Online FNP Program Fast Facts

• 100% online (not including clinicals or practicum)
• Complete the online MSN-FNP in as few as 32 months, taking twelve 15-week courses
• Learn from experienced FNP and DNP faculty who are active nurse practitioners in their communities
• One three-day on-campus residency experience connects you with your peers and instructors 
• Accredited by:
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
  • Approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing
• #26 in Best Value Schools – U.S. News & World Report, 2018
• #66 in Regional Universities South – U.S. News & World Report, 2018

To learn more, please download our program guide.

Online FNP Program Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the online MSN-FNP program, you must have the following:

• Bachelor’s degree from an NLN- or CCNE-accredited program

• 3.0 minimum GPA

• Two letters of recommendation

• Active RN license 

• Letter of personal goals and aspirations

To learn more about transfer credit options and tuition, download our program guide.

Online FNP Program Careers and Outcomes

Students in an online MSN-FNP program can continue working and demonstrate their new skills while they're still in school. MSN Family Nurse Practitioners typically earn more than an RN or BSN-prepared nurse. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the average annual salary for a nurse practitioner was $100,000 in 2016. This is approximately $39,000 more than the 2016 average annual salary of a registered nurse at $68,450. Individuals with an online MSN-FNP credential enter the rapidly growing field of advanced practice nursing. Within the next decade, more than 60,000 advanced nursing specialty positions are expected to be created.

Fulfilling a Need

By earning an MSN-FNP degree and becoming a nurse practitioner, graduates will help fulfill a need for primary care providers. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) predicts a shortage of more than 20,000 primary care physicians by 2020. The National Governors Association predicts that by 2019, the number of visits to healthcare providers will increase by 15-25 million visits per year. As a result, there is an increasing need for primary care providers like nurse practitioners. Family nurse practitioners are answering the call and filling the gap left by physicians. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners notes that more advanced practice nurses are choosing a primary care focus than physicians. In 2017, more than 87% of NPs were trained in primary care while only 14.5% of physicians entered a primary care residency. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation cites studies that show nurse practitioners can manage 80-90% of the primary care provided by physicians.

Job Satisfaction

Family nurse practitioners enjoy a high rate of job satisfaction. An FNP is one of the top three Best Healthcare Jobs and in the top four of the 100 Best Jobs according to U.S. News & World Report, 2017. Contributing to FNPs’ job satisfaction are career stability, a healthy job market and a positive work-life balance. Nurse practitioners enjoy a strong job market. With the aging Baby Boomer population, there is an increasing need for primary care providers. More than 60,000 advanced practice nursing positions are expected to be created by 2026 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Family nurse practitioners enjoy more autonomy than RNs. Some states grant prescriptive privileges to FNPs. FNPs can also provide a variety of primary care services. As a result, FNPs can choose whether they would like to work as a solo practitioner or in various healthcare settings. FNPs are also more likely to set their hours and determine when they work.

To learn more, please download our program guide.