Most important takeaways…
- NYC-area NPs earn a $163,340 median, about $43,620 above RNs.
- Public SUNY and CUNY FNP tuition runs $11,570 to $14,222 in-state.
- Until passing 3,600 practice hours, New York NPs need physician agreements.
Twelve ranked FNP programs in New York City span effective net prices from about $3,100 at CUNY Lehman to about $37,000 at NYU. A working RN in the five boroughs weighs that spread against campus programs in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, plus online nurse practitioner programs in NYC that offer clinical sites for nurse practitioner students in city clinics.
The real filter is rarely tuition alone. It is whether the format fits a hospital schedule, how easily you can find a clinical preceptor, and whether the degree keeps you eligible under New York's collaborative practice rule. Several NYC-area programs do not yet publish program-level earnings, so placement support and cost carry the decision.
Why New York City Rewards Nurses Who Become FNPs
Employers Competing for NPs
Few metro areas offer as many places to practice. NYC Health + Hospitals, Northwell Health, Mount Sinai, NewYork-Presbyterian, NYU Langone, and Montefiore all employ nurse practitioners across inpatient, outpatient, and specialty settings. Community health centers and urgent care chains add steady primary care demand on top of that.
A Fit for Neighborhood-Level Need
FNP training prepares you to care for patients from infancy through older adulthood, which matters in boroughs and neighborhoods where family and community practices are stretched thin and physicians are scarce. One family nurse practitioner credential lets you work in a pediatric visit, a prenatal follow-up, and a chronic disease check in the same clinic day. That range is what makes the family track a practical choice for the city.
Jobs Within Commuting Range
Your search does not have to stop at the city line. Reachable markets include Yonkers, White Plains, Hempstead on Long Island, Newark, Jersey City, and Stamford. One caution: New Jersey and Connecticut positions require a separate license from those states, so a New York credential alone will not cover you across the river or the state line.
New York also has its own NP certification and collaborative practice rules. The licensure section walks through them later; for now, keep them in mind as you compare FNP Programs in New York.
10 Family Nurse Practitioner Schools for New York City Nurses, Ranked
Below are the top NP programs serving New York City students, ranked by IPEDS completion data, accreditation status, and program fit. The order rewards schools that stay affordable after aid, graduate students on schedule, and build schedules that working RNs can realistically keep. Programs inside the five boroughs lead the list, followed by commutable Long Island campuses and hybrid options, with the strongest upstate schools included for nurses who intend to practice outside the city.
Factors considered
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- Earnings ten years after entry
- Affordability after grant aid
- Completion and graduation rates
- Accreditation status and program fit
- 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
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University sits in central Brooklyn, which places its College of Nursing inside the borough many of its students already serve. The FNP master's is a 45-credit, CCNE-accredited track with a two-year full-time path and a three-year part-time option, and the university also offers doctoral routes for nurses who want to keep going. For Brooklyn, Queens, and Lower Manhattan nurses, the commute is short and the clinical settings are familiar.
- CCNE accredited
- 45-credit Master of Science degree
- Full-time in two years or part-time in three
- Fall semester start only
- Supervised clinical placements across varied care settings
- Prepares graduates for national FNP certification and New York licensure
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Master's — On-Campus
New York University
New York University's nursing school is a Manhattan research institution with deep ties to the city's academic medical centers. Its FNP track is a 54-credit MSN with faculty-arranged clinical placements across the tri-state area, small class sizes, and individualized advisement. Tuition sits at the upper end of this group, so weigh the clinical network and advising support against the price.
- CCNE accredited MSN track
- 54 total credits
- Faculty-arranged clinical placements across the tri-state area
- Small student-to-faculty ratio
- Individualized student advisement
- Prepares graduates for ANCC and AANPCB FNP exams
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Master's — On-Campus
CUNY Lehman College
CUNY Lehman College is a public senior college in the Bronx, and its M.S. in Nursing is one of the most affordable graduate nursing routes inside the five boroughs. The FNP concentration follows a cohort model with classes on campus one day a week, which keeps a full-time work schedule viable. The college also lists a documented FNP-to-DNP pathway for graduates who want to continue past the master's.
- CCNE accredited M.S. in Nursing
- 45 credits
- Cohort model with classes on campus one day each week
- Full-time enrollment
- Prepares graduates for New York licensure and national certification
- Clinical training included alongside didactic coursework
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner concentration also offered
- FNP-to-DNP pathway available
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Master's — On-Campus
Molloy University
Molloy University in Rockville Centre is a private university on Long Island's South Shore, within commuting range of much of Queens and Brooklyn. Its MSN FNP is a hybrid, 45-credit program with three primary care practicum sequences and an INACSL-endorsed simulation lab. The program reports a 92.85% first-time certification pass rate in 2023 and works with New York City health care institutions for clinical placements.
- CCNE accredited MSN
- 45 total credits
- Hybrid format designed for working nurses
- Three practicum sequences in primary care
- Clinical rotations in pediatric, adult, geriatric, urgent care, and gynecology
- Reported 92.85% first-time certification pass rate in 2023
- INACSL-endorsed clinical simulation lab
- Pathway to the DNP available
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Master's — Hybrid
St. Joseph's University-New York
St. Joseph's University-New York is a private university whose Brooklyn campus sits inside the city. Its M.S. in Family Nurse Practitioner is structured as a three-year hybrid program with on-campus classes once a week, built around working nurses rather than full-time students. The program points to clinical collaborations with New York City health care institutions, giving students local placement exposure and an alumni network in the boroughs.
- Three-year M.S. in Family Nurse Practitioner
- Hybrid schedule with on-campus classes once weekly
- Full-time and part-time options
- Capstone project required
- Robotic simulation labs
- Clinical collaborations with New York City health care institutions
- Alumni network support system
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Master's — Hybrid
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook University is a public research campus on Long Island with one of the state's larger nursing schools. Its FNP master's is delivered in a hybrid format, and the program reports strong outcomes, including an 80.9% three-year graduation rate and median earnings above $111,000 one year after graduation. It suits nurses who want public-university tuition and a hybrid schedule, though the campus is a rail trip rather than a subway ride from most of the city.
- CCNE accredited Master of Science
- Hybrid delivery with online and on-campus coursework
- 80.9% three-year graduation rate
- Average 2.78 years to complete
- Reported median earnings of $111,127 one year after graduation
- Reported median earnings of $132,795 ten years after graduation
- Graduates report working in New York State
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Master's — Hybrid
Upstate Medical University
Upstate Medical University is SUNY's academic medical center in Syracuse, and its nursing programs are built around the hospital system there. The FNP master's runs seven semesters in a hybrid format and leads directly into a DNP pathway for graduates who want to continue. Because the campus is in Central New York, this is a stronger fit for nurses planning to practice upstate than for someone anchored in the five boroughs.
- CCNE accredited Master of Science in Nursing
- Hybrid format across seven semesters
- Full-time and part-time options
- Coursework spans pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health policy
- Thesis or capstone option
- Seamless pathway to the DNP
- Multiple NP specializations offered
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Master's — Hybrid
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private research university in Western New York with a long-established nursing school. Its FNP track is a hybrid master's that covers primary care from infancy through older adulthood, and an advanced certificate route is available for nurses who already hold a graduate nursing degree. Like the other upstate programs here, it fits nurses in the Rochester region far better than a New York City commute.
- CCNE accredited FNP master's program
- Hybrid format
- Primary care across the lifespan, including women's health
- Prepares graduates for ANCC or AANP certification
- Advanced certificate route available
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Master's — Hybrid
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
SUNY Polytechnic Institute is a public institute in Utica with a hybrid FNP master's that leans heavily on online coursework. Students complete 45 credits and 800 clinical hours, with full-time and part-time tracks and rolling admissions. The program is priced at SUNY in-state rates, but the campus sits well outside the New York City commuting area, so it works best for nurses already in the Mohawk Valley.
- CCNE accredited MS Family Nurse Practitioner
- 45 credits with 800 clinical hours
- Hybrid delivery with significant online coursework
- Full-time in four semesters or part-time in about eight
- Rolling admissions with an early February 1 deadline
- Certificate of Advanced Study option
- Fall semester start
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Master's — Hybrid
Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College is a private college in Syracuse with a hybrid MSN FNP and a post-master's certificate option. The program requires 46 credits and 810 clinical hours, and it runs two years full time or three years part time with one day a week on campus. It is a solid value for upstate nurses, but the Syracuse location puts it out of reach for a New York City commute.
- CCNE accredited MSN-FNP
- 46 credits with 810 clinical hours
- Full-time in two years or part-time in three
- Hybrid schedule with on-campus attendance once weekly
- Post-Master's FNP certificate also offered
- Fall start with a May 15 application deadline
- Tuition and fee coverage partnership for eligible New York and bordering-state residents
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Master's — Hybrid
Quick Answers for NYC Nurses Weighing an FNP
Two questions come up again and again from NYC hospital nurses considering FNP school: can you keep your job, and how well do graduates do on boards? Here is what we found, plus one question worth settling before you apply.
- Can a full-time NYC hospital RN realistically finish an FNP program while working?
- Yes, during the early coursework. Many working RNs in NP Programs New York City choose part-time tracks, which often run about three to four years and let you keep three 12-hour shifts a week. The pressure builds once clinical rotations begin. Those semesters can require two or more clinical days a week, scheduled around your preceptor's hours, not yours. Many nurses drop to part-time or per diem during that stretch. Ask each program how clinical hours are spread across terms before you commit.
- Do NYC-area schools publish their FNP board certification pass rates?
- Some do. Columbia Nursing reports 100% first-time and overall ANCC np exam pass rates but doesn't name a reporting year. NYU Rory Meyers lists rates by year: ANCC was 100% in 2019, 2020, and 2022 and 94.44% in 2021. AANPCB was 100% in 2019, 2020, and 2022, with no 2021 rate reported. LIU's 2022 to 2023 document shows 58% for AANP but doesn't confirm it is a first-time FNP rate. We found no posted rates for the other schools, so ask admissions directly.
- Which FNP certification exam will I be eligible to take?
- FNP graduates can generally sit for either of two national exams: the AANPCB exam or the ANCC exam. NYU Rory Meyers, for example, states that its FNP graduates are eligible for both. Before you enroll, confirm that your program qualifies you for both exams. That way you can pick the one that fits your study style and keep a backup option if your first attempt doesn't go as planned.
MSN, DNP, or Post-Master's Certificate: Picking Your FNP Track in NYC
An FNP track is the degree route you take to become eligible for the family nurse practitioner certification exam, and New York nurse practitioner programs offer three of them. The MSN-FNP is the fastest path to certification. The BSN-DNP programs track adds doctoral coursework and a scholarly project. The Post-Master's Certificate NP Programs track is built for nurses who already hold an MSN in another specialty.
Which NYC Schools Offer Which Track
- MSN or MS: Hunter College and the University of Mount Saint Vincent list MSN-FNP programs. LIU Post offers a 46-credit MS in Family Nurse Practitioner, part-time, with a minimum of 745 clinical hours.1
- BSN-DNP: The NYU NP program is listed as a BSN-DNP FNP, so plan on the doctoral route there rather than a standalone master's.
- Post-master's certificate: Columbia lists a post-master's FNP certificate. Pace offers a Family NP Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies for master's-prepared nurses, including those certified in another specialty. Among SUNY NP programs in the city, SUNY Downstate lists an FNP Post Graduate Certificate.2
Accreditation Status
LIU Post states its program is CCNE-accredited.1 Pace's nursing programs are CCNE-accredited, but its master's nursing program received a Show Cause directive effective October 16, 2025. It remains accredited while on show cause, so ask the school how that affects the FNP pathway. For NYU, Columbia, Hunter, Downstate, and Mount Saint Vincent, I could not confirm current CCNE or ACEN status, so check each program in the accreditor directories before you apply.
This matters because most certification boards require a degree from an accredited program, and New York NP licensure rests on that certification.
A Simple Rule of Thumb
Choose the MSN if your goal is to practice as an FNP as soon as possible. Choose the DNP if you want a doctoral credential for leadership, teaching, or systems-level work. If you already have an MSN, the certificate is usually the shortest route.
Online, Hybrid, and Campus FNP Formats for Working NYC Nurses
A fully online FNP program promises you never have to fight the 6 train after a twelve-hour shift; a campus-based one puts you in a room with faculty who can watch your hands during a physical assessment check-off , the classic Online vs On-Campus NP Programs tradeoff. Most NYC-area options land somewhere between those poles, and the honest answer is that no FNP program in New York is entirely remote, because supervised clinical hours (commonly in the range of 500 to 750 across New York programs) always happen in person at a real site.
What each format actually asks of you
- Fully online: Asynchronous lectures and discussion boards, with clinicals arranged near where you live. Best for nurses on rotating or night shifts who cannot commit to a fixed weekly class time.
- Hybrid: Online coursework paired with periodic campus days for labs, skills validation, or seminars. Columbia's DNP Family Nurse Practitioner pathway, one of the DNP NP Programs in New York, and Pace University's MS FNP are both described as hybrid, and Pace's post-master's FNP certificate (roughly 18 to 24 months, fall entry) follows the same blended model.
- Campus-based: Regular in-person classes, often scheduled in afternoons or evenings for working nurses. Hunter College is frequently described as having more of an on-campus feel, and SUNY Downstate has been reported to hold monthly face-to-face seminars.
Can you finish online while living in the city?
Largely, yes, provided you treat "online" as meaning coursework rather than clinicals. Living in NYC is an advantage here: you are within commuting distance of campuses in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Westchester, so a hybrid program's immersion days cost you a subway ride instead of a flight.
Before you commit, ask each admissions office for the current term's attendance calendar in writing. Published format labels shift between pathways and cohorts, and the schedule you can realistically work around is the one that should decide this.
Related Articles
What NYC FNP Programs Expect From Applicants
Requirements vary by school, and several NYC programs don't publish full 2026 criteria. Use this checklist as a starting point, then confirm details with each admissions office.
- BSN from an accredited programPace and St. Joseph's both require a bachelor's in nursing from an accredited program. St. Joseph's accepts ACEN, CCNE, or similar national accreditors.
- Active, unencumbered New York RN licensePace, SUNY Downstate, and St. Joseph's all require a current New York RN license. Downstate and St. Joseph's Long Island campus specify that it must be unrestricted.
- Minimum GPAA 3.0 is the common floor at Pace, SUNY Downstate, and St. Joseph's. St. Joseph's Long Island campus prefers applicants with a 3.3 or higher.
- RN experienceExpectations range from preferred to required. St. Joseph's requires one year of clinical practice before admission. SUNY Downstate prefers one year but doesn't mandate it.
- Statistics prerequisitePace requires a statistics course with a C or better. Many other programs ask for one too, so confirm with each school.
- Recommendation letters and personal statementMost programs ask for professional references and a written statement of your goals. Choose references who have seen your clinical judgment firsthand.
- InterviewSome programs interview finalists. Be ready to explain why you want to pursue family practice specifically.
- GRE policyPace's published requirements don't list the GRE, and NYU's is reported as optional for 2026. Check each school's current policy before you spend time on test prep.
- Verify accreditationBefore applying, confirm the program holds CCNE or ACEN accreditation and that graduates are eligible for national FNP certification.
Where NYC FNP Students Graduate With the Least Debt
Program-level federal debt figures have not been published yet for these FNP programs, so in-state graduate tuition is the clearest cost signal. All five public SUNY and CUNY options fall between $11,570 and $14,222, with Lehman College in the Bronx the lowest. If you're considering a private NYC university, compare its posted rate against these public benchmarks, and remember that hospital tuition reimbursement and federal loan repayment programs like NURSE Corps can lower your real cost.
New York's Collaborative Practice Rule for New NPs
What Nurse Practitioners Earn Across the New York Metro
In the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro, the Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey puts the median nurse practitioner salary at $163,340 a year, about $43,620 more than the $119,720 median for registered nurses in the same region, and even the 25th percentile for NPs ($142,660) sits above the 75th percentile for RNs ($133,230). Postsecondary nursing instructors are included for comparison if you are also weighing a teaching path. These figures cover every NP, RN, and instructor working in the metro across all specialties, settings, and experience levels, so read them as a snapshot of the local job market, not as the earnings of graduates from any particular FNP program.
| Occupation | Metro Employment | 25th Percentile | Median Annual Wage | Mean Annual Wage | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioners | 21,680 | $142,660 | $163,340 | $162,620 | $173,890 |
| Registered Nurses | 197,740 | $103,970 | $119,720 | $119,600 | $133,230 |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | 5,290 | $72,910 | $92,050 | $95,360 | $122,330 |
