Neonatologist Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a neonatologist. Neonatologists usually study medicine, nursing, or biology. 56% of neonatologists hold a doctoral degree, and 12% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 52 real neonatologist resumes to see exactly what neonatologist education sections show.

The most common colleges for neonatologists are the Virginia Commonwealth University and the Virginia Commonwealth University.

There are also many online neonatologist courses to help get the education required to be a neonatologist.

There are certain neonatologist certifications that you should consider. These neonatologist certifications include Pediatrics and Certification in Neonatology.

What education do you need to become a neonatologist?

What degree do you need to be a neonatologist?

The most common degree for neonatologists is doctoral degree, with 56% of neonatologists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 12% and bachelor's degree degree at 8%.
  • Doctorate, 56%
  • Bachelor's, 12%
  • Master's, 8%
  • Other Degrees, 24%

What should I major in to become a neonatologist?

You should major in medicine to become a neonatologist. 38% of neonatologists major in medicine. Other common majors for a neonatologist include nursing and biology.

Most common colleges for neonatologists

Neonatologists often get their degrees at Virginia Commonwealth University, Cairn University, and Brown University. Here are the most common colleges for neonatologists in the US based on their resumes.
Neonatologist Common College
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Percentages
ascdesc
Virginia Commonwealth University6.67%
Cairn University6.67%
Brown University6.67%
University of Chicago6.67%
New York University6.67%

Best majors for neonatologists

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Medicine38.5%
2Nursing26.9%
3Biology7.7%
4Health Care Administration7.7%
5Management3.8%

Best colleges for neonatologists

The best colleges for neonatologists are Duke University, University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins University.

A neonatologist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for neonatologists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become neonatologists.

1. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

Website

WWW.DUKE.EDU

Address

103 Allen Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $93,200 per year

Net Price: $23,442 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.91%
SAT Average - 1516
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Nursing
Biomedical Engineering
Public Health

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Nursing
Biomedical Engineering
Public Health

3. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,430

Enrollment

5,963

Website

https://www.yale.edu

Address

105 Wall Street, New Haven, CT 06520

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $67,800 per year

Net Price: $18,770 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 6.35%
SAT Average - 1517
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Public Health
Nursing
Physics

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-State Tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

Website

https://umich.edu/

Address

2074 Fleming Administration Building, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1340

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $55,900 per year

Net Price: $16,010 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.83%
SAT Average - 1434
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Nursing
Public Health
Biomedical Engineering

5. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,104

Enrollment

7,089

Website

www.georgetown.edu

Address

37th and O St NW, Washington, DC 20057

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $81,100 per year

Net Price: $30,169 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 14.52%
SAT Average - 1456
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Nursing
Health Care Administration
Public Health

20 best online courses for neonatologists

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Top 10 most affordable universities for neonatologists

The most affordable schools for neonatologists are University of Florida, florida international university, and hunter college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for neonatologists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for neonatologists.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,381

Cost of Attendance

21,034

Website

www.ufl.edu/

Address

300 SW 13th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,700 per year

Net Price: $8,057 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 38.75%
SAT Average - 1362
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Public Health
Nursing
Biomedical Engineering

2. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,556

Cost of Attendance

19,434

Website

www.fiu.edu

Address

11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,500 per year

Net Price: $8,311 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 58.56%
SAT Average - 1185
ACT Average - 25
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Nursing
Biomedical Engineering
Public Health

3. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,182

Cost of Attendance

13,998

Website

www.hunter.cuny.edu

Address

695 Park Ave, New York, NY 10021

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,300 per year

Net Price: $2,796 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 36.42%
SAT Average - 1240
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Biology
Public Health
Physics

4. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,410

Cost of Attendance

20,456

Website

www.usf.edu

Address

4202 East Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620-9951

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,400 per year

Net Price: $9,838 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 42.63%
SAT Average - 1265
ACT Average - 28
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Nursing
Public Health
Biomedical Engineering

5. Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$4,831

Cost of Attendance

19,559

Website

www.fau.edu/

Address

777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL 33431-0991

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,800 per year

Net Price: $9,768 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 59.32%
SAT Average - 1159
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Nursing
Biomedical Engineering
Public Health

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for neonatologists

The hardest universities for neonatologists to get into are Duke University, University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins University.

Some great schools for neonatologists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for neonatologists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions Rate

9%

SAT Average

1,516

Website

WWW.DUKE.EDU

Address

103 Allen Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $93,200 per year

Net Price: $23,442 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.91%
SAT Average - 1516
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Nursing
Biomedical Engineering
Public Health

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Nursing
Biomedical Engineering
Public Health

3. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions Rate

11%

SAT Average

1,513

Website

www.jhu.edu

Address

3400 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218-2688

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $68,000 per year

Net Price: $30,701 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 11.48%
SAT Average - 1513
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Public Health
Nursing
Biomedical Engineering

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

6%

SAT Average

1,512

Website

www.columbia.edu

Address

535 West 116th Street, New York, NY 10027

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $77,900 per year

Net Price: $22,637 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 5.91%
SAT Average - 1512
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Nursing
Public Health
Biomedical Engineering

5. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions Rate

6%

SAT Average

1,517

Website

https://www.yale.edu

Address

105 Wall Street, New Haven, CT 06520

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $67,800 per year

Net Price: $18,770 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 6.35%
SAT Average - 1517
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Public Health
Nursing
Physics

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for neonatologists

The easiest schools for neonatologists to get into are AdventHealth University, d'youville college, and gwynedd mercy university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a neonatologist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for neonatologists.

A

1. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

87%

SAT Average

1,016

Website

www.ahu.edu

Address

671 Winyah Drive, Orlando, FL 32803

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $53,500 per year

Net Price: $17,211 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 86.89%
SAT Average - 1016
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Health Care Administration
Biology

2. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

100%

SAT Average

1,072

Website

www.dyc.edu

Address

320 Porter Ave, Buffalo, NY 14201-1084

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $50,600 per year

Net Price: $20,345 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 99.60%
SAT Average - 1072
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Biology
Public Health
Health Care Administration

3. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

92%

SAT Average

1,031

Website

https://www.gmercyu.edu/

Address

1325 Sumneytown Pike, P. O. Box 901, Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437-0901

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $48,000 per year

Net Price: $23,213 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 92.00%
SAT Average - 1031
ACT Average - 21
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Biology

4. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

84%

SAT Average

1,031

Website

https://www.msmu.edu

Address

12001 Chalon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,700 per year

Net Price: $29,267 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.82%
SAT Average - 1031
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Biology
Health Care Administration

5. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions Rate

81%

SAT Average

999

Website

www.felician.edu

Address

262 S Main St, Lodi, NJ 07644

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,800 per year

Net Price: $17,362 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 80.55%
SAT Average - 999
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Biology
Health Care Administration

Average neonatologist salary by education level

Neonatologist education level
ascdesc
Neonatologist salary
ascdesc
Doctorate Degree$209,668

Neonatologist Education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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