Best Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Programs in 2023 (On-Campus & Online)

Neonatal nursing is not for the faint of heart. There are good days and bad days and a fantastic neonatal nurse practitioner degree can prepare nurses for the challenging yet rewarding life of a neonatal nurse. There are plenty of reasons why a nurse might want to transition to a position as a neonatal nurse practitioner, those that hold an NNP certification are able to help other nurses, are in a position of leadership, and are able to do more for their patients.

Most neonatal programs offer an online format that allows neonatal nurses to continue the work while they obtain their higher degree. The average salary for a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner is around $107,550 per year. The United States is at an all-time high in its need for NNP and neonatal nurses and with the right certification, the employment prospects are high.

Most programs require that you are already a neonatal nurse in good standing that is licensed and practicing and that has at least a 3.0 in their college career. Programs prepare students for a challenging nursing career in the neonatal unit and to help those that have to pass through those units with their preterm children.

The Top 40 Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program of 2023

1. 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

2. University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO

The program at the University of Missouri – Kansas City focuses not only on how to care for neonatal patients but also for their family during the difficult time they face while in the hospital. They teach things like nursery theory, research, cultural diversity and more. This well-rounded program makes sure that nurses are equipped to take care of any issue they may come up against while working in the neonatal unit.

• NCLEX-RN pass rate of 94%
• 45 credit hours
• Admission requires experience and the equivalent of 2 years clinical practice within the last five years as an RN in the NICU
• Tuition averages $440.00 per credit hour for a total of $20,426 for the program
• CCNE accredited

3. 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

4. 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

5. University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL

UA Birmingham offers a fully online program that allows students to continue their job as a nurse while obtaining their degree. They offer specialty courses to help students get ready for their jobs as a neonatal nurse in how to care for their patients as well as their families.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate of 93%
• Program length or credit hours of 45 credit hours, 13 clinical hours, and 600 direct patient care hours
• Admission requirements are that you are already a nurse and that you must visit the campus 3 times during the six-semester program.
• Tuition is $656 per credit hour
• CCNE Accreditation

6. 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

7. Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA

Loma Linda offers an online program that allows students to further their education and get a better degree. This is a fantastic degree that is accredited and allows students the chance to get a degree in neonatal nursing while partaking in hands-on training and education.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate of 100%
• Program length or credit hours depend on how long it takes you to complete the degree
• Admission requirements: BSN in nursing, two years of NICU experience, application, and more
• Tuition is $25,680 per year
• CCNE Accreditation

8. 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

9. University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

The program at UC San Francisco allows students to learn in a range of different environments for a varied experience and for a more succinct education. Course work is varied and offers students the chance to learn fully and to address any possible issues that may occur during their neonatal nursing career.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate of 95%
• Program length or credit hours: two-year program with 600 clinical hours
• Admission requirements: must be a two-year nurse with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $5,034 per quarter
• CNNE Accreditation

10. University of Delaware, Newark, DE

This program offers in-person classes and offers a range of class types so that you can learn how to be the best neonatal nurse possible. Classes are perfect for students that have the time to devote to a full-time course load. The first part of the program is at the University of Delaware and the second half is taken at Thomas Jefferson University.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate of 85%
• Program length or credit hours is 59
• Admission requirements: students must have nursing experience
• Tuition is $1005 per credit hour
• CNNE Accreditation

11. 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

12. Emory University, Atlanta GA

The Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program at Emory University is the only program in the state of Georgia and it offers a hybrid format for the students’ ease. Program graduates have the experience they need to easily get a job at any neonatal hospital. The program requires that students take in-person classes as well as online content and 700 hours of direct patient care.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate of 99%
• Program length or credit hours: 750 total hours for the full-time program
• Admission requirements: must be a BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $46,314 per year
• CNNE Accreditation

13. University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago IL

The University of Illinois at Chicago offers a hybrid program that allows students the chance to fully understand their program and to get the best education possible.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate of 96%
• Program length or credit hours depends on how long it takes you to finish the program
• Admission requirements: must be a BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $650 per credit hour
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Accreditation

14. Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing, Peoria, IL

The Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing curriculum allows you to further your career while you work fulltime. Our NNP faculty have years of clinical and teaching experience to prepare you for clinical excellence and success on the certification exam.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate of 100%
• Program length or credit hours: this is a three-year program with 13 classes total and clinical hours
• Admission requirements: must be a BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $16,920 per year
• Accredited

15. University of Illinois of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL

The University of Illinois of Medicine at Rockford offers a hybrid approach with both online and in-person content for those that want a very diverse and varied program. This is perfect for students that need to be engaged with content and that like a varied approach that allows them to learn and truly have a unique education.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate of 81%
• Program length or credit hours depend on what degree you enter the program with
• Admission requirements vary depending on the program you choose
• Tuition $45,630 per year for full-time students in-state
• LCME Accreditation

16. University of Louisville, Louisville, KY

The University of Louisville program is entirely online and offers students the chance to earn their degree while still working. The program offers a BSN to DNP with a specialization for neonatal care.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate of 91%
• Program length or credit hours: 35 credit hours and 1000 hours of clinical work
• Admission requirements: BSN and some neonatal experience
• Tuition is $12,246 per year for in-state students and $25,486 per year for out-of-state students
• CCNE Accreditation

17. University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN

The University of Indianapolis offers a hybrid program that requires both online and in-person classes and that allows students to earn their degree while still working. They work with the Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health to allow students to have a hands-on experience.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate of 91%
• Program length or credit hours: 46 credit hours and 690 clinical hours
• Admission requirements: BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $338 per credit hour
• CCNE Accreditation

18. University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD

The University of Maryland program is fully online which is great for working students. They offer a state of the art simulation baby for first-hand experience. This is a branch of the DNP program that the school offers.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates over 90%
• Program length or credit hours: 80 hours and 855 clinical hours
• Admission requirements: BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $724 per credit hour for in-state students and $1,324 for out-of-state students
• CCNE Accreditation

19. Louisiana State University New Orleans, New Orleans, LA

Louisiana State University New Orleans has a BSN to DNP program with a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner concentration. This offers students the chance to have a first-hand look at the neonatal nurse career and what you will be doing as an NNP.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate of 96.89%
• Program length or credit hours: 81 credit hours plus clinical hours
• Admission requirements: BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $2,805 per semester for full-time students
• NCC Accreditation

20. University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS

TheUniversity of Mississippi Medical Center has a hybrid program with both in-person and online content. They offer state-of-the-art equipment and curriculum so that students get the best education possible and so that they get the experience that they need to succeed. They are the only neonatal nursing program in the state of Mississippi.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rate of 85%
• Program length or credit hours: 630 clinical hours required
• Admission requirements: BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $5,792 for in-state students per year and $14,797 for out-of-state students
• CCNE Accreditation

21. Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

Wayne State University offers both an online NNP program within the DNP program as well as an MSN-NNP program. They offer all content online so that students can continue to work while obtaining their degree.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates of 100%
• Program length or credit hours: 78 credits total
• Admission requirements: BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $11,814 per year for in-state students and $25,254 for out-of-state students
• CCNE Accreditation

22. 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

23. 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

24. Stony Brook School of Nursing, Stony Brook, NY

The program at Stony Brook School of Nursing offers both a DNP NNP program that is hybrid as well as a graduate certificate program that is hybrid and an MSN program that is hybrid. Students receive most of their education online but are required to come to the campus for a certain number of days to fulfill their residency requirements.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates 96%
• Program length or credit hours depends on the program selected
• Admission requirements BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $24,390 per year for in-state students and $42,880 per year for out-of-state students
• CCNE Accreditation

25. Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC

The program at Duke University School of Nursing is a hybrid program that offers both online and in-person content and also requires that students come to campus for a certain number of days to fulfill their residency requirements.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates 100%
• Program length or credit hours, 43 credit hours and 616 clinical hours
• Admission requirements BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $1,769 per credit hour
• CCNE Accreditation

26. Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY

Stony Brook University offers an online neonatal nurse practitioner certificate program and an MSN NNP program as well. They offer live lectures that you can watch from your computer so that you can complete the entire program online.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates 94%
• Program length or credit hours vary depending on what program is chosen
• Admission requirements BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $10,870 per year for in-state students and $22,210 for out-of-state students
• CCNE Accreditation

27. East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

East Carolina University offers two Neonatal nursing programs including a fully online program in the MSN Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program and an on-campus option with the graduate certificate program for NNP.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates 96%
• Program length or credit hours depends on the program that you choose
• Admission requirements BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $125 per credit hour
• CCNE Accreditation

28. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

Case Western offers two different programs for those students that want to gain their NNP certification. They offer a hybrid graduate certificate NNP that is hybrid and offers both online and on-campus content as well as a fully on-campus program in the MSN NNP program.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates 85%
• Program length or credit hours depends on the program selected
• Admission requirements BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition $2,011 per credit hour
• CCNE Accreditation

29. Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Ohio State University offers two different degrees that are both hybrids. They offer a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program that is in the MSN track and a BSN to DNP Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program. Both are hybrid and include both in-person and online content.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates 78%
• Program length or credit hours depends on the program selected
• Admission requirements BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $39,730 per year for in-state students and $39,755 for out-of-state students
• CCNE Accreditation

30. University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA

The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing offers two programs with a neonatal graduate certificate and an MSN neonatal program as well. These are both on-campus programs.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates 83%
• Program length or credit hours depends on the program you choose
• Admission requirements BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $41,134 per year
• CCNE Accreditation

31. 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

32. The University of Tennessee Health Science Center-Memphis, Memphis TN

The UT Health Science Center – Memphis offers one NNP program that is fully online and that is in the DNP degree track. They offer state of the art programs that have the best possible technology and content possible to help students succeed.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates 100%
• Program length or credit hours, 61 credit hours plus clinical hours
• Admission requirements BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition $33,692 per year for in-state students, and $66,784 for out-of-state students
• SACSCOC Accreditation

33. University of Pittsburg, Pittsburgh, PA

The University of Pittsburg offers three different NNP programs. The first is the BSN to DNP Neonatal track which is on campus. The second is the MSP to DNP Neonatal program that is hybrid and offers both online and on-campus program content. The last is the MSN Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program which is offered on campus.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates of 100%
• Program length or credit hours
• Admission requirements BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $22,826 for in-state students and $39,532 for out-of-state students
• American Nurses Credentialing Center Commission on Accreditation Accredited

34. 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

35. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

The University of Utah offers a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program on the DNP track. This is an on-campus program.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates 97%
• Program length or credit hours vary depending on what degree you start the program with
• Admission requirements BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $13,849 per year
• NWCCU Accreditation

36. The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX

The University of Texas offers the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner DNP program fully online for students that want to continue their degree while working.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates 89%
• Program length or credit hours 46 credit hours and 780 clinical hours
• Admission requirements BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $17,184 for full time in-state students and $31,711 for out-of-state students
• CCSACS Accreditation

37. West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

West Virginia University offers an MSN NNP program that is fully online. This program offers a range of delivery methods for your online content to give you the best chance at passing your board certification tests.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates 94%
• Program length or credit hours 28 credit hours plus clinical hours
• Admission requirements BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $4,388 per semester
• CCNE Accreditation

38. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

The University of Virginia offers two options when it comes to NNP. The first is the BSN to DNP neonatal track and the second is the MSN Neonatal NP program. Both are offered on campus for students that are able to make it to campus.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates of 100%
• Program length or credit hours vary depending on which program you choose and what degree you enter the program with
• Admission requirements BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $10,016 in-state per year and $36,720 for out-of-state students
• CCNE Accreditation

39. Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA

Old Dominion offers a BSN to DNP neonatal nursing degree that is online for students that might not have time for a traditional degree.

• NCLEX-RN Pass Rates 100%
• Program length or credit hours 50 credit hours with clinical hours
• Admission requirements BSN with neonatal experience
• Tuition is $568 per credit hour
• CCNE Accreditation

Schools were ranked based on NCLEX-RN pass rates, ease of access for students, and the overall quality of the programs offered. If you represent one of the schools that are listed here and want to amend or edit the information included, feel free to contact us today. If nursing is for you and you are looking to further your degree, an NNP degree may be the education option you are looking for.