Top Nurse Practitioner Programs 2025

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.

Top Overall Nurse Practitioner Programs

*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 themselves 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 Family Nurse Practitioner Programs

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1. Duke University - Durham, North Carolina

Tuition: $2,250 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. Vanderbilt University - Nashville, Tennessee

Tuition: $2,057 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.  

3. University of Alabama at Birmingham - Birmingham, AL

Tuition: In-state: $610 per credit hour, Out-of-state: $2,125 per credit hour

The Family Nurse Practitioner program awards students a DNP after students complete a part-time program of study through a hybrid format. Students are responsible for attending on-campus intensives as well as in-person clinicals. 

4. Ohio State University - Columbus, OH

Tuition: In-state: $972.50 per credit hour, Out-of-state: $2,774.94 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. 

5. University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, PA

Tuition: $103,187 (total program cost)

Penn’s FNP program offers students three options, including full-time (16 months) and two part-time options, including a two-year and a three-year option. The program is only offered in person, except for a few of the core didactic classes.

>> Show Me Online Family Nurse Practitioner Programs

Top Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Programs

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1. Duke University- Durham, North Carolina

Tuition: $2,250 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. University of California at San Francisco - San Francisco, CA

Tuition: $35,181 per year

Students at UCSF earn a BSN after completion of the program. Students complete in-person clinicals at top San Francisco hospitals, including Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, UCSF Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital and Clinics, the VA, San Francisco Department of Public Health, Sutter Health, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, and Marin County Mental Health Services.

3. Vanderbilt University -  Nashville, Tennessee

Tuition: $2,057 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. 

4. University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, PA

Tuition: $99,784 (total program cost)

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. 

5. Emory University - Atlanta, GA

Tuition: $2,082 per credit hour

To be eligible for the PMHNP program at Emory, students must have a minimum of one year of experience working with psychiatric and mental health, behavioral health, or equivalent similar care setting with a psychiatric mental health population focus.

Top Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Programs 

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1. Duke University – Durham, North Carolina

Tuition: $2,250 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: $2,057 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: $86,636 (total program cost)

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.

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. New York University - New York, NY

Tuition: $2,400 per credit hour

Students enrolled at NYU benefit from clinical rotations at some of the leading hospitals in the country. Students are required to complete four in-person clinical rotations, including medicine, surgery, cardiology, and critical care. Students also participate in 12 acute and critical care simulations, including 6 intra-professional simulations, at NYU’s state-of-the-art simulation center.

Top Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Programs

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1. Duke University - Durham, North Carolina

Tuition: $2,250 per credit hour

The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP path at Duke is among the best MSN programs nationwide. It 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. 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. 

3. University of California-San Francisco - San Francisco, CA

Tuition: $35,181 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, patients’ homes, skilled nursing facilities, and other long-term health care settings.

4. Vanderbilt University - Nashville, TN

Tuition: $2,057 per credit hour

Students can attend the program on a full-time or a part-time basis, completing the program in as little as three semesters. Students complete over 500 hours of directly supervised clinical practice with doctorally prepared educators. 

5. Ohio State University - Columbus, OH

Tuition: In-state: $972.50 per credit hour, Out-of-state: $2,774.94 per credit hour

The AGPC NP program at OSU provides students with the same education and opportunities online as those who 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 before graduation. 

Top Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Programs 

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1. Duke University, Durham, North Carolina

Tuition: $2,250 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. Rush University - Chicago, Illinois

Tuition: $1,436 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 completed in two to four years on either a full-time or part-time basis. 

3. Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore, Maryland

Tuition: $2,057 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.

4.  University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

Tuition: In-state: $92,018, Out-of-state: $169,015

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: $2,057 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

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:

1. American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP)
2. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
3. American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
4. American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
5. National Certification Corporation (NCC)
6. 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

Nurse Practitioner Program FAQs

• Which nurse practitioner is most in demand? 

  • Many NP specialties are in demand, but adult gerontology primary care NPs may be especially needed in the next few years as the baby boomer generation continues to retire and age.

• Which NP program is best? 

  • Duke University has one of the highest-ranked NP programs in the country. 

• What is the easiest nurse practitioner program? 

  • NP programs are rigorous and require a great deal of time and dedication. Programs are not “easy” as coursework includes advanced pharmacology, advanced pathophysiology, and advanced health assessment. 

• Where is the highest need for nurse practitioners? 

  • Florida, Texas, New York, California, and Ohio are all projected to have a high need for NPs in the next decade, with new jobs being added and current doctors due to retire.

• Is the NP market oversaturated? 

  • Some cities may see an oversaturation of NPs as it has become increasingly popular over the years; however, there is still a very high demand for NPs as a whole. 

• Is a PA higher than a nurse practitioner? 

  • A Physician Assistant (PA) is not “higher” than an NP. Both PAs and NPs are mid-level practitioners. In fact, NPs can practice independently in more states than PAs can. 

 

 

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