University Of Rochester School Of Nursing
The Baccalaureate nursing programs and the Masters nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education .
Programs Offered: Part-Time BSN, Accelerated BSN , Part-Time MSN, Accelerated MSN , RN to MSN, MSN , Care of Children and Families , Care of Children and Families , Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner , PhD, DNP
University of Rochester School of Nursing, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box SON, Rochester, NY 14642
University Of Connecticut Storrs Ct
The University of Connecticut offers both an online and an on-campus program for those that want a choice in the delivery method. The online program is the most popular and offers students the chance to attain their degree while taking classes that are innovative, interesting, and that offer students a well-rounded education.
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate of 91%
- Program length or credit hours: 44 credit hours
- Admission requirements: minimum of two years full-time RN level experience in a neonatal setting
- Tuition is $2,475 per 3-hour credit course
- CCNE Accreditation
What Is The Mental Health Np Concentration
The aim of the Mental Health Concentration is to provide a unique opportunity for the development of advanced practice mental health nursing skills. Students will explore areas pertaining to services offered in the first, second and third line to become familiar with several roles, encompassing one of communicator, collaborator, manager, scholar/professional advocate and leader. This will be of importance when caring for individuals experiencing mental and physical distress, with or without addictions across the lifespan.
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Wright State University Dayton Oh
Wright State offers a neonatal nurse practitioner program on the MSN degree track. They offer a fully on-campus program that allows students the chance to have hands-on experience when it comes to their degree.
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rates 78%
- Program length or credit hours 55 credit hours plus clinical hours
- Admission requirements BSN with neonatal experience
- Tuition is $8,146 per year for resident students and $13,018 for non-resident students
- HLC Accreditation
How We Ranked The Nurse Practitioner Programs On This List

As you can see, there may be some surprises in the rankings here if youve done any research elsewhere. However, we stand by our rankings because we grade each school based on what we believe are the most important criteria how much you pay, the student-to-faculty ratio, and the graduation rate. Other factors that we consider included the number of programs each school offered and what students said about each school.
In cases where there was no available information on a point, we tried to rank the school accordingly based on what information we possessed. For example, some schools did not share their graduation rates, making them fall a little lower than they may have done otherwise.
We prefer the three main criteria that we included because it gives you an idea of how much debt youll have when you finish, your chances of success, and how much interaction youll get with professors during your training a factor that is critical when finding nurse practitioner programs that you can trust for your needs. The graduation rates are based on the average between full-time and part-time students, with the latter usually graduating at a lower rate, bringing down the overall average.
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University Of Texas Arlington Arlington Tx
The program at the University of Texas-Arlington offers a wide range of options including both online and in person classes as well as a part-time and full-time course load. Students are able to work their clinical rotations around where they live and are only required to make it to campus twice during the program to fulfill the residency requirement.
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate of 94%
- 6 credit hours and 360 clinical hours
- Admission requires submission of previous transcripts as well as being a current nurse in good standing.
- Tuition averages $19,500 per year
- Accreditation through Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
What To Look For In An Online Nurse Practitioner Program
Be wary when NP programs offer a fast track to a six-figure salary. While NPs enjoy high pay, they earn their role through rigorous study. Classwork and clinical rotations prepare them to administer effective care, shape healthcare policies, and maintain professional standards. Candidates searching for a quality NP program should prioritize the following factors.
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The College Of New Jersey Ewing Nj
The College of New Jersey offers an on-campus program that is focused on helping students learn first hand how to care for neonatal patients. They offer both an MSN-NNP program and a DNP-NNP program as well
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate of 92%
- Program length or credit hours: 38 credit hours at the NJ campus and 23 credits at Thomas Jefferson University
- Admission requirements: BSN with neonatal experience
- Tuition is $15,466 per year for in-state students and $26,397 for out-of-state students
- CNNE Accreditation
Baylor University Waco Tx
Baylor University offers a program that is entirely online and is the DNP Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program. The program is online and can be completed with two different online immersions and offers courses that run over three years on average.
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rates 96%
- Program length or credit hours 75 total credits and 1,125 practicum hours
- Admission requirements BSN with neonatal experience
- Tuition is $1,650 per credit hour for full-time students
- CCNE Accreditation
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University Of Alabama At Birmingham
Birmingham, AL
Program Description: The University of Alabamas only neonatal nurse practitioner specialty provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to diagnose and manage health problems in infants, newborns, and children under two years old. The program also focuses on providing extended care to neonates who are acutely ill or have chronic health problems.Program Name: MSN Nurse Practitioner Pathway Neonatal Nurse PractitionerEnrollment Options: Full-TimeLength of Program: 30-42 MonthsAdmission Requirements:
- BSN from an accredited institution
- GPA of 3.0
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Accreditation & Program Notes
To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.
8 Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing 10 Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education 12 State Restriction Note: This program is only available in fewer than 15 states.14 Program is no longer accepting new students.
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University Of South Alabama Mobile Alabama
The program at the University of South Alabama is mainly online with a three- to four-day mandatory orientation. They require that students complete mandatory clinical hours with a qualified preceptor in their area. This program prepares students to work in any hospital that has neonatal patients.
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate of 93%
- Program length is 45 credit hours with 600 direct care clinical hours. The program may be taken on a full or part time basis.
- Admission requirements, you must be a nurse and have some prerequisite courses completed
- Tuition is $329 per credit hour for in-state students and $658 for out-of-state students
- CCNE Accreditation
The University Of Texas Medical Branch At Galveston

Galveston, TX
Program Description: UTMBs NNP program offers students state-of-the-art laboratory simulations, world-class faculty, online flexibility, and clinical practice to prepare students for real-world application of the curriculum. Graduates average a 90% pass rate on the NCCs national certification exam. Program Name: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner ProgramEnrollment Options: Part-Time Length of Program: ~30 Months Admission Requirements:
- BSN from an accredited university
- GPA of 3.0
Learn more about UTMBs MSN Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program.
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Regis University Denver Co
Regis University offers two options when it comes to the delivery method of the program. You can either attend in-person classes that are taught at the North West Campus in Denver, CO or you can take online synchronized classes that are taught in session with those that are being taught at the North West Campus.
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate of 81%
- Program length or credit hours: five semesters over 2 years
- Admission requirements: must be a BSN with good grades
- Tuition is $800 per credit hour on average
- CCNE Accreditation
Creighton University Omaha Ne
The program at Creighton University is a hybrid program that is mainly online but requires that students come to campus on certain days to fulfill their residency requirement. They offer both a graduate certificate program that is fully online and a DNP-NNP program that is both online and in-person.
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate of 93%
- Program length or credit hours depends on the program chosen
- Admission requirements: BSN with neonatal experience
- Tuition is $38,200 per year
- CCNE Accreditation
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Am I Eligible For Baylor’s Online Dnp
- Visit our FAQs Page for answers to questions regarding program eligibility.
- Visit our State Authorization page for a list of states in which we accept applicants for the online BSN to DNP-FNP program.
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100% certification pass rate for FNP and Nurse-Midwifery graduates.
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Baylor University is ranked higher than 94% of Best Colleges in the Nation in 2021 – U.S. News and World Report .
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Baylors DNP program is ranked higher than 88% of the Best DNP Programs in Texas in 2021 – dnpprograms.com.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Concentration
The aim of the Neonatal Concentration is to prepare the neonatal nurse practitioner for this multifaceted role in ambulatory, intermediate, acute and critical care. The neonatal nurse practitioner is prepared to provide and/or collaborate in the provision of services designed to deal with the health care needs of neonates and their families in a variety of settings. The focus is the development of expert clinical competence. The ability to function as an educator, consultant, collaborator, and leader is essential to the development of clinical expertise. These areas are addressed within the curriculum. In Québec, the neonatal NP role corresponds with the title Infirmière praticienne spécialisée en néonatalogie .
For additional information on the Neonatal NP scope of practice, visit the OIIQs Pratique clinique de linfirmière praticienne spécialisée en néonatalogie document .
The McGill Ingram School of Nursing Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Concentration is one of two such training programs in the province of Quebec and only one of two training programs in the country. The program has been in existence since 2004, having received full a 5-year program accreditation by the Ordre des Infirmières et Infirmiers du Québec/Collège des Médecins du Québec in 2018.
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Educational Road Map For Neonatal Nurses
Earn an associate degree in nursing or bachelors of science in nursing .
Take elective courses in neonatal nursing while in school.
Pass the National Council Licensure Examination .
Begin working as a registered nurse and gain several years of experience working with neonatal patients.
Earn an advanced degree in neonatal nursing .
Take the critical care nursing certification exam through the American Association of Critical Care Nursing.
How Long Does It Take To Complete An Online Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program
The length of a neonatal nurse practitioner online degree track varies depending on the degree level, specialization, and program structure. Aspiring neonatal nurse practitioners can complete their online degrees in as little as two years. Masters nurse practitioner programs typically consist of about 40 credits plus clinical hours, which students generally finish in 2-3 years however, learners following a part-time schedule usually take longer. Students enrolled in neonatal nurse practitioner DNP programs online often take 3-4 years to earn their degree, and doctoral programs usually require participants to earn around 80 credits.
Nurse practitioner students complete required coursework, gain hands on experience in a clinical setting, and meet various other graduation requirements. In some programs, students can pursue a specialization, which may require taking additional elective credits. Programs may use cohort learning models where a group of students enters the program and completes coursework together or individually paced models, which lets students take courses at their convenience.
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Rush University Chicago Il
Rush University offers a neonatal nurse practitioner program entirely online with clinical rotations that are arranged locally for those that already have a nursing job. This program is perfect for those that want a great program that is comprehensive and that helps to prepare nurses for every eventuality that they may come in contact with. They use a case study format and have small class sizes for the best one-on-one program possible.
- NCLEX-RN pass rate of 97%
- Part-time, 2.5 to 3.5 years
- Admission requires that you have experience with neonatal nursing already
- Tuition is $1066 per credit hour
- ACEN accredited
Scholarships For Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Students

Who Can Apply: Any student currently enrolled or accepted into nursing school can apply for this award. Applicants must create a 30-45 second video on ways to improve mental health awareness.
Amount: $2,500
AfterCollege/AACN Scholarship
Who Can Apply: Nurse practitioner students qualify for this scholarship fund, which grants one scholarship each quarter. Students enrolled in an accelerated program or those considering careers as nurse educators may receive preference. Applicants must already be enrolled at an AACN-accredited program to apply.
Amount: $2,500
Who Can Apply: Offered by the American Red Cross, this scholarship funds volunteers or employees of any American Red Cross Unit. Students completing a graduate degree in nursing qualify and can use funds to pay for tuition, books, or academic fees.
Amount: $3,000
AANP Grants
Who Can Apply: AANP offers several grants to students enrolled in nurse practitioner programs. Students pursuing an MSN or DNP can apply for these awards to do so, they must submit a project description and budget, as well as several other documents.
Amount: $2,500
Who Can Apply: AANP also offers multiple scholarship awards each year, with categories for students pursuing an MSN, a DNP , or a BSN-DNP.
Amount: $2,500
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Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Degree Levels Offered
Nurses can choose from two different educational pathways in order to become a neonatal nurse practitioner: the Master’s of Science in Nursing or the Doctor of Nursing Practice . Both programs give students a solid foundation in advanced practice neonatal nursing, but the DNP program goes beyond the master’s level to prepare students for NNP leadership.
Top Three Benefits Of A Neonatal Nursing Degree
According to data from the BLS, the median annual income for registered nurses is $77,600. Earning a master’s degree in neonatal nursing can allow nurses to become nurse practitioners, who earned a median annual salary of $120,680 in May 2021. That’s a potential increase of $43,080 per year.
Research published in the Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners found that 95% of neonatal nurse practitioners reported feeling “very satisfied” or “mostly satisfied” with their career choice.
The BLS projects that the number of job openings for nurse practitioners will increase by 45% between 2020 and 2030. This exceeds the 9% growth rate for registered nurses during the same time.
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Online Nnp Program Rankings
Aspiring neonatal nurse practitionersmust earn a master of science in nursing , post-masterscertificate , or doctor of nursing practice , and thenprocure professional certification in neonatal care prior topracticing. Many NNP programs require incoming students to have ayear or more of NICU experience, and all require that incomingstudents be licensed RNs prepared with an associate degree in nursing, non-nursing bachelors, bachelor of science in nursing, or master of science in nursing .
Programs vary in terms of which ofthose degrees they will accept. Most MSN programs are designed forBSN-prepared RNs, for instance, but not all. Some will acceptADN-prepared RNs, and a few will offer an accelerated option toADN-prepared RNs with a non-nursing bachelors degree.
Given this, we have tried to specify aprograms degree path in its program name. In cases where itremains unclear, please click on the corresponding nursing schoolname to view program names, requirements, and other specifics indetail.
In their graduate-level NNP programs,students study pathophysiology and advanced physiology, embryology,the development of neonates, infants, and toddlers, and advancedpractice in neonatal patients. Other areas of focus may includeevidence-based practice, population health, and statistics.
Northeastern University Boston Ma
This online program is through Bouve College of Health Sciences and offers a program that helps nurses prepare for the challenges that come with being an NNP. This program is fully online so it is perfect for students that already have a nursing job and want to get a further certification but that may not have the time to go to an on-campus program. Clinical rotations are worked out based on where you live and already work.
- NCLEX-RN pass rate of 100%
- 43 credit hours
- Admission requirements: at least 2 years of NICU experience
- Tuition averages $1,388 per credit hour for a total of $59,684 for the program
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges accredited
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How Much Do Neonatal Nurse Practitioners Make
According to PayScale, neonatal nurse practitioners earn above-average salaries, with their median income exceeding $107,000. Salaries vary according to region: Neonatal nurse practitioners in some states earn significantly higher salaries. The following table shows the median salaries for five nursing professions by career level.
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- The largest nursing association in the country, ANA dates back to 1896. The association publishes research, offers continuing education opportunities, and issues certifications in several specializations.
Typical Dnp Nnp Curriculum
Most neonatal programs are listed as graduate tracks or concentrations in DNP degrees. In other words, you start by taking general APRN courses and gradually concentrate on newborn health. Compare your options. Although most nurse practitioner DNP programs deal primarily with neonatal training, there may be doctorates in our program listings that are willing to address perinatal nursing as well.
Neonatal nursing is a highly technical field, so look for programs that will expose you to a wide variety of clinical experiences in a range of settings . A fully qualified NNP should be prepared to assess and care for high-risk newborn infants in NICUs. Ask if the program meets NNP-BC certification requirements.
In terms of coursework, you can expect hardcore classes in areas such as embryology, neonatal physiology, pathophysiology, genetics, advanced neonatal assessment, and neonatal pharmacology and pharmacotherapeutics. Since every DNP includes training in leadership and evidence-based practice, you may also be taking courses in research methods, biostatistics, healthcare policy, healthcare systems, and information technology. Your degree will culminate in an individual DNP capstone project.
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