For nurses with a bachelor's degree in nursing, a Nurse Practitioner (NP) program provides a step up on the career ladder. Nurse practitioners can function more independently than registered nurses who don't have an NP degree. Going back to school after you've already started working full-time can be difficult though, so a good bit of motivation is needed to overcome hurdles like not enough time for classes, and not enough money to pay for graduate school. Online or distance learning programs can help with that...
Affordable, Time Efficient and Family Friendly Online NP Degrees
Over the course of the last decade, distance learning programs have blossomed, making higher education possible for many students who otherwise wouldn't have been able to pursue an advanced degree in nursing. The ease of taking classes from your home, in your spare time, and yes, maybe even in pajamas, holds promise for people who are working and raising families. The money and time that can be saved by not driving to class grow more substantial as gas prices rise and roads and highways become more congested.
Clinical Rotations Close to Home
Clinical courses, unlike regular academic classes, are only taken in healthcare settings such as hospitals or clinics, with real live patients. That's the one part of an online NP program that cannot be done online. Telemedicine may change that in the future, but we're not totally there yet.
But for registered nurses pursuing a nurse practitioner degree, the fact that clinical courses can be taken close to home creates a great deal of efficiency, for both students and schools. Many universities and colleges make arrangements with clinicians in areas where students live. These "adjunct faculty" supervise your clinical work and report to your course instructor. You along with the online course instructor and local clinical-mentor make a plan for your clinical experience and then collectively monitor your progress along the way.
The downside of online NP programs, for some students, is the lack of face-to-face interaction with instructors and classmates. There is something to be said for "face-time" when it comes to learning, and some online NP programs do a better job of creating an online-community than others. Course work structure can have a big impact on student-to-student and student-to-instructor connectivity. Group projects and Skype discussion groups, for example, can boost the bonds between students and faculty as well as enhance the learning experience.
Physical college campuses, as compared to online programs without physical campuses, do have the advantage of cross-pollination with other academic disciplines, such as schools of medicine, public health, anthropology, and sociology - to name a few. Since nurses and nursing theorists often draw from other fields of study to improve care for patients, cross-discipline interaction is considered by many to be a vital part of academic integrity – this can get lost when working in isolation.
Spotlight on Georgetown University's Online FNP Program
Georgetown’s prestigious online FNP program awards RNs a Master of Science in nursing degree in either 17-18 months of full-time study or about 24-25 months of part-time study. The web-based learning and tailored clinical experiences create the ideal situation for career advancement - at your own pace. This innovative program is available to committed nursing professionals across the US.
Below is a complete list of nationally accredited online Nurse Practitioner (NP) programs.
Drexel University
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Georgetown University
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UMassOnline
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University of Cincinnati
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Albany State University (Albany, GA)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Angelo State University (San Angelo, TX)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Ball State University (Muncie, IN)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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California State University-Dominguez Hills (Carson, CA)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Clarkson College (Omaha, NE)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Concordia University-Wisconsin (Mequon, WI)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner, Geriatric Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Delta State University (Cleveland, MS)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner, Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Adult/Family) Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Psychiatric Mental Health NP, Women’s Health NP Accreditation: CCNE accredited, NLNAC accredited
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Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, PA)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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East Carolina University (Greenville, NC)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited, NLNAC accredited
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East Tennessee State University (Johnson City, TN)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Felician College (Lodi, NJ)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: MS in Nursing - Adult Nurse Practitioner, MS in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Frontier Nursing University (Hyden, KY)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner, Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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George Washington University (Washington, DC)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: MSN - Adult Nurse Practitioner, MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Georgia Southern University (Statesboro, GA)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Gonzaga University (Spokane, WA)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Graceland University (Independence, MO)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Idaho State University (Pocatello, ID)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Illinois State University (Normal, IL)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing (Hammond, LA / Lafayette, LA / Lake Charles, LA)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Adult Health Nurse Practitioner, Adult/Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (Worcester, MA)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: MSN with Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
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Metropolitan State University (Saint Paul, MN)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Middle Tennessee State University (Murfreesboro, TN)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Midwestern State University (Wichita Falls, TX)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Montana State University (Bozeman, MT)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner, Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Mount Marty College (Yankton, SD)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Masters in Nursing (Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner), Masters in Nursing (Pediatric Nurse Practitioner)
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New Mexico State University (Las Cruces, NM)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Psychiatric/Mental Health NP Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Northeastern University (Boston, MA)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Northern Kentucky University (Highland Heights, KY)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Adult Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Radford University (Radford, VA)
Program Types: Doctor of Nursing Practice Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner
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Regis University (Denver, CO)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Rush University (Chicago, IL)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family NP (FNP) Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Rutgers The State University of New Jersey-Newark (Newark, NJ)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice Matching Online Program Tracks: Acute Care of the Adult and Aged (NP or CNS), Advanced Practice in Pediatric Nursing (NP or CNS), Advanced Practice in Women’s Health (NP), Clinical Track, Community Health Nursing NP/CNS, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Oncology (Adult and/or Pediatric), Primary Care of the Adult and Aged (NP or CNS), Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing (NP or CNS) Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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South University (Columbia, SC / Montgomery, AL / Savannah, GA / Tampa, FL / West Palm Beach, FL)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Adult Health Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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St. Louis University (Saint Louis, MO)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Adult (NP CNS or Nurse Educator), Adult Acute Care NP, Family Nurse Practitioner, Gerontological (NP CNS or Nurse Educator), Pediatric (CNS NP or Nurse Educator), Psychiatric/Mental Health (CNS NP or Nurse Educator) Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Stony Brook University (Stony Brook, NY)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Perinatal/Women's Health NP/CNS Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Tennessee Board of Regents (Nashville, TN)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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The University of North Carolina at Wilmington (Wilmington, NC)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited, NLNAC accredited
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The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (Memphis, TN)
Program Types: Doctor of Nursing Practice Matching Online Program Tracks: Acute Critical Care, Gerontology, Primary Care, Psychiatric/Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (Galveston, TX)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program - Gerontological, Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program - Pediatric Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Troy University (Montgomery, AL / Troy, AL)
Program Types: Doctor of Nursing Practice Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner
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University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ)
Program Types: Doctor of Nursing Practice Matching Online Program Tracks: Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
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University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (Little Rock, AR)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Family Psych-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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University of Central Missouri (Warrensburg, MO)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner (Rural Family Nursing focus) Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN - Psychiatric NP/CNS Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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University of Massachusetts-Amherst (Amherst, MA)
Program Types: Doctor of Nursing Practice Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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University of Michigan-Flint (Flint, MI)
Program Types: Doctor of Nursing Practice Matching Online Program Tracks: DNP - Adult Nurse Practitioner, DNP - Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, DNP - Family Nurse Practitioner
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University of Missouri (Columbia, MO)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner, Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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University of Missouri-Kansas City (Kansas City, MO)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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University of Nebraska Medical Center (Omaha, NE)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner/Psychiatric Dual Track, Gerontological and Geropsychiatric Nursing (NP or CNS), Women’s and Children’s Health Nursing (NP) Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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University of North Dakota (Grand Forks, ND)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner, Gerontology Nursing (CNS or NP) Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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University of Phoenix (Multiple Locations)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA)
Program Types: Doctor of Nursing Practice Matching Online Program Tracks: Post-Masters DNP - Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Post-Masters DNP - Adult Nurse Practitioner, Post-Masters DNP - Family Nurse Practitioner, Post-Masters DNP - Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Post-Masters DNP - Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Post-Masters DNP - Psychiatric/Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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University of Rhode Island (Kingston, RI)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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University of Saint Francis (Crown Point, IN / Fort Wayne, IN)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Adult Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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University of South Alabama (Mobile, AL)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice Matching Online Program Tracks: Adult Acute Care NP, Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP, Adult-Gerontological Primary Care NP, Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner with Palliative Care Specialty, Advanced Emergency Nursing (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Dual Role), Child Health NP, Emergency NP, Family NP, Geropsychiatric (Adult Psych NP/Gerontological NP), Neonatal NP, Pediatric Acute Care NP, Psychiatric (Family) NP, Psychiatric/Mental Health NP, Women’s Health NP Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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University of Southern Indiana (Evansville, IN)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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University of St. Francis (Joliet, IL)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Adult Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: NP with Focus on Rural Substance Abuse Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI)
Program Types: Doctor of Nursing Practice Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner
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University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (Oshkosh, WI)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - ACNP, Adult Nurse Practitioner - ANP, Adult Nurse Practitioner/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: NLNAC accredited
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Walden University (Minneapolis, MN)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - BSN Track Adult Nurse Practitioner, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - BSN Track Family Nurse Practitioner, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - RN Track Adult Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Western University of Health Sciences (Pomona, CA)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Wheeling Jesuit University (Wheeling, WV)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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Wright State University (Dayton, OH)
Program Types: Masters in Nursing Matching Online Program Tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner Accreditation: CCNE accredited
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