Best Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Programs for 2025
If you're looking to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner, AKA a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP), you'll need to find an accredited psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program. We've ranked the top PMHNP programs for 2025 to help make your decision a little easier.
Popular Online Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Programs
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
Learn in-depth practices in how to provide comprehensive psychiatric mental health care at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Grow your skills in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of a variety of psychiatric mental health disorders across the lifespan of patients.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
At Ohio University, we provide aspiring and current nursing professionals programs and credentials that will help them launch their careers and advance toward leadership positions.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, except AL, AZ, CO, DE, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MD, MN, ND, NE, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, and WY
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Top 10 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Programs
Our ranking criteria is based on factors such as tuition, acceptance rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and accreditation and uses the latest and most robust U.S. government data sets, specifically the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and College Scorecard.
1. University of Pennsylvania
A top-ranked institution for psychiatric-mental health, the NP program at the University of Pennsylvania combines neuroscience with psychotherapy.
Full-time students finish this program in just 14 months, making this a quick and high-quality option. Part-time students typically finish in two to five years.
- Tuition:
- Full-time: $99,784
- Part-time: $101,989
- Application Deadline:
- Full-time: November 4th
- Part-time:
- Spring: October 15th
- Summer: March 15th
- Fall: April 1st
- Length of program:
- Full-time: 14 months
- Part-time: 3 years
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (215) 898-4271
- Email Address: admissions@nursing.upenn.edu
- Website
2. Rush University
Rush University's PMHNP program culminates in a doctorate degree; keep that in mind before applying - it typically takes two or more years to complete. This is a 100% online PMHNP program, so students won’t have to relocate to earn their degrees.
- Application Deadline: October 25th
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (312) 942-6986
- Email Address: elizabeth_m_miranda@rush.edu
- Website
3. University of Washington
UW’s PMHNP program is technically a graduate certificate and is completed in person. Applicants must be either enrolled in the DNP or PhD program at UW OR already earned a doctorate degree from an accredited program.
UW has one of the top health and nursing programs in the nation, so even without intense specialization, this is an education worth having.
- Tuition:
- Resident: $11,239 per quarter
- Non-Resident: $16,038 per quarter
- Application Deadline: January 15th
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (206) 543-2100
- Email Address: asknursing@uw.edu
- Website
Popular Online Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Programs
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
Learn in-depth practices in how to provide comprehensive psychiatric mental health care at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Grow your skills in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of a variety of psychiatric mental health disorders across the lifespan of patients.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
At Ohio University, we provide aspiring and current nursing professionals programs and credentials that will help them launch their careers and advance toward leadership positions.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, except AL, AZ, CO, DE, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MD, MN, ND, NE, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, and WY
4. University of California – San Francisco
While the focus of the psychiatric nurse practitioner program at UCSF is on all demographics, students have the option to complete their residency while focusing on a specific age group.
This program is ideal for nurses who want to work exclusively with adults or children.
- Application Deadline: January 13th
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (415) 476-1381
- Email Address: michele.keating@ucsf.edu
- Website
5. Yale University
Yale’s psychiatric-mental health nursing specialty gives students the benefits of Yale’s highly respected nursing education.
Yale boasts an impressive 100% pass rate on the PMHNP examination for the last five years.
Students will receive an all-around education in the psychiatric-mental health field, preparing them for any setting they might end up in.
- Application Deadline:
- Priority: November 1st
- Final: March 1st
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number:
- Email Address: ysn.admissions@yale.edu
- Website
6. University of North Carolina
A part of UNC’s Master of Science nursing program, psychiatric-mental health is an advanced practice area that students can focus their studies on.
This all-around education will require students to be able to attend in-person practice, something to keep in mind before applying.
- Tuition:
- Resident: $598 per credit hour
- Non-Resident: $1,634.50 per credit hour
- Application Deadline:
- Priority: November 12th
- Final: February 11th
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (919) 966-4260
- Email Address: nursing@unc.edu
- Website
>> Related: Top Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Programs by State
7. Duke University
According to the 2024 U.S. World News & Report, Duke’s program currently ranks #1 for PMHNP programs in the country. While Duke’s PMHNP program will teach students to help people of all ages, it does focus on people living in rural and underserved areas.
Any nurses interested in treating and helping these communities will find that Duke’s program is a good fit.
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (877) 415-3853
- Email Address: SONAdmissions@dm.duke.edu
- Website
8. University of Maryland
UM’s psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program takes anywhere from three to five years, making it one of the longest programs of study on this list. This is also a doctoral program, and students are required to be located in the Maryland/Washington, D.C. area for the program.
- Tuition:
- Resident: $873 per credit hour
- Non-Resident: $1,549 per credit hour
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (410) 706-0501
- Email Address: admissions.nursing@umaryland.edu
- Website
9. Vanderbilt University
One of the top nursing schools in the nation for graduates, Vanderbilt’s PMHNP program offers a holistic approach to a complicated subject. This program doesn’t require relocation - it is offered entirely online. Also, it is possible to earn this degree without a strong psychiatric nursing background.
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application Deadline: November 1st
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (615) 322-3800 or (888) 333-9192
- Email Address: VUSN-Admissions@vanderbilt.edu
- Website
10. New York University
The master’s program in psychiatric-mental health at NYU will teach nurses how to help people of all ages. By the end of the program, nurses will be able to conduct individual or group therapy, allowing them to choose the focus that is best for them.
While these are some of the top schools, there are many options out there, including some great online programs. Find a school that works for you!
- Application Deadline: September 15th
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (212) 998-5300
- Email Address: nursing.admissions@nyu.edu
- Website
Types of Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Programs
RN-MSN PMHNP Programs
Who is it right for? RNs who have an ADN or Diploma
If you have your RN license and an associate degree, you can enter into a bridge program that will roll the types of classes you would have taken with a Bachelor’s degree into one program to earn your Master’s.
MSN Psychiatric NP Programs
Who is it right for? RNs with a BSN degree
One of the most common options for earning your Master’s degree in any field of nursing, you can enter into a Master’s program if you already have your Bachelor’s in Nursing.
Accelerated MSN Psychiatric NP Programs
Who is it right for? Those with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree
Many graduate nursing programs also allow you to enroll directly if you have your RN license and a bachelor’s in a non-nursing-related field.
Some schools may also accept non-nurses with bachelor’s degrees to fast-track them into a master’s program; by the end of the program, you will have earned your RN and be eligible to sit for the NP certifying exam as well.
Direct-Entry Psychiatric NP MSN Programs
Who is it right for? Those with a non-nursing master’s degree
Similar to the non-nursing Bachelor’s degree, direct-entry MSN (sometimes called post-master's certification) programs welcome individuals who have a master’s degree in a non-nursing field.
With this type of program, you can fast-track your nursing education because you already have many of the master’s level courses needed and will focus on the nursing component throughout your coursework.
DNP Psychiatric NP Programs
Who is it right for? Those who know they want to further their education
Some nurses will also choose to enroll in a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or in a Ph.D. and EdD, to perform additional work as professors, researchers, or administrators.
How to Pick the Right PMHNP Program for You
It’s hard to know what the perfect school is for what you’re looking for. While there are only a handful of institutions that offer a psychiatric nurse practitioner program, narrowing it down further will likely be based on different factors, including:
- Cost: Is the school within an affordable range? Will you have to move to attend school, and how expensive is the new city going to be? Do they offer financial aid?
- Location: Commuting to and from facilities where you get real-world experience is common for psychiatric NPs. This means you might have to move to a new area for school or work with the school to find clinical sites near your home and complete your coursework online.
- Program length: Depending on the program you study toward, you may have to plan to be in school for 2-4 years, and possibly even longer if you’re working full-time and studying part-time. If you have to continue to work while you’re in school, you’ll also want to verify that the program can be completed while you work.
- Accreditation: Accreditation is always something important to keep in mind before selecting any school or program–not only does it ensure that your school will properly prepare you for your certifying exams, but if you plan on applying for federal loans, you may get turned down if your school is not accredited.
Deciding on a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program is a personal choice. In addition to doing your research online, we also recommend talking to medical professionals who currently work in the specialty. Continuing your education is not an easy decision to make but, one thing is for sure, it will open many opportunities for you in the near future.
More Information on a Career as a Psychiatric Mental-Health Nurse Practitioner
PMHNP Duties
What does a psychiatric nurse practitioner do? Some primary duties for these APRNs include the following:
- Create healthcare plans based on outpatient or home-based care for acute or chronic mental healthcare conditions
- Provide consultations
- Perform patient assessments
- Prescribe medications per their state laws
- Prescribe and offer various treatments, such as psychotherapy, medication therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, etc.
- Work alongside doctors for referrals and to provide patient care
- Participate and/or initiate research
- Education on mental health disorders
- Contribute to policy development, quality improvement, practice evaluation, and healthcare reform.
PMHNP Salary
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners are one of the highest-paying nurse practitioner specialties because they are a highly specialized field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Practitioners make a mean annual salary of $126,260 with an average hourly wage of $60.70 as of May 2023.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Certification
Once you complete your education program, you will have to pass the PMHNP certifying exam issued by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). According to the ANCC, upon successful completion of the exam, you will be Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (PMHNP-BC). Once you earn your license, the credential is valid for 5 years.
Popular Online Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Programs
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
Learn in-depth practices in how to provide comprehensive psychiatric mental health care at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Grow your skills in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of a variety of psychiatric mental health disorders across the lifespan of patients.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
At Ohio University, we provide aspiring and current nursing professionals programs and credentials that will help them launch their careers and advance toward leadership positions.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, except AL, AZ, CO, DE, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MD, MN, ND, NE, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, and WY
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