Most important takeaways…
- Scranton-area nurses can access FNP, PMHNP, AGNP, and other NP specialties through online and hybrid formats from Pennsylvania schools.
- Annual graduate tuition ranges from roughly $13,000 at public universities to over $30,000 at private institutions in the region.
- Most MSN programs take two to three years part time, while BSN-to-DNP tracks typically require three to four years.
- Clinical placements are available at regional health systems across Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, and the Poconos corridor.
Geisinger, Commonwealth Health, and the regional Lehigh Valley network anchor northeastern Pennsylvania's healthcare workforce, and Scranton sits at the center of that corridor. For working nurses here, the practical challenge is matching the right NP specialty, degree level, and program format to a schedule that already revolves around 12-hour shifts. Options range from fully online MSN and DNP tracks at large state universities to hybrid programs at smaller colleges in Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, and the Poconos, each with different tuition structures, clinical placement expectations, and timelines.
Pennsylvania's shift toward full practice authority legislation adds urgency to the decision, as the credential you choose now will shape your scope of practice for years to come.
Top-Ranked NP Programs in the Scranton Metro Area
Scranton is not a city with dozens of NP programs, but the schools within a reasonable drive or a manageable online schedule cover every major population focus. The list below is ordered with this region in mind, starting with the campus inside the city and moving outward to the Pennsylvania institutions that let nurses complete clinical hours near home. Where graduation and retention numbers appear, remember that they describe the whole institution, not its nurse practitioner track.
Factors considered
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- Earnings ten years after entry
- In-state and out-of-state cost
- Specialty and degree breadth
- Delivery format flexibility
- Program-level records maintained in house
- Independent editorial research
- National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) — nces.ed.gov
- State cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities — bea.gov
- Federal College Scorecard outcomes data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
University of Scranton
The University of Scranton is the only NP provider inside the city itself, and its family and psychiatric mental health tracks are built around working nurses who cannot relocate. Core courses are delivered online with weekly on-campus specialty classes, and faculty secure clinical placements close to where students live. The university reports a 100% first-time FNP certification pass rate and job placement above 90% within six months. Institution-wide graduation and earnings figures describe the university as a whole rather than the NP tracks.
- 36 credit hours completed in 21 months full time
- Hybrid format: online core courses plus weekly on-campus classes
- Faculty-secured clinical placements close to students' homes
- Clinical practicum two days a week across four semesters
- Reported 100% first-time FNP certification pass rate
- More than 90% job placement within six months of graduation
- $26,055 total program tuition, or $965 per credit
- 27 credit hours over 21 months
- Synchronous online classes with two on-campus intensives
- Rolling admissions with fall and spring starts
- Reported 100% licensure pass rate and 95% job placement
- Guthrie Clinic listed among employers of graduates
- 42 credit hours in 21 months full time
- 750 clinical practicum hours
- Online coursework with on-campus intensives
- Part-time study option available
- Fall semester start; prepares for national certification
- Post-master's certificate option also offered
- 33 credit hours over 21 months
- $965 per credit
- Hybrid online and on-campus format
- Prepares for the ANCC certification exam
- Requires a master's degree in nursing
- Focus on medication management and lifespan mental health
Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN — Hybrid
Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master's Certificate — Online
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, MSN — Hybrid
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master's Certificate — Hybrid
Pennsylvania State University
Penn State offers the broadest specialty menu among Pennsylvania's public universities: doctoral tracks in family, adult gerontology primary care, adult gerontology acute care, and psychiatric mental health, plus a stand-alone adult gerontology primary care certificate. Courses are hybrid or online, and the nursing school arranges clinical placements close to students' home communities, which matters for nurses in the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre area. In-state tuition keeps costs well below the private schools on this list, and most programs carry CCNE accreditation.
- 17 total credit hours
- Requires a master's degree in nursing
- Includes didactic courses and clinical practicums
- Offered at University Park and through World Campus
- Prerequisite courses required before admission
- CCNE accredited
- Hybrid delivery
- Three advanced practice options within the graduate program
- Faculty and graduate advisers assigned to each student
- International study opportunities available
- Four concentration options
- Eight semesters across three years
- No entrance exam required; test optional
- More than 700 clinical partners worldwide
- Clinical placements arranged close to home
- Military benefits, scholarships, and financial aid available
- 61 total credit hours
- About 1,181 post-BSN practicum hours
- Three-year plan of study over eight semesters
- Covers individual and family psychotherapy
- Includes cognitive behavioral therapy and substance use content
- Practicum may be completed at your current workplace
- Eight-semester part-time plan of study
- Rolling admissions with priority deadlines
- Clinicals completed close to home
- Prepares for national NP certification
- Military benefits and scholarships available
- Four concentration options
- Three-year program across eight semesters
- Two years of acute care experience required
- Interview, writing sample, and resume required
- Hybrid online and in-person learning
- No entrance exam required
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate — Hybrid
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, MSN — Hybrid
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner — Hybrid
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner — Hybrid
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner — Hybrid
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner — Online
Immaculata University
Immaculata is the price leader here, with per-credit tuition well below the large private universities and a part-time pace that fits a full hospital schedule. The family nurse practitioner MSN covers 44 credits and 825 clinical hours over about two and a half years, while a post-master's certificate route lets experienced nurses fill knowledge gaps in as little as one year. Instruction is hybrid, with some face-to-face sessions in late afternoons on the suburban Philadelphia campus, so commuting is occasional rather than daily.
- 44 credit hours over about 2.5 years part time
- $730 per credit for 2025-26
- 825 clinical hours
- No GRE required; 3.0 GPA preferred
- Hybrid format with synchronous and asynchronous courses
- $710 per credit
- 11 to 35 credits, depending on gap analysis
- Finish in as little as one year
- Late-afternoon face-to-face instruction on campus
- Prepares for CRNP certification in Pennsylvania
Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN — Hybrid
Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master's Certificate — Hybrid
University of Pennsylvania
Penn Nursing carries the deepest specialty menu in the state, spanning adult gerontology primary and acute care, pediatric primary care, neonatal, women's health, and psychiatric mental health, along with a streamlined post-graduate acute care certificate. Clinical training is tied to the Penn Medicine and CHOP systems, so students see high-acuity hospital cases that smaller programs cannot match. The trade-off is price: per-credit tuition is the highest in this group, and several tracks are campus based rather than online.
- 12 course units in a hybrid format
- Concentration options include cardiology, trauma, and transplant
- Immersive simulation technology and mentored clinical experience
- Minor options include oncology and palliative care
- General surgery concentration with preceptor matching
- Full-time and part-time options
- APRN Consensus Model compliant curriculum
- Post-graduate certificate route for primary care NPs
- Internal medicine concentration
- Summer or fall start dates
- Mentored clinical experience with preceptor matching
- Research methods and evidence-based practice coursework
- Online, part-time 12-month program
- Year-round start semesters
- Requires a BSN and MSN with a 3.0 GPA
- RN and APRN licensure plus three months of experience
- Total cost is approximately $7,178 per credit unit
- Full-time and part-time options
- Summer, fall, and spring start terms
- Clinical preceptorships with case studies
- Focus on acute and chronic health management
- Two to three year program length
- Two years of NICU experience required
- Clinical placements in the Penn Medicine network
- Total cost around $90,000 to $96,000
- Two-year program with full-time and part-time options
- Six clinical courses taken together
- Well-child and sick exam training
- Research methods course included
- 14 months full time, three years part time
- Hybrid format with weekly small group seminars
- Three-semester clinical practicum
- Total cost around $103,500 to $105,800
- 14 months full time, two or three years part time
- Some courses online or hybrid
- Eligible for dual certification
- Total cost $96,637 to $102,475
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, MSN — Hybrid
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, MSN, General Surgery Concentration — Hybrid
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, MSN, Internal Medicine Concentration — Hybrid
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate — Online
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, MSN — On-Campus
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, MSN — On-Campus
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, MSN — On-Campus
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Master's — Hybrid
Women's Health/Gender-Related Nurse Practitioner, Master's — On-Campus
Villanova University
Villanova runs a focused set of CCNE-accredited MSN tracks and matching post-master's certificates in family, adult gerontology primary care, pediatric, and psychiatric mental health. Core coursework is online while clinical hours are completed in person, and the school reports securing placements in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Several tracks feed into a post-master's DNP, so graduates can extend their education without starting over.
- 47 credit hours with core courses online
- Clinical placement secured in PA, NJ, and DE
- Care for patients across the lifespan
- Option to continue into the post-master's DNP
- 25 to 35 credit hours
- 730 clinical hours required
- Complete in as little as 1.5 years, up to five
- Hybrid: support courses online, clinical courses on site
- 47 credit hours and 600 clinical hours
- School secures clinical placement
- Across-lifespan psychiatric care
- Evidence-based therapy focus
- 25 to 35 credit hours
- 600 clinical hours
- 1.5 year minimum, five year maximum
- Physician and NP preceptors at partner agencies
- 47 credit hours
- Core courses online, clinical courses in person
- Clinical placement in PA, NJ, and DE
- Option to continue into the DNP program
- 25 to 35 credit hours
- 730 clinical hours
- 1.5 year minimum, five year maximum completion
- Transfer credits accepted
- 47 credit hours
- Prepares for pediatric primary care practice
- Clinical placement secured in PA, NJ, and DE
- Option to continue in the post-master's DNP
Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN — Hybrid
Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master's Certificate — Hybrid
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, MSN — Hybrid
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master's Certificate — Hybrid
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, MSN — Hybrid
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Post-Master's Certificate — Hybrid
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, MSN — Hybrid
Thomas Jefferson University
Jefferson is a certificate powerhouse, with short post-graduate programs for nurses who already hold an MSN or DNP and want to add a new population focus. Offerings span family, adult gerontology primary and acute care, pediatric primary care, psychiatric mental health, and women's health, with a BSN to DNP route running alongside them. Certificates run about 18 to 36 credits, which is often faster and less expensive than earning a second master's degree.
- 18 credit hours
- Hybrid format based at the Center City campus
- Prepares for the CPNP-PC exam
- For master's or doctoral prepared nurses
- 18-credit graduate certificate
- Hybrid with online coursework
- Prepares for ANCC and AANPCB exams
- Credit for prior experience possible
- 36 credits
- Training in substance use disorders
- Clinical opportunities across the lifespan
- Leads to the PMHNP-BC credential
- 27 credit graduate certificate
- Prepares for ANCC and AACN certification
- For master's or doctoral prepared nurses
- Credit possible through portfolio review
- 18 credit hours
- Hybrid online format
- Prepares for ANCC and AANPCB certification
- Outpatient primary care focus
- 45 credit hours; complete in 2 to 5 years
- Prepares for CPNP-PC certification
- Hybrid online and on-campus format
- 45 credit hours; complete in 2 to 5 years
- Two certification options: ANCC or AANPCB
- Hybrid format with Center City and Dixon campuses
- 45 credit hours; complete in 2 to 5 years
- Prepares for the NCC certification exam
- Campus options in Center City and Dixon
- Women's health care across the lifespan
- BSN to DNP direct entry
- Seven concentration options
- Complete in 4 to 6 years
- MSN awarded mid-program
- Outcomes aligned with AACN Essentials
- 45 credit hours; complete in 2 to 5 years
- Online delivery
- Prepares for ANCC and AACN certification
- Focus on high acuity care
- 45 total program credits
- Hybrid format at the Center City campus
- Prepares for national certification
- 2 to 5 year completion timeframe
Post-Graduate Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate — Hybrid
Post-Graduate Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate — Hybrid
Post-Graduate Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate — Hybrid
Post-Graduate Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate — On-Campus
Post-Graduate Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate — Hybrid
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, MSN — Hybrid
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, MSN — Hybrid
Women's Health/Gender-Related Nurse Practitioner, MSN — Hybrid
Doctor of Nursing Practice, BSN to DNP with Adult Gerontology Primary Care Concentration — Hybrid
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, MSN — Online
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, MSN — On-Campus
Drexel University
Drexel leans hardest into distance learning, with several NP master's tracks and certificates taught online and paired with mandatory on-campus intensives. The catalog covers family with an emergency specialization, adult gerontology primary and acute care, pediatric primary care and a dual primary/acute option, women's health, and psychiatric mental health. Students generally arrange their own clinical sites near home, which suits nurses who want to stay in Northeastern Pennsylvania for practicum hours.
- 62 credit hours and about 1,000 clinical hours
- Eligible for dual primary and acute care certification
- Mandatory on-campus intensives
- Average duration of about four years
- $1,169 per credit for the online option
- State-of-the-art simulation lab
- 52 total credit hours
- $1,169 per credit
- Three-year part-time program
- Synchronous online classes
- Reported 100% licensure pass rate
- On-campus intensives required
- 52 total credit hours and 640 clinical hours
- Quarter calendar system
- Mandatory on-campus intensives
- Simulation lab with faculty mentoring
- Eligible for AANP and ANCC certification
- Cares for patients aged 13 and older
- 57 credit hours and 800 clinical hours
- Synchronous online lectures
- Two years of acute care experience required
- Mandatory on-campus intensives
- Eligible for ANCC and AACN certification
- State-of-the-art simulation lab
- Online family NP track with emergency specialization
- Eligible for two certification exams
- One to two years of emergency experience required
- Mandatory on-campus intensive sessions
- Reported 100% board exam pass rate
- 34 credits, about two years part time
- Hybrid online and campus format
- One year of psychiatric nursing experience required
- Students locate their own clinical sites
- Eligible for ANCC certification
- CCNE accredited
- 37 credits, about 1.5 years part time
- Online delivery with optional on-campus intensives
- Clinical preceptorships arranged near home
- Eligible for NCC certification
- No standardized tests required
- 29 credits, about one year part time
- Online with mandatory on-campus intensives
- 3.5 GPA admission requirement
- 800 clinical hours for some students
- Eligible for ANCC certification
- Master's degree required
MSN Pediatric Primary Care and Pediatric Acute Care Dual Option Nurse Practitioner — Online
MSN Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner — Online
MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner — Hybrid
MSN Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner — Online
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner with Emergency Specialization — Online
Post-Master's Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner — Hybrid
Post-Master's Certificate in Women's Health/Gender-Related Nurse Practitioner — Online
Post-Graduate Certificate in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner — Online
Temple University
Temple's DNP in adult gerontology primary care is the most affordable doctoral option here for Pennsylvania residents, with in-state tuition far below the private universities. The program is hybrid, combining synchronous online evening classes with clinical work, and it carries the university's urban health mission into primary care settings. Admissions are test optional, and students can choose a three-year full-time or four-year part-time plan.
- 68 total credit hours over three years
- Post-BSN and post-master's entry points
- 1,000 clinical hours and a capstone DNP project
- No entrance exam required; test optional
- Synchronous online classes with in-person clinicals
- Full-time (3 years) or part-time (4 years) plans
- Up to three start dates per year
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner — Hybrid
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh
Pitt covers nearly every population focus at the doctoral level, from family and adult gerontology primary and acute care to pediatric primary care and psychiatric mental health. It also offers post-graduate certificates for NPs who want to cross into acute care, including a pediatric acute care certificate with clinical placements provided. Distance and hybrid formats let students attend class from home while completing clinical work locally, and several programs qualify graduates for CRNP licensure in Pennsylvania.
- 18 to 21 total credits
- 500 to 600 clinical hours
- Clinical placements provided by the program
- Full-time or part-time options
- Spring and summer courses
- Non-degree graduate certificate
- For MSN or DNP prepared nurses
- Expands practice into acute care settings
- Prepares for national certification
- BSN to DNP and MSN to DNP pathways
- Onsite campus in Pittsburgh with some remote courses
- Prepares for Pediatric Nursing Certification Board exams
- Emphasis on developmental health assessment
- 88 total credit hours
- Emphasis on chronic conditions and multimorbidity
- DNP scholarly project required
- Prepares for ANCC or AANPCB certification
- 41 total credit hours
- Designed for MSN-prepared nurse practitioners
- Online and onsite options
- Synchronous distance education available
- Covers adolescent through older adult health
- 79 total credit hours
- 1,020 clinical hours
- Prepares for ANCC or AACN certification
- Eligible for CRNP licensure in Pennsylvania
- Clinical emphasis directed study
- CCNE accredited through 2034
- Six concentration options
- Distance education option available
- Scholarly DNP project required
- 92 total credit hours
- Eligible for national certification
- Eligible for CRNP licensure
- Two pathways to the degree
- 89 total credit hours
- Full-time enrollment with synchronous online classes
- Prepares for ANCC certification
- CRNP certification with prescriptive authority
- DNP scholarly project, portfolio, and clinical exam required
Post-Graduate Certificate in Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner — On-Campus
Post-Graduate Certificate in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner — On-Campus
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (BSN to DNP) — On-Campus
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner — On-Campus
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (Post-Master's) — Online
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner — Hybrid
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner — Hybrid
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner (BSN to DNP) — Online
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (BSN to DNP) — Hybrid
Saint Francis University
Saint Francis University is a small private school in Loretto whose family nurse practitioner certificate is designed for nurses already working full time. The hybrid format pairs online coursework with in-person residency days and supervised clinical hours, and applicants do not need a GRE or GMAT. Rolling admissions and the option to transfer up to nine credits make it easy to start mid-career.
- Hybrid online coursework with in-person residency days
- No GRE or GMAT required
- Minimum 3.0 GPA plus RN license and experience
- Transfer up to nine credits
- Courses run 7 to 15 weeks
- Rolling admissions; 500 to 700 word essay required
Post-Master's Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner — Hybrid
NP Specialties Available Near Scranton
Which nurse practitioner specialties can you study without leaving the Scranton region? The answer depends on whether you're willing to pursue a hybrid or online format alongside traditional on-campus tracks.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Family nurse practitioner programs dominate the Scranton-area landscape. Nearly every nursing school within commuting distance offers an FNP track, reflecting the specialty's versatility across primary-care settings in both urban Scranton and surrounding rural counties. You'll find FNP options at Marywood University, Wilkes University, Misericordia University, King's College, and DeSales University, available in MSN and DNP formats.
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
PMHNP demand is surging across rural Pennsylvania, where mental health provider shortages remain acute. The University of Scranton offers a 42-credit MS in Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, delivered in a hybrid online format over 21 months.1 The program blends synchronous and asynchronous coursework with required clinical hours, and part-time enrollment is available for working nurses. This local PMHNP option addresses a critical workforce gap in northeastern Pennsylvania's underserved communities.
Adult-Gerontology, Acute Care, Pediatric, and Women's Health Specialties
Adult-gerontology primary care (AGNP), acute care (AGACNP), pediatric (PNP), and women's health (WHNP) tracks are less common on Scranton-area campuses. Students pursuing these specialties typically enroll in hybrid or fully online programs headquartered elsewhere in Pennsylvania or neighboring states, completing didactic work remotely and arranging clinical placements closer to home. Some students look as far as NP programs in Philadelphia Pennsylvania for additional specialty options. This model expands specialty access without requiring relocation, though it demands greater self-direction in securing preceptors and clinical sites.
Online, Hybrid, and On-Campus Format Comparison
Choosing the right delivery format can make or break your ability to keep working full time while earning an NP credential. Most NP programs near Scranton fall into one of three categories: fully online (with in-person clinicals), hybrid (online coursework plus periodic campus intensives), or traditional on-campus. Here is how they compare on the dimensions that matter most to working nurses.
| Dimension | Fully Online | Hybrid | On-Campus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schedule Flexibility | Highest: lectures are asynchronous or recorded, so you study on your own schedule around shifts | Moderate: didactic coursework is online, but you must block out specific weekends or intensive days for required campus visits | Lowest: set class times during weekday or evening hours typically require a consistent weekly commitment |
| Clinical Placement Responsibility | Students usually secure their own preceptor sites near home, which offers location flexibility but requires planning ahead | Similar to fully online: clinicals are completed in person at approved healthcare sites, and students often find their own placements | Clinical sites may be coordinated through the school's local hospital partners, reducing the burden on students |
| Peer Networking Opportunities | Virtual discussion boards and synchronous video sessions; less spontaneous interaction with classmates | Best of both worlds: online collaboration during the semester plus face-to-face relationship building at campus intensives | Strongest in-person cohort bonds through regular classroom and lab interaction |
| What 'Hybrid' Actually Means | Not applicable | Online didactic content paired with a small number of required on-campus intensive sessions (often two to four per year), plus in-person clinical hours at approved sites | Not applicable |
| University of Scranton MSN FNP Format | The MSN FNP program delivers coursework primarily online with a blend of synchronous and asynchronous sessions; in-person clinicals are completed at approved healthcare sites | The Post-Master's FNP Certificate uses synchronous online class meetings combined with two required on-campus intensives, plus in-person clinical hours | Not applicable |
| Typical Schools Near Scranton | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (100% online, asynchronous core courses) | Villanova University FNP (online core courses with in-person clinical training); Saint Francis University FNP (online coursework with in-person residency days) | University of Pittsburgh Pediatric NP Certificate (on-site program delivery) |
MSN, DNP, and Post-Master's Certificate Pathways
Choosing the right educational pathway is essential when becoming or advancing as a nurse practitioner. Three main routes exist: the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) for initial certification, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) for doctoral-level clinical or leadership training, and the post-master's certificate for MSN-prepared nurses adding a new specialty. Each serves a distinct career stage, and regional schools offer varied options to match. If you are weighing the differences between these degrees, a detailed look at MSN vs DNP vs PhD in nursing can help clarify which track suits your goals.
MSN: The Traditional Entry Point
MSN programs provide the core clinical and theoretical foundation required to sit for national NP certification exams. Most schools near Scranton continue to offer MSN tracks, including East Stroudsburg University, which focuses solely on master's and post-master's NP certificates without a DNP option.1
DNP: Advanced Clinical and Leadership Training
DNP programs emphasize evidence-based practice, systems leadership, and quality improvement. Several regional schools offer post-master's DNP tracks:
- University of Scranton: Online, 30-credit post-master's DNP in Executive Leadership.2
- Wilkes University: Online, 24-month program for MSN holders.3
- DeSales University: 21-month MSN-to-DNP pathway.1
- Misericordia University: Online BSN-to-DNP option (36 months) and an MSN-to-DNP track.1
Post-Master's Certificate: Adding a Specialty
For nurses who already hold an MSN, these certificates provide a streamlined path to new NP roles. Wilkes University offers post-graduate certificates in FNP, AGPCNP, and PMHNP, allowing experienced nurses to expand their scope without repeating a full degree.3
The DNP Mandate: What It Means Now
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has long recommended the DNP as the entry-level degree for advanced practice, but no enforced national cut-off date exists as of 2025 to 2026. Current MSN programs continue to operate, and choosing between an MSN and DNP depends on career goals and timeline. Students who start an MSN now can still become certified. Pursuing a DNP later may fulfill future requirements if they change. For a closer look at the rationale behind this shift, see the case for DNP entry-to-practice.
Tuition and Affordability Comparison
Graduate tuition for NP programs accessible to Scranton-area students varies widely. The figures below reflect annual graduate tuition rates reported by each institution. Keep in mind that the "net price" you see quoted by schools is an institution-wide average that factors in grants and scholarships for all students; it is not a guaranteed quote for your specific program. Across these six schools, average net prices range from roughly $13,100 to $19,600, so it pays to request a personalized financial aid estimate from each program you are considering.
Clinical Placement and Commuting Considerations
For nurses in the Scranton area, one of the most practical questions about any NP program is straightforward: where will you complete your clinical hours, and how far will you have to travel to get there?
Understanding Clinical Hour Requirements
Pennsylvania's State Board of Nursing sets the minimum number of supervised clinical hours required for NP certification, and these requirements vary by specialty. Before committing to any program, visit the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing's official website to confirm the current standards for your chosen specialty. For a broader picture of what high-quality clinical training should look like, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) and the Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners both publish guidance that can help you evaluate whether a program's clinical structure meets professional expectations.
Local Health Systems and Clinical Partnerships
Northeastern Pennsylvania has a solid network of health systems that commonly support clinical education.1 Commonwealth Health operates several regional hospitals, including Moses Taylor Hospital in Scranton, Regional Hospital of Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.2 Geisinger has a strong regional presence and maintains educational partnerships in the form of residencies, fellowships, and nursing residencies, though its specific NP affiliation agreements are not published on the system's public website.3 Similarly, Lehigh Valley Health Network's NP academic partner listings are not publicly enumerated at this time.4
Because published partnership lists are often incomplete or quickly outdated, the most reliable step you can take is to contact the admissions office or clinical placement coordinator at each program you are considering. Ask directly which local facilities they work with, how placements are arranged, and whether students in past cohorts have secured sites near Scranton or Wilkes-Barre.
Commuting Realities for Scranton-Area Students
Students based in Scranton typically commute to programs in Wilkes-Barre, Bethlehem, Allentown, and even Philadelphia or Harrisburg for programs with limited in-region on-campus requirements. For clinical rotations specifically, proximity matters more than it does for didactic coursework. If you are enrolled in an online program, our guide on how online NP students arrange local clinical placements explains how to navigate site selection from a distance. Confirm whether a program allows you to self-identify clinical sites close to home or whether the school arranges placements that may require longer drives. For a deeper look at what to expect during rotations, including required hours and student responsibilities, see our overview of nurse practitioner clinical rotations. This distinction can significantly affect your day-to-day schedule, especially if you are working while enrolled.
How Long Does It Take to Become an NP in Pennsylvania?
Becoming a certified registered nurse practitioner (CRNP) in Pennsylvania follows a clear credentialing ladder. The total timeline depends on the degree path you choose and whether you study full-time or part-time around your nursing schedule. Here is the typical progression from BSN through independent practice.
