Best Nurse Practitioner Programs of 2025

One of the fastest-growing occupations in the United States, nurse practitioners (NPs) assess, diagnose, and interpret medical tests, prescribe medications, and collaborate in the care of their patients. They work with physicians and other healthcare workers in general hospitals, outpatient care clinics, physicians’ offices, psychiatric and substance abuse facilities, and home healthcare facilities. Nurse practitioners earn an average income of $129,480.

What Can You Expect From a Nurse Practitioner Program?

Nurse practitioner programs require 40 to 52 course credits and take up to three years. The average yearly tuition is $20,513. Our list features the best Nurse Practitioner degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions.

How We Rank Schools

We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, reputation, and the student resources provided for online students. We collected data from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics, individual school and program websites, and school admissions counselors. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100 based on the following criterion:

• Academic Quality: Admission rate versus enrollment rate, retention rate of students who return after year one, and accreditation status (regional and programmatic).
• Graduation Rate: Overall graduation rate and student-to-faculty ratio.
• Cost and ROI: In-state and out-of-state per-credit tuition rates and fees, required credits to graduate, and earning potential after graduation.
• Student Resources: Available student services for online-only and hybrid programs.

Best 27 Accredited Nurse Practitioner Programs

The following table provides a comparison of several top-ranked programs based on their Intelligent Score and tuition costs:

Institutional Highlights and Specialized Rankings

The George Washington University

For the eighth year in a row, the George Washington University School of Nursing has earned multiple U.S. News and World Report top-10 rankings for Best Online Master’s Programs. The school’s online Master of Science in Nursing program was ranked #4 for family nurse practitioner and #6 overall. GW Nursing continues to lead in online nursing education by leveraging cutting-edge technology, proven pedagogy, and industry-recognized best practices.

Briar Cliff University

The Briar Cliff University’s Master of Science in Nursing program was recently ranked first in the country by nursepractitioneronline.com. With Adult/Gerontology Primary Care, Psychiatric Mental Health and Family Nurse Practitioner tracks, Briar Cliff’s MSN program offers convenient, online courses with knowledgeable and caring faculty. Factors for this ranking include diversity of program offerings, faculty experience, annual tuition and fees and graduation rate.

Radford University

RegisteredNursing.org has ranked Radford University's Nurse Practitioner program as #1 in the state. The Radford University College of Nursing is dedicated to cultivating skilled, empathetic nurses ready to meet the challenges of modern healthcare. Academic offerings include:

• Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate
• Nursing Practice, D.N.P.

Colleges of Distinction is proud to name Radford University's College of Nursing a 2025-2026 Nursing College of Distinction for its commitment to preparing compassionate, highly skilled nurses through innovative undergraduate education.

Choosing the Right Program

When looking for the right fit, consider that nurse practitioner programs require a high standard of academic quality. We evaluated schools based on faculty credentials, student engagement, student support services, and peer evaluations from deans and directors of schools of nursing. These rankings reflect a continuous drive for excellence in delivering high-quality online educational programs that allow students to excel in their chosen nursing specialty.