Idaho has 3 universities offering nurse practitioner programs across 3 NP specialties: FNP, PMHNP, and AGACNP. Most programs award a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and Northwest Nazarene University’s FNP MSN is the state’s only master’s route. No Idaho school offers ADN or RN entry.
Jump to: FNP (3) PMHNP (1) AGACNP (1)
FNP is the only specialty with real choice: all three schools offer it, at different degree levels. Each other specialty has one school. Boise State University offers acute care, and Idaho State University (ISU) offers psychiatric care plus the state’s only post-graduate NP certificate. Program length, campus travel, and placement support also differ sharply.
Compare Idaho Nurse Practitioner Programs
| School | Specialties | Degrees | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise State University Boise | FNP AGACNP | BSN-DNP • Post-master’s DNP | Mostly Online |
| Idaho State University (ISU) Pocatello | FNP PMHNP | BSN-DNP • Post-master’s DNP • Certificate | Mostly Online |
| Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) Nampa | FNP | MSN | Mostly Online |
Every program requires some campus time. All three schools deliver coursework online. The post-master’s DNPs at Boise State and ISU are completion degrees for practicing NPs and do not add a new specialty.
NP Programs by Specialty
Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
All three Idaho universities offer FNP preparation, but only one offers a master’s degree.
| School | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| NNU | Idaho’s only FNP MSN, completed in about 2 years |
| Boise State | BSN-to-DNP with two campus trips in total |
| ISU | BSN-to-DNP with school-arranged clinical sites for Idaho residents |
- Length: NNU’s MSN finishes about a year sooner than either three-year DNP.
- Clinical hours: ISU’s BSN-to-DNP requires 1,008, compared with Boise State’s 780. NNU does not publish a total.
- Certified FNPs: only ISU offers a post-master’s DNP for nurses who already hold FNP certification.
No Idaho school offers an FNP post-graduate certificate.
Compare all Idaho FNP programs →
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Programs
ISU is Idaho’s only PMHNP school. It offers three routes:
- a BSN-to-DNP
- a post-master’s DNP for certified PMHNPs
- an FNP-to-PMHNP certificate
Idaho has no PMHNP MSN. The certificate admits only certified FNPs with two years of FNP experience, so master’s-prepared nurses in other specialties have no in-state route to PMHNP.
Compare all Idaho PMHNP programs →
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Programs
Boise State is Idaho’s only acute care NP school. It offers one route: a 70-credit AGACNP BSN-to-DNP with no RN or acute care experience requirement.
Boise State offers no AGACNP MSN or certificate, and its former Master of Nursing AGNP no longer accepts applications. No Idaho school offers pediatric acute care.
Compare all Idaho AGACNP programs →
Which Idaho NP School Fits Your Goals?
Fastest route from BSN to NP: NNU’s FNP MSN can be completed in about 24 months. It is the only Idaho NP program that doesn’t require a doctorate.
Acute care practice: Boise State is the only in-state option. BSN nurses can apply without acute care RN experience.
Psychiatric mental health practice: ISU is the only in-state option. It is also the only Idaho school where a certified FNP can add a second specialty.
Minimal campus travel: Boise State requires two summer intensives over the entire program. ISU requires intensives every semester.
Clinical placement help: ISU arranges FNP clinical sites for Idaho residents. Boise State students find their own preceptors.
Idaho NP Programs by Entry Pathway
BSN to MSN NP Programs
NNU is the only Idaho school with a BSN-to-MSN NP pathway, and only in FNP. It runs 47 to 48 credits over about 24 months.
BSN to DNP NP Programs
Two universities admit BSN-prepared nurses directly into the DNP:
- Boise State: FNP, AGACNP
- ISU: FNP, PMHNP
Full-time students finish in about three years at either school. Boise State also offers part-time spring entry. ISU admits in fall only.
ADN or RN to NP Programs
No Idaho school offers ADN-to-MSN, RN-to-MSN, or other bridge entry into NP programs. A BSN is required.
MSN to DNP Programs
Both DNP schools offer post-master’s DNPs, but only as completion degrees:
- ISU: for certified FNPs and PMHNPs. Adds no specialty coursework.
- Boise State: for practicing APRNs. Includes no AGACNP coursework.
Master’s-prepared nurses seeking a new specialty can apply to Boise State’s BSN-to-DNP, which may waive some courses after a transcript review.
Post-Graduate NP Certificates
ISU’s 23-credit FNP-to-PMHNP certificate is the only post-graduate NP certificate in Idaho. Applicants need national FNP certification and two years of FNP experience.
What Do NP Programs Cost in Idaho?
Idaho has one NP master’s and two BSN-to-DNP programs, so compare like with like.
- NNU MSN: $865 per credit plus a $150 technology fee each semester. The FNP MSN runs about $41.6K to $42.4K before clinical course fees, which NNU does not price publicly.
- Boise State BSN-to-DNP: $895 per credit (2026–27) in every approved state. Total is about $63K, plus clinical course fees of up to $1,100 each.
- ISU BSN-to-DNP: $613 per credit part-time or a flat $5,820 per full-time semester, plus a $3,090 DNP professional fee each semester (2026–27). Total is about $64.5K in FNP or PMHNP.
- ISU post-master’s DNP: about $26K for 22 credits, before any contracted clinical credits.
- ISU FNP-to-PMHNP certificate: about $18.7K for 23 credits, including a $200-per-credit professional fee.
The two BSN-to-DNP programs cost nearly the same. ISU’s lower per-credit rate is offset by its professional fee, which adds about $24,700 over the program. NNU’s MSN costs roughly $20K less than either DNP and finishes about a year sooner, but it awards a master’s, not a doctorate.
Online NP Programs in Idaho
No Idaho NP program is fully online. Campus requirements differ by school and specialty.
Limited campus attendance
- Boise State FNP and AGACNP: two summer intensives in Boise over the program
Recurring campus attendance
- ISU FNP: August orientation in Pocatello, plus 2–4 intensive days each semester in Pocatello and Meridian
- ISU PMHNP: August orientation in Pocatello. DNP students also attend Health Assessment intensives in Meridian, and ISU does not publish how many.
- NNU FNP: on-campus competency lab hours in each of four clinical courses. Visit frequency is not published.
For nurses who live far from campus, Boise State’s two-trip schedule is the lightest commitment.
Clinical Placement and Practicum Requirements
Placement support varies by school, and at ISU by specialty.
- Boise State (FNP, AGACNP): student-secured. Students recruit preceptors, and the placement team handles agreements once a site is found.
- ISU FNP: university-arranged for Idaho residents. Out-of-state students find their own preceptors.
- ISU PMHNP: faculty-assisted, with placements in Idaho or another approved state.
- NNU FNP: not clearly stated. Clinicals are completed in the student’s home state.
ISU’s BSN-to-DNP requires 1,008 clinical hours in both specialties, including lab hours. Boise State’s requires 780 direct rotation hours.
Choosing an NP Program in Idaho
- Start with specialty. Acute care means Boise State and psychiatric care means ISU. FNP applicants can choose any of the three schools.
- Decide between an MSN and a DNP. Only FNP offers the choice: NNU’s two-year MSN or a three-year DNP at Boise State or ISU.
- Confirm your degree. Every in-state route requires at least a BSN.
- Weigh travel against placement help. Boise State asks for the fewest trips. ISU offers the most placement support for Idaho residents.
- Check enrollment rules if you live outside Idaho. Boise State and ISU enroll RNs only from approved states. NNU’s FNP program does not meet licensure requirements in nine states, including Washington and Arizona.
FAQ
How many nurse practitioner schools are in Idaho?
Three: Boise State University, Idaho State University, and Northwest Nazarene University. Together they offer FNP, PMHNP, and AGACNP programs.
Can I become an NP in Idaho with an ADN?
Not through an in-state program. No Idaho school offers ADN or RN entry, so a BSN is required.
Is there an NP master’s program in Idaho?
Yes, one. NNU’s FNP MSN takes about 24 months. All other Idaho NP programs award a DNP.
Are there online NP programs in Idaho?
Yes, but none is fully online. All three schools deliver coursework online and require some campus attendance.
Which Idaho schools offer BSN-to-DNP programs?
Boise State offers FNP and AGACNP, and ISU offers FNP and PMHNP.
Can a certified FNP add a specialty in Idaho?
Yes, but only PMHNP. ISU’s FNP-to-PMHNP certificate is open to certified FNPs with two years of FNP experience.
Do out-of-state students pay more at Idaho’s DNP schools?
No. Boise State charges $895 per credit in every approved state, and ISU waives its non-resident fee for online graduate programs.