Best Nurse Practitioner Programs in New York (2026)

The University of Rochester School of Nursing offers master's-level nurse practitioner programs designed for working RNs who need flexibility without sacrificing depth. The NP track sits alongside leadership and nursing education pathways, and the school reports that 91% of its faculty maintain active clinical practice across the region, meaning students learn from instructors who see patients. The program is ranked #1 in Upstate New York and #11 nationally for master's nursing programs by U.S. News and World Report (2026). Multiple entry points and specialty options let you build a schedule around full-time employment.

Tuition runs $65,870 per year for all students regardless of residency. At the national BLS median of $132,300 for nurse practitioners versus $97,550 for staff RNs, the $34,750 annual pay jump covers a year of tuition in under two years of post-graduation earnings. The program reports a 91% first-attempt certification exam pass rate, a figure that directly affects your ability to practice after graduation. With a 40% admit rate and an 85% graduation rate, Rochester is selective and its students finish. A Hakia Score of 91.2 places it first among New York NP programs in this ranking. The program fits nurses who want a nationally recognized credential and faculty who still work at the bedside.

Hofstra University's graduate nursing programs, housed in the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies, offer four NP specialty tracks at the master's level: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP), Psychiatric-Mental Health NP (PMHNP), and a CRNA-pathway DNP track in partnership with Northwell Health. Advanced certificate programs in FNP, AGACNP, and PMHNP are also available for post-master's candidates. The Northwell partnership positions students inside one of the largest health systems in New York, creating direct pipelines to clinical placements and employment. Classes are held on the Hempstead, Long Island campus.

Tuition is $56,545 per year for all students. At the BLS national NP median of $132,300, the $34,750 annual pay premium over a staff RN's $97,550 recoups a full year of tuition within roughly 18 months of post-graduation earnings. The admit rate is 68% and the graduation rate is 69%, reflecting open access with a meaningful completion challenge. A Hakia Score of 84.3 ranks Hofstra second among New York programs here. This program suits nurses targeting acute care or behavioral health specializations and who want direct ties to a major regional health system for clinical training and hiring.

Pace University's Lienhard School of Nursing offers a 49-credit Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner program structured as a three-year, part-time hybrid: online didactic coursework blended with required on-campus sessions in New York City or Westchester. The clinical component requires 760 precepted direct-care hours in primary care settings across the lifespan, arranged with NYC-area sites. Simulation training runs through Pace's 15,000-square-foot Center for Excellence in Healthcare Simulation on both campuses, covering high-fidelity manikins, standardized patients, and task trainers. Graduates of this program are eligible to advance into Pace's Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Additional MS tracks exist in AGACNP and PMHNP, and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAG) options are available for post-master's nurses in FNP, AGACNP, and PMHNP.

Tuition is $51,602 per year. Over three years part-time that totals approximately $154,806. The BLS national NP median salary of $132,300 represents a $34,750 annual premium over the staff RN median of $97,550; at that rate, the total investment is recovered in about 4.1 years post-graduation, with a career-long earnings difference that compounds from there. The admit rate is 76% and the graduation rate is 60%, a gap worth noting for nurses who need structured support through completion. A Hakia Score of 81.4 ranks Pace third in New York here. Graduates report employment at NewYork-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai, Northwell Health, Montefiore, and NYU Langone.

Le Moyne College offers a 46-credit Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN FNP) program in Syracuse, NY. The program requires 810 clinical hours and limits on-campus attendance to once per week (Mondays), a structure explicitly built for working nurses. Three completion tracks are available: two-year full-time, three-year part-time, and a post-master's certificate. Le Moyne also offers an FNP-to-DNP direct-entry pathway for BSN holders who want a doctoral credential; that pathway embeds the same 810 clinical hours. Class sizes are small, and the school emphasizes direct faculty access. All faculty hold practice roles as educators, administrators, or nurse practitioners.

Tuition is $39,090 per year, the lowest among the four programs ranked here. Le Moyne holds CCNE accreditation for its baccalaureate, master's, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs, a non-negotiable for graduates seeking national NP certification. A partnership with the Caring Gene Career Pathways Training Program provides eligible New York state residents and residents of certain bordering states full coverage of tuition, books, and academic fees; for qualifying nurses, total out-of-pocket cost for the MSN could be zero. The admit rate is 83% and the graduation rate is 73%. A Hakia Score of 79.6 ranks Le Moyne fourth in New York here. This program is the clearest value option in the state for FNP-track nurses, particularly those who qualify for the Caring Gene benefit.

SUNY Downstate's MS in Nursing is offered at Brooklyn's only academic medical center, giving graduate students direct access to a functioning tertiary hospital alongside partners including Northwell Health, NYU Langone, and New York-Presbyterian. The program offers two specialty tracks: Nurse Educator and clinical advanced practice pathways in Family Health and Women's Health. Coursework builds advanced clinical judgment, diagnostic skills, and health policy leadership, and the college's 8-bed Simulation Center includes a labor and delivery room, isolation room, and critical care beds for hands-on skill development. The program prepares graduates to sit for national certification exams in their specialty area.

At $7,070 per year in-state tuition, Downstate delivers exceptional value by New York City standards. The program is CCNE-accredited and is ranked among the top 50 MSN programs nationally by U.S. News and World Report. It fits working RNs who want an urban, clinically immersive environment and care about serving diverse patient populations: more than 70 percent of nursing students at Downstate identify as members of minority groups. A staff RN earning the BLS median of $97,550 who moves into an NP role at the BLS national median of $132,300 gains $34,750 per year; at this tuition rate the degree pays back in well under two years of that salary differential. Hakia ranks this program #5 in New York with a score of 79.5.

Molloy University's Graduate Nursing Programs offer a Master of Science in Nursing across multiple advanced practice clinical specialties, plus Post-Master's Advanced Certificate options. Notably, Molloy provides three entry pathways into DNP programs, making it one of the few Long Island institutions to serve both MSN-entry and direct-entry doctoral candidates. Courses are delivered in a mix of hybrid, remote, traditional, and fully online formats depending on the specialty, which accommodates working RNs who cannot relocate or leave full-time employment. Core graduate courses build advanced clinical and healthcare competencies, with clinical and practicum experiences embedded in each specialty track.

Tuition runs $38,100 per year regardless of residency, which is the tradeoff for a private nonprofit with flexible scheduling and small class sizes led by specialty-area faculty. The program carries CCNE accreditation and Molloy is the only Long Island institution endorsed by the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning for all four Core Standards. With an 82 percent admission rate and a 70 percent graduation rate, this program is accessible to competitive applicants but demands follow-through. A working RN who lands an NP role at the $132,300 BLS median gains $34,750 annually over the $97,550 staff RN median; at $38,100 per year the added earnings cover one year of tuition in roughly 12 months of NP practice. Hakia ranks Molloy #6 in New York with a score of 79.1.

CUNY Lehman College's MS in Nursing offers two APRN specialty tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP). Both tracks span 45 credits across 12 courses and include both didactic instruction and the clinical training required for NYS nurse practitioner licensure and national certification eligibility in the chosen specialty. The program runs on a cohort model built for working nurses: students attend on campus just one day per week, keeping full-time employment feasible. Post-graduate APRN certificate programs are also available for MSN-prepared nurses who want an additional specialty.

In-state tuition of $6,930 per year makes this among the lowest-cost direct-entry NP pathways in New York City. The program is CCNE-accredited. With a 57 percent admission rate and a 51 percent graduation rate, Lehman is selective relative to open-access CUNY peers; completing the cohort requires consistent commitment. Graduates who move from the staff RN median of $97,550 to the NP median of $132,300 gain $34,750 per year. At Lehman's in-state rate, that salary gain covers a full year's tuition in less than three months of NP earnings. Hakia ranks this program #7 in New York with a score of 76.8, reflecting strong value for Bronx-based and NYC-area RNs targeting family or pediatric primary care.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute's MS in Nursing Education is a 36-credit, fully online program aimed at RNs who want to move into faculty or staff development roles rather than direct clinical NP practice. The curriculum covers theory, research, health policy, legal and regulatory issues, and grant proposal writing. A 160-hour culminating internship provides directed experience as a nurse educator in academic or institutional settings. Full-time students complete the program in 4 semesters (2 years); part-time students typically finish in 3 to 4 years. A post-master's Advanced Certificate in Nursing Education is also available for those already holding an MSN.

Important context for prospective students: this program prepares nurse educators, not nurse practitioners. If your goal is autonomous clinical practice, prescriptive authority, or the $132,300 BLS NP median, this track does not lead there. It is the right fit for RNs targeting faculty positions, curriculum leadership, or staff development directorships. At $7,070 per year in-state, it is one of the most affordable online MSN paths in New York. The program is CCNE-accredited. With an 81 percent admission rate and a 55 percent graduation rate, entry is accessible but completion requires steady progress through the online format. Hakia ranks SUNY Poly #8 in New York with a score of 76.7.

Long Island University Post offers a 46-credit Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner accredited by CCNE. The program is a lockstep sequence run over seven semesters (fall, spring, and summer) of part-time study, covering advanced pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, health assessment, and diagnostic reasoning before moving into three dedicated practicum rotations. Those rotations cover adult-geriatric primary care, pediatric and women's health, and management of chronic complex conditions, totaling 720 precepted direct-care hours plus 25 lab hours. Graduates sit for national board certification through ANCC or AANP and qualify for New York State FNP licensure. Admission requires a current, unencumbered New York RN license, a BSN, and at least one year of recent acute-care clinical experience; reference letters must come from an NP, MD, or DO who can speak to your clinical acumen.

Tuition runs $40,248 per year for all students; at 46 credits completed over roughly two years, total program cost lands near $40,000 to $45,000 depending on pace and fees. LIU Post admits 86 percent of applicants and has a 57 percent graduation rate, signaling that the program is accessible at entry but demands real follow-through once enrolled. The Hakia Score of 76.4 ranks it ninth among New York NP programs for 2026. This program suits a New York-based RN who needs a structured, scheduled cohort format with no ambiguity about sequencing, and who wants to practice as a fully autonomous FNP in a state that already grants NPs practice authority without physician supervision.

SUNY Upstate Medical University's Master of Science in Nursing prepares BSN-holding RNs for national board certification in five nurse practitioner specialties: Family (FNP), Family Psychiatric Mental Health (FPMHNP), Adult-Geriatric (AGNP), and Pediatric (PNP), as well as advanced leadership and education roles. The curriculum spans seven semesters in a hybrid format, combining in-person and online instruction, and covers advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, nursing theory, informatics, health care policy, and quality and safety. Practicum courses are available as electives to deepen clinical skills, and students may participate in faculty-sponsored or independent research. Upon completing the MS NP, graduates can continue on a seamless, 100 percent online part-time DNP pathway that allows continued NP practice while earning the terminal degree.

At $7,070 per year in-state, Upstate is the most affordable option in this New York cohort by a wide margin; out-of-state tuition rises to $18,910 per year, still competitive against private-school alternatives. The BLS national median for nurse practitioners is $132,300 versus $97,550 for staff RNs, a $34,750 annual gap; at in-state rates, a New York RN recovers total program costs in under a year of NP earnings above their current salary. Admit and graduation rates are not published in the program's scraped data. The Hakia Score of 76.1 ranks this program tenth in New York for 2026. It is the strongest value pick for a New York-resident RN who wants multiple specialty options and the option to continue directly to a DNP without switching schools.

Mount Saint Mary College's Master of Science in Nursing, accredited by CCNE, runs three tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP, and Psychiatric Mental Health NP. The FNP and AGNP tracks each carry 44 credits and 600 precepted clinical practice hours; the PMHNP track runs 47 credits and 600 hours. Classes meet once per week in the evening with blended online coursework, and the college offers three start dates per year. Most students finish within 2.5 years; 90 percent complete within four years. The college reports clinical relationships with more than 50 area hospitals and sites, and students may select their own preceptor. Graduates are eligible for New York State NP certification and national certification in their specialty track. The program concludes with a White Coat ceremony.

Annual tuition is $41,820 for all students. A 44-credit FNP or AGNP track completed at roughly 12 to 15 credits per year yields a total cost in the range of $80,000 to $90,000 before fees; the PMHNP track at 47 credits runs slightly higher. Mount Saint Mary admits 89 percent of applicants and reports a 65 percent graduation rate. A recent internal survey cited by the program states that 100 percent of MSN graduates were employed full-time, though this figure is school-reported and not independently verified here. The Hakia Score of 72.0 places this program eleventh in New York for 2026. It fits a Hudson Valley-based RN who wants evening-friendly scheduling, a choice among three specialty tracks, and access to a dense local clinical network.

Utica University's Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner is delivered 100 percent online and designed for completion in eight semesters. The 48-credit program centers on a single specialty: Family Nurse Practitioner, preparing graduates for certification through ANCC or AANP. Clinical training totals 775 practicum hours split across three courses: 500 hours of core FNP practicum, 50 hours of specialty exploration, and 225 simulation hours. Before those field rotations begin, students complete a required three-day in-person immersion at the Utica, New York campus that covers suturing, orthopedic splinting, X-ray interpretation, gender examination, and other procedural skills in a simulated clinical environment using actual hospital equipment. Note: the online program is available to New York state residents only.

At $850 per credit for 48 credits, total tuition comes to $40,800 before fees. Comparing that to the BLS national median NP salary of $132,300 versus $97,550 for a staff RN, the annual earnings gap is $34,750. At that rate, a graduate recoups $40,800 in tuition in roughly 13 months of NP earnings above current RN pay. Utica admits 92 percent of applicants; the graduation rate is 56 percent, so strong early academic performance matters. The Hakia Score of 70.7 ranks this program twelfth in New York for 2026. It fits a New York-resident RN who needs a fully online format, can commit to one three-day campus visit, and wants a single focused FNP track at a per-credit cost well below most private competitors.