4 Schools • 4 Hybrid • 0 Fully Online • Campus
Four Minnesota schools offer Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) programs, with BSN-to-DNP, post-master’s DNP, and post-graduate certificate pathways. All four schools use hybrid formats that require some campus attendance, with tuition ranging from $991 to $1,774 per credit depending on the school and program.
Below, compare every Minnesota PMHNP program by cost, degree type, format, campus requirements, clinical hours, and admissions requirements.
| School | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
| St. Catherine University | Hybrid | Weekly on-campus learning days | $1,200 cpc | DNP, Certificate | Lowest-cost DNP with arranged placements |
| The College of St. Scholastica | Hybrid | On-campus lab days in Duluth | $991 cpc | Certificate | Northern Minnesota APRNs adding a psychiatric specialty |
| University of Minnesota | Hybrid | Required on-campus sessions each semester | $1,100 (DNP); $1,773.50 (certificate) | DNP, Certificate | Broad clinical exposure and strong graduate outcomes |
| Winona State University | Hybrid | Campus visits – frequency not clearly stated | $1,175.70 | BSN-to-DNP, Post-Master’s DNP, Certificate | Clinically intensive, rural-focused training |
What’s the Best PMHNP Program for You?
Best Overall DNP Value
St. Catherine University combines the state’s lowest doctoral tuition at $82K with 810 clinical hours at sites arranged entirely by a dedicated placement specialist.
Heaviest Clinical Preparation
Winona State University requires 1,080 practicum hours in its BSN-to-DNP — more supervised psychiatric practice than any other Minnesota program — delivered with a deliberate rural emphasis.
Broadest Clinical Exposure
The University of Minnesota arranges roughly 1,000 hours spanning inpatient psychiatry, schools, corrections, telehealth, and veterans’ services, and its Twin Cities graduates report starting salaries near $144K.
Best for Northern Minnesota
The College of St. Scholastica is the only campus-based PMHNP program in northern Minnesota, sparing Duluth-area nurses a long drive to meet hybrid requirements.
Best for Out-of-State Nurses
Winona State charges the same $1,175.70 per credit regardless of residency, making it a rare public university where nonresidents pay no premium.
Minnesota DNP PMHNP Programs
Three schools offer doctoral PMHNP preparation, all in hybrid formats and all open to BSN-prepared nurses; Winona State adds a dedicated post-master’s route for certified APRNs changing specialties. Clinical requirements run from 810 to 1,080 hours — a 270-hour spread that meaningfully changes the practicum commitment for working nurses. Full-time completion takes about three years at every school, with four-year plans available.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| St. Catherine University | BSN-to-DNP | $82K | 3 yrs FT (4-yr option) | 810 hrs |
| University of Minnesota | BSN-to-DNP or MSN-to-DNP | $88K | 3 yrs FT (4-yr option) | ~1,000 hrs |
| Winona State University | BSN-to-DNP | $85K | 3–4 yrs | 1,080 hrs |
| Winona State University | MSN-to-DNP | $51K | 2–3 yrs | 600–720 hrs |
- Lowest doctoral cost: St. Catherine University — $82K, with a placement specialist securing all clinical sites and preceptors.
- Fastest doctorate for certified APRNs: Winona State — ~43 new credits, with master’s coursework and experience credited toward the 72-credit total.
Minnesota Post-Graduate Certificate PMHNP Programs
All four schools offer a certificate, but eligibility gates differ sharply: St. Catherine requires an existing primary care NP certification, St. Scholastica admits only certified APRNs, and the University of Minnesota restricts entry to nurses who already hold a clinical DNP. Winona State is the most accessible, admitting any master’s-prepared nurse from a nationally accredited program after a syllabi review. Clinical hours range from 600 to 960.
| School | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| St. Catherine University | $29K | 1.5–2 yrs FT | 810 hrs |
| The College of St. Scholastica | Up to $40K | 4 semesters | 960 hrs |
| University of Minnesota | At least $35K | 1.5–2 yrs | Hrs planned with advisor |
| Winona State University | $28K | ~2–2.5 yrs | 600 hrs |
- Lowest certificate cost: Winona State — $28K at the 24-credit plan, rising to ~$34K if the catalog’s 29-credit total applies.
- Highest clinical hours: St. Scholastica — 960 supervised hours, though whether the school or student secures preceptors is not clearly stated
National Online PMHNP Options
Minnesota’s biggest gaps are format and access. No in-state program is fully online, no school offers an MSN PMHNP pathway, and two of the four certificates lock out master’s-prepared nurses who lack an APRN credential or DNP.
Nurses who need a no-travel format or an MSN route can consider the national providers below.
Post University PMHNP Programs
National | $604 cpc | BSN-MSN | Online
The 51-54 credit hour MSN-PMHNP Specialization at Post University's American Sentinel College spans 34 months with coursework covering advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, physical assessment, psychotropic psychopharmacology, and psychiatric nursing across child/adolescent, adult/older adult, and specialty populations at approximately $30,000-$31,000 total cost. Students complete 630 precepted clinical hours distributed across five clinical courses within 8-week timeframes, applying evidence-based practices to diverse mental health situations. The CCNE-accredited program emphasizes lifespan-focused psychiatric assessment, differential diagnosis, medication management, and therapeutic interventions preparing graduates for national certification.
Purdue Global PMHNP Programs
National | $400 to $720 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / MSN / DNP | Online
Purdue Global offers an online, CCNE-accredited PMHNP pathway with three options: Postgraduate Certificate, MSN focus, and MSN-to-DNP, with VR assignments for telehealth and group therapy. Estimated totals are ~$20,160 for the certificate (~1.5 years) and ~$32,760 for the MSN (~2 years); the MSN-to-DNP continues after the MSN. The program is authorized for Minnesota residents.
Rasmussen University PMHNP Program
National | $915 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / MSN | Online
The Rasmussen University Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program is a CCNE-accredited offering available in both an MSN (69 credits/27 months) and a Post-Graduate Certificate (53 credits/21 months) track. Both tracks are delivered entirely online but include required in-person practicum experiences, which are coordinated for students within their local communities. For Minnesota residents, Rasmussen supports this program with multiple local campuses—including those in Bloomington, Eagan, and St. Cloud—which may serve as resources or sites for program inquiries and support.
Walden University PMHNP Programs
National | $775 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / BSN-DNP / MSN-DNP / DNP | Online
Minnesota RNs can study for a PMHNP at Walden University via a fully online format renowned for both academic rigor and flexible scheduling. Walden’s Practicum Pledge® and faculty mentoring facilitate local preceptor placement, preparing Minnesota students for real-world psychiatric nursing. The programs build advanced diagnostic, therapy, and psychopharmacology competencies needed for state licensure and practice across Minnesota’s urban and rural settings.
WGU PMHNP Programs
National | flat rate cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN | Online
Focused on real-world practice, WGU's PMHNP programs require extensive clinical preparation, including three separate 650-hour internships that students arrange in their own local settings. The curriculum is designed by practicing NPs and is ANCC-certified, covering advanced topics such as psychopharmacology and diagnostic processes using the DSM-5-TR. Admission is competitive, requiring a 3.0 GPA in core sciences and an unencumbered RN license.
FAQ
How many PMHNP programs are in Minnesota?
Four schools offer PMHNP tracks: St. Catherine University, The College of St. Scholastica, the University of Minnesota, and Winona State University, covering BSN-to-DNP, post-master’s DNP, and post-graduate certificate pathways.
Are any Minnesota PMHNP programs fully online?
No. All four schools use hybrid formats requiring some campus attendance — weekly learning days at St. Catherine, per-semester sessions at the University of Minnesota, lab days at St. Scholastica, and Rochester-based attendance at Winona State. Fully online study requires a national provider.
Which Minnesota PMHNP program has the lowest tuition?
Winona State’s certificate is the least expensive at about $28K on the 24-credit plan, narrowly under St. Catherine’s $29K certificate. At the doctoral level, St. Catherine’s $82K DNP is the state’s lowest.
Which Minnesota schools offer a DNP PMHNP?
St. Catherine University, the University of Minnesota, and Winona State University. Winona State also offers a post-master’s DNP route that lets certified APRNs add the PMHNP role in roughly 43 new credits.
Can I complete clinical hours near home?
St. Catherine and the University of Minnesota arrange placements for students at approved sites. St. Scholastica and Winona State use precepted practicums, but neither clearly states who secures preceptors — confirm before enrolling, since self-placement in a 960- or 1,080-hour program is a major workload difference.
Do out-of-state students pay more in Minnesota?
Usually not at the doctoral level: Winona State’s Graduate Nursing rate and the University of Minnesota’s DNP rate are flat across residencies. Exceptions exist — the University of Minnesota’s certificate uses a resident rate with higher nonresident pricing, and St. Catherine notes state authorization restrictions may limit enrollment from outside Minnesota.
Can I enroll in a Minnesota certificate with only an MSN?
Only at Winona State, which admits master’s-prepared nurses after a syllabi review. St. Catherine requires an existing primary care NP certification, St. Scholastica requires an APRN credential, and the University of Minnesota requires a clinical DNP.