13 Schools • 1 Online • 7 Mostly Online • 3 Hybrid • 2 Campus
Thirteen California schools offer 22 PMHNP tracks: 11 post-graduate certificates, six DNP tracks, and five master’s tracks at four schools. Seven schools are mostly online, three hybrid, two campus-based, and one online.
Resident tuition runs from about $13K for a certificate to $170K for a BSN-to-DNP, and most programs require a California RN or APRN license. Degree programs take 2 to 4 years; certificates take 1 to 2.
Highlights include:
- Vanguard University is the only program with no published campus requirement
- Azusa Pacific University offers the only PMHNP path for non-nurses with a bachelor’s in another field
- National University assigns clinical preceptors and pays them itself
Compare California PMHNP Programs
| School | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
| Azusa Pacific University | Campus | Campus-based in Azusa | $895 CPC | MSN, ELM-MSN, post-master’s certificate | Southern California RNs wanting a master’s; career changers via the ELM-MSN |
| Charles R. Drew University | Hybrid | One 4-day weekend intensive monthly in Los Angeles | Flat annual rate | MSN, post-master’s certificate | Nurses focused on underserved communities |
| Fresno State | Mostly Online | One 8-hour intensive in January | $600 CPC | Post-master’s certificate | California NPs and CRNAs adding a psychiatric specialty |
| Loma Linda University | Hybrid | On-campus exams, labs, and clinical meetings every quarter | $1,004/quarter unit | BSN-DNP | Inland Empire nurses who want every rotation assigned |
| National University | Mostly Online | 3–4 two-day OSCEs, on campus or virtual | $675 CPC | MSN, post-graduate certificate | Nurses who want preceptors found and paid |
| University of San Diego | Campus | On-campus classes at least 2 days weekly | $2,210 CPC | MSN, BSN-DNP | Nurses wanting a ranked, full-time campus program |
| Touro University | Mostly Online | Not published | $1,090 CPC | Post-master’s certificate | Nurses wanting interprofessional and telehealth training |
| UC Davis | Mostly Online | Weekend immersions; weekly virtual sessions | Billed per quarter | Post-master’s certificate | California APRNs wanting a 12-month certificate |
| UCLA | Mostly Online | Three virtual immersions | Billed annually | Post-master’s certificate | Resident APRNs seeking the lowest UC certificate rate |
| UCSF | Mostly Online (certificate); Hybrid (DNP) | Certificate: three virtual immersions; DNP: mostly in person after year one | Not published | BSN-DNP, post-master’s certificate | Bay Area BSN nurses seeking a doctorate |
| University of San Francisco | Hybrid | Friday–Saturday Teaching Weekends twice monthly in San Francisco | $1,635 CPC | BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP, post-doctoral certificate | Master’s-prepared nurses seeking a PMHNP doctorate |
| Vanguard University | Online | None published | $1,770 CPC | Post-master’s certificate | Master’s nurses without NP certification |
| Western University | Mostly Online | Practice intensives twice per semester, virtual or in Pomona | $1,129 CPC | MSN-DNP, post-master’s certificate | Out-of-state nurses seeking a PMHNP doctorate |
What’s the Best PMHNP Program for You?
Guaranteed Doctoral Placement
Loma Linda University faculty assign every rotation in its BS to DNP, so PMHNP students never search for a preceptor. Placements stay in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Highest-Ranked Program
University of San Diego’s DNP ranks #52 (tie) nationally and first in San Diego in the U.S. News & World Report 2025 rankings.
Lowest-Cost UC Certificate
UCLA lists $21,115 for California residents in the shared UC PMHNP Certificate, less than half UC Davis’s published total, because students pay their admitting campus’s rate.
Deepest Post-Master’s Clinical Training
Touro University requires 750 clinical hours, the most of any California post-master’s certificate, plus an optional 50-hour elective in street medicine or addiction care.
Fastest Master’s
National University’s MSN averages about 19 months, with 4-week courses that start year-round.
Best for Nurses Outside California
Western University accepts an RN license from the state where students complete practice hours rather than requiring a California license.
California DNP PMHNP Programs
Five schools offer six PMHNP doctoral tracks. Loma Linda, UCSF, University of San Diego, and University of San Francisco admit BSN graduates. University of San Francisco and Western University also admit master’s-prepared nurses and add PMHNP preparation. Published loads run from 71 credits at Western University to 77 at University of San Diego and University of San Francisco. Loma Linda requires 117 quarter units, and UCSF does not publish a total.
| School | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| University of San Diego (BSN-DNP) | $170K | 3 years full-time | 1,000 hrs |
| Loma Linda University (BSN-DNP) | $117K | 3.75 years, 15 quarters | 1,080 hrs |
| UCSF (BSN-DNP) | $130K | 3 years, 11 quarters | 1,000 hrs |
| University of San Francisco (BSN-DNP) | $126K | 4 years, 10 semesters | Not published |
| University of San Francisco (MSN-DNP) | $118K | 3 years, 8 semesters | 1,000 hrs |
| Western University (MSN-DNP) | $80K | 3 years full-time | 1,000 hrs |
- Lowest doctoral cost: Western University — $80K for 71 credits, and applicants short of 1,800 RN hours can finish them in year one.
- Arranged placements: UCSF — sites across the Bay Area, though its BSN-to-DNP pathway is under California BRN review.
- Dual-degree option: University of San Francisco — a concurrent MPH finishes both degrees in 5 years.
California MSN PMHNP Programs
Four schools offer a master’s-level PMHNP. Azusa Pacific admits BSN-prepared RNs to its MSN and bachelor’s graduates from other fields to its ELM-MSN, which adds prelicensure coursework. Charles R. Drew, National University, and University of San Diego require a BSN. National University is the only mostly online option; the others are campus-based or hybrid.
| School | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Azusa Pacific University | $48K–$50K (ELM-MSN about $110K with prelicensure) | 2–3 years | Not published |
| Charles R. Drew University | $107K | 2.5 years, 5 semesters | 630 hrs |
| National University | $52K | 19 months | 540 hrs |
| University of San Diego | $119K | 2 years full-time | 768 hrs |
- Lowest cost for BSN nurses: National University — $52K, including per-course material fees.
- Most clinical hours: University of San Diego — 768, with placements set by a coordinator for California-only enrollees.
- Named clinical sites: Charles R. Drew University — rotations include Kedren Acute Psychiatric Hospital, UCLA Neuropsychiatry, Keck USC, and Harbor-UCLA.
California Post-Graduate Certificate PMHNP Programs
Eleven schools offer a certificate, California’s most common PMHNP path. Entry rules vary sharply: Fresno State requires a California NP or CRNA license, the UC certificate requires California APRN licensure, National University admits only California and Texas residents, and Vanguard admits master’s nurses without NP certification. UC Davis, UCLA, and UCSF offer the same UC PMHNP Certificate, but each bills its own rate.
| School | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Azusa Pacific University | $38K | 1.5–2 years, part-time | Not published |
| Charles R. Drew University | $60K | 16–20 months, 4–5 semesters | 630 hrs |
| Fresno State | $13K | 1 year, 3 semesters | 540 hrs |
| National University | $41K | 1 year | 540 hrs |
| Touro University | $31K–$41K | About 2 years, 4–5 semesters | 750 hrs |
| UC Davis | $46K | 1 year, 4 quarters | 500+ hrs |
| UCLA | $21K | 1 year, 4 quarters | 500+ hrs |
| UCSF | $50K–$60K | 1 year, 4 quarters | 500+ hrs |
| University of San Francisco (post-doctoral) | Varies by plan of study | From 1 year | 1,000–1,200 hrs |
| Vanguard University | $50K | 1.5–2 years | Not published |
| Western University | $28K | 16 months, 4 semesters | Not published |
- Lowest certificate cost: Fresno State — $13K for 21 units, though financial aid and discounts are not available.
- Broadest eligibility: Vanguard University — admits MSN or DNP nurses without NP certification who have 2 years of recent RN experience.
- Post-doctoral option: University of San Francisco — for doctorate-holding APRNs, with classes offered year-round.
National Online PMHNP Options
California’s gaps are travel and licensing. Vanguard is the only program with no published campus requirement, and no degree track is fully online. Fresno State and the UC certificate admit only nurses already licensed as California NPs or APRNs, and most other programs require a California RN license. Only National University pays preceptors, and Touro and Vanguard do not describe who secures sites.
Nurses facing those limits often compare national online programs such as Walden University and Purdue Global. Confirm each school’s authorization for California residents and its placement policy before applying.
| School | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Online Format | Key Feature |
| Walden University | $775 | Certificate, BSN-MSN, BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP | Online | Placement support |
| Purdue Global | $400–$720 | Certificate, BSN-MSN, MSN, BSN-DNP | Online | VR clinical training |
| Nightingale College | $550 | BSN-MSN | Mostly Online | 810 clinical hours |
| Post University | $588–$603.75 | BSN-MSN | Online | Monthly starts |
| South College | $310 | Certificate, BSN-MSN, MSN | Online | 21-month MSN |
| WGU | Flat rate | Certificate, BSN-MSN | Online | Flat-rate terms |
FAQ
How many PMHNP programs are there in California?
Thirteen schools offer 22 PMHNP tracks: Azusa Pacific, Charles R. Drew, Fresno State, Loma Linda, National University, Touro, UC Davis, UCLA, UCSF, University of San Diego, University of San Francisco, Vanguard, and Western University. All 13 hold CCNE accreditation, and graduates are eligible for ANCC certification.
Are any California PMHNP programs fully online?
Vanguard University is the only one with no published campus requirement. Fresno State, National University, Touro, UC Davis, UCLA, UCSF’s certificate, and Western University are mostly online. Charles R. Drew, Loma Linda, University of San Francisco, and UCSF’s DNP are hybrid, and Azusa Pacific and University of San Diego are campus-based.
Which California PMHNP program has the lowest tuition?
Fresno State’s certificate is lowest at about $13K. Azusa Pacific has the lowest master’s at $48K–$50K, excluding prelicensure coursework, and Western University the lowest published doctorate at $80K. UCLA lists $36,297 for non-resident certificate students, and UCSF adds $12,245 in non-resident supplemental tuition; private schools charge one rate.
Which California schools offer a DNP with a PMHNP focus?
Five schools: Loma Linda, UCSF, University of San Diego, University of San Francisco, and Western University. Loma Linda, UCSF, University of San Diego, and University of San Francisco admit BSN graduates, while University of San Francisco and Western University admit master’s-prepared nurses. Most take about three years full time; Loma Linda takes 3 years and 9 months.
How often will I need to visit campus?
University of San Diego holds classes on campus at least 2 days a week. University of San Francisco meets two weekends a month, and Charles R. Drew holds one 4-day weekend intensive monthly. Western University holds practice intensives twice per semester, virtually or in Pomona. National University holds 3–4 two-day OSCEs, on campus or virtually. Loma Linda holds exams, labs, and clinical course meetings on campus every quarter. Fresno State requires one 8-hour Saturday in January, and Vanguard lists no visits.
Can I complete clinical hours near home?
Often, yes. National University assigns and pays preceptors, and pays student-found preceptors at its standard rate. The UC certificate at UC Davis, UCLA, and UCSF assigns placements across California by student location, subject to availability. Western University places students as close to home as possible, UCSF arranges DNP sites in the Bay Area, and Loma Linda faculty assign every rotation in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. University of San Diego and University of San Francisco coordinate placements, while Touro and Vanguard do not describe who secures sites.
Do I need a California license to enroll?
Usually. Azusa Pacific, Charles R. Drew, Loma Linda, University of San Diego, UCSF, and Vanguard require a California RN license, with endorsement accepted at University of San Diego and UCSF. Fresno State and the UC certificate require California NP or APRN licensure. Western University accepts an RN license from the state where practice hours occur. National University’s MSN accepts a license from the state of residence but isn’t offered in every state, and its certificate is limited to California and Texas residents.