University of Cincinnati
05/21/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/22/2026 23:54
The path to the most in-demand job in healthcare starts at UC Nursing
The path to the most in-demand job in healthcare starts at UC Nursing
4 minute read May 21, 2026 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Reddit Print Story Like
The Wall Street Journal recently called it: nurse practitioner (NP) is now the hottest job in healthcare. At the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Nursing, that is not a headline; it is what we have been building toward for decades.
The nurse practitioner profession has been ranked the number one job in America by U.S. News & World Report for three consecutive years, topping the lists for Best Job, Best Health Care Job, and Best STEM Job in 2026. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for nurse practitioners is projected to grow 35 percent from 2024 to 2034, with a median salary of $121,610 - making it one of the most rewarding careers in healthcare by nearly every measure.
Amounting to more than 461,000 licensed NPs nationwide, these providers deliver high-quality, patient-centered care across primary care, specialty care, and acute care settings. As the physician shortage deepens and healthcare grows more complex, health systems across the country are looking for advanced practice nurses who are prepared not just to practice, but to lead.
The profession is calling - and we are answering by preparing graduates with the clinical competency, critical thinking, and professional identity to walk into any healthcare setting and lead from day one.
Alicia Ribar, PhD, RN Dean, UC College of Nursing
Why nurses choose UC Nursing for graduate education
The University of Cincinnati College of Nursing is currently home to 1,350 graduate students pursuing Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees. These nurses chose UC because of its academic reputation, high-level of student support, a curriculum built around producing confident, competent advanced practice nurses.
UC Nursing's APRN programs span a wide range of specialties, from family practice and psychiatric-mental health to nurse anesthesia, equipping graduates to step into the roles healthcare systems need most. Whatever direction a student's career goals point, there is a UC Nursing program designed to take them there.
"The recognition that nurse practitioners are the most in-demand professionals in healthcare affirms what we see every day at UC Nursing: that advanced practice nursing is where clinical excellence meets real-world impact," says UC College of Nursing Dean Alicia Ribar, PhD, RN. "The profession is calling - and we are answering by preparing graduates with the clinical competency, critical thinking, and professional identity to walk into any healthcare setting and lead from day one."
Becoming an advanced practice nurse
UC Nursing prepares students for three distinct APRN roles, each requiring an MSN or DNP and national board certification in their specialty:
Nurse Practitioner (NP): Diagnoses and treats illness, manages chronic conditions, and provides primary, acute, and specialty care across the lifespan.
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP - MSN | DNP
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP - MSN | DNP
- Family Nurse Practitioner - MSN | DNP
- Pediatric Acute Care NP - DNP
- Psychiatric-Mental Health NP - DNP
- Women's Health NP - MSN
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA): Administers anesthesia and manages pain in surgical, obstetric, and acute care settings.
- Nurse Anesthesia - DNP
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM): Provides comprehensive gynecological and obstetric care, including pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum support.
- Nurse Midwifery - MSN
The most in-demand job in healthcare is not a distant goal - it is a decision. For nurses ready to take that next step, UC Nursing offers the programs, the preparation, and the community to make it possible.
Learn more about UC nursing programs
The most in-demand job in healthcare is not a distant goal - it is a decision. For nurses ready to take that next step, UC Nursing offers the programs, the preparation, and the community to make it possible.
Explore our MSN and DNP programs or request more information to connect with an admissions advisor.
Featured image: iStock
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University of Cincinnati published this content on May 21, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 23, 2026 at 05:54 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]