Online FNP programs are designed to provide working RN’s with the flexibility to move forward in their academic and professional careers. Aspiring family nurse practitioners have the option to pursue an RN to MSN bridge program, or for those with their BSN, go right into online nurse practitioner programs. Pursuing nurse practitioner programs can look like full- or part-time study, flexible clinical hours and location, and a significantly positive job outlook.
The career of an FNP can be highly satisfying, as family nurse practitioners will usually sustain a long term relationship with their patients through the general practice or hospital they work for. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 45% job outlook for nurse practitioners through the year 2029, a much higher than average rate of increase among all careers. Plus, the median annual salary of NP’s reported by the BLS in 2019 hit $115,800, making this a very lucrative profession for those in it for the long haul.
While a future in this career looks financially sustainable, the present cost of online nurse practitioner programs will remain a significant factor in your decision to pay for this degree. Explore our “Best Buy” list below to make the next move toward affordable online FNP programs. GetEducated has compared the cost of 108 accredited FNP programs from 107 online nursing schools to bring you the most economically viable options across the United States. With a difference in tuition of over $83,000 between the most expensive and cheapest programs, it pays to research before you commit to an online nurse practitioner program.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$35,300
Least Expensive: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center ~$14,898
Most Expensive: University of Southern California ~$98,310
Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There’s no fancy formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and therefore factually showcase the cheapest online nurse practitioner programs. The online degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2021 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Most Affordable Online FNP Programs
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | (TX) | $14,898.00 $30,642.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
2 | Texas A & M International University | (TX) | $16,118.88 $39,504.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
3 | University of North Alabama | (AL) | $16,400.00 | All Students |
4 | Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi | (TX) | $18,253.79 $41,809.49 | In-State Out-of-State |
5 | Columbus State University | (GA) | $18,660.00 | All Students |
6 | Henderson State University | (AR) | $19,575.00 | All Students |
7 | The University of Texas at Tyler | (TX) | $19,787.00 $41,924.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
8 | Midwestern State University | (TX) | $20,367.60 | All Students |
9 | Wheeling University | (WV) | $20,715.00 | All Students |
10 | Indiana State University | (IN) | $20,772.00 $26,788.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
11 | Auburn University at Montgomery | (AL) | $20,899.00 $22,747.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
12 | New England Institute of Technology | (RI) | $21,450.00 | All Students |
13 | Post University | (CT) | $21,565.00 $13,135.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
14 |  Western Governors University | (UT) | $21,580.00 | All Students |
15 | University of Southern Indiana | (IN) | $22,203.56 $23,463.56 | In-State Out-of-State |
16 | The University of Texas Medical Branch | (TX) | $22,426.90 $43,161.74 | In-State Out-of-State |
17 |  University of West Florida | (FL) | $22,500.00 | All Students |
18 | University of Southern Mississippi | (MS) | $23,120.00 | All Students |
19 | AdventHealth University | (FL) | $23,165.00 | All Students |
20 | Troy University | (AL) | $23,218.00 | All Students |
21 | Texas Woman's University | (TX) | $23,955.86 $42,769.86 | In-State Out-of-State |
22 | University of Missouri-Columbia | (MO) | $23,999.25 | All Students |
23 | Youngstown State University | (OH) | $24,242.00 $24,472.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
24 | Ball State University | (IN) | $24,364.00 $34,328.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
25 | Cedarville University | (OH) | $24,971.00 | All Students |
26 | Austin Peay State University | (TN) | $25,075.45 $34,750.45 | In-State Out-of-State |
27 | Florida National University | (FL) | $25,172.00 | All Students |
28 | The University of Texas at El Paso | (TX) | $25,392.00 $35,972.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
29 | Tennessee State University | (TN) | $25,627.00 $36,701.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
30 |  Campbellsville University | (KY) | $25,905.00 | All Students |
31 | Stephen F. Austin State University | (TX) | $26,059.00 $46,391.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
32 | ECPI University | (VA) | $26,365.00 | All Students |
33 | Morningside College | (IA) | $26,892.00 | All Students |
34 |  Ohio University | (OH) | $27,388.00 $28,167.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
35 | Northern Kentucky University | (KY) | $28,018.00 | All Students |
36 | University of South Alabama | (AL) | $28,080.00 | All Students |
37 | Old Dominion University | (VA) | $28,524.00 $30,680.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
38 | Franklin University | (OH) | $28,805.00 $23,311.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
39 | Northern Arizona University | (AZ) | $28,848.00 | All Students |
40 | Cox College | (MO) | $28,895.00 | All Students |
41 | Carson-Newman University | (TN) | $29,250.00 | All Students |
42 | Morehead State University | (KY) | $29,351.00 | All Students |
43 | The University of Texas at Arlington | (TX) | $30,084.00 | All Students |
44 | Fairleigh Dickinson University | (NJ) | $30,525.00 | All Students |
45 | East Tennessee State University | (TN) | $30,651.00 $40,851.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
46 | Eastern Kentucky University | (KY) | $31,114.00 | All Students |
47 | University of Memphis | (TN) | $31,142.00 | All Students |
48 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | (MO) | $31,266.20 $56,773.20 | In-State Out-of-State |
49 | Wilkes University | (PA) | $31,304.00 | All Students |
50 | Allen College | (IA) | $31,870.00 | All Students |
51 | Saint Joseph's College of Maine | (ME) | $31,899.00 | All Students |
52 | Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing | (IL) | $31,970.00 | All Students |
53 | Clarkson College | (NE) | $32,244.00 | All Students |
54 | Saint Francis University | (PA) | $32,295.00 | All Students |
55 | Wright State University | (OH) | $32,340.00 $55,125.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
56 | Frostburg State University | (MD) | $32,572.00 $42,472.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
57 |  Rivier University | (NH) | $33,130.00 | All Students |
58 | University of Mobile | (AL) | $33,280.00 | All Students |
59 | Indiana Wesleyan University | (IN) | $33,467.00 | All Students |
60 | Chamberlain University | (IL) | $33,600.00 $29,100.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
61 | University of Colorado - Colorado Springs | (CO) | $33,774.20 $38,387.25 | In-State Out-of-State |
62 | Husson University | (ME) | $34,716.00 | All Students |
63 | Mount Marty University | (SD) | $35,020.00 | All Students |
64 | University of Michigan-Flint | (MI) | $35,099.00 $51,678.25 | In-State Out-of-State |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Olivet Nazarene University | (IL) | $35,880.00 | All Students | |
Rockhurst University | (MO) | $35,949.00 | All Students | |
University of South Carolina-Columbia | (SC) | $36,201.75 $67,586.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Saint Xavier University | (IL) | $36,550.00 | All Students | |
South College | (TN) | $37,325.00 | All Students | |
Northwest Nazarene University | (ID) | $37,895.00 | All Students | |
Norwich University | (VT) | $39,525.00 | All Students | |
American International College | (MA) | $39,870.00 | All Students | |
Frontier Nursing University | (KY) | $40,048.00 | All Students | |
Spring Arbor University | (MI) | $40,455.00 | All Students | |
University of Cincinnati | (OH) | $40,678.00 $41,428.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Loyola University New Orleans | (LA) | $40,700.00 | All Students | |
Davenport University | (MI) | $40,785.00 | All Students | |
Samford University | (AL) | $41,021.00 | All Students | |
West Coast University | (CA) | $41,305.00 $35,787.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
University of North Dakota | (ND) | $41,967.52 | All Students | |
University of Colorado Denver | (CO) | $42,200.00 $66,672.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Maryville University | (MO) | $42,261.00 | All Students | |
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences | (CA) | $42,277.00 | All Students | |
MCPHS University | (MA) | $42,390.00 | All Students | |
Graceland University | (IA) | $42,772.00 | All Students | |
Walden University | (MN) | $43,350.00 $37,129.50 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Regis University | (CO) | $43,680.00 | All Students | |
Bradley University | (IL) | $44,023.00 | All Students | |
University of Connecticut | (CT) | $44,400.00 | All Students | |
Regis College | (MA) | $45,380.00 $38,618.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Rider University | (NJ) | $47,920.00 | All Students | |
 Sacred Heart University | (CT) | $47,985.00 | All Students | |
Edgewood College | (WI) | $49,536.00 | All Students | |
Gonzaga University | (WA) | $49,580.00 | All Students | |
 George Mason University | (VA) | $50,579.00 | All Students | |
Thomas Jefferson University | (PA) | $50,732.00 | All Students | |
Samford University | (AL) | $52,582.00 | All Students | |
Drexel University | (PA) | $57,456.00 $47,880.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Simmons University | (MA) | $58,920.00 | All Students | |
Duquesne University | (PA) | $64,303.00 | All Students | |
The George Washington University | (DC) | $67,135.00 | All Students | |
Samuel Merritt University | (CA) | $68,123.00 | All Students | |
Ohio State University | (OH) | $69,783.80 $71,183.80 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Georgetown University | (DC) | $97,516.00 | All Students | |
University of Southern California | (CA) | $98,310.00 | All Students |
Accreditation & Program Notes
To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.
ACEN Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
CCNE Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
14 Options for this program have changed since publication.
Rankings Note
These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Spring 2021 review of regionally accredited online family nurse practitioner programs. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online master degree programs in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules.
The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost
Editorial Note
Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers a master’s degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.
These rankings of the cheapest online schools for FNP programs may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best online nurse practitioner programs for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.
Career Guide: Online FNP Programs
With a renewed focus on health and wellbeing, we need more healthcare professionals than ever before. If you are working in the nursing profession and want to advance your career, online nurse practitioner programs allow you to take advantage of this trend. Once complete, you’ll be ready to earn a high salary while increasing your job opportunities.
What to Expect from Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
A family nurse practitioner is a type of nurse that provides specialized care for a variety of patients. Some nurse practitioners provide care for people of all ages, but in some cases they may specialize in a specific age group or demographic, such as the elderly or youth.
When enrolling in classes, you’ll have the opportunity to choose a variety of specialties, but overall you will be trained in the basics of nursing and healthcare while studying subjects like pharmacology, biology, and anatomy.
In online FNP programs, you’ll also take classes that are specific to the concentration. Course may include primary care topics, advanced health assessments, health promotion, and other subjects that make you a top-quality care giver.
Family nurse practitioners see patients for many different reasons. They might meet with patients who are experiencing mild illness, or they may deal with people who have serious conditions. They could be meeting with patients for simple routine exams or providing advice and support to help maintain a healthy lifestyle. These are all important for wellness, which is why online FNP programs include vast curriculum that covers a wide variety of needed skill-sets.
Online FNP Programs: Primary Care vs Acute Care?
When you are enrolled in online FNP programs, you may have to make a decision on whether you study primary care or acute care. In your career, you could also focus on primary or acute services, so understanding the difference is important if you expect to be a nurse practitioner.
Primary care is focused on providing comprehensive support that is continuous and builds a longterm relationship with the client. It generally involves the promotion of healthy lifestyle, routine exams, health screenings, and education about healthy living. Even if a patient is not sick or unhealthy in any way, they will likely meet with a primary care provider.
Acute care, on the other hand, comes into play when there is a specific problem. Acute care providers focus on a specific condition, disease, or illness, and provide temporary support for an exact problem.
No matter what type of focus or speciality in your chosen online nurse practitioner program, you’ll graduate with skills that apply to many careers, including…
Nurse Practitioner
- Median Salary: $109,820
- Job Growth: 52%
- Education: Master’s
- Training/Work Experience: None
A nurse practitioner is one of the rapidly-growing professionals in the healthcare industry. Delivering advanced care to a variety of people, these experts perform many different functions, including the assessment of patients and the administration of care.
Nurse Midwife
- Median Salary: $105,030
- Job Growth: 12%
- Education: Master’s
- Training/Work Experience: None
A nurse midwife largely focuses on the care of women, especially reproductive care and care during pregnancy and birthing. They often provide family-planning services, deliver babies, manage emergencies during labor, and may even provide surgical support for pregnant women if needed. Although highly challenging, this can be one of the most respected and appreciated positions in the entire healthcare industry.
FNP Requirements for Certification, Education & Experience
Certification is required for any type of nursing or medical profession where you have direct contact with patients. While administrative and management professionals may not be certified, virtually everyone in a medical facility has certification of some kind.
For nurse practitioners, there are several different certification organizations depending on your specific focus. You may need to be certified through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), or the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB), depending on which applies to your specific career. All of these will require regular renewal to ensure you are up-to-date on all of your skills and medical knowledge.
If you become a midwife, you’ll need to hold certification through the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), a group that offers Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) designation.
Previous experience in the medical industry may be required, not as part of the profession, but as an entry requirement into nurse practitioner programs online. Not all programs will have this requirement, but some may require a year or two in the medical field.
The top online FNP programs can launch an exciting career as a nursing professional. Giving you the skills for further advancement in a medical center, it could be the key to increased salaries and enhanced job opportunities.