BSN to DNP Online – Family Nurse Practitioner
With Your BSN, You’re Ready to Prepare for FNP Practice
Online Coursework
As Few as 42 Months (11 Semesters)
72 Credit Hours
$860 per Credit
Request More Information
Complete this form to receive information about coursework, admissions, tuition, and more.
The Online BSN to DNP – Family Nurse Practitioner Program with Chicago Roots
- Apply By: 12/14/26
- Start Class: 01/11/27
Family nurse practitioners assess, diagnose, and treat patients across the lifespan, from pediatric patients to older adults. With North Park University’s BSN to DNP – Family Nurse Practitioner program, you can acquire qualifications for these roles without leaving your city, your patients, or your life behind.
The online coursework is designed to fit within your schedule and the demands of nursing. Through our clinical network, you can find placement opportunities with health systems in Chicago, the city North Park has called home since 1891.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at North Park University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
Program Details
- Your BSN puts a DNP degree within reach, no MSN required
- Complete the online coursework without pausing your career
- Prepare to meet the requirements for APRN licensure
- Study part-time or full-time
More Information About This Program
Click on each tab below to learn additional details regarding the program requirements and features.
Curriculum
Preview the BSN to DNP – Family Nurse Practitioner Curriculum
27 Courses
72 Credit Hours
North Park’s online Doctor of Nursing Practice with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration prepares students to care for individuals and families across the lifespan. You’ll complete online courses on healthcare information systems, pediatric and adult health management, biostatistics, advanced pharmacology, and more. This pathway also includes an on-site skill immersion that sharpens your clinical skills in our simulation labs.
In the BSN to DNP – FNP online program, we offer small cohorts by design. As a result, our faculty members take time to learn your goals and provide mentorship that supports your growth. Optional synchronous sessions provide additional time with faculty and help you connect with other students in your cohort.
Explore the Benefits of North Park’s Online BSN to DNP Program
Learn from Active Practitioners Who Believe in You
Our small cohorts are led by faculty who take the time to learn your goals and stay invested in your achievements after attaining your DNP.
Complete Clinical Hours in Chicago and Beyond
We’ve been part of Chicago’s healthcare community for more than 130 years. Leverage our partnerships to find clinical placement opportunities.
Forge Connections Beyond the Online Coursework
Interact with your faculty and peers to establish career connections and celebrate your accomplishments during white coat ceremonies.
Admission Requirements
Get Started in the BSN to DNP – Family Nurse Practitioner Online Program
Application Deadline 12/14/26
Start Date 01/11/27
Complete the BSN to DNP online program to take a direct path to advanced nursing roles. Review the following table to learn what to include with your application to North Park. You can save your progress after starting the online application, and our enrollment team is here to help every step of the way.
| Online Application Form | Completed NursingCAS application |
|---|---|
| Eligibility Requirements |
|
| GPA Requirement | 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale |
| Transcripts | Official transcripts from all previous schools required, submitted via NursingCAS |
| Prerequisite Courses | Transcripts must show completion of the following prerequisite courses, with a grade of C or higher:
|
| Transfer Credits | Graduate nursing students may transfer a maximum of nine semester hours of equivalent coursework from an ACEN, NLN or CCNE accredited Master of Science in Nursing program to North Park, with approval. Transferred courses must have a grade of “B” or higher and be no more than five years old. The credentials examiner, in consultation with the academic standing committee of the graduate nursing faculty, will ascertain the transferability of a course. |
| Work Experience | All new RN students with less than one year of full-time or two years of part-time nursing experience (paid employment as an RN), must work as an RN during the program. |
| Additional Requirements |
|
It’s Always a Good Time to Apply to North Park
With multiple start dates per year, we make it easy for you to apply to the program of your choice and begin your educational journey. Our admissions process is straightforward, and our team is always here to guide you through the process.
AdmissionsTuition & Aid
Begin Your Online BSN to DNP Program with Straightforward Tuition
Calculate your cost for attending North Park
Use our tuition calculator to help you estimate your total tuition costs.
North Park’s online BSN to DNP – Family Nurse Practitioner program keeps its costs transparent. Review the following table for tuition details. You can also request information to discuss financial aid and other ways to make this online program fit your budget.
| Cost per Credit Hour | $860 |
|---|---|
| Total Number of Credit Hours | 72 |
| Total Estimated Tuition | $61,920 |
| Additional Fees |
|
| Other Costs to Budget For | Additional costs may include books and materials not billed to you by North Park. These costs can vary depending on what courses you need to take, how you obtain textbooks, and a variety of other factors. There may also be costs associated with licensure and examination. |
Military Students at North Park
North Park University welcomes veterans of the US Armed Forces as students. Financial benefits are available for veterans attending the university as undergraduate or graduate students. Questions about benefits for veterans should be directed to the veterans coordinator in the Office of the Registrar at (773) 244-5560 or by email.
Paying for Your North Park Degree
There are multiple options for financing your degree at North Park. Be sure to submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year and explore third-party scholarship opportunities. Investing in your education is a big decision, and we are here to help you finance your degree in a way that fits your needs. Programs are not eligible for NPU scholarships, or tuition discounts.
Tuition Details
Expand Your Career Prospects Through the Family Nurse Practitioner – BSN to DNP Program
Family nurse practitioners deliver primary care across a range of settings, from family practices and urgent care centers to hospitals and telehealth. The online BSN to DNP – Family Nurse Practitioner pathway prepares you to become the clinician your community depends on, and demand for these roles is rising. From 2024 to 2034, employers are projected to post 32,700 openings for nurse practitioners and other APRNs each year.1 The Chicago metropolitan area also ranks among the top five metro areas for nurse practitioner employment nationwide.2
Nurse Practitioner Careers in Chicago
Family Nurse Practitioner $115,108 per year3
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner $104,621 per year4
What You’ll Learn
North Park equips you with the clinical depth and authority that FNP roles require. You’ll complete immersive online courses and hands-on experiences that enable you to build patient relationships focusing on positive health outcomes. Our Christian mission shapes each course, strengthening your moral conviction as you gain competencies in:
- Adult health management
- Advanced health assessment
- Advanced pharmacology
- Biostatistics
- Health and wellness promotion
- Health information systems
- Pediatric health management
- Population health epidemiology
- Women’s health management
Program Outcomes
- Integrate science-based theories and concepts with ethical principles in the development, delivery, and evaluation of practice approaches that improve outcomes and reflect the Christian principles of the philosophy of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
- Utilize knowledge of organizations and systems together with leadership skills to improve health outcomes and ensure patient safety.
- Provide leadership for the translation of research into practice.
- Show proficiency in the use of information systems/technology resources to implement quality improvement initiatives and to support practice and administrative decision-making.
- Demonstrate leadership in the development and implementation of health policy at various levels.
- Employ leadership skills with interprofessional teams to improve patient and population health outcomes.
- Engage in leadership to operationalize evidence-based clinical prevention and population health services for individuals, aggregates, and populations.
- Apply advanced levels of clinical judgment, systems thinking, and accountability in designing, delivering, and evaluating evidence-based approaches to improve patient outcomes.
Expert Faculty Who Are Committed to Your Success
Our instructors have professional experience in their respective fields and are ready to form meaningful relationships with you as they guide and mentor you toward success. Our faculty are committed to the achievement of every student.
Dr. Christine Smith, Associate Professor of Nursing
Faculty Spotlight: Christine Smith
Dr. Christine Smith teaches from a Christian worldview and embraces the School of Nursing’s philosophy—that all people have intrinsic value, are worthy of respect, and that health is experienced when we are in harmony with the self, the environment, the community, and God.
For a city-centered experience, students perform practicums at community health centers located in Chicago. Smith invites her students to work alongside her at a local shelter, where she offers health education classes. She has also served as an advisor to student mission trips to Mexico.
Upon graduating, nursing students are trained to work in primary care settings and find employment in a variety of settings. According to Smith, some choose to work in community health centers, private practice offices, or work with seniors in rehabilitation centers or long-term care facilities. Other students work in school-based health centers, specialty care clinics, or retail clinics.
Education
- DNP, Rush University
- MA, Biblical Studies, Moody Bible Institute
- BSN, University of Illinois-Chicago
Professional Organizations & Associations
- Member, Christian Community Health Fellowship and Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nursing
Online Learning Experience
At North Park University, we’re here for you — even when you aren’t here. Our online programs are delivered through Canvas and taught by responsive faculty. You’ll be supported every step of the way.
Benefits:
- Hands-on, supportive faculty who have experience in online learning environments
- Flexible coursework that can be completed when and where you are
- Connections with a diverse student body from many walks of life, helping you develop a global perspective
- North Park University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Related Programs
Sources and Disclaimers
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners.” Retrieved June 12, 2026, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023. 29-1171 Nurse Practitioners. Retrieved June 12, 2026, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes291171.htm.
- Payscale. “Average Family Nurse Practitioner (NP) Salary in Chicago, Illinois.” Retrieved June 18, 2026, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Family_Nurse_Practitioner_(NP)/Salary/90aac943/Chicago-IL.
- Payscale. “Average Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (NP) Salary in Chicago, Illinois.” Retrieved June 18, 2026, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Women%27s_Health_Nurse_Practitioner_(NP)/Salary/a7d5a568/Chicago-IL.