The Best Psychiatric NP Programs Online

Demand for mental healthcare keeps rising, and so does the need for psychiatric nurse practitioners. Becoming a PMHNP means completing a master's program and earning a license, and many online programs deliver the training with the flexibility working nurses need. Below are strong online options, plus what to check on accreditation, cost, and career outlook.

Top Online Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Programs

George Washington University

GW's online PMHNP program offers full-time and part-time enrollment, 600 hours of in-person clinical experience, and some on-campus components. Students find their own preceptors, with department guidance on local sites. Coursework includes biostatistics, population health, genetics for healthcare providers, and clinical courses in family and group psychotherapy and population-based psychiatric care.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: Washington, D.C.
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $1,450 per credit hour
• Admission: BSN from a regionally accredited school; current RN license; 3.0 GPA preferred
• Minimum time: 24 months
• Onsite requirement: Yes
• Median earnings four years after graduation: $110,856 (College Scorecard)

Maryville University

The MSN with a PMHNP concentration at Maryville runs 100% online with no campus visits, full-time or part-time. Students complete clinicals locally. No prior statistics course or GRE/GMAT scores required. The 50-credit curriculum covers advanced health assessment, professional role development, psychiatric mental health diagnosis and management, and psychopharmacology.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: Saint Louis, Missouri
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $863 per credit
• Admission: BSN from a regionally accredited and accredited program; current RN license; 3.0 GPA minimum; one year of professional nursing experience
• Minimum time: 20 months
• Onsite requirement: No
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2023): 92% first-time
• Median earnings four years after graduation: $108,677 (College Scorecard)

Purdue Global

Purdue Global's online MSN PMHNP track emphasizes complex co-occurring disorders across the lifespan, organic brain disorders, and substance misuse. Students learn diagnosis, treatment planning, therapy, psychotropic prescribing, and emergency psychiatric care, supported by virtual reality labs and clinical hours in their own communities. Graduates qualify for certification exams.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: West Lafayette, Indiana
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $420 per credit
• Admission: BSN with a 2.5 GPA; current RN license; criminal background check
• Minimum time: 24 months
• Onsite requirement: No
• Median earnings four years after graduation: $110,217 (College Scorecard)

University of Southern Indiana

The 100% online MSN at USI offers a PMHNP track. The 44-credit program includes 655 clinical hours and focuses on disease prevention, family consultation, health promotion, and symptom management. Required courses cover population-based care, health policy, healthcare informatics, psychopharmacology, and psychiatric care of families. Admission opens three times a year.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: Evansville, Indiana
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $433 per credit
• Admission: BSN from a regionally accredited and accredited program; current RN license; 3.0 GPA minimum; undergraduate statistics; one year of RN practice recommended
• Minimum time: 30 months
• Onsite requirement: No

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

The online PMHNP program at Texas Tech prepares nurses for acute care, community health, and telemental services, with an emphasis on rural health and early intervention for children, adolescents, and families. The 49-credit program runs full-time or part-time, delivered online except for a two-day onsite exam in advanced health assessment. Clinicals are completed locally.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: Lubbock, Texas
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $265 per credit (in state); $685 per credit (out of state)
• Admission: BSN from a regionally accredited and accredited program; current RN license; 3.0 GPA minimum; a C in undergraduate statistics and research
• Minimum time: 24 months
• Onsite requirement: Yes
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2023): 89% first-time
• Median earnings four years after graduation: $114,426 (College Scorecard)

Indiana Wesleyan University

IWU's primarily online primary care PMHNP takes a faith-integrated approach, with onsite residencies and intensives plus live psychiatric evaluations with trained actors. Core content includes advanced assessment, neuropsychopharmacology, and three psychotherapy practicums across the lifespan. Graduation requires at least 525 in-person practicum hours. The university offers $10,000 Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training grants to five second-year students.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: Marion, Indiana
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $685 per credit hour
• Admission: BSN from a regionally accredited and accredited program (or non-nursing bachelor's with 10 years of nursing experience plus a portfolio); unencumbered RN license; 3.25 undergraduate or 3.0 graduate GPA minimum; at least one year of practice with 500 hours of direct patient care; criminal background check
• Minimum time: 28 months
• Onsite requirement: Yes
• Median earnings four years after graduation: $109,768 (College Scorecard)

Cox College

Cox College's PMHNP track pairs online courses with 780 clinical hours, full-time or part-time, covering advanced pharmacology, counseling and psychotherapy, and family and child dynamics. The department assists with local clinical placements, though approval restrictions exclude students from several states.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: Springfield, Missouri
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $620 per credit
• Admission: U.S. citizenship or permanent residency; BSN; current RN license; 3.0 GPA minimum
• Minimum time: 20 months
• Onsite requirement: No
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2023): 85% first-time
• Median earnings four years after graduation: $109,058 (College Scorecard)

Mount Marty University

MMU's MSN for PMHNPs is a 50-credit, 100% online program at this Catholic institution, with 750 clinical hours in rural and underserved communities. Coursework covers advanced practice leadership; legal, ethical, and political issues; neuroscience and psychopharmacology; and psychotherapeutic modalities. Graduates qualify for certification exams.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: Yankton, South Dakota
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $680 per credit
• Admission: BSN from an accredited program; current RN license; 3.0 GPA minimum; at least one year of RN experience; Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers; criminal background check
• Minimum time: 24 months
• Onsite requirement: No
• Median earnings four years after graduation: $196,551 (College Scorecard)

Husson University

The online PMHNP program at Husson awards a 51-credit MSN through flexible asynchronous, 15-week courses, with free tutoring and mental health support and a clinical coordinator who helps secure placements. Rolling admission offers multiple start dates, and students can transfer up to nine credits.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: Bangor, Maine
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $682 per credit hour
• Admission: Bachelor's or master's in nursing; current RN license
• Minimum time: 30 months
• Onsite requirement: No
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2023): 80% first-time

Bluefield University

BU's online MSN PMHNP track targets the mental health provider shortage in rural and underserved areas. Students train to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health disorders and qualify for certification. Track courses cover diagnostics and psychopharmacological strategies, foundations of advanced practice, and psychiatric care across the lifespan, with local practicums.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: Bluefield, Virginia
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $665 per credit hour
• Admission: BSN from an accredited school; current RN license; 3.0 GPA minimum; a C in health assessment, microbiology, nursing research, pathophysiology, and statistics; at least 2,000 hours of RN experience
• Minimum time: 24 months
• Onsite requirement: Yes

What to Look for in an Online Psychiatric NP Program

The metrics below matter both for ranking programs and for choosing one that fits your life.

Admission requirements. Requirements vary, and some are program-specific, so read them closely and follow them exactly. Nearly all require an active RN license. Not all require GRE scores.

Clinical experience. Every program requires clinical hours, and mental health settings matter most for PMHNP students. Some programs place you; others only approve or reject placements you find yourself. Programs that leave you to arrange placements, or that pack demanding clinical schedules, add stress worth weighing before you enroll.

Accreditation. Accreditation determines whether you can receive federal aid, transfer credits, and sit for the certification exam. Every program listed here is accredited.

Program length. An online MSN for PMHNPs usually takes 2-3 years, covering roughly 46 credit hours and 600 clinical hours. A DNP takes longer. A BSN is typically required first, though some programs let qualified ADN nurses move directly into an MSN. Most programs offer part-time and flexible options for working nurses.

Certification pass rate. When published, the certification pass rate shows how well a program prepares you for the national exam.

Online format. Delivery format and technology requirements vary. Check both against your learning style and budget, since extra hardware or software adds cost.

Why Accreditation Matters

Accreditation confirms a program meets educational and industry standards, including how many graduates pass the NCLEX. It also affects:

• Eligibility to take the NCLEX
• Whether employers will hire you
• Whether other schools accept your transfer credits
• Eligibility for government financial aid

How Online Programs Work

Online programs let you take classes and complete assignments anywhere with a computer. Live sessions are recommended, but you can usually watch recordings on your own schedule. You communicate with faculty and peers by email, video conference, and approved chat tools, and you meet assignment and exam deadlines. Depending on the school, an MSN or DNP may include labs and fieldwork requiring in-person attendance. Clinical placement support is one of the most important factors to weigh when choosing an online program.

Applying

The process mirrors applying to an on-campus school, except your admissions interview may be virtual. Common requirements:

• Personal essay
• MSN or BSN from an accredited program
• Current RN license
• Letters of recommendation
• At least one year of relevant experience
• Background check
• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
• 3.0 GPA or higher

The experience and license requirements do not apply to students starting with their BSN. Some schools prefer a psychiatric nursing concentration or recent relevant experience.

Paying for Your Program

Cost depends on program length and your cost per credit hour, including any in-state versus out-of-state difference. Attending an accredited program qualifies you for federal financial aid, including nursing grants, loans, and scholarships, and helps you qualify for private grants and loans. Look into scholarships, loan forgiveness for nurses, and aid aimed at economically disadvantaged and minority students.

What You Can Do as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

A licensed, board-certified PMHNP cares for patients across many settings, focusing on mental health disorders. They most often treat:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Personality disorders
• Eating disorders
• Disruptive behavior
• Trauma
• Psychosis

Typical settings include hospital mental health departments, private clinics, and community mental health centers. According to Payscale, the median PMHNP salary was $125,325 as of September 2025, one of the highest-earning NP specialties.

Frequently Asked Questions

What degrees do psychiatric NPs need? A bachelor's and a master's or higher in nursing. Many universities offer an MSN with a psychiatric mental health concentration. Some students start with an ADN and use an RN-to-MSN bridge program.

What is the top salary? Up to $158,000, per Payscale, depending on location, experience, and setting.

How do PMHNPs differ from RNs? Unlike RNs, psychiatric NPs can prescribe medication, diagnose illness, and order treatments.

What is the fastest path? It depends on your current education. With an ADN, an RN-to-MSN program runs about 3-4 years, full or part time.

Is the field oversaturated? No. Demand for mental health providers keeps rising. Per the CDC, the pandemic drove a roughly 25% rise in depression and anxiety, and about 20% of adults have a mental health condition.

What does certification require? The American Nurses Credentialing Center requires an active, unencumbered RN license and an MSN or DNP from an accredited PMHNP program, plus graduate courses in pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology, and clinical training in at least two psychotherapeutic interventions.