Top Nurse Practitioner Programs 2025
Medically reviewed by:If you are beginning to explore becoming a nurse practitioner (NP), you likely have many questions about which programs will provide you with the best education and position you for the greatest level of success.
That's why we've ranked the top nurse practitioner programs for 2025. We ranked the overall top programs, as well as top programs by individual specialty, to help you choose the right program 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 - 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.
At Ohio University, we provide aspiring and current nursing professionals programs and credentials that will help them launch their careers and advance toward leadership positions.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, except AL, AZ, CO, DE, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MD, MN, ND, NE, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, and WY
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
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Nurses Helping Nurses: Why You Can Trust Nurse.org
As the leading educational website for nurses by nurses, Nurse.org is committed to editorial integrity and data-driven analysis. We independently research schools and programs for nurses and strive to write recommendations that genuinely reflect our true opinion of the product or service. Where relevant, our recommendations may incorporate feedback from 500,000+ nurses in our social communities.
✔ Evaluated 1,100+ accredited nursing school programs using the latest U.S. government data sets. Learn more about our ranking methodology.
✔ Content written by 80+ licensed, practicing nurses who are experts in their respective specialties. Learn more about our nurse contributors.
✔ Connected 1,500,000+ nurses to educational programs since 2020.
|
School |
Graduate Nursing Degrees Offered |
Number of Graduate Nursing Students |
Tuition |
|
Emory University |
MSN, DNP |
829 |
$2,082 per credit hour |
|
Johns Hopkins University |
MSN, DNP |
498 |
$1,881 per credit hour |
|
Duke University |
MSN, DNP |
457 |
$2,166 per credit hour |
|
Ohio State University |
MSN, DNP |
368 |
In-state: $972.50 per credit hour Out-of-state: $1,172.50 per credit hour |
|
University of Pennsylvania |
MSN, DNP |
375 |
$6,866 per credit hour |
|
Vanderbilt University |
MSN, DNP |
715 |
$1,997 per credit hour |
|
University of MIchigan - Ann Arbor |
MSN, DNP |
102 |
In-state: $1,513 per credit hour Out-of-state: $3,093 per credit hour |
|
New York University (Meyers) |
MSN, DNP |
536 |
$41,544 annual tuition |
|
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill |
MSN, DNP |
103 |
$1,019 per credit hour |
|
George Mason University |
MSN, DNP |
19 |
In-state: $629 per credit hour Out-of-state: $1,543 per credit hour |
|
University of Alabama at Birmingham |
MSN, DNP |
870 |
$682 per credit hour |
|
University of California - San Francisco |
MSN, DNP |
274 |
In-state: $12,762 per year Out-of-state: $25,007 per year |
|
University of Washington |
MSN, DNP |
79 |
In-state: $19,251 annually Out-of-state: $33,354 annually |
*Source U.S. News and World Report
Top Nurse Practitioner Programs by Specialty
There are approximately 500 academic institutions in the United States that offer accredited nurse practitioner (NP) programs, and all of them provide the training and education needed to ensure you are ready and able to move forward as an NP.
If you are interested in pursuing your education at one of the NP programs that have distinguished itself in the most popular NP specialty areas, we have compiled a list of the top five programs for each, as judged by U.S. News and World Report.
Top Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Programs
1. Duke University – Durham, North Carolina
Tuition: $2,166 per credit hour
Duke University’s Adult-Gerontology Acute Care offers intensive courses, state-of-the-art simulation techniques, and immersion in clinical rotations for patients across all acute care settings, including urgent care and emergency departments, hospitals, intensive care services, and step-down units in academic, community, or critical access environments. Applicants are required to have at least one year of acute care nursing experience.
2. Vanderbilt University – Nashville, Tennessee
Tuition: $1,997 per credit hour
Vanderbilt University’s Adult-Gerontology Acute Care program is taught by doctorally prepared faculty using traditional classroom settings, live-streamed videos, online educational activities, simulated experiences, and clinical training. The program offers specialization in cardiology, critical care, nephrology, pulmonology, endocrinology, trauma, rehabilitation, and other areas.
3. University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, PA
Tuition: $56,262 per year
The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care program at the University of Pennsylvania provides a 15-month full-time curriculum as well as a two-year and three-year plan of study for students who wish to attend the program part-time. The clinical courses include classroom case studies and clinical preceptorships that focus on physical assessment and pathophysiology, health maintenance, and the management of common acute and chronic health problems.
Popular Online Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Programs
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
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, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, and the School of Nursing has been delivering graduate nursing programs in a distance-learning environment since 2011. Georgetown's online programs allow students to learn from wherever they are while they pursue an accredited, mission-driven nursing education that will allow them to deliver high-quality care.
CCNE
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.
At Ohio University, we provide aspiring and current nursing professionals programs and credentials that will help them launch their careers and advance toward leadership positions.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, except AL, AZ, CO, DE, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MD, MN, ND, NE, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, and WY
4. Emory University- Atlanta, GA
Tuition: $2,082 per credit hour
Emory University’s Adult/Gerontology Acute Care program focuses on both the care of acutely ill and complex chronically ill patients and their families. Areas of specialty include critical care, trauma surgery, general surgery, plastic surgery, and hospital medicine.
5. Ohio State University - Columbus, OH
Tuition: In-state: $972.50 per credit hour, Out-of-state: $1,172.50 per credit hour
OSU’s AGNP program is entirely online and was developed based on the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Competencies guidelines as defined by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). Students must have one year of full-time work experience in an acute care setting to be eligible for the program.
>> Show Me Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
Top Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Programs
1. Duke University - Durham, North Carolina
Tuition: $2,166 per credit hour
The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP path at Duke is an MSN program that provides opportunities for short-term courses or clinical work in international sites and options for choosing an area of specialization, including cardiology, endocrinology, oncology, orthopedics, and HIV.
2. Ohio State University - Columbus, OH
Tuition: In-state: $972.50 per credit hour, Out-of-state: $1,172.50 per credit hour
The AGPC NP program at OSU provides students with the same education and opportunities online as those that attend the brick and mortar institution at a fraction of the cost. Students focus on clinical experiences, interprofessional collaboration and evidence-based practice skills throughout the program prior to graduation.
3. Emory University- Atlanta, GA
Tuition: $2,082 per credit hour
Emory University’s Adult/Gerontology Primary Care program focuses on both the care of acutely ill and complex chronically ill patients and their families. Areas of specialty include critical care, trauma surgery, and hospital medicine. Students may also pursue a dual MSN/MPH degree through the School of Nursing and the Rollins School of Public Health.
4. Case Western Reserve University - Cleveland, OH
Tuition: $2,308 per credit hour
The NP program at Case Western requires 41 hours of coursework and 600 clinical hours. Generally completed in 18 months the courses are offered online for maximum flexibility. The program focuses on health promotion, disease prevention and comprehensive gerontological assessment.
5. University of California-San Francisco - San Francisco, CA
Tuition: In-state: $12,762 per year, Out-of-state: $25,007 per year
According to the university website, the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) specialty at UCSF promotes and sustains health in the community and workplace, with particular emphasis on culturally diverse and high-risk populations. Graduates from the program go on to practice in community and hospital-based primary care clinics, patient’s homes, skilled nursing facilities, and other long-term health care settings.
>> Show Me Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
Top Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
1. Duke University - Durham, North Carolina
Tuition: $2,166 per credit hour
The Duke University FNP program is offered both in-person and online. It prepares its graduates to serve as the primary health care provider for patients of all ages and across all primary care settings. Much of the program’s focus is on preparation for advanced clinical practice throughout patients’ lifespans and across the health continuum. Includes pediatric and perinatal care courses and the ability to do clinical work in international sites.
2. Ohio State University - Columbus, OH
Tuition: In-state: $972.50 per credit hour, Out-of-state: $1,172.50 per credit hour
Currently, there are two FNP tracks available to students at OSU. The on-campus track is available to students with a BSN and those in the Graduate Entry Program. There is also an online distance learning program. Students must indicate which program they are applying for and unfortunately can not change once the program has been started.
3. Vanderbilt University - Nashville, Tennessee
Tuition: $1,997 per credit hour
Vanderbilt University’s Family Nurse Practitioner program teaches a family-oriented approach focused on health promotion and maintenance. While the program offers a traditional didactic approach, it is particularly well suited to self-directed learners who can absorb a significant amount of information in concentrated form.
4. Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Tuition: $2,082 per credit hour
Emory University’s Family Nurse Practitioner Program prepares graduates to meet the needs of individuals across their lifespans. The program has a strong focus on community-based primary care, offering multidisciplinary experiences in both the classroom and through clinical settings, including rural and migrant populations. The program places students in more than 40 community-based sites and private practices to ensure a wide range of exposure and experience.
5. University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Tuition: In-state: $12,762 per year, Out-of-state: $25,007 per year
The University of California -San Francisco’s Family Nurse Practitioner program is focused on preparing nurse practitioners to be leaders in clinical care, research, and policy. It provides extensive hands-on experience working with a wide range of patient populations with complex healthcare needs, across the lifespan and in a variety of clinical settings. Post-Master’s certificates are available and require 5 quarters of coursework and an additional 560 hours of clinical practice.
>> Show Me Online Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
Top Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Programs
1. Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
Tuition: $2,166 per credit hour
The Duke University Pediatric NP program provides training through all areas of primary health care for children of all ages, including health maintenance and prevention, chronic and acute pediatric illnesses, behavior issues and patient/family education. Clinical practice provides one-on-one experience and is facilitated through work in school-based health clinics, hospital ambulatory settings, health departments, and community pediatric practices.
2. Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore, Maryland
Tuition: $1,939 per credit hour
Become a DNP-prepared pediatric primary care nurse practitioner while taking advantage of resources found only at Johns Hopkins. Students enhance their relationships with Johns Hopkins’ internationally acclaimed faculty, who have broad experience in advanced clinical practice, leadership, and patient safety. They will also build up your network with the other emerging leaders among your cohort and alumni.
3. Rush University - Chicago, Illinois
Tuition: $1,344 per credit hour
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PC PNP) program prepares students to function in a variety of primary care settings, taking care of children from infancy through young adulthood. The online program can be accomplished in two to four years on either a full-time or part-time basis.
4. University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Tuition:
- In-state: $79,632
- Out-of-state: $145,467
The Doctor of Nursing Practice Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Iowa provides students with a blended learning experience of academics and carefully selected clinical experiences to ensure the highest quality learning experience. The university has a 100% certification exam pass rate as well as a 100% job placement rate for graduates. The length of the program is 3-4 years.
5. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
Tuition: $1,997 per credit hour
Vanderbilt University’s Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care program is taught by doctorally prepared faculty with diverse and real-world pediatric NP experience. The university offers a thorough and comprehensive curriculum that combines traditional classroom settings, clinical training, and simulation experience to teach pediatric care knowledge and critical thinking skills.
>> Show Me Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
Top Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Programs
1. Duke University- Durham, North Carolina
Tuition: 12,166 per credit hour
The Duke University Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program provides the skills needed to deliver psychiatric mental health care to all ages, with an emphasis on underserved communities and rural settings. The program offers immersion in the clinical environment, including emergency departments, inpatient facilities and intensive care services, VA facilities, and residential mental health care facilities. Graduates receive certification in telepsychiatry and options for certification in veterans’ health. It also offers a Post-Graduate certificate program for those who are already nurse practitioners.
2. Vanderbilt University - Nashville, Tennessee
Tuition: $1,997 per credit hour
Vanderbilt University’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program was one of the first of its kind in the country. It includes education on treatment for individuals, families, or groups with common, acute, or chronic mental health programs.
Vanderbilt's program provides its graduates with the training to prescribe appropriate medications, psychotherapy, crisis intervention, case management, and consultation in a variety of settings. The program offers low faculty-to-student ratios, mentoring, and personalized attention.
Popular Online Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Programs
Learn in-depth practices in how to provide comprehensive psychiatric mental health care at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Grow your skills in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of a variety of psychiatric mental health disorders across the lifespan of patients.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
At Ohio University, we provide aspiring and current nursing professionals programs and credentials that will help them launch their careers and advance toward leadership positions.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, except AL, AZ, CO, DE, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MD, MN, ND, NE, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, and WY
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.
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
3. University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, PA
Tuition: $6,866 per credit hour
The PMHNP program at U. Penn is offered in person and can be completed in as little as 14 months. While the full-time option has one start date, if you choose to attend part-time, there are three available start dates. The PMHNP program offers a holistic approach that blends neuroscience with psychotherapy and psychopharmacology.
4. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill - Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Tuition: In-state: $12,762 per year, Out-of-state: $25,007 per year
UNC-Chapel Hill’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program prepares its graduates to provide for the psychiatric and mental health care needs of individuals, families, groups, and communities throughout the lifespan and in a broad range of practice and community settings. The program emphasizes cultural sensitivity and the ability to understand and integrate mental and physical health problems. Students are encouraged to complete their clinical hours in their own communities.
5. Yale University - Orange, CT
Tuition: $49,018 per year
The Psychiatric–Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program at Yale University prepares students for advanced practice in the provision of psychiatric–mental health services to individuals across the lifespan and their family members. This is a master’s degree program that takes two years of full-time study to complete.
How Do You Become Certified as a Nurse Practitioner?
After completing an accredited nurse practitioner program, you'll need to become certified in whatever NP specialty you have chosen. There are different certification organizations depending on what you're specializing in. They include:
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP)
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- National Certification Corporation (NCC)
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
Each certification board has different requirements, though all require you to have completed an accredited nurse practitioner program and pass a certification exam.
Can You Earn a Nurse Practitioner Degree Online?
Remote learning has become increasingly popular, and online NP programs at both the MSN level and the DNP level are offered through many of the country’s top Nurse Practitioner programs.
This has allowed nurses to continue to work and support or care for themselves and their families while at the same time furthering their education and professional opportunities.
While online NP programs are becoming more popular, all NP programs require in-person clinical hours. This means that core courses can be offered online, but you will be required to complete a specific number of hours in person at an approved clinical site with a preceptor.
How Much Do Nurse Practitioner Programs Cost?
The costs of nurse practitioner programs vary depending on numerous variables, including whether you choose to attend an in-state public program or a private university, whether you will need to relocate to attend a full-time program where you will need room and board, and whether you are taking the program on a part-time, per-credit basis or a full-time tuition basis.
The costs for MSN nursing programs can easily reach $60,000 to $100,000, with DNP programs costing almost twice that as a result of the additional coursework required.
Fortunately, there are numerous opportunities for full-time students to take advantage of financial aid such as the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) program and nursing scholarships, and for those who are studying part-time or online while working to seek tuition reimbursement from their employers.
NP Program Prerequisites & Requirements
When you're applying to nurse practitioner programs, the prerequisites and requirements will vary depending on the school, but you can expect to generally need the following:
- A bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited college or university
- An active RN license and work experience, including a specified number of clinical hours
- A minimum undergraduate GPA (usually a 3.0 or higher)
- Letters of recommendation (academic and professional)
- Application essay
- Current resume or CV
- GRE scores
Applicants will also need to have taken specific prerequisites, which may include:
- General Chemistry
- Human Anatomy and physiology (with labs)
- Microbiology
- Nutrition
- Psychology
- Statistics
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 - Pediatric NP - Primary Care
-
MSN - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
-
MSN - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
-
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.
At Ohio University, we provide aspiring and current nursing professionals programs and credentials that will help them launch their careers and advance toward leadership positions.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, except AL, AZ, CO, DE, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MD, MN, ND, NE, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, and WY
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
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Nurse Practitioner Program FAQs
Read Next
- Nurse Practitioner Schools in Florida
- Top Direct-Entry Nurse Practitioner Programs
- Best PMHNP Programs
- Top Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
