6 Schools • 5 Mostly Online • 1 Hybrid
Kansas nurses can choose from six online PMHNP programs: four at Kansas schools and two just across the state line at Kansas City, Missouri universities that enroll Kansas residents. Pathways include BSN-to-DNP, MSN, post-master’s DNP, and post-graduate certificates, delivered fully online, mostly online with brief campus intensives, or in one case hybrid. Tuition ranges between $501 to $922 cost per credit, while total costs run from roughly $15,000 for the least expensive certificates to about $70,000 for the priciest doctorate.
Washburn charges one flat online rate to residents and non-residents alike; Rockhurst includes full clinical placement services at no extra charge; Wichita State posts the lowest annual tuition for Kansas residents; and KU Medical Center anchors the state’s academic medical center option.
Click any school name for a full profile with admission requirements, curriculum, clinical hours, tuition, and accreditation.
Compare Kanas PMHNP Programs
| School | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
| KU Medical Center | Mostly Online | One-week workshop (DNP) | $615.50 cpc | BSN-DNP, Certificate | Academic medical center DNP training |
| University of Saint Mary | Mostly Online | Two 3-day intensives | $775 cpc | MSN Certificate | Lowest-cost MSN |
| Washburn University | Mostly Online | Annual on-campus session (BSN-DNP only) | $727 cpc | Certificate BSN-DNP MSN-DNP | Flat tuition |
| Wichita State University | Hybrid | On-campus sessions | $501 cpc | BSN-DNP | Lowest annual tuition for KS residents |
| Rockhurst University Kansas City, MO | Mostly Online | One 3-day campus immersion + one virtual immersion (no travel) | $780 didactic; $1,750 practicum | MSN Certificate | Included clinical placement services |
| UMKC Kansas City, MO | Mostly Online | 2–3 day intensives once per semester | $922.75 | MSN Certificate BSN-DNP MSN-DNP | Multiple post-master’s DNP pathways |
PMHNPOnline.com Online Format Classification
- Online: No routine campus visits required.
- Mostly Online: Coursework is online with one or more required campus intensives.
- Hybrid: Regular online and on-campus instruction.
- Campus: Most coursework takes place in person.
These classifications are based on each program’s actual campus attendance requirements rather than the school’s marketing terminology.
What’s the Best PMHNP Program for You?
Best Overall Value
Washburn University pairs CCNE accreditation, ANCC curriculum review acceptance, and a flat $727 per-credit rate for every student with certificate and DNP options that stay online.
Best Clinical Placement Support
Rockhurst University is the only school here that bundles full clinical placement services into tuition, pairing each student with a Student Success Advisor who secures local sites and preceptors.
Strongest Academic Medical Center DNP
KU Medical Center delivers a 79-credit BSN-to-DNP built around three sequential psychotherapeutics practicums and a clinical residency inside the state’s flagship health sciences campus.
Lowest-Cost MSN
The University of Saint Mary comes in around $41,000 for its 53-credit MSN, with a dedicated clinical coordinator who helps secure practicum placements.
Most Flexible Post-Master’s DNP Entry
UMKC offers three post-MSN entry pathways, including a 31-credit DNP core that master’s-prepared nurses can pair with the PMHNP certificate for a second specialty.
Lowest Resident DNP Tuition
Wichita State University publishes annual graduate tuition and fees near $12,000 for Kansas residents, the lowest yearly rate among the state’s doctoral options.
Kansas DNP PMHNP Programs
Four schools offer doctoral PMHNP pathways to Kansas nurses. KU Medical Center and Wichita State run in-state BSN-to-DNP tracks, Washburn adds three DNP entry points with a flat online rate, and UMKC provides Missouri-based BSN-DNP and post-master’s DNP routes.
Total costs vary widely depending on entry credential, residency, and how much prior clinical work each program credits.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| KU Medical Center | BSN-DNP | $49K in-state | 4 years | Not clear |
| Washburn University | BSN-DNP | $55K | 4.5 years | 1,020 hrs |
| Washburn University | MSN-DNP | $39K | 3 years | 540 hrs |
| Washburn University | MSN-DNP (non-NP) | $52K | 4 years | 1,020 hrs |
| Wichita State University | BSN-DNP | $12K–$24K | 3.5 years | Not clear |
| UMKC | BSN-DNP | $69K–$70K | 4 years | 1,031 + 330 project hrs |
| UMKC | MSN-DNP | $29K core; $45K with PMHNP certificate | 2–3 years | 600 |
- Lowest doctoral cost for certified NPs: Washburn MSN-DNP — $39K, with up to 500 prior clinical hours credited toward the 1,000-hour requirement.
- Annual-only pricing: Wichita State
Kansas MSN PMHNP Programs
Master’s-level PMHNP study is available in-state through the University of Saint Mary and across the border at Rockhurst and UMKC, both open to Kansas residents. All three run about two to two-and-a-half years full-time, but they differ sharply on clinical hours, placement responsibility, and how tuition is structured between didactic and practicum coursework.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| University of Saint Mary | MSN-PMHNP | $41K | 2 years full-time | 780 |
| Rockhurst University | MSN-PMHNP | $44K | 2 years full-time; 2 years 7 months part-time | 750 |
| UMKC | MSN-PMHNP | $42K | 2.5 years full-time | 660 minimum |
- Most clinical hours: University of Saint Mary — 780 hours across four clinical courses
- Placement included: Rockhurst — 750 hours at predetermined sites
- Self-secured preceptors: UMKC — students select their own preceptors subject to faculty approval
Kansas Post-Graduate Certificate PMHNP Programs
Five schools offer post-graduate PMHNP certificates, making this the most crowded pathway for Kansas APRNs adding a psychiatric specialty. Credit loads range from 18 to 38 hours because most programs run gap analyses against prior graduate coursework. Washburn stands out with three formal entry tracks, while Rockhurst and Saint Mary carry the heaviest clinical loads at 750 and 780 hours.
| School | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| KU Medical Center | $15K in-state | 1.5–2 years | Not clearly stated |
| University of Saint Mary | $21K–$29K | 1–2 years | 780 |
| Washburn University | $15K–$28K | 2 years | 525 minimum |
| Rockhurst University | $23K | 1.5 years | 750 |
| UMKC | $17K | 2–3 years part-time | Not clearly stated |
- Lowest certificate cost: Washburn — $15K entry point for NP-certified applicants
- Fewest required credits: UMKC — 18-credit minimum
- Widest entry options: Washburn — dedicated tracks for FNPs, psychiatric CNSs, and non-APRN master’s nurses
Kansas PMHNP Program Summaries
KU Medical Center PMHNP Programs
Kansas City | $472 cpc | Certificate / BSN-DNP | Hybrid
KU Medical Center runs its PMHNP programs through the School of Nursing on the Kansas City, Kansas health sciences campus, with online coursework carrying a $100 per-credit e-learning fee and a required week-long Professionalism and Scholarship Workshop on campus for DNP students. Clinical sites cluster in the Kansas City metro but can extend to communities where students live. The 79-credit BSN-DNP builds psychotherapy skills through three sequential practicums plus an advanced clinical residency, while the 24-credit certificate serves APRNs adding psychiatric certification. Best for BSN nurses who want doctoral training tied to an academic medical center and can manage a campus workshop plus largely self-directed clinical logistics. ..read more.
Nightingale College PMHNP Program
National | $550 cpc | BSN-MSN | Mostly Online
The CCNE-accredited MSN-PMHNP program at Nightingale College is fully authorized to enroll residents of Kansas. This entirely online, 24-month program requires 55 credit hours, including 810 clinical contact hours, preparing graduates to address the growing need for mental health providers in the state. By completing this rigorous curriculum, students meet the educational requirements necessary to sit for the national ANCC certification exam and apply for PMHNP licensure in Kansas.
Purdue Global PMHNP Programs
National | $400 to $720 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / MSN / DNP | Online
The PMHNP program offered by Purdue Global, available as a Post-Graduate Certificate, MSN, or MSN to DNP, is authorized for enrollment in Kansas and is entirely online. These CCNE-accredited programs prepare graduates to assess, diagnose, and treat psychiatric mental health disorders across various clinical settings. A core component of the online learning includes immersive assignments using virtual reality for practicing telehealth and group therapy.
Rasmussen University PMHNP Program
National | $915 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / MSN | Online
Rasmussen University’s CCNE-accredited PMHNP pathways (MSN and Post-Graduate Certificate) deliver fully online coursework paired with in-person practicums coordinated in each student’s community. In Kansas, learners can leverage Rasmussen’s local campus hubs for student services, skills support, and connections to regional clinical partners while completing virtual immersion experiences with telehealth and standardized patients. The curriculum integrates advanced assessment, psychopharmacology, and psychotherapy with technology-forward learning. Dedicated practicum coordination, multiple start dates, and flexible online delivery help working RNs progress efficiently toward PMHNP readiness.
Rockhurst University PMHNP Programs
Kansas City | $780 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN | Mostly Online
Rockhurst pairs online coursework with one three-day campus immersion in its simulation labs and one virtual immersion requiring no travel. Its defining feature is full clinical placement service at no additional charge: a Student Success Advisor identifies sites and preceptors near each student for the 750 required hours. Accelerated 13-week semesters and three yearly intakes keep scheduling flexible, though the pricing structure deserves attention — practicum credits run $1,750 versus $780 for didactic courses. Best for working Kansas nurses who value guaranteed placement over the lowest sticker price...read more.
UMKC PMHNP Programs
Kansas City | $779.50 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / BSN-DNP / MSN-DNP | Hybrid
UMKC delivers coursework through Canvas in synchronous and asynchronous modes, requiring 2-3 day on-campus intensives once per semester during clinical courses only. It fields the region's broadest degree menu — MSN, certificate, BSN-DNP, and three post-MSN DNP pathways — and charges in-state rates to all students in authorized states. Students select their own preceptors with faculty approval rather than receiving placement services, and admission runs through a two-step UMKC-plus-NursingCAS process with a required interview and a 3.2 GPA floor. Best for master's-prepared nurses mapping a route to the DNP, or disciplined students who already have preceptor relationships...read more.
University of Saint Mary PMHNP Programs
Leavonworth | $775 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN | Online
Saint Mary delivers asynchronous online coursework from its Leavenworth campus, with required three-day intensives. The intensives include skills check-offs, standardized patients, and oral boards. A dedicated clinical coordinator actively helps secure the program's 780 practicum hours, a meaningful contrast with schools that leave placement to students. Admission requires a year of RN experience before practicum courses and a remote interview. Best for Kansas RNs who want the cheapest in-state MSN with hands-on placement help and can meet demanding academic standards. ..read more.
Walden University PMHNP Programs
National | $775 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / BSN-DNP / MSN-DNP / DNP | Online
Nurses in Kansas can advance their careers through Walden University’s 100% online Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) programs, including BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, MSN-PMHNP, and Post-Master’s Certificate tracks. With the Walden Practicum Pledge, the university’s dedicated Field Placement Team assists Kansas students in securing local preceptors if needed, ensuring all 640–1,000 required clinical hours are completed within the state. These CCNE-accredited programs prepare Kansas nurses to meet the growing demand for psychiatric-mental health providers across rural and urban communities.
Washburn University PMHNP Programs
Topeka | $727 cpc | Certificate / BSN-DNP / MSN-DNP | Online
Washburn delivers its PMHNP portfolio fully online with asynchronous coursework and limited scheduled virtual sessions, though BSN-DNP students attend one mandatory on-campus session per year (a wrinkle against the "fully online" framing). Every student pays the same $727 per credit regardless of residency, a rarity among public universities. The certificate's three entry tracks and the two MSN-DNP routes use gap analysis to trim redundant coursework, and NP-certified entrants can receive up to 500 clinical hours of credit. Clinical placements are arranged near where students live with faculty and staff assistance, and preceptors must be psychiatrists or ANCC-certified PMHNPs. Best for out-of-state and career-changing APRNs who want predictable flat-rate pricing. ..read more.
WGU PMHNP Programs
National | flat rate cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN | Online
Western Governors University trains future psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners through online MSN and Post-Master’s Certificate programs designed for working nurses. These CCNE-accredited programs combine flexible online coursework with 650 hours of local clinical experience under qualified preceptors. The MSN pathway takes around 2.5 years to complete for about $36,000, while the certificate finishes in about 1.5 years for about $23,000.
Wichita State PMHNP Programs
Wichita | $501 cpc | BSN-DNP | Hybrid
Wichita State offers a single PMHNP pathway: a 73-74 credit BSN-to-DNP completed in about 3.5 years, with cohorts capped at 10-20 students per specialization. The program runs in a hybrid format with recurring on-campus attendance, consistent with its hands-on assessment labs and 40-hour precepted technology course. Students construct individual learning contracts for each clinical rotation and may use physician preceptors, since Kansas does not require national certification for APRN status. Admission is fall-only with a 3.5 minimum GPA to apply and a Kansas RN license required. Best for cost-sensitive Kansas residents within commuting range of Wichita. ..read more.
National Online PMHNP Options
National providers such as Walden University and Chamberlain fill gaps the regional schools leave open.
Nightingale College PMHNP Program
National | $550 cpc | BSN-MSN | Mostly Online
The CCNE-accredited MSN-PMHNP program at Nightingale College is fully authorized to enroll residents of Kansas. This entirely online, 24-month program requires 55 credit hours, including 810 clinical contact hours, preparing graduates to address the growing need for mental health providers in the state. By completing this rigorous curriculum, students meet the educational requirements necessary to sit for the national ANCC certification exam and apply for PMHNP licensure in Kansas.
Purdue Global PMHNP Programs
National | $400 to $720 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / MSN / DNP | Online
The PMHNP program offered by Purdue Global, available as a Post-Graduate Certificate, MSN, or MSN to DNP, is authorized for enrollment in Kansas and is entirely online. These CCNE-accredited programs prepare graduates to assess, diagnose, and treat psychiatric mental health disorders across various clinical settings. A core component of the online learning includes immersive assignments using virtual reality for practicing telehealth and group therapy.
Rasmussen University PMHNP Program
National | $915 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / MSN | Online
Rasmussen University’s CCNE-accredited PMHNP pathways (MSN and Post-Graduate Certificate) deliver fully online coursework paired with in-person practicums coordinated in each student’s community. In Kansas, learners can leverage Rasmussen’s local campus hubs for student services, skills support, and connections to regional clinical partners while completing virtual immersion experiences with telehealth and standardized patients. The curriculum integrates advanced assessment, psychopharmacology, and psychotherapy with technology-forward learning. Dedicated practicum coordination, multiple start dates, and flexible online delivery help working RNs progress efficiently toward PMHNP readiness.
Walden University PMHNP Programs
National | $775 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / BSN-DNP / MSN-DNP / DNP | Online
Nurses in Kansas can advance their careers through Walden University’s 100% online Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) programs, including BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, MSN-PMHNP, and Post-Master’s Certificate tracks. With the Walden Practicum Pledge, the university’s dedicated Field Placement Team assists Kansas students in securing local preceptors if needed, ensuring all 640–1,000 required clinical hours are completed within the state. These CCNE-accredited programs prepare Kansas nurses to meet the growing demand for psychiatric-mental health providers across rural and urban communities.
WGU PMHNP Programs
National | flat rate cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN | Online
Western Governors University trains future psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners through online MSN and Post-Master’s Certificate programs designed for working nurses. These CCNE-accredited programs combine flexible online coursework with 650 hours of local clinical experience under qualified preceptors. The MSN pathway takes around 2.5 years to complete for about $36,000, while the certificate finishes in about 1.5 years for about $23,000.
FAQ
How many online PMHNP programs are available in Kansas?
Four Kansas schools offer online PMHNP programs — KU Medical Center, University of Saint Mary, Washburn, and Wichita State — plus two Kansas City, Missouri schools, Rockhurst and UMKC, that enroll Kansas residents.
Are any Kansas PMHNP programs fully online?
Washburn’s post-graduate certificate and MSN-DNP tracks are fully online with no required campus visits. Every other program involves at least one on-campus intensive, and Wichita State runs a hybrid format with recurring campus attendance.
Which Kansas PMHNP program has the lowest tuition?
Washburn’s post-graduate certificate starts around $15,000 for NP-certified applicants, essentially tied with KU Medical Center’s $15,000 in-state certificate. Among full degrees, Saint Mary’s $41,000 MSN is the least expensive master’s, and Wichita State posts the lowest annual doctoral tuition for residents.
Which schools offer a DNP PMHNP in Kansas?
KU Medical Center, Washburn, and Wichita State offer in-state doctoral tracks, and UMKC adds Missouri-based BSN-DNP and MSN-DNP options. Washburn is the only one with three distinct DNP entry points.
Do I have to visit campus?
Usually briefly. KU DNP students attend a week-long workshop, Saint Mary requires one or two three-day intensives, Rockhurst requires one three-day immersion, UMKC holds 2-3 day intensives each clinical semester, and Washburn BSN-DNP students visit once per year. Wichita State’s hybrid program involves recurring campus attendance. Only Washburn’s certificate and MSN-DNP tracks require no travel.
Can I complete clinical hours near where I live?
Yes at most schools. Washburn arranges placements close to students’ homes, Rockhurst and Saint Mary provide dedicated placement support, and KU permits sites beyond Kansas City where students are located. UMKC and Wichita State students identify their own preceptors with faculty approval.
Can Kansas residents attend the Kansas City, Missouri programs?
Yes. Kansas is one of Rockhurst’s 20 authorized states, and UMKC extends in-state tuition to students in states approved for its online delivery — though UMKC applicants should check the state regulatory map, and clinical licensure must match the state where rotations occur.