Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| DNP PMHNP (Full-Time) | ~$217,152 | 2.5 years |
| DNP PMHNP (Part-Time) | ~$217,152 | 4.5 years |
| MDE → DNP PMHNP Pathway (Non-Nurses) | Varies by credits | 15 mo (MDE) + 2.5 yrs (DNP) |
A standout feature is Columbia’s access to a broad network of clinical sites across the tri-state area — including Rikers Island, Bellevue Hospital, and NewYork-Presbyterian — arranged around each student’s learning needs.
Doctor of Nursing Practice – PMHNP (Post-BSN)
The estimated tuition for the Columbia DNP PMHNP program is approximately $217,152 (87 credits × $2,496/credit), with total direct costs estimated at $81,243 per year including fees.
Full-time students complete the program in 2.5 years, while part-time students typically finish in 4.5 years.
DNP Curriculum
The 87-credit DNP curriculum covers advanced psychiatric assessment, psychotherapy theory, psychopharmacology, evidence-based practice, health policy, and a final intensive practicum with portfolio advisement. Courses span both clinical and scholarly tracks, with students completing a DNP portfolio project.
- NURS8685N – Advanced Clinical Assessment Across the Lifespan (3 cr)
- NURS8792N – Advanced Health Assessment in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing I (3 cr)
- NURS8793N – Advanced Health Assessment in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II: Clinical Simulation (1 cr)
- NURS8102N – Advanced Pharmacology (3 cr)
- NURS7001N – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan I (3 cr)
- NURS7002N – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan II (3 cr)
- NURS8594N – Advanced Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing I (5 cr)
- NURS8595N – Advanced Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II (5 cr)
- NURS8562N – Clinical Practice and Supervision with Families (1 cr)
- NURS9155N – Scholarly Writing I (1 cr)
- NURS9130N – Fundamentals of Case Narrative Writing for PMHNP (3 cr)
- NURS9732N – PMH DNP Intensive Practicum (3 cr)
- NURS9737N – PMH DNP Intensive Portfolio Advisement Seminar (2 cr)
- NURS8588N – Group Theory (2 cr)
- NURS7005N – Health and Social Policy in the Context of Practice (3 cr)
- NURS9481N – Health Policy and Advocacy (2 cr)
- NURS7003N – Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (3 cr)
- NURS9290N – Incorporating Genetics and Genomics in Advanced Practice Nursing (3 cr)
- NURS9412N – Informatics for Practice (3 cr)
- NURS6680N – Introduction to Addictive Behaviors (2 cr)
- NURS7000N – Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice (3 cr)
- NURS6940N – Management and Advanced Practice Nursing (1 cr)
- NURS9140N – Professional Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (1 cr)
- NURS9672N – Principles of Epidemiology and Environmental Health (3 cr)
- NURS8119N – Psychopharmacology for the Advanced Practice Nurse (3 cr)
- NURS6593N – Psychotherapy: Theories and Techniques (2 cr)
- NURS9156N – Scholarly Writing II (1 cr)
- NURS8598N – Supervision and Practice in Individual Psychotherapy B (1 cr)
- NURS8576N – Seminar in Advanced Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing I (2 cr)
- NURS8577N – Seminar in Advanced Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II (2 cr)
- NURS8571N – Seminar in Family Therapy and Technique (2 cr)
- NURS8592N – Supervision and Practice in Group Psychotherapy (1 cr)
- NURS8589N – Supervision and Practice in Individual Psychotherapy (2 cr)
- NURS9910N – Translation and Synthesis of Evidence for Optimal Outcomes (3 cr)
- NURS9746N – PMHNP Portfolio Advisement I (1 cr)
DNP Clinicals
Clinical sites span the tri-state area and are assigned based on each student’s learning needs and specialization interests (children, adolescents, adults, or elderly). The program includes lecture, simulation, supervised clinical rotations, and a final intensive practicum.
Active clinical sites include:
- Bellevue Hospital Center
- ColumbiaDoctors Primary Care NP Group
- Four Winds Hospital
- Gracie Square Hospital
- NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem
- New York State Psychiatric Institute
- Integrated Mental Health Program – NewYork-Presbyterian Ambulatory Care Network (multiple locations)
- Rikers Island
- Services & Advocacy for LGBT Elders (SAGE)
- Trinitas Regional Medical Center
- The Jewish Board, Mosaic Mental Health, and additional rotating sites
DNP Admissions
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Nursing
- New York State RN licensure or eligibility
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended (required prior to enrollment)
- Prerequisite: Statistics (completed within 5 years of program start)
- Prerequisite: Health/Physical Assessment (B- or better required for all prerequisites)
- Prerequisites must be completed by the program start date (June); at least one science prerequisite strongly recommended by application deadline
- International applicants are not currently admitted to the Post-BSN DNP program
- Priority application deadline: December 1 | Final deadline: December 15
- Program start date: June
Masters Direct Entry (MDE) → DNP PMHNP Pathway (Non-Nurses)
The Masters Direct Entry program is a 15-month full-time pathway for non-nursing college graduates; students who apply jointly into the MDE + DNP PMHNP track complete the MDE (75–77 credits) first, then continue directly into the DNP program, making this a multi-year combined pathway.
MDE Curriculum
The 75–77 credit MDE program covers foundational and advanced nursing science, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and clinical rotations across specialties including psychiatric-mental health. Over 1,000 clinical hours are completed in small-group settings. A Hybrid MDE option (7 semesters) is available for students who need a more flexible start, beginning with three part-time online semesters before transitioning to full-time on-campus study.
- NURS8685N – Advanced Clinical Assessment Across the Lifespan (3 cr)
- NURS8102N – Advanced Pharmacology (3 cr)
- NURS7001N – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan I (3 cr)
- NURS7002N – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan II (2 cr)
- NURS6010N – Global Health Equity and the Responsibility of the Nursing Profession (2 cr)
- NURS7005N – Health and Social Policy in the Context of Practice (3 cr)
- NURS7003N – Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (3 cr)
- NURS6400N – Integration of Nursing Practice (3 cr)
- NURS7000N – Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice (3 cr)
- NURS5950N – Nursing Leadership and Management (3 cr)
- NURS6321N – Nursing Practice with Adults I (2 cr)
- NURS6323N – Nursing Practice with Adults II (2 cr)
- NURS6307N – Nursing Practice with Childbearing Families (2 cr)
- NURS6309N – Nursing Practice with Children (2 cr)
- NURS5375N – Pharmacology (3 cr)
- NURS5300N – Physical Assessment (3 cr)
- NURS6303N – Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (2 cr)
- NURS5400N – Science of Nursing Practice (3 cr)
- NURS6302N – Science of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practice (3 cr)
- NURS6320N – Science of Nursing Practice with Adults I (3 cr)
- NURS6322N – Science of Nursing Practice with Adults II (3 cr)
- NURS6306N – Science of Nursing Practice with Childbearing Families (3 cr)
- NURS6308N – Science of Nursing Practice with Children (3 cr)
- NURS5955N – Quality Improvement Practicum (2 cr)
- NURS6330N – Ambulatory Care Nursing (4 cr)
- Additional skills lab, practicum, and portfolio courses (variable credits)
MDE Clinicals
MDE students complete over 1,000 clinical hours in small-group settings across labor and delivery, medical-surgical, pediatrics, community health, and psychiatric-mental health. A unique six-week integration experience pairs students one-on-one with an RN in New York or at a global integration site.
MDE Admissions
- Non-nursing bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Joint application to MDE and DNP PMHNP required for this pathway
- Priority application deadline: November 17 | Final deadline: December 15
- Program start date: June
- Contact Columbia Admissions for full prerequisite and eligibility requirements
Tuition
Graduate tuition is $2,496 per credit. University fees are approximately $2,419 per semester, with total direct costs estimated at $23,236 per semester based on a 9-credit registration.
A separate flat-rate annual tuition of $77,964 (plus $3,279 in university fees) may apply to full-time students.
MDE/DNP track students incur an additional $343 NCLEX licensing fee.
More tuition details are available here.
Accreditation
Columbia University School of Nursing’s DNP program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates are eligible to sit for the ANCC national certification exam and apply for New York State Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner licensure. The MDE program consistently reports NCLEX first-time pass rates above 91%.
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