2 Nurse Practitioner Programs in Buffalo, NY (Online & Campus) – 2025


Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

Wondering what schools are offering NP programs in Buffalo, New York? Enrollment in Buffalo area nurse practitioner programs rose sharply following the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the need for high-quality primary healthcare throughout Erie and Niagara Counties and other parts of northwestern New York State. NPs in the Buffalo area make good money, have a high degree of job satisfaction, and can practice to the full scope of their clinical education. As a nurse practitioner in Buffalo, you’ll be able to focus on wellness promotion as well as disease prevention. Keep reading to learn more about the best 2 nurse practitioner programs in Buffalo.



TOP 5 REASONS WHY BUFFALO IS A GREAT PLACE TO PURSUE NP PROGRAMS


Buffalo may get cold in the wintertime, but you’ll be hard put to find a city with a warmer, more inviting atmosphere than the Nickel City, as its residents affectionately dub it. Here are five reasons why Buffalo is a great place to pursue a nurse practitioner degree.

1. Affordability:

Buffalo has big-city vibes without all the expenses associated with living in a mega-metropolis. You’ll be able to afford to rent an apartment that’s bigger than a closet. Since the money you spend on incidental expenses will go farther in Buffalo, you won’t have to borrow as much or work as long to meet the financial obligations that come with enrolling in a nurse practitioner program.

2. Multiple training settings:

There are more than 25 hospitals in the Greater Buffalo Metropolitan Area, including the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus in downtown Buffalo, a nationally renowned medical hub. This means you’ll be able to see patients with a wide range of medical conditions as you pursue your nurse practitioner training. Once you graduate and are certified in your specialty, should you choose to stay in the area, you won’t have any difficulties finding a job.

3. Recreational opportunities:

All work and no play make anyone—including an NP in training—a dull person. Buffalo has an exciting nightlife scene and an extensive park system with numerous hiking and biking trails and opportunities for fishing, camping, or rafting. Living in Buffalo, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to decompress from your nurse practitioner studies when you need to.

4. Robust public transportation system:

For a city its size, Buffalo has an unusually high number of residents who choose not to own cars. Its public transportation system is well-developed. So long as your NP clinical rotation is within municipal limits, you’ll probably be able to get there by Metro Rail or bus.

5. Strong sense of community:

Buffalo has a strong sense of community. This means that the nurse practitioner’s role in patient advocacy will be more deeply appreciated.



HOW LONG ARE NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN BUFFALO?


Coursework associated with various nurse practitioner concentrations generally takes about a year of full-time enrollment. But except in the case of NP certificates, you can’t sit for a nurse practitioner certification examination unless you’ve completed the degree that NP training was part of. Nurse practitioner programs in Buffalo affiliated with MSN programs will take two to three years to complete depending on whether you’re a full-time or part-time student. In comparison, nurse practitioner programs affiliated with DNP programs will take three to four years to complete.

For example, D’youville University’s FNP certificate can be completed in three semesters (12 months), but that same FNP training will take six semesters (24 months) to complete when it’s part of the MSN-to-DNP program.



HOW MUCH DO NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN BUFFALO COST?


Tuition for NP programs in Buffalo ranges anywhere from $23,000 to $40,000, depending upon the degree you are simultaneously pursuing. The total expense depends upon the number of credits you’ll be required to complete.

On the whole, public universities and colleges charge lower tuition than private universities and colleges, and New York State residents will pay less than residents from other states. You’ll pay around $26,500 to earn a 28-credit PMHNP certificate from New York State University at Buffalo, but you’ll pay about $40,000 to earn a 42-credit PMHNP from D’youville University that’s associated with the MSN-to-DNP track. As a New York resident pursuing a 92-credit PMHNP as part of your DNP studies, you can expect to spend $111,159.



WHAT ARE THE BEST NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN BUFFALO, NY (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?

(Based on our ranking methodology, the following are the 2 NP programs in Buffalo, New York (Online & Campus) for the year 2025.)


1. University At Buffalo-Suny


Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, and Advanced Certificate

BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP), and Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

MSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Child Health Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

Advanced Certificate Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner


About the School: The State University of New York at Buffalo is the flagship campus of New York State’s outstanding SUNY university system. SUNY-Buffalo’s School of Nursing was one of the pioneers in concept-based curricula. This teaching framework applies basic nursing concepts like “healthcare settings” and “patient outcomes” as active learning strategies across broader information categories. Suny Buffalo offers 11 online NP programs in all.

BSN-to-DNP Program Details: SUNY Buffalo’s three BSN-to-DNP programs consist of a 97-credit Family Nurse Practitioner, an 84-credit Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner concentration, and a 94-credit Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentration. All three NP concentrations entail a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours.

Like all online nurse practitioner programs in Buffalo that award a DNP degree, SUNY Buffalo’s BSN-to-DNP curriculum is divided into DNP core courses like “Advanced Health Assessment” and “Applied Informatics to Evaluate Healthcare Outcomes” and classes related to the NP specialty area. Specialty NP classes in the three concentrations include “Primary Health Care Management of the Adult,” “Family: Theory, Foundations & Perspectives,” and “Group Work in Practice Psychiatric Nursing.” Each of the three NP tracks culminates in a DNP project customized to your specific clinical interests.


BSN-to-DNP Program Length: SUNY Buffalo’s online BSN-to-DNP NP program has a full-time and part-time completion track. Full-time students should be able to finish in three years, while part-time students should be able to finish in five. Full-time students will start their studies in the summer semester; part-time students will begin in the fall.

BSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: To apply, you must have a BSN or equivalent from an accredited school with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. You must possess an active, unencumbered RN license and at least one year of professional working experience.

MSN-to-DNP Program Details: In conjunction with its MSN-to-DNP program SUNY Buffalo offers five NP concentrations: an Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner concentration, a Child Health Nurse Practitioner concentration, a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration, a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentration, and a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner concentration. Each concentration involves 36 credits. As a post-master’s student who has successfully passed an NP certification examination, the only practicums you’ll be responsible for completing are the 400 hours associated with completing your DNP project.


MSN-to-DNP Program Length: This NP program in Buffalo is only offered part-time, and it will take you either five semesters (20 months) or seven semesters (28 months) to complete. The program has start dates in the fall and spring.

MSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: You’ll need an MSN from an accredited nursing program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher. You must be certified as an APRN NP and have an active, unencumbered RN license. This program isn’t intended to educate NPs in new specialty areas; successful applicants will have previously been certified in the specialty program to which they are applying.

Advanced Certificate Program Details: The number of credits associated with SUNY Buffalo’s Family Nurse Practitioner certificate varies from 28 to 37, depending on how many credits you can transfer from your MSN program. The same is true of the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate; it ranges from 28 to 37 credits. You’ll have to complete at least 750 clinical hours in your specialty. Coursework is delivered online using synchronous distance learning technology.


Advanced Certificate Program Length: The PMHNP certificate is offered both full-time and part-time, but the FNP program is only offered part-time. Each certificate should take you one to two years to complete.

Advanced Certificate Admission Requirements: For admission into either of these NP certificate education tracks, you’ll need active national certification into the specialty you’re applying for. You’ll also need a current, unrestricted RN license and an MSN from an accredited program with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher.

Scholarships & Financial Aid for University At Buffalo-Suny NP Students: Graduate nursing students of the State University of New York at Buffalo qualify for scholarships like the Coletta A. Klug Award and the Presidential Fellowships. You may also be eligible for state and federal grants and loans based on the information you submit in your FAFSA form.


Interesting Highlights About University At Buffalo-Suny NP School

• SUNY Buffalo’s BSN-to-DNP NP program is the 52nd best in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.

• Enrollment in SUNY Buffalo’s BSN-to-DNP nurse practitioner program has doubled since 2018

• During the 2020-2021 academic year, SUNY Buffalo awarded 41 DNP degrees, many of which included a nurse practitioner concentration.

• In 2022, faculty members teaching in SUNY Buffalo’s NP tracks and related graduate programs received nearly $1.5 million in external grants for research into areas like oncology, palliative care, gerontology, addictions, mental health, and community wellness.


2. D'youville University


Programs Offered: MSN, MSN-to-DNP, and Advanced Certificate

MSN Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

MSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Advanced Certificate Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)


About the School: D'youville University offers the same two NP specialties in association with its MSN degree, its MSN-to-DNP track, and its post-master’s advanced certificates: a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration and a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentration. The university offers some NP tracks as online NP programs in Buffalo, though it also offers campus-based NP tracks.

MSN Program Details: The Family Nurse Practitioner concentration associated with D'youville University’s MSN program is a 40-credit 700-clinical-hour curriculum that includes classes like “Advanced Health Assessment,” “Health Promotion-Children & Families,” and “Health Promotion Adults Aging Population.” The 40— to 42-credit, 540-clinical-hour Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentration includes the same MSN core classes as the FNP concentration but includes concentration-specific courses as well, such as “Foundation of Psychiatric Mental Health for APRNs” and “Co-Management for Medical Disorders for APRNs.”

The FNP track is offered on the D'youville University campus in Buffalo, New York, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, as well as online. The online FNP concentration requires several campus-based skills intensives. The PMHNP concentration is only offered on campus.


MSN Program Length: Most D'youville University students complete the MSN FNP track in approximately three years. Full-time students will complete the PMHNP track in two years, while part-time students will take three years to finish the program.

MSN Admission Requirements: To apply to this MSN NP program in Buffalo, you’ll need a BSN degree from an accredited nursing program and an active, unrestricted RN license. Preference is given to candidates with one or more years of professional RN experience.

MSN-to-DNP Program Details: D'youville University’s 34-credit BSN-to-DNP FNP track is offered both as an online and traditional campus program. On the other hand, the 37-credit BSN-to-DNP PMHNP track is only offered as a campus program. Both NP tracks integrate advanced practice RN classes with coursework focusing on administrative leadership roles in primary healthcare delivery and mental health practice.

You can transfer up to nine credits from your MSN studies. D'youville University will put together a personalized plan of study that reflects your previous nursing coursework and clinical rotations. Since a DNP degree requires 1,000 post-BSN clinical hours, you’ll probably need to take additional clinical rotations to earn the number of practicum hours necessary to graduate with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.


MSN-to-DNP Program Length: Full-time students should be able to complete the FNP or the PMHNP track in six consecutive semesters (24 months.)

MSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: This NP program in Buffalo is only open to nurses with active, unencumbered RN licenses in either New York or Ontario. You must have an MSN from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher. You’ll need to submit three professional references along with your application.

Advanced Certificate Program Details: D'youville University’s Family Nurse Practitioner track and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track are both 30-credit programs, but the FNP track entails 700 practicum hours while the PMHNP track requires 540 practicum hours. The curriculum is identical to the concentration-specific coursework associated with the two degree tracks.

The FNP track is offered online and on campus, but the PMHNP track is only offered on campus. All campus classes for both tracks are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays.


Advanced Certificate Program Length: The FNP and the PMHNP concentrations can be completed in 12 months if you’re a full-time student and 24 months if you’re a part-time student.

Advanced Certificate Admission Requirements: Certificate degree NP tracks are specifically designed for nurses who’ve completed an MSN or DNP degree and want to add another APRN specialty. You must have a post-bachelor nursing degree from an accredited program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. You must have an active and unencumbered New York or Ontario RN license. You’ll also need one year of professional experience in a health setting similar to the specialty for which you’re applying. With your application, you’ll need to submit two professional references and a personal statement.

Scholarships & Financial Aid for D'youville University NP Students: D'youville University receives funding from the Health Resources & Service Administration that supports scholarships for 60 BSN and NP students from underserved backgrounds. You may also qualify for federal and state grants and loans based on the information you submit in your FAFSA form.


Interesting Highlights About D'youville University NP School

• D'youville University operates a unique interdisciplinary education lab where nurse practitioners in training can practice treating live patients (played by actors) alongside students from the university’s pharmacology, chiropractic, and other healthcare majors.

• The First Niagara Foundation recently donated $1 million to the university’s Patricia H. Garman School of Nursing to help build a 59,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art education center for training nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals.

• D'youville University’s nurse practitioner program in Buffalo is very popular with Canadian nurses who want to train as primary care providers.

• D’youville University has received a $3.9 million grant from the Health Resources & Service Administration to set up nurse practitioner-led mobile health units across Erie and Niagara counties in conjunction with local fire stations.


VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY



CAREER INFORMATION FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK


HOW MANY NURSE PRACTITIONERS ARE THERE IN BUFFALO?


Some 1,120 nurse practitioners are currently employed throughout the Greater Buffalo Metropolitan Area.

Employment
1,120
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


WHERE DO NURSE PRACTITIONERS WORK IN BUFFALO?


Nurse practitioners in Buffalo work in various healthcare settings, including physician practices, hospitals and medical centers, outpatient care facilities, home healthcare agencies, community agencies, and the offices of other healthcare practitioners.

Work Setting
Offices of Physicians
General Medical & Surgical Hospitals
Outpatient Care Centers
Offices of Other Health Practitioners
Home Health Care Services


WHAT IS THE JOB OUTLOOK FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS IN BUFFALO?


The demand for nurse practitioners in the Buffalo region is strong and continuing to rise. Within the next 10 years, employment analysts project there will be 56 percent more NP jobs in this area than there are today.

10-Year Job Outlook (2020-2030)
+55.58%
(Source: Careeronestop.org)



HOW MUCH DO NURSE PRACTITIONERS MAKE IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK?


WHAT STARTING SALARY CAN NEW GRADUATES OF NP PROGRAMS IN BUFFALO EXPECT?


Graduates of NP programs in Buffalo can expect to make entry-level salaries of $46.14 an hour, $1,846 a week, $8,000 a month, or $95,970 a year.

Hourly$46.14
Weekly$1,846
Monthly$8,000
Annual$95,970
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


HOW MUCH CAN GRADUATES OF NP PROGRAMS IN BUFFALO EARN WITH EXPERIENCE?


With experience, graduates of nurse practitioner programs in Buffalo earn higher salaries. An NP with one to four years of experience will make 4 percent more than an NP who’s just starting. A nurse practitioner with 10 years of experience will earn 34 percent more than an NP just starting out, while a nurse practitioner with 20 years of experience will earn 59 percent more than an NP just starting out.

Level of Experience HourlyWeeklyMonthlyAnnual
Entry-Level $46.14$1,846$8,000$95,970
1-4 Years of Experience $47.97$1,919$8,320$99,780
5-9 Years of Experience $48.98$1,959$8,490$101,870
10-19 Years of Experience $61.87$2,475$10,720$128,690
20 Years or More Experience $73.31$2,932$12,710$152,480


WHAT IS THE AVERAGE NURSE PRACTITIONER SALARY IN BUFFALO?


On average, nurse practitioners in Buffalo earn $55.95 an hour, $2,238 a week, $9,700 a month, or $116,380 a year. They usually reach this earnings benchmark around their 15th year of employment.

Hourly$55.95
Weekly$2,238
Monthly$9,700
Annual$116,380
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



NURSE PRACTITIONER SALARY IN BUFFALO VS. OTHER SALARIES


NP SALARY IN BUFFALO VS. NP SALARY IN THE NATION


Nurse practitioners in Buffalo earn $116,380 on average, which is 1.4 percent less than the average NP salary throughout the U.S. as a whole.

Average Buffalo
NP Annual Salary
Average National NP
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
$116,380 $118,040 -$1,660 -1.41%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


NP SALARY IN BUFFALO VS. NP SALARY IN NEW YORK


Nurse practitioners in Buffalo make more than 13 percent less than nurse practitioners earn on average throughout the U.S. as a whole.

Average Buffalo
NP Annual Salary
Average New York
NP Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
$116,380 $133,940 -$17,560 -13.11%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


NP SALARY IN BUFFALO VS. NP SALARIES IN OTHER NEW YORK CITIES


Unsurprisingly, nurse practitioners in New York State earn their highest salaries in the Greater Metropolitan New York City Region where the average salary is $141,010 a year—17 percent higher than the average NP salary in Buffalo. On the other hand, nurse practitioners in Binghamton make $111,280 annually, which is 5 percent less than what Buffalo NPs earn.

Metro Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
New York-Newark-Jersey City $141,010 -$24,630 -17.47%
Kingston $123,660 -$7,280 -5.89%
Watertown-Fort Drum $117,710 -$1,330 -1.13%
Rochester $117,160 -$780 -0.67%
Glens Falls $117,000 -$620 -0.53%
Albany-Schenectady-Troy $116,980 -$600 -0.51%
Syracuse $116,620 -$240 -0.21%
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls $116,380 $0 0.00%
Elmira $114,450 +$1,930 +1.69%
Ithaca $114,200 +$2,180 +1.91%
Utica-Rome $113,050 +$3,330 +2.95%
Binghamton $111,280 +$5,100 +4.58%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


NP SALARY IN BUFFALO VS. OTHER NURSE SALARIES IN BUFFALO


Clinical nurse practitioners are the highest-earning nursing staff within Buffalo’s healthcare sector. They earn 42 percent more than nursing instructors, 44 percent more than staff RNs, and a whopping 242 percent more than nursing assistants.

Type of Nurse Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
Nurse Practitioner $116,380 $0 0.00%
Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary $81,890 +$34,490 +42.12%
Registered Nurse $80,740 +$35,640 +44.14%
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse $48,360 +$68,020 +140.65%
Nursing Assistant $33,940 +$82,440 +242.90%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


NP SALARY IN BUFFALO VS. SALARIES OF OTHER CLOSELY RELATED OCCUPATIONS IN BUFFALO


Interestingly, in Buffalo, physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants all make approximately the same amount: $116,400, ± 2 percent. This is 34 percent less than what podiatrists earn ($176,630) but 37 percent more than what chiropractors make.

Job Title Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number %
Podiatrist $176,630 -$60,250 -34.11%
Dentist $165,030 -$48,650 -29.48%
Physician $118,920 -$2,540 -2.14%
Pharmacist $118,120 -$1,740 -1.47%
Optometrist $117,460 -$1,080 -0.92%
Veterinarian $116,940 -$560 -0.48%
Nurse Practitioner $116,380 $0 0.00%
Physician Assistant $113,170 +$3,210 +2.84%
Audiologist $87,410 +$28,970 +33.14%
Chiropractor $84,510 +$31,870 +37.71%
Physical Therapist $80,000 +$36,380 +45.48%
Speech-Language Pathologist $76,980 +$39,400 +51.18%
Occupational Therapist $76,550 +$39,830 +52.03%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY OUR EXPERT


1. Who Accredits Nurse Practitioner Programs In Buffalo?

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education are the two agencies in charge of accrediting nurse practitioner programs in Buffalo.

S.No.Accrediting Agency
1Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
2Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)


2. How Many Accredited Nurse Practitioner Schools Are There In Buffalo?

There are two accredited nurse practitioner schools in Buffalo: the State University of New York at Buffalo and D’youville University.

2


3. On Average, How Long Does It Take To Become A Nurse Practitioner In Buffalo?

The length of time it takes to become a nurse practitioner in Buffalo depends upon the degree you’re pursuing in conjunction with your APRN certification. The BSN-to-DNP track will take you two to five years to complete, the MSN-to-DNP track will take you two to three years to complete, the MSN track will take you three years to complete, and the NP certificate will take you one to two years to complete.


4. On Average, How Much Do NP Programs Cost In Buffalo?

The average cost of an NP will depend upon the degree pathway you choose. Tuition for NP programs in Buffalo is around $950 per credit. So a 30-credit certificate program will set you back $28,500, while a 97-credit BSN-to-DNP may cost you $92,150.


5. How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make Per Hour In Buffalo?

Nurse practitioners earn $55.95 on average in Buffalo.

$55.95


6. How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make Per Month In Buffalo?

Nurse practitioners can expect to average $9,700 per month in Buffalo.

$9,700


7. How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make Per Year In Buffalo?

The average annual salary of a nurse practitioner in Buffalo is $116,380 a year.

$116,380


8. Are Nurse Practitioners In Demand In Buffalo?

Yes, nurse practitioners are in very high demand in Buffalo: job growth is expected to surpass 50 percent in the next decade.


9. Can Nurse Practitioners Practice Independently In Buffalo?

Yes. In Buffalo, nurse practitioners can provide the full scope of clinical services they’ve been trained to provide without physician supervision.

Full Practice


10. Can Nurse Practitioners Prescribe Medications In Buffalo?

Yes. Nurse practitioners in Buffalo can prescribe or dispense all medications, including controlled substances, for the treatment of their patients.


Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.




Explore Other Related NP Programs

In-State: New York


Nearby Cities:

Nearby States:

Popular Related Articles