5 Best Kansas FNP Programs (Online & Campus) – 2025
Written By: Darby Faubion BSN, RN
Enrolling in one of the FNP programs in Kansas will expand your scope of practice in rewarding ways, both personal and professional. Family nurse practitioners play a vital role in providing millions of Sunflower State’s residents access to primary healthcare. As an FNP, you’ll have the option of working in numerous practice settings ranging from community clinics to physicians’ offices, and the need for your services is projected to rise by 43 percent in just one decade. Family nurse practitioners in the Sunflower State make excellent salaries, too, averaging $118,360 annually. You can learn a lot more about this career track by reading the list below of the 5 best FNP programs in Kansas.
FOLLOWING ARE THE 5 BEST FNP PROGRAMS IN KANSAS (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, we have ranked the 5 best campus-based and online FNP programs in Kansas.)
1. University of Saint Mary - Leavenworth
Programs Offered: MSN and Post-Master’s Certificate
MSN Program Details: If you are searching for the best FNP programs in Kansas, you need to look no further than the University of Saint Mary! One of the two pathways offered at the school is the MSN- Family Nurse Practitioner program. You can complete the program in as little as two years.
The program combines theory and application in a mixed learning approach, including online classes, designed with working nurses in mind. You are required to attend two on-ground intensive sessions based on campus during the program. These intensives are three days in length and usually occur in the Summer term. The intensives are designed for participation in skills check-offs and practice, standardized patient simulations, oral boards, and presentations.
The MSN-FNP program features a 50-credit curriculum, including MSN core and FNP specialty courses. In this program, you will study Pharmacotherapeutics for the APRN Prescriber, Primary Care: Management of the Adult & Geriatric Populations, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Primary Care: Management of Pediatric & Childbearing Families. The program follows a cohort progression, which means courses must be taken in a specific order, as determined by the Program Director.
Throughout the course of the MSN program, you will complete more than 700 direct patient care clinical hours. The USM Clinical Coordinator will collaborate with you to help secure practicum placements and identify qualified preceptors.
Post-Master’s Certificate Program Details: The FNP post-master’s certificate program is another excellent option offered at the University of Saint Mary. This FNP pathway is designed to be completed in four semesters. However, if you hold certification as a Pediatric, Mental health, Acute Care, or Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, you may be eligible for a three-semester schedule.
The program is a 24- to 32-credit hour program. The number of credits you need will be determined by whether you have a current NP certification in another specialty area. The program also includes 780 clinical hours and two three-day campus lab intensives.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• The University of Saint Mary’s FNP program boasts an outstanding team of faculty who bring advanced and diverse clinical knowledge and experience to the classroom. Their broad range of real-world experiences are passed on to students, ensuring that you are ready to practice confidently as a Family Nurse Practitioner!• You will have support at the University of Saint Mary at every corner. From financial aid counselors to academic advisors and clinical coordinators, there is always someone to guide you and help promote your success!
• If you want to pursue your degree and become a Family Nurse Practitioner, chances are, the cost of your education could be what determines if or when you begin your journey. The University of Saint Mary’s works with students to provide information and resources for scholarships, grants, and other forms of financial assistance, which could put your dream within your grasp. The school offers several university academic scholarships. Additionally, financial aid advisors can help you determine if you are eligible for others options, such as the DAR Nursing Scholarships, Nurse Journal Scholarships, or AANP Scholarships.
2. University of Kansas - Kansas City
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and Advanced Practice Clinical Certificate
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: If you are searching for an FNP program in Kansas designed for bachelor’s prepared nurses, the University of Kansas is a great school to consider! The university offers a four-year BSN-to-DNP program that provides baccalaureate-prepared registered nurses the opportunity to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice and become eligible for certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner. The program admits students in the summer and takes four years or twelve consecutive semesters to complete.
The BSN-to-DNP Family Nurse Practitioner program curriculum includes an epidemiological approach to clinical issues affecting family and community health. The program features a 75-credit study plan that provides the theoretical knowledge and clinical skills required to prepare you as an advanced practice nurse capable of providing primary care to individuals and families across their lifespan.
Most of the required courses for the FNP program are available online. However, the entire program is not offered entirely in a distance-learning format. Campus attendance for practicum courses is required three times during each semester to complete Clinical Intensive workshops and to perform Standardized Patient Exams. In-person clinical practicums are completed at various clinical practice sites. All students pursuing the DNP must complete a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate clinical hours.
Advanced Practice Clinical Certificate Program Details: If you are a registered nurse with a master’s or doctorate in nursing and want to become a Family Nurse Practitioner, the Advanced Practice Clinical Certificate program at the University of Kansas could be the perfect choice for you! In just three semesters, you could be ready to take the FNP national certification exam. The advanced-practice clinical certificate FNP program admits students once per year in the fall semester.
Required didactic courses are delivered online. Practicum courses are completed on campus during three visits per semester. You will participate in Clinical Intensive Workshops and Standardized Patient exams during campus visits. This FNP certificate program is an 18-credit pathway. Each semester consists of one course and one clinical practicum.
The program includes a total of 640 precepted clinical hours. Your clinical practicum experiences will occur at various practice sites, including primary care and internal medicine clinics, home-based care, occupational health clinics, child, adolescent, adult, and geriatric sites, and rural health clinics. Most clinicals occur in the Kansas City metropolitan area. However, when possible, clinicals may extend to other areas within the state close to where you live.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• The University of Kansas School of Nursing is dedicated to helping expand the nursing workforce. Through two Health Resources and Services Administration funding opportunities, eligible students can take advantage of funds to help advance their careers and give back to their communities. For example, the Advanced Nursing Education Workforce: Grow and Stay Project allows nurses, NPs, and Certified Nurse Midwives to earn up to $25,000 while serving in urban, trial, or rural underserved communities.• Graduates of the FNP program at the University of Kansas consistently perform well on national certification exams. This is a factor I encourage all prospective students to consider when choosing a school, as pass rates on certification tests reflect how well programs prepare students.
• Something I feel strongly about when it comes to choosing a nursing school or program is knowing whether the school has a reputation for success and commitment to furthering the nursing profession. In this case, the University of Kansas does not disappoint! The UK School of Nursing has been designated as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing. The school is the only school in the region recognized by the NLN for its commitment to excellence and innovation in nursing education!
3. Fort Hays State University - Hays
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: Fort Hays State University offers an excellent post-baccalaureate FNP program in Kansas. The program is designed for full-time study and takes four years to complete. Students follow a cohort model. New cohorts are admitted each summer. The BSN-to-DNP program is a hybrid program with the majority of coursework presented online. A few semesters require minimal campus visits based on course requirements.
The BSN-to-DNP program’s curriculum requires the completion of 75 credits. You will take classes, including Nurse Practitioner Roles in Primary Care, Primary Care for the Adult & Geriatric Population, Advanced Health Assessment, and Primary Care for the Pediatric Population.
The program includes four DNP Preceptorships that consist of 225 clinical hours each. The School of Nursing has clinical agreements with many sites and preceptors in the state of Kansas. In some cases, you may seek out preceptors, but you must have the approval of the course faculty.
Additionally, you will devote 600 hours to the completion of a DNP Scholarly Project. The DNP Project is your opportunity to address an identified problem within a clinical setting and healthcare context and to analyze and integrate research knowledge to develop an evidence-based solution to that problem.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• Fort Hays directors and administrators understand that financial constraints are one of the main reasons many people do not pursue advanced degrees. In addition to assisting students with Title IV programs, there are also several Nursing Department Scholarships that FNP students may be eligible to receive. The school has dedicated financial advisors to help guide you in applying for financial assistance to help make achieving your dream financially possible.• When researching schools and programs, I advise prospective students to find out what past and present students have to say about them. When you find a school with high satisfaction rates, especially from graduates, or where former students return to earn an additional degree, it indicates that the school is good. For example, post-graduate surveys submitted by graduates of the Fort Hays FNP program indicate high satisfaction rates with the program when asked about the program’s quality, delivery, curriculum, clinical experience, and faculty support.
• Another excellent indicator of a program’s quality is student success following graduation. One way to gauge that is to ask about certification exam pass rates. According to a report from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, graduates of the FHSU DNP program have had perfect pass rates for the last five years in a row!
4. Washburn University - Topeka
Programs Offered: DNP (BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, & MSN-to-DNP without NP)
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: Washburn University offers a BSN-to-DNP Family Nurse Practitioner program, which is one of the top FNP programs in Kansas. You can begin the program either in the summer or fall, based on whether you have completed a graduate statistics course within the past ten years.
The program features a format consisting primarily of online learning involving “live” or synchronous virtual classes. Some campus-based experiences are required and are designed to help complement online learning and to provide hands-on learning opportunities to perform assessments and learn office-based interventions. Campus-based training sessions are held on campus once per year.
The BSN-to-DNP FNP program is a 74-credit pathway that takes eight semesters to complete. The rigorous curriculum includes classes such as Advanced Health Assessment & Differential Diagnosis Across the Lifespan, Applied Diagnostic Reasoning & Clinical Decision-Making, Perspectives for the Advancement of Global Health, and Emerging Concepts Informatics.
The program includes 45 simulation hours and 1,125 direct patient care hours. Faculty and program staff will collaborate with you to arrange clinical placements. When possible, you may identify appropriate clinical sites and preceptors that are close to your home. All clinicals are completed with faculty oversight and supervision.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: If you are an APRN licensed in your state of residence and nationally certified as either a Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Nurse Practitioner, Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, you can earn your DNP at Washburn University! The university offers three pathways for the MSN-to-DNP for currently licensed and certified nurse practitioners.
1. The Generic Track is a 40-credit hour pathway designed NPs who want to accomplish a terminal clinical degree by earning the DNP.
2. If you are a Family, Adult, Adult-Gerontology, or Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and want to become certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, you can pursue the FNP/ANP/AGNP/PNP to PMHNP track. This track combines the curriculum for the generic MSN-to-DNP track with 14 additional credits focused on the psychiatric mental health concentration, for a total of 54 credits.
3. The third pathway is the MSN-DNP for nurse practitioners who hold two NP certifications as either a Family, Adult, Adult-Geriatric, or Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and have completed the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program. This option is a 35-credit pathway.
All students in the MSN-to-DNP program must complete a minimum of 1,000 of direct patient care clinicals. As a master’s prepared nurse with a national nurse practitioner certification, you may be awarded up to 500 clock hours toward the clinical hour requirement to earn the DNP.
MSN-to-DNP without NP Program Details: Master’s prepared registered nurses who do not have a current nurse practitioner certification in their state of residence can pursue the MSN-to-DNP (without NP) Family Nurse Practitioner track. The program admits students in the fall and is designed to be completed in eight semesters.
While the DNP program is considered an online pathway, instructors often incorporate a live component to their classes. These live components are typically recorded for the benefit of students who are unable to attend the live event. Students are required to visit campus three times per year for mandatory skills training and clinical competency assessments.
This FNP program in Kansas features a 70-credit curriculum. From Advanced Pathophysiology & Pharmacology, Population Health, and Healthcare Economics to Perspectives for the Advancement of Global Health and Professional Role Development, you will be immersed in rich theory taught by dedicated, experienced faculty.
The program includes a total of 1,170 clinical hours. You will collaborate with faculty and program staff to arrange clinical placements and identify preceptors. Clinical hours are completed through DNP Primary Care Practicums and a DNP Residency.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• Graduates of the FNP program at Washburn University have high job placement rates, with many being offered positions contingent upon successfully completing the program and earning national certification. This is a good indication that the program prepares students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed, as preceptors and nursing supervisors are typically the first to see students perform in clinical settings.• Washburn University reports graduates of its FNP program consistently score exceptionally well on national certification exams, with most passing the exam on the first attempt. This is another positive indication of the program’s strength.
• One of things I like about the FNP program at Washburn University is that, despite the online structure of the program, there is structured mentorship from faculty and staff. Program faculty will work with you to ensure you stay on track through assignments and activities and that you meet competency objectives as expected.
5. Wichita State University - Wichita
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: If you are a baccalaureate-prepared registered nurse searching for an FNP program in Kansas, Wichita State University is another excellent school to consider. At WSU, you will find a BSN-to-DNP program that offers the opportunity to specialize as a Family Nurse Practitioner at the highest level of clinical practice in nursing. The program has one entry point each year in the fall semester and takes approximately three and a half years to complete.
The study plan features a sequenced curriculum with select courses online. There are required campus visits that provide face-to-face interaction with faculty and peers and facilitate hands-on learning in the classroom and learning labs.
The DNP-Family Nurse Practitioner program requires you to complete 74 credit hours. You will begin the program by taking advanced core courses, including Pharmacological Management of Acute & Chronic Diseases, Evidence-Based Nursing Practice & Outcomes of Care, and Populations & Social Determinants of Health. You will then transition to FNP-specific clinical courses and practicum experiences. In accordance with the AACN DNP Essentials, all students in the BSN-to-DNP program will complete at least 1,000 post-baccalaureate supervised clinical hours.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• As a healthcare educator, I appreciate the value that simulated learning adds to nursing education. At Wichita State University, FNP students participate in various simulated learning experiences, including the use of standardized patients. The school’s Clinical Learning Lab is designed as a simulated hospital setting where you will develop and practice hands-on skills that you will utilize as a Family Nurse Practitioner.• At Wichita State University, you will receive individualized instruction from expert faculty. Instructors in the FNP program continue to maintain an active clinical practice, which means they are aware of current trends in nursing and can pass new knowledge on to you in the classroom and in clinical settings as you prepare to transition to the role of an FNP.
• The FNP program at WSU boasts expert faculty with years of experience in clinical practice and the classroom. Their knowledge and professional insight will help you prepare to provide evidence-based, high-quality nursing care to patients of all ages as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
HOW MUCH DO FNP GRADUATES MAKE IN KANSAS?
WHAT STARTING SALARY CAN NEW GRADUATES OF FNP PROGRAMS IN KANSAS EXPECT?
| Hourly | $41.87 |
| Weekly | $1,675 |
| Monthly | $7,260 |
| Annual | $87,080 |
HOW MUCH CAN GRADUATES OF FNP PROGRAMS IN KANSAS EARN WITH EXPERIENCE?
| Level of Experience | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
| Entry-Level | $41.87 | $1,675 | $7,260 | $87,080 |
| 1-4 Years of Experience | $47.37 | $1,895 | $8,210 | $98,530 |
| 5-9 Years of Experience | $55.92 | $2,237 | $9,690 | $116,310 |
| 10-19 Years of Experience | $62.27 | $2,491 | $10,790 | $129,520 |
| 20 Years or More Experience | $74.41 | $2,977 | $12,900 | $154,780 |
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE FNP SALARY IN KANSAS?
| Hourly | $56.90 |
| Weekly | $2,276 |
| Monthly | $9,860 |
| Annual | $118,360 |
HOW MUCH DO FNPS EARN IN THE VARIOUS METROS OF KANSAS?
| Metro | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
| Lawrence | $55.65 | $2,226 | $9,650 | $115,760 |
| Manhattan | $53.81 | $2,153 | $9,330 | $111,930 |
| Topeka | $59.86 | $2,394 | $10,380 | $124,500 |
| Wichita | $54.03 | $2,161 | $9,370 | $112,380 |
FNP SALARY IN KANSAS VS. OTHER SALARIES
FNP SALARY IN KANSAS VS. FNP SALARY IN THE NATION
| Average Kansas FNP Annual Salary | Average National FNP Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| $118,360 | $127,510 | -$9,150 | -7.18% |
FNP SALARY IN KANSAS VS. FNP SALARIES IN OTHER STATES
| State | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| California | $160,310 | -$41,950 | -26.17% |
| Nevada | $147,540 | -$29,180 | -19.78% |
| Washington | $144,290 | -$25,930 | -17.97% |
| New Jersey | $143,920 | -$25,560 | -17.76% |
| Oregon | $143,840 | -$25,480 | -17.71% |
| Massachusetts | $142,910 | -$24,550 | -17.18% |
| New York | $141,740 | -$23,380 | -16.49% |
| Connecticut | $135,940 | -$17,580 | -12.93% |
| New Mexico | $135,730 | -$17,370 | -12.80% |
| Minnesota | $133,980 | -$15,620 | -11.66% |
| District of Columbia | $133,820 | -$15,460 | -11.55% |
| Rhode Island | $132,440 | -$14,080 | -10.63% |
| Hawaii | $131,600 | -$13,240 | -10.06% |
| Arizona | $131,550 | -$13,190 | -10.03% |
| Delaware | $130,110 | -$11,750 | -9.03% |
| Iowa | $129,820 | -$11,460 | -8.83% |
| New Hampshire | $129,740 | -$11,380 | -8.77% |
| Texas | $129,020 | -$10,660 | -8.26% |
| Wisconsin | $127,350 | -$8,990 | -7.06% |
| Maryland | $127,010 | -$8,650 | -6.81% |
| Utah | $126,850 | -$8,490 | -6.69% |
| North Dakota | $126,790 | -$8,430 | -6.65% |
| Pennsylvania | $126,480 | -$8,120 | -6.42% |
| Illinois | $125,930 | -$7,570 | -6.01% |
| Alaska | $125,210 | -$6,850 | -5.47% |
| Vermont | $125,140 | -$6,780 | -5.42% |
| Montana | $123,690 | -$5,330 | -4.31% |
| Idaho | $123,600 | -$5,240 | -4.24% |
| Oklahoma | $123,380 | -$5,020 | -4.07% |
| Wyoming | $122,620 | -$4,260 | -3.47% |
| Indiana | $122,380 | -$4,020 | -3.28% |
| Maine | $122,000 | -$3,640 | -2.98% |
| Ohio | $121,930 | -$3,570 | -2.93% |
| Colorado | $121,060 | -$2,700 | -2.23% |
| Nebraska | $120,750 | -$2,390 | -1.98% |
| North Carolina | $120,660 | -$2,300 | -1.91% |
| Georgia | $120,230 | -$1,870 | -1.56% |
| South Dakota | $120,060 | -$1,700 | -1.42% |
| Virginia | $119,950 | -$1,590 | -1.33% |
| Michigan | $119,760 | -$1,400 | -1.17% |
| Florida | $118,800 | -$440 | -0.37% |
| Kansas | $118,360 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Louisiana | $117,760 | +$600 | +0.51% |
| Mississippi | $116,590 | +$1,770 | +1.52% |
| South Carolina | $116,050 | +$2,310 | +1.99% |
| Missouri | $115,790 | +$2,570 | +2.22% |
| West Virginia | $112,580 | +$5,780 | +5.13% |
| Arkansas | $112,550 | +$5,810 | +5.16% |
| Kentucky | $109,530 | +$8,830 | +8.06% |
| Alabama | $109,180 | +$9,180 | +8.41% |
| Tennessee | $102,930 | +$15,430 | +14.99% |
FNP SALARY IN KANSAS VS. OTHER NURSE SALARIES IN KANSAS
| Type of Nurse | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| Nurse Anesthetist | $184,650 | -$66,290 | -35.90% |
| Family Nurse Practitioner | $118,360 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Registered Nurse | $76,240 | +$42,120 | +55.25% |
| Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary | $72,260 | +$46,100 | +63.80% |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse | $55,610 | +$62,750 | +112.84% |
| Nursing Assistant | $36,020 | +$82,340 | +228.60% |
FNP SALARY IN KANSAS VS. SALARIES OF OTHER CLOSELY RELATED OCCUPATIONS IN KANSAS
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| Dentist | $175,480 | -$57,120 | -32.55% |
| Podiatrist | $141,650 | -$23,290 | -16.44% |
| Optometrist | $138,280 | -$19,920 | -14.41% |
| Pharmacist | $129,300 | -$10,940 | -8.46% |
| Physician Assistant | $119,470 | -$1,110 | -0.93% |
| Family Nurse Practitioner | $118,360 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Veterinarian | $103,730 | +$14,630 | +14.10% |
| Physical Therapist | $93,780 | +$24,580 | +26.21% |
| Occupational Therapist | $92,510 | +$25,850 | +27.94% |
| Radiation Therapist | $91,970 | +$26,390 | +28.69% |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $82,790 | +$35,570 | +42.96% |
| Dental Hygienist | $79,160 | +$39,200 | +49.52% |
| Audiologist | $78,380 | +$39,980 | +51.01% |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED
1. Who Accredits FNP Programs In Kansas?
| S.No. | Accrediting Agency |
| 1 | Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) |
| 2 | Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) |
2. How Many Accredited FNP Schools Are There In Kansas?
| 5 |
3. On Average, How Much Does A Family NP Make Per Hour In Kansas?
| $56.90 |
4. On Average, How Much Does A Family NP Make Per Week In Kansas?
| $2,276 |
5. On Average, How Much Does A Family NP Make Per Month In Kansas?
| $9,860 |
6. On Average, How Much Does A Family NP Make Per Year In Kansas?
| $118,360 |
7. What Is The Job Outlook For FNPs In Kansas?
| 10-Year Job Outlook (2022-2032) |
| +42.90% |
Darby Faubion BSN, RN
Darby Faubion is a nurse and Allied Health educator with over twenty years of experience. She has assisted in developing curriculum for nursing programs and has instructed students at both community college and university levels. Because of her love of nursing education, Darby became a test-taking strategist and NCLEX prep coach and assists nursing graduates across the United States who are preparing to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
Nearby States
Popular Related Articles