Louisiana NP Programs at a Glance
| State practice authority | Reduced Practice – NPs require collaborative agreement with a physician |
| Louisiana Board of Nursing | Louisiana Board of Nursing |
| Louisiana median NP wage | ~$110,000 (Payscale/BLS, 2024). See Louisiana state OES tables for current detail. |
| National median NP wage | $129,210/year (BLS, May 2024) |
| Projected NP job growth | 46% (2023–2033) nationally – one of the fastest-growing professions |
| Primary accreditors | CCNE · ACEN |
| Common NP specialty tracks | FNP, AGNP (Primary/Acute), PMHNP, PNP, WHNP, NNP |
| Typical program length | 2–3 years (MSN-NP) or 3–4 years (BSN-to-DNP), full-time post-BSN |
Our Editorial Process
This guide is written by a credentialed nurse and reviewed against source-of-truth references at least annually. Program accreditation is verified against the CCNE program directory and ACEN directory. Louisiana licensure information is verified against the Louisiana Board of Nursing. Salary and growth figures come directly from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Louisiana data. Read our full editorial standards.
2026 Updates for Louisiana NP Programs
- Louisiana practice authority. Louisiana is a Reduced Practice authority state. NPs can practice but require a collaborative agreement with a physician for certain functions (often including prescribing). Legislative efforts to expand NP scope toward full practice authority continue at the state level.
- BLS data refresh (May 2024 OES). National median NP wage is now $129,210; Louisiana-specific data is published in the Louisiana state OES tables.
- Projected NP job growth. 46% projected employment growth from 2023 to 2033 nationally – one of the fastest-growing occupations the BLS tracks.
- AACN 2025 Position Statement. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reaffirmed the DNP as the preferred terminal degree for advanced practice. BSN-to-DNP and post-master’s DNP pathways continue to be the dominant educational routes for new NPs in Louisiana.
- Telehealth permanence. Federal and state telehealth flexibilities introduced during 2020 have largely been made permanent, expanding remote NP roles across primary care, behavioral health, and chronic disease management.
- PMHNP demand surge. Mental health workforce shortages are particularly acute nationwide; PMHNP-specific job postings have outpaced general NP postings consistently. See our PMHNP career guide.
Like many states, Louisiana is projected to have a significant physician shortage by 2030. In the state, primary care alone is projected to be short by nearly 400 providers. Nurse practitioners are in the unique position of being able to fill some of these roles, working with doctors to provide care for the people who need it the most.
Nurses who wish to become nurse practitioners have a variety of programs to choose from in Louisiana. Here are the top programs in the state.
Program Overview:
Established in 1923 by the Franciscan Missionaries, the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University is a small, non-profit Catholic university with a special emphasis on healthcare. The school of nursing was the first program at the school, meaning they have been educating nurses for a century. Students get hands-on experience in the Simulated Environment Teaching Hospital, a state-of-the-art simulation lab with manikins and volunteers trained to come in and act as real patients. There are two nurse practitioner programs available here:
Program Overview:
Grambling State University is a comprehensive, historically black public institution. The School of Nursing boasts a 100% certification exam pass rate for its MSN programs. The school offers simulation labs with state-of-the-art equipment, including patient manikins and a birthing simulation.
Program Overview:
Herzing University has a number of campuses across the country. The New Orleans campus offers a variety of program options for nurses at any point in their careers, whether they’re an RN seeking a master’s or a BSN seeking a doctorate. There are options in a variety of fields, including the following:
Program Overview:
Nursing education has been part of the Louisiana State University system since 1929, but the primary care family nurse practitioner program was not introduced until 1993. The Simulation Center of the Nursing Skills and Technology Center at LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing opened in 2017, allowing students to receive hands-on experience that will prepare them for their clinical rotations and future careers.
Program Overview:
Loyola College opened its doors in 1904, becoming Loyola University in 1912, and the College of Nursing and Health’s School of Nursing has been educating nurses for more than 30 years. When on campus, students get the opportunity to learn in the Loyola Ochsner Nursing Simulation Lab, where they gain confidence in connecting theory to practice. Students engage in a variety of nursing scenarios, from inserting IVs and taking blood pressures to assisting with births and participating in codes. Loyola offers multiple nurse practitioner courses, including the following:
Program Overview:
McNeese State University was established in 1938 and became an independent institution in 1950. The College of Nursing and Health Professions offers multiple career options for students, including a FNP track. Students in the program get hands-on experience in the school’s high-tech simulation lab and access to online software that helps them develop their assessment and diagnostic skills.
Program Overview:
Thibodaux Regional Health System School of Nursing at Nicholls State University is part of a consortium with McNeese State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette that aims to provide a comprehensive nursing education. The school offers a number of nursing labs for hands-on learning, including a computerized simulator, hospital beds, and manikins.
Program Overview:
Northwestern State University was established in 1884 and was the first public institution in the state to offer a bachelor’s and a master’s degree program in nursing. NSU offers a variety of options for those wishing to pursue a career as a nurse practitioner, including the following MSN and post-graduate options:
Program Overview:
Southeastern Louisiana University opened its doors as a two-year institution in 1925 and began offering four-year degrees in 1939. As a member of the Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing, the school began offering its online FNP program in 2011 and its DNP program in consortium with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2012.
Program Overview:
Southern University is part of the only historically black Land Grant university system in the United States. The School of Nursing offers a family nurse practitioner program where students receive hands-on experience working with patient simulators that replicate real health conditions and respond to medical treatment. These realistic encounters help prepare students to care for patients in their clinical rotations and future careers.
Program Overview:
The first classes at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette were held in 1901, and the College of Nursing opened its doors in 1951. Today, students learn in the immersive LHC Group · Myers School of Nursing Simulation Program, which features a number of high- and low-fidelity labs where future nurse practitioners can hone their skills and gain confidence.
Program Overview:
University of Louisiana at Monroe is located in northern Louisiana, about midway between Shreveport and Jackson, Mississippi. The Kitty DeGree School of Nursing was established in 1960 with nursing programs that focus on both the art and science of nursing. This school offers the following nurse practitioner program:
Educational Routes to Becoming a Nurse Practitioner in Louisiana
Five distinct routes appear across the NP schools listed on this page. Each suits a different starting credential and timeline. All five satisfy the Louisiana State Board of Nursing APRN-certification requirements when paired with national NP certification.
1. MSN-NP (Most Common Route)
The traditional Master of Science in Nursing with an NP specialty track. Designed for working RNs who already hold a BSN. Typical length: 2 to 3 years full-time or 3 to 4 years part-time, with 500 to 750 clinical hours. Louisiana MSN-NP options span all 12 on-page schools. LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans and Loyola New Orleans anchor research-focused tracks; Southeastern Louisiana, Northwestern State, and the UL Lafayette/Monroe campuses run hybrid MSN-NP coursework with regional clinical placements.
2. RN-to-MSN Bridge (No BSN Required)
For ADN-prepared RNs who want to skip a separate BSN program. The bridge adds 12 to 18 months of BSN-level coursework before the master’s component begins. In Louisiana, Northwestern State University, McNeese State, and Nicholls State University all offer RN-MSN bridges into NP tracks. Total time-to-degree typically lands at 3 to 4 years. See the broader top RN-to-NP programs ranking.
3. BSN-to-DNP (Doctoral-Entry NP)
Aligned with the AACN’s 2025 DNP position statement. Combines NP-specialty training with terminal-degree coursework over 3 to 4 years and roughly 1,000 clinical hours. 6 Louisiana schools offer a DNP program — see the full Louisiana DNP programs guide for state-specific detail, or online BSN-to-DNP programs for ranked national options.
4. Post-Master’s Certificate (Existing MSN Holders)
For nurses who already hold a master’s-level NP credential and want to add a second specialty — an FNP adding AGNP, an FNP adding PMHNP, etc. Typical length: 12 to 24 months and ~500 clinical hours. Louisiana post-master’s certificate options include LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, Loyola New Orleans, and Southeastern Louisiana. The NP Certifications hub covers the certificate landscape in depth.
5. Accelerated & Direct-Entry (Non-Nursing Bachelor’s)
For career changers with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. The student earns an accelerated BSN first (12 to 16 months), then enters an NP master’s or DNP track. Louisiana’s flagship direct-entry options include LSU Health Sciences Center’s Accelerated BSN-to-MSN pathway and Loyola’s Master’s entry track. Total time-to-NP-licensure: typically 4 to 5 years from start of accelerated BSN.
Fast & Affordable Louisiana NP Programs (Editorial Picks)
These editorial picks balance time-to-degree, total program cost, and accreditation. All programs listed are CCNE or ACEN accredited and confirmed to currently enroll Louisiana residents.
Fastest Louisiana NP Programs
- Herzing University-New Orleans — MSN-FNP: Multiple intakes per year; accelerated track for working RNs across Louisiana.
- Loyola University New Orleans — Online MSN-FNP: Mostly-online coursework with year-round cohorts; 24-month accelerated path.
- Southeastern Louisiana University — MSN-FNP: Hammond-based hybrid delivery; 5-semester full-time option.
- LSU Health Sciences Center-New Orleans — Post-Master’s NP Certificate: 12 to 18 months for current MSN holders adding a Louisiana specialty.
Most Affordable Louisiana NP Programs (In-State Tuition)
- University of Louisiana at Monroe — MSN-FNP: Public Louisiana tuition at one of the lowest published per-credit rates.
- Northwestern State University of Louisiana — MSN-FNP: Public Louisiana tuition with strong Natchitoches and North Louisiana clinical network.
- Southeastern Louisiana University — MSN-FNP: Public Louisiana System tuition with hybrid Hammond/Baton Rouge delivery.
- Grambling State University — MSN-FNP: Public HBCU tuition with affordable per-credit rate and strong primary-care pipeline.
- McNeese State University — MSN-FNP: Public Southwest Louisiana tuition with Lake Charles clinical placements.
Louisiana Schools Offering Popular NP Specialties
The matrix below maps Louisiana NP-track schools to the two most-published specialty paths in the state — FNP and DNP entry. Most Louisiana schools lead with FNP at the master’s level; 6 schools offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice option. Each H3 links to the relevant child page.
Family NP (FNP)
The most common specialty in Louisiana. All 12 schools listed on this page offer an FNP track in some format — MSN, BSN-to-DNP, or post-master’s certificate.
- Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University
- Grambling State University
- Herzing University-New Orleans
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans
- Loyola University New Orleans
- McNeese State University
- Nicholls State University
- Northwestern State University of Louisiana
- Southeastern Louisiana University
- Southern University and A&M College
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- University of Louisiana at Monroe
BSN-to-DNP and Post-Master’s DNP Programs in Louisiana
Aligned with the AACN 2025 DNP position statement. The 6 Louisiana schools below offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice program. See the dedicated Louisiana DNP programs guide for admissions detail.
- Southern University and A&M College
- Herzing University-New Orleans
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans
- Loyola University New Orleans
- Southeastern Louisiana University
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Nurse Practitioner Programs in Louisiana by City & Region
Louisiana’s 12 featured NP schools cluster around six regions: New Orleans Metro, Baton Rouge, Shreveport/North Louisiana, Lafayette/Acadiana, Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana, and Monroe/Northeast Louisiana.
New Orleans Metro
- Loyola University New Orleans — New Orleans
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans — New Orleans
- Herzing University-New Orleans — New Orleans
- Southeastern Louisiana University — Hammond
Baton Rouge
- Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University — Baton Rouge
- Southern University and A&M College — Baton Rouge
Shreveport / North Louisiana
- Grambling State University — Grambling
- Northwestern State University of Louisiana — Natchitoches / Shreveport
Lafayette / Acadiana
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette — Lafayette
Lake Charles / Southwest LA
- McNeese State University — Lake Charles
Monroe / Northeast LA
- University of Louisiana at Monroe — Monroe
Thibodaux / Bayou Region
- Nicholls State University — Thibodaux
