2 Nurse Practitioner Programs in San Antonio, TX (Online & Campus) – 2025
Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Curious about what schools are offering NP programs in San Antonio, Texas? San Antonio is one of the poorest major metropolises in the U.S., so it should come as no surprise that nurse practitioners and other primary care providers are in high demand throughout the city and surrounding communities of Bexar County. Poverty rates, after all, are directly correlated with higher rates of chronic illnesses like diabetes, asthma, and mental health disturbances. Within the next decade, employment opportunities for NPs in Alamo City are expected to rise by 66 percent. Stay on this page for more information about the 2 nurse practitioner programs in San Antonio.
TOP 5 REASONS WHY SAN ANTONIO IS A GREAT PLACE TO PURSUE NP PROGRAMS
Historic San Antonio may be best known as the home of the Alamo, but the city has many other things going for it as well. Here are five reasons why San Antonio, Texas, is a wonderful place to pursue a nurse practitioner degree.
1. Cost of living:
San Antonio’s cost of living is significantly lower than the national average. Everything from housing and groceries to healthcare and eating out costs less. This means a student nurse practitioner’s budget is likely to go further. And Texas is a no-income-tax state, so if you work part-time while enrolled in NP school, your paycheck will be larger.
2. Affordable housing:
Whether you invest in a home or rent one while you’re enrolled in nurse practitioner programs in San Antonio, housing will be comparatively affordable. The median price of a home in San Antonio is roughly 30 percent less than that of homes nationwide. Rents are cheaper, too, in Alamo City.
3. Weather:
Do you like sunshine? Then San Antonio is the place for you: On average, Alamo City gets 300 days of sunshine a year. Temps rarely sink below 50° Fahrenheit in the winter, and they top out at around 85° Fahrenheit in the summer. As a nurse practitioner in training, the weather will never keep you from participating in clinical rotations.
4. A youthful and friendly population:
As a young professional going back to nurse practitioner school after working professionally for a few years, you’ll meet lots of people in your age cohort. The average age of Alamo City’s residents is 34.
5. Booming job market:
San Antonio has a low unemployment rate and a thriving economy. San Antonio’s workers are interested in taking advantage of the types of primary healthcare services that nurse practitioners provide.
HOW LONG ARE NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN SAN ANTONIO?
Becoming a nurse practitioner in San Antonio may take anywhere from 18 months to three years if you enroll full-time in an NP program. The actual length of the program will depend upon whether you attend a BSN-to-DNP program or whether you’ve completed a graduate nursing degree and you’re able to enroll in a certificate program.
Full-time students will be able to complete
the BSN-to-DNP/nurse practitioner programs at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio in three years (nine semesters.) However, it will only take you
five semesters (approximately 18 months) to graduate from one of the University of the Incarnate Word’s certificate programs.
HOW MUCH DO NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN SAN ANTONIO COST?
NP programs in San Antonio can cost anywhere between roughly $15,000 to approximately $75,460, depending on your degree program. Public universities are typically less expensive than private universities.
UT Health San Antonio is a public university.
Its NP certificate program costs approximately $15,000 while its BSN-to-DNP program costs approximately $42,130. In contrast,
the University of the Incarnate Word’s BSN-to-DNP program costs around $25,000, and its BSN-to-DNP program costs around $75,460.
WHAT ARE THE BEST NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN SAN ANTONIO, TX (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?
(Based on our
ranking methodology, the following are the 2 NP programs in San Antonio, Texas (Online & Campus) for the year 2025.)
1. University Of Texas Health Science Center
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and
Post-Graduate Certificate
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care
Post-Graduate Certificate Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
About the School: The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is one of the chief catalysts behind San Antonio’s thriving $42.4 billion health care and biosciences sector. UT Health San Antonio offers four nurse practitioner concentrations in conjunction with its BSN-to-DNP track: an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration, a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration, a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentration, and a Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioners concentration.
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: UT Health San Antonio’s BSN-to-DNP degree is an Advanced Practice Leadership and Public Health program. All four nurse practitioner concentrations involve 76 credits and more than 1,000 clinical hours. You’ll spend a minimum of 360 clinical hours on your DNP project and 720 advanced practice clinical hours.
These nurse practitioner programs in San Antonio are delivered in a hybrid format. Though students can access much of their coursework online, they must attend campus classes one to three days a week. Your studies will culminate with a DNP project designed to test your ability to translate evidence into practice.
The BSN-to-DNP curriculum is divided between DNP core classes and classes that pertain more specifically to the skills needed in each of the NP concentrations. Core DNP classes include “Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice,” “Science of Knowledge Translation and Implementation I & II,” and “Healthcare Economics And Policy.” NP specialty classes include “Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Diagnosis & Management: Concepts & Theory 1, 2, & 3,” “Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Diagnosis and Management: Concepts & Theory 1, 2, & 3,” “Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Diagnosis and Management: Concepts & Theory 1, 2, & 3,” and “Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care (PNP-PC) Diagnosis and Management: Concepts & Theory 1, 2, & 3.”
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio maintains relationships with more than 400 partners for clinical rotations within a 60-mile radius of the campus. Clinical partners include acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, ambulatory clinics, community-based senior centers, schools, residential treatment centers, faith-based outreach ministries, physician offices, and migrant and rural clinics.
BSN-to-DNP Program Length: All UT Health San Antonio’s NP concentrations begin in the fall. It will take you three years (nine semesters) to complete this nurse practitioner program in San Antonio if you enroll full-time and five years (15 semesters) if you enroll part-time.
BSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: You must have a BSN from an accredited program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. This program only accepts applicants with RN licensure in Texas or a compact state. You’ll need to submit three professional references, a resume or curriculum vitae, and an admission essay along with your application.
Post-Graduate Certificate Program Details: UT Health San Antonio’s nurse practitioner post-graduate certificates are designed for MSN-prepared APRNs who want a second specialization. Each 28-credit NP certificate curriculum essentially reduplicates the specialty portion of the BSN-to-DNP NP curricula. The FNP certificate involves 660 clinical hours.
The School of Nursing will do a gap analysis to determine if you have taken coursework in the past that can be applied to this educational track. Still, you must complete at least 15 credits at UT Health San Antonio to graduate. Courses are taught in a hybrid format that combines classroom learning with distance learning.
Post-Graduate Certificate Program Length: You’ll be able to complete this certificate in two years. All classes begin in the fall semester.
Post-Graduate Certificate Admission Requirements: Applicants must have a Master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program and a minimum average of 3.0 or higher in their last 60 credits of academic work. You must be a licensed RN in Texas or a compact state.
Scholarships & Financial Aid for University Of Texas Health Science Center NP Students: UT Health San Antonio administers more than 100 nursing scholarships, some of which graduate nursing students are eligible for. You may also qualify for federal grants and loans depending upon the information you submit in your FAFSA form.
Interesting Highlights About University Of Texas Health Science Center NP School
•
U.S. News & World Report ranks UT Health San Antonio’s DNP program the 67th best in the nation.
• The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio awarded 19 DNP degrees in 2021.
• UT Health San Antonio also offers an MSN-to-DNP program.
• The U.S. Department of Education has designated UT Health San Antonio as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.
2. University Of The Incarnate Word
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and
Post-Graduate Certificate
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Post-Graduate Certificate Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
About the School: The University of the Incarnate Word is the largest Catholic university in the Lone Star State. While the university welcomes students from all different religious backgrounds and Catholic tenets aren’t reflected in course materials, traditional core values such as faith and service influence teaching methods.
The Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions at UIW offers two nurse practitioner tracks in association with its BSN-to-DNP program and its post-graduate certificate program: a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration and a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program.
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: The 77-credit FNP concentration involves 1,152 clinical hours, while the 76-credit PMHNP concentration entails 1,216 clinical hours. Coursework for both concentrations includes DNP core classes as well as courses that pertain specifically to the NP concentration.
Core DNP classes include “Nursing Theory for Advanced Practice,” “Research for Evidence-based Practice,” and “Statistics for Nursing Research and Evidence-based Practice.” NP-specific courses include “PMHNP I, II, & III: Diagnosis & Management” and “FNP 1, 2, 3, & 4.”
This NP program in San Antonio employs a hybrid format. You’ll attend classes on the University of the Incarnate Word campus for one full day on the first and third weeks of the month, but the rest of the time, your coursework will be delivered via a distance learning platform using a combination of synchronous and asynchronous technology.
The University of the Incarnate Word’s nurse practitioner curriculum culminates with a scholarly DNP project that implements research designed to advance the nursing profession and improve patient health outcomes.
BSN-to-DNP Program Length: Both the FNP and PMHNP concentrations admit students in the spring semester. You should be able to finish these NP programs in San Antonio in three years (nine semesters.)
BSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: You must have a baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 2.75. This program only admits RNs with active, unencumbered licenses from Texas or a compact state. You’ll also need three professional references. Preference is given to applicants with two or more years of professional experience.
Post-Graduate Certificate Program Details: The FNP and PMHNP certificate programs include the NP components of the BSN-to-DNP program. The FNP certificate entails 22 to 25 credits and 512 clinical hours, while the PMHNP certificate involves 19 to 22 credits and 512 clinical hours.
You’ll be required to attend classes on campus for one entire day during the first and third weeks of the month, but otherwise, all your classwork will be delivered online. Every effort will be made to schedule your clinical rotations close to your home.
Post-Graduate Certificate Program Length: You should be able to complete this NP certificate in a little more than a year and a half (five semesters.) Both certificates begin classes in the spring semester.
Post-Graduate Certificate Admission Requirements: You’ll need an MSN or a DNP from an accredited nursing program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or more. This program only admits RNs with licensure in Texas or a compact state. You’ll need to submit three professional references. The Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions prefers to admit students into this program who have two or more years of professional experience.
You must have completed the prerequisite courses—“Advanced Health Assessment,” “Advanced Pharmacology,” and “Advanced Pathophysiology”—within the past five years, or you will be required to retake them.
Scholarships & Financial Aid for University Of The Incarnate Word NP Students: The University of the Incarnate Word administers more than 30 scholarships specifically for nursing students. Graduate nursing students qualify to apply for some of these. You may also be eligible for federal grants and loans based on the information you submit in your FAFSA form.
Interesting Highlights About University Of The Incarnate Word NP School
• The University of the Incarnate Word’s DNP/PMHNP program is the only doctorate-level psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program in Texas.
• The University of the Incarnate Word has the 114th-best DNP program in the nation, according to
U.S. News & World Report.
• In 2021, the University of the Incarnate Word awarded 16 Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees.
• The University of the Incarnate Word also has an MSN-to-DNP program.
VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY
CAREER INFORMATION FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
HOW MANY NURSE PRACTITIONERS ARE THERE IN SAN ANTONIO?
Some 1,890 nurse practitioners are employed in the Greater San Antonio Metropolitan Region.
Employment |
1,890 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
WHERE DO NURSE PRACTITIONERS WORK IN SAN ANTONIO?
San Antonio-based nurse practitioners work in various practice settings, including hospitals, clinics, government organizations, physicians’ practices, home healthcare agencies, and community healthcare centers.
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 SAN ANTONIO?
Demand for the services provided by NPs is strong in San Antonio. Within the next 10 years, employment opportunities for these professionals are expected to surge by 66 percent.
10-Year Job Outlook (2020-2030) |
+65.99% |
(Source: Careeronestop.org) |
HOW MUCH DO NURSE PRACTITIONERS MAKE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS?
WHAT STARTING SALARY CAN NEW GRADUATES OF NP PROGRAMS IN SAN ANTONIO EXPECT?
In San Antonio, entry-level nurse practitioners can expect to earn $45.45 an hour, $1,818 a week, $7,880 a month, or $94,540 a year.
Hourly | $45.45 |
Weekly | $1,818 |
Monthly | $7,880 |
Annual | $94,540 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
HOW MUCH CAN GRADUATES OF NP PROGRAMS IN SAN ANTONIO EARN WITH EXPERIENCE?
The more experience a San Antonio-based NP has, the more they can expect to earn. Nurse practitioners with one to four years of experience make 6 percent more than new graduates of nurse practitioner programs in San Antonio. NPs with 10 to 19 years of experience earn 36 percent more while NPs with two decades or more experience earn 62 percent more.
Level of Experience | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
Entry-Level | $45.45 | $1,818 | $7,880 | $94,540 |
1-4 Years of Experience | $48.17 | $1,927 | $8,350 | $100,190 |
5-9 Years of Experience | $58.22 | $2,329 | $10,090 | $121,090 |
10-19 Years of Experience | $61.69 | $2,468 | $10,690 | $128,320 |
20 Years or More Experience | $73.61 | $2,944 | $12,760 | $153,110 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE NURSE PRACTITIONER SALARY IN SAN ANTONIO?
On average, nurse practitioners employed in the San Antonio area earn $117,640 annually. This works out to $56.56 an hour, $2,262 a week, $9,800 a month, or $117,640 a year. Nurse practitioners typically hit this milestone in their eighth year of professional practice.
Hourly | $56.56 |
Weekly | $2,262 |
Monthly | $9,800 |
Annual | $117,640 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
NURSE PRACTITIONER SALARY IN SAN ANTONIO VS. OTHER SALARIES
NP SALARY IN SAN ANTONIO VS. NP SALARY IN THE NATION
On average, nurse practitioners’ salaries in San Antonio ($117,640 annually) are only fractionally less than they are in the United States as a whole ($118,040.)
Average San Antonio NP Annual Salary | Average National NP Annual Salary | Difference |
Number | % |
$117,640 | $118,040 | -$400 | -0.34% |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
NP SALARY IN SAN ANTONIO VS. NP SALARY IN TEXAS
The average salary that nurse practitioners make in San Antonio is slightly less than the average salary nurse practitioners make throughout the Lone Star State.
Average San Antonio NP Annual Salary | Average Texas NP Annual Salary | Difference |
Number | % |
$117,640 | $117,890 | -$250 | -0.21% |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
NP SALARY IN SAN ANTONIO VS. NP SALARIES IN OTHER TEXAS CITIES
When it comes to NP salaries, San Antonio is one of the better cities in Texas. While nurse practitioners in Alamo City earn 5 percent less than they do in Houston, they earn 2 percent more than NPs in Dallas/Fort Worth and 11 percent more than NPs earn in Amarillo.
Metro | Average Annual Salary | Difference |
Number | % |
Wichita Falls | $125,820 | -8,180 | -6.50% |
Midland | $125,190 | -7,550 | -6.03% |
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land | $123,810 | -6,170 | -4.98% |
Texarkana | $122,570 | -4,930 | -4.02% |
Austin-Round Rock | $120,850 | -3,210 | -2.66% |
Corpus Christi | $118,330 | -690 | -0.58% |
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $117,830 | -190 | -0.16% |
San Antonio-New Braunfels | $117,640 | 0 | 0.00% |
Tyler | $117,470 | +170 | +0.14% |
Victoria | $116,560 | +1,080 | +0.93% |
Sherman-Denison | $116,020 | +1,620 | +1.40% |
Laredo | $115,900 | +1,740 | +1.50% |
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $115,510 | +2,130 | +1.84% |
Brownsville-Harlingen | $114,750 | +2,890 | +2.52% |
Beaumont-Port Arthur | $114,500 | +3,140 | +2.74% |
Odessa | $113,540 | +4,100 | +3.61% |
Killeen-Temple | $112,980 | +4,660 | +4.12% |
El Paso | $112,750 | +4,890 | +4.34% |
Abilene | $112,670 | +4,970 | +4.41% |
San Angelo | $111,660 | +5,980 | +5.36% |
Waco | $110,090 | +7,550 | +6.86% |
Lubbock | $108,290 | +9,350 | +8.63% |
Longview | $107,730 | +9,910 | +9.20% |
Amarillo | $106,250 | +11,390 | +10.72% |
College Station-Bryan | $100,090 | +17,550 | +17.53% |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
NP SALARY IN SAN ANTONIO VS. OTHER NURSE SALARIES IN SAN ANTONIO
Graduates of NP programs in San Antonio make 50 percent more than registered nurses who have not pursued APRN degrees and nearly three times as much as nursing instructors.
Type of Nurse | Average Annual Salary | Difference |
Number | % |
Nurse Practitioner | $117,640 | $0 | 0.00% |
Registered Nurse | $78,870 | +$38,770 | +49.16% |
Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary | $71,810 | +$45,830 | +63.82% |
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse | $51,330 | +$66,310 | +129.18% |
Nursing Assistant | $30,870 | +$86,770 | +281.08% |
NP SALARY IN SAN ANTONIO VS. SALARIES OF OTHER CLOSELY RELATED OCCUPATIONS IN SAN ANTONIO
Nurse practitioners in San Antonio make 4 percent less than physician assistants even though their scope of practice is not that different from a PA’s scope of practice. NPs make more than 50 percent less than physicians and nearly 30 percent less than podiatrists. On the other hand, NPs make 18 percent more than physical therapists and 24 percent more than chiropractors.
Job Title | Average Annual Salary | Difference |
Number | % |
Physician | $250,630 | -$132,990 | -53.06% |
Podiatrist | $167,480 | -$49,840 | -29.76% |
Optometrist | $150,890 | -$33,250 | -22.04% |
Dentist | $147,630 | -$29,990 | -20.31% |
Pharmacist | $129,320 | -$11,680 | -9.03% |
Physician Assistant | $122,860 | -$5,220 | -4.25% |
Veterinarian | $118,420 | -$780 | -0.66% |
Nurse Practitioner | $117,640 | $0 | 0.00% |
Physical Therapist | $99,630 | +$18,010 | +18.08% |
Chiropractor | $94,870 | +$22,770 | +24.00% |
Occupational Therapist | $93,130 | +$24,510 | +26.32% |
Audiologist | $89,290 | +$28,350 | +31.75% |
Speech-Language Pathologist | $85,150 | +$32,490 | +38.16% |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY OUR EXPERT
1. Who Accredits Nurse Practitioner Programs In San Antonio?
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) are the two organizations that accredit nurse practitioner programs in San Antonio.
2. How Many Accredited Nurse Practitioner Schools Are There In San Antonio?
San Antonio has two nurse practitioner programs: the University of Texas Health Science Center and the University of the Incarnate Word.
3. On Average, How Long Does It Take To Become A Nurse Practitioner In San Antonio?
It will take anywhere between 18 months to three years to become a nurse practitioner in San Antonio, depending on whether you pursue an NP certificate or a BSN-to-DNP program.
4. On Average, How Much Do NP Programs Cost In San Antonio?
Nurse practitioner programs in San Antonio range in cost from roughly $15,000 to $75,000, depending on the academic pathway with which they’re paired.
5. How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make Per Hour In San Antonio?
On average, nurse practitioners in San Antonio earn $56.56 per hour.
6. How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make Per Month In San Antonio?
On average, nurse practitioners in San Antonio earn $9,800 per month.
7. How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make Per Year In San Antonio?
On average, nurse practitioners in San Antonio earn $117,640 per year.
8. Are Nurse Practitioners In Demand In San Antonio?
Nurse practitioners are in high demand in San Antonio and surrounding communities in Bexar County. Employment opportunities for NPs are projected to increase by 66 percent in the coming decade.
9. Can Nurse Practitioners Practice Independently In San Antonio?
No, nurse practitioners cannot practice independently in San Antonio. San Antonio is in Texas, where NPs are required to practice under the supervision of a physician whose own office is no more than 75 miles distant from the NP’s practice.
10. Can Nurse Practitioners Prescribe Medications In San Antonio?
Nurse practitioners are only allowed to prescribe medications in San Antonio under a physician’s oversight. They are not allowed to prescribe Schedule 2 drugs.
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: Texas
Nearby Cities:
Nearby States:
Popular Related Articles