Women’s health nurse practitioner online programs are an excellent next step in your nursing career. The women’s health specialization of the NP field requires a BSN, RN license, and then graduate-level studies to receive certification as a nurse practitioner. Women’s health nurse practitioner online programs are designed to prepare you for the comprehensive care of women throughout the lifespan with a flexible, accessible approach to academia.
For those who have been through a four year BSN program, the idea of accumulating more student debt can be daunting. However, women’s health nurse practitioners are some of the highest earners in the medical field. The BLS reports the outlook for nurse practitioners at 45% through the year 2029; and WHNP’s with their MSN are no exception, holding a strong education in primary care, essential integrative approaches to practice, and the prospect of long-term relationships with their patients. Consider then that Payscale reports the median annual salary of the working WHNP as $93,018 with plenty of room for advancement, and you have a substantially lucrative career ahead.
Still, the cost of WHNP online programs or online nurse midwifery programs can affect your academic experience and financial future. Your drive to address the concerns, health issues, counseling and educational needs of women does not have to be hindered by an unexpected price tag. GetEducated has compared 19 accredited women’s health nurse practitioner online programs from 15 schools across the country to curate this “Best Buy” ranking for you. With a difference in the cheapest and most expensive programs currently sitting around $92,000, looking ahead and calculating what works best for your wallet will certainly pay off in the long run. Take a look below to find the best WHNP online programs at the most economical prices.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$46,100
Least Expensive: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center ~$15,927
Most Expensive: Georgetown University ~$108,586
Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There’s no fancy formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and therefore factually showcase the cheapest women’s health nurse practitioner online programs. The online degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2021 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Most Affordable Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Online Programs
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | (TX) | $15,927.00 $32,655.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
2 | East Carolina University | (NC) | $19,835.78 $53,996.40 | In-State Out-of-State |
3 | Kent State University | (OH) | $23,016.00 $23,436.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
4 | Old Dominion University Master of Science in Nursing / Nurse Midwifery 14 | (VA) | $26,200.00 $28,180.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
5 | Stony Brook University | (NY) | $26,756.10 $30,986.10 | In-State Out-of-State |
6 | University of South Alabama | (AL) | $28,080.00 | All Students |
7 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | (MO) | $31,266.20 $56,773.20 | In-State Out-of-State |
8 | Frontier Nursing University | (KY) | $38,194.00 | All Students |
9 | University of Cincinnati | (OH) | $39,932.00 $40,667.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
10 | Frontier Nursing University | (KY) | $42,152.00 | All Students |
11 | Regis College | (MA) | $45,380.00 $38,618.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
12 | University of Cincinnati | (OH) | $45,900.00 $46,755.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bethel University - MN | (MN) | $47,652.00 | All Students | |
Thomas Jefferson University | (PA) | $50,732.00 | All Students | |
Drexel University | (PA) | $56,430.00 $47,025.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Thomas Jefferson University | (PA) | $65,224.00 | All Students | |
The George Washington University | (DC) | $65,740.00 | All Students | |
Georgetown University | (DC) | $97,516.00 | All Students | |
Georgetown University | (DC) | $108,586.00 | All Students |
Accreditation & Program Notes
To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.
ACEN Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
CCNE Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
14 Program is no longer accepting new students.
ACME Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education
Rankings Note
These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Spring 2021 review of regionally accredited women’s health nurse practitioner online programs. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online master degree programs in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules.
The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost
Editorial Note
Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers a master’s degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.
These rankings of the cheapest online schools for WHNP programs may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best women’s health nurse practitioner online programs for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.
Career Guide: Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Online Programs
WHNP, for women’s health nursing practitioner, is growing in demand every year. This rewarding yet challenging profession requires advanced training and education, which is why women’s health nurse practitioner online programs have become so popular.
What are Online WHNP Programs Like?
If you are currently working in the healthcare profession and want to enhance your earning potential while helping women of all ages live a healthy lifestyle, these programs may be perfect for you.
Women’s health nurse practitioner online programs generally focus on one of two specific areas: women’s health or midwifery. While they share many similarities, and the roles often overlap, a women’s health nurse provides more generalized care for overall wellbeing, while a midwife is focused specifically on reproductive health and the successful delivery of babies. Generally, a women’s health expert works with women of all ages at all stages of their lives, while a midwife only meets with women who are, or are trying to become, pregnant.
During online nurse midwifery programs and online WHNP programs, you’ll learn numerous skills that make you essential to the healthcare industry. You’ll learn to assist women in the successful birthing experience while using safe, effective procedures to increase comfort and ease for both mother and baby. You’ll also know how to conduct clinical research, support women in their general health needs, and apply your knowledge of nutrition to increase successful outcomes.
Classes can take many directions depending on the institution. You can expect core classes that cover the basics of nursing, including human physiology, healthcare finances, and other generalized healthcare classes. However, you will also take classes that focus specifically on midwifery or women’s health, such as well-woman care, nurse midwifery management, or neonatal care. All of these classes prepare you to serve families and women and make you a valuable component for almost any healthcare facility.
Once complete, you can take your skills into a variety of settings. Nurse midwives and women’s health nurse practitioners are hired by clinics, birthing centers, women’s health centers, education settings, and more. You’ll also have the skills to create your own private practice, giving you more control over your future.
Nurse Midwife
- Median Salary: $105,030
- Job Growth: 12%
- Education: Master’s
- Training/Work Experience: None
The vast majority of your training in online nurse midwifery programs will prepare you to become a Certified Nurse Midwife, or CNM. In this career, you will perform many of the important roles that promote women’s health, including general care and reproductive health. Midwives are involved in the delivery of babies, managing women’s emergency care, and providing wellness education for women at all stages of life.
The pay for this career is excellent, and nurse midwives will be in high demand during the upcoming years. (As will most medical professions.) As such, this is both a high-paying and secure position for anyone who completes WHNP online programs.
Nurse Practitioner
- Median Salary: $109,820
- Job Growth: 52%
- Education: Master’s
- Training/Work Experience: None
Nurse practitioners provide primary and secondary care for a wide variety of individuals. Working with individuals or families, nurse practitioners perform many of the same roles as a physician, helping to improve overall health through patient assessments, care planning, and health education. Many nurse practitioners specialize in a certain area, such as geriatric (elderly) health or pediatric (youth) care.
This is a top-paying profession, but it’s also highly attractive thanks to the large expected growth. The profession of nurse practitioner is expected to grow by 52% between 2019 and 2029, adding roughly 111,000 jobs in the ten-year timeframe.
WHNP Licensing, Certification & Experience Requirements
Licensing is a critical part of almost all medical professions, including nurse practitioners and nurse midwives. After studying in one of the top women’s health nurse practitioner online programs, you’ll have the knowledge required to pass the right certification exams, which are administered by various organizations depending on the profession.
Nurse midwives, for example, need to be certified through the American Midwifery Certification Board. This organization offers the Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) designation. This is a nationally-certifying body that helps candidates for midwife positions become fully ready for their profession. Through testing, they ensure midwives across the country are fully capable to meet the demands of this challenging career.
If you work as a nurse practitioner focusing on family care, you will likely need credentials through a variety of groups, such as the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, or the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.
Women’s health nurse practitioner online programs help current medical professionals advance their skills while improving their overall earning potential.