Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) are advanced practice nurses who provide a range of services to patients in various in-patient and out-patient facilities. The scope of practice for FNPs is dictated by state law. In Massachusetts, FNPs can practice with full authority, giving these nurses a chance to practice independently and truly make a difference in providing health care to the people of Massachusetts.
Nurses who wish to pursue an FNP degree in Massachusetts have multiple options for a nurse at any stage of their career.
Massachusetts FNP Programs Quick Facts
- Universities Offering FNP Programs in Massachusetts: 12
- CCNE Accredited FNP Programs in The State: 10
- ACEN Accredited FNP Programs in the State: 2
- Average Tuition Costs: $14,000–$35,000+ (Public), $28,000–$67,000+ (Private)
FNP Programs Accepting Massachusetts Applicants
Massachusetts RN to Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Programs
RN to FNP programs are specially designed for nurses with an associate’s degree or diploma. They allow these professionals to pursue an NP degree without completing a BSN program first. There are four options available in MA, many of which provide unique pathways. Boston College, for example, culminates in a DNP degree without the need to obtain a BSN or MSN. Regis College, meanwhile, provides students with an opportunity to get a BSN.
Boston College
- Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
- Campus + In-person
Modality: On campus with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 112
Clinical Hours: 1,000
Tuition: $1,804 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Boston College offers a unique RN to DNP FNP, allowing nurses with an associate’s degree and an RN license to enter the program and graduate with a DNP without completing a BSN or MSN. The program is in-person, and when on campus, students can take advantage of the clinical and simulation labs, getting hands-on experience with high-fidelity manikins and live actors to hone their skills.
Endicott College
- Beverly, Massachusetts
- Hybrid + In-person
Modality: Hybrid with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 58
Clinical Hours: 600
Tuition: $896 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
The Pre-Master’s Pathway FNP is specially designed for RNs with a bachelor’s degree or higher in a field other than nursing. This program requires 13 undergraduate credits in nursing leadership, research, community health, and applied statistics before entering the MSN program. Once these courses are completed, students follow the MSN coursework.
MCPHS University
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus meetings and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 62
Clinical Hours: 630
Tuition: $1,440 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
At the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, nurses can complete the RN to FNP in three years. All coursework is entirely online, and students can complete clinical assignments close to home, enabling them to work throughout the program. The program has four on-campus meetings, including new student orientation and MSN orientation before beginning master’s level classes.
Regis College
- Weston, Massachusetts
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Unspecified
Clinical Hours: Unspecified
Tuition: $995 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Regis’s RN to BSN to FNP is one of the rare RN-to-MSN bridges that awards both the BSN and the MSN at completion. The 60-credit core (plus 40 prerequisite credits) covers students from RN entry through FNP certification. Applicants holding a bachelor’s in another field may have some prerequisites waived based on prior coursework.
FNP Programs Accepting Massachusetts Applicants
Massachusetts BSN to Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Programs
Nurses with a BSN degree have several options to pursue an FNP degree in Massachusetts, including MSN and DNP tracks. Those who want to complete their degree in as little as two years may do so at Endicott or MGH Institute while those in search of affordable yet top-quality education will find that at UMass-Lowell. Whatever factor influences your decision, many of the Massachusetts-based programs below are sure to meet your needs.
American International College
- Springfield, Massachusetts
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 46
Clinical Hours: 665
Tuition: $850 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
The BSN to FNP at American International College offers online coursework with a single three-day in-person on-campus residency. This program offers free clinical placement services, where a placement coordinator will help students find preceptors and clinical sites in their communities or within a reasonable driving distance. Students can complete the full-time program in just over 2.5 years. AIC also offers a Post-Graduate Certificate FNP program for those with an MSN in another specialty. This program has 28 credits with 665 clinical hours. Full-time students can complete this track in six semesters.
Bay Path University
- Longmeadow, Massachusetts
- Online + In-person
Modality: Online with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: 1,000
Tuition: $995 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Bay Path University offers two DNP paths: a BSN to DNP FNP and an MSN to DNP FNP option. Those who start with a BSN will take 19 courses for 70 credits; those who begin with an MSN will take 12 courses for 36 credits. Both programs require 1,000 supervised clinical hours. These programs are designed to be completed part-time. All classes are online, but students can access library resources, tutoring, mentoring, academic resources, and career services.
Boston College
- Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
- Campus + In-person
Modality: On campus with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: 1,000
Tuition: $1,804 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Boston College offers multiple DNP pathways, including a BSN to DNP FNP, Direct Entry DNP FNP, and an MSN to DNP DNP. The Direct Entry DNP FNP is designed for people with a bachelor’s in fields other than nursing. The first five semesters are an intensive program to prepare students for the NCLEX exam before beginning FNP courses. All classes are on campus, and students gain hands-on experience working in clinical and simulation labs to prepare them for clinical and future careers.
College of Our Lady of the Elms
- Chicopee, Massachusetts
- Hybrid + In-person
Modality: Hybrid with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: 1,000
Tuition: $1,010 per credit + fees for DNP courses; $938 per credit + fees for core courses for those starting with a BSN
Program Overview:
Elms’s BSN/MSN to DNP FNP runs 70 credits for MSN-entry students plus 10 additional core credits for BSN-entry students. The hybrid format mixes on-campus face-to-face learning with Zoom sessions throughout the program. Elms also runs a 59-credit Post-Graduate Certificate FNP for already-credentialed APRNs adding the specialty.
Endicott College
- Beverly, Massachusetts
- Hybrid + In-person
Modality: Hybrid with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 45
Clinical Hours: 600
Tuition: $896 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Endicott’s BSN to FNP is a hybrid program with online plus evening on-campus courses. Two-year completion includes 15 common core credits and 27 FNP-specialty credits. Endicott also runs a 27-credit Post-Graduate Certificate FNP for already-credentialed APRNs.
MCPHS University
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus meetings and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 42
Clinical Hours: 630
Tuition: $1,440 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences’ two-year BSN to FNP program offers online classes and allows students to fulfill clinical requirements close to home. Generally, students will have to attend three on-campus residencies throughout the program: a new student orientation, a second-year residency before entering clinical, and a final residency at graduation. Each one to three days in length.
MGH Institute of Health Professions
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Hybrid + In-person
Modality: Hybrid with in-person clinicals
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $1620 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
The MGH Institute of Health Professions offers multiple FNP pathways. The Direct Entry FNP option is specially designed for people with a bachelor’s in a field other than nursing. This 93-credit program takes three years to complete, in addition to prerequisite courses that must be completed before entry into the program. The BSN to FNP track is 50 credits and takes two years to complete full-time. A part-time option is also available for this program. There are also two post-master’s program options: a Post-Graduate Certificate FNP for nurses who have a master’s in another specialty and a Post NP Certificate FNP option for nurse practitioners who are certified in other specialties.
Northeastern University
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Varies
Modality: Varies
Credit Hours: 47
Clinical Hours: 720
Tuition: $975 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Northeastern’s on-campus BSN to FNP runs 16 general MSN credits plus 31 FNP-specific credits. The BSN to FNP Online delivers most coursework remotely with live presentations and required on-campus components. Both formats give Northeastern students access to Boston-area clinical placements through the Bouvé College network.
Regis College
- Weston, Massachusetts
- Various
Modality: Various
Credit Hours: Various
Clinical Hours: Various
Tuition: $995 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Regis College offers multiple FNP options for anyone with a BSN degree. The BSN to FNP online program consists of 13 core classes, four FNP specialty courses, and about 720 clinical hours. Those wishing to pursue a DNP can pursue the BSN to DNP FNP or MSN to DNP FNP tracks. In the BSN to DNP program, students first compete for MSN-level courses, then transition into doctorate-level classes during the summer of the second year of the four-year program. These options are available on-campus or online, but some in-person requirements are required. There is also a Post-Graduate Certificate FNP track, preparing those with an MSN in another nursing specialty for the NP certification exam, and a Post-Graduate NP to FNP option for those practicing as an NP in another specialty.
Simmons University
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with some on-campus requirements and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 48
Clinical Hours: 672
Tuition: $1,235 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Simmons offers a very flexible BSN to FNP option, allowing students to attend full-time or part-time, and extended options are available, completing the program in six, seven, or eight terms, respectively. Course schedules are predictable, with live courses held on the same day of the week throughout the program. Many classes also offer flexible attendance, where the student can either attend the live online lecture or view the recording at a more convenient time. There is also a 22-credit Post-Graduate Certificate FNP that can be completed in as little as a year. This track requires one on-campus immersion at the end of the first term and a virtual head-to-toe assessment before starting clinical courses.
University of Massachusetts Boston
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Campus + In-person
Modality: On campus with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $806.92 per credit + fees for residents, $1,575.05 per credit + fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
The University of Massachusetts Boston has options for those who wish to pursue either an MSN or a DNP as an FNP. The BSN to FNP program consists of 27 core credits and 21 FNP credits. There is also a BSN/MSN to DNP FNP track for those wishing to pursue a doctorate. The BSN to DNP option is 53 credits, nine concentration credits, and three nursing elective credits. Students will complete 1065 clinical hours and receive an MSN after completing 665 clinical hours and 48 credits. The MSN to DNP option is 21 core credits, seven credits, a nursing elective, and 400 clinical hours.
University of Massachusetts Lowell
- Lowell, Massachusetts
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 750
Clinical Hours: 45
Tuition: $600 to $750 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
The BSN to FNP program at the University of Massachusetts Lowell offers online classes with four on-campus visits. These on-campus days occur during specific courses throughout the program; each visit is four hours long. UMass Lowell’s program uses Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) sessions, featuring Standardized Patients (SPs), highly trained actors trained to simulate the concerns of and interactions with real patients to give students face-to-face training and experiencing diagnosing and creating treatment plans for patients.
Massachusetts Online Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Programs
Every MA FNP program requires in-person clinical hours since family primary care depends on supervised patient encounters. Classroom delivery splits widely. The most online-friendly options are American International College (online with one three-day residency), MCPHS (fully online with four on-campus meetings), and Bay Path (online for working nurses in Western MA). Simmons offers consistent same-day-of-week live online classes with predictable scheduling. Northeastern’s BSN to FNP Online runs most coursework remotely with required campus components.
Best FNP Programs in Massachusetts
MA has 16+ FNP programs covering nearly every entry credential and delivery format. For Boston academic medical center training, Boston College, Northeastern, and MGH Institute lead with direct affiliations to MGH, Boston Medical Center, and academic-affiliated community hospitals. For RN-to-MSN bridges that award both BSN and MSN, Boston College, Regis, and MCPHS stand out — the BSN-included track is uncommon nationally. For the strongest credential for direct-entry applicants from non-nursing backgrounds, MGH Institute’s Direct Entry FNP at 93 credits over three years is the most comprehensive. For online flexibility with placement support included, AIC’s clinical placement coordination is a clear differentiator.
Massachusetts’ Most Affordable FNP Programs
Most affordable FNP options vary by residency and program format. The UMass campuses (Boston, Lowell) offer the lowest per-credit rates for MA residents under public-system tuition. Among private programs, American International College (Springfield), MCPHS, Bay Path, and Elms sit at the lower end of the private tier. Endicott and Simmons sit mid-tier on cost. The Boston-based premier privates (Boston College, Northeastern, MGH Institute) carry the highest per-credit rates but include access to top-tier academic medical center clinical networks.
FNP Licensure Requirements in Massachusetts
Degree level needed: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree
Supervised hours total: minimum of 500 supervised clinical hours
Required exams:
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB)
Background-check: Massachusetts criminal history background check, Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry check
State licensing board: Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing, 250 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108
Frequently Asked Questions
What Massachusetts FNP program has the highest pass rate for the national certification exam?
U-Mass Chan has consistently scored a 100% passing rate for first-time takers in the ANCC FNP licensing exam.
What financial aid and scholarships are available to Massachusetts residents aspiring to become FNPs?