BSN to DNP: Family Nurse Practitioner

Earn your Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), the highest practice-focused degree in nursing, while preparing to become a Family Nurse Practitioner through the University of Mary's BSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner program.

With more than 40 years of excellence in nurse practitioner education, our fully accredited program prepares you to deliver comprehensive, evidence-based primary care across the lifespan while developing the leadership, clinical reasoning, and decision-making skills needed to improve health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

We prepare graduates to provide exceptional patient care and lead quality improvement initiatives, influence health care systems as a whole, and advance the entire nursing profession.

Take the First Step

Get in touch with any questions or submit a simple application for admission.
We will assist you every step of the way toward acceptance into your academic program so you can enroll and begin your classes!

At a Glance

100%
of our 2024 & 2025 graduates passed the AANP national FNP certification examination.

Program Length

As little as 2.7 years

Format

Online with week-long institutes on the main campus in Bismarck, ND

Tuition per Credit

$685

Next Start Date: 9/7/2026

Fall Start

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Is This the Degree For Me?

Who It’s For

  • BSN-prepared registered nurses who aspire to become Family Nurse Practitioners and provide comprehensive, evidence-based primary care across the lifespan.
  • Nurses seeking to develop advanced clinical reasoning, diagnostic, and management skills while preparing for autonomous practice and leadership within health care systems.
  • Nurses committed to improving the health of individuals, families, and communities through lifelong learning, professional excellence, and evidence-based practice.
  • Nurses who value a faith-based educational experience rooted in the Benedictine values of hospitality, community, service, and respect for persons.

Career Paths

  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Primary Care Provider
  • Nurse Educator
  • Clinical Faculty Member
  • Health Care Administrator
  • Clinical Program Director
  • Health Care Policy and Advocacy Leader
  • Population Health Leader

What You’ll Learn

Through a curriculum grounded in evidence-based practice, advanced clinical training, and the Benedictine values, graduates are prepared to:

  • Provide comprehensive, person-centered primary care across the lifespan through health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis, and management of acute and chronic health conditions.
  • Apply advanced clinical reasoning and evidence-based decision-making to improve patient, population, and system outcomes.
  • Integrate health care technologies, informatics, and telehealth into practice to enhance access, quality, safety, and patient engagement.
  • Lead interprofessional teams and quality improvement initiatives that advance health care delivery and patient outcomes.
  • Translate research into practice through critical appraisal, synthesis of evidence, and scholarly inquiry.
  • Advocate for patients, families, communities, and the nursing profession through ethical leadership, healthcare policy engagement, and systems thinking.
  • Incorporate Benedictine values to promote human dignity, cultural humility, compassionate care, and respect for persons in all healthcare settings.

Expand Your Skillsets

Students may choose to further customize their degree plan by completing one or more of the following optional concentration sequences. These concentrations provide additional expertise in specialized areas of interest but are not required for completion of the DNP/FNP program:

We are so fortunate to be able to come to campus to have hands-on learning opportunities frequently throughout the program. At these institutes, we learn advanced skills like suturing, intubation, obstetrical care, etc, but most importantly, we gain the camaraderie of our teammates and professors. Our professors are experts in the field, which offers an invaluable resource to the learner, but what I really appreciate is that they believe in us, too. Being able to believe in yourself is a lot easier to do when you have people you look up to who believe in you, too.

Kaleb Kirby
Kaleb Kirby, 2025

Accreditations

  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

    The baccalaureate degree, master's degree, and doctor of nursing practice programs at the University of Mary are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

    View Accreditation (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education)

Program Details

Program Information

Please visit our catalog for admission requirements and a full list of our courses.

Your first step is to get in touch with any questions or submit a simple application for admission. We will assist you every step of the way toward acceptance into your academic program so you can enroll and begin your classes!

If you are serving or have served our country, we sincerely thank you. Our military services office is here to work closely with active duty, retired, reserve, and eligible family members qualified for military benefits. Learn how we can help you with the application process and review the benefits you have earned.

For a full list of fees, visit our Tuition and Fees page.

The University of Mary is committed to putting your educational goals within reach. Learn what scholarships you qualify for.

We welcome students from various backgrounds, including transfer students from institutionally accredited colleges and universities recognized by the US Dept. of Education and those with military or career and work experience. 

How do I show my previous college, military, or work experience?

  • Official transcripts (if applicable) from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 should be submitted directly to the Office of Admissions.
    • Did you graduate from the University of Mary? Then we’ll get your Mary transcript for you!
    • At most other schools, you can request transcripts by going to the National Student Clearinghouse or by contacting the registrar’s office. 
      • Have your transcripts sent to:
        Office of Admissions
        University of Mary
        7500 University Drive
        Bismarck, ND 58504
      • Or request to send electronic transcripts to registrar@umary.edu.
  • Students with previous career or work experience can earn credits for prior learning.
    • You can choose to test for prior learning credits — we convert your test scores into college credit.
    • You can request a portfolio review for prior learning credits. You’ll assemble documentation to show your experience, which will be reviewed and evaluated by an experienced faculty member.
  • Military experience can count towards a degree.
WHAT WILL I NEED TO APPLY?
  • All of our programs require you to fill out the general application form in addition to submitting the application fee and your transcripts.
  • Any program-specific requirements you’ll need to submit in addition to the items listed above can be found in our catalog.

At the University of Mary, we review every application on an individual basis, ensuring that the materials you submit are evaluated with care and attention. Reach out to us if you have any questions in filling out your application.

Get Started Today

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