The Best Accelerated Online NP Programs for 2026
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- Best Accelerated Online NP Programs
- What to Look For
- Program Accreditation
- Applying
- Paying
- Career Opportunities
- FAQ
Nurse practitioners (NPs) can follow various educational pathways. While the full path to NP status can take 6-8 years, an online accelerated NP program can take just one year for full-time students.
Online learners can take classes wherever there is internet access. This flexibility allows you to arrange your schedule and coursework in the way that best suits you.
Explore how online NP programs work, what to look for, and more information on choosing the best program for your career goals.
Learn About the Best Accelerated Online NP Programs and Schools for 2026
Brenau University — Best Program to Learn from FNPs
- Gainesville, GA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose BU: Twenty-month program is taught by practicing NPs.
We chose Brenau University's MSN FNP program because it gives students a chance to learn from actively practicing NPs. The NP program prepares you to qualify for family nurse practitioner licensure and certification. You can complete the program online in 20 months, requiring 52 credits.
The program includes online courses, clinical practicum experiences, and monthly Saturday classes at their Norcross campus. The program costs $824 per credit, plus course fees that range from $0 to $500 per course.
Other Highlights:
- Yellow Ribbon School: $1,000 for up to 25 military students
- Accredited by CCNE
- Full- and part-time options available
Good to Know:
- Bachelor's degree in nursing, 3.0 GPA required
- Active, unencumbered RN license or at least one year of full-time work experience
- Prerequisites include undergraduate courses in research methods and physical assessment
61%
$14,130
65%
$14,130
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Students Enrolled
- 2,436
- Institution Type
- Private
Herzing University-Madison — Most Flexible Start Dates for Students
- Madison, WI
- 4 year
- Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This School: Rolling admission and six start dates each year.
We chose Herzing's MSN FNP program because of its rolling admissions, which offer six start dates per year. The program includes 48 credits and 585 required clinical hours, which most students complete in 20 months or five semesters.
Tuition is $770 per credit. Active-duty military members, their spouses, and dependents may qualify for a 10-20% tuition discount. Herzing offers many scholarships, including the Nurses Circle of Achievement scholarship, which provides students with a 10% tuition discount.
Clinical coordinators are dedicated to helping you find clinical placements. You can take advantage of various virtual services, including tutoring and advising.
Other Highlights:
- Waived enrollment fee
- CCNE accredited
- Earn dual credits toward a DNP degree
Good to Know:
- Not available for students in Washington, D.C., Kansas, New York, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming
- Need a BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Must hold a current, active, unrestricted RN license
100%
$8,100
48%
$8,100
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Students Enrolled
- 4,238
- Institution Type
- Private
Marymount University — Most Supportive Accelerated Program
- Arlington, VA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose MU: Robust study support, student advisor, and clinical placement assistance.
Marymount's PMHNP program offers robust student support and in-depth clinical experiences. Each student is matched with a dedicated student resource advisor who ensures you have the necessary resources to successfully complete your degree. Additionally, clinical placement assistance is offered free of charge.
The program prepares you to become a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner in just over two years. The part-time program requires 48 credits and 750 hours of clinical experience. Most of the courses are 100% online, but the program requires residency experience at the Marymount campus.
Other Highlights:
- Hispanic-Serving Institution
- Yellow Ribbon School
- No GMAT/GRE required
- CCNE accredited
Good to Know:
- BSN and 3.0 GPA required
- RN license and one year of full-time professional nursing experience
- $1,301 per credit, making it the highest tuition on this list
56%
$22,950
75%
$22,950
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Students Enrolled
- 3,667
- Institution Type
- Private
University of Mobile — Most Affordable Accelerated NP Program
- Mobile, AL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This School: Less than $750 per credit.
The University of Mobile's FNP program offers the most affordable tuition for an accelerated NP program. The tuition costs $740 per credit.
The faith-based program prepares you to become a family nurse practitioner in four semesters, including 48 credits and 660 hours of clinical practice. The program combines online courses with on-campus intensives that allow you to network with faculty and other nursing students and practice your nursing skills at state-of-the-art simulation labs.
Other Highlights:
- Yellow Ribbon School
- Accredited by CCNE
- Full- and part-time options available
Good to Know:
- Must submit current personal health insurance coverage, health history, and immunization records
- On-campus intensives required
- Interview with the admissions committee may be required
18%
$13,500
72%
$13,500
- Acceptance Rate
- 73%
- Students Enrolled
- 1,911
- Institution Type
- Private
University of Saint Mary — Best Accelerated NP Program for Working Nurses
- Leavenworth, KS
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose USM: FNP and PMHNP programs can be completed in two years.
We chose the USM's MSN online program because it's designed to help nurses work and earn their NP degree at the same time. The program requires two, three-day on-campus intensives in the first summer term. Students complete more than 700 clinical hours and 50 credits for the FNP specialty or 53 credits for the PMHNP track.
The CCNE-accredited program offers a holistic approach to mental healthcare, emphasizing wellness, recovery, and cultural competence. You can complete the program in as few as two years and provide you with experience in emerging fields, such as telehealth.
Program Highlights:
- Two start dates in August and January
- Yellow Ribbon School
- Faith-based university mission and values
Good to Know:
- May not accept students who reside in Louisiana, Tennessee, or New York
- $775 per credit hour
- Cohort format
37%
$11,340
65%
$11,340
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Students Enrolled
- 1,462
- Institution Type
- Private
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 October 2025.
Using Our Rankings: What to Look for in an Online Accelerated NP Degree Program
When exploring online accelerated NP programs, keep in mind the metrics listed below — factors that also shape our rankings.
Admission Requirements
It’s important to understand and then meet the for any degree program that interests you. Admission requirements give you an idea about the average student accepted into a nursing program, including their academic background, work history, and clinical experience.
Specializations
Taking an accelerated NP program online gives you specialized training in areas of healthcare, such as family NP, pediatrics NP, psychiatric mental health NP, or women’s health NP. The selection of specializations varies by school.
Program Curriculum
Most accelerated online NP programs offer similar advanced theoretical and clinical nursing curricula, but electives and specializations vary. For instance, one accelerated online NP program may focus on primary care management, while another emphasizes leadership in nursing.
Clinical Experience
Clinical hours are a core element of every accelerated online NP program. You can expect to complete in-person clinical hours. Some programs offer free clinical placement services and advisors, a process that can be otherwise time-consuming. Most programs, however, require students to find their own clinical placements.
Accreditation
You want your accelerated online NP program to have accreditation because it offers a distinction recognized by your peers and future employers. Accreditation also ensures that an accelerated online NP program meets the clinical and educational requirements for certification and licensure.
Program Length
Consider how much time you have available to devote to earning a higher degree. Completing the average accelerated NP program online takes about 24 months, but some programs only take 12 months. Alternatively, nurses can study part time and graduate in about 28 months.
School Graduation Rate
A school’s graduation rate provides clues about how well a program and its faculty prepare students to achieve their career goals. You can get an idea about how long it takes the average student to earn a degree by looking at the graduation rate.
Online Learning Format and Requirements
Accelerated online NP programs operate virtually, but how students access lectures and materials differs. Students may prefer mostly asynchronous courses with no set class times or live courses that offer face-to-face interaction.
Why Is Accelerated Online NP Program Accreditation Important?
There are three major agencies that accredit nursing schools: the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA). One of these agencies reviews a nursing program and ensures it meets the standards for education and clinical practice training.
Choosing a non-accredited program could seriously limit your options:
- No financial aid. You usually need to be enrolled in an accredited program to be eligible for federal financial aid and many scholarships.
- You might not be eligible for state NP licensure. Many states require graduation from an accredited program to sit for the NP licensure exam.
- Issues transferring license. If you move states, you might need proof of graduating from an accredited nursing program to transfer the license.
- Tough time transferring credits. If you choose to pursue further education down the road, your completed coursework might not be accepted if the program wasn’t properly accredited.
- Employers may require it. Some employers prefer or require nurses to have graduated from an accredited program.
How to check accreditation? Visit the program’s website and look for accreditation info, often listed on the “About Us” page. You can also check on the ACEN or CCNE agencies’ website by searching for the school’s name in their directory.
How Online Accelerated NP Programs Work
Some accelerated NP programs have no set class times. Students can take classes at their own pace, but they may have to meet certain deadlines. Other programs require students to attend class at a specific time. In this case, students may access lecture recordings.
Regardless of whether coursework occurs in person or online, students must physically attend clinical rotations. Some programs help students find facilities where they can complete their clinical hours, while in others, students must find facilities on their own.
Instead of the usual 15-week courses, online accelerated NP programs often offer courses that last 4-6 weeks. Due to the pace, full-time students usually can’t work while in school. Part-time learning options take longer but allow more time for work.
Applying to an Accelerated Online NP Program
Your application is the admissions department’s first impression of you. Make it count by following the directions carefully and submitting everything by the deadline. Although some programs may ask you for materials unique to their needs, expect to provide the following information:
Paying for Accelerated Online NP Programs
Accelerated online NP programs are often fast-paced, leaving little room for full-time employment. However, many people cannot afford to stop working. Financial aid options can help offset expenses and make your education more affordable.
Loans — both private and federal — provide financial aid to nursing students for tuition and books. While taking on debt is a big decision, federal loans generally have lower interest rates and more lenient repayment plans than private loans. You can also explore nursing scholarships and grants, which do not need to be repaid. Employers may also help with education costs.
What Can You Do as a Nurse Practitioner?
An NP’s advanced education allows them to perform assessments, make diagnoses, and prescribe medication. NPs may collaborate with physicians or work independently. Each state regulates NP practice authority and determines whether NPs work in full practice, reduced practice, or restricted practice.
| NP Specialties | Workplace |
|---|---|
| Family practice | Physician’s offices, primary care clinics, and community health centers, urgent clinics, retail clinics |
| Women’s health | OBGYN clinics, private physician’s offices, and women’s health centers |
| Neonatal nursing | Hospitals, neonatal intensive care units (NICU) |
| Pediatrics | Hospitals, doctor’s office, and primary care clinics |
| Psychiatric mental health | Hospitals, behavioral health centers, and private practices |
The pay for NPs exceeds what RNs earn. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data from May 2024, RNs make an average annual salary of $98,430, while NPs earn an average annual salary of $132,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
The fastest way to become an NP is through an accelerated NP program, which requires a bachelor of science in nursing degree and can be completed in 12 months. Direct-entry master of science in nursing programs may be a good fit for those with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and typically take 2-3 years to complete. They also have to sit for the NCLEX-RN after the first year of the program.
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