10 Best New York FNP Programs (Online & Campus) – 2025
Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org
If you’re a registered nurse in the Empire State who wants to broaden your career prospects and responsibilities, consider enrolling in one of the many FNP programs in New York. As a family nurse practitioner in the Empire State, you’ll have a great deal of autonomy because New York gives these advanced practice RNs the opportunity to practice independently. On average, you’ll earn $141,120 a year, and employment opportunities for this specialty are expected to increase by 56 percent within the next 10 years. One of the 10 best FNP programs in New York for 2025 listed below could be your entrée into a dynamic new career.
FOLLOWING ARE THE 10 BEST FNP PROGRAMS IN NEW YORK (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, we have ranked the 10 best campus-based and online FNP programs in New York.)
1. Columbia University, New York
Programs Offered: Post-BSN to DNP and
Masters Direct Entry (MDE)
Do you aspire to graduate with exceptional clinical skills in primary care? If so, you must consider enrolling at Columbia University that offers one of the best FNP programs in New York. The nursing school’s clinical affiliations throughout the tri-state area ensure diverse hands-on experiences, ranging from hospitals, clinics to schools & universities. To NP aspirants, the college offers FNP training through a BSN to DNP and masters direct entry path.
Post-BSN to DNP Program Details: This BSN to DNP pathway requires you to have completed your BSN from an accredited college. Additionally, you must hold an unencumbered RN license in New York. The program takes approximately two years and requires completing 84 to 90 credits. Through a combination of didactic lectures, simulation practice, and clinical rotations, you learn advanced clinical assessment, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and diagnosis & management in primary care. Besides teaching you primary care for individuals across the lifespan, the coursework also comprises health promotion & disease prevention, healthcare informatics, and an introduction to evidence-based practice,
Masters Direct Entry (MDE) Program Details: Are you someone from a non-nursing field who finds a calling in healthcare improvement? Well, then this Masters Direct Entry program has got you covered as not only will you earn the status of an RN, but at the end of the program, you will graduate as an FNP in New York, prepared to improve the health of individuals, ranging from infancy to old age. The evidence-based curriculum first prepares you with an MSN which spans across 15 months after which you can sit for the NCLEX-RN and obtain your RN license. Thereafter, you can directly move into the DNP-FNP portion of the program and complete the doctoral and FNP courses. To be eligible for this program, you must have completed a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
2. University at Buffalo – SUNY, Buffalo
Programs Offered: Post-BS to DNP,
Post-MS to DNP, and
Advanced Certificate
As part of University at Buffalo-SUNY’s FNP training, you will be grounded in the values of compassion and care. Among all the FNP programs in New York, this program stands out for preparing you to take the Certified Addictions Registered Nurse-Advanced Practice (CARN-AP) exam, in addition to the exam for FNP certification. The college’s population-focused curriculum incorporates unique learning opportunities in telehealth and serving the underserved, so you graduate with relevant skills in offering effective primary care to a diverse patient population.
Post-BSN to DNP Program Details: This program is meant for RNs holding a bachelor’s degree in nursing. You can fit in this BSN to DNP into your busy life as 40% of the coursework is offered online. The 97-credit curriculum comprises nursing foundation, research, DNP core, advanced practice courses, and FNP-specific courses.
Post-MSN to DNP Program Details: If you are an MSN-APRN, keen on advancing on your nursing practice by gaining clinical expertise in primary care, then this program is for you. This online FNP program in New York offers flexible asynchronous classes, allowing you to pursue this terminal nursing degree without keeping your job on hold. The evidence-based curriculum ends with a DNP project which you can customize as per your interests and also complete it at your current workplace.
Advanced Certificate Program Details: This advanced certificate is designed for active APRNs who wish to add the FNP specialty to their nursing practice. The required credits are 28 to 37, with the exact number depending on your previously completed coursework. The curriculum trains you to offer advanced primary care to individuals of all age groups and patients experiencing addictions and mental health issues.
3. Stony Brook University – SUNY, Stony Brook
Programs Offered: MSN,
DNP, and
Advanced Certificate
Counted among the best New York FNP programs, Stony Brook University's FNP programs prepare you for the promising field of primary care, where you can make a difference as an agent of change, educator, leader, and compassionate caregiver. Whatever your career goals may be, with three convenient FNP pathways, you can achieve excellence in health promotion and disease prevention.
MSN Program Details: Ideally, you must be a BSN graduate to apply for this program, however even if you have completed your bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, you can still apply. The 45-credit curriculum trains you to offer primary care to patients with chronic and acute illnesses in various types of healthcare settings. Typically, you complete core courses, then progress to complete courses in research, pharmacology, health assessment, pathophysiology, and FNP.
DNP Program Details: This DNP program is open to RNs who are prepared either with a BSN or an MSN. If you enter post a BSN, you must complete 87 credits and 1,000 hours of clinical practice. Whereas nurses with an MSN are required to complete anywhere close to 42 credits and a minimum of 500 clinical hours, with the exact requirement decided based on a gap analysis. Regardless of how you enter, you will graduate as a clinical leader who can influence change in the healthcare system.
Advanced Certificate Program Details: To complete this advanced certificate which leads to an FNP certification, you must complete a minimum of 22 credits. Although mainly online, there are some on-site requirements that you must fulfill. To qualify for this program, you must be a registered nurse prepared either at the masters or doctoral level.
4. Binghamton University - SUNY, Binghamton
Programs Offered: MSN,
DNP, and
Post-Graduate Certificate
Is community health your pet project? Have you been looking at family nurse practitioner programs in New York that focus on the health outcomes of our communities? In that case, you may want to know about FNP programs offered by Binghamton University. Not only does the nursing school offer an FNP specialization with a community health emphasis, you even have the option of pursuing family health in primary care or family psychiatric mental health nursing.
MSN Program Details: This MSN program is available as a part-time or full-time schedule and the coursework is delivered in a combination of online and on-campus classes. The 46-48 credit coursework is available with three distinctive FNP specialization options; family nursing, family psychiatric nursing, and community health primary care. Except for the specialization in family nursing which requires you to be a certified midwife along with completing a BSN, for the other two tracks a BSN is sufficient to qualify.
DNP Program Details: To be eligible for this DNP-FNP program you must be a nurse practitioner prepared at the master’s level. Just like in the MSN, you have three FNP specializations to choose from. Program requirements are individualized and depend on your previously completed coursework. Upon graduation, you demonstrate exceptional leadership skills to innovate and impact health outcomes for your chosen area of emphasis.
Post-Graduate Certificate Program Details: You can complete the 30-33 credit curriculum in either of three areas of emphasis. To be eligible for this program you must be an RN, holding an MSN degree or a nurse practitioner who wants to add another area of specialty. Most students complete this program within four semesters of study.
5. Saint John Fisher College, Rochester
Programs Offered: MSN,
DNP, and
Post-Graduate Certification
Saint John Fisher College designs its FNP programs in New York keeping the working nurse in mind. These programs are ideal if you prefer face-to-face interaction with the convenience of weekday evening classes. Through its MSN, DNP, or post-graduate certificate, you can acquire the knowledge and skills that will put you at the forefront of primary care of individuals & families of all ages.
MSN Program Details: This MSN program is offered twice a year in fall and spring and requires completion of 47 credits and 600 clinical hours. As a Fisher nurse student, you will receive extensive simulation training at its state-of-art simulated hospital, after which you will apply the newly acquired knowledge in real-world settings through clinical rotations throughout the Rochester area.
DNP Program Details: You can enter this DNP either after completing a BSN or an MSN. Post a BSN you must complete 62 to 72 credits, whereas, with an advanced placement after an MSN, you require completing 33 credits. Regardless of your entry point, you must complete 1,000 hours in clinical practice.
Post-Graduate Certificate Program Details: As an MSN graduate, if you want to add a specialty to expand your nursing practice then what better than completing this post-graduate certificate which prepares you to sit for the FNP certification exam by completing additional coursework. The number of credits you require to complete will be based on your previous nursing degree, irrespective of which 500 to 600 hours of clinical practice must be completed.
6. SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Utica
Programs Offered: RN to BS/MS,
MSN, and
Advanced Certificate
Ever thought of taking your associate in nursing straight to become an FNP in New York? Well, by enrolling in SUNY Polytechnic Institute's FNP programs in New York you can accelerate your path to becoming an advanced primary care provider. Here, FNP students are trained to become compassionate caregivers and ethical leaders & decision-makers. In addition to the ADN to BS/MS, the college also offers an MSN and an advanced certificate program.
RN to BS/MS Program Details: To qualify for this RN to BS/MS pathway you must have completed your ADN with a minimum GPA of 3.2. Additionally, you must hold an active RN license in NY and must have worked as a nurse for at least 2,000 hours. Upon enrollment, you will complete the BSN portion which can be done only on a full-time basis, after which you continue to take the MSN courses for which you can either choose part-time or full-time classes. As such, you require to earn 169 credits, however, the exact number depends on your previously completed liberal arts and general education courses. At the end of the three-year program, you earn a BSN and an MSN-FNP degree.
MSN Program Details: This MSN is a 45-credit evidence-based curriculum that offers most of the coursework online. The program builds on your BSN and also provides for a solid foundation, should you aspire to complete your doctoral education. You can complete this program either full-time or part-time.
Advanced Certificate Program Details: This advanced certificate is available to registered nurses prepared with a master’s degree. The 36-credit coursework educates you in family theory, clinical pharmacology, advanced health assessment, pathophysiology, health promotion & disease prevention, and family primary health care across the lifespan.
7. Pace University, NYC & Westchester
Programs Offered: MSN and
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS)
Pace University's FNP programs in New York exclusively focus on family and primary care for clients across the lifespan. FNP graduates here are known to deliver competent primary care consistent with evidence-based knowledge and cultural relevance. Pace offers the FNP specialization in conjunction with its MSN and post-graduate certificate.
MSN Program Details: This FNP program in New York is a 42-credit curriculum open to BSN graduates, carrying an active RN license. The program is a blended format with the possibility of completing clinical rotations in your geographical location. Some of the courses you take include leadership in advanced nursing, scholarly inquiry, pathophysiology, clinical pharmacology, physical assessment, and theory & practice for FNPs.
CAGS Program Details: To qualify for this certificate you must be a master’s prepared nurse practitioner who is keen on specializing in family health. By completing an additional coursework of 18 to 30 credits and 550 clinical hours, you will gain eligibility to take the FNP certification exam.
8. University of Rochester, Rochester
Programs Offered: RN to BS to MS,
MSN,
Post-BS to DNP,
MS-PhD,
Post-Master's Certificate, and
Accelerated Master’s Program for Non-Nurses (AMPNN)
Whether you are an RN seeking career advancement or a non-nurse desiring a switchover to nursing, University of Rochester is one of the few family nurse practitioner programs in New York that offer the widest range of options to suit your individual needs. Being home to a world-class medical center, as an FNP student here, you can choose to complete your clinical rotations right within the campus or anywhere in the region. UR's school of nursing currently offers six FNP programs in New York.
RN to BSN to MSN Program Details: This program is meant for a registered nurse holding either a diploma or an associate degree in nursing. So, typically upon enrollment, you complete the 32 credits of the BSN coursework and then move forward to earn the 55 credits of the MSN-FNP coursework. Also, required is completing 672 hours of FNP-related clinical practice.
MSN Program Details: As a BSN prepared registered nurse you can complete your MSN in family health primary care across the lifespan with this FNP program. The coursework is offered partly online and requires completing 55 credits & 672 clinical hours to graduate.
Post-BS to DNP Program Details: This post-BSN to DNP can seamlessly confer upon you the highest degree in nursing. Typically, ideal for BSN graduates, you can enter this program even after completing an MSN.
MS-PhD Program Details: Out of all FNP programs in New York, this is the only program that offers a BSN prepared registered nurse the opportunity to complete an MSN-FNP concurrently with a Ph.D. in Nursing and Health Science, all this in five years of full-time study. By completing this unique program, you can make way for prime positions in healthcare research and leadership. Eligible students of this program can receive a 100% tuition waiver and an opportunity to earn a stipend for the first four years.
Post-Master's Certificate Program Details: This post-master’s certificate is customized based on your previously completed coursework. Approximately, you must complete 38 credits after which you will be eligible to take the FNP certification.
AMPNN Program Details: You are an ideal candidate for this program if you are a non-nurse with a bachelor’s degree and aspiring a career as a nurse practitioner. Initially, during the first year, you complete the BSN portion after which you take the NCLEX-RN exam and earn the status of a registered nurse. Thereafter, the college advises one year of work experience as a nurse before starting with the MSN-FNP portion of the coursework. Depending on the pre-requisites completed, most students complete this program in 3 to 4 years.
9. Dominican College, Orangeburg
Programs Offered: MSN
As an FNP in the state of New York, you will find promising employment opportunities that not only pay well but at the same time offer fulfilling work experiences. With Dominican College’s MSN-FNP program you can pursue this career advancement without keeping your current work commitments on hold as classes are conducted on weekday evenings. With the added flexibility of choosing to take either one or two courses per semester, you can decide on a pace that suits your full-time work schedule.
The MSN-FNP program comprises 42 credits and takes you through MSN core, FNP, and elective courses. You learn comprehensive health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacology, theoretical foundations of nursing, and advanced practice care of families of all ages. Also, you must complete two elective courses, depending on your interest you can choose from politics & policy, healthcare finance, nursing curriculum design, evaluation of procedures, or inferential statistics.
10. D'Youville College, Buffalo
Programs Offered: MSN,
DNP, and
Advanced Certificate
Not many FNP programs in New York offer interdisciplinary education the way D’Youville College does. As an FNP student here, you will go through a unique clinical immersion at its interdisciplinary simulation lab that replicates a healthcare facility. You will work with students from seven other healthcare disciplines, treating mock patients under faculty supervision. This experience trains you to effectively collaborate with members of a healthcare team to better patient outcomes in the real world. Whether you enter the MSN, DNP, or advanced certificate, you enjoy the flexibility of part-time or full-time schedules, taking classes through a combination of online and on-campus formats.
MSN Program Details: This MSN program requires you to have completed your BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Additionally, you must carry an active RN license in NY or Ontario. The 43-credit curriculum comprises MSN core, research, and FNP-specific courses. You also take courses in policy design, implementation, and evaluation. Towards the end of the coursework, you complete a clinical practicum in pediatrics, women’s health, and adult health.
DNP Program Details: To be eligible for this DNP program you must be an APRN who is prepared at the master’s level. The coursework builds upon your previous nursing degree by advancing your knowledge to take up leadership roles in family health, research, education, and healthcare administration. The curriculum comprises 25 credits in DNP-FNP courses and 9 credits in an interdisciplinary coursework
Advanced Certificate Program Details: If you have completed your MSN and aspire to become a primary caregiver then this program can be right for you. By completing 30 credits and 700 clinical hours you will be eligible to take the FNP certification exam.
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