Pittsburgh is a great place for nurses striking out in a new career direction. Why? Because Pittsburgh is kind of a Come-Back Kid among American cities, having shed its rust belt image and reinvented itself as a vibrant innovation hub. Pittsburgh is a place where success stories—including your own—come true! NPs in the Steel City can expect to earn $125,270 a year on average. Employment opportunities for these skilled professionals are projected to increase by nearly one-third over the next decade. What are the best NP programs in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania? Keep reading for the inside scoop on the 4 best nurse practitioner programs in Pittsburgh for 2025.
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family (Individual Across the Lifespan) Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
MSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family (Individual Across the Lifespan) Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Certificate Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Gerontology for Nurse Practitioners
About the School: Since its founding in 1939, the School of Nursing at the University of Pittsburgh has been one of the nation’s most prestigious centers for nursing education. This nurse practitioner program in Pittsburgh is known as much for its innovative nursing research as it is for its clinical practitioner programs. The National Institutes of Health awarded Pitt Nursing nearly $6 million in competitive federal research grants in 2022. Pitt Nursing is widely celebrated as one of the best nurse practitioner programs in Pittsburgh—and the nation.
In compliance with the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties’ decision to affiliate all entry-level nurse practitioner programs with the DNP degree by 2025, Pitt Nursing offers a BSN-to-DNP track with six clinical NP specialties: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), Family (Individual Across the Lifespan) Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP), Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP), and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP.)
The MSN-to-DNP track includes seven NP specialties: AGACNP, APCNP, FNP, NNP, PPCNP, PMHNP, plus a Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PACNP) concentration.
Pitt Nursing also offers a stand-alone post-master’s certificate for nurses who already have a graduate degree. You can train to become an AGACNP, NNP, Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PACNP), or PMHNP or complete a Certificate in Gerontology designed specifically for nurse practitioners.
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: The BSN-to-DNP curriculum is split into four components: core DNP coursework, advanced practice classes, courses within a specific area of clinical specialization, and practicums. The NNP and PMHNP tracks both entail 93 credits. The FNP track involves 92 credits, the PPC NP 84 credits, the AGACNP 79 credits, and the AGPCNP 71 credits. In keeping with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education’s mandates, all NP specializations require 1,000 clinical hours.
Among the core DNP courses you’ll be required to take are classes like “Applied Statistics for Evidence-Based Practice, “ “The Science of Health Care Delivery,” and “Public Policy in Health Care Delivery.” Advanced practice coursework includes classes like “Pathophysiology Across the Life Span” and “Human Genetics and Clinical Applications.”
The University of Pittsburgh’s BSN-to-DNP/NP tracks allow nurses to delve more deeply into areas of particular clinical interest to them. Thus, the AGACNP track offers subspecialties in oncology, trauma, cardiopulmonary care, and emergency preparedness, while the AGPCNP track allows students to immerse themselves in the study of specific chronic conditions, multi-morbidities, and other internal medicine issues.
All Pitt Nursing’s BSN-to-DNP study plans culminate with a DNP clinical project during which students will devise, implement, and evaluate an evidence-based initiative based on a challenge they’ve encountered during their clinical practicums. You’ll also need to pass a comprehensive examination.
Pitt Nursing’s Clinical Placement Coordinator arranges practicums, and most assignments are made to hospitals and clinics within the University of Pittsburg Medical Center system throughout Allegheny County and other parts of western Pennsylvania.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: The length of Pitt Nursing’s MSN-to-DNP tracks vary according to how many credits you’ll be allowed to transfer over from your Master’s of Science in Nursing program, but in general, the PMHNP specialization requires 35 to 45 credits, the AGPCNP and FNP specializations 41, the NNP and PPCNP 40, the PACNP 37, and the AGACNP 32 to 35.
The MSN-to-DNP/NP curriculum includes core DNP classes that focus on nursing leadership and the care of populations, NP specialization coursework, and clinical rotations. In this track, too, you’ll be required to complete a DNP clinical project and successfully complete a comprehensive examination. You’ll probably be able to transfer a good portion of the clinical hours you participated in to earn your Master’s of Science in Nursing degree toward completing the 1,000 clinical hours you’ll need for your DNP.
Certificate Program Details: The University of Pittsburgh’s standalone post-master’s certificate programs will prepare you for a nurse practitioner specialty without requiring you to earn a degree. The total number of credits you’ll need to take will depend upon how many of your prior credits Pitt Nursing will accept, but typically, the AGACNP certificate is 24 credits and 540 clinical hours, the PACNP certificate 18 to 21 credits and 500 clinical hours, the NNP certificate 25 credits and 660 clinical hours, the PMHNP certificate 26 to 28 credits and 640 clinical hours, and the Gerontology certificate 11 credits and 180 clinical hours.
The AGACNP certificate can be pursued online or at Pitt Nursing’s campus in downtown Pittsburgh, but online students will have to attend three-day skills intensive on campus. The PACNP certificate is a campus curriculum, while the Gerontology certificate can be pursued entirely online. All students must pass a comprehensive examination in their specialty to earn credit for the course.
Scholarships & Financial Aid for University Of Pittsburgh NP Students: The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Nursing designates certain scholarships toward the financial support of graduate nursing students on the basis of both financial need and academic merit. Additionally, you may qualify for federal and state grants and loans based on the information you submit in your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
MSN Specialties Offered: Family (Individual Across the Lifespan) Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master's Certificate Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family (Individual Across the Lifespan) Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
About the School: Duquesne University has been a trendsetter in graduate nursing education since 1997 when its School of Nursing became the first in the nation to offer an online Ph.D. in Nursing. The university is affiliated with the Roman Catholic church. However, you don’t have to be Catholic to attend the school, and Catholic teachings don’t influence its nursing education at the graduate level.
Duquesne’s nurse practitioner training—widely considered one of the best nurse practitioner programs in Pittsburgh—is offered as part of its MSN degree program. Additionally, NP education is offered in conjunction with post-Master’s certificates. The MSN and the post-master’s certificates offer the same three NP tracks: AGACNP, FNP, and PMHNP.
MSN Program Details: The three NP specialties associated with Duquesne’s MSN program are delivered mostly online. The AGACNP track is a 42-credit program with 12 classes and 750 clinical hours, while the FNP track is a 42-credit program with 12 classes and 700 clinical hours. The 44-credit PMHNP track requires 15 classes and 550 clinical hours.
Like other MSN-nurse practitioner programs in Pittsburgh, clinical specialization coursework is only one component of Duquesne’s curriculum. You’ll also take courses like “Transitioning to Advanced Practice Nursing,” “Historical and Contemporary Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice,” and “Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing,” which will prepare you for a career as an APRN.
Duquesne’s online classes use asynchronous technology so you can proceed with your coursework at your own pace. Though the university’s MSN/NP program relies primarily on distance learning, campus visits are required for skills labs associated with physical assessment courses. Students enrolled in the FNP and PMHNP tracks will make two visits to the Duquesne campus in Pittsburgh; students enrolled in the AGACNP track will make three. Skills labs take place in Duquesne’s state-of-the-art simulation laboratory.
You’ll work with Duquesne’s Clinical Coordinator on clinical placements, which will be made to a hospital, clinic, or primary care center close to where you live or work.
Post-Master's Certificate Program Details: Duquesne University’s post-master’s certificates are designed for APRN-prepared nurses who want to expand their expertise into a new clinical field. The curriculum includes the NP specialization coursework and clinical practicums associated with Duquesne’s MSN degree but not the APRN coursework. You’ll access the majority of your classwork online using asynchronous technology.
The actual length of your certificate studies will depend upon the number of credits you can transfer over from a previous graduate nursing degree. The maximum number of transfer credits you’re allowed is nine. However, for the most part, the AGACNP certificate consists of 33 credits spread over nine classes, which include nine classes, 750 clinical hours, and three on-site skills intensives; the 33-credit FNP certificate involves nine classes, two on-site intensives, and 700 clinical hours, while the 35-credit PHMNP certificate requires 12 courses, two campus visits, and 550 clinical hours. You’ll be able to perform your clinical residencies at a healthcare facility close to where you live.
Scholarships & Financial Aid for Duquesne University NP Students: Duquesne University’s School of Nursing offers some scholarship support to aspiring nurse practitioners. You may also qualify for federal or state grants and loans based on the information you submit with your FAFSA form.
MSN Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master’s Certificate Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
About the School: Carlow University’s graduate nursing programs are designed for working professionals. This NP school in Pittsburgh offers two nurse practitioner specialties, FNP and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) tracks, which can either be pursued online or on campus. Both NP tracks are associated with Carlow’s MSN degree and post-master’s certificate programs.
Carlow University is a Catholic university with a strong commitment to social values. Catholic principles as such, however, are not reflected in the university’s graduate nursing education.
MSN Program Details: Both the FNP and WHNP curricula entail 49 credits and 600 clinical hours. Students who pursue their MSN degrees on-site can do so either at Carlow University’s main campus in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood or at the university’s satellite campuses in Greensburg and Cranberry. The coursework consists primarily of web-based educational materials with an evening class that meets twice a month. You can also opt to pursue these MSN/NP tracks entirely online.
The curriculum is divided into three types of classes: classes promoting the advanced practice RN role, classes focusing on your chosen clinical specialty, and clinical practicums. APRN coursework includes classes like “APN Role in US Healthcare System,” “Advanced Physical Assessment & Diagnosis,” and “Human Pathophysiology.” Carlow’s MSN program finishes with a capstone experience during which you’ll apply your newly acquired advanced practice nursing skills to a real-life challenge you’ve encountered during your practicum experiences.
Clinical practicums are paired with corresponding theory classes and must be taken in the same semester. You’ll be able to complete your practicums in the area where you live.
Post-Master's Certificate Program Details: Carlow’s 36-credit FNP post-master’s certificate requires 600 clinical hours. The curriculum includes the NP specialization class and practicum portions of the MSN/FNP curriculum. You can take on-site classes at one of Carlow’s campuses in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, or Cranberry or pursue the certificate online.
The 35-credit WHNP program also requires 600 clinical hours and can be pursued either on-site or online.
Online students can complete their clinical practicums at a healthcare facility close to where they live, while campus students will complete their clinical practicums at urban and rural healthcare facilities throughout Pittsburgh and other parts of Allegheny County.
Scholarships & Financial Aid for Carlow University NP Students: Carlow’s funding for graduate nursing students is limited, but the university’s Financial Aid Office will help you identify and apply for external nursing scholarships. You may also be eligible for needs-based federal grants and loans based on the information you submit with your FAFSA form.
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Post-Master’s Certificate Specialties Offered: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
About the School: Robert Morris University’s approach to nurse practitioner education is rigorous and results-driven. Like several other nurse practitioner programs in Pittsburgh, RMU is phasing out its resident MSN program to focus on the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree as the terminal clinical pathway. Robert Morris University offers a BSN-to-DNP/NP track with AGPCNP, FNP, and PMHNP nurse practice specialties and a post-master’s certificate with a PMHNP nurse practice specialty.
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: The FNP and PMHNP tracks associated with RMU’s BSN-to-DNP program both involve 86 credits, while the AGPCNP track entails 80 credits. All three tracks require 1,000 clinical hours. RMU’s BSN-to-DNP/NP curriculum is split between advanced practice RN coursework, coursework emphasizing evidence-based population research, clinical specialization classes, and practicums.
Evidence-based research coursework includes classes like “Applied Statistics for Evidence Based Practice” and “Principles of Epidemiology,” while APRN coursework features classes like “Advanced Physical Assessment/Diagnosis” and “Advanced Pathophysiology.” To graduate, you’ll be required to complete a DNP project that will synthesize the theoretical knowledge you’ve learned in the classroom with the real-time experiences you’ve had while completing your practicums.
The AGPCNP and FNP tracks can only be pursued on Robert Morris University’s campus in the Pittsburgh suburb of Moon River. However, you can choose to take the PMHNP track either on campus or online. If you’re enrolled in a campus-based program, your practicum experiences will be scheduled at one of the many excellent hospitals or primary care clinics in the Greater Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area. RMU’s online nurse practitioner students will be able to complete their clinical hours at a medical facility close to where they live.
Post-Master's Certificate Program Details: RMU’s 31-credit PMHNP post-master’s can be pursued at the university’s campus outside Pittsburgh or online using synchronous technology. Students who choose to complete the program on campus will attend class one day a week. This post-master’s nurse practitioner program in Pittsburgh entails 504 clinical hours, which distance-learning students will be able to complete at a healthcare facility close to where they live or work.
Scholarships & Financial Aid for Robert Morris University NP Students: Robert Morris University doesn’t offer many institutional graduate nursing scholarships, but its Student Financial Services Office will gladly provide you with information about external scholarships. If you submit a FAFSA form, you may also qualify for federal and state grants and loans.
Employment | |
1,840 | |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Work Setting |
Offices of Physicians |
General Medical & Surgical Hospitals |
Outpatient Care Centers |
Offices of Other Health Practitioners |
Home Health Care Services |
10-Year Job Outlook (2020-2030) | |
+32.69% | |
(Source: Careeronestop.org) |
Hourly | $37.89 |
Weekly | $1,516 |
Monthly | $6,570 |
Annual | $78,820 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Level of Experience | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
Entry-Level | $37.89 | $1,516 | $6,570 | $78,820 |
1-4 Years of Experience | $47.88 | $1,915 | $8,300 | $99,580 |
5-9 Years of Experience | $50.81 | $2,033 | $8,810 | $105,690 |
10-19 Years of Experience | $79.76 | $3,190 | $13,830 | $165,900 |
20 Years or More Experience | >$100.00 | >$4,000 | >$17,330 | >$208,000 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Hourly | $60.23 |
Weekly | $2,409 |
Monthly | $10,440 |
Annual | $125,270 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Average Pittsburgh NP Annual Salary | Average National NP Annual Salary | Difference | ||
Number | % | |||
$125,270 | $118,040 | +$7,230 | +6.13% | |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Average Pittsburgh NP Annual Salary | Average Pennsylvania NP Annual Salary | Difference | ||
Number | % | |||
$125,270 | $117,260 | +$8,010 | +6.83% | |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Metro | Average Annual Salary | Difference | ||
Number | % | |||
Pittsburgh | $125,270 | $0 | 0.00% | |
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $121,370 | +$3,900 | +3.21% | |
Reading | $119,650 | +$5,620 | +4.70% | |
Harrisburg-Carlisle | $117,200 | +$8,070 | +6.89% | |
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $115,550 | +$9,720 | +8.41% | |
Williamsport | $115,050 | +$10,220 | +8.88% | |
Bloomsburg-Berwick | $112,630 | +$12,640 | +11.22% | |
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton | $112,130 | +$13,140 | +11.72% | |
Lancaster | $111,030 | +$14,240 | +12.83% | |
York-Hanover | $110,890 | +$14,380 | +12.97% | |
Gettysburg | $110,500 | +$14,770 | +13.37% | |
Chambersburg-Waynesboro | $109,100 | +$16,170 | +14.82% | |
State College | $108,480 | +$16,790 | +15.48% | |
Erie | $107,500 | +$17,770 | +16.53% | |
Lebanon | $107,450 | +$17,820 | +16.58% | |
Altoona | $104,880 | +$20,390 | +19.44% | |
Johnstown | $99,690 | +$25,580 | +25.66% | |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Type of Nurse | Average Annual Salary | Difference | ||
Number | % | |||
Nurse Practitioner | $125,270 | $0 | 0.00% | |
Nurse Midwife | $106,130 | +$19,140 | +18.03% | |
Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary | $87,960 | +$37,310 | +42.42% | |
Registered Nurse | $73,170 | +$52,100 | +71.20% | |
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse | $49,330 | +$75,940 | +153.94% | |
Nursing Assistant | $34,080 | +$91,190 | +267.58% | |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
Job Title | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
Number | % | ||
Physician | $153,330 | -$28,060 | -18.30% |
Dentist | $137,580 | -$12,310 | -8.95% |
Podiatrist | $129,110 | -$3,840 | -2.97% |
Nurse Practitioner | $125,270 | $0 | 0.00% |
Pharmacist | $116,090 | +$9,180 | +7.91% |
Veterinarian | $115,380 | +$9,890 | +8.57% |
Optometrist | $114,690 | +$10,580 | +9.22% |
Physician Assistant | $105,280 | +$19,990 | +18.99% |
Physical Therapist | $89,590 | +$35,680 | +39.83% |
Speech-Language Pathologist | $80,750 | +$44,520 | +55.13% |
Occupational Therapist | $80,580 | +$44,690 | +55.46% |
Audiologist | $75,810 | +$49,460 | +65.24% |
Chiropractor | $70,560 | +$54,710 | +77.54% |
S.No. | Accrediting Agency |
1 | Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) |
2 | Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) |
4 |
$60.23 |
$10,440 |
$125,270 |
Reduced Practice |