6 Best Connecticut FNP Programs (Online & Campus) – 2025
Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org
Are you a registered nurse who’s wondering which advanced practice specialty is the best way to further your nursing career? FNP programs in Connecticut are a passport into a career track that offers high salaries, job security, and a deep sense of professional fulfillment. Family nurse practitioners in Connecticut make $131,160 a year on average, and employment opportunities for these professionals are expected to increase by 48 percent in the next 10 years. Many of these programs combine online coursework with periodic on-campus immersions, so you can go on working while you complete your advanced degree. For more information, read this list of the 6 best FNP programs in Connecticut for 2025.
FOLLOWING ARE THE 6 BEST FNP PROGRAMS IN CONNECTICUT (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, we have ranked the 6 best campus-based and online FNP programs in Connecticut.)
1. Yale University, New Haven
Programs Offered: MSN and
Post Graduate APRN Certificates
Do you desire to study in an Ivy League university that also offers one of the best FNP programs in Connecticut? Well, then you can consider Yale University which perfectly fits the bill. Through its MSN and post-graduate certificate programs, you will be trained in offering evidence-based primary healthcare in various community and specialty healthcare environments.
MSN Program Details: As a registered nurse who has completed a BSN, you can advance your career with this MSN program that can be completed either on a part-time or full-time basis. To graduate you must complete 56 credits and 720 clinical hours.
Post Graduate APRN Certificate Program Details: You are eligible for this program if you are an RN with an MSN degree. Program requirements are customized after a gap analysis of your previous coursework. Upon completion of this program, you will be eligible to take the FNP certification exam.
2. University of Connecticut, Storrs
Programs Offered: MSN and
DNP
If you are looking for online FNP programs in Connecticut that easily fit into your busy life schedule then you may want to look no further than University of Connecticut as it offers its FNP training entirely through the distance format. Furthermore, you can choose the clinical site for the rotations based on your preference of location and field of interest. UConn’s impressive performance on the FNP certification exam makes it stand out among the best Connecticut FNP schools, having 100% of graduates pass the exam on the first attempt speaks volumes of its commitment towards student success.
The MSN program prepares you to improve the health of individuals across the lifespan. To qualify for this program, you must have completed your bachelor’s degree in nursing along with holding an active RN license in CT. Also, as an RN if you are keen on earning the terminal nursing degree of DNP, you can choose to enroll in the DNP instead of the MSN. While the BSN to MSN path requires completing 48 credits, to earn the DNP you must complete a total of 84 credits after your bachelor's degree in nursing.
3. Fairfield University, Fairfield
Programs Offered: MSN and
DNP
Are you passionate about serving the community? Do you find your calling in holistic nursing care? If so, you may want to know about Fairfield University's FNP programs in Connecticut that train FNP students to become holistic nurses. This FNP school designs its nursing curriculum grounded in Jesuit values of compassion and patient-centric care. The college offers its FNP training in conjunction with an MSN and DNP, so depending on your previous nursing degree you can enroll in a path that helps you reach your career goals.
MSN Program Details: This MSN-FNP pathway prepares you to serve as an autonomous primary care provider in a variety of healthcare settings. The 51-credit curriculum that spans across three years focuses on health promotion and disease prevention by delivering care to chronic and acute patients across the lifespan. Included in the coursework are 12 credits in clinical practicum experiences in various clinics located in urban and rural settings.
DNP Program Details: The DNP-FNP program is available to both BSN and MSN graduates. If you enter after a BSN, you must complete a total of 73 credits which includes the DNP project. The coursework comprises of foundation core courses, DNP core courses, advanced practice core courses, and FNP-specific coursework. As an MSN graduate, you will receive advanced placement into the program, and credit requirements will be based on your previously completed courses. Regardless, you must complete 1000 hours in clinical practice and immersions.
4. Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven
Programs Offered: MSN and
Post-Master's Certificate
Southern Connecticut State University offers FNP students many interdisciplinary learning opportunities where they share their learning space with students from other disciplines. As an FNP graduate of this nursing school, you will be prepared to use your knowledge to lead health care delivery projects for improving health outcomes for a diverse patient population. Also, you will be able to conduct research to further enhance the practice of nursing. Southern Connecticut State University currently offers two FNP programs in Connecticut - an MSN and a Post Master's Certificate.
MSN Program Details: As such this MSN program is meant for BSN graduates, however, you can still enroll if you are an RN with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, in which case you must complete a bridge coursework. The 45 to 48 credit coursework consists of courses in nursing theories, healthcare informatics, evidence-based nursing practice, advanced pathophysiology, health assessment, and pharmacology. Also included are the family nurse practitioner courses that constitute 18 credits out of the total program requirements.
Post-Master's Certificate Program Details: This certificate is open to MSN graduates who are keen on specializing in family health primary care. To earn your post-master’s certificate, you must complete 27 credits after which you will be eligible to take the FNP certification exam and practice as a certified FNP in Connecticut. Typically, you will learn about advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, and the role of a family care provider.
5. Sacred Heart University, Fairfield
Programs Offered: MSN and
Post-BSN to DNP
If you are seeking FNP programs in Connecticut that offer education rooted in the Catholic tradition, then you must shortlist Sacred Health University, the second-largest Catholic university in the state. Also, with several financial aid opportunities that include veterans’ benefits, you can make your higher education in nursing rather affordable, more so if you are an active or retired service member.
MSN Program Details: This online FNP program in Connecticut is designed for working nurses who prefer to study at their own pace by taking asynchronous online classes. By completing the 42-credit MSN coursework, you graduate as an evidence-based FNP who uses critical analysis to better the health of individuals across the lifespan. To be eligible for this program you must have completed your BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.2 and hold an active RN license.
Post-BSN to DNP Program Details: The ideal candidate for this program is someone with direct patient care experience and a solid clinical background. This post-BSN to DNP program is available as a part-time and full-time schedule with classes delivered in a hybrid format. The 69-credit curriculum is designed to train you as a clinical leader, who can understand health care policies and work towards the improvement of population health.
6. University of Saint Joseph, West Hartford
Programs Offered: MSN,
BSN-DNP, and
MSN to DNP
FNP education at the University of Saint Joseph is grounded in liberal arts and sciences, thereby producing nurse practitioners with a well-rounded education. As an RN who aspires career advancement in nursing, you can enroll either into the MSN or DNP program and gain the skills and knowledge to deliver advanced primary care for individuals, families, and communities, ranging from infancy to the elderly. These FNP programs in Connecticut are offered in a cohort model with on-campus classes held in the afternoon or during the evening hours.
MSN Program Details: Admission into this MSN program is highly selective and to be eligible you must at least have a BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and an active RN license. Depending on your convenient pace, you can complete this program anywhere from 2.5 to six years. To graduate, you must complete 28 credits in core courses and 17 in the family nurse practitioner coursework.
BSN-DNP Program Details: Graduates of this program are known to be driven towards innovation, adding value to health improvement at local, national, and global levels. To qualify for this BSN to DNP pathway you must have a BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0 along with an unencumbered RN license. To earn your DNP degree, you must complete 75 credits in an evidence-based curriculum.
MSN to DNP Program Details: Ever thought of taking your masters in nursing to the highest level of clinical leadership? Well, this MSN to DNP program, designed for MSN graduates may be your best bet. The practice-focused curriculum mainly offers courses through the distance format and requires you to visit the campus only for immersions. Furthermore, as a DNP-FNP student here, you can even enjoy clinical opportunities in Guyana, in addition to local clinical experiences.
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