Already working as a registered nurse (RN) and thinking about what's next? Online nurse practitioner (NP) programs can help you step into a more advanced clinical role with greater autonomy, expanded responsibilities, and new career opportunities. These programs provide the specialized training needed to become an NP while giving you the flexibility to keep working so you don't have to put your life and career on hold.
Explore our ranking of the best online NP programs to find the right fit for your career goals.
The Best Online Nurse Practitioner Programs and Schools
How We Choose Schools
At NurseJournal.org, we use a data-driven methodology to identify deserving nursing programs around the country, making it easy for you to find a program that meets your needs. Our lists are informed by data from the most reputable sources, including the U.S. Department of Education. Our vetting process also includes a quality assurance team that evaluates data for accuracy.
Each school in this list is awarded a superlative based on metrics that we believe matter most to nursing students, including academic quality, affordability, career outcomes, accessibility, inclusivity, and individual program offerings, among other factors. Since many programs share similar offerings, our goal is to simplify your decision-making by highlighting features that are most relevant to your needs. We reserve the right to exclude schools that lack sufficient data for accurate calculations.
All data was verified in November 2025.
Using Our Rankings: What To Look For in an Online NP Program
The best online nurse practitioner programs provide a strong clinical foundation for advanced nursing practice. Nurses can become NPs by earning either a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree or doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree, so it's important to identify quality online NP programs and determine which option best fits your unique needs.
Before you apply, consider these factors when choosing the NP program.
Admission Requirements
Nurse practitioner online programs often prefer applicants with a degree, 1-2 years of work experience, and an active RN license.
Specializations
NP programs allow students to pursue a nursing specialty in either primary or acute care, with common options including family, psychiatric mental health, pediatric, adult-gerontology, and neonatal nursing. Work settings, such as hospitals and clinics, often depend on the specialty.
Program Curriculum
NP programs cover evidence-based clinical nursing and theory. Students also take courses in their chosen nursing specialty. The quality of the curriculum matters because it prepares graduates for national certification in their nursing specialization.
Clinical Experience
To meet national credentialing requirements, nurse practitioner online programs require students to complete clinical hours in person. Some schools provide clinical placements near a student's residence or at the hospital where they currently work.
Accreditation
Nursing accreditation lets students and employers know that an independent agency reviewed the program and determined that it met academic and industry standards. Applicants must submit proof that their degree came from an accredited program to sit for the board certification examination and apply for state licensure.
Program Length
It takes full-time students 24-36 months to complete NP programs online. Nursing schools require 40-50 credits and roughly 600-800 clinical hours in a student's expected specialty area. Program length varies by school.
School Graduation Rate
Nursing school is hard at any level. A school's graduation rate provides insight into its student success rate and its ability to provide the resources and support that prevent students from graduating.
Online Learning Format and Requirements
In an online nursing program, students view lectures and complete coursework remotely, offering greater convenience and flexibility than an in-person program. NP online programs may offer a blend of asynchronous and synchronous work or function entirely asynchronously.
Why Is Online NP Program Accreditation Important?
Nursing school accreditation ensures that your nursing program provides a high-quality education. Accrediting agencies conduct regular, rigorous reviews to determine whether NP programs effectively prepare graduates.
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the (CCNE) accredit online nurse practitioner programs.
Accreditation matters because:
- Third-party review ensures that programs meet quality standards and prepare nurses for practice.
- Employers prefer nurses from accredited online nurse practitioner programs.
- DNP programs may not accept credits from an unaccredited NP program.
- National credentialing agencies may not recognize unaccredited NP programs.
- The nursing profession benefits from accreditation, which sets high standards for patient safety and clinical practice.
How Online Nurse Practitioner Programs Work
Online NP programs design their curriculum for working RNs. NP classes may follow asynchronous (recorded) or synchronous (live) formats, which makes it easier for students to complete coursework on their schedule, without traveling to campus.
However, NP programs are not entirely online. Whether in an online or on-campus program, NP students must meet clinical experience requirements to be eligible for licensure. Some online programs work with learners to arrange in-person clinicals with approved supervisors. However, students may need to find these experiences in their local area on their own.
Clinical practicums develop the clinical judgment and NP specialty skills needed to pass certification exams. Online NP programs may have in-person or residency requirements so students can complete labs and clinical hours.
Learn more about getting clinical experience in an online nursing program, or explore our guide comparing online vs. in-person nursing programs to determine whether distance education is right for you.
Applying to an Online Nurse Practitioner Program
To be admitted into nurse practitioner online programs, students must meet the educational requirements and hold a current RN license. While some programs admit ADN-prepared nurses, most require a BSN for admission.
Admittance requirements — such as minimum GPAs, work experience, and supplemental materials — vary by nursing school.
- Admission Requirements: Online NP programs often require that students hold a bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited program. Applicants commonly need at least a 3.0 GPA. Students with lower GPAs may be granted provisional admission.
- Experience Requirement: Incoming students need an RN license from the state where they plan to meet clinical requirements. Most programs also require or recommend 1-2 years of bedside nursing experience.
- Admission Materials: Applicants typically submit a resume, personal statement, and 2-3 letters of reference from academic, professional, or clinical supervisors.
Paying for Your Online Nurse Practitioner Program
Nursing school can be expensive. Tuition, fees, textbooks, and expenses related to clinical practicums can add up quickly. The cost of online nurse practitioner programs also varies widely.
Before submitting applications, compare the total cost of online NP programs to find more affordable options, including programs that offer in-state tuition discounts or flat tuition rates for distance learners.
Here are some additional tips to help you pay for your nursing degree:
Online NP Student Testimonials
We asked graduates of online NP programs to weigh in on the experience, including the benefits and challenges of completing an NP program online. Overall, the experience was positive, with the greatest reported benefit of an online program being flexibility.
On the Online Experience
"My experience earning my MSN online was a fulfilling one. I needed to work full time while completing the program, and the online option allowed me to do that."
— Dorian Jackson, women's health nurse practitioner
"The online MSN program allowed me to work a full-time job and still be able to go to school. The hours were flexible for my schedule and I was able to care for my family while still earning my degree."
— Naida Rutherford, nurse practitioner
On-Site Clinical Experience
"We had to attend several simulation labs, and we had to choose locations for our clinical practice. The on-campus requirements were minimal, and they gave you enough time in advance to be able to plan to attend on-campus activities. The clinical requirements could be completed in your home state or city."
— Naida Rutherford, nurse practitioner
"I had to go on site for specialty clinical teaching 1-2 times per school year. I also had to complete one of the core classes on the main campus as well."
— Dorian Jackson, women's health nurse practitioner
Challenges
"The biggest challenge for completing an online degree program is time management. If you're not a good steward of your time, not a self-starter, or have trouble with procrastination, being an online student can be very difficult."
— Naida Rutherford, nurse practitioner
"Some of the challenges with earning an online degree were accountability and consistency with completing assignments."
— Dorian Jackson, women's health nurse practitioner
Are online nurse practitioner programs worth it?
"I believe it is definitely worth getting a degree online if this type of curriculum suits your needs and work ethic. I would recommend it to other prospective nursing students who want to become NPs if they have the discipline, consistency, and desire to earn their degree online."
— Dorian Jackson, women's health nurse practitioner
"I would recommend it 10 out of 10! This is one of the best life choices that I made. It doesn't mean that it will be easy; it doesn't mean that you get to slack off or show mediocre effort. You can still take care of yourself and your family while furthering your education and that's incredible."
— Naida Rutherford, nurse practitioner
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
