Kansas NP Programs at a Glance
| State practice authority | Full Practice Authority – NPs evaluate, diagnose, and prescribe independently |
| Kansas Board of Nursing | Kansas Board of Nursing |
| Kansas median NP wage | ~$115,000 (Payscale/BLS, 2024). See Kansas state OES tables for current detail. |
| National median NP wage | $129,210/year (BLS, May 2024) |
| Projected NP job growth | 46% (2023–2033) nationally – one of the fastest-growing professions |
| Primary accreditors | CCNE · ACEN |
| Common NP specialty tracks | FNP, AGNP (Primary/Acute), PMHNP, PNP, WHNP, NNP |
| Typical program length | 2–3 years (MSN-NP) or 3–4 years (BSN-to-DNP), full-time post-BSN |
Our Editorial Process
This guide is written by a credentialed nurse and reviewed against source-of-truth references at least annually. Program accreditation is verified against the CCNE program directory and ACEN directory. Kansas licensure information is verified against the Kansas Board of Nursing. Salary and growth figures come directly from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Kansas data. Read our full editorial standards.
2026 Updates for Kansas NP Programs
- Kansas practice authority. Kansas is a Full Practice Authority state. Licensed nurse practitioners can evaluate, diagnose, order tests, and prescribe medications independently of physician supervision. Kansas is one of 27 states + DC granting full NP autonomy under state law.
- BLS data refresh (May 2024 OES). National median NP wage is now $129,210; Kansas-specific data is published in the Kansas state OES tables.
- Projected NP job growth. 46% projected employment growth from 2023 to 2033 nationally – one of the fastest-growing occupations the BLS tracks.
- AACN 2025 Position Statement. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reaffirmed the DNP as the preferred terminal degree for advanced practice. BSN-to-DNP and post-master’s DNP pathways continue to be the dominant educational routes for new NPs in Kansas.
- Telehealth permanence. Federal and state telehealth flexibilities introduced during 2020 have largely been made permanent, expanding remote NP roles across primary care, behavioral health, and chronic disease management.
- PMHNP demand surge. Mental health workforce shortages are particularly acute nationwide; PMHNP-specific job postings have outpaced general NP postings consistently. See our PMHNP career guide.
According to the Kansas Department of Labor, the demand for nurse practitioners is expected to increase by 28% between 2016 and 2026. In fact, it is considered one of the state’s top 25 professions with anticipated growth. After all, there is a growing need for more accessible healthcare services amidst the shortage of healthcare professionals in the state.
NPs in Kansas are also given full practice authority, meaning they are authorized to evaluate and diagnose patients and prescribe medications as needed. Financially speaking, NPs in Kansas earn an average salary of $128,915 a year, which is more than twice the average salary in the state.
With these NP programs in Kansas, you can help address the healthcare needs of your fellow residents:
Program Overview:
The FHSU Department of Nursing offers programs that are student-focused and feedback-driven. With its small class sizes taught by highly qualified faculty members, students get the one-on-one focus they need to succeed professionally.
Ranked as one of the top public schools by US News & World Report, FHSU is also listed as the top 3 nursing school in the state by Nursing Schools Almanac.
FHSU’s DNP program is a hybrid program that may be completed on a full-time basis. Most courses are offered online, while on-campus visits are announced before the start of the semester. The 75-credit program is open to local nurses, as well as those residing in Nebraska or Oklahoma.
Graduates of the CCNE-accredited DNP program have registered a 100% passing rate for the certification exams from 2020-2023.
Program Overview:
The Irene Ransom Bradley School of Nursing at PSU offers the first rural-based DNP program in Kansas. Approved by the Kansas Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the school aims to produce nurses who live by the core values of excellence, innovation, and sustainability.
RNcareers.org ranks PSU as the top 8 nursing school in the state. Niche has also listed the school as one of the best in Kansas.
US News & World Report, meanwhile, ranks PSU at 314 out of all the nursing schools in the nation.
The BSN-DNP track, which requires the completion of 74 credits and 1,056 practice hours, may be completed in four years. The 32-credit MSN-DNP program, meanwhile, takes about three years to finish.
PSU DNP graduates scored a 100% first-time pass rate in the FNP certification exams held last 2019.
Program Overview:
Located on the Kansas City hospital campus, the KU School of Nursing offers innovative programs taught by exceptional faculty. KU’s nursing programs provide students with rich experiences through sophisticated technology and immersive clinical rotations.
Accredited by the CCNE, KU’s nursing program was ranked 26th in the country by the US News & World Report. The Best Health School rankings, meanwhile, place KU’s DNP program at the top eight spot. DNPPrograms.com, meanwhile, recognized KU’s DNP program as the best in Kansas.
The DNP programs require a minimum of 75 credit hours, which may be completed in a span of four years. The post-graduate certificate programs, which range from 16-24 credit hours, feature didactic courses that are available online. Practicum hours, meanwhile, are done on the KUMC campus.
Open to APRNs, UKMC’s PGC programs are web-based and offered sequentially every year. Depending on the track, students may need to finish anywhere between 16 to 24 credit hours in order to be eligible for the certification exams.
On top of its nurse practitioner programs, the KU School of Nursing also offers postgraduate degrees and certificates in Nursing Education, Informatics, Midwifery, and Population Health.
Program Overview:
USM is a private Catholic college with campuses in Leavenworth and Leawood, KS. The university offers nurses from all over KS the opportunity to pursue undergraduate and graduate programs, both of which are accredited by the CCNE.
US News & World Report places USM at rank 455 in its list of Best Nursing Schools. Meanwhile, RNCareers.org recognizes USM as the sixth-best nursing school in the state.
USM’s MSN programs, which require 50-53 credit hours, may be completed in as little as two years. Thanks to the online courses and clinical coordination, the program easily fits the busy schedule of working nurses.
Recently, MSN-FNP graduates have posted a 94.5% pass rate in the national certification exams.
Program Overview:
Washburn is a municipal university based in Topeka, KS. Its School of Nursing was established in the year 1974, and it continues to be one of the best schools in the state as per US News & World Report, Incredible Health, and Niche.
Washburn’s DNP programs are designed with the working nurse in mind. Courses are offered online, allowing students to access their lessons at the most convenient time. There are also on-campus experiences, which can help students improve their assessment and interventional skills. A minimum of 1000 clinical hours, meanwhile, should be completed prior to graduation.
Washburn’s first-time FNP pass rates have ranged from 82% to 100% in the past four years. These numbers are significantly higher than the state’s average first-time pass rates of 75% to 91%.
Recently, Washburn’s first-time PMHNP examinees garnered an 83% passing rate.
Program Overview:
Accredited by CCNE since 1973, the WSU School of Nursing started operating within the confines of the University of College. The BSN program was offered that same year, followed the MSN program, which was launched in 1981. The DNP program, meanwhile, was approved by the Kansas Board of Regents in 2007.
WSU’s DNP programs all require the completion of 74 credit hours. Students must also submit a DNP evidence-based project and pass the oral defense to graduate.
To be admitted to the program, applicants must have a 3.0 GPA in the undergraduate nursing courses.
WSU’s DNP program is listed as second-best in the state, according to DNPPrograms.com.
Educational Routes to Becoming a Nurse Practitioner in Kansas
Five distinct routes appear across the NP schools listed on this page. Each suits a different starting credential and timeline. All five satisfy the Kansas State Board of Nursing APRN-certification requirements when paired with national NP certification.
1. MSN-NP (Most Common Route)
The traditional Master of Science in Nursing with an NP specialty track. Designed for working RNs who already hold a BSN. Typical length: 2 to 3 years full-time or 3 to 4 years part-time, with 500 to 750 clinical hours. Kansas MSN-NP options are anchored by the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. Wichita State, Washburn, Fort Hays State, Pittsburg State, and University of Saint Mary serve the state’s other major regional markets with hybrid MSN-FNP delivery.
2. RN-to-MSN Bridge (No BSN Required)
For ADN-prepared RNs who want to skip a separate BSN program. The bridge adds 12 to 18 months of BSN-level coursework before the master’s component begins. In Kansas, Fort Hays State University, Wichita State University, and Pittsburg State all offer RN-to-MSN bridges into NP tracks. Total time-to-degree typically lands at 3 to 4 years. See the broader top RN-to-NP programs ranking.
3. BSN-to-DNP (Doctoral-Entry NP)
Aligned with the AACN’s 2025 DNP position statement. Combines NP-specialty training with terminal-degree coursework over 3 to 4 years and roughly 1,000 clinical hours. 6 Kansas schools offer a DNP program — see the full Kansas DNP programs guide for state-specific detail, or online BSN-to-DNP programs for ranked national options.
4. Post-Master’s Certificate (Existing MSN Holders)
For nurses who already hold a master’s-level NP credential and want to add a second specialty — an FNP adding AGNP, an FNP adding PMHNP, etc. Typical length: 12 to 24 months and ~500 clinical hours. Kansas post-master’s certificate options include the University of Kansas Medical Center, Wichita State, and Washburn. The NP Certifications hub covers the certificate landscape in depth.
5. Accelerated & Direct-Entry (Non-Nursing Bachelor’s)
For career changers with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. The student earns an accelerated BSN first (12 to 16 months), then enters an NP master’s or DNP track. Kansas’s flagship direct-entry option is the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Master of Science in Nursing entry track for non-nursing bachelor’s holders. Total time-to-NP-licensure: typically 4 to 5 years from start of accelerated BSN.
Fast & Affordable Kansas NP Programs (Editorial Picks)
These editorial picks balance time-to-degree, total program cost, and accreditation. All programs listed are CCNE or ACEN accredited and confirmed to currently enroll Kansas residents.
Fastest Kansas NP Programs
- Fort Hays State University — Online MSN-FNP: Multiple intakes per year; accelerated track for working RNs across western Kansas.
- Wichita State University — MSN-FNP: Hybrid Wichita delivery; 5-semester full-time option.
- Washburn University — MSN-FNP: Topeka-based hybrid with year-round cohorts; 24-month accelerated path.
- University of Kansas Medical Center — Post-Master’s NP Certificate: 12 to 18 months for current MSN holders adding a Kansas specialty.
Most Affordable Kansas NP Programs (In-State Tuition)
- Fort Hays State University — MSN-FNP: Public Kansas tuition at one of the lowest per-credit rates in the state; western Kansas clinical placements.
- Pittsburg State University — MSN-FNP: Public Kansas tuition with strong southeast Kansas clinical network.
- Washburn University — MSN-FNP: Public-municipal Topeka tuition with competitive total cost.
- Wichita State University — MSN-FNP: Public Kansas tuition with strong south-central Kansas clinical pipeline.
- University of Kansas Medical Center — MSN-NP: Public flagship tuition with broad specialty footprint; nationally-ranked nursing school.
Kansas Schools Offering Popular NP Specialties
The matrix below maps Kansas NP-track schools to the two most-published specialty paths in the state — FNP and DNP entry. Most Kansas schools lead with FNP at the master’s level; 6 schools offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice option. Each H3 links to the relevant child page.
Family NP (FNP)
The most common specialty in Kansas. All 6 schools listed on this page offer an FNP track in some format — MSN, BSN-to-DNP, or post-master’s certificate.
- Fort Hays State University
- Pittsburg State University
- University of Kansas Medical Center
- University of Saint Mary
- Washburn University
- Wichita State University
BSN-to-DNP and Post-Master’s DNP Programs in Kansas
Aligned with the AACN 2025 DNP position statement. The 6 Kansas schools below offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice program. See the dedicated Kansas DNP programs guide for admissions detail.
- University of Kansas
- Fort Hays State University
- Pittsburg State University
- Rasmussen University-Kansas
- Washburn University
- Wichita State University
Nurse Practitioner Programs in Kansas by City & Region
Kansas’s 6 featured NP schools span the state’s major regions: the Kansas City metro (KU Med, U Saint Mary), Topeka (Washburn), Wichita (WSU), Pittsburg (Pitt State) in southeast Kansas, and Hays (Fort Hays State) in western Kansas.
Kansas City Metro
- University of Kansas Medical Center — Kansas City, KS
- University of Saint Mary — Leavenworth
Topeka
- Washburn University — Topeka
Wichita / South-Central KS
- Wichita State University — Wichita
Southeast Kansas
- Pittsburg State University — Pittsburg
Western Kansas
- Fort Hays State University — Hays
