4 Best WHNP Programs in Pennsylvania (Online & Campus) – 2025
Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org
Women’s health nurse practitioners care for female patients over the entirety of their lifespans, so their scope of practice is often much broader than the scope of practice for other nurse practitioners. Graduates of women's health nurse practitioner programs in Pennsylvania can expect their employment opportunities to rise by 33 percent within the next 10 years. WHNPs make excellent salaries, too; on average, they earn $117,970 annually. Does this sound like an exciting career path to you? Learn more about it by reading our list of the 4 best WHNP programs in Pennsylvania for 2025.
FOLLOWING ARE THE 4 BEST WHNP PROGRAMS IN PENNSYLVANIA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025
1. University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia
About the School: If you are a registered nurse who cares to make a difference in the health and well-being of women, then what better than advancing your career to become a women’s health NP. Among the best WHNP programs in Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania’s women’s health training can be a great place to start.
This WHNP school provides an enriching learning experience not only in the class but also outside the classroom. As a student, you will explore numerous learning opportunities through international experiences, service-learning trips, and professional activities. So, you may well find yourself serving the health needs of women in countries like India, Egypt, or New Zealand or being part of cancer screening in West Virginia, or simply getting involved in projects related to advocacy. Whatever your goal or passion may be, you will leave the college with exceptional skills in the promotion and maintenance of women's health and wellness.
MSN Program Details: This MSN-women’s health nurse practitioner program in Pennsylvania is available with part-time and full-time options. While the full-time program spans two years, most students who opt for the part-time schedule complete it within three years. The curriculum integrates well-designed didactic courses with excellent clinical experiences to equip students with practice-ready skills. The training prepares you to treat and manage a range of women-related health issues, such as pregnancy, contraception, menstruation, and menopause.
Also, the program trains you in complementary and alternative therapies that can be used to improve women’s health and well-being. Some of the courses that you take educate you on evidence-based practice, fetal evaluation, well women health care, healthcare of childbearing women, healthcare of women, and primary care.
2. Drexel University - Philadelphia
About the School: Drexel University offers one of the best WHNP programs in Pennsylvania that produce high-quality women’s health nurse practitioners who are committed to the health improvement of women from adolescence to post-menopause.
Here, you can complete your training through synchronous online classes. Also, the clinical training is imparted through the distance format, having clinical sites close to home. With an emphasis on practical application, the college provides ample opportunities for hands-on learning through its vast network of clinical affiliates. In addition, to facilitate personal interaction with faculty and peers, the college organizes a two-day on-campus intensive where learning is enhanced through simulated experiences. Ranked among the top online programs, the college’s women’s health NP program has understandably earned the U.S. News & World Report’s recognition for the top-notch quality education it provides.
MSN Program Details: To be eligible for this MSN-WHNP program in Pennsylvania, you must have a BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Also, you must have at least one year of nursing experience in women’s health. With this program, you can take more courses per quarter and complete the coursework faster, where each quarter is made of four weeks.
The 55-credit MSN coursework includes core courses, support courses, and clinical concentration courses. In addition to four clinical courses in the management and care of women’s health issues, the training also includes courses in advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, quality & safety in healthcare, and primary care for women’s health. As a graduate of this program, you will be prepared to care for women-related health issues in primary care settings as well as in women’s health specialty practices.
Post-Master’s Certificate Program Details: This WHNP program in Pennsylvania is a 37-credit coursework that takes around 1.5 years of part-time study. Courses are delivered through synchronous online classes with three on-campus visits required for intensives. When accepted into this program, you may be able to transfer credits from your MSN for which you must discuss this with the program coordinator. The program prepares you for primary care for women’s health and the management and care of various health conditions that are both, high-risk as well as low-risk. Upon graduation, you will be eligible to take the WHNP certification exam.
3. Thomas Jefferson University - Philadelphia
About the School: Do you see yourself as an advocate of women’s health? Are you aspiring to enroll in one of the well-known WHNP programs in Pennsylvania? If your answer is yes to both these questions then you may want to learn about Thomas Jefferson University. This nursing school is part of a leading academic health center and partners with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, a premier magnet hospital. As a WHNP student over here, this advantage can prove beneficial in terms of excellent clinical training and ample interdisciplinary learning experiences.
At Thomas Jefferson, the small-sized classes help in effective mentorship and nurturing of meaningful connections with faculty and peers. Whether you are an RN, have a BSN, or have a graduate nursing degree, there is a path out here to match your academic goals and aspirations. So, you may enter either the MSN, BSN to DNP, or post-graduate certificate, based on where you are in your journey of becoming a women’s health NP.
MSN Program Details: This MSN Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Program in Pennsylvania can serve to be a good option for becoming a competent WHNP. Taking around 2 to 5 years to complete, the coursework requires completing 36 credits post your BSN. The 12 courses that you must complete advance your nursing knowledge in health policy and ethical dimensions of practice, leadership & critical decision, health informatics, pathophysiology, and pharmacotherapeutics. Also, you master diagnostic reasoning and clinical decision-making for the health care of women.
To fulfill the graduation requirements, you are required to complete three clinical courses that equal 672 clinical hours. To graduate, most students take two classes each term, however, if you wish to complete the program faster, you can take more number classes per term.
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: If you are aspiring to become an agent of change in the area of women’s health then completing this BSN to DNP program will be your best bet. Not only will you graduate with a terminal nursing degree, but because you can take most courses online you can juggle your WHNP education with other life responsibilities. The program takes four to six years to complete, depending on whether you choose the full-time or part-time schedule. To graduate, you require completing 66 credits in graduate core, APRN core, WHNP-specific courses, and doctoral level coursework.
Post-Graduate Certificate Program Details: To expand your advanced nursing practice in women’s health, all you need to do is complete an 18-credit coursework through this post-master’s certificate. Ideal for RNs holding a master's or doctorate degree, this program is a fine blend of online and on-campus training. After completing the required courses in women’s health, you will be eligible to take the WHNP certification exam.
4. Carlow University - Pittsburgh
About the School: Are you a registered nurse who finds a calling in women’s health and wellness? If so, you can consider applying to either the MSN or post-master’s certificate program at Carlaw University. Known for producing high-quality women’s health nurse practitioners, the school’s graduates are playing significant roles in women’s healthcare, especially in obstetrics and gynecology care.
Here, with a strong foundation in evidence-based knowledge, you will not only be prepared to play leadership roles in women’s health practice across the nation but you will also be ready for doctoral studies, should you plan to advance your education in the future. Also, with options for online and on-campus study, you can choose a format of delivery based on your convenience.
MSN Program Details: One of the sought-after WHNP programs in Pennsylvania, this MSN program is a 49-credit curriculum that takes 28 months to complete. Based on your preferred pace of study, you can choose a part-time or full-time schedule. Open to BSN graduates with an active RN license, the college accepts applications throughout the year. Starting in the fall, to be eligible for application, you must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 and a minimum of one year of nursing bedside experience. In addition to the didactic courses, the college requires you to complete 600 clinical hours in rural and urban healthcare settings in the Pittsburg region.
The coursework starts with courses in pathophysiology, understanding of the role of an APRN, advanced physical assessment & diagnosis, ethical & legal healthcare issues, pharmacology, and quality & data analytics. The coursework then progresses to educating you on the treatment and management of chronic and acute health conditions in women. You also master concepts in health policy, health promotion of families, and professional transitions.
Post-Master’s Certificate Program Details: This post master’s women’s health nurse practitioner program in Pennsylvania will prepare you for the in-demand field of women’s health in as little as 27 months. The curriculum requires completing 35 credits, but the exact credit requirements will be individualized based on your previous transcripts. Also, the program entails completing around 600 clinical hours in both rural and urban practices. Upon completion of the program, you will be eligible to take the WHNP certification exam and practice as a women’s health nurse practitioner in a variety of healthcare settings.
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