Indiana State University in Terre Haute offers two nurse practitioner population foci: family (FNP) and psychiatric-mental health (PMHNP). FNP is available as an MSN, a BSN-to-DNP, and a post-master’s certificate. PMHNP is offered only as a post-master’s certificate. All coursework is online, with no required campus visits.
Three policies shape the decision more than any single specialty detail:
- Low resident tuition and a reduced online rate. Indiana residents pay $462 per credit, and eligible out-of-state online students pay $610, not the $954 standard non-resident rate.
- Students arrange their own clinical sites. Placements must be in a state where the student holds an RN license.
- ACEN accreditation now carries conditions. After a September 2026 visit, both the master’s/certificate and DNP programs hold continuing accreditation with conditions for 24 months.
Quick facts
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Nursing School | School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services |
| Location | Terre Haute, IN |
| NP Specialties | FNP, PMHNP |
| Degree Options | FNP: MSN, BSN to DNP, post-master’s certificate. PMHNP: post-master’s certificate only |
| Format | Online; no campus visits. The BSN-to-DNP adds a few live online sessions each semester |
| Clinical Hours | FNP BSN-to-DNP 750 precepted plus 350 project hours; PMHNP certificate 750 (up to 250 credited from prior APRN practice); FNP MSN and certificate not published |
| Clinical Placement | Student-arranged, in a state where the student is licensed |
| Tuition | $462/credit resident; $610/credit eligible out-of-state online (2026–27) |
| Start Terms | August and January; deadlines March 1 and October 1 |
| Accreditation | ACEN, continuing accreditation with conditions; HLC |
Comparing Indiana State’s NP programs
The FNP has three entry points built on the same three clinical courses. The PMHNP certificate is a separate nine-course sequence for nurses who already hold a master’s in nursing.
| Pathway | Credits | Clinical hours | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) | |||
| MSN | 48–51 | Not published | BSN; 3.0 GPA |
| BSN to DNP | 78 | 750 + 350 project | BSN; 3.0 GPA |
| Post-master’s certificate | 27 | Not published | MSN; 3.0 GPA; pharmacology, pathophysiology, assessment |
| Psychiatric-Mental Health (PMHNP) | |||
| Post-master’s certificate | 27 | 750 | MSN; 3.0 GPA; pharmacology, pathophysiology, assessment |
The FNP MSN and certificate use the same clinical courses as the BSN-to-DNP, so their hours are likely near 750, but Indiana State does not publish a total. The DNP’s 350 project hours are faculty-supervised and separate from FNP clinical practice.
What stands out about Indiana State’s NP programs
- No campus visits in any track. Every Indiana State NP track, including the doctorate, is fully online. Among Indiana PMHNP programs, only Indiana State and USI list no required campus attendance.
- Credit for prior APRN practice. Certified APRNs adding the PMHNP can apply up to 250 verified hours from their prior APRN master’s toward the 750-hour total.
- A 28-month doctorate. The FNP BSN-to-DNP runs seven semesters, the same as the MSN, with heavier year-two loads.
- A small doctoral premium for residents. The 78-credit BSN-to-DNP costs Indiana residents about $14,000 more than the MSN in tuition.
- Published outcome data. Indiana State reports FNP completion rates of 64%, 56%, and 76% from 2021–22 to 2023–24, and certification pass rates that rose from about 77% to 94%.
Which Indiana State NP program fits your goal?
Family Nurse Practitioner
All three FNP tracks share the same clinical sequence: health assessment, chronic and acute care, family health care, and a final preceptorship. The MSN runs 48 to 51 credits over about seven semesters at 4 to 10 credits per term, depending on whether students choose an evidence-based practice course, project, or thesis. The BSN-to-DNP finishes in the same seven semesters at up to 13 credits per term. The certificate drops the graduate core and requires prior graduate pharmacology, pathophysiology, and assessment.
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The 27-credit PMHNP certificate requires 750 clinical hours, at least 500 of them supervised in the program across four clinical courses. Nurses with current APRN certification may apply up to 250 verified hours from their APRN master’s. Graduates of non-APRN master’s programs take additional practicum courses, set by a gap analysis at admission. Indiana State does not offer the PMHNP as an MSN or DNP.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
The FNP MSN runs 48 to 51 credits over about seven semesters of part-time study. Every advanced practice course requires a B (83%) or better. Applicants need a BSN and a 3.0 GPA, and admission is scored by rubric that rewards healthcare experience, leadership, and community service. No minimum RN experience is set.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
The FNP BSN-to-DNP runs 78 credits over seven semesters, including 17 credits of DNP project courses taught at a 1:8 faculty-to-student ratio. It requires 1,100 hours: 750 precepted clinical hours and 350 project hours. Most coursework is asynchronous, with a few scheduled live online sessions each semester. The degree must be completed within seven years.
Post-graduate certificates
Both certificates run 27 credits and require a master’s in nursing with a 3.0 graduate GPA. Applicants need graduate pharmacology within five years, pathophysiology, and advanced assessment. The FNP certificate takes about four semesters. Indiana State does not publish a PMHNP certificate timeline, and the remaining clinical requirement depends on the gap analysis.
Clinical placement
Students arrange their own clinical sites in a state where they hold an RN license. Indiana State does not describe placement support, a clinical coordinator, or a deadline for securing preceptors. PMHNP clinicals may take place in community mental health agencies, hospitals, psychiatric offices, long-term care, and substance use treatment centers.
Format and campus requirements
All four NP tracks are delivered online with no required campus visits. The BSN-to-DNP includes a few scheduled synchronous online sessions each semester. Admission may require an interview, which can be done by video.
Admissions
- Deadlines: March 1 for an August start and October 1 for a January start, through GradCAS. The spring 2027 deadline is extended to November 15, 2026.
- Degree and GPA: BSN or MSN with a 3.0 GPA; final-semester students may apply.
- License: current, unencumbered RN license verified through the state board or Nursys.
- Documents: statement of purpose of up to 500 words, resume, and recommendation forms.
- After admission: $100 seat fee, background check, CPR certification, and immunizations.
Tuition
Indiana State charges $462 per credit for Indiana residents and $610 for eligible out-of-state online students in 2026–27. Standard non-residents pay $954. Nursing students are excluded from the Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and Midwest Consortium scholarships.
| Pathway | Credits | Indiana resident | Out-of-state online |
|---|---|---|---|
| FNP MSN | 48 | $22,176 | $29,280 |
| FNP BSN to DNP | 78 | $36,036 | $47,580 |
| FNP or PMHNP certificate | 27 | $12,474 | $16,470 |
Figures are tuition only, derived from published rates. A $60 online delivery fee applies to each graduate course. Program fees add $450 per semester for the MSN and FNP certificate and $400 per semester for the DNP, bringing estimated resident totals to about $26,200 (MSN), $40,200 (DNP), and $14,800 (FNP certificate). Indiana State does not list a separate PMHNP certificate program fee, so confirm it with the bursar.
Accreditation and certification
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing accredits Indiana State’s master’s and post-master’s certificate programs (since 1989) and its clinical doctorate (since 2012). After a September 2026 visit, both hold continuing accreditation with conditions for 24 months, with the next full visit in spring 2034. The programs remain accredited while they address the conditions, which Indiana State does not describe. The university is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
FNP graduates sit for certification through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board or the American Nurses Credentialing Center. PMHNP graduates certify through the ANCC.
State authorization
Indiana State enrolls online FNP students from 35 states for the MSN and certificate and 33 for the BSN-to-DNP. California, New York, and Arizona are excluded, and Maryland and Washington residents cannot enroll in the BSN-to-DNP. Some applicants must sign an attestation that they will seek work in a state where the program meets licensure requirements. The PMHNP certificate is also limited to eligible states, so check Indiana State’s current list before applying.
Who is Indiana State best for?
May be a strong fit for
- Indiana residents who want low public tuition
- Nurses who cannot travel to campus
- Certified APRNs adding the PMHNP with prior clinical hours to credit
- BSN nurses who want an FNP doctorate in seven semesters
- Nurses with their own preceptor connections
Compare other options if
- You want the school to arrange clinical placements
- You want a PMHNP MSN or DNP rather than a certificate
- You live in California, New York, Arizona, or another excluded state
- You want a program without current accreditation conditions
- You need acute care, adult-gerontology, or pediatric preparation
Compare more NP programs in Indiana
- Indiana University - Indianapolis
- Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion
- Purdue University - West Lafayette
- University of Indianapolis - Indianapolis
- University of Southern Indiana - Evansville