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School of Education & Health Sciences

Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner Track

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Why pursue a Master of Science in Nursing from North Central College?

Scholarships up to $9,000 and close mentorship from expert faculty

North Central College offers an innovative, interprofessional approach to fostering the next generation of healthcare leaders who embrace diversity, promote health equity, and improve population health outcomes. 

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track is part of North Central College’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program and offers a personalized approach to the online student experience. The core principles of the program equip students with the skills and foundation necessary for lifelong learning, personal responsibility and sustained achievement in the nursing profession. The FNP track specifically prepares nurses to become experts in all facets of patient care, disease management and health promotion.

 

Learn how you can reduce your tuition cost by up to 25%!

North Central College offers several scholarships and awards, including:

  • Alliance Partnership
  • Opportunity Award 
  • North Central College Alumni 
    • Offer can be extended to family of alumni

 

Accreditation Statement

North Central College MSN program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommisssion.org), an institutional
accreditation agency recognized by the U.S Department of Education.

The master's degree in nursing and post-graduate APRN certificate program at North Central College is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org). Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.

Program Goals

  • Prepare graduates to engage in clinical reasoning that provides safe, lawful evidence-based, patient-centered care to diverse populations across the lifespan that reflects ethical clinical judgment and inter-professional collaboration.
     
  • Guide graduates to integrate scientific findings from nursing, bio-psycho-social fields, genetics, public health, quality improvement, and organizational sciences into the delivery of advanced nursing care for diverse populations to promote health and prevent disease and injury for families, communities, and global health.
     
  • Prepare graduates to utilize patient-care technologies to deliver and enhance care and use communication technologies to integrate and coordinate care.

Important Dates

Launch Your Degree in Fall 2025

July 21, 2025 - Deadline to apply

August 20, 2025 - First day of class


Admissions Criteria

Apply using our free North Central application.

  • A username and password will be generated and sent to the email you provide. You will have 30 days to complete the online application.

North Central College’s MSN program is committed to holistic admission, which assesses an applicant’s unique experiences alongside traditional measures of academic achievement such as grades and test scores. Admission decisions will be made within two months of the application deadline. Applicants will be invited to participate in an on-campus and/or virtual interview format.

Applicants must have:

  • An earned BSN of CCNE or ACEN baccalaureate accredited program
  • A current, unencumbered RN license
    • While North Central accepts students from multiple states/territories, applicants outside of Illinois should check with their state regulatory body 
  • A cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale for the last 60 hours of their BSN program
  • Completed undergraduate statistics (3 credit hours) with a “C” or higher

Required Application Materials

  • Submitted official post-secondary academic transcripts
  • Submitted a resume/CV with academic and work history, certificates and services
  • Submitted three letters of recommendation--at least one from a professional nurse colleague (supervisor or preceptor) and one from a professor or graduate-level prepared nursing colleague who can address the applicant’s professional and/or academic qualifications
  • Completed a personal narrative including experiences (healthcare experiences, educational background, community enrichment), and attributes (resilience, integrity, intellectual curiosity, ethnicity/race, socioeconomic status, multilingual abilities, geography, faith, perseverance)
  • Completed application 

 

Apply Today!

 

 

State Authorization and Reciprocity Agreements

The U.S. Department of Education requires institutions offering distance education to attain authorization from the state where educational services are offered. North Central College is authorized by the state of Illinois to participate in the National Council for State Authorization and Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). The NC-SARA provides oversight of post-secondary distance education, allowing the institution to provide online education to students in participating SARA member states, without obtaining authorization in that state. Regulations vary from state to state. All states EXCEPT California are currently authorized as SARA member states. SARA provides institutional reciprocity for educational offerings only and does not provide reciprocity for professional licensing. Information regarding NC-SARA can be found here.

Professional Licensure

State Board of Nursing requirements vary by state. Therefore, students considering enrollment in online graduate nursing programs should contact the licensing agency of the state where their educational institution is located prior to beginning their academic program to ensure that the program meets the standards established by their home state’s licensure regulations.

North Central College Graduate Nursing Program is offering the MSN and Post-Master Certificates to students in the following states and US Territories:

  • American Samoa
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • District of Colombia
  • Florida
  • Guam
  • Hawaii
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Mississippi
  • Montana
  • New Jersey
  • North Carolina
  • Rhode Island
  • Texas
  • Virgin Islands
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia

Onsite Requirements

In addition to on-site practicum experiences local to the student at approved institutional affiliates to meet required practicum hours, students in the graduate nursing program are required to come to Naperville, IL campus for 2-3 campus visits* during the course of their program. The number and length of the visits varies by specialty program. Prospective students may inquire with the Graduate Nursing Program at North Central College to confirm on-campus requirements. Limited assistance to support the visits may be available.

*Dates will be provided prior to the start of the program

Cost of Attendance

When considering the financial cost of attending graduate school, one number does not tell the whole story. Cost of Attendance provides a more complete picture of all costs, direct and indirect, for one academic year at North Central College.  Numbers are subject to change on an annual basis.

 

Direct Costs

Direct costs are expenses that will be included on your semester bill, such as tuition and fees.

Indirect Costs

Indirect costs are expenses that will not appear on your semester bill but should be considered. Examples of indirect costs include housing, supplies, and personal expenses. Indirect costs vary by student lifestyle, living arrangements, and educational choices. Below are estimated indirect costs for students enrolled in graduate programs at North Central College. It is encouraged that students consider opportunities to minimize other costs and borrowing.

Total Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance will be used by the Office of Financial Aid to determine the maximum amount of financial aid you can receive within the specified year. Note: If your actual cost differs from what is listed under indirect cost that is okay. We encourage you to explore budgeting tools that will help you manage your expenses.

 

2024-2025 Cost of Attendance - Full-Time Schedule

Direct Costs

Year One (Fall/Spring Semesters) Year Two (Summer/Fall/Spring Semesters)
Tuition $16,080.00 $21,708.00
Program Fee $2,100.00 -
Wellness Fee $100.00 $100.00
Yearly Total $18,280.00 $21,808.00
Total Direct Costs of Program: $40,088

Indirect Costs

Year One (Fall/Spring Semesters) Year Two (Summer/Fall/Spring Semesters)
Housing and Food $14,076.00 $21,114.00
Transportation $2,224.00 $3,336.00
Personal Expenses $2,134.00 $3,201.00
Books and Supplies $900.00 $1,350.00
Student Loan Fees $216.00 $324.00
Yearly Total $19,550.00 $29,325.00

Total Cost of Attendance

Year One (Fall/Spring Semesters) Year Two (Summer/Fall/Spring Semesters)
Cost of Attendance $37,830 $51,133

 

2024-2025 Cost of Attendance - Part-Time Schedule

Direct Costs

Year One (Fall/Spring Semesters) Year Two (Summer/Fall/Spring Semesters) Year Three (Fall/Spring Semesters)
Tuition $9,648.00 $16,884.00 $11,256.00
Program Fee $2,100 - -
Wellness Fee $100 $100 $100
Yearly Total $11,848.00 $16,984.00 $11,356.00
Total Direct Costs of Program: $40,188

Indirect Costs

Year One (Fall/Spring Semesters) Year Two (Summer/Fall/Spring Semesters) Year Three (Fall/Spring Semesters)
Housing and Food $14,076.00 $21,114.00 $14,076.00
Transportation $2,224.00 $3,336.00 $2,224.00
Personal Expenses $2,134.00 $3,201.00 $2,134.00
Books and Supplies $900.00 $1,350.00 $900.00
Student Loan Fees $216.00 $324.00 $216.00
Yearly Total $19,550.00 $29,325.00 $19,550.00

Total Cost of Attendance

Year One (Fall/Spring Semesters) Year Two (Summer/Fall/Spring Semesters) Year Three (Fall/Spring Semesters)
Cost of Attendance $31,398 $46,309 $30,906

Please visit Financial Aid to learn more about the financial aid process and resources available.

The Office of Financial Aid can be reached at 630-637-5600 or by emailing finaid@noctrl.edu.

 

 

Scholarships and Awards

North Central College offers several scholarships and awards to help you reduce tuition cost by up to 25%, including:

  • Alliance Partnership
  • Opportunity Award 
  • North Central College Alumni 
    • Offer can be extended to family of alumni

Program Overview

  • 47 credit hours, 9 semesters 
    • Please note that Graduate Nursing does not follow the published NCC Graduate Summer calendar and concludes a week later.  Please plan accordingly.
    • Click here to see the Nursing Graduate Academic Calendar
  • Online program with 2-3 on-campus immersions
    • Didactic courses are taught online, asynchronous
  • On-site clinical practicums and the completion of 525 clinical hours at various hospitals and clinics, is required

Through the Family Nurse Practitioner track, students will learn how to:

  • Assess, diagnose, treat and manage acute episodic and chronic illnesses
  • Become experts in health promotion and disease prevention
  • Teach and counsel patients
  • Order, conduct, supervise, and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests
  • Prescribe pharmacological agents and non-pharmacologic therapies

Nursing, M.S.

Department Chair: Dr. Kara Fenne DNP, MSN, RN, CNE 

Mission Statement

The North Central College Graduate Nursing Programs will prepare advanced nurse professionals for life-long learning, transformational leadership and to function as ethical change agents in the local, national and global healthcare system and community.

Vision

The Graduate Nursing program offers an innovative interprofessional approach to foster the next generation of healthcare leaders who embrace diversity, promote equality and improve population health outcomes.

The MSN program follows many policies listed in the Admission and Academic Regulations sections. However, there are some policies specific to MSN. Please refer to the Graduate Nursing Handbook for Graduate Nursing program outcomes, specific admission requirements, academic regulations and the Graduate Nursing Academic Calendar.

The MSN program requires 36-47 credit hours. Credit hour requirements vary based on the degree track and approved transfer credits. Clinical hour requirements are specific to the degree track. Nurse Education and Executive Leader tracks require 500 direct/indirect care clinical hours. Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner tracks require 525 clinical hours. Clinical hours are subject to change based on the certification requirements of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Nursing Core

Nurse Executive Leader Track

This track requires 36 credit hours including the MS in Nursing Core and 500 clinical hours.

Executive Leader Courses

Nurse Educator Track

This track requires 36 credit hours including the MS Nursing Core and 500 clinical hours.

Educator Courses

Family Nurse Practitioner Track

This track requires 47 credit hours including the MS Nursing Core, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Core and 525 direct care clinical hours.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Core

Family Practitioner Courses

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track

This track requires 47 credit hours including the MS Nursing Core, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Core and 525 direct care clinical hours.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Core

Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner Courses

Post-Graduate APRN Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner

The North Central College Post-Graduate APRN Certificate program provides opportunities for registered nurses who already have a master’s in nursing in another discipline to advance their education and gain the specialized knowledge, skills and abilities to deliver independent care as clinicians.

Students will learn how to perform medical diagnoses and treatment through evidence-based didactic instruction. Problem-based learning, simulation and clinical practice hours will allow students to deepen their clinical reasoning and decision-making skills. Family Nurse Practitioner coursework will provide students with instruction on primary care across the lifespan, focusing on both episodic acute and chronic care.

 

Admission Requirements

The Post-Graduate APRN Certificate begins each Summer semester (May).

Applicants can apply using our free North Central application. 

North Central College’s program is committed to a holistic admission process which assesses an applicant’s unique experiences alongside traditional measures of academic achievement such as grades and test scores. Admission decisions will be made within two months of the application deadline and the program will begin in the Spring semester. Applicants will be invited to participate in an on-campus and/or virtual interview format.

Applicants must have:

  • An earned MSN from a CCNE or ACEN Master accredited program
  • A current, unencumbered RN license
    • While North Central accepts students from multiple states/territories, applicants outside of Illinois should check with their state regulatory body
  • A cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale for their prior MSN degree coursework

Required Application Materials

  • Submitted official post-secondary academic transcripts
  • Submitted a resume/CV with academic and work history, certificates and services
  • Submitted three letters of recommendation--at least one from a professional nurse colleague (supervisor or preceptor) and one from a professor or graduate-level prepared nursing colleague who can address the applicant’s professional and/or academic qualifications
  • Completed a personal narrative including experiences (healthcare experiences, educational background, community enrichment), and attributes (resilience, integrity, intellectual curiosity, ethnicity/race, socioeconomic status, multilingual abilities, geography, faith, perseverance)
  • Completed application 
Apply Today!

 

Certification Exam

Upon completion of the certificate program, graduates are eligible to sit for a targeted certificate examination offered by one of the national credentialing centers. Once certified, graduates from the FNP track, who have successfully passed their national specialty boards certification can apply for an Advanced Practice license in their state of residence to be eligible to practice independently in their specialty as an FNP-BC.

*Please see specific state requirements for APN licensure

Curriculum

Post-Graduate APRN Certificate-Family Nurse Practioner

Program Director: Dr. Christine Johnson DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC

The North Central College Post-Graduate Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Certificate program provides opportunities for registered nurses, who already have a MS in Nursing degree and want to advance their education and gain the specialized knowledge, skills and abilities to provide independent care as clinicians with specific populations.

Post-Graduate APRN Certificate students will join the MS in Nursing degree seeking students in their specialty track related courses. Students will learn how to perform medical diagnoses and treatment through evidence-based didactic and clinical instruction. Problem-based learning, simulation and clinical practice hours will allow students to deepen their clinical reasoning and decision-making skills. Family Nurse Practitioner coursework will provide students with instruction on primary care across the lifespan, focusing on both episodic acute and chronic care. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner coursework will prepare students to provide a wide range of mental health services across the lifespan, focusing on the bio-psychosocial model of care.

Upon completion of the Post-Graduate APRN Certificate program, students will be eligible to sit for either the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) board certification exam offered by both the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). 

The Post-Graduate APRN Certificate requires 23-35 credit hours for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses with an MS in Nursing. The Graduate Nursing Program Department will conduct a gap analysis of an applicant's previous graduate courses to determine the number of credit hours required for the certificate.

[I chose this program] to provide more mobility in my career, to increase my earning potential, to expand my skill set, and to step into a provider position to make a meaningful impact on my community. I chose NCC because of the amazing relationships I had formed with some of my professors from my undergraduate. This gave me the confidence to pursue my Master’s degree knowing I would have a great support system cheering me on along the way.

Phoebe F. Student - Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner
Portrait of MSN student

Core Values

Caring: We believe caring is essential to the practice of nursing and seek to treat those we serve with sensitivity, respect, and empathy. We embrace holistic care through therapeutic relationships directed toward health, comfort and well-being.

Communication and Collaboration: We believe that open communication and collaboration require accountability, honesty, integrity, and respect for all participants. We seek to practice shared decision-making with our fellow nurses as well as inter-professionally.

Cultural Inclusivity: We believe in the practice of cultural inclusivity, recognizing the rich diversity of humanity. We endeavor to honor that diversity by continually broadening our scope of care to include all members of our community and by modeling respect and equality for all.

Critical Thinking: We believe critical thinking is essential to nursing as a self-reflective and purposeful approach to thinking. We value the ability to make connections between patient data and acquired knowledge, leading to appropriate clinical interventions for our patients.

Evidence-Based Practice: We believe in the use of evidence-based practice to guide our nursing practice. We foster the integration of current research, clinical expertise, and the rigorous evaluation of the effectiveness of nursing interventions to make sound decisions in the care of our patients. We identify safety as having the utmost importance to the practice of nursing and strive to prevent harm to our patients and ourselves while delivering quality care.

Social Justice: We believe social justice in nursing embodies the principles of fairness, equality, dignity, and equal opportunity for health for all. We embrace a moral mandate to improve access to quality health care for the marginalized and under-serviced.

 

Certification Exam

Upon completion of the MSN program, graduates are eligible to sit for a targeted certificate examination offered by one of the national credentialing centers. Once certified, graduates from the FNP track who have successfully passed their national specialty boards can apply for an Illinois State License and be eligible to practice independently in their specialty as an FNP-BC.