Top 25 Online Nurse Practitioner Master's Degrees for 2019

Cedarville University, located in Cedarville, Ohio, offers Christian accredited online nurse practitioner programs. All courses are offered online except for four on-campus experiences which include face-to-face instruction and simulation experiences to help students develop advanced nursing skills. Cedarville offers both part- and full-time completion options for students and qualifies graduates to sit for national certification.

Students must complete 600 hours of clinical experience of primary healthcare across the lifespan. Applicants must be Christian, hold a BSN degree with a 3.0 minimum GPA, and have their RN licensure. Graduates are qualified to gain national certification and employment as a family nurse practitioner.

The family health nurse practitioner program at Stony Brook University in New York is offered in an online format with few on-campus requirements. Graduates are qualified to sit for the family nurse practitioner national certification exams to begin their career in family healthcare. Courses cover a variety of topics, including clinical pharmacology, applications in clinical nursing research, and organizational leadership and role transformation.

Applicants must have a BSN degree, minimum 3.0 GPA, RN licensure, three letters of recommendation, at least one year of related and recent professional experience, a three-credit undergraduate course in health assessment, and a three-credit undergraduate course in statistics. Students graduate with the ability to be educators, leaders, consultants, and advocates.

Samford University in Homewood, Alabama offers a flexible online family nurse practitioner program. All courses in the program are taught online with only three on-campus requirements. Courses are led by certified nurse practitioner faculty who are experienced with clinical practices. Students have the option to complete the program full- or part-time.

Applicants must have their RN licensure, a bachelor’s of science in nursing degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, one undergraduate nursing research class, one undergraduate health assessment course, and a video submission. On the family nurse practitioner national certification exam, pass rates for the university are steadily around 100%.

Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin has a family nurse practitioner online nursing degree available for graduate students. Students learn to use a body systems outlook to the etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations of common disease processes throughout the lifespan. Courses cover advanced pathophysiology across the lifespan, role transitions for advanced practice nursing pharmacotherapeutics, and foundations of healthcare informatics.

Concordia’s program prepares students for careers as family nurse practitioners and nurse managers. They learn about common problems presented in primary healthcare settings and develop clinical intervention strategies for planning patient care. Through its Christian foundation, the university creates strong and well-rounded graduates who are able to nurture their patients’ physical and spiritual health.

In Duquesne's online family nurse practitioner graduate program, students learn to interpret diagnostic information and provide holistic treatment plans. With the vast majority of coursework done online, students are only required to do two on-campus experiences. The 45-credit curriculum covers clinical prevention and population‑based health promotion and transitioning to advanced practice nursing.

Graduates are eligible to work in physicians’ offices, outpatient care centers, urgent care centers, federally-qualified health centers, retail clinics, nursing homes, and hospice organizations. The university has a 96% pass rate on the family nurse practitioner certification exam that graduates are eligible to take.

Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion offers online psychiatric nurse practitioner programs to prepare students to provide healthcare in various settings. Students complete at least 525 practicum hours and attend an on-campus course in advanced health assessment with two intensives. The curriculum includes biostatistics and epidemiology, diagnostic reasoning, and interprofessional development for the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

Books and materials are delivered to students and included in the cost of the program. Applicants must have earned a BSN with a minimum 3.0 GPA, RN licensure, three letters of recommendation, one year of professional experience, and a completed background check. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to graduate.

Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. offers an online family nurse practitioner graduate program. Students learn to provide comprehensive primary care across the lifespan in various settings. The curriculum covers women’s health, biomedical ethics, pediatrics and adolescent health, and management of health problems in adults and geriatrics. Students must complete 700 hours of supervised clinical experience and create two short campus-based residencies.

Graduates have a high pass rate on the national family nurse practitioner certification exam. Although the Catholic faith is at the core of the university’s identity, students and faculty members come from many religious and cultural backgrounds. Nursing graduates enter their careers with the intellectual, moral, and ethical leadership qualities needed to provide quality healthcare.

The University of South Carolina in Columbia has online family nurse practitioner programs available for students. Students use course content within the context of the community in order to understand it as a client. They also learn to use theory to practice problems, analyze practice guidelines, and complete an evidence-based practice project. In order to complete the program, students must take nine credit hours of core classes, 21 credit hours of major core classes, three credit hours of research requirement, and 16 credit hours of clinical courses.

Applicants must have their BSN with a minimum 3.0 GPA, RN licensure, two letters of recommendation, and an updated resume. To graduate, students must earn a minimum 3.0 grade in all of their courses. Students must also complete a comprehensive assessment consisting of a written paper describing how the student was able to achieve the program objectives. The exam is completed during the final semester of the program.

MCPHS University in Boston offers nurse practitioner programs online. In addition to the required coursework, students must complete two 1-3 day residencies. The program is part-time and lasts for 24 months. The curriculum covers topics including family primary care, human diversity, social and political issues, translating and integrating scholarship practicum, and professional role development for advanced practice nursing.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, RN licensure, a minimum 3.0 GPA, a letter of recommendation, resume, and one year of full-time RN employment. Residencies for students include new student orientation, second-year residency, and a final residency coinciding with graduation. The university has a 91% pass rate for the national family nurse practitioner certification exam.

Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia offers an online family nurse practitioner graduate program. All courses are offered online and the clinical and practicum requirements are available in the student's’ home community. The 51-credit curriculum has many courses including advanced practice nursing in the primary care of reproductive health and advanced practice nursing in the primary care of the infant, child, and adolescent.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, a 3.0 GPA, RN licensure, a background in statistics and research, a written essay, and a minimum score of 286 on the first two sections of the GRE test. Graduates can take on the role of the family nurse practitioner as a leader in primary healthcare and ensure the delivery of safe, cost-effective, and quality care for patients.

Loyola University in New Orleans has an online nurse practitioner graduate program available to students. Students learn to provide holistic care to individuals and families. The curriculum covers health assessment, pathophysiology, clinical pharmacology, family theory, and primary care. Students have a required practicum experience designed to give them the ability to use their ideas in professional healthcare setting by partnering with a distinguished healthcare professional.

The program prepares students to take the family nurse practitioner certification exam. Graduates gain employment in primary care facilities, hospitals, schools, homes, correctional facilities, and rural clinics. Graduates do physical examinations, diagnose illnesses, focus on wellness and disease prevention, prescribe medication, and even assist in minor surgeries.

The University of Cincinnati has a family nurse practitioner online program. The program is comprised of 50 credit hours, about 672 hours of clinicals, and 42 lab hours. The curriculum covers subjects including the care of well women and children, research and best evidence for clinical reasoning, and clinical management.

Applicants must have a nursing degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, RN licensure, three letters of recommendation, a goal statement, a resume, completion of an undergraduate statistics course with a minimum “C” grade, and one year of professional nursing experience. Graduates move on to work at private practices, schools, health departments, rural or hospital clinics, pediatric offices, and women’s health clinics.

Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey offers online nurse practitioner programs. Students can pursue the adult-gerontology primary/acute care nurse practitioner program or the pediatric primary/acute care nurse practitioner program. Students learn to use evidence-based research to provide patient care. Three on-campus requirements are to be completed by students including an orientation and two practicums.

Students pursuing the adult care track work toward gaining employment in cardiology, pulmonary, GI, neurology, rheumatology, dermatology, oncology, occupational health, long-term care, hospice, and palliative care. Pediatric students prepare themselves for careers in the primary care of children and adolescents. Clinical hours must be completed by students in all of the available tracks.

Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville offers an online family nurse practitioner program. Students learn to use evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning to provide quality care. The program is available to students full- and part-time. Courses cover topics including the primary care of adults, women, and of children and adolescents.

Applicants must have a nursing degree with a minimum 2.75 GPA, RN licensure, and successful completion of an undergraduate statistics course. Family nurse practitioner students are also able to pursue a concentration in psychiatric mental health. All required clinical rotations must be completed in Georgia with a preceptor who is reviewed and approved by the School of Nursing. Students must have Microsoft Office, and they should have home access to a computer.

Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa offers an online family nurse practitioner program. Students are trained to provide care to various patients. Students must complete 720 hours of practicum work in their community to graduate. Courses cover pediatrics, adult care, and family care. The university averages a 94% success rate on the family nurse practitioner certification exam.

During practicums, students get the opportunity to work with an approved local preceptor and a member of Graceland’s nursing faculty to gain hands-on experience. The program emphasizes study through clinical areas. Students learn about disease prevention, health promotion, diagnostics, and treatment plans. Students must complete 47 credit hours with a minimum “B” grade in each of their courses to graduate.

Winona State University in Minnesota offers online nurse practitioner programs. Students who pursue the family nurse practitioner track learn to provide healthcare to families and individuals across their lifespan. Courses cover primary care of adult and gerontology clients, primary healthcare clinicals, and primary care of children.

Graduates are eligible to take the national family nurse practitioner certification test. Students learn to conduct comprehensive assessments of adults, children, and families. They also learn how to diagnose and manage acute chronic health problems, collaborate with other healthcare providers, and study disease prevention. Clinical practicums are supervised by qualified nurse practitioners or other primary care provider preceptors and focus on healthcare in different settings.

Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff has online nurse practitioner programs designed for RN’s interested in pursuing a career in family care. Students must complete 48 credits, participate in fieldwork, and complete research and a thesis to graduate. Students learn about clinical practice and prevention, communication, critical reasoning, leadership, professional values, and global health. Graduates are qualified to take the national family nurse practitioner certification exam.

Applicants must have earned their nursing degree with a 3.0 minimum GPA or better, RN licensure, three letters of recommendation, clinical health requirements, fingerprints, prerequisites, and responses to essay questions. Students must maintain a 3.0 in each of their courses and the program must be completed in a maximum of six consecutive years to graduate.

Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas has an online family nurse practitioner program for RN’s interested in working with patients across the lifespan in various settings. The curriculum is comprised of 48 credit hours, including 18 hours of core nursing courses, 24 hours of clinical experience, and six hours of thesis or evidence-based project courses. Graduates are qualified to take the national family nurse practitioner certification exam.

Applicants must have their bachelor’s degree in nursing, a minimum 3.0 GPA, RN licensure, GRE scores; they must also participate in an interview. The university boasts a student-centered educational experience while also providing guidance from instructors with professional nursing experience.

Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa offers nurse practitioner programs online. Students are able to choose from two program tracks: family nurse practitioner and adult/gerontology nurse practitioner. Family nurse practitioner students must take 51 credit hours to graduate. Classes cover cultural competence in healthcare and foundations of advanced nursing practice. Adult/gerontology students have to take 49 credit hours, covering material that covers how to care for adults and a gerontology practicum.

No GRE is required for admission and no thesis is required for graduation. The university works with students to help find clinical preceptors close to home at places where they are able to make a difference. The clinical component, which is comprised of 540 hours, also includes an experience in a rural, underserved, or multicultural setting.

Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis offers online psychiatric nurse practitioner programs. Students learn assessment, clinical management, diagnosis, and how to prevent mental illness across the lifespan. Online students join the classroom in real-time using videoconferencing. The program includes 525 clinical hours and 45 credit hours. The curriculum covers nursing theory, substance abuse and co-occurring disorders, and neuro-psychopharmacology.

Applicants must have a BSN with a minimum 3.0 GPA, RN licensure, and completion of an undergraduate statistics course with a minimum 80% grade. The GRE is not required for admission. Students are given the option to complete the program full- or part-time. Courses follow a traditional 16-week format and are taught by instructors who have professional nursing experience.