Program Track Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS FPMHNP | $28K in-state | ~2.5 yrs (part-time) | 60 |
| BS-DNP FPMHNP | $96K | ~3 yrs (full-time) | 90 |
| Post-Master’s DNP | Contact program | Varies | Varies |
Upstate’s defining advantage is clinical volume at SUNY prices, delivered predominantly online: all three tracks run as distance education with on-site requirements centered on in-person clinical components, at roughly $471 per credit for New York residents.
With 750 supervised hours in the part-time MS, 900+ in the BS-to-DNP, and DNP project foundations built into the master’s, it’s a working nurse’s on-ramp to the doctorate.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MS (60 cr), BS-to-DNP (90 cr), Post-Master’s DNP (individualized) |
| Format | Hybrid — online and in-person components; campus visit cadence not clearly stated |
| Clinical Hours | 750 + 50 project hours (MS); 900 + 200 project hours (BS-to-DNP) |
| Clinical Placement | Practicums can be completed in the student’s home area where possible; arranger not clearly stated |
| Population | Family psychiatric mental health across the lifespan (FPMHNP designation) |
| Start Term | Summer; application deadline March 1, rolling until full |
| Licensure Requirement | Current, unencumbered New York State RN license |
| Experience Requirement | BS-to-DNP: 2 years of recent direct patient care before Year 2 specialty courses |
| Tuition | ~$471/$1,073 per credit (MS, in-state/out); ~$1,068/$1,408 per credit (DNP), 2026–27 |
| Accreditation | Not clearly stated in available material — verify before publishing |
MS FPMHNP
The estimated tuition for the MS Family PMHNP at SUNY Upstate Medical University is approximately $28,260 for New York residents or $64,380 out-of-state (60 credits at $471/$1,073 per credit, 2026–27 rates).
The program can generally be completed in about 7 semesters (~2.5 years) on a part-time schedule — the plan of study is built around working nurses rather than offering part-time as an afterthought.
MS Curriculum
The 60 credits pair advanced practice foundations — the three P’s, role development, EBP, informatics, policy — with an FPMHNP specialty core: a mental-health-across-the-lifespan course, a combined theory and psychopharmacology course, and three 8-credit Clinical Management courses that carry the practicum hours.
Two structural quirks stand out: the MS closes with NURS 710, a DNP project foundations course with 50 project hours, effectively pre-loading doctoral progression; and the curriculum runs four Professional Role Development courses through ethics and advanced leadership, more role-development depth than most master’s programs carry.
- Clinical Pathophysiology; Pharmacology for Advanced Practice; Advanced Health Assessment
- Mental Health Across the Lifespan
- FPMHNP Theory and Psychopharmacology
- Clinical Management NP I–III (250 clinical hours each)
- Professional Role Development I–IV
- Foundations of the DNP Project (50 project hours)
More curriculum details are available here.
MS Clinical Requirements
The MS requires 750 supervised clinical hours — three sequential 250-hour Clinical Management practicums — plus 50 DNP project hours, a heavier load than the 500–600 hours typical at the master’s level.
- 750 supervised clinical hours: three 250-hour Clinical Management courses
- 50 additional project hours in DNP Project Foundations
- Who arranges placements: not clearly stated
- NYS RN license and CPR certification required; background check post-offer
MS Admissions
Applications are due March 1 for the summer start.
- BSN from an accredited program; minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Current, unencumbered New York State RN license
- Personal statement plus written essay questions
- Three letters of recommendation — one from a provider (NP, PA, MD, or DO), one from a supervisor; no peer evaluations accepted
- Current resume or CV; official transcripts from all institutions
- Virtual interview at the admissions committee’s discretion
- International transcripts: course-by-course NACES evaluation (e.g., WES)
BS-to-DNP FPMHNP
The estimated tuition for the BS-to-DNP Family PMHNP at SUNY Upstate Medical University is approximately $96,120 for New York residents or $126,720 out-of-state (90 credits at $1,068/$1,408 per credit, 2026–27). The program can generally be completed in about 3 years across 9 year-round semesters full-time, starting each summer.
DNP Curriculum
The 90-credit, year-round sequence front-loads foundations and DNP research methods (statistics, epidemiology, genetics/genomics), then runs the FPMHNP specialty and clinical years in parallel with a four-course DNP Project sequence ending in a formal project defense. The specialty core matches the MS — mental health across the lifespan, FPMHNP theory and psychopharmacology — extended with a fourth Clinical Management practicum and a scholarly writing and program development course.
- Clinical Pathophysiology; Pharmacology for Advanced Practice; Advanced Health Assessment
- Statistics and Methods for the DNP Project; Epidemiology and Population Health; Genetics/Genomics
- Mental Health Across the Lifespan; FPMHNP Theory and Psychopharmacology
- Clinical Management FPMHNP I–IV
- DNP Project I–III and Project Defense
- Scholarly Writing and Program Development
More curriculum details are available here.
DNP Clinical Requirements
The track states a total of 900 supervised clinical hours plus 200 DNP project hours (50 each across the four project courses), with practicums completable in the student’s home area where possible.
- Stated total: 900 clinical hours across Clinical Management FPMHNP I–IV
- 200 DNP project hours embedded in the project course sequence
- Practicums in the student’s home area where possible
- NYS RN license, CPR certification, and post-offer background check required
DNP Admissions
The March 1 deadline applies, with rolling review until the program fills.
- BSN from an accredited program; minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Current, unencumbered New York State RN license
- Minimum 2 years of recent, relevant direct patient care as an RN before beginning Year 2 specialty courses
- Personal statement, essay questions, resume/CV, official transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation (one provider, one supervisor; no peers)
- Virtual interview at the committee’s discretion
Post-Master’s DNP FPMHNP
The Post-Master’s DNP FPMHNP at SUNY Upstate Medical University is accepting applications, but published credit totals, cost estimates, and plans of study are not available — requirements are individualized through gap analysis with the program director.
Post-Master’s DNP Curriculum
The track builds on existing MSN-level advanced practice preparation, with course requirements determined by advisement against prior graduate work. It carries the same scholarly and leadership outcomes as the BS-to-DNP, including a DNP scholarly project with required project hours.
Post-Master’s DNP Clinical Requirements
Clinical hours are assessed individually via gap analysis of master’s-level hours, with totals meeting DNP standards; project hours follow AACN minimums. Specific figures: not clearly stated.
Post-Master’s DNP Admissions
- MSN from an accredited program with an advanced practice specialty
- Current, unencumbered New York State RN license
- Personal statement, essays, resume/CV, official transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation (same structure as BS-to-DNP)
- March 1 deadline for summer start, rolling until full
Tuition
Total tuition runs approximately $28,260 in-state ($64,380 out-of-state) for the MS and $96,120 in-state ($126,720 out-of-state) for the BS-to-DNP. This is based on 2026–27 per-credit rates of $471/$1,073 (MS) and $1,068/$1,408 (DNP); post-master’s DNP costs are individualized.
The DNP rate is more than double the master’s rate, so where a course sits in your plan of study materially affects cost. SUNY sets rates annually. A consolidated Upstate tuition page was not provided in the source material — confirm current rates and fees with the Bursar before budgeting.
Why Choose This PMHNP Program?
Upstate’s pitch is substance per dollar. The MS packs 750 clinical hours — 25–50% more than typical master’s programs — into a part-time schedule designed for employed nurses, at SUNY rates that keep the full degree under $29K in-state. The FPMHNP designation reflects a family/lifespan orientation, the specialty sequence runs three (or four, at the doctoral level) 250-hour practicums that can often be completed near home, and the MS’s embedded DNP foundations course means the doctorate is a continuation rather than a restart.
The open questions matter, though. The hybrid format’s campus cadence isn’t published — how often you’ll drive to Syracuse is a question for admissions. Placement support isn’t described, accreditation isn’t stated on the program materials reviewed (verify CCNE status directly), and the BS-to-DNP’s clinical math doesn’t reconcile (900 stated vs. 1,000 itemized). A New York RN license is required, and out-of-state rates more than double the bill.
Against its downstate SUNY sibling: Stony Brook matches the in-state master’s rate with zero campus travel and an institutional placement office, while Upstate counters with heavier clinical hours, a family-focused curriculum, and Central New York geography. If the doctorate is your real destination, Upstate’s MS-to-DNP runway — project foundations built into the master’s — is the smoother of the two paths.
Accreditation
Nursing program accreditation is not clearly stated in the source material reviewed for this profile. SUNY Upstate’s genuine program pages and academic catalog should be checked for current CCNE or ACEN status, and certification exam eligibility (ANCC/AANPCB) should be confirmed with the College of Nursing before relying on it. This section will be updated once verified.
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