# 2026 Louisiana Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs **Author:** NP Degrees Editorial Team **Published:** June 5, 2026 **Updated:** June 5, 2026 --- Louisiana's NP education landscape reflects the state's unique healthcare challenges and opportunities. From major academic health centers in New Orleans and Shreveport to universities serving rural and underserved communities, Louisiana schools prepare nurse practitioners to work across primary care, acute care, mental health, women's health, and specialty practice settings. This guide explores Louisiana NP programs, specialty options, and key considerations to help prospective students find a pathway that fits their goals. ## **Featured NP Programs in Louisiana** Louisiana's NP programs are concentrated at a relatively small number of universities, but collectively they offer a broad range of advanced practice specialties and educational pathways. Featured programs highlight different approaches to NP education—from research-intensive doctoral pathways and academic medical center training to flexible online options designed for working nurses. Comparing these schools can help prospective students better understand differences in specialty availability, clinical training models, delivery formats, and long-term academic opportunities before exploring the broader directory section that follows.
| **Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans** | |
| Nursing School | [School of Nursing] (https://nursing.lsuhsc.edu/) |
| Selected Programs | BSN to DNP, Post-Master’s DNP, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthesia, Nurse-Midwife, Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Executive Nurse Leader, Nurse Educator, Public Health/Community Health |
| DNP Pathways | The Doctor of Nursing Practice program offers both BSN-to-DNP and Post-Master’s-to-DNP pathways. |
| Specialty Tracks | Advanced practice roles include Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthesia, Nurse-Midwife, and Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist. Aggregate and systems-focused roles include Executive Nurse Leader, Nurse Educator (Post-Master’s DNP only), and Public Health/Community Health. |
| Program Focus | The DNP curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, research translation, organizational leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, information technology, quality improvement, health policy, and systems-level practice. |
| Career Preparation | The program is designed to prepare nurses for advanced clinical practice, executive leadership, education, and organizational roles focused on improving patient and population health outcomes. |
| Accreditation | LSU Health New Orleans is accredited by SACSCOC. The BSN, MSN, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The Nurse Anesthesia program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, and the Nurse-Midwifery concentration holds ACME preaccreditation status. |
| Overview | LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing offers doctoral education through BSN-to-DNP and Post-Master’s-to-DNP pathways that prepare nurses for advanced practice, leadership, education, and systems-focused roles. Specialty options include nurse practitioner, nurse anesthesia, nurse-midwifery, and clinical nurse specialist preparation, while the curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, leadership development, healthcare innovation, and improved patient outcomes. |
| About the School | LSU Health New Orleans is a public academic health sciences center located in New Orleans, Louisiana. Its School of Nursing is part of a comprehensive health sciences campus dedicated to nursing education, research, and clinical practice. |
| **Loyola University New Orleans** | |
| Nursing School | [School of Nursing] (http://cnh.loyno.edu/nursing) |
| Selected Programs | MSN–Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN–Nurse-Midwifery, MSN–Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Post-Graduate FNP Certificate, Post-Graduate Nurse-Midwifery Certificate, Post-Graduate PMHNP Certificate, Post-Graduate Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate, BSN–DNP Family Nurse Practitioner, BSN–DNP Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, BSN–DNP Nurse Anesthesia, BSN–DNP Dual Nurse Anesthesia + AGACNP, MSN–DNP Executive Leader |
| Learning Formats | Program formats vary by specialty and include online, hybrid, and on-campus options. FNP programs are offered online, while Nurse-Midwifery, PMHNP, AGACNP, and Nurse Anesthesia pathways include hybrid delivery formats. |
| Nurse-Midwifery Focus | The Nurse-Midwifery program is committed to increasing the number of Certified Nurse-Midwives to help address maternal health disparities and improve access to obstetric and gynecologic care in underserved communities. |
| Student Support | The School of Nursing offers flexible scheduling options and allows eligible students participating in employer-sponsored tuition reimbursement programs to defer up to 90% of tuition and fees until the end of the semester. |
| Accreditation | Loyola University New Orleans is accredited by SACSCOC. The BSN, MSN, DNP, and Post-Graduate Certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). |
| Overview | Loyola University New Orleans School of Nursing offers graduate and doctoral nursing education through nurse practitioner, nurse-midwifery, nurse anesthesia, leadership, and specialty certificate pathways. Programs are available in online and hybrid formats and emphasize leadership, healthcare innovation, and service to underserved populations. The school also highlights its commitment to improving maternal health outcomes through its Nurse-Midwifery program and provides flexible options for working nurses. |
| About the School | Loyola University New Orleans is a private Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The School of Nursing is part of the College of Nursing and Health and emphasizes service, leadership, and professional preparation within the university’s Jesuit educational tradition. |
| **University of Louisiana at Lafayette** | |
| Nursing School | [LHC Group · Myers School of Nursing] (https://nursinghealthsciences.louisiana.edu/) |
| Selected Programs | MSN–Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN–Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, MSN–Nursing Education, Post-Master’s DNP |
| Learning Format | The MSN concentrations are delivered online. Clinical experiences for MSN students must be completed in Louisiana. The Post-Master’s DNP is designed for working nurses and follows a part-time format, with clinical hours that may be completed in Louisiana or the student's home state. |
| Tuition | Online graduate tuition is $480 per credit hour. Additional course fees may apply, but online students are not charged operational fees, activity fees, or out-of-state tuition. |
| Recognition | The nursing program has been recognized as a National League for Nursing Center of Excellence in Nursing Education, earned Stellar School designation from the National Student Nurses' Association, and has been ranked among the nation's top nursing programs by U.S. News & World Report. |
| Certification Preparation | The Family Nurse Practitioner MSN concentration meets educational requirements for graduates to sit for the Family Nurse Practitioner national certification examination and apply for advanced practice licensure. |
| Overview | The University of Louisiana at Lafayette's LHC Group · Myers School of Nursing offers online graduate nursing education through Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Nursing Education MSN concentrations, along with a Post-Master’s DNP pathway. The school emphasizes evidence-based practice, student success, and career advancement opportunities for practicing nurses. Graduate programs are designed to support working professionals while preparing graduates for advanced clinical, educational, and leadership roles. |
| About the School | The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana. The LHC Group · Myers School of Nursing is part of the College of Nursing & Health Sciences and offers undergraduate, master's, and doctoral nursing education. |
| **Institution** | **Pathway Options** | **Selected Specializations** | **NP Certificates** |
| **Grambling State University** Grambling, LA | Master’s | Family Nurse PractitionerPediatric Nurse Practitioner | |
| **Louisiana State University Health Sciences Ctr** New Orleans, LA | RN to Master’s, Master’s, Bachelor’s to DNP, Master’s to DNP | Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse SpecialistNurse MidwifeNurse Practitioner | |
| **Loyola University New Orleans** New Orleans, LA | RN to Master’s, Master’s, Bachelor’s to DNP, Master’s to DNP | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse PractitionerFamily Nurse PractitionerNurse-MidwiferyPsychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | Y |
| **McNeese State University** Lake Charles, LA | Master’s, Master’s to DNP | Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | Y |
| **Nicholls State University** Thibodaux, LA | Master’s | Family Nurse PractitionerPsychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | |
| **Northwestern State University** Shreveport, LA | Master’s, Bachelor’s to DNP, Master’s to DNP | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse PractitionerFamily Nurse PractitionerPsychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | Y |
| **Southeastern Louisiana University** Hammond, LA | Master’s, Bachelor’s to DNP, Master’s to DNP | Family Nurse PractitionerPsychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | Y |
| **Southern University and A&M College** Baton Rouge, LA | Master’s, Master’s to DNP | Family Nurse Practitioner | |
| **University of Louisiana at Lafayette** Lafayette, LA | Master’s, Bachelor’s to DNP, Master’s to DNP | Family Nurse PractitionerPsychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | |
| **University of Louisiana at Monroe** Monroe, LA | Master’s | Family Nurse Practitioner |