Nurse midwifery is, quite simply, one of the most critical roles in modern healthcare. While to many people “midwife” may sound old-fashioned or even historical, nurse midwives are definitely not a thing of the past – in fact, they are the present and future of birthing. With extensive training in the most current medical research; the most up-to-date, evidence-based nursing practice; and the age-old art of caring for women in pregnancy and birth, nurse midwives are the best of all possible worlds for expectant mothers and their newborns.
The Importance of Online Nurse Midwifery Programs
As with other specializations, nurse midwifery is on course to make a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) the standard for entry-level positions in nurse midwifery. The American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM), which accredits nurse midwifery programs, has resisted that trend, arguing that nurse midwives are too crucial to be held up in unnecessary schooling when an MSN provides all the education necessary. Still, many schools of nursing are already making the transition from MSN to DNP Nurse Midwifery programs, or developing bridge programs for those who want to make the next step to a DNP.
Ranking the Best Online Nurse Midwifery Programs
- Cost: current tuition (according to IPEDS)
- Reputation: current Niche score
- Return on Investment: current alumni salaries (according to College Scorecard)
This combination provides the best balance of quality, affordability, and job-market authority for nurse midwifery graduates.
1. James Madison University
The ACME-accredited JMU MSN Nurse-Midwifery Concentration program will train students on advanced health assessment, health care policy, the role of an advanced practice nurse, and epidemiology and population assessment among other courses. This unusual program uses a special partnership with Shenandoah University to provide students with an MSN from JMU, and a post-graduate certificate in Nurse Midwifery from Shenandoah. Online nurse midwifery programs like the certified midwife programs at JMU are built to help a student become an invaluable asset to a hospital, and JMU’s emphasis on rural and underserved communities makes the nurse-midwifery MSN a valuable contribution to Appalachian life.
Format: Hybrid (partnership with Shenandoah University)
Cost: $$$$$
2. University of Colorado College of Nursing
The College of Nursing offers four courses online for the CU Anschutz MSN in Nurse Midwifery. For those pursuing certified midwife programs from a rural area, there are special allowances made for study and qualification, given the spread-out nature of the state of Colorado. For residents of Colorado, the University’s online nurse midwifery programs is one of the best deals available in terms of return on investment, with resident tuition varying depending on a number of factors but generally being lower than average within this field.
Format: Hybrid
Cost: $$$$$
3. Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University’s online nurse midwifery programs are aimed at both beginning nursing professionals and students, and those who have been at the game for a little while, and are looking to strengthen their resume. TTU’s hybrid MSN in Nurse Midwifery degree program provides students with online and web-enhanced courses (requiring some on-campus attendance); the nurse midwifery track will require a little more on-campus time than other specializations. Coming from West Texa’s leading technical university, TTU’s certified midwife programs can be a tremendous stepping stone in one’s career.
Format: Hybrid
Cost: $$$$$
4. University of Washington
The University of Washington DNP in Nurse Midwifery program is one of the most comprehensive certified midwife programs available right now. The first year is a hybrid program, 50/50 online and in person, and will take students through the steps to build a solid foundation to be not only an expert in their field, but a pillar of their professional community, covering leadership, appraisal, health systems and policy and quality improvement. More than 20 diverse sites give nurse midwifery students a wide range of experience. Not many online nurse midwifery programs are so devoted to creating not just great professionals, but people who may have an impact on the health industry at large.
Format: Hybrid (on-campus once a week)
Cost: $$$$$
5. Georgetown University
As a household-name university, Georgetown wishes to only produce professionals who will rise to the top of their field, including the Georgetown Master’s in Midwifery degree program. This means that it can be very hard to get enrolled in Georgetown’s certified midwife programs, but if you make the cut, and you can stick it out, you will effectively have your career made for you. Georgetown’s online nurse midwifery programs cover everything from the philosophy, ethics, and business of nursing to advanced health assessment, pharmacology and pathophysiology training across three on-campus intensives and one thousand plus clinical hours for the part-time program alone.
Format: Online (with 3 on-campus intensives)
Cost: $$$$$
6. George Washington University
The GWU hybrid MSN-Nurse Midwifery program comes about through a partnership with Shenandoah University, which provides a post-graduate certificate in nurse midwifery to George Washington University’s certified midwife programs. The program features aculty mentoring, part-time and full-time enrollment options, and focused attention to antepartal, perinatal, neonatal and postpartal care, with a mind towards serving underserved communities such as rural areas. GWU’s program is essentially designed to create nursing care superheroes, people who will help to push the highest quality medical treatment out to areas where it might not easily be found.
Format: Hybrid (partnership with Shenandoah University)
Cost: $$$$$
7. Stony Brook University
The university’s certified midwife programs include Stony Brook’s MSN in Nurse Midwifery, combining online nurse midwifery programs with on-site course work. The work that nursing students will do here is not a simple training course, but implementing scientific findings to improve nursing care, with a focus on theory and clinical judgment. At Stony Brook, you’re not a trainee, you’re a researcher, and may wind up doing some of your most important work while here. Stony Brook is also an affordable way to get a degree in one of the highest-paying states for nurses.
Format: Online (some on-site requirements)
Cost: $$$$$
8. University of Kansas
One of the Midwest’s finest certified midwife programs is the University of Kansas’ DNP Nurse Midwifery track. With online nurse midwifery programs and intensives, the nurse-midwife DNP program will have students studying at a number of facilities around the Kansas City metropolitan area and beyond, and will make graduates eligible for the national certification examination by the American Midwifery Certification Board, which may open the door to an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse license, essentially a golden ticket for professionals in this field.
Format: Online (with intensives)
Cost: $$$$$
9. Baylor University
The Baylor online DNP in Nurse-Midwifery degree program includes a post-masters track, and may be one of the best certified midwife programs in the state. Program features include a 100% first-time pass rate for certification exams, ACME accreditation, and CCNE accreditation. The Herrington School of Nursing is widely considered one of the finest not only in Texas, but in the entire US; the extensive training and education found here will make for a robust and impressive resume, virtually ensuring employment anywhere in the country.
Format: Online (with immersions)
Cost: $$$$$
10. East Carolina University
ECU’s online MSN in Nurse Midwifery degree is one of the more impressive online nurse midwifery programs available. The program will qualify students for the American Midwifery Certification Board exam to work under the CNM title, and post masters certificates are available for those who want to advance their education. Many who study with ECU go on to become educational professionals, allowing for greater diversity in one’s career path. With comprehensive education on the skills demanded of a midwifery professional as well as the business side of the healthcare industry, it shouldn’t be surprising to find hospital and pharmacy founders among ECU’s alumni.
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
11. University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati’s online Master’s in Nurse Midwifery track is a full, comprehensive program devoted to understanding everything there is to understand about helping women through the birthing process, including the physical and psychosocial aspects, but also the spiritual and religious needs of the patient. Nursing is a scientific field, but unlike many medical fields, nursing goes well beyond science, and the University of Cincinnati’s certified midwife programs aim to equip graduates with all of the tools needed for the human element of the job.
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
12. Bethel University
The online nurse midwifery programs at Bethel University will cover much of the same ground as any other online nurse midwifery programs, but are focused heavily on providing care to underserved communities, including rural and inner city areas. Whether or not this is your career plan, being able to work directly in these communities proves to employers that you are not only qualified by your credentials in nurse-midwife practice, but that you have extensive experience with the human element and the compassionate side of nursing, as well.
Format: Online (with intensives)
Cost: $$$$$
13. Old Dominion University
ODU’s certified nurse midwifery programs are offered in partnership with Shenandoah University, providing their online MSN courses along with Shenandoah’s post-graduate certificate in nurse midwifery. A two year program awarding a Master of Science in Nursing, opening the door for further certification and licensing, what really makes ODU a first choice is the access that students will have to one of the best research facilities in the country. For students who wish to delve into the science end of the field, ODU will help you to make contacts and learn the skills required to become a tenured professor, resident or researcher at a leading university.
Format: Hybrid (partnership with Shenandoah University)
Cost: $$$$$
14. Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University
Jefferson University’s certified midwife programs include two and three year tracks to the American Midwifery Certification Board exam, with the final four semesters of both being full-time, with advanced placement for certain qualified MEAC-educated professional midwives. A bachelor’s degree is prerequisite, as a primarily online nurse midwifery programs with only two intensives, it’s not difficult to work Jefferson into your educational career plan. Accessibility is one of the strongest attractions for this program, with online education allowing students to do the bulk of their coursework on their own time, making it the ideal program for working professionals looking to advance their careers with further training.
Format: Online (with 2 intensives)
Cost: $$$$$
15. University of New Mexico
Of course it stands to reason that the University of New Mexico has one of the best certified midwife programs in the country for rural medicine. For anyone looking to devote some time to rural medicine, whether as a lifelong pursuit or to develop their career and build a strong resume with online nurse midwifery programs, the Nurse-Midwifery track at the UNM College of Nursing is about as good a foothold in that niche as one can hope to get. A full-time two year commitment awarding a Master of Science in Nursing, with online MSN Core courses available and an APRN Core program involving both online and on-site experience, any hospital looking to push healthcare in a rural area is likely to fast-track UNM graduates to the top of the list.
Format: Hybrid (core online, concentration hybrid)
Cost: $$$$$