7 Schools • 3 Mostly Online • 2 Hybrid • 2 Campus
Seven Connecticut schools offer psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner programs, with tuition between $671 and $2,000+ cost per credit (MSN, DNP, and post-graduate certificate). Delivery runs the full spectrum: mostly online formats with brief campus immersions, hybrid evening models, and fully on-campus programs.
Master’s tuition ranges from roughly $31K to $111K, with completion times spanning 15 months for the shortest certificate to four years for part-time master’s study.
Yale pairs the state’s highest price with the strongest placement infrastructure; Goodwin offers the lowest per-credit rate but admits Connecticut residents only; Fairfield is the state’s lone BSN-entry DNP option and fully campus-based; University of Saint Joseph provides the most certificate entry points.
Click any school name for a full profile with admission requirements, curriculum, clinical hours, tuition, and accreditation.
Compare Connecticut PMHNP Programs
| School | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
| Fairfield University | Campus | campus delivery | $1,030 to $1,175 | MSN, DNP | Campus-based BSN-to-DNP with simulation training |
| Goodwin University | Mostly Online | 2 immersion weekends | $949 | MSN | RNs prioritizing the lowest per-credit rate |
| Quinnipiac University | Mostly Online | 3 one-week immersions | $995 | MSN, Certificate | Online seven-week courses with a DNP transition path |
| Sacred Heart University | Mostly Online | In-person residency | $955 | MSN, Certificate | Budget-focused online learners |
| University of Saint Joseph | Hybrid | Evening classes | $1,111 + $557 clinical fees | MSN, Certificate, DNP | Working RNs and current APRNs needing tailored certificate entry points |
| Western Connecticut State | Hybrid | Evening classes | $671 | MSN, Certificate | Tri-state residents seeking the lowest total cost |
| Yale University | Hybrid or Campus | 3 multi day immersions (hybrid) or full campus | $2,071 | MSN (two formats), Certificate | Students wanting institutional placement support and multi-state reach |
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.
Choosing Best PMHNP Program for You in CT
Which Program Fits Your Goals?
Best Overall Value
Sacred Heart’s $40,110 MSN is the lowest confirmed flat price among the online-delivered options, with only one annual residency required.
Lowest Total Cost
Western Connecticut State’s $31K–$40K MSN undercuts every competitor, though delivery format details are thin.
Strongest DNP
Fairfield runs the state’s only BSN-entry DNP PMHNP, with 1,000 practicum hours and rotations spanning forensic, federal, and crisis settings.
Best Placement Support
Yale’s Clinical Support Unit arranges Connecticut placements or telemedicine training for every enrolled student.
Most Flexible Certificate Entry
University of Saint Joseph offers three distinct certificates priced by prior credentials — $13,332 for psychiatric CNSs up to $35,552 for non-NP master’s holders.
Lowest Per-Credit Rate
Goodwin’s $949 leads the state, offset by Connecticut-only admission and roughly $2,000 in per-course clinical fees.
Connecticut DNP PMHNP Programs
Two schools award the DNP, serving opposite ends of the pipeline. Fairfield’s 78-credit program takes BSN-prepared nurses straight to the doctorate on campus. University of Saint Joseph’s 18-credit post-master’s completion adds doctoral credentials to an existing MSN in three semesters — one of the cheaper DNP finishes anywhere. Quinnipiac MSN graduates can also transition into its DNP within two years without losing credits.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Fairfield University | BSN-to-DNP | $92K | 3–4 years | 1,000 |
| University of Saint Joseph | MSN-DNP | $20K | 1.5 years | Not clearly stated |
- Only BSN-entry doctorate: Fairfield — 78 credits including the full MSN clinical sequence plus DNP immersion.
- Lowest doctoral cost: University of Saint Joseph — ~$20K, though the price assumes enrollment within 3 years of MSN completion.
- Broadest DNP rotations: Fairfield — sites include psychiatric ERs, juvenile and criminal justice settings, and federal facilities.
Connecticut MSN PMHNP Programs
All seven schools offer the MSN, and pricing spreads nearly fourfold. Western Connecticut State and Sacred Heart anchor the low end near $31K–$40K; Yale tops $107K in either format.
Credit loads run 42 to 59, clinical requirements 540 to 780 hours. Part-time evening designs dominate — only Sacred Heart and Yale’s residential track advertise a full-time two-to-2.5-year finish.
| School | Estimated Tuition | Estimated Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Fairfield University | $61K | 3 years part-time | 750 hrs |
| Goodwin University | $52K | 3.5 years | 600 hrs |
| Quinnipiac University | $57K | 2+ years | 780 |
| Sacred Heart University | $41K | 2.5 years full-time | 540 |
| University of Saint Joseph | $53K | 3.5 years part-time | 750 |
| Western Connecticut State | $32K–$40K | 3–4 years part-time | 540 |
| Yale University | $108K–$111K | 3 years PT | 750 / 774 |
- Lowest resident tuition: Western Connecticut State — ~$31K for CT, NY, and NJ residents under flat-rate pricing.
- Fastest full-time finish: Yale residential — 2 years, with 774 clinical hours across five setting types.
- Fewest credits: Sacred Heart — 42 credits and cohorts capped at 15–28 students.
- Most clinical volume: Quinnipiac — four practica listing 780 combined hours, though no official total is published.
Connecticut Post-Graduate Certificate PMHNP Programs
Five schools offer post-graduate certificates, and University of Saint Joseph alone fields three versions matched to prior credentials. Fixed-curriculum options run $15K–$36K; Yale prices individually after a gap analysis.
Clinical requirements range from 250 hours for certified psychiatric CNSs at USJ to 750 hours for non-NP master’s holders. Sacred Heart’s 15-month timeline is the state’s fastest route to PMHNP eligibility.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Quinnipiac University | Post-Master’s Certificate | $34K | 1.5–2 years | Not clearly stated |
| Sacred Heart University | Post-Master’s Certificate | $21K | 15 months | 540 |
| University of Saint Joseph | Certificate: RNs with non-NP MS | $36K | 2.5–3 years | 750 |
| University of Saint Joseph | Certificate: Psychiatric CNS | $14K | 1–2 years | 250 |
| University of Saint Joseph | Certificate: NPs, other specialties | $23K | 1.5–2 years | 500 |
| Western Connecticut State | Post-Master’s Certificate | $15K–$25K by prerequisites | 1–2 years | 540 |
| Yale University | Post-Master’s Certificate | $2,071/credit, gap analysis | Varies | Individualized |
- Fastest completion: Sacred Heart — 15 months across four courses, with up to 6 transfer credits accepted.
- Lowest cost: University of Saint Joseph — ~$13.3K, but only for currently certified psychiatric CNSs adding the opposite age population.
- Cheapest broad-eligibility option: Western Connecticut State — ~$15K–$25K, with final price hinging on which 3P prerequisites need retaking.
- Dual exam preparation: Sacred Heart — graduates sit for either ANCC or AANP certification.
Connecticut PMHNP Program Summaries
Fairfield University PMHNP Programs
Fairfield | $1,100 cpc | BSN-MSN / BSN-DNP | Campus
Fairfield is a campus program on both tracks built around state-of-the-art simulation facilities and a trauma-informed clinical philosophy. The school arranges placements statewide with experienced PMHNP preceptors, and its CYCLE component adds community youth mental health hours no competitor matches. DNP students rotate through unusually varied sites, including forensic and federal facilities. U.S. News ranks the MSN #2 in Connecticut. Best for Connecticut nurses who want doctoral-level training, heavy simulation, and arranged placements — and don't need online flexibility...read more.
Goodwin University PMHNP Program
East Hartford | $949 cpc | BSN-MSN / MSN | Mostly Online
Goodwin's 50-credit MSN pairs the state's lowest per-credit rate at $949 with one of its lightest campus footprints — flexible online coursework and just two immersion weekends. No GRE is required, but admission is limited to Connecticut RNs with 2+ years of recent bedside experience. Clinical training totals 600 hours across three courses, each adding a $1,350 clinical fee, and students may travel significant distances to sites. Best for cost-conscious Connecticut residents who want minimal travel outside clinicals...read more.
Quinnipiac University PMHNP Programs
Hamden | $995 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / MSN | Mostly Online
Quinnipiac delivers coursework 100% online in seven-week blocks, punctuated by three one-week campus immersions with simulation labs. The school arranges clinical placements only for Connecticut students. Graduates can roll into the DNP within two years without repeating coursework — a pathway no other online-leaning CT program advertises. Best for northeastern nurses who want structured online pacing and a built-in doctoral runway. ..read more.
Sacred Heart University PMHNP Program
Fairfield | $955 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / MSN | Mostly Online
Sacred Heart pairs the lowest confirmed online MSN price in the state ($40,110) with the leanest curriculum — 42 credits, 540 clinical hours, and classes of 15–28 students. Campus commitment is a single annual residency. The tradeoff is rigidity: one start date per year, and clinical hour totals sit below every competitor except Western Connecticut State. The 21-credit certificate finishes in 15 months and prepares graduates for ANCC or AANP exams, the only CT program citing both. Best for self-directed nurses who value price and small cohorts over scheduling flexibility...read more.
University of Saint Joseph PMHNP Programs
West Hartford | $1,111 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / MSN / DNP | Mostly Online
USJ runs a hybrid model organized around one weekly evening class designed for nurses working full-time. No competitor matches its entry-point menu: an MSN, three certificates calibrated to prior credentials, and an 18-credit post-master's DNP. Clinical infrastructure stands out — a 1:6 faculty-to-student ratio in acute-care rotations and partnerships with Saint Francis, Hartford Hospital, and Yale-New Haven Hospital. Best for working RNs and credentialed APRNs who want a predictable evening schedule and a track built for their exact background...read more.
Western Connecticut State PMHNP Program
Danbury | $1,671 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / MSN | Hybrid
WCSU is the state's budget play: flat-rate tuition puts the full MSN at roughly $31K. Delivery mixes evening classes with "online/hybrid options." The 47-credit curriculum requires 540 clinical hours, with flexibility in practicum timing and location. Certificate pricing varies with how many 3P prerequisites need refreshing. Best for tri-state nurses who prioritize total cost and can tolerate ambiguity in format details until speaking with the program coordinator. ..read more.
Yale University PMHNP Programs
New Haven | $2,071 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / MSN | Campus
Yale offers two MSN routes: a hybrid format with 100% live online classes plus three 3–4 day campus immersions (part-time only, three years, launching Spring 2026), and a two-year residential program. Its Clinical Support Unit guarantees Connecticut placements or telemedicine-based clinical training — the strongest placement commitment in the state. Fifteen jurisdictions are ineligible for the hybrid track. At $2,071 per credit, total cost exceeds $107K either way, partially offset by merit and need-based scholarships requiring no separate application. Best for nurses who want institutional placement backing and national-caliber faculty access, and can absorb the price. ..read more.
Other Online PMHNP Options in Connecticut
Connecticut’s lineup leaves gaps: no school confirms a zero-campus format, Goodwin admits state residents only, Quinnipiac enrolls from just nine northeastern states, and Yale bars applicants from 15 jurisdictions. Nurses shut out by geography — or unwilling to travel for immersions — can consider national providers which run fully online PMHNP coursework with broader enrollment footprints.
Purdue Global PMHNP Programs
National | $400 to $720 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / MSN / DNP | Online
Purdue Global's PMHNP programs are authorized in Connecticut, providing three online pathways: a Postgraduate Certificate (48 credits, $20,160), MSN with PMHNP Population Focus Area (78 credits, $32,760), and MSN-DNP bridge program. Connecticut-based students complete faculty- and preceptor-supported clinical experiences in local communities, with all programs accredited by CCNE and featuring innovative VR technology for telehealth training. Graduates are prepared to practice in diverse settings including hospitals, community mental health centers, prisons, and private practices throughout Connecticut.
Walden University PMHNP Programs
National | $775 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / BSN-DNP / MSN-DNP / DNP | Online
Walden University’s CCNE-accredited, 100% online Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs offer Connecticut nurses four convenient pathways (BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, MSN-PMHNP, and Post-Master’s Certificate) to gain the skills needed to address the state’s mental health crisis. The innovative Practicum Pledge ensures that busy Connecticut nurses receive personalized assistance securing local preceptors in areas like Hartford, New Haven, and Fairfield County. Fully equipped with virtual skills labs and comprehensive psychopharmacology training, graduates are ready to provide high-quality psychiatric care from Stamford to the Quiet Corner.
WGU PMHNP Programs
National | flat rate cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN | Online
WGU delivers an online PMHNP MSN and a Post-Master’s Certificate using competency progression. Students fulfill 650 clinical hours near home, or 750 if starting in Kansas after March 1, 2025. One-to-one mentoring and term pricing support a 2.5-year minimum for the MSN and 1.5-year minimum for the certificate.
Wilkes University PMHNP Programs
National | $751 cpc | Certificate / RN-MSN / BSN-MSN / BSN-DNP | Online
Wilkes University's Passan School of Nursing provides three online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) tracks with dedicated clinical placement services and a high ANCC board pass rate of 95.4%. The university confirms its online MSN and Post-Graduate Certificate programs are authorized to enroll students located in Connecticut, having determined the curriculum meets the state's educational requirements for APRN licensure. These flexible, online programs prepare registered nurses with an unencumbered license for advanced practice in psychiatric/mental health care across diverse populations.
FAQ
How many PMHNP programs are in Connecticut?
Seven schools: Fairfield, Goodwin, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, University of Saint Joseph, Western Connecticut State, and Yale. Together they span MSN, DNP, and post-graduate certificate pathways.
Are any Connecticut PMHNP programs fully online with no campus visits?
None confirm a zero-visit format. Goodwin comes closest with only two immersion weekends; Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, and Yale’s hybrid MSN follow with online coursework plus brief immersions or an annual residency.
Which Connecticut PMHNP program has the lowest tuition?
Depends on the measure: Western Connecticut State has the lowest MSN total (~$31K for tri-state residents), Goodwin has the lowest per-credit rate ($949), and Sacred Heart has the lowest fixed price among online-delivered MSNs ($40,110).
Which Connecticut schools offer a DNP PMHNP?
Fairfield offers the only BSN-entry DNP. University of Saint Joseph offers an 18-credit post-master’s DNP completion, and Quinnipiac MSN graduates can transition into its DNP within two years without losing credits.
Which programs require campus visits?
Fairfield and Yale’s residential MSN are fully campus-based. USJ requires weekly evening classes. Quinnipiac requires three one-week immersions, Yale’s hybrid track three 3–4 day immersions, Sacred Heart one residency per year, and Goodwin two immersion weekends.
Can I complete clinical hours near home?
Mostly yes for Connecticut residents — Fairfield, USJ, and Yale arrange in-state placements. Quinnipiac places only Connecticut students; out-of-state enrollees find their own sites with school guidance. Goodwin warns students may travel significant distances.
Can out-of-state nurses enroll in Connecticut PMHNP programs?
Selectively. Goodwin admits Connecticut residents only. Quinnipiac accepts applicants from nine northeastern states, and New York students can’t complete clinicals in New York. Yale’s hybrid MSN excludes 15 jurisdictions, including California and Tennessee. Sacred Heart and Fairfield state no comparable restrictions in available materials.