The Best Nurse Practitioner Programs in New York 2023
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New York is home to some of the top nurse practitioner (NP) programs in the United States. This guide to the best NP programs in New York can help you identify the right program to advance your nursing career. Explore the top nursing schools in New York and how to get a New York NP license.
How to Choose a Nursing Program in New York
The right nursing school in New York depends on the location, tuition and financial aid, program format (online, hybrid, on-campus), clinical placement options, acceptance rate, and board certification pass rates.
The board certification examination measures a graduate's ability to practice safely and effectively as an NP. A program's board pass rate effectively measures the school's teaching quality, especially when combined with the graduation rate. If the pass rate is high, but the graduation rate is low, this may suggest a higher dropout rate. Similarly, if the acceptance rate is very high and the graduation rate is low, it may indicate that the admissions staff are looking to fill seats rather than selecting students who will succeed.
Featured Online MSN Programs
Career Outlook for Nurses in New York
New York salaries for registered nurses (RNs) and NPs are above the national annual median salaries. But, the cost of living is also higher, especially in the New York City metropolitan area. In other areas of New York state, the cost of living is more moderate, but salaries may be lower.
| Location | Employment | Annual Median Wage |
|---|---|---|
| New York | RN — 190,470 NP — 17,670 |
RN — $100,370 NP — $128,220 |
| United States | RN — 3,072,700 NP — 258,230 |
RN — $81,220 NP — $121,610 |
Salaries for Nurses in New York
Earning a master of science in nursing (MSN) and becoming a nurse practitioner can be an effective strategy for increasing your salary. An NP earns approximately three times the annual salary of a certified nursing assistant, more than twice the salary of a licensed practical nurse, and approximately 30% more than an RN.
How to Become a Nurse in New York
To become a nurse in New York, you must meet the New York State Education Department requirements for education and examination scores, pay the required fees, and apply online.
Nurse Practitioner Requirements
You must have or apply for a New York RN license, graduate from an accredited NP program, pass the board certification examination, and pay an initial $85 application fee to become a licensed NP in New York. If you did not graduate from an NP nursing school in New York, you must also pass a course on New York state prescription and record-keeping regulations. Approved providers are listed on the state's education department's website.
The Best Nursing Schools in New York
The right nursing school in New York for you depends on your personal preferences and other data. This list identifies top nursing programs in New York based on cost, academic reputation, and other measurable factors. All nursing programs on this page are accredited, one of the top measures of quality.
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BestColleges.com 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.
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SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Brooklyn, NY - 4 years
- Online + Campus
With 160 years of being a medical education leader, SUNY Downstate offers the best NP programs in New York. You can focus your studies in family nursing or women's health and take courses on advanced health assessments, advanced pharmacology, and organizational and system leadership. You'll also complete 710 practicum hours.
Admission requires an accredited master's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, a current RN license, and one year of clinical experience.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Semester: $5,655 per semester (in state); $11,895 per semester (out of state)
- Program Length: 6 semesters (full time)
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 44 credits
- School Status: Public
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 55.6% (2022)
- Program Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- School Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Dominican College of Blauvelt
Orangeburg, NY - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Founded in 1952, Dominican College features a family nurse practitioner program that lets you study part time and graduate in 2-5 years. You'll attend 1-2 evening courses per week in the two-year program.
The program covers health assessments and diagnosing illnesses and offers electives on financing health care delivery systems and curriculum design in nursing. You need a bachelor's degree from an accredited college, a minimum 3.0 GPA, and a New York RN license to qualify for this program.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Semester: $15,610 per semester
- Program Length: 24 months (part time)
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 39 credits
- School Status: Private
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 58.4% (2022)
- Program Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- School Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Wagner College
Staten Island, NY - 4 years
- Campus
Wagner College offers a family nurse practitioner program on Staten Island that teaches you to apply advanced theories and research in your nursing practice. The advanced health assessment course includes a lab component to gain hands-on experience. You'll also complete practicum hours.
You need an RN license and an accredited bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.2 GPA to be eligible for admission. New students start in the fall. You may transfer up to 12 credits from another master's degree.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Credit: $1,295 per credit
- Program Length: 5 semesters (full time); 7 semesters (part time)
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 44-45 credits
- School Status: Private
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 75.5% (2022)
- Program Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- School Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Long Island University
Brookville, NY - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Long Island University, in LI's city of Brookville, offers a nurse practitioner program that you can complete in seven semesters while studying part time.
Courses cover nursing research and evidence-based practice, diagnostic and clinical reasoning skills, and techniques in the diagnosis and management of complex medical conditions. You'll gain at least 540 practicum hours of experience in primary care. To be eligible for this degree, you need an RN license in New York, one year of clinical experience, and a bachelor's degree in nursing.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Credit: $1,352 per credit
- Program Length: 7 semesters (part time)
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 46 credits
- School Status: Private
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 68.0% (2022)
- Program Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- School Accreditation: Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Pace University
New York, NY - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Located by New York's City Hall, Pace University offers a nurse practitioner program that prepares you to become certified. This degree trains you to perform advanced physical assessments, build leadership skills, and practice advanced clinical pharmacology. The required 550 clinical hours let you gain hands-on experience.
Admission requires a bachelor's in nursing degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, a current RN license in New York, and completion of an undergraduate statistics course.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Credit: $1,460 per credit
- Program Length: 3 semesters (full time)
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 42 credits
- School Status: Private
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 88.1% (2022)
- Program Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- School Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY - 4 years
- Online + Campus
SUNY Poly's nurse practitioner program combines virtual and in-person courses on its Utica campus. Courses in family theory, advanced health assessments, and nursing research prepare you to become an advanced practice registered nurse or pursue doctoral studies. You'll gain 720 clinical practice hours at public and private primary care agencies.
New students are admitted in the fall. To be considered, you'll need an RN license, at least 2,000 hours of nursing experience, a BSN degree from an accredited college, and a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Semester: $5,655 per semester for New York residents; $11,550 per semester for non-New York residents
- Program Length: 4 semesters (full time); 8 semesters (part time)
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 45 credits
- School Status: Public
- Program Accreditation: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
- School Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Mount Saint Mary College
Newburgh, NY - 4 years
- Campus
The Hudson Valley's Mount Saint Mary College offers one of the best CCNE-accredited nurse practitioner programs in New York with tracks in adult-gerontology, family nursing, and psychiatric mental health. Working nurses can complete this hybrid program with evening courses once a week.
All tracks require 600 clinical experience hours. MSMC's partnerships with 40 local hospitals help you get practicum placements and pursue future employment. Admission requires a BSN degree from an accredited college with an average 3.0 GPA, an RN license, and two years of nursing experience.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Credit: $977 per credit
- Program Length: 2.5 years
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 44-47 credits
- School Status: Private
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 82.6% (2022)
- Program Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- School Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Saint John Fisher College
Rochester, NY - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Pursue a nurse practitioner degree at Saint John Fisher College and you can concentrate your studies in primary care family nursing, adult/gerontology primary care, adult/gerontology acute care, psychiatric mental health nursing, or adult/gerontology clinical nursing. Fisher also offers post-graduate certificates in the same speciality areas.
You'll complete courses in advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and diagnostic reasoning and assessments. This program is for licensed RNs who hold a bachelor's in nursing degree and one year of clinical experience.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Credit: $1,094 per credit
- Program Length: 24 months (full time); 28-36 months (part time)
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 44-54 credits
- School Status: Private
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 85.4% (2022)
- Program Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- School Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
College of Mount Saint Vincent
Bronx, NY - 4 years
- Campus
The Mount Saint Vincent's School of Nursing, which has been educating nurses since 1975, features a nurse practitioner program that can be completed in 28 months with clinical placements available across the Tri-State area. You'll complete 600 clinical practicum hours.
With a focus on health promotion and primary care management, you'll take courses in advanced nursing theory, advanced nursing research, nursing leadership, and ethics and health care policy. Requirements for admission include a bachelor's in nursing degree, a minimum 3.2 GPA, and two years of bedside nursing experience.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Credit: $980 per credit
- Program Length: 6 semesters (full time); 7 semesters (part time)
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 42 credits
- School Status: Private
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 68.8% (2022)
- Program Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- School Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY - 4 years
- Online + Campus
At D'Youville College, you can earn a CCNE-accredited family nurse practitioner degree online or on campus in Buffalo, New York in one year. The curriculum gives you the financial management and critical analysis skills to pursue nursing leadership roles such as supervisors and administrators. You'll also complete 180 hours of fieldwork.
Admission requires an accredited bachelor's degree, 3.0 GPA, an unencumbered RN license, and CPR certification.
Program Snapshot
- Cost per Credit: $1,180 per credit
- Program Length: 24 months
- Total Credits Required to Graduate: 30 credits
- School Status: Private
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 75.9% (2022)
- Program Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- School Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Everything Else You Need to Know About Nursing in New York
What is the salary of a nurse practitioner in New York?
Nurse practitioners in New York earn a median annual salary of nearly $130,000, which is above the national median of $121,610 for all NPs. But, the cost of living is higher in New York than other states.
What degree do you need to be a nurse practitioner in New York?
You need a master of science in nursing (MSN) or doctor of nursing practice (DNP) to be a nurse practitioner in New York. MSNs and DNP programs specialize in a particular population or type of care, and nurses are licensed only to practice in that specialty.
Do nurse practitioners in New York need a collaborating physician?
As of 2022, New York nurse practitioners have full practice authority, meaning they do not need a collaborating or supervising physician. This includes the authority to prescribe medications.
How long does it take to become a nurse practitioner in New York?
The length of an NP nursing program in New York depends on your background. If you have a BSN, you can typically finish an MSN program within approximately two years. If you have an ADN or a bachelor's in another field (plus prerequisite courses), you may be eligible for a bridge or accelerated program that takes approximately three years.
