Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | $44.6K–$54.1K | 26–38 mos | 42–51 |
| Certificate | $34.4K | 12–18 mos | 27 |
Regis College’s defining advantage is open access: the online MSN accepts RNs with an associate degree, a non-nursing bachelor’s, or a BSN, with no RN experience requirement, no GRE, and no campus visits. Stackable tuition discounts (up to 15% for military, veterans, and federal employees) can materially cut the cost.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MSN, Post-Master’s Certificate |
| Format | Online (no campus visits); on-campus/hybrid alternative exists |
| Entry Points | ADN-to-MSN, non-nursing bachelor’s-to-MSN, BSN-to-MSN |
| Clinical Hours | 664–800 |
| Clinical Placement | Student-arranged with clinical coordinator assistance |
| Population | Lifespan, with added geriatric mental health depth |
| RN License Requirements | Active unencumbered RN license; no nursing experience required |
| Tuition | $1,061/credit (online); 10–15% discounts for partners, military, federal, alumni |
| Certification Pass Rate | 92% NP exam pass rate (Regis-reported, online + campus) |
| Accreditation | ACEN (nursing); NECHE (institutional) |
MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the online MSN – PMHNP at Regis College is approximately $44,562–$54,111 (42–51 credits at $1,061/credit for BSN entry; 57–66 credits, roughly $60,477–$70,026, for ADN or non-nursing bachelor’s entry).
The program can generally be completed in about 26 months for BSN entrants or 34–38 months for ADN and non-nursing bachelor’s entrants.
MSN Curriculum
What sets this curriculum apart is the front door, not the course list. Most PMHNP master’s programs require a BSN; Regis builds bridge coursework (health assessment, evidence for practice, professional practice, community-based nursing — about 15 credits) directly into the ADN and non-nursing bachelor’s pathways, so nurses without a BSN enter the same MSN without completing a separate degree first. BSN entrants skip the bridge and take the 42–51-credit graduate sequence.
Up to 9 graduate transfer credits (grade B- or better) can shorten either path.
Graduate Core. The NP core covers the standard three Ps plus role and policy work: advanced pathophysiology, advanced clinical pharmacology, advanced health assessment, nursing theory, leadership, scientific inquiry, and a health policy seminar that includes attending real policy events.
PMHNP Specialty Sequence. The psychiatric sequence pairs each didactic course with a 300-hour clinical seminar, and the second course adds unusual depth in geriatric mental health — mood disorders, dementia, and delirium — a population many lifespan programs cover only briefly.
Key courses:
- NU 606 Advanced Pathophysiology
- NU 641 Advanced Clinical Pharmacology
- NU 650 Advanced Health Assessment
- NU 668 Roles and Issues in APN
- NU 643 Advanced Psychopharmacology
- NU 646 Theory and Practice of Contemporary Psychotherapies
- NU 664C / 664C-X Primary Care of the Psychiatric Mental Health Client I + Clinical Seminar (300 hours)
- NU 665C / 665C-X Primary Care of the Psychiatric Mental Health Client II + Clinical Seminar (300 hours)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinical Requirements
- Published totals conflict: Regis’s online program FAQ states 664–724 clinical hours depending on entry point, while course-level materials show 300 + 300 hours in the two clinical seminars plus a 200-hour clinical immersion (800 total). Confirm your exact requirement with admissions.
- Clinical hours may be spread over 2–4 semesters with program director approval.
- Students play a role in finding their own placements; Regis clinical coordinators provide assistance.
- Practicum hours at a student’s current workplace are discouraged but possible with faculty approval.
- Placements span hospitals, community health centers, and psychiatric facilities; Regis cites recent placements at Boston Children’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess, and Massachusetts General Hospital.
Even at the lower published figure, Regis exceeds the 500-hour national minimum for NP programs, and 800 would put it near the top of what MSN-level PMHNP programs require. The trade-off is the placement model: unlike programs that guarantee placement, Regis expects students to lead the search with coordinator support — a real consideration if you lack psychiatric contacts in your area.
MSN Admissions
Admissions are notably open for this specialty — no GRE, no required nursing experience, and a GPA that is preferred rather than an absolute cutoff.
- ADN, non-nursing bachelor’s, or BSN from a regionally accredited institution
- 3.0 cumulative GPA preferred
- Active unencumbered RN license
- College-level statistics course before classes start
- Application, official transcripts, resume, statement of purpose, two letters of recommendation
- An admissions interview appears in some program materials; confirm with admissions
- Current cycle: applications due July 27, 2026 for the August 31, 2026 start
Post-Master’s Certificate – PMHNP
The estimated tuition for the Post-Master’s Certificate at Regis College is approximately $34,425 (27 credits at the $1,275/credit graduate nursing rate. The program can generally be completed in about 12–18 months depending on prerequisite completion and scheduling.
Certificate Curriculum
The 27-credit certificate is the MSN’s specialty sequence stripped of the core: MSN-prepared nurses who already completed advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment move straight into psychiatric coursework. The design means certificate students receive the identical PMHNP preparation as degree students, not an abbreviated version.
- Advanced Psychopharmacology (prerequisite to the clinical courses)
- Theory and Practice of Contemporary Psychotherapies
- Primary Care of the Psychiatric Mental Health Client I (300 clinical hours)
- Primary Care of the Psychiatric Mental Health Client II (300 clinical hours)
- Roles and Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing
- Clinical Immersion (200 clinical hours)
Certificate Clinical Requirements
- 800 total clinical hours (300 + 300 + 200 immersion) — the same clinical sequence as the MSN
- Clinical immersion serves as the capstone integrating all competencies
This is worth pausing on: many schools trim clinical hours for certificate students on the theory they are already APRNs. Regis does not — certificate students complete the full 800-hour sequence. That is more preparation before boards, but also a longer commitment than the 500-hour certificates offered elsewhere.
Certificate Admissions
- Master’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution
- Completed advanced practice foundation courses (pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment)
- Active unencumbered RN license
- Graduate transcripts, resume, personal statement, professional references
- Interview at the admissions committee’s discretion
Tuition
The online MSN – PMHNP costs an estimated $44,562–$54,111 for BSN entrants (42–51 credits × $1,061/credit) before discounts. The certificate is estimated at $34,425 (27 credits × $1,275).
- Two per-credit rates appear in Regis materials: $1,061 (online graduate nursing programs, per the online program site) and $1,275 (graduate nursing rate cited elsewhere, likely the on-campus/hybrid rate). Confirm which applies to your track before budgeting.
- $75 application fee; textbooks estimated at $100–$300 per course; additional fees are not included in published tuition.
- Discounts (not combinable): 10% for employees/spouses of 70+ partner organizations (20% cited for hybrid tracks), 15% for active/reserve military, veterans, and military spouses, 15% for federal employees and spouses, 10% for Regis alumni.
- Graduate assistantships available at 6+ credits with a 3.0 GPA.
- Up to 9 transfer credits can cut roughly $9,500–$11,500 off the total.
The practical takeaway: sticker price puts Regis mid-pack among Massachusetts online options, but a 15% military or federal discount drops the effective rate to about $902/credit — cheaper than Northeastern — and transfer credits compound the savings. Nurses without a qualifying discount pay a premium over public options.
Why Choose This PMHNP Program?
Regis fits nurses whose credentials would shut them out elsewhere: ADN-prepared RNs, career changers holding a non-nursing bachelor’s, and new nurses without years of psych experience. The three-entry-point design is the rare structure that lets an associate-degree nurse reach PMHNP practice in one continuous program — about 34 months — instead of finishing a BSN first. Add no GRE, no experience gate, and zero campus visits, and this is one of the most accessible PMHNP front doors in New England, backed by a 92% reported NP exam pass rate.
The trade-offs are concrete. Placement is student-led with coordinator support, so nurses far from psychiatric networks should budget search time. Published clinical-hour figures conflict (664–724 vs. 800), and the dual $1,061/$1,275 rate structure makes the true cost track-dependent — get both in writing. Nursing accreditation is through ACEN rather than the more common CCNE; both are fully recognized for certification and licensure, but nurses eyeing specific doctoral programs later should confirm those programs accept ACEN graduates.
Against in-state alternatives, the comparison is straightforward: Westfield State is far cheaper for BSN-prepared nurses who qualify, and Northeastern edges Regis on sticker price. Regis wins when you don’t have a BSN, when a 10–15% discount applies, or when you want a certificate that delivers the full 800-hour clinical sequence rather than a trimmed one.
Accreditation
Regis College’s online and on-campus nursing programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), as verified from the school’s program pages, and the college is institutionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). ACEN accreditation is less common than CCNE among PMHNP programs but equally recognized for certification and licensure purposes. Regis states the curriculum qualifies graduates to sit for ANCC PMHNP certification. The Regis School of Nursing was the first in New England designated an NLN Center of Excellence in Nursing Education.