8 Schools • 2 Online • 6 Mostly Online
Massachusetts offers eight online PMHNP programs spanning MSN, DNP, and post-graduate certificate pathways, delivered in Online and Mostly Online formats. Total tuition runs from about $14K for the least expensive certificate to $67K for the priciest in-state doctorate, with completion times ranging from one year to five years depending on entry point and degree.
Key differences to weigh:
- UMass Chan guarantees school-arranged clinical placements while most competitors expect student-sourced preceptors
- MCPHS and Regis admit associate-degree nurses directly
- the three public UMass campuses and Westfield State undercut every private option on price
Compare each school’s online format, campus commitment, cost, and degree options below.
Compare Massachusetts PMHNP Programs
| School | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
| MCPHS | Mostly Online | Two 2-day Worcester residencies | $1,275 cpc | MSN, AD-to-MSN, CAGS | ADN nurses wanting a built-in bridge and low-friction admissions |
| Northeastern University | Mostly Online | Two intensive weekends in Boston | $1,035 (MS); | MS, CAGS | Research-minded BSN nurses seeking the lowest private-school total |
| Regis College | Online | None | $1,061 cpc | MSN, Certificate | RNs without a BSN who want zero campus visits |
| Simmons University | Mostly Online | One 2–4 day immersion | $1,288 cpc | MSN, Certificate | Nurses wanting live classes and placement-team support |
| UMass Chan Medical School | Mostly Online (format unclear) | Not clearly stated | $825 | BSN-to-DNP, Certificate | Massachusetts nurses wanting guaranteed placements and a doctorate |
| UMass Amherst | Online | None | $825, | DNP, Certificate | Out-of-state NPs seeking flat public pricing |
| UMass Dartmouth | Online (CAGS); Mostly Online (DNP) | one campus day per semester or year (DNP) | $751.67 | CAGS, BS-to-DNP, Post-MS DNP | New England nurses seeking the lowest-cost certificate or doctorate |
| Westfield State University | Mostly Online | None stated | $690 | MSN | Budget-focused BSN nurses comfortable joining a founding cohort |
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
Northeastern University delivers R1 research-university training — including a course that embeds students on active research teams — at roughly $45K, the lowest MS total among Boston’s private programs.
Strongest Placement Support
UMass Chan Medical School is the only Massachusetts program that guarantees school-arranged clinical placements, backed by a shared medical-school campus and an optional 12-month post-graduation fellowship.
Best for ADN Nurses
Regis College admits RNs with an associate degree, a non-nursing bachelor’s, or a BSN into one continuous online MSN with no experience requirement, no GRE, and no campus visits.
Best Board Results
MCPHS posted a 100% first-time ANCC pass rate for its 2024 PMHNP and CAGS graduates, built on a front-loaded curriculum and 750 clinical hours.
Lowest-Cost Certificate
UMass Dartmouth prices its 18-credit CAGS near $14K — less than half the nearest in-state alternative — at a flat rate for all five eligible New England states.
Best Structured Online Experience
Simmons University pairs live scheduled class sessions with a placement team that finds and vets clinical sites near your home, a model it has refined since 2013.
Massachusetts DNP PMHNP Programs
Three public universities offer doctoral PMHNP routes, and the price spread is unusually narrow for a doctorate: every option lands between $21K and $67K. UMass Chan anchors the traditional BSN-to-DNP with guaranteed placements; UMass Amherst runs the state’s oldest DNP fully online; UMass Dartmouth adds both a BSN-entry doctorate and a short completion track for certified APRNs.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| UMass Chan | BSN-to-DNP | $67K | 3 yrs | Not clearly stated |
| UMass Amherst | Post-Bacc DNP | $62K, all states | 4–5 yrs | 560–728 hrs |
| UMass Dartmouth | BS-to-DNP | $50K, all eligible states | 4–5 yrs | 1,008 hrs |
| UMass Dartmouth | Post-MS DNP | $21K | Under 2 yrs | 504 hrs |
- Lowest doctoral cost: UMass Dartmouth — ~$50K BS-to-DNP with 1,008 practicum hours
- Guaranteed placements: UMass Chan — school-arranged clinicals across Massachusetts
- Doctoral completion: UMass Dartmouth Post-MS DNP — 28 credits in under two years for already-certified APRNs
- Flat pricing for nonresidents: UMass Amherst — same $62K total regardless of state
Massachusetts MSN PMHNP Programs
Five schools offer master’s-level entry, and the field splits cleanly by price and access. Westfield State’s new program halves the private-school rate; Northeastern balances cost against a 26-state residency list and an experience requirement; MCPHS and Regis both open doors to associate-degree nurses; Simmons charges the state’s top rate for its high-support model.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| MCPHS | MSN (BSN entry) | $55K | 27 mos | 750 |
| MCPHS | AD-to-MSN Bridge | $80K | 3.25 yrs | 750 (+100 non-counting bridge hours) |
| Northeastern | MS (online) | $45K | 2–3 yrs | Not clearly stated |
| Regis College | MSN (BSN entry) | $45K–$54K | 26 mos | 664–800 |
| Regis College | MSN (ADN / non-nursing bachelor’s) | $60K–$70K | 34–38 mos | 664–800 |
| Simmons | MSN | $63K | 24–32 mos | 756 |
| Westfield State | MSN (BSN entry) | $33K | 2–3 yrs | Not clearly stated |
- Lowest tuition: Westfield State — ~$33K, but the first cohort starts Fall 2026 and CCNE accreditation is still in process.
- Highest pass rate: MCPHS — 100% first-time ANCC (2024), with all 750 clinical hours compressed into the final two semesters
- Widest entry: Regis College — ADN, non-nursing bachelor’s, or BSN accepted, with no RN experience requirement
Massachusetts Post-Graduate Certificate PMHNP Programs
Seven of the eight schools offer a post-graduate route, but the credentials differ sharply in load and cost — from UMass Dartmouth’s 500-hour, $14K CAGS to Regis’s full 800-hour sequence at $34K. Entry rules matter as much as price: several accept master’s-prepared nurses who aren’t yet NPs, while Northeastern’s is limited to already-certified NPs and CNSs.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| MCPHS | CAGS | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated | 540 hrs |
| Northeastern | CAGS | $47K | 1–2 yrs | Not clearly stated |
| Regis College | Post-Master’s Certificate | $34K | 12–18 mos | 800 |
| Simmons | Post-Graduate Certificate | $35K | 16–20 mos | 756 |
| UMass Chan | Post-Graduate Certificate | Not clearly stated | 1 yr | Not clearly stated |
| UMass Amherst | Post-Master’s Certificate | $23K–$25K | 5 semesters (NPs); ~3 yrs (non-NPs) | 560–728 |
| UMass Dartmouth | CAGS | $14K | ~2 yrs | 500 |
- Lowest cost: UMass Dartmouth — ~$14K, though the CAGS is still pursuing initial CCNE accreditation
- Fullest clinical load: Regis College — the complete 800-hour MSN sequence, not a trimmed certificate version.
- Fastest finish: UMass Chan — one year across three semesters with school-arranged placements,
Other Online PMHNP Options
Post University PMHNP Programs
National | $604 cpc | BSN-MSN | Online
Post University's American Sentinel College of Nursing & Health Sciences offers a CCNE-accredited MSN-PMHNP Specialization costing approximately $30,000-$31,000 and requiring 51-54 credit hours completed over 34 months with 630 clinical hours. The 100% online program features flexible 8-week courses with monthly start dates, allowing students to complete one class at a time while maintaining consistent due dates throughout the curriculum. Students must pass the APEA 3P Exam after completing pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment courses before progressing to specialization coursework.
Purdue Global PMHNP Programs
National | $400 to $720 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / MSN / DNP | Online
Purdue Global's PMHNP programs are authorized in Massachusetts, providing three fully online, CCNE-accredited tracks with tuition of $420 per quarter credit hour for master's-level coursework and flexible clinical placements throughout the state. Massachusetts-based students gain comprehensive training in neuroscience, psychopharmacology, psychopathological disorders, and evidence-based psychotherapy through 48-78 quarter credits depending on their chosen pathway. All programs prepare Massachusetts graduates to practice in acute care, primary care, community mental health centers, prisons, and private practices with full prescriptive authority after certification.
Walden University PMHNP Programs
National | $775 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / BSN-DNP / MSN-DNP / DNP | Online
Massachusetts nurses can access Walden University’s fully online PMHNP degrees and certificates, with flexible start dates to suit busy schedules. The university’s Practicum Pledge® helps Massachusetts students arrange mental health clinical placements throughout the state, supporting entry into advanced practice roles. Evidence-based coursework and virtual skills labs ensure graduates are ready for PMHNP certification and to meet the mental health needs of Massachusetts communities.
Wilkes University PMHNP Programs
National | $751 cpc | Certificate / RN-MSN / BSN-MSN / BSN-DNP | Online
Wilkes University’s fully online PMHNP programs give Massachusetts nurses MSN, post-graduate certificate, and DNP options that can be completed while maintaining clinical roles. The 12‑week course structure and three start dates per year make it easier for Massachusetts RNs to pace their studies alongside complex schedules. With complimentary clinical placement support and a curriculum grounded in psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and care for underserved groups, graduates are prepared for advanced psychiatric practice across Massachusetts.
FAQ
How many online PMHNP programs are in Massachusetts?
Eight schools offer online or mostly online PMHNP pathways: MCPHS, Northeastern, Regis, Simmons, UMass Chan, UMass Amherst, UMass Dartmouth, and Westfield State, spanning roughly sixteen distinct tracks.
Which Massachusetts PMHNP programs are fully online?
Regis College and UMass Amherst require no campus attendance at all, and UMass Dartmouth’s CAGS is fully asynchronous. The remaining programs add finite campus events such as residencies, intensives, or immersions.
Which program has the lowest tuition?
Westfield State’s MSN, at about $33K, is the cheapest master’s route, while UMass Dartmouth’s roughly $14K CAGS is the least expensive certificate. Both carry accreditation-timing caveats worth verifying first.
Which Massachusetts schools offer a DNP PMHNP?
UMass Chan (BSN-to-DNP), UMass Amherst (post-baccalaureate DNP), and UMass Dartmouth (BS-to-DNP and a post-master’s DNP completion track) — all three are public universities.
Do any programs require campus visits?
MCPHS requires two 2-day Worcester residencies, Northeastern two Boston intensive weekends, Simmons one 2–4 day immersion, and UMass Dartmouth’s DNP one campus day per semester or year depending on which published source applies. Regis and UMass Amherst require none.
Can I complete clinicals near home?
Mostly yes, with big differences in who does the work. UMass Chan arranges placements outright (in Massachusetts), Simmons and Regis provide team or coordinator support, and MCPHS, Northeastern, and UMass Amherst’s certificate expect student-sourced preceptors. UMass Dartmouth requires clinicals within its five eligible states.
Can I become a PMHNP in Massachusetts with an associate degree?
Yes. MCPHS runs a dedicated AD-to-MSN bridge, Regis admits ADN nurses into its MSN directly, and UMass Amherst and UMass Dartmouth accept ADN holders with a non-nursing bachelor’s into their doctoral pathways.