordable nurse practitioner online programs administer institutional scholarships for which online NP students may qualify.
15. Are Affordable Nurse Practitioner Online Degree Graduates Paid Well?
Graduates of reasonably priced online nurse practitioner programs make the same salaries and wages as other NPs.
Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.