Pitt Nursing is launching a hybrid MSN program to meet the growing demand for advanced nurse practitioners

The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing has introduced a new hybrid Master of Science in Nursing Nurse Practitioner (NP) program through Pitt Online, Dean Christine E. Kasper announced June 11. With a near-zero unemployment rate of just 0.6%, per U.S. News & World Report, the role of nurse practitioner is among the most secure career paths in American health care, yet communities across the country continue to face deepening shortages of primary care, mental health and acute care providers. Designed for working nurses, Pitt's new program addresses the most urgent workforce gaps with three in-demand concentrations: psychiatric-mental health, family and adult-gerontology acute care.

"Pitt Nursing is proud to offer a new pathway for nurses across the nation to earn a first-rate education," said Kasper. "Through state-of-the-art teaching methods, we are preparing high-performing nurse practitioners to meet the growing primary care needs of patients in Pennsylvania and beyond."

The program's hybrid design reflects Pitt Nursing's commitment to meeting working nurses where they are. The coursework is delivered online in a flexible format, helping students advance their education without stepping away from their careers or communities. The two-year program includes three on-campus immersions held at the University's Pittsburgh campus. These focused, in-person sessions provide the hands-on simulation, skills labs and collaborative learning experiences that are the hallmark of a Pitt Nursing education.

One of the most significant logistical barriers facing prospective NP students is finding and securing clinical placements. Pitt Nursing will meet this challenge by coordinating all clinical hours required for graduation and working to place students in supervised clinical experiences near their home communities whenever possible. This removes one of the most time-consuming and stressful elements of NP education, allowing students to focus on learning, patient care and their professional development. With 780 clinical hours, the program exceeds most state and national minimums for clinical preparation.

"By managing clinical placements and integrating immersive, in-person experiences, we ensure our graduates are not only well-prepared academically but are truly practice-ready from day one," said Brayden Kameg, associate dean for graduate clinical education in the School of Nursing. "The program was uniquely developed by our Pitt Nursing faculty, who have contributed their knowledge and expertise to deliver a high-quality program that prepares graduates with the clinical acumen to meet the evolving needs of the various populations they serve."

The nation faces a critical and growing need for advanced practice nurses. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that NPs are among the fastest-growing occupations in the country with high potential earnings. Median annual salaries for nurse practitioners reached $137,300 nationally as of May 2025, according to BLS data, making a master's trained NP one of the most financially rewarding graduate investments a registered nurse can make. Psychiatric-mental health specialists command even higher earnings, with NPs in psychiatric settings reporting median pay of $140,400.

Few institutions are better positioned to deliver a hybrid MSN NP program than Pitt's School of Nursing. Featured as a top-10 program for the third year in a row, Pitt Nursing's undergraduate BSN program is currently ranked No. 8 in the nation, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report National Universities Rankings. In the publication's graduate listings, Pitt Nursing is ranked No. 26 among MSN programs, No. 14 among adult gerontology NP doctoral programs and No. 9 among DNP programs.

"Pitt's new hybrid nurse practitioner program is a testament to what becomes possible when academic excellence meets thoughtful, flexible design. Bringing this credential to working nurses nationwide, through one of the most respected nursing schools in the country, reflects the University of Pittsburgh's deep commitment to expanding access without compromising on quality," said Associate Provost for Digital Education Anthony Delitto from the Center for Excellence in Digital Education (Pitt EDGE), which manages Pitt Online programs.

The School of Nursing is part of the University's schools of the health sciences, encompassing schools of nursing, medicine, dental medicine, health and rehabilitation sciences, pharmacy, and public health. Together, these six schools have ranked among the top 10 nationally in NIH grant funding every year since 1998. Alongside UPMC, a $30 billion health care provider and insurer, they form one of the largest and most prestigious academic and medical research hubs in the nation. This means Pitt Online NP graduates benefit not only from an academically rigorous curriculum, but from the depth of faculty expertise and the clinical breadth that comes with training at an institution deeply integrated into real-world patient care.

Applications for the fall 2026 cohort are open; the application deadline is Aug. 1. Find and request more program information from the School of Nursing.