One of the main reasons why people don’t go back to school is the cost. To become an FNP/Nurse Practitioner, you need at least a master’s degree, and for some jobs, you need a doctorate degree. The amount of extra schooling you need depends on your current level of education, but even if you only need one or two more years of college, you could be looking at tens of thousands of dollars to pay for tuition and other expenses. Luckily, there are a number of forms of financial aid available for nurse practitioners.

Scholarships

Scholarships (sometimes called fellowships for those pursuing advanced degrees) are a great form of financial aid because you don’t have to repay the money. If you’re entering an online FNP/Nurse Practitioner program, chances are that your school offers a number of scholarships for their students. You can also look to outside organizations for scholarships. In both cases, scholarship funds are distributed based on merit. While financial need may be a criterion, with you a scholarship, you have to show promise in your field. Often, scholarship committees ask applicants to submit essays describing their nursing goals or why they deserve the money.

Grants

Like scholarships, grants don’t have to be repaid, making them a great source for money to fund your online FNP/Nurse Practitioner education. Rather than being given based on merit, these funds are distributed based on financial need. Across the country, there is a nursing shortage, so those with advanced degrees are highly in demand. So, many organizations, including government departments, have set up grant programs to help nurses go back to college. Both grants and scholarships are usually available to distance education students, so you don’t have to go to a typical campus college to be eligible, as long as your program is accredited.

Loans and Loan Repayment

While in an online FNP/Nurse Practitioner program, you’ll likely qualify for a number of student loan programs, many of which do not ask you to begin making payments until after you graduate. You might also qualify for loan repayment programs through the government, depending on the job you take. These programs might pay for a large percentage of your loans, meaning that your education could be almost free, even if scholarships and grants haven’t completely covered the cost.

Tuition Reimbursement

Lastly, you can seek financial aid directly from your employer. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities want the best employees possible, and many offer tuition reimbursement programs to nurses who want to become FNP/Nurse Practitioners. Usually, these programs are available after you’ve worked for one to three years with an employer, and you’ll have to continue working with the employer for certain number of years in exchange for them paying for your education. Opportunities for these programs are found across the United States, typically in areas where the need for nurses with advanced degrees is greatest.

To become a family nurse practitioner (FNP), one will need a master's-level degree in nursing. Numerous online colleges offer such degrees, and often times offer specializations within the degree programs. Depending on the school, specializations can include informatics, leadership, education, midwifery, adult care, and more. Below are the top online colleges that offer MS in nursing degree programs, suitable for FNPs.

Top Online FNP Degree Programs

MSN - Nurse Practitioner RN to MSN - Informatics MSN - Education RN to MSN - Leadership	Walden University — For the aspiring family nurse practitioner, Walden University offers several master's-level degree programs in nursing. All MSN nursing degrees from Walden are available as fast-track programs for active registered nurses who have already completed some nurse schooling.
MSN - Nurse Practitioner General MSN MSN - Health Education MSN - Health Informatics	University of Phoenix — The College of Nursing at the University of Phoenix offers several Master of Science in nursing degree programs with different specializations for aspiring nurse practitioners. Within the programs, subjects of study will include nursing, finance, management, and leadership.
MSN - Nurse Practitioner MSN - Nurse Education MSN - Nurse Leadership	Gonzaga University — U.S. News & World Report perennially recognizes Gonzaga University as one of the nation's top regional universities. Known for its small class sizes and personal attention given to each individual student, Gonzaga truly is a top tier university. Gonzaga offers several graduate level nursing degree programs, all accredited by NASC.
MSN - Family Nursing MSN - Adult Nursing MSN - Nurse Midwifery More programs...	University of Cincinnati — The MSN with a specialization in family nursing offered by the University of Cincinnati is designed specifically for licensed registered nurses with BSN degrees who are seeking expert training on family health issues. Cincinnati also offers several other advanced nurse practitioner degree programs, as listed on the left.
MSN - Acute Care	Liberty University — Liberty University offers a Master of Science in nursing degree program for students interested in pursuing careers in acute care nursing. Students of this program are expertly trained to obtain licensure as clinical nursing specialists (CNS) in acute care.
MS in Nursing	Benedictine University — The MS degree in nursing from Benedictine University will give you academic preparation in areas of leadership education, administration, and global healthcare. As baby boomers begin to age, the demand for health care will continue to rise. This has become a major area of interest enabling students to learn how to care for the needs of others while in family nursing facilities.
MSN - Nurse Educator MSN - Educator Bridge	Capella University — For those individuals aspiring to become educational leaders in the field of nursing, Capella University offers two degrees: the first is a regular MSN program in nursing education for those who already practice nursing and have earned a BSN degree. They also offer an MSN bridge program that accepts non-nurse students with bachelor's degrees.
MSN - Nurse Educator	Graceland University — Individuals seeking careers as nurse practitioners should have a look at Graceland University's MSN in nurse education online program. Graduates of this regionally accredited degree program will be prepared to resume their careers as educational instructors to other nurses who wish to pursue careers in medical care, nursing, family nursing, and more.
MSN - Nurse Education MSN - Nurse Leadership MSN/MBA - Leadership	Grand Canyon University — Well known as one of the most renowned Christian universities in the United States, Grand Canyon University offers a variety of master's degree nursing programs. Each of the programs listed on the left integrates the values and ideals of Chistianity into the teachings so as to provide students will a well-rounded education in the Christian spirit.
MSN - Nurse Practitioner	Kaplan University — With its main campus in Davenport, Iowa, Kaplan University is one of the largest online colleges in the nation. Kaplan's online MSN degree for nurse practitioners allows licensed RNs with bachelor's degrees to advance their careers with flexibility and affordability in mind.
MS in Nursing	Chamberlain College of Nursing — Once called the Deaconess College of Nursing, today the Chamberlain College of Nursing offers a Master of Science degree in nursing that will prepare any current registered nurse to advane into a nurse practitioner career. Two separate tracks are offered within this program: the MSN Executive Track and the MSN Educator track.
MSN - Nurse Practitioner	South University — For working healthare professionals with busy career schedules, the flexibility offered by the South University master's degree program in nursing may be an ideal fit. Individuals looking to advance their careers within the healthcare industry will find that graduating from this program will surely open doors to new opportunities.
MSN - Adult Acute Care MSN - Adult Psych Care MSN - Nurse Leadership	Drexel University — Individuals aspiring to begin or advance a career working in a professional nursing practice with acutely ill patients may wish to learn more about Drexel's master's degree programs in nursing. Graduates of these programs typically find work in all types of healthcare settings, including hospitals, research labs, ICUs, and more.
MSN - Clinical Leadership	Saint Xavier University — Founded in 1846 by the Sisters of Mercy, Saint Xavier is a Chicago-based, Catholic university. The MSN degree offered through their online program is designed for nurses aspiring to higher-level leadership positions within clinical patient care settings.
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