Colorado has three in-state PMHNP programs: Colorado State University Pueblo, Regis University, and the University of Colorado. Each offers the same three entry pathways—an MSN, a BSN-to-DNP, and a post-master’s certificate—so choosing a school is more about comparing tuition, learning format, clinical support, and overall fit than finding a specific degree option.
Tuition varies widely across the state. Colorado State University Pueblo offers the lowest resident pricing, while Regis University has the highest tuition for its BSN-to-DNP pathway. Program formats also differ, with hybrid, online, and mostly online options available. Before applying, compare total costs, clinical hour requirements, campus visit expectations, and whether each school assists with securing clinical placements.
PMHNP Programs at a Glance
| School | Est. Cost (Rounded) | High-Level Program Snapshot |
|---|---|---|
| CSU Pueblo | MSN: $10K–$11K BSN-DNP: $15.3K–$15.5K Certificate: $2.8K | – Hybrid delivery: online coursework with on-campus instruction – 780 PMHNP clinical hours (Fall 2024+ admits); 1,320 total for BSN-DNP – ACEN accredited; lowest tuition in the state at every level |
| Regis University | MSN: $50.6K BSN-DNP: $78K–$83.4K Certificate: $38K | – Online delivery, including the doctoral portion of the BSN-to-DNP – 630 clinical hours (MSN); 1,000 total for BSN-to-DNP – Students arrange clinicals with faculty; telehealth options |
| University of Colorado | MS: $41.7K BS-DNP: $62.5K Certificate: $23.2K | – Mostly online delivery with an on-campus lab component – 630 clinical hours (MS and certificate); 1,100+ for BS-to-DNP – Clinical placements arranged by the university for Denver/Aurora students – 100% PMHNP board certification pass rate |
Looking for an RN-to-MSN or MSN-to-DNP pathway? None of Colorado’s in-state PMHNP programs currently offer those entry options. If that’s your goal, you’ll need to consider accredited online PMHNP programs from schools outside Colorado.
Choosing the Best PMHNP Program in Colorado
Best Overall: University of Colorado. Arranged clinical placements, a 100% board certification pass rate, and the state’s #1 U.S. News ranking make it the strongest all-around choice for students near Denver or Aurora.
Lowest Tuition: CSU Pueblo. Its ~$10K–$11K resident MSN and ~$15.5K BSN-to-DNP undercut every other Colorado program by tens of thousands of dollars.
Best Online Flexibility: Regis University. The only fully online in-state option, with telehealth clinical opportunities available.
Best MSN: CSU Pueblo. The hybrid MSN costs roughly a quarter of Regis or CU and includes 780 clinical hours — the highest MSN clinical total in the state.
Best BSN-to-DNP: University of Colorado. The 4.5-year BS-to-DNP awards both degrees back-to-back with no second application, arranged placements, and 1,100+ clinical hours.
Best Certificate: CSU Pueblo. Its gap-analysis model starts at just 16 credits (~$2.8K resident minimum), so MSN-prepared nurses pay only for the coursework they actually need.
Best for Working Nurses: Regis University. BSN-to-DNP students finish the online doctoral portion while working as nurse practitioners, and clinical hours may include telehealth options.
DNP PMHNP Programs in Colorado
All three Colorado schools offer a BSN-to-DNP PMHNP pathway, ranging from four to five years of full-time study. Costs and clinical requirements vary widely.
| School | Program | Credits / Length | Estimated Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSU Pueblo | BSN-to-DNP PMHNP | 86–87 credits / 4 years | ~$15.3K–$15.5K resident; ~$23K–$23.2K nonresident |
| Regis University | Post-BSN to DNP, PMHNP Specialization | 74–79 credits / 4–5 years | ~$78.1K–$83.4K |
| University of Colorado | BS to DNP – PMHNP | 10 semesters / 4.5 years | ~$62.5K resident; ~$101.2K nonresident |
Key Differences
- CSU Pueblo costs a fraction of the other two — even its nonresident rate (~$23K) is well below Regis and CU resident-equivalent pricing.
- Clinical totals differ: CSU Pueblo requires 1,320 practicum hours (including 540 DNP project hours), CU requires 1,100+, and Regis requires 1,000.
- Regis structures the DNP so students complete the MSN portion first, then finish doctoral courses online while working as NPs.
- CU awards the master’s and doctorate back-to-back without a separate application and arranges placements for Denver Metro students.
MSN PMHNP Programs in Colorado
The MSN remains the fastest in-state route to PMHNP practice, with programs running two to three years full-time.
| School | Program | Credits / Length | Estimated Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSU Pueblo | MSN – PMHNP Concentration | 56–62 credits / 3 years | ~$10K–$11K resident; ~$15K–$16.5K nonresident |
| Regis University | MSN – PMHNP | 48 credits / ~2 years | ~$50.6K |
| University of Colorado | MS – PMHNP | 52 credits / ~2.5 years | ~$41.7K resident; ~$67.5K nonresident |
Key Differences
- Regis is the fastest at roughly 2 years full-time; CSU Pueblo takes 3 years but costs 75–80% less.
- CSU Pueblo’s MSN requires 780 clinical hours (Fall 2024+ admits) vs. 630 at both Regis and CU.
- CU is the only school of the three that arranges MSN clinical placements; Regis students self-arrange with support staff, and CSU Pueblo’s placement model is not clearly stated.
- Regis accepts a lower undergraduate GPA (2.75) than CSU Pueblo or CU (3.0).
Graduate Certificate PMHNP Programs in Colorado
All three schools offer a post-master’s route for MSN-prepared nurses adding the PMHNP specialty, with cost driven largely by required credits.
| School | Program | Credits / Length | Estimated Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSU Pueblo | Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate | 16 credits minimum / varies | ~$2.8K minimum resident; ~$4.3K minimum nonresident |
| Regis University | Post-Master’s Certificate – PMHNP | 36 credits / varies | ~$38K |
| University of Colorado | Post-Graduate Certificate – PMHNP | 29 credits / ~1.5 years | ~$23.2K resident; ~$37.6K nonresident |
Key Differences
- CSU Pueblo’s individualized gap analysis can cut the certificate to 16 credits, while Regis requires a fixed 36 credits regardless of prior coursework.
- Clinical requirements: 780 hours at CSU Pueblo (Fall 2024+), 630 at CU; Regis certificate clinical hours follow the practicum sequence but a total is not clearly stated
- Regis certificate enrollment is very limited due to competitive clinical placements and may not be offered every year.
- CU coordinates certificate clinical placements for Denver Metro students.
Admissions Requirements Comparison
| School | GPA | Deadlines | Important Admission Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSU Pueblo | 3.0 | Not clearly stated | Colorado or compact-state RN license; prerequisites (statistics, microbiology, chemistry) with C or better; three letters of recommendation; preference for 2,000 hours of RN experience, Southern Colorado residents, and CSU Pueblo graduates. |
| Regis University | 2.75 (3.0 for certificate) | Not clearly stated; PMHNP track starts each May | Applies through NursingCAS; two years of behavioral or community health RN experience preferred; admissions interview; background check and drug screen. |
| University of Colorado | 3.0 (GRE or 12 graduate credits if below) | Not clearly stated | Undergraduate research and statistics courses with C or higher; three references (one academic preferred); essay; interview for selected applicants. |
Admissions Tip: None of the three schools publishes application deadlines in the program data reviewed, so contact admissions early — especially for Regis, where the PMHNP track starts only in May and certificate seats are scarce. CSU Pueblo’s stated preferences (RN experience, Southern Colorado residency) mean out-of-region applicants without psychiatric nursing hours face a tougher path there, while CU’s GRE fallback offers a route for applicants below a 3.0 GPA.
Colorado PMHNP Summaries
CSU Pueblo PMHNP Programs
Pueblo | $177.92 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / BSN-DNP | Mostly Online
CSU Pueblo offers MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and Post-Master’s PMHNP options with hybrid delivery. The programs train students to provide evidence-based, patient-centered psychiatric care across the lifespan, with increased PMHNP clinical hours starting Fall 2024. The certificate track uses a gap analysis to set an individualized plan and clinical hour total. ..read more.
Post University PMHNP Programs
National | $604 cpc | BSN-MSN | Online
Post University's online MSN with PMHNP Specialization through American Sentinel College combines academic rigor with scheduling flexibility through 8-week courses and monthly admissions. The program requires 51-54 credits including specialized psychiatric coursework and five preceptorship experiences totaling 630 clinical hours. Costing approximately $31,000 and completing in about 34 months, the program prepares nurses for advanced psychiatric practice and ANCC certification eligibility.
Purdue Global PMHNP Programs
National | $400 to $720 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / MSN / DNP | Online
Purdue Global's PMHNP programs are authorized in Colorado, offering three fully online, CCNE-accredited tracks: a Postgraduate Certificate ($20,160, 1.5 years), MSN with PMHNP focus ($32,760, 2 years), and MSN-DNP pathway ($32,760 for MSN portion). All programs feature immersive virtual reality assignments for telehealth and group therapy training, preparing graduates to assess, diagnose, treat, and manage psychiatric mental health disorders across the lifespan. Colorado graduates achieve a 93.7% average certification exam pass rate and may pursue APRN licensure after earning national PMHNP certification through ANCC or AANP.
Regis University PMHNP Programs
Denver | $1,055 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / BSN-DNP | Online
Regis University’s PMHNP programs use live, synchronous online classes one day per week, making them manageable for working nurses. Across pathways, students build advanced skills in assessment, psychotherapy, and psychopharmacology, and complete supervised clinical hours that translate theory into practice. Graduates are prepared to address the provider shortage by assessing, diagnosing, and treating mental health conditions across the lifespan and are eligible for national PMHNP certification. ..read more.
University of Colorado PMHNP Programs
Aurora | $800 - $1200 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / MSN / BSN-DNP | Mostly Online
The University of Colorado Anschutz offers three PMHNP pathways delivered in a hybrid online format with minimal on-campus time in Aurora. Clinical placements are coordinated for Denver/Aurora students, and the specialty reports a 100% board certification pass rate. Programs emphasize psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and integrated behavioral health across the lifespan, with progressively intensive clinical experiences from the MS and certificate (≈630 hours) through the BS-to-DNP (>1,100 hours). ..read more.
Walden University PMHNP Programs
National | $775 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / BSN-DNP / MSN-DNP / DNP | Online
Aspiring Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners in Colorado can advance their careers through Walden University’s fully online PMHNP programs, including BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, MSN-PMHNP, and Post-Master’s Certificate tracks designed for maximum flexibility. With the support of Walden’s Practicum Pledge and a dedicated Field Placement Team, Colorado nurses are guaranteed help securing clinical sites across the state’s urban and rural areas, from Denver to the Western Slope. Graduates emerge prepared to meet Colorado’s growing demand for mental health providers, delivering evidence-based care across the lifespan in diverse mountain and plains communities.
WGU PMHNP Programs
National | flat rate cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN | Online
Two PMHNP pathways at WGU are fully online and competency-based. Learners complete 650 clinical hours locally, or 750 for Kansas entrants after March 1, 2025. A Program Mentor guides each step, with flat-rate tuition and minimum durations of 2.5 years (MSN) and 1.5 years (certificate).