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Beware of

Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Patient in consultation

An Investment in Your Future

A nursing degree can open the door to a career with strong demand, opportunities to advance, and the ability to make a difference in people's lives. At SMU, you’ll know the cost of your education from the day you enroll.

Registered nurses earn a national median salary of $97,550 a year, with the highest 10% earning more than $137,470, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nursing also offers significant opportunities for career advancement. Nurse practitioners earn a median $132,300, while nurse anesthetists earn a median $236,590. Demand for advanced practice nurses is also expected to remain strong, with employment projected to grow 36% from 2025 to 2035.

Salary data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025.

$97k+

Median salaries

Price locked

At enrollment

85%

Receive aid

Tuition

Total program pricing for cohorts starting on or after July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027. Tuition is fixed for the length of the program and assessed per-unit each term.

Tuition
Program Total Units Total Program Price
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) 67 $143,913
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) 52 $109,200
Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing – Case Management (ELMSN-CM) 93 $179,277
Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner (ELMSN-FNP) 109 $211,493
Master of Science in Nursing – Case Management (MSN-CM) 37 $59,848
Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) 48 $90,382
Master of Science in Nursing – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 48 $90,299
Master of Science in Nursing – Leadership (part-time) 36 $40,491
Master of Science in Nursing – Leadership 36 $39,600
Post-Graduate APRN – FNP Certificate 38 $71,133
PMHNP Certificate (Graduate-Prepared Nurses) 35 $65,749
PMHNP Certificate (Nurse Practitioners) 27 $49,950
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) 30 $49,008
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP) 65 $108,362
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Anesthesia (DNAP) 94 $203,624
RN to BSN 30 $14,250

What's Included

Included

Tuition and all standard program fees (including books, graduation fees) in one number.

Not included

Healthcare and parking are billed separately.

How the Guarantee Works

  • One published price for your entire program.
  • Locked for the full length of your degree - no annual tuition increases.
  • Assumes continuous enrollment and normal progression through the official program of study.
  • If you fall behind cohort (leave of absence, course failure, reduced enrollment, or program extension), you may be reassigned to a later cohort and charged that cohort's pricing.

Application Fees & Deposits

Non-refundable, whether or not you enroll or attend.

Application Fees & Deposits
Application Fee - Undergraduate Nursing Programs. (3rd-party vendor) $65
Application Fee - Graduate Nursing Programs (3rd-party vendor) $85
Application Fee - Undergraduate Non-Degree Seeking $50
Tuition Deposit - Excluding DNAP $350
Tuition Deposit - Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) $1500

Additional Fees

Additional Fees
Audit Fee - Theory Course $100
Audit Fee - Clinical Course $150
Audit Fee - Synthesis Continuation Fee $100
Returned Check Fee $25

OUR CAMPUSES

Prepare for a career that makes a difference. Explore programs, connect with admissions, and take the next step toward becoming a healthcare professional.
View of the SMU Oakland Campus

Oakland

525 12th St.
Oakland, CA 94607

800.607.6377

View of the SMU Sacramento Campus

Sacramento

2710 N. Gateway Oaks Dr.
Suite 360
Sacramento, CA 95833

800.607.6377

View of the SMU Fresno Campus

Fresno

1791 E. Fir Ave.
Fresno, CA 93720

800.607.6377

View of the SMU San Francisco Peninsula Campus

San Francisco Peninsula

999 E. Hillsdale Blvd.
Foster City, CA 94404

800.607.6377

A student takes SMU program online.

Online Programs

admission@samuelmerritt.edu

800.607.6377

Job Scam Warning

We have been made aware of fraudulent job postings and offers that may appear to come from Samuel Merritt University. Please note:

  • All legitimate job postings are listed exclusively on our official Careers page.
  • Our recruiters will always contact you from an @samuelmerritt.edu email address. We do not use personal email accounts.
  • We will never ask for payment, banking information, or personal identification documents as part of the hiring process.
  • If you are unsure about the legitimacy of a job posting or communication, please contact us directly at recruiting@samuelmerritt.edu.

We take these scams seriously and are working with authorities and online platforms to remove fraudulent listings. If you believe you have been targeted, we encourage you to report the incident to the FTC (in the U.S.) or your local authorities.