What are the Best Nurse Practitioner Programs?

The top 5 programs for nurse practitioners, according to the 2023 edition of U.S. News and World Report’s annual rankings, are:

1. Duke University
2. Vanderbilt University
3. University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
4. Yale University
5. University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)

These rankings are based on 15 distinct factors, including peer and professional assessment scores, program size, and teacher-to-student ratio. More than 648 schools were considered for evaluation. Note that these rankings refer specifically to the Masters programs for family practice nurse practitioners, the most commonly attended program type for NPs. The top 5 ranked DnP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) programs are Johns Hopkins, Columbia, Duke, Rush, and the University of Washington.

How to Get into Nurse Practitioner Schools: What Do NP Programs Look For?

Nurse practitioner programs look for two general groups of criteria: objective minimum qualifications, and the more subjective qualities that represent a promising program candidate.

Minimum NP Program Qualifying Criteria includes:

• Work experience and licensure as a registered nurse (RN)
• minimum GPA
• professional references
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores

Qualities that program selection committees look for includes:

• An understanding of the nurse practitioner role and scope of practice
• Leadership experience and a comfortability with autonomy and independence at a professional level
• A commitment to completing your degree, demonstrating the planning and thought necessary to complete what is often a rigorous and trying program

For a more in-depth exploration of How to Get Into NP Schools, check out our accompanying article.

How Much Do Nurse Practitioners Make?

What NP Specialties Make the Most Money?

Some NP specialties make more money on average than others—here are the top three highest paying NP specialties by median total cash compensation, according to Becker’s Hospital Review:

1. Pediatrics — Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

NPs who specialize in neonatal medicine are few in number when compared to other specialties, but they make the most money on average. In fact, according to the research, neonatal-perinatal medicine NPs have a median total cash compensation of $144,461. Aside from the high pay, NPs choose this specialty because it gives them the opportunity to provide quality care for premature babies or seriously ill newborns.

2. Emergency Medicine

Emergency medicine NPs work in hospital emergency units and urgent cares, helping patients with critical injuries get the treatment they need. This is not one of the most popular specializations for NPs, but similar to neonatal-perinatal medicine, it is one of the most lucrative. According to the research, emergency medicine NPs make a median total cash compensation of $137,280.

3. Hospitalist — Internal Medicine

Internal medicine NP hospitalists work alongside physicians and other hospital staff to care for patients. According to the research, these NPs have a median total cash compensation of $128,483.

For more information on the most in-demand NP specialties as well as income data on each, check out our accompanying article.