Nurse Practitioner Cost Of School

What Makes An Online Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Program Affordable

A schools tuition rate certainly matters when choosing a school, but other elements also make a huge difference in the ultimate cost of your online education. The following discusses some of those factors.

How much financial aid you can get for your online psychiatric nurse practitioner program

Financial aid takes many forms. Scholarships and grants are aid that doesnt have to be paid back. School loans are another viable option with affordable terms such as deferred interest and payments until after graduation when most PMHNP graduates are earning a respectable income.

If the psychiatric NP program has a class schedule that allows you to continue working

Many PMHNP programs are part-time. Since a lot of students are already practicing registered nurses, the ability to work while in school provides the income necessary to pay tuition and other costs.

How expensive application fees are

The application fees for most schools are around $60, so costs add up when applying to several competitive programs. Search for programs with lower fees and prioritize where youll apply to make the cost of applying less burdensome.

Whether you live in-state or-out-of-state

How much of the NP program coursework is offered online

Some programs hold in-person learning or clinicals at approved sites close to where you live or work while others hold at least some classroom learning on campus. For students who commute, having in-person components can significantly impact the cost.

Dnp Nurse Practitioner Major

Nurse Practitioners are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses , academically prepared and employed as primary care and/or acute care providers in the U.S. health care system. In the University of Pittsburgh Doctor of Nursing Practice Program applicants may select to be prepared in one of six NP specialty areas. NPs blend clinical expertise in health management and disease prevention to offer a wholistic perspective to health care. In addition, they use counseling and teaching skills to assist patients to make smarter lifestyle choices. This approach has been shown to lower healthcare costs and reduce hospitalizations. Nurse practitioners serve as primary care providers in clinics, hospitals, home health care services, and outpatient care centers many in traditionally underserved communities and regions. NPs are educationally prepared to autonomously diagnose and treat conditions, prescribe medications and order and interpret diagnostic tests, design treatment plans with patients, and teach patients about managing illnesses and understanding how to use their medications. State laws govern certification requirements and scope of practice: updated information can be found here. The U.S. government estimates that employment of nurse practitioners will grow by 35% by 2024.

How We Selected The Most Affordable Programs In Every State

To solve that affordability + quality = value equation, we only looked at fully accredited MSN-FNP programs within each state in making side-by-side comparisons of total tuition cost. Although we also list them here with cost-per-credit figures, we decided on a more apples-to-apples comparison, so total tuition costs were the final deciding factor for which schools made the list.

We also were careful to only compare public schools to public schools and private schools to private schools. There can be considerable differences in the cost structure by institution type, and you may have preferences about what type of school you prefer to attend .

What youll find here is a list that includes the single most affordable public and private MSN-FNP program in every state where each is available. In states that only have one type, we listed only that school.

And its not just a boring list of links, either. We know that what is valuable to you may not be valuable to the next student. So we tell you a little bit about each program, the high points that are likely to catch your interest, the special features that you might not find anywhere else. Well tell you if it has flexible scheduling, online study options, or special exam prep offerings, for example. Where the information is available, we tell you about job placement rates and FNP certification exam first-time pass rates, which are definitely a valuable feature!

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Best 24 Nurse Practitioner Programs In 2022

The nurse practitioner career has quickly become one of the most popular and high-paying positions in the nursing field over the last several years. According to recent reports, the number of practitioners has doubled over the previous four years to more than 200,000 licensed practitioners, with further increases likely in the future the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a growth of 34 percent by 2022.

Furthermore, the pay of the average nurse practitioner is $96,988 with a high salary of about $122,000 and a low income of $78,000. So even practitioners in low-cost hospitals will still make a high-quality wage. This type of career is an excellent choice for those who want to be a nurse but who want to earn great money and settle into a long-lasting job. And nurse practitioner programs can help a person achieve that goal.

A typical education program for a nurse practitioner includes Associate degrees or Bachelor degrees followed up by a Masters degree at an accredited university. Practitioners utilize hands-on courses and on-site clinical, as well as some online work, to master the skills necessary for this career. And they must get continuing education every five years to maintain their certification and licensing. Most hospitals will likely pay their practitioners training fees for this type of continuing education.

Nurse Practitioners Graduate With More Student Loans Than Anticipated

Not too long ago, NPs could get a Master of Science Degree in Nursing after two years, costing them between $20,000 and $40,000. They could then start earning close to $100,000.

Now employers are often seeking NPs with their Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. This four-year program doubles the years of school and more than doubles the cost of becoming an NP. As I said before though, everyone benefits from more-skilled NPs.

The average NP weve worked with here at Student Loan Planner® has about $149,000 in student loans. This is on the rise due to the tuition hikes. So is becoming a nurse practitioner worth it? Lets take a look the average NP salary to get a better gauge.

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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.

University Of North Georgia

MSN Family Nurse Practitioner

Tuition and Fees: $18,679

The University of North Georgia admits 25 or fewer students to its family nurse practitioner masters degree program each summer and has achieved an enviable 100 percent pass rate for licensing and certification examinations undertaken by its FNP students. The program can be completed in six semesters and allows nurses to enjoy hands-on job experience with at least 120 clinical experience hours each semester.

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Nurse Faculty Loan Program

The Nurse Faculty Loan Program is a government loan program set up to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty by providing loans to students in advanced nursing education programs. Students must be pursuing a MSN or doctoral nursing degree. The NFLP loans will be forgivenup to 85 percent of the amount receivedover a consecutive four-year period if the student commits to serve as full-time faculty at a school of nursing following graduation. Faculty at private universities, state schools, and community colleges are eligible. Students receiving these loans must also complete the nursing education courses prior to graduation.

Note: This information is current for the 2022-23 academic year however, all stated academic information is subject to change. Please refer to the current Academic Catalog for more information.

Become A Registered Nurse And Gain Work Experience

Aftercompleting an undergraduate degree, aspiring NPs, CNMs, and CNSs mustfirst become RNs by applying to their local State Board of Nursingand passing the National Council Licensing Examination .After getting licensed as RNs, they can pursue entry-level work,ideally focused on their intended specialization such as primarycare, nurse-midwifery, or psychiatric-mental health. Please note thatmany acute care nurse practitioner programs require at least two years of experience to qualify.

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Missouri State University At Springfield

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Tuition and Fees: $29,074

The BSN to DNP program at MSU combines both traditional classroom and online studies throughout its 82-hour curriculum. Available only to Missouri residents, this affordable family nurse practitioner program is designed to be taken on a full-time basis and can be completed in three years. With a 99 percent pass rate on the post-graduate certification exam, MSU at Springfield is an excellent choice for Missouri residents desiring an advanced practice nursing degree.

University Of North Dakota

MSN Family Nurse Practitioner

Tuition and Fees: $40,964

Located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, this five-semester masters of science program is designed to prepare students for positions as primary care providers in the medical field. Students must complete between 57 and 59 semester hours and 680 practicum hours online courses are available for students who qualify. Successful completion of this program can lead to employment as an advanced practice registered nurse in clinical or private practice environments.

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The University Of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Tuition and Fees: $41,533

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is offering truly affordable alternatives for nursing students. Its DNP program offers five concentration areas: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP, Family NP, Psychiatric Mental Health NP, Pediatric Primary Care NP, and Public Health. Students graduate in approximately three years and a BSN is required for admission. Upon completion of their DNP, students may be eligible for recognition as an Advanced Practice Nurse by the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas and can take the examination for certification as a primary care provider in the clinical and private practice environment.

The University Of Texas At Tyler

MSN Family Nurse Practitioner

Tuition and Fees: $20,130

A combination of online coursework, practical experience and on-campus clinical experience characterize the family nurse practitioner program at the University of Texas at Tyler. The school touts its small class sizes and one-on-one advising sessions as keys to student success. Nursing students must obtain or maintain their Texas license to complete the required clinical hours in this state.

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Why Becoming Either An Np Or A Pa Is A Great Career Path

NPs and PAs both provide direct patient care at the advanced practice level, including working independently or collaboratively. With so many baby boomers aging, the need for more graduate-level health care providers is increasing by the day. Plus, the need for these professions has escalated because of the Affordable Care Act with more than 40 million more people added to the primary care systems after finally getting health insurance in the last two years.

Physician assistants and nurse practitioners are more cost-effective in a health care system, and there has been an amazing up swell interest in how to integrate them into hospital systems in more and more ways, says Jonathan Bowser, director and associate dean of the Physician Assistant Program at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

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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What Can You Do As A Nurse Practitioner

Thanks to their advanced training and education, NPs hold more clinical autonomy than RNs. NPs make key decisions in patient care and serve as primary caregivers, much like physicians. They hold hospital admitting privileges and may prescribe medication in collaboration with a physician, although NPs may prescribe independently in some states.

While some 47% of these advanced practice registered nurses work in physicians’ offices, others find jobs in hospitals, outpatient care centers, educational services, and health practitioners’ offices. Around 90% are certified to work in specialized primary care areas like family, adult-gerontology primary care, and acute care.

An NP’s earning potential depends on their specialty area and their work setting. Emergency departments are the top-paying setting for NPs, offering $135,000 a year. Read about other lucrative career options on this page.

Graduate From An Accredited Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Or Related Program

AccreditedBSN programs typically fulfill the course prerequisites and hands-ontraining to apply for a graduate degree. While an associate degree innursing or diploma program can suffice, completing a BSN is themost direct route to qualify for initial employment and advanced,graduate-level nursing programs.

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Texas A& m University At Corpus Christi

MSN Family Nurse Practitioner

Tuition and Fees: $20,463

Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the graduate program at West Texas A& M Corpus Christi is an excellent, affordable choice for bachelor prepared nurses seeking to become an advanced practice registered nurse. The 46 credit hour program, available in a traditional format, prepares the FNP to function independently while providing primary health care with a focus on disease prevention and health promotion.

Is Nurse Practitioner Graduate School Harder Than Undergraduate Nursing School

Whether a student finds NP school more difficult than nursing school depends on the individual. Students learn many new concepts over the course of a four-year bachelor’s degree program, and many undergraduates have no previous nursing experience. Because of this, the material can feel overwhelming both in the classroom and during clinical rotations. This would seem to suggest that nursing programs are more difficult. But faculty in master’s programs usually expect better performance from graduate students because they already have a well of knowledge and experience to draw from. Most MSN students are also working either full-time or part-time during their intensive 2-3-year program, and this can make it more challenging to complete the degree requirements.

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Nurse Practitioner Vs Physician Assistant : Which Role Is Right For You

If you’re thinking about advancing your healthcare career, you’re likely well aware of the many different directions that your career could take. Two very popular paths are becoming a nurse practitioner vs physician assistant .

To help you with this very important decision, we’ve put together this guide explaining the differences between a nurse practitioner vs physician assistant, what each role does, how much you can earn, and more. Keep reading to learn which path is right for you.

Should I Pursue A Doctor Of Nursing Practice After My Master’s Degree

Currently, a master’s degree and relevant nurse practitioner certification opens up a large number of job opportunities in a rapidly-growing field. However, since 2004, the AACN has pushed to make a DNP the entry-level requirement for nurse practitioners. This reflects a call for more stringent credentialing in the complex healthcare industry. A doctoral degree is an investment in money, effort, and time, and includes over 1,000 required clinical hours. Whether pursuing a DNP will be worth it for a student will depend on their professional goals and how much time and money they are able to commit. Nursing schools have academic and career services professionals who can help students weigh the costs and potential benefits of a DNP.

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Paying For Nursing School

Although nursing jobs often come with higher-than-average salaries, many aspiring nursing professionals hesitate to start their degree because of nursing school costs. Nearly 70% of degree seekers take out loans at the graduate level, according to a 2017 survey from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing . In addition, survey respondents estimated they took on $40,000-$55,000 of student loan debt.

Students can find several opportunities to help with paying for nursing school. Colleges and universities often offer institution-specific scholarships. Students can also access scholarships through professional associations, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations. You can find a list of nursing scholarships and grants here, in addition to this resource.

Several ADN and BSN programs, including some graduate programs, offer discounted tuition rates for active or former military service members. In addition, students can apply for government aid. The federal, and some state governments, offer student loan forgiveness programs for graduates who pledge to work in areas experiencing high need for healthcare professionals. You can read more about those programs here.

NurseJournal.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Uc Online A Smarter Path Towards Education

Costs are subject to change at any time. Full-Time total costs are total tuition costs per semester.

* Denotes that a program fee is charged for both part-time students and full-time students. It is only calculated in the full term numbers above. Part-time students will have to add an additional $563 after they calculate their cost.

* Bloodborne Pathogen Insurance is charged to both part-time students and full-time students on a yearly basis. $31 is not included in any totals above.

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