Best Montana FNP Programs (Online & Campus) – 2025
Written By: Darby Faubion BSN, RN
How much do graduates of FNP programs in Montana make on average in a single year? $123,690: Not too shabby! As a family nurse practitioner in the Big Sky State, you’ll also enjoy job security as employment opportunities for Montana-based FNPs are anticipated to rise by 51 percent over the next decade. Montana FNPs enjoy a broad range of practice that allows them to diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications for acute and chronic patients of all ages. If you’re an RN in the Big Sky State seeking more professional autonomy, this could be the career path for you. Learn more by reviewing the list below of the best FNP programs in Montana.
FOLLOWING ARE THE BEST FNP PROGRAMS IN MONTANA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, we have ranked the best campus-based and online FNP programs in Montana.)
1. Montana State University - Bozeman
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: Are you a registered nurse with dreams of becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner? Does earning a degree at the highest level of practice interest you? If so, and if you have been searching for FNP programs in Montana, then I recommend considering Montana State University! MSU offers an outstanding post-baccalaureate to Doctor of Nursing Practice program with the option to specialize as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
The BSN-to-DNP Family Nurse Practitioner program admits students in the fall semester each year. You have the option of choosing a full-time three-year pathway, or you may enroll part-time and follow a four-year degree plan. Upon completion of the program, you will be eligible for national Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) certification and to become licensed as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
Graduate courses for the program are offered via distance delivery, combining both synchronous and asynchronous learning activities. However, there are times when travel to campus is required. For example, in-person orientation, clinical skills weeks, and visits for simulations, exams, and skills checkoffs are typically required. Additionally, video conferencing or web-enhanced meetings with faculty and your class are required at the instructor’s discretion.
The DNP- Family Nurse Practitioner program will prepare you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to provide advanced clinical judgment, leadership, expertise, and scholarship to patients of all ages in the primary health setting. The program requires you to complete 82 credits. The rigorous curriculum includes classes such as Vulnerability & Healthcare in Diverse Communities, Advanced Diagnostics in Primary Care, Healthcare Informatics, and Advanced Primary Care Skills & Procedures.
The MSU School of Nursing is equipped with state-of-the-art technology. When you visit the campus for skills checkoffs and clinical skills weeks, you will have access to the latest simulation technology that creates realistic scenarios like those you may encounter in real-world practice.
As outlined in “The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice,” the DNP-FNP program at MSU includes a minimum of 1,000 hours of precepted clinical experience. Clinical practicums are arranged in a variety of settings, providing opportunities to care for patients of all ages in the family practice setting.
You will complete and defend a project developed in collaboration with a project committee and faculty advisors. The DNP Project spans two semesters. The final component of your DNP-FNP program involves the presentation and defense of your DNP Scholarly Project.
BSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: To be eligible for admission to the BSN-to-DNP Family Nurse Practitioner program, you must be physically located in Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Alaska, Wyoming, or Utah. You need a baccalaureate degree in nursing earned from a nationally accredited upper-division nursing program. The program must have included supervised clinical practice, including nursing leadership and management. Successful completion of undergraduate courses in research and statistics is required. Candidates with a college GPA of 3.0 or higher are preferred. All candidates are required to possess and maintain a current unencumbered RN license in the state where clinicals will be performed for the duration of the program.
To be considered, begin by completing an Application for Graduate School Admission and paying the application fee. All applicants are required to provide transcripts from any college or university they have attended, with at least one indicating a conferred baccalaureate degree in nursing, a personal statement, a professional resume, and three letters of professional/academic recommendation.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• The FNP program in Montana at Montana State University boasts an exceptional team of faculty and administrators dedicated to your success. At MSU, you will learn from faculty who are practicing clinicians and renowned nursing leaders. One example is Dean of Nursing, Sarah Shannon, who was awarded the State Advocate Award from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.• One of the things I like about Montana State University’s nursing program is that it understands the importance of educating nurses with a global view of health. The school offers study abroad programs where you can participate in clinical rotations, service learning projects, and nursing research opportunities in countries worldwide. Currently, DNP students can travel to Tanzania and Guatemala. Although the Guatemala experience does not award clinical credit, the Tanzania experience does.
• Montana State University is dedicated to building a strong pool of Alaska Native and American Indian nurses who are prepared to provide high-quality healthcare services, management, and leadership to serve Indian Country. In 1999, the school founded CO-OP, “Caring for Our Own Program,” which is a supplemental student support group for Alaska Native and Native American students pursuing their degrees at MSU. The CO-OP provides support services and scholarship opportunities to members.
• The MSU College of Nursing is a leader in rural nursing research. Faculty work with community partners to implement and evaluate studies involving diverse, complex health issues. Research efforts focused on nursing education and the nursing workforce benefit students by helping to strengthen clinical partnerships, enrich the program’s curriculum, and initiate changes in local, state, and national health policies.
HOW MUCH DO FNP GRADUATES MAKE IN MONTANA?
WHAT STARTING SALARY CAN NEW GRADUATES OF FNP PROGRAMS IN MONTANA EXPECT?
| Hourly | $43.75 |
| Weekly | $1,750 |
| Monthly | $7,580 |
| Annual | $91,000 |
HOW MUCH CAN GRADUATES OF FNP PROGRAMS IN MONTANA EARN WITH EXPERIENCE?
| Level of Experience | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
| Entry-Level | $43.75 | $1,750 | $7,580 | $91,000 |
| 1-4 Years of Experience | $49.50 | $1,980 | $8,580 | $102,960 |
| 5-9 Years of Experience | $58.43 | $2,337 | $10,130 | $121,540 |
| 10-19 Years of Experience | $65.08 | $2,603 | $11,280 | $135,360 |
| 20 Years or More Experience | $77.76 | $3,111 | $13,480 | $161,750 |
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE FNP SALARY IN MONTANA?
| Hourly | $59.47 |
| Weekly | $2,379 |
| Monthly | $10,310 |
| Annual | $123,690 |
HOW MUCH DO FNPS EARN IN THE VARIOUS METROS OF MONTANA?
| Metro | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
| Billings | $60.98 | $2,439 | $10,570 | $126,830 |
| Great Falls | $57.14 | $2,286 | $9,900 | $118,850 |
| Missoula | $57.18 | $2,287 | $9,910 | $118,930 |
FNP SALARY IN MONTANA VS. OTHER SALARIES
FNP SALARY IN MONTANA VS. FNP SALARY IN THE NATION
| Average Montana FNP Annual Salary | Average National FNP Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| $123,690 | $127,510 | -$3,820 | -3.00% |
FNP SALARY IN MONTANA VS. FNP SALARIES IN OTHER STATES
| State | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| California | $160,310 | -$36,620 | -22.84% |
| Nevada | $147,540 | -$23,850 | -16.17% |
| Washington | $144,290 | -$20,600 | -14.28% |
| New Jersey | $143,920 | -$20,230 | -14.06% |
| Oregon | $143,840 | -$20,150 | -14.01% |
| Massachusetts | $142,910 | -$19,220 | -13.45% |
| New York | $141,740 | -$18,050 | -12.73% |
| Connecticut | $135,940 | -$12,250 | -9.01% |
| New Mexico | $135,730 | -$12,040 | -8.87% |
| Minnesota | $133,980 | -$10,290 | -7.68% |
| District of Columbia | $133,820 | -$10,130 | -7.57% |
| Rhode Island | $132,440 | -$8,750 | -6.61% |
| Hawaii | $131,600 | -$7,910 | -6.01% |
| Arizona | $131,550 | -$7,860 | -5.97% |
| Delaware | $130,110 | -$6,420 | -4.93% |
| Iowa | $129,820 | -$6,130 | -4.72% |
| New Hampshire | $129,740 | -$6,050 | -4.66% |
| Texas | $129,020 | -$5,330 | -4.13% |
| Wisconsin | $127,350 | -$3,660 | -2.87% |
| Maryland | $127,010 | -$3,320 | -2.61% |
| Utah | $126,850 | -$3,160 | -2.49% |
| North Dakota | $126,790 | -$3,100 | -2.44% |
| Pennsylvania | $126,480 | -$2,790 | -2.21% |
| Illinois | $125,930 | -$2,240 | -1.78% |
| Alaska | $125,210 | -$1,520 | -1.21% |
| Vermont | $125,140 | -$1,450 | -1.16% |
| Montana | $123,690 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Idaho | $123,600 | +$90 | +0.07% |
| Oklahoma | $123,380 | +$310 | +0.25% |
| Wyoming | $122,620 | +$1,070 | +0.87% |
| Indiana | $122,380 | +$1,310 | +1.07% |
| Maine | $122,000 | +$1,690 | +1.39% |
| Ohio | $121,930 | +$1,760 | +1.44% |
| Colorado | $121,060 | +$2,630 | +2.17% |
| Nebraska | $120,750 | +$2,940 | +2.43% |
| North Carolina | $120,660 | +$3,030 | +2.51% |
| Georgia | $120,230 | +$3,460 | +2.88% |
| South Dakota | $120,060 | +$3,630 | +3.02% |
| Virginia | $119,950 | +$3,740 | +3.12% |
| Michigan | $119,760 | +$3,930 | +3.28% |
| Florida | $118,800 | +$4,890 | +4.12% |
| Kansas | $118,360 | +$5,330 | +4.50% |
| Louisiana | $117,760 | +$5,930 | +5.04% |
| Mississippi | $116,590 | +$7,100 | +6.09% |
| South Carolina | $116,050 | +$7,640 | +6.58% |
| Missouri | $115,790 | +$7,900 | +6.82% |
| West Virginia | $112,580 | +$11,110 | +9.87% |
| Arkansas | $112,550 | +$11,140 | +9.90% |
| Kentucky | $109,530 | +$14,160 | +12.93% |
| Alabama | $109,180 | +$14,510 | +13.29% |
| Tennessee | $102,930 | +$20,760 | +20.17% |
FNP SALARY IN MONTANA VS. OTHER NURSE SALARIES IN MONTANA
| Type of Nurse | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| Nurse Anesthetist | $256,460 | -$132,770 | -51.77% |
| Family Nurse Practitioner | $123,690 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary | $85,120 | +$38,570 | +45.31% |
| Registered Nurse | $82,950 | +$40,740 | +49.11% |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse | $55,450 | +$68,240 | +123.07% |
| Nursing Assistant | $40,800 | +$82,890 | +203.16% |
FNP SALARY IN MONTANA VS. SALARIES OF OTHER CLOSELY RELATED OCCUPATIONS IN MONTANA
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| Dentist | $204,410 | -$80,720 | -39.49% |
| Physician Assistant | $132,450 | -$8,760 | -6.61% |
| Pharmacist | $131,260 | -$7,570 | -5.77% |
| Optometrist | $123,890 | -$200 | -0.16% |
| Family Nurse Practitioner | $123,690 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Radiation Therapist | $114,210 | +$9,480 | +8.30% |
| Veterinarian | $94,070 | +$29,620 | +31.49% |
| Dental Hygienist | $88,990 | +$34,700 | +38.99% |
| Audiologist | $88,310 | +$35,380 | +40.06% |
| Occupational Therapist | $87,380 | +$36,310 | +41.55% |
| Physical Therapist | $85,550 | +$38,140 | +44.58% |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $81,970 | +$41,720 | +50.90% |
| Chiropractor | $77,170 | +$46,520 | +60.28% |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED
1. Who Accredits FNP Programs In Montana?
| 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 Montana?
| 1 |
3. On Average, How Much Does A Family NP Make Per Hour In Montana?
| $59.47 |
4. On Average, How Much Does A Family NP Make Per Week In Montana?
| $2,379 |
5. On Average, How Much Does A Family NP Make Per Month In Montana?
| $10,310 |
6. On Average, How Much Does A Family NP Make Per Year In Montana?
| $123,690 |
7. What Is The Job Outlook For FNPs In Montana?
| 10-Year Job Outlook (2022-2032) |
| +51.14% |
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).
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