About Frontier Nursing University

Frontier Nursing University was founded in 1939 as the Frontier Graduate School of Midwifery. FNU has since grown to become one of the largest not for profit universities in the United States for advanced nursing and midwifery education.

Frontier Nursing University has the #3 Best Online Family Nurse Practitioner Master’s Program according to rankings compiled and released by U.S. News and World Report on January 25, 2022.

As a pioneer in graduate nursing and nurse-midwifery education, FNU remains at the forefront of innovation and technology with top-ranked, accredited programs delivered via community-based distance education. Our graduate programs lead to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), a Post-Graduate Certificate or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). FNU also offers a Post-Master's DNP for certified nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners who already hold a national certification and want to pursue a DNP.

Meet Our Board of Directors

FNU seeks to meet the needs of prospective nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners who do not want to leave their home communities to obtain a graduate education to fulfill their professional goals. Students complete web-based didactic coursework with the encouragement and support of academic advisers, classmates, a strong curriculum, and active and engaged faculty. FNU’s distance education model is taught by more than 100 faculty members who are national leaders in advanced practice nursing and midwifery education. Working with clinics, hospitals and preceptors in their own communities, students gain the hands-on clinical experience required for these exciting health care professions.

OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• 80 years of experience in graduate nursing and nurse-midwifery education
• Oldest and largest continually operating nurse-midwifery education program in the United States
• First family nurse practitioner program in the country
• Pioneered the first midwifery community based distance education program in the United States in 1989
• More than 8,000 alumni and a current enrollment of more than 2,000 students
• Students and alumni represent every U.S. state and many foreign countries

CULTURE OF CARING

At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a talented and diverse community of students, alumni, faculty, staff, Couriers and preceptors. We are inspired by a culture of caring and focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to deliver quality health care to underserved and rural populations. Learn more about our:

FRONTIER NURSING SERVICE

Frontier Nursing University started as the Frontier Nursing Service (FNS). Founded in 1925 by Mary Breckinridge in Leslie County, Kentucky, FNS introduced the first nurse-midwives to the U.S. Riding horses up mountains, through fog, flood or snow, the FNS nurses brought modern healthcare to one of the poorest and most inaccessible areas in the U.S.

Mary Breckinridge demonstrated that care provided by nurse-midwives acting as nurses to the family would drastically cut infant and maternal mortality, as well as morbidity and mortality in the community. This work continues today through the work of the FNU faculty, students and graduates across the nation. Learn more here

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Frontier Nursing University evaluates student achievement through an ongoing evaluation of degree attainment, certification examination results and job placement in rural and underserved areas. Learn more here.

FNU Campus Move

FNU’s Kentucky campus has moved from Hyden, Ky., to Versailles, Ky. Due to COVID-19, we have experienced delays in our transition of all student events to the Versailles campus. Clinical Bound sessions resumed as in-person sessions in October 2021. All Frontier Bound orientation sessions will return to in-person sessions beginning May 2022. Learn more about our Versailles campus and this exciting time at FNU.

Campus Safety

For information about our Versailles, Ky., campus safety please visit our Campus Safety page.