Nurse Practitioner Programs in New Jersey
The schools below focus on graduate nurse practitioner (NP) training. When you compare them, weigh accreditation, NCLEX pass rate, total cost, and how much of the program runs onsite versus online.
The College of New Jersey (Ewing) offers an RN-to-MSN bridge and a family nurse practitioner (FNP) specialization. The FNP track requires 47 credit hours and 715 practicum hours. TCNJ also runs post-graduate certificates for family, adult-gerontology primary care, and specialized FNP practice. The MSN-NP is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); the post-graduate APRN certificate is seeking accreditation. All classroom hours are onsite, and every student pays the same tuition regardless of residency.
- Program(s): MSN-NP; RN-to-MSN
- Campus: Ewing, NJ
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Tuition: $1,024 per credit hour
- Admission Requirements: BSN with a minimum 3.0 GPA, or a non-nursing bachelor's for the bridge; RN license; transcripts; two recommendation letters; an essay; resume/CV; one course each in statistics and health assessment; GRE or an existing master's degree
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 97.06%
Monmouth University (West Long Branch) offers an MSN with NP specializations in family, psychiatric mental health, and adult-gerontology primary care. It also runs a post-master's certificate, an RN-to-MSN direct-entry program for RNs without a BSN, and a bridge option for RNs holding a bachelor's in another field. Students must pass most specialization courses with at least a B.
- Program(s): MSN-NP; RN-to-MSN Direct Entry; RN-to-MSN
- Campus: West Long Branch, NJ
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $1,267 per credit
- Admission Requirements: BSN, non-nursing bachelor's for the bridge, or a nursing diploma/associate degree for direct entry; RN license; one year of RN experience; one year of specialty experience; a health assessment course; transcripts; two recommendations; an essay
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 76%
Felician University (Rutherford), the only Franciscan university in New Jersey, offers an MSN with an FNP track requiring 40 credit hours and 650 fieldwork hours. Required courses include primary care, advanced health assessment, pharmacology, and clinical pathophysiology. Felician also runs post-master's certificates in adult oncology NP, FNP primary care, adult-gerontology NP primary care, and nursing administration.
- Program(s): MSN-NP
- Campus: Rutherford, NJ
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $1,060 per credit
- Admission Requirements: BSN with at least a 3.0 GPA; New Jersey RN license; courses in health assessment, nursing research, and statistics; transcripts; two recommendations; personal statement
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 80.6%
Choosing a Program in New Jersey
Narrow your options by tuition, length, and curriculum, then confirm the program is accredited and check its NCLEX pass rate. Those two checks tell you whether the school reliably prepares students to pass the licensing exam and practice.
Why Nurse in New Jersey
New Jersey is heading into a nursing shortage. By 2030, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services projects the state will have roughly 90,800 nurses against a need above 102,000, one of the largest shortfalls in the country behind only Texas and California. That gap, plus high pay, points to steady demand.
New Jersey is also a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state. It fully implemented the compact in November 2021, so nurses whose primary residence is New Jersey can hold a multistate license and practice across participating states, including telehealth, without paying separate renewal fees in each one.
Salaries and Job Outlook
New Jersey RNs average about $101,960 a year, well above the national median of $93,600 (BLS, May 2024). Nurse practitioners average roughly $145,000, far above the national median of $132,050 for nurse practitioners (grouped with nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives). Nationally, the BLS projects 5% RN job growth from 2024 to 2034, with about 189,100 openings each year, while nurse practitioner roles are projected to grow 35% over the same period. Pay runs high across the northern metros around New York City as well as central New Jersey, and the state's southern metros employ a large share of the RN workforce.
Becoming a Nurse in New Jersey
Pick a program that fits your career path, complete it through the New Jersey Board of Nursing, and pass the NCLEX-RN. Once licensed, RNs must meet continuing education requirements to keep practicing.
RN Requirements
Earn an ADN or BSN from an accredited program. Most ADN programs take about two years and BSN programs about four, though timing varies by school. Pass the NCLEX-RN and complete a criminal background check before applying for licensure. RNs must earn 30 continuing education hours every two years to renew.
APRN Requirements
Earn an MSN or doctor of nursing practice from an accredited program. If you have not taken a pharmacology course within five years of applying, you must complete one. Before licensure, pass a certification exam in a state-recognized specialty; New Jersey accepts certifications from agencies accredited by the American Board of Nursing Specialties or the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. APRNs renew every two years with 30 continuing education hours.
Nurses licensed in another state or territory can apply to New Jersey by endorsement if they graduated from an approved U.S. program and remain in good standing. Undergraduate programs generally run two to four years depending on the degree, and parttime study extends that timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New Jersey a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes. New Jersey fully implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact on November 15, 2021, so nurses whose primary residence is New Jersey can hold a multistate license and practice across participating states, including by telehealth, without separate renewals in each one (New Jersey Attorney General).
What do nurses earn in New Jersey?
New Jersey RNs average about $101,960 a year, well above the national median of $93,600, and nurse practitioners average roughly $145,000, above the national median of $132,050 for the nurse practitioner group (BLS, May 2024).
How do I become an RN in New Jersey?
Earn an ADN or BSN from an accredited program, pass the NCLEX-RN, and clear a criminal background check before applying to the New Jersey Board of Nursing. RNs then renew every two years with 30 continuing education hours.
Is there a nursing shortage in New Jersey?
Federal projections point to a sizable gap, with state nurse supply expected to fall short of demand by 2030. That shortfall, combined with above-average pay, points to steady hiring demand.
Can I transfer my license to New Jersey from another state?
Yes. Nurses in good standing who graduated from an approved U.S. program can apply by endorsement. Nurses holding a multistate compact license may also practice in New Jersey under the NLC.
How long does an APRN path take in New Jersey?
After becoming an RN, you complete an MSN or DNP, pass a national certification exam in a recognized specialty, and apply for advanced-practice licensure. Graduate study typically adds two to three years.