Best Nurse Practitioner Programs in Iowa: 7 Schools Ranked (2026)

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Iowa NP Programs at a Glance

State practice authority	Full Practice Authority – NPs evaluate, diagnose, and prescribe independently
Iowa Board of Nursing	Iowa Board of Nursing
Iowa median NP wage	~$115,000 (Payscale/BLS, 2024). See Iowa 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. Iowa licensure information is verified against the Iowa Board of Nursing. Salary and growth figures come directly from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Iowa data. Read our full editorial standards.

2026 Updates for Iowa NP Programs

Iowa practice authority. Iowa is a Full Practice Authority state. Licensed nurse practitioners can evaluate, diagnose, order tests, and prescribe medications independently of physician supervision. Iowa is one of 27 states + DC granting full NP autonomy under state law.
BLS data refresh (May 2024 OES). National median NP wage is now $129,210; Iowa-specific data is published in the Iowa 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 Iowa.
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.

The demand for nurse practitioners is ever-increasing, largely due to the increase in healthcare needs, physician shortages, and the higher number of retiring NPs, to name a few.

For Iowa nurses, now proves to be the best time to get into an NP program. According to a report, the demand for NP practitioners is expected to grow by 58% in the year 2030. This is higher than the national average, which is 45%.

While the average base salary of NPs in Iowa is $98,194 as per Indeed, there are cities in Iowa that pay triple the amount. In Waterloo, IA, for example, nurses can earn as much as $303,512 per year.

Whether you’re looking for professional advancement or increased wages, these Iowa NP programs are your ticket to a rewarding and fulfilling APRN career:

Allen College

Program Overview:
Allen College is a healthcare-focused institution based in Waterloo, Iowa. It was founded in 1925 as the Allen Memorial Hospital and School of Nursing, and while it closed during the Great Depression, it reopened its doors in 1942.

Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Allen College offers a variety of graduate programs. Aspiring nurse practitioners, whether ADN or BSN graduates, may pursue any of its four tracks through its MSN or DNP program. Both are available in a hybrid format.

In the past years, graduates of the nurse practitioner programs scored passing rates ranging from 86.3% to 98.4%.

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Briar Cliff University

Program Overview:
Briar Cliff University is a private institution that offers a variety of nursing programs in Sioux City, IO. Accredited by the CCNE, BCU’s online MSN program has been ranked second in the state for the PMHNP track and tenth for the FNP track by nursepractitioneronline.com.

Intelligent.com has also recognized BCU’s NP program as the top 5 program in Iowa. Its MSN programs are listed as the 28th and 29th best in the state, respectively.

BCU’s part-time MSN program can be completed in three years. While the majority of the coursework is done online, students need to go to the campus for six on-site days.

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Clarke University

Program Overview:
Clarke University is housed on a 55-acre campus in Dubuque, IA. Established in 1843, the private Catholic university offers nurse practitioner programs that are accredited by the CCNE. In 2015, these programs were ranked as the fifth best in the country by RegisteredNursing.org.

Clarke U’s DNP program has a limited cohort of 20 students per intake, allowing each to get the one-on-one support they need to excel as nurse practitioners. Practicals may be undertaken at a facility in Dubuque or anywhere across the country.

Clarke NP program graduates have posted an average certification exam passing rate of 100%.

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Graceland University

Program Overview:
Situated in Lamoni, IA, Graceland is a private university affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Its nursing program was established in 1910 in the Independence, MO campus. Both undergraduate and graduate nursing offerings are approved by the Iowa BON and accredited by the CCNE.

Graceland’s FNP graduates register an average passing rate of 94%.

This year, Online Master’s Degrees has recognized Graceland’s MSN program as one of the best in the country. After all, it features mostly online coursework so students can maintain a work-study balance.

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Morningside University

Program Overview:
Morningside University’s Nylen School of Nursing & Health Sciences offers CCNE-accredited programs that unite nursing theory and practice. The flexible, hands-on programs are taught by experienced educators in the classroom, the high-fidelity simulation center, and in clinical institutions.

In 2020, the university’s graduate online nursing programs were ranked 41st in the country by US News & World Report. This is largely due to the flexibility of the program, which students may complete on a part-time or full-time basis.

Morningside’s passing rate for its NP programs averages at 90%.

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Mount Mercy University

Program Overview:
The Martin-Herold College of Nursing & Health at Mount Mercy University has been producing competent nurses for over 90 years. Its CCNE-accredited undergraduate and graduate programs are taught by excellent faculty members who combine integrated nursing theory with practice through skills lab classes and real-life immersions.

Nursing Schools Almanac has ranked Mount Mercy as the top 8 Nursing School in Iowa for its reputation, program offerings, and exam pass rates.

BSN to DNP: FNP

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University of Iowa

Program Overview:
Established in 1898, The UoI College of Nursing is one of the most prestigious schools in the state. All its programs are approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing and accredited by the CCNE.

Recently, the Iowa City-based institution was ranked number 4 in US News & World Report’s list of BSN programs. Its DNP-PNP program was ranked fourth as well, while its AGACNP track clinched seventh place. The FNP program is listed as the top 14 program in the country, while the DNP program as a whole captured the 22nd spot.

Graduates of the AGACNP, AGPCNP, and DNP programs have registered a 100% pass rate in their respective certification exams.

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Educational Routes to Becoming a Nurse Practitioner in Iowa

Five distinct routes appear across the NP schools listed on this page. Each suits a different starting credential and timeline. All five satisfy the Iowa 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. Iowa MSN-NP options are anchored by the University of Iowa in Iowa City. The remaining 6 schools (Allen College, Briar Cliff, Clarke, Graceland, Morningside, Mount Mercy) are private institutions concentrated in eastern and western Iowa with hybrid MSN-FNP delivery.

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 Iowa, Allen College, Mount Mercy University, and Briar Cliff University all offer RN-to-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 Iowa schools offer a DNP program — see the full Iowa 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. Iowa post-master’s certificate options are concentrated at the University of Iowa and Allen College. 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. Iowa’s flagship direct-entry option is the University of Iowa’s graduate entry MSN pathway for non-nursing bachelor’s holders. Total time-to-NP-licensure: typically 4 to 5 years from start of accelerated BSN.

Fast & Affordable Iowa 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 Iowa residents.

Fastest Iowa NP Programs

Graceland University — Online MSN-FNP: Multiple intakes per year; accelerated track for working RNs across Iowa.
Allen College — MSN-FNP: Waterloo-based hybrid delivery with year-round cohorts.
Morningside University — MSN-FNP: Sioux City hybrid program; 24-month full-time option for BSN-prepared RNs.
University of Iowa — Post-Master’s NP Certificate: 12 to 18 months for current MSN holders adding an Iowa specialty.

Most Affordable Iowa NP Programs (In-State Tuition)

University of Iowa — MSN-NP: Public flagship tuition with the broadest specialty footprint in Iowa; nationally-ranked nursing school.
Graceland University — Online MSN-FNP: Lamoni-based private with competitive online tuition.
Allen College — MSN-FNP: Waterloo private with competitive total cost and strong northeast Iowa clinical placements.
Mount Mercy University — MSN-NP: Cedar Rapids private with competitive total cost.

Iowa Schools Offering Popular NP Specialties

The matrix below maps Iowa NP-track schools to the two most-published specialty paths in the state — FNP and DNP entry. Most Iowa 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 Iowa. All 7 schools listed on this page offer an FNP track in some format — MSN, BSN-to-DNP, or post-master’s certificate.

Allen College
Briar Cliff University
Clarke University
Graceland University
Morningside University
Mount Mercy University
University of Iowa

BSN-to-DNP and Post-Master’s DNP Programs in Iowa

Aligned with the AACN 2025 DNP position statement. The 6 Iowa schools below offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice program. See the dedicated Iowa DNP programs guide for admissions detail.

Morningside University
Clarke University
Mount Mercy University
Allen College
Briar Cliff University
Graceland University-Lamoni

Nurse Practitioner Programs in Iowa by City & Region

Iowa’s 7 featured NP schools spread across the state. The University of Iowa anchors the Iowa City corridor; private institutions serve the Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, Waterloo, Dubuque, and southern Iowa markets.