University of Louisiana at Lafayette Online Nursing Programs
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers flexible online graduate nursing programs designed to help registered nurses achieve advanced practice roles. Through the Myers School of Nursing, experienced faculty members lead students through a curriculum that emphasizes evidence-based practice and leadership. With multiple start dates each year and the ability to study from anywhere in Louisiana, these programs help working nurses grow in their careers without putting their lives on hold.
The University offers an online master of science in nursing with family nurse practitioner (FNP) and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) specializations. There is also a post-master’s certificate option for current nurse practitioners who wish to specialize as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. These programs do not require campus visits, and students must complete clinical preceptorships at approved sites in the state of Louisiana (LA). As such, applicants must hold an unencumbered RN license in LA. The programs are quite competitive, and because preceptorship slots are limited, preference is given to full-time students.
The MSN degree is offered through an Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing (ICMSN) that includes Nicholls University, McNeese State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Interested students may apply through any of these institutions, taking the same courses that are delivered through the Moodle online learning management system (LMS). The core values of the ICMSN include leadership, practice, caring, diversity, lifelong learning, accountability, and collaboration.
Graduates of the UL Lafayette FNP program are eligible to take the FNP certification exam through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Family nurse practitioners may work in various settings, including primary care, emergency care, hospitals, government institutions, schools, long-term healthcare, research facilities, and home healthcare situations.
Graduates of the PMHNP program are eligible to take the PMHNP certification exam through the ANCC and apply for an advanced practice license. PMHNPs may work in mental health settings, including correctional and rehabilitation facilities, counseling centers, primary care, emergency care, hospitals, government institutions, and schools.
The online MSN and post-master’s certificate programs at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and fully approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing. The university is also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is located in Lafayette, Louisiana.
What to Expect from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Online Nursing Programs
Admission Requirements: To be considered for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s online nursing programs, applicants must meet specific academic and professional criteria.
Program Specific Admission Requirements:
- MSN: For the MSN concentrations, candidates must hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an NLN or CCNE-accredited undergraduate program in the United States. A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 is required. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate statistics course and a health assessment course covering care across the lifespan. An active, unencumbered Louisiana registered nurse license is also required.
- The MSN application process requires submission of a completed online application and an application fee, a current resume, official transcripts from all institutions attended, three letters of reference, and evidence of immunization.
- PMHNP Post-Master’s Certificate Program: Admission to the PMHNP post-master’s certificate program requires completion of an MSN degree from a CCNE-accredited graduate nursing program, an overall graduate GPA of at least 3.0, a current unencumbered Louisiana or multistate RN license, and a Louisiana APRN license. Applicants must provide evidence of national certification as an acute care NP, adult NP, family NP, geriatric NP, or women’s health NP.
- The post-master’s certificate application requires an application fee, a current resume, a statement of purpose, official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions attended, and two letters of recommendation.
State Restrictions: Applicants to all University of Louisiana at Lafayette online MSN and post-master’s certificate nursing programs must hold an unencumbered RN license in the state of Louisiana, and all clinicals must be completed in Louisiana. The university is only able to accept students residing in Louisiana and Mississippi for these programs.
Applicants from Minnesota, Tennessee, and Washington are not eligible for admission, as the institution does not meet educational program requirements in those states. For most other states and territories, including Alabama, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and many others, UL Lafayette has not determined whether the program meets educational requirements, and is not accepting applicants from those areas at this time.
Completion of the online MSN or post-master’s certificate at UL Lafayette may not meet licensure requirements outside of Louisiana. Students who plan to obtain licensure in another state should contact that state’s licensing board for guidance before enrolling.
UL Lafayette complies with the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). All programs are also regulated by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors and the Louisiana Board of Regents.
Study Plan: The MSN program requires completion of 42 to 45 credits for the FNP concentration and 48 to 51 credits for the PMHNP concentration. Both tracks include a minimum of 600 precepted clinical hours conducted within Louisiana. These programs span approximately five semesters and both include scholarly projects or thesis requirements to enhance research and practice skills.
The PMHNP post-master’s certificate program provides an accelerated pathway. Students complete 20 credits over four semesters, including at least 510 direct patient care clinical hours in Louisiana. Coursework is delivered fully online, combining didactic learning with clinical experiences guided by approved preceptors.
New cohorts for MSN and post-master’s certificate programs begin in the fall and spring semesters.
- MSN-FNP Curriculum: For the MSN FNP concentration, students complete between 42 and 45 credits. Core and specialty courses include theoretical foundations of advanced nursing; applied statistics for the health sciences; pathophysiology for advanced practice nursing; generating evidence for nursing practice; health assessment and diagnostic reasoning for advanced practice; pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice nursing; population-based primary care; advanced practice nursing: family health I, II, and III; and business, leadership, and health policy for nurse practitioners. Students also complete a focused scholarly project or thesis. A minimum of 600 precepted clinical hours within Louisiana is required, and students must earn at least a “B” grade in all coursework.
- MSN-PMHNP Curriculum: The MSN PMHNP concentration requires 48 to 51 credits. Students take courses such as theoretical foundations of advanced nursing; applied statistics for the health sciences; pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice nursing; generating evidence for nursing practice; health assessment and diagnostic reasoning for advanced practice; diagnostic considerations and psychopharmacology for psychiatric disorders; population-based primary care; pathophysiology for advanced practice nursing; psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse; advanced nursing practice in psychiatric-mental health I, II, and III; and business, leadership, and health policy for nurse practitioners. Completion of a focused scholarly project or thesis is required. This concentration also requires 600 precepted clinical hours in Louisiana. Like the FNP track, students must achieve no less than a “B” in all courses.
- PMHNP Post-MSN Certificate: The PMHNP post-MSN certificate program consists of 20 credits completed over four semesters. The curriculum includes diagnostic considerations and psychopharmacology for psychiatric disorders; psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse; and advanced nursing practice: psychiatric-mental health I, II, and III. Students complete a total of 510 direct patient care clinical hours in Louisiana. The program is designed for nurses who are already advanced practice registered nurses looking to specialize in psychiatric-mental health.
Online Experience: The MSN consortium (ICMSN) utilizes Moodle as its online learning management system (LMS). The courses are asynchronous for added flexibility. Online students complete an eLearning Orientation course at the beginning of the program by the posted deadlines, and they submit assignments through Moodle rather than email.
UL Lafayette and other consortium students use the Typhon Nurse Practitioner Student Tracking System (Typhon NPST) to log clinical hours. Student services include admissions and career counseling, academic advising, financial aid, disability services, an online library and bookstore services, health services, mental health counseling, and technical support.
On-Site Requirements: There are no on-site requirements. All coursework can be completed online, and clinicals are completed at an approved location near the student in the state of Louisiana. However, students are welcome to visit campus and participate in campus graduation ceremonies.
Paying for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Online Nursing Programs
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette online nursing program tuition numbers are listed in the tables below. Interested students should contact the Department of Nursing at UL Lafayette for updated tuition and fees.
UL Lafayette graduate students may be eligible for unsubsidized federal Stafford Loans and Graduate PLUS loans by applying through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In addition, students should check with their employers about a tuition reimbursement program or tuition discounts. Finally, outside options for funding may include private loans and community and organizational scholarships and grants.
The UL Lafayette online MSN – FNP and PMHNP programs offered through the ICMSN consortium with three other schools are 100% online, with very affordable flat-rate tuition and clinicals completed locally in Louisiana.
MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master's Certificate – Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
104 East University Circle
Lafeyette, Louisiana 70503
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
Spring, Fall
Yes
0
42
600
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
2.75 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Program Tuition
42
$480.00
$20,160.00
N/A
N/A
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Spring, Fall
Yes
0
48
600
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
2.75 or higher
None
Program Tuition
48
$480.00
$23,040.00
N/A
N/A
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Fall, Spring
Yes
0
20
510
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY
Program Tuition
20
$480.00
$9,600.00
$480.00
$9,600.00
Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. Rates may change, so please check here for the latest tuition information. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. “Resident” and “non-resident” refer to the student’s school-recognized state residency status. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees.
Farheen Gani
WriterFarheen Gani is a freelance writer, marketer, and researcher. She writes about technology, education, and marketing. Her work has appeared on websites such as Tech in Asia and Foundr, as well as top SaaS blogs such as Zapier and InVision. You can connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter (@FarheenGani).
Sara Navratil
WriterSara Navratil is a freelance writer and a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer. She’s the owner of Sara Liza Life, a company dedicated to helping people rewrite their lives. She enjoys researching and writing about healthcare-related topics, including information on online NP programs. When not working she likes to read, bake, and spend time with her family.