- 2 In-State Schools, Campus and Hybrid formats, plus 2 online options compared
Wisconsin has two Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) programs. Marquette University offers Primary Care, Acute Care, and dual tracks on campus in Milwaukee, and UW–Madison offers a Hybrid Primary Care DNP.
Neither is fully online, so Walden University and Maryville University are added to every table below as online options.
| School | Tracks | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette Milwaukee | Primary Care + Acute Care | Campus | Campus-based coursework in Milwaukee | $1,450 | MSN, DNP, Certificate | Acute Care or dual PC/AC candidates near Milwaukee |
| UW Madison | Primary Care | Hybrid | On-campus meetings for every course | $1,473 | DNP | Residents who want clinical placements arranged for them |
| Walden University (online) | Primary Care | Online | None | $785 per quarter credit | MSN, DNP | ADN and diploma nurses without a bachelor’s |
| Maryville University (online) | Primary Care | Online | None | $900 (master’s); $995 (doctoral) | MSN, DNP, Certificate | Nurses who want fully online study and six start dates a year |
Wisconsin eligibility: Maryville’s June 2026 licensure grids list Wisconsin as meeting requirements for all four of its PNP pathways. Walden enrolls Wisconsin residents in its PNP MSN and DNP, but does not approve certificate practicums in Wisconsin for catalog terms starting Summer 2026 or later.
Wisconsin PNP Programs at a Glance
- Schools: 2 in-state, plus 2 online options compared
- Primary Care: Yes, at Marquette and UW–Madison
- Acute Care: Yes, at Marquette only, which also offers a dual PC/AC track
- MSN: In-state at Marquette only; RN-entry MSN online only, through Walden
- DNP: In-state at both schools; online at Walden and Maryville
- Certificate: In-state at Marquette; online at Maryville
- Format: Marquette is Campus and UW–Madison is Hybrid; Walden and Maryville have no campus component
- Lowest published in-state tuition: $17K for Marquette’s certificate at the 12-credit minimum
Choosing a PNP Program in Wisconsin
Acute Care and Dual Certification: Marquette
Marquette is the state’s only route to the CPNP-AC exam. Its dual MSN adds just six credits, about $9K, for eligibility in both pediatric populations. Acute Care students spend a full semester in the 72-bed PICU at Children’s Wisconsin, and the college arranges clinical sites. The program is campus-based and part-time only, and it requires pediatric acute care RN experience.
Arranged Placements and LEND Training: UW–Madison
UW–Madison places every student through its statewide partner network, so no one hunts for preceptors. Pediatric students can also apply for the LEND fellowship in neurodevelopmental disabilities. One year of general RN experience is enough. The trade-offs: only 500 of its 1,000 practicum hours are direct patient care, and admission happens once a year, with a December 1 deadline.
No Bachelor’s Degree Required: Walden
Walden admits RNs with a hospital diploma or ADN into an online PNP master’s, a route neither Wisconsin school publishes. Courses run on 11-week quarters with no travel. Students start their own preceptor search, and Walden’s placement team steps in only after documented failed attempts. Its PNP certificate is closed to Wisconsin residents.
Fully Online With Six Starts a Year: Maryville
Maryville admits new students twice each spring, summer, and fall. Its $42K MSN is the lowest-cost PNP master’s in this guide, and its DNP-NP accepts MSN holders who are not yet APRNs. Maryville requires one year of RN experience. It publishes neither a clinical hour total nor a placement commitment.
Wisconsin RN-to-MSN PNP Programs
Neither Wisconsin school publishes an RN-entry PNP pathway. Walden is the only program in this guide that admits nurses without a BSN. Its RN-to-MSN accepts a hospital diploma, an ADN, or a bachelor’s degree in another field, and adds 26 foundation credits before the pediatric coursework.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walden University (online) | Primary Care | $57K (after scholarship) | ~28 months | 640 |
- Experience requirement: None published.
Compare more programs: See all RN-to-MSN PNP programs
Wisconsin BSN-to-MSN PNP Programs
Marquette offers Wisconsin’s only PNP master’s, in Primary Care, Acute Care, and dual versions. All three are campus-based and paced at 3–6 credits per term. UW–Madison has no MSN. Walden and Maryville offer online Primary Care MSNs with full-time schedules and no campus visits.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette Milwaukee | Primary Care | $61K | 2.5–4.5 yrs | Not clearly stated |
| Marquette Milwaukee | Acute Care | $61K | 2.5–4.5 yrs | Not clearly stated |
| Marquette Milwaukee | Dual (PC/AC) | $70K | 3–5 yrs | 1,000 (500 PC + 500 AC) |
| Walden University (online) | Primary Care | $45K (after scholarship) | ~24 months | 640 |
| Maryville University (online) | Primary Care | $42K | 20 months (full-time) | Not clearly stated |
- Lowest estimated tuition: Maryville, at $42K. Marquette’s lowest MSN is $61K.
- Shortest completion: Maryville, at 20 months full-time.
- Only Acute Care option: Marquette, including the dual track.
Compare more programs: See all BSN-to-MSN PNP programs
Wisconsin BSN-to-DNP PNP Programs
Both Wisconsin schools offer a BSN-entry PNP doctorate. Marquette’s DNP comes in all three tracks at a part-time pace. UW–Madison’s Primary Care DNP runs as a fixed three-year cohort with fall entry only. Walden and Maryville add online Primary Care DNPs.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette Milwaukee | Primary Care | $100K | 4–7 yrs | Not clearly stated |
| Marquette Milwaukee | Acute Care | $100K | 4–7 yrs | Not clearly stated |
| Marquette Milwaukee | Dual (PC/AC) | $113K | 4.5–8 yrs | 1,000 plus a 250-hour residency |
| UW Madison | Primary Care | $85K | 3 yrs | 1,000 (500 direct care) |
| Walden University (online) | Primary Care | $76K (after scholarship) | ~3.25 yrs | 1,000 minimum (post-baccalaureate) |
| Maryville University (online) | Primary Care | $70K | 40 months | Not clearly stated |
- Lowest estimated tuition: Maryville, at $70K. In-state, UW–Madison is lowest at $85K for residents.
- Shortest completion: UW–Madison, at three years.
- Only Acute Care option: Marquette.
Compare more programs: See all BSN-to-DNP PNP programs
Wisconsin MSN-to-DNP PNP Programs
UW–Madison’s post-MS DNP is a doctoral completion route for nurses already certified as APRNs, and it adds no direct pediatric clinical hours. Marquette lists Post-MSN DNP tracks but publishes no cost or length. Walden and Maryville offer online PNP doctorates for MSN holders without an NP credential.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette Milwaukee | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated |
| UW Madison | Primary Care | $47K | ~2 yrs | 500 (leadership only) |
| Walden University (online) | Primary Care | $71K (after scholarship) | ~3 yrs | 1,000 minimum (post-baccalaureate) |
| Maryville University (online) | Primary Care | $64K | 36 months | Not clearly stated |
- Lowest estimated tuition: UW–Madison, at $47K, open only to certified APRNs.
- Experience requirement: Walden students with fewer than 600 verified prior clinical hours take up to 8 extra field experience credits.
Compare more programs: See all MSN-to-DNP PNP programs
Wisconsin Post-Master’s Certificate PNP Programs
Marquette offers Wisconsin’s only PNP certificate, in all three tracks. Credits are set by transcript review, so cost and length vary widely. Maryville offers an online Primary Care certificate. Walden’s PNP certificate does not accept Wisconsin residents for catalog terms starting Summer 2026 or later.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette Milwaukee | Primary Care | $17K–$44K | 1–3 yrs | Determined individually |
| Marquette Milwaukee | Acute Care | $17K–$44K | 1–3 yrs | Determined individually |
| Marquette Milwaukee | Dual (PC/AC) | $17K–$57K | 1–4 yrs | Determined individually |
| Maryville University (online) | Primary Care | $32K | 24 months (part-time) | Not clearly stated |
- Lowest estimated tuition: Marquette, at $17K for a 12-credit plan. Your actual total is set at admission.
- Only Acute Care option: Marquette.
Compare more programs: See all Post-Master’s Certificate PNP programs
Frequently Asked Questions
How many PNP programs are available in Wisconsin?
Two. Marquette University in Milwaukee offers Primary Care, Acute Care, and dual tracks at the MSN, DNP, and certificate levels. UW–Madison offers a Primary Care DNP with BSN or MSN entry.
Does Wisconsin offer an Acute Care PNP program?
Yes, at Marquette only. Its Acute Care and dual tracks lead to PNCB CPNP-AC eligibility and include a PICU semester at Children’s Wisconsin. UW–Madison, Walden, and Maryville prepare students for CPNP-PC only.
Are any programs fully online?
No Wisconsin program is. Marquette is campus-based in Milwaukee, and UW–Madison requires on-campus meetings for every course. Walden and Maryville list no campus visits for any PNP pathway.
Which program has the lowest estimated tuition?
In-state, Marquette’s certificate starts at $17K, though the final cost depends on transcript review. UW–Madison’s post-MS DNP runs about $47K for residents, and Marquette’s MSN about $61K. Online, Maryville’s $42K MSN is the lowest-cost degree.
Which schools offer a DNP?
Both Wisconsin schools. Marquette offers a BSN-entry DNP in all three tracks. UW–Madison admits BSN nurses and, for doctoral completion only, certified APRNs. Walden and Maryville offer online Primary Care DNPs from a BSN or MSN.
Can students complete clinicals locally?
UW–Madison arranges placements across Wisconsin and tries to honor requests near home. Marquette arranges sites through Children’s Wisconsin, southeastern Wisconsin, and northern Illinois. Walden and Maryville students train near home but generally find their own preceptors.
Can I become a PNP in Wisconsin without a BSN?
Yes, through Walden’s online RN-to-MSN, which accepts a hospital diploma, an ADN, or a non-nursing bachelor’s. Neither Wisconsin school publishes an RN-entry PNP pathway.