Top Online Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs
Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (PNPs) are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who care for patients throughout childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. PNPs treat, diagnose, and care for pediatric patients in primary and acute care settings.
Nurse.org has compiled a list of the top 10 online pediatric nurse practitioner programs. Continue reading for information about each program, including accreditation, tuition, program length, and contact information.
Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. Chamberlain offers BSN, MSN, and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
Top 10 Online PNP Programs
Our ranking criteria are based on factors such as tuition, acceptance rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and accreditation, and we use the latest and most robust U.S. government data sets, specifically the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the College Scorecard.
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|
School |
Tuition |
Program Length |
Accreditation |
|
Villanova University |
$1,080 per credit hour |
2 years |
CCNE |
|
Maryville University |
$17,709 - $66,634 total |
12-40 months |
CCNE |
|
Baylor University |
$1,150 per credit hour |
3-4 years |
CCNE |
|
Johns Hopkins University |
$1,997 per credit hour |
3 years |
CCNE |
|
Duke University |
$2,166 per credit hour |
2.5 years |
CCNE |
|
Emory University |
$2,082 per credit hour |
18 months |
CCNE |
|
Regis University |
$995 per credit hour |
28-36 months |
CCNE |
|
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
$1,034 - $2,071 per credit hour |
2-4 years |
CCNE |
|
Ohio State University |
$102,028 - $104,828 total |
2-4 years |
CCNE |
|
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center |
$272-$682 per credit hour |
2.5 years |
CCNE |
Villanova University offers an entirely online PNP program, except for in-person clinicals. The university provides students with clinical placements and preceptors in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware. So, out-of-state students must relocate for clinicals to complete the program.
Additionally, regardless of a student's current state of practice, they must hold an active nursing license in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware to be eligible for this program. These restrictions are vital factors that students should consider before applying to Villanova's online PNP program.
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Contact Info
- Phone Number: (610) 519-4500
Maryville offers a 100% online program with no campus visits and no GRE for admission. Students can complete clinicals locally, but are also responsible for securing their clinical sites and preceptors. Currently, there are four online PNP programs available, including a traditional MSN, a BSN to DNP program, a post-master’s PNP certificate, and an online DNP.
- Total Tuition
- BSN to DNP: $61,456-$66,634
- DNP: $56,278-$61,456
- MSN: $35,383-$40,561
- Post-Master’s Certificate: $17,709-$37,144
- Program Length
- BSN to DNP: 40 months
- DNP: 36 months
- MSN: 20-32 months
- Post-Master’s Certificate: 12-24 months
- Application Deadline(s): Rolling Admissions
- Contact Info
- Phone Number: (888) 266-0574
- Email Address: admissions@nursing.maryville.edu
Despite being in the heart of Texas, Baylor offers a PNP program online that provides distance students with the same educational access as those attending in person. Among U.S. News & World Report's Best Nursing Schools of 2023-2024, BU awards online PNP graduates with a DNP degree.
Baylor offers two online pediatric NP pathways: Pediatric Primary Care and Pediatric Primary and Acute Care. The combined primary and acute care program takes longer than the single track.
- Application Deadline: November 1st
- Contact Info
- Phone Number: (888) 227-5901
- Email Address: admissions@onlinenursing.baylor.edu
Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. Chamberlain offers BSN, MSN, and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
Regarded as one of the premier nursing schools in the country, it's no surprise that JHU claimed a place on this list. Students interested in the online DNP PNP at this university should prepare for an especially rigorous online program.
Despite being primarily online, students must make on-site visits to the Baltimore campus throughout the program. Students work directly with JHU's clinical placement team to secure approved clinical sites. Currently, JHU does not authorize clinical placements in Louisiana or New York.
- Application Deadlines
- Early Decision: November 1st
- Priority Decision: January 15th
- Contact Info
- Phone Number: (410) 955-4766
U.S. News & World Report recognizes Duke University as one of the best online programs for pediatric nurse practitioners. The university offers both acute and primary care PNP online programs. Students in this program have access to over 2,000 clinical sites nationwide and internationally. With plenty of locations, they can complete their online PNP program from virtually any location.
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Contact Info
- Phone Number: (919) 684-3786
- Email Address: SONApplication@dm.duke.edu
Emory offers the #1 MSN program in the country, including an excellent online pediatric nurse practitioner program. Students can select from primary or acute care online PNP programs, which are also available as a DNP or post-graduate certificate. Emory's PNP degree includes online didactic courses and 500 hours of clinical experience at hospitals in Atlanta.
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Contact Info
- Phone Number: (404) 727-4241
- Email Address: nursingquestions@emory.edu
The PNP program at Regis College is highly affordable for students and offers several discounted tuition programs. Employees of the school's corporate partners receive a 10-15% discount, making this program extremely desirable.
The online MSN is a virtual extension of the on-campus program, one of Massachusetts's largest nurse practitioner programs. The Regis School of Nursing was the first in New England to be designated a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education.
- Application Deadline: April 4th
- Contact Info
- Phone Number: (866) 411-2159
UNC offers three options for students, including MSN, DNP, and a Post-Graduate Certificate Program. Starting in Fall 2025, the MSN and DNP programs will offer full and part-time study options. Previously, the DNP degree required in-person courses, but it is now entirely online except for in-person clinicals.
- Tuition Per Credit Hour
- Resident: $1,034.12
- Non-Resident: $2,070.62
- Application Deadline: March 11th
- Contact Info
- Phone Number: (919) 966-4260
- Email Address: nursing@unc.edu
Ohio State University is one of the top 5 public research institutions in the country. Online PNP students have access to the same resources, faculty, and student support as those attending in-person programs.
Each student works with a dedicated student support specialist and academic advisor to guide them through their education journey. This method ensures that students' progression plans are suitable and that they are receiving the support they need.
- Total Tuition
- Resident: $102,027.80
- Non-Resident: $104,827.80
- Application Deadline: October 15th
- Contact Info
- Phone Number: (614) 292-7985
Texas Tech's online PNP program provides students with access to one of the top teaching hospitals in the nation for clinical rotations. Currently, state regulations prevent the program from accepting students from Arizona, California, Georgia, Louisiana, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington.
Additionally, while didactic classes are entirely online, students must occasionally travel to Lubbock, TX, for simulations and intensives. They also must attend clinical rotations in person.
- Tuition Per Credit Hour
- Resident: $272.43
- Non-Resident: $682.43
- Application Deadlines
- Fall: February 15th
- Spring: August 1st
- Contact Info
- Phone Number: (806) 743-1000
What to Expect in a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program
PNP programs are rigorous and time-consuming. Students can expect a mix of didactic coursework online and in-person clinicals at an approved clinical site with a preceptor. Most students cannot work full-time during the program, especially during clinicals.
Admission Requirements
PNP programs maintain a high standard for admission. Some programs will admit students directly into the program, while others will require students to apply to the university and nursing program. Admission requirements include:
- BSN from an accredited nursing program
- Unencumbered RN license
- GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale at an accredited university
- Have a minimum of one year of experience
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate coursework
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume/CV
- Personal statement
- Interview, if applicable
- GRE, if applicable
Classes & Coursework
Specific course offers will vary depending on the program and if a subspeciality is offered, but all PNP programs will include didactic and clinical coursework. Students are responsible for a minimum of 500 clinical hours throughout the program.
Courses you can expect to take include:
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Advanced Health Assessment
- Research
- Leadership
- Ethics
- Health Promotion
- Health Care Policy
- Evidence-Based Practice
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Specialties
After earning your PNP degree and certification, you might be interested in a subspecialty. Some universities offer courses specific to a subspecialty, while others provide only general pediatric NP degrees.
Pediatric subspecialties include:
- Acute care
- Primary care
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
- Adolescent Medicine
- Surgery
- ENT
- Hospice and Palliative Care
- Hematology
- Pulmonology
- Urology
- Orthopedics
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
- Neurology
Not all pediatric NP subspecialties are offered in traditional classes. Some are learned through preceptorships, while others are learned on the job. Deciding on the subspecialty that you will practice can depend on several factors. First, if you have experience in a particular area this may mean choosing that subspecialty. Second, a subspeciality might be chosen based on job offers. Ultimately, you should choose a subspecialty that interests you.
How to Choose an Online PNP Program
Deciding on an online PNP program can be overwhelming because there are so many. The most crucial aspect to consider is program accreditation. Without accreditation, you cannot sit for national certification and obtain employment as a PNP.
Next, consider the following factors:
- How much does the program cost?
- Do they offer in-state tuition, or are you applying to an out-of-state program?
- Does your employer offer tuition reimbursement? Is that reimbursement higher for specific programs?
- What type of PNP you are interested in becoming?
- If specific formal education related to the subspecialty is not possible, consider how you will obtain the education.
- Will a job offer you on-the-job training, or can you complete a clinical rotation in that specialty?
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Resources
- How to Become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Salary Guide
- Top 10 Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs
Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. Chamberlain offers BSN, MSN, and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
FAQs
-
Is becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner worth it?
- Yes, becoming a PNP is worth it! As a PNP, you will diagnose, treat, and care for pediatric patients. It is rewarding, provides stability, and you can earn a good income.
-
How much do pediatric nurse practitioners make?
- According to ZipRecruiter, pediatric nurse practitioners earn an average annual salary of $135,161 or $65 an hour.
-
How long are pediatric nurse practitioner programs?
- Pediatric NP programs typically require two years of full-time study or three to four years of part-time study.
-
How hard are pediatric nurse practitioner programs?
- Pediatric NP programs are challenging and time-consuming. The program of study includes advanced health assessment, pharmacology, and pathophysiology classes.
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