Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | $50,640 | 2 years (6 semesters) | 48 |
| BSN-DNP | $79,448–$84,988 | 4–5 years | 74–79 |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | $27,430–$37,980 | Varies | 26–36 |
The BSN-DNP total above corrects a common error: the program’s 26–31 doctoral-level credits bill at $1,108/credit, not the $1,055 master’s rate. See Tuition below for the split.
Regis’s Defining Advantage
Regis is Colorado’s only fully online PMHNP program, built around a single synchronous class day each week with no campus visits at any level. The trade-off is price: Regis costs more per credit than either in-state competitor.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MSN, BSN-DNP, Post-Master’s Certificate |
| Format | Online — one synchronous class day per week, no campus visits at any level |
| Clinical Hours | 630 (MSN) · 1,000 (DNP) · Not clearly stated (Certificate) |
| Clinical Placement | Student-arranged with Clinical Support Unit backing; may include telehealth |
| Population | Across the lifespan |
| RN License Requirements | Active, unrestricted RN license |
| Admissions | 2.75 GPA (MSN/DNP); single annual May start; certificate seats very limited |
| Tuition | $1,055/credit master’s-level; $1,108/credit doctoral-level |
| Accreditation | CCNE (nursing); HLC (institutional) |
Master of Science in Nursing, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the MS PMHNP at Regis is approximately $50,640 (48 credits at $1,055/credit). The program can be completed in as few as 2 years (6 semesters) of continuous full-time study.
MSN Curriculum
Eighteen credits of shared graduate nursing core (ethics, theory, research, pathophysiology, pharmacology, health policy) precede 30 credits of PMHNP specialty coursework. The specialty sequence runs three consecutive Psychiatric Advanced Practice courses, each paired with supervised clinical time.
- NR 605 – Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan
- NR 607 – Pharmacology for Advanced Practice
- NR 630F – Advanced Health Assessment
- NR 651 – Professional Integration
- NR 670 – Advanced Psychopharmacology
- NR 671 – Psychiatric Assessment / Psychopathology
- NR 672–674 – Psychiatric Advanced Practice I–III
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
Single annual intake: the PMHNP track admits once a year for a May start, with applications opening September 1 and due February 1. Missing the cycle means waiting a full year.
MSN Clinical Requirements
- 630 hours of precepted clinical time over the final three semesters
- Sites are arranged by the student in collaboration with faculty and the Clinical Support Unit; may include telehealth
630 hours clears the 500-hour floor for national PMHNP certification eligibility but falls short of the 750 direct patient care hours in the 2022 NTF Standards. Regis’s clinical model puts the search burden on the student rather than the school, unlike a fully placed program.
MSN Admissions
Admissions are comparatively accessible: a 2.75 GPA floor is the lowest of Colorado’s three PMHNP programs, though the school prefers behavioral-health experience.
- BSN from an NLN or CCNE-accredited program, 2.75 GPA or higher
- Grade of C or better in all nursing courses, including statistics (before NR 602)
- Active, unrestricted RN license; current AHA BLS certification
- Two years of behavioral health or community health RN experience (preferred, not required)
- Three professional letters of recommendation, resume, essay, admissions interview
- Background check and drug screening
Post-BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice, PMHNP Specialization
The estimated tuition for the Post-BSN to DNP at Regis is approximately $79,448–$84,988 (74–79 credits: 48 at the $1,055 master’s rate plus 26–31 at the $1,108 doctoral rate). The program takes 4–5 years to complete on a full-time basis.
BSN-DNP Curriculum
The first two years are the identical MS PMHNP curriculum above. Doctoral coursework then adds roughly 26–31 credits of theory, systems, and research content, closing with a variable-credit practica sequence sized to a student’s verified clinical hours and a project defense.
- NR 701–709 – Doctoral core: theory, research, systems, health policy
- NR 715A–D or NR 725A–F – Application to Practice (1–7 variable credits each, based on clinical hours needed)
- NR 799 – Project Defense
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
Work while you finish: doctoral courses are fully online with no on-campus requirement, and Regis structures the sequence so graduates can practice as PMHNPs on their MSN credential while completing the DNP.
BSN-DNP Clinical Requirements
- 1,000 total post-baccalaureate clinical hours, including the 630 completed during the master’s portion
- Remaining hours (roughly 370) are completed during the doctoral practica courses
1,000 hours is the heaviest clinical total among Colorado’s three PMHNP DNP pathways, though a large share of it is the same master’s-level practicum already required for the MSN alone.
BSN-DNP Admissions
- All MSN admission requirements listed above
- Minimum 2 years of nursing experience (recommended, not behavioral-health-specific)
- Two-page personal statement via NursingCAS; health assessment and immunizations
- Same May start date and application cycle as the MSN
Post-Master’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate
The estimated tuition for the PMHNP Certificate at Regis ranges from about $27,430 to $37,980 (26–36 credits at $1,055/credit, depending on prior graduate coursework). Regis states the credit total varies rather than publishing a fixed figure.
Certificate Curriculum
Coursework draws from the same MS PMHNP specialty sequence, with the exact courses required set by an individual review of prior graduate credit:
- NR 605, 607 – Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for Advanced Practice
- NR 630F – Advanced Health Assessment
- NR 651 – Professional Integration
- NR 670–674 – Psychopharmacology through Psychiatric Advanced Practice III
- NR 699 – Comprehensive Evaluation
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
Seats are scarce: Regis states that certificate enrollment is very limited because of competitive clinical placements, and the certificate may not be offered every year.
Certificate Clinical Requirements
Regis does not publish a total clinical hour figure for the certificate; hours are determined by which specialty courses a student’s prior coursework requires them to complete.
Certificate Admissions
- MSN from an NLN or CCNE-accredited program, 3.0 cumulative graduate GPA or higher
- Active, unrestricted RN license; current AHA BLS certification
- Two years of nursing work experience
- Three professional recommendation forms (one from a current employer); required interview
Tuition
Cost per credit at Regis is $1,055 for master’s-level coursework and $1,108 for doctoral-level coursework, both current 2026–2027 rates. All totals below are estimates built from these published per-credit rates.
- MSN: $50,640 (48 credits, all at the master’s rate)
- BSN-DNP: $79,448–$84,988 (48 master’s credits + 26–31 doctoral credits at the higher rate)
- Post-Master’s Certificate: $27,430–$37,980 (26–36 credits, all at the master’s rate)
The BSN-DNP figure is not a flat multiplication at one rate: only the first 48 credits bill at $1,055, and every credit past that bills at $1,108.
Be aware that:
- Doctoral coursework costs more per credit than master’s coursework. A DNP total built by multiplying all credits at the $1,055 master’s rate understates the real cost by roughly $1,400–$1,650.
- The certificate’s credit count is individualized, not a fixed 36 credits; a gap analysis of prior graduate coursework sets the actual total.
- Rates are published annually and may change each academic year; figures here reflect the 2026–2027 schedule.
Because every Regis track runs on flat national tuition with no in-state discount, the only lever a prospective student controls is which credential level to enter at: the certificate is the cheapest door in for anyone who already holds a qualifying master’s.
See the official program page for current rates.
Why Choose This PMHNP Program?
Best suited for working RNs who want a schedule they can plan around and are willing to pay Colorado’s highest per-credit rate for it.
Colorado’s only fully online PMHNP program. A single synchronous class day each week replaces the recurring campus attendance both in-state competitors require, with no on-campus component at the MSN, DNP, or certificate level.
The most accessible admissions gate in the state. A 2.75 GPA floor is lower than CSU Pueblo’s or CU’s, and behavioral-health RN experience is preferred rather than mandatory.
The trade-offs are real: Regis costs more per credit than either Colorado competitor, admits only once a year for a May start, and expects students to arrange their own clinical sites rather than placing them. Certificate seats are especially scarce and not guaranteed every year. Nurses who need placement support or the lowest sticker price should look at CSU Pueblo or CU instead.
Accreditation
The BSN, MS, and DNP programs at Regis University’s Loretto Heights School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Regis University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which underlies the university’s authority to grant degrees and its students’ eligibility for federal financial aid.
Graduates of the PMHNP program are eligible to sit for national certification through both the ANCC and the AANPCB.
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