10 Shortest Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
Online nurse practitioner (NP) programs are extremely popular, primarily because they are convenient and have increased flexibility. Students can complete the shortest online nurse practitioner programs in just 12 months.
While NP programs can be quick, they are demanding and require a full-time commitment. If you’re up for the challenge, the top 10 fastest online NP programs may be for you.
Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
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, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
-
MSN - Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
-
MSN - Family NP
-
MSN - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
-
MSN - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
-
MSN - Pediatric NP - Primary Care
-
Post-Master's Cert - Family NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
-
DNP
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.
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
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
For more than 15 years, American Sentinel College of Nursing & Health Sciences at Post University has been educating registered nurses and healthcare professionals like you online. We offer a number of advanced online nursing degrees designed to give you the advanced education needed to achieve your personal and professional goals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Natiowide except AZ, CA, DC, LA, NY, OR, TN, WA, PR
Top 10 Shortest Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
Our ranking criteria are based on factors such as tuition, acceptance rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and accreditation and use the latest and most robust U.S. government data sets, specifically the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and College Scorecard.
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|
School |
Program Length |
Tuition |
|
Vanderbilt University |
15-20 months |
$1,997 per credit hour |
|
University of Pennsylvania |
15-18 months |
$86,636 - $103,187 (total program cost) |
|
University of Nevada, Las Vegas |
16 months |
$3,808 - $13,124 per semester |
|
Union University |
16 months |
$712 per credit hour |
|
South College |
18 months |
$2,100 per credit hour |
|
Mount Carmel College of Nursing |
18 months |
$955 per credit hour |
|
National University |
19 months |
$51,300 (total program cost) |
|
Saint Thomas University |
18 months |
$30,660 - $32,550 (total program cost) |
|
Youngstown State University |
18-20 months |
$23,715 - $24,242 (total program cost) |
|
Herzing University |
20 months |
$755 per credit hour |
Vanderbilt University offers one of the fastest nurse practitioner programs in a hybrid online format. The school also provides 13 specialization options that can be completed either full- or part-time.
Students can earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree in 4-5 full-time semesters, with part-time students taking 7-8. Vanderbilt's NP programs have exceptional outcomes, with 97% of graduates employed in advanced practice nursing after graduation.
- Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (615) 322-4400
- Email Address: VUSN-Academics@vanderbilt.edu
- Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, Emergency, Family, Neonatal, Pediatric Acute Care, Pediatric Primary Care, Psychiatric-Mental Health, Women’s Health/Gender-Related, Women’s Health Gender-Related/Adult-Gerontology
UPenn, an Ivy League institution, offers a variety of short NP programs for acute and primary care. Students in these programs primarily take classes online. However, all the NP tracks are hybrid, requiring some in-person sessions and clinical rotations.
- Application Deadline:
- Priority: November 4th
- Final: February 3rd
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (215) 989-4271
- Email Address: admissions@nursing.upenn.edu
- Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Neonatal, Pediatric Acute Care, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, Family, Pediatric Primary Care, Psychiatric-Mental Health, Women’s Health/Gender-Related
Non-Resident: $13,124 per semester
UNLV offers one of the fastest online FNP programs and a PMHNP specialty. NP students at UNLV take 100% of their didactic courses online, with several mandatory on-campus sessions and in-person clinical rotations.
Remote students can complete clinical rotations in their local community but must find their sites. UNLV will help students secure a clinical site, but they must live or relocate to NV within a 75-mile radius of the school.
- Application Deadline:
- Fall: September 1st
- Spring: February 1st
- Summer: July 1st
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (702) 895-3360
- Email Address: gradnursingadmissions@unlv.edu
- Specialties Offered: Family, Psychiatric Mental Health
Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
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, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
-
MSN - Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
-
MSN - Family NP
-
MSN - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
-
MSN - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
-
MSN - Pediatric NP - Primary Care
-
Post-Master's Cert - Family NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
-
DNP
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.
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
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
For more than 15 years, American Sentinel College of Nursing & Health Sciences at Post University has been educating registered nurses and healthcare professionals like you online. We offer a number of advanced online nursing degrees designed to give you the advanced education needed to achieve your personal and professional goals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Natiowide except AZ, CA, DC, LA, NY, OR, TN, WA, PR
Union University offers online family and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner MSN degrees. At just 16 months, this is one of the shortest online nurse practitioner programs. It blends online learning with campus visits at the Jackson, Germantown, and Hendersonville campuses.
While students don't have to live near the campus, they must be willing to travel for in-person requirements. The program admits students once yearly, and each cohort starts in the fall semester.
- Application Deadline:
- Priority deadline: October 1st
- Second priority deadline: December 1st
- Final deadline: April 1st
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (731) 661-5156
- Email Address: nursingadmissions@uu.edu
- Specialties Offered: Family, Psychiatric Mental Health
South College has some of the most affordable and fastest RN-to-NP and BSN-to-NP MSN degrees. The program blends online learning with in-person clinicals to prepare students for advanced nursing careers. Focused on developing critical thinking skills to help graduates navigate the evolving healthcare field, South College integrates pathophysiology, informatics, and research courses.
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (865) 288-8750
- Email Address: contactUs@south.edu
- Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology, Family, Psychiatric Mental Health
Mount Caramel offers a unique new Direct Admit Pathway. It assures MCCN students and alumni early admission into their desired program of study. The college provides adult-gerontology primary care, family, and psychiatric mental health NP degrees.
MCCN boasts a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, ensuring students get the personalized instruction necessary to succeed academically and in the field. Over 93% of students receive financial aid or scholarships, making the tuition even more affordable.
- Application Deadline:
- Spring: November 30th
- Fall: August 1st
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (614) 234-4CON
- Email Address: admissions@mccn.edu
- Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Family, Psychiatric-Mental Health
At 19 months, National University offers some of the quickest nurse practitioner programs online. Students can select from family and psychiatric mental health NP specialties.
Despite being entirely online, NP students can access 24/7 support, a vast mentoring network, and free tutoring sessions. This affordable program is committed to the military and their families and offers a steep discount for veterans.
- Application Deadline:
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (855) 355-6288
- Email Address: admissions@nu.edu
Specialties Offered: Family, Psychiatric Mental Health
$30,660 - $32,550 (total program cost)
Ranked as one of the most diverse colleges in Florida, STU offers three NP specializations with six start dates throughout the year. Students can start whenever is most convenient for them. STU's online NP programs take as little as 18 months at varying prices because each specialty has different credit requirements.
- Application Deadline:
- Spring 1: December 27th
- Spring 2: February 28th
- Summer 1: May 2nd
- Summer 2: June 13th
- Fall 1: August 8th
- Fall 2: October 3rd
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (855) 215-4021
- Specialties Offered: Family, Psychiatric Mental Health, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
$23,715 - $24,242 (total program cost)
YSU offers two online NP programs with six start dates throughout the year. All students must have at least one year of relevant bedside experience and complete a personal interview with the admission committee.
- Application Deadline:
- Spring 1: January 6th
- Spring 2: March 10th
- Summer 1: May 12th
- Summer 2: June 30th
- Fall 1: August 25th
- Fall 2: October 20th
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (877) 513-0093
- Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Family
Tuition: $755 per credit hour
Herzing University offers several online NP programs that BSN students can complete in just 20 months. Students can choose from various accelerated RN-NP programs, incorporating BSN and MSN requirements into a single degree. Each program has multiple start dates throughout the year, which adds to the flexibility of program offerings.
- Application Deadline: November 1st
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (800) 596-0724
What to Expect in Accelerated Online NP Programs
The faster the NP program, the more intense it is. Students cannot work throughout the program because the time commitment is often similar to a full-time job.
Additionally, there is no such thing as a fully online nurse practitioner program. Each program will require students to complete several in-person clinical hours at an approved clinical site.
Admission Requirements
Each of the shortest online nurse practitioner programs have their own admission requirements. However, many programs have similar standards, which may include:
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited university
- Current, unrestricted registered nursing (RN) license
- Letters of recommendation
- Current resume or CV
- Relevant clinical experience
- GRE score (if applicable)
- Statement of intent
- Personal interview
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score
Classes & Coursework
All nurse practitioner students will take the same general core classes. However, your specific coursework will vary based on your NP specialty. Programs tailor advanced coursework to each concentration. Some general courses you can expect include:
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Advanced Physical Assessment
- Research
- Ethics
- Leadership
- Public Health
How to Choose an Online Nurse Practitioner Program
As with all nursing programs, choosing a nationally accredited NP program is essential. Before you can take the national certification exam or work as an NP, you must graduate from an accredited program. The two primary accrediting bodies for nursing programs in the US are:
- The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Other factors to consider are:
- Tuition - resident vs. non-resident?
- Class size
- Student-faculty ratio
- Attrition rate
- National certification exam pass rate
- Clinical practice sites
- Flexibility
- Post-graduation employment rate
- Financial assistance
Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
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, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
-
MSN - Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
-
MSN - Family NP
-
MSN - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
-
MSN - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
-
MSN - Pediatric NP - Primary Care
-
Post-Master's Cert - Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Family NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
-
Post-Master's Cert - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
-
DNP
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.
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
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
For more than 15 years, American Sentinel College of Nursing & Health Sciences at Post University has been educating registered nurses and healthcare professionals like you online. We offer a number of advanced online nursing degrees designed to give you the advanced education needed to achieve your personal and professional goals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Natiowide except AZ, CA, DC, LA, NY, OR, TN, WA, PR
