Admissions FAQ

The Admissions Office wants to ensure all applicants have been fully informed regarding important topics. Please click here for information you need to know prior to applying. Please contact your Admissions Officer if you have any questions.

Access FNU’s tuition and fees page by clicking here.

FNU is on a term system with each term being 11 weeks in length. There are 2 weeks off between terms. Even though FNU is on a term system, semester credits are awarded.

MSN Applicant GPA Requirement

• Have a GPA of 3.0 or higher from the most recent degree earned (nursing or related field).
• Have a GPA of 2.80-299 from the most recent degree earned (nursing or a related field). Applicants are required to provide a statement outlining any life experiences, employment, or other educational successes they feel should be taken into consideration for admission. In addition to the statement, supporting documentation and/or references (maximum of 3 references) are optional and may be submitted for review by the Admissions Committee.

PGC Applicant GPA Requirement

• Have a GPA of 3.0 or higher from the Master’s program.
• Have a GPA of 2.80-299 from the Master’s program. Applicants are required to provide a statement outlining any life experiences, employment, or other educational successes they feel should be taken into consideration for admission. In addition to the statement, supporting documentation and/or references (maximum of 3 references) are optional and may be submitted for review by the Admissions Committee.

DNP Applicant GPA Requirement

• Have a GPA of 3.0 or higher from the Master’s program.

FNU uses the cumulative GPA as listed on the final official transcript and if the cumulative GPA is less than FNU’s program (MSN, PGC, or DNP) requirement, unfortunately you are ineligible.

Contact your degree granting institution and inquire about repeating courses in an effort to raise your overall GPA.

• MSN Students – If you have taken an approved three (3) credit HA course at a regionally accredited institution you may not be required to retake it with FNU. Please submit a final and official transcript for verification that HA meets FNU requirements. A course syllabus may be requested upon admission to assist in this evaluation.
• PGC Students – Students must have had the across the lifespan content listed in the following courses in their MSN program: Advanced PA, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Pathophysiology. If you haven’t successfully completed the 3Ps the missing course(s) will be added to your Program of Study at FNU. Please submit a final and official transcript for verification that your 3 Ps meet FNU requirements. Course syllabi may be requested upon admission to assist in this evaluation.
• DNP Students – You will not be required to take HA or 3 Ps.

Orientation Bounds, also called Frontier Bound are designed and required for all degree-seeking students attending FNU for the first time as well as returning students beginning a new academic program. The objectives of the Orientation Bounds are to create a community, provide tools for success, cultivate inspiration in new students and disseminate necessary policies and procedures. New students attend the on-campus orientation Bound, in its entirety for three days with other students pursuing the same degree type (MSN, DNP, or Certificate) and/or specialty track (CNEP, FNP, PMHNP, WHNP).Students stay in campus housing for the required Frontier Bound orientation. Typically, all student housing on campus is set up for single occupancy, with community bathrooms. Click here to view Frontier Bound dates.

Once you have accepted your offer of admission, you are eligible to submit course(s) for transfer. Please access the FNU catalog by clicking here and view the Course Transfer Policy and Procedure.

• MSN/PGC – You will be required to attend campus two times.

1-Frontier/DNP Bound. Frontier/DNP Bound is the new 3-day student orientation.

2-Clinical Bound. Prior to entering your clinical practicum you will return to campus for a 5-day Clinical Bound session.

• DNP Students – You will be required to attend campus one time.

1-DNP Bound. DNP Bound is the new 3-day student orientation.

In order to apply to FNU, your nursing degree must be conferred and one year of RN experience (prior to coursework) is required. Once conferred a final official transcript showing the degree earned and the official GPA must be submitted.

In order to maintain consistency and fairness among all applicants and stay on a reasonable timeline with being able to announce admission decisions we must adhere to the published deadline. Deadlines can be viewed by clicking this link.

FNU is now utilizing a rolling admissions process and applicants can learn the status of their application as soon as four to five weeks after complete and valid application materials are received by FNU’s Admission Services.

The one year of RN experience must be completed prior to the beginning of coursework. There are a few cases where experience outside the scope of an RN, such as extensive practice as a doula may substitute or in public health, although it is not common.

Full-time is five (5) or more credits per term and part-time is four (4) credits or fewer. Programs of Study (POSs) are not designed on a full-time/part-time basis but more around the length of time a student chooses to complete the program.

Click here to view the POS for each specialty and degree offered by FNU.

FNU cannot confirm if its programs meet individual state requirements for professional licensure. Students and applicants should contact the licensing boards in their state of residence, or any state in which they may reside in the future, to determine whether the program meets state requirements for licensure. A directory for state boards of nursing can be found here.

When considering graduate education as a nurse practitioner, be aware that the Consensus Model for Regulation has designated specific educational tracks that are recommended in order to provide care for a designated population group. States vary significantly on their licensure requirements regarding this model. Prior to applying, investigate state regulations where you anticipate working to ensure the program you are seeking enables you to provide care for the population you seek to serve. 

You can apply for financial aid at any time. You can apply prior to receiving an offer of admission or after. You will still have plenty of time to apply after receiving your offer of admission. Access this link for the step-by-step process on applying for financial aid.

FNU is a VA friendly school. We have a VA Certifying Official that works with the VA to certify enrollment so that the student can access their educational benefits but FNU does not provide tuition/fee discounts.

Yes. Upon completion of the enrollment application an Admissions Counselor connects and works with you on submitting your admission materials.

FNU has four terms (quarters) a year:

• Winter term-coursework begins in January
• Spring term-coursework begins in April
• Summer term-coursework begins in July
• Fall term-coursework begins in October

Please refer to our “Apply” page for application deadlines.

That depends on the student and their support team. FNU does not require that students work less than full-time but FNU’s academic curriculum is demanding; it is unlikely, and usually inadvisable, for a student to be able to work full-time throughout the clinical practicum, and even part-time employment may prove difficult. Full- or part-time employment during the didactic portion may prove manageable, but that will depend on the individual’s work schedule and ability to fulfill work and personal commitments while successfully completing course requirements.

Course instruction and structure will vary from instructor to instructor. There are a few scheduled class times, but the setup depends on the course and instructor. However, all of the classes require some form of live interaction, presentations, modules, and assignments due with exams, simulation activities, forum posts, group work, and reflective writing. We also use a software called ExamSoft that you will log into from your home to complete the exams.

FNU does not offer dual programs. However, after completion of one clinical certification, it is possible to add another clinical certification by applying for a Post-Graduate Certificate (PGC) in another clinical track offered by FNU. Review this link for more information about our PGC programs.

Please access the FNU catalog by clicking here and viewing “Grading Policies.”

No. Please access the FNU website for Waitlist facts by clicking here.

Yes, but there are stipulations. The first step is to contact your Academic Advisor followed by communication with the Department Chair in each program.

Although the ratio varies, the average student to faculty ratio is 21:1

For information about preceptors and clinical sites please access the FNU catalog through this link and review the “Clinical Site Selection” section.

Although FNU no longer mandates the COVID-19 vaccine, many clinical sites still require students to provide proof of vaccination or an approved exemption. Unvaccinated students must follow the vaccination/exemption process specific to their clinical sites. Please note that each clinical site reserves the right to accept or deny exemption requests, which could impact a student’s ability to progress in the program.

For program inquiries or questions regarding qualifications for admissions, please review our Admissions FAQ or contact our admissions counselors at FNUadmissions@frontier.edu or 859-279-0890.