Iowa currently has three universities offering PMHNP programs with tuition between $585 to $1,191 cost per credit (MSN, DNP, and post-graduate certificate; hybrid and mostly online). Click any school name to view admission requirements, curriculum, clinical hours, tuition, and accreditation.
| School | Format | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen College Waterloo, IA | Mostly Online | $962 | MSN BSN-DNP RN-DNP Certificate | Most pathway options |
| Briar Cliff University Sioux City, IA | Mostly Online | $585 | MSN Certificate | Lowest tuition |
| University of Iowa Iowa City, IA | Hybrid | $1,191 | BSN-DNP MSN-DNP Post-APRN-DNP Certificate | DNP & faculty-arranged clinicals |
Iowa PMHNP Programs at a Glance
- Cheapest: Briar Cliff University
- Most Degree Options: Allen College
- Only RN-to-DNP: Allen College
- Shortest Certificate: University of Iowa
- Highest Reported Outcomes: University of Iowa
Iowa PMHNP Program Summaries
Allen College PMHNP Programs
Waterloo | $962 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / BSN-DNP | Mostly Online
Allen College delivers PMHNP training in a hybrid format with live online sessions plus required campus OSCEs and residencies in Waterloo, Iowa. A Clinical Coordinator secures all placements with student input, and every student completes hours at the Allen College DeBonis Free Medical Clinic. Tracks include MSN, BSN-DNP, RN-DNP, and a Post-Graduate Certificate, each combining core coursework with PMHNP specialty training and supervised clinicals. ..read more.
Briar Cliff University PMHNP Programs
Sioux City | $585 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN | Mostly Online
Briar Cliff University offers online MSN and Post-Graduate APRN Certificate tracks, with two required on-site days in Summer Year 1 for Advanced Health Assessment and in-person clinical components. Students work with a clinical coordinator to identify preceptors; faculty vet sites and arrange contracts, and placements are set near the student’s home when possible. ..read more.
University of Iowa PMHNP Programs
Iowa City | $1,191 cpc | Certificate / BSN-DNP / MSN-DNP | Hybrid
University of Iowa offers a BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, Post-APRN-to-DNP, and a Post-Graduate Certificate. The programs use a hybrid format with mostly online coursework and weekly on-campus sessions for NP didactics. Faculty arrange clinical placements, typically near a student’s home. Reported outcomes include a 100% ANCC certification pass rate and 100% job placement within 3 months of graduation. ..read more.
Choosing the Best PMHNP Program for You in Iowa
Which Iowa PMHNP Program Fits Your Goals?
University of Iowa is the strongest choice if you want a DNP-focused program with faculty-arranged clinical placements, strong graduate outcomes, and multiple pathways for APRNs returning for doctoral study.
Allen College offers the most flexibility, with MSN, RN-to-DNP, BSN-to-DNP, and certificate options. It’s also the only Iowa program with an RN-to-DNP pathway.
Briar Cliff University is the value option, offering Iowa’s lowest tuition and a flexible part-time online MSN designed for working nurses.
Iowa PMHNP DNP Programs
Iowa has two universities offering DNP pathways.
- Allen College offers BSN-to-DNP and Iowa’s only RN-to-DNP pathway.
- University of Iowa offers BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, and Post-APRN-to-DNP options with multiple completion plans.
| School | Track | Total Cost | Credits | Cost/Credit | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen College | BSN-to-DNP | $68,136 | 68 | $962 | 3 years FT | 925 |
| Allen College | RN-to-DNP | $76,312 | 76 | $962 | ~4 years | 1,000 |
| University of Iowa | BSN-to-DNP | $89,566 | 76 | $1,191 | 3-4 years | 1,000+ |
| University of Iowa | MSN-to-DNP | $51,748 | 72 | $1,191 | 2-3 years | 1,000+ |
| University of Iowa | Post-APRN to DNP | $35,898 | 29 | $1,191 | 2-3 years | Varies by gap analysis |
Highlights
- Best for flexibility: Allen College (RN-to-DNP plus full-time and part-time options)
- Best for established outcomes: University of Iowa (reported 100% ANCC pass rate and faculty-arranged clinical placements)
Iowa PMHNP MSN Programs
Only two Iowa schools offer a standalone MSN PMHNP program.
- Briar Cliff University offers the state’s lowest-cost MSN and a flexible part-time schedule.
- Allen College provides a traditional MSN with 525 clinical hours.
| School | Total Cost | Credits | Cost/Credit | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen College | $46,335 | 45 | $962 | 3 years FT | 525 |
| Briar Cliff | $35,482.50 | 54.5 | $585 | 3 years PT | 750 |
Iowa PHMNP Post-Grad Certificate Programs
Three Iowa universities offer post-master’s certificate options.
- University of Iowa has the lowest estimated tuition and the shortest completion time.
- Allen College follows the same specialty curriculum used in its MSN program.
- Briar Cliff University mirrors its MSN curriculum and includes 750 clinical hours.
| School | Total Cost | Credits | Cost/Credit | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen College | $26,572 | 26 | $962 | 3 years PT | 525 |
| Briar Cliff | $35,482.50 | 54.5 | $585 | 3 years PT | 750 |
| University of Iowa | $14,656 | 22 | $666 | 14 months | gap analysis |
National Online PMHNP Programs Available in Iowa
Nightingale College PMHNP Program
National | $550 cpc | BSN-MSN | Mostly Online
Nightingale College’s MSN-PMHNP track delivers 55 credits over roughly two years, combining online coursework with faculty-supported precepted clinicals and a single on-site seminar. Students complete 547.5 didactic hours and 810 clinical contact hours. The program is authorized in Iowa, so Iowa RNs can enroll and arrange clinical placements consistent with local guidelines.
Post University PMHNP Programs
National | $604 cpc | BSN-MSN | Online
Built for working RNs, the MSN–PMHNP specialization pairs flexible pacing (single 8-week courses, consistent due dates) with a clear clinical roadmap. You’ll complete 630 supervised hours in child/adolescent, adult/older-adult, and substance-use specialty rotations. Across 51–54 credits, core and specialty courses sharpen diagnostic reasoning and therapy/medication management to prepare you for PMHNP board exams in roughly 34 months.
Purdue Global PMHNP Programs
National | $400 to $720 cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN / MSN / DNP | Online
The online Purdue Global PMHNP tracks, including the Certificate, MSN, and MSN-DNP, are authorized for enrollment in Iowa, allowing RNs to advance their careers with a CCNE-accredited program. The curriculum is delivered fully online. The programs feature an estimated cost of $32,760 for the MSN portion and utilize virtual reality for clinical preparation.
WGU PMHNP Programs
National | flat rate cpc | Certificate / BSN-MSN | Online
In Iowa, WGU provides flexible, competency-based online learning. Students can earn either a Master of Science in Nursing or a Post-Master’s Certificate while completing 650 local clinical hours focused on psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, and management. The MSN costs about $36,000 over 2.5 years, and the certificate costs about $23,000 over 1.5 years.
Wilkes University PMHNP Programs
National | $751 cpc | Certificate / RN-MSN / BSN-MSN / BSN-DNP | Online
For Iowa nurses, Wilkes University offers fully online PMHNP pathways at the MSN, certificate, and DNP levels, all designed with flexible scheduling for working professionals. Iowa students receive built-in clinical placement assistance, reducing the stress of finding psychiatric-mental health clinical sites and preceptors on their own.