- 1 In-State School, Mostly Online format, plus 2 online options compared
Hawaii has one Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) program: Chaminade University of Honolulu. It prepares nurses for Primary Care only and is Mostly Online, with a required annual campus immersion in Honolulu.
Because there is only one in-state option, we added two online programs, UT Arlington and Walden University, to every comparison table below.
Compare Options
| School | Tracks | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaminade (in-state) | Primary Care | Mostly Online | Multi-day Honolulu immersion every year | $1,205 | BSN-to-MSN, BSN-to-MSN-to-DNP, Post-Doctoral Certificate | Hawaii nurses who want a local program with a low admissions bar |
| UT Arlington (online option) | Primary Care + Acute Care | Online | None published for online tracks | $654 | RN-to-MSN, BSN-to-MSN, Post-Master’s Certificate | Experienced RNs who want online Acute Care or the lowest MSN tuition |
| Walden University (online option) | Primary Care | Online | None | $785 per quarter credit | RN-to-MSN, BSN-to-MSN, BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, Post-Master’s Certificate | Nurses who need RN-to-MSN, MSN-to-DNP, or post-master’s entry with no campus travel |
Hawaii eligibility: Walden’s restricted-states list, updated September 2026, places no restriction on Hawaii for any PNP pathway. UTA’s state authorization map lists Hawaii as eligible for its online PNP tracks.
Hawaii PNP Programs at a Glance
- Schools: 1 in-state (Chaminade), plus 2 online options compared (UTA, Walden)
- Primary Care: Yes
- Acute Care: Online only (UTA)
- MSN: Yes, BSN entry only in-state; RN-to-MSN available through the online options
- DNP: Yes, BSN-to-MSN-to-DNP only in-state; MSN-to-DNP available through Walden
- Certificate: Post-doctoral only in-state; post-master’s certificates through UTA and Walden
- Format: Mostly Online in-state; both online options are Online
- Lowest published in-state tuition: $22K (Primary Care post-doctoral certificate); $55K for the MSN
Choosing a PNP Program in Hawaii
Local Access and a Low Admissions Bar: Chaminade
Chaminade fits Hawaii nurses who cannot relocate. It admits with a 2.75 GPA, no GRE, and no RN experience requirement, and the RN license can arrive by the end of the first semester. Its DNP pathway confers the MSN at about two years, so students can certify and practice while finishing. The trade-offs are Primary Care only, a Fall-only start, annual Honolulu travel, and no published placement model.
Lower Tuition and Online Acute Care: UTA
UTA fills Hawaii’s Acute Care gap with online Acute Care MSN, RN-to-MSN, and certificate tracks. Its $654 per-credit rate is the lowest compared here, and it adds post-master’s certificates Chaminade lacks. The trade-off is placement: students locate their own preceptors. The BSN-entry MSN requires two years of RN experience, and Acute Care tracks require pediatric acute care experience.
More Entry Points and No Travel: Walden
Walden covers entry points Chaminade lacks: RN-to-MSN for diploma and associate-degree nurses, MSN-to-DNP, and a post-master’s certificate for MSN-prepared NPs. It publishes no campus visits, no RN experience requirement, and multiple starts per year. The trade-off is placement: students search first, and Walden’s Practicum Pledge team assists only after documented attempts. Walden offers Primary Care only.
Hawaii RN-to-MSN PNP Programs
No Hawaii program offers an RN-to-MSN PNP pathway; Chaminade requires a BSN. Both online options do. UTA offers Primary Care and Acute Care RN-to-MSN tracks for associate-degree nurses. Walden offers a Primary Care RN-to-MSN open to diploma nurses, associate-degree nurses, and nurses with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UT Arlington (online option) | Primary Care | $35K (nursing courses only) | 42+ months | About 720 (est.) |
| UT Arlington (online option) | Acute Care | $38K (nursing courses only) | 42+ months | About 720 (est.) |
| Walden University (online option) | Primary Care | $57K (after scholarship) | About 28 months | 640 |
- Lowest estimated tuition: UTA Primary Care at $35K, which excludes any general education still owed.
- Shortest completion: Walden, at about 28 months.
- Only Acute Care option: UTA. Its Acute Care MSN phase requires two years of pediatric acute care RN experience within five years.
Compare more programs: See all RN-to-MSN PNP programs
Hawaii BSN-to-MSN PNP Programs
Chaminade offers Hawaii’s only in-state BSN-to-MSN PNP pathway, in Primary Care, with one Fall start each year. UTA adds online Primary Care and Acute Care MSN tracks. Walden adds an online Primary Care MSN. Both online options admit more than once a year.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaminade (in-state) | Primary Care | $55K | About 2 years | 750 |
| UT Arlington (online option) | Primary Care | $27K | 29–33 months | About 720 (est.) |
| UT Arlington (online option) | Acute Care | $29K | 31–33 months | About 720 (est.) |
| Walden University (online option) | Primary Care | $45K (after scholarship) | About 24 months | 640 |
- Lowest estimated tuition: UTA Primary Care at $27K.
- Shortest completion: Chaminade and Walden, at about two years.
- Experience requirement: UTA requires two years of RN experience. Chaminade and Walden publish none for the MSN.
Compare more programs: See all BSN-to-MSN PNP programs
Hawaii BSN-to-DNP PNP Programs
Chaminade offers Hawaii’s only in-state BSN-entry PNP doctorate, a Primary Care BSN-to-MSN-to-DNP. The MSN is conferred after about two years, and doctoral courses cost the same per credit as master’s courses. Walden adds an online Primary Care BSN-to-DNP. UTA does not offer a PNP DNP.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaminade (in-state) | Primary Care | $82K | About 3 years | 750 PNP hours (MSN phase); total DNP hours not clearly stated |
| Walden University (online option) | Primary Care | $76K (after scholarship) | About 3.25 years | 1,000 minimum post-baccalaureate |
- Lowest estimated tuition: Walden at $76K, which depends on a progress-based scholarship.
- Shortest completion: Chaminade, at about three years.
- Campus requirement: Chaminade’s annual Honolulu immersion applies to the doctoral pathway. Walden publishes none.
Compare more programs: See all BSN-to-DNP PNP programs
Hawaii MSN-to-DNP PNP Programs
No Hawaii program admits outside MSN-prepared nurses into a PNP DNP. Chaminade MSN graduates may move into its doctoral pathway within three years of conferral. Walden is the only option compared here with an MSN-to-DNP, in Primary Care. UTA does not offer a PNP DNP.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walden University (online option) | Primary Care | $71K (after scholarship) | About 3 years | 1,000 minimum post-baccalaureate, including verified prior hours |
- Experience requirement: Applicants with fewer than 600 verified prior clinical hours add up to 8 credits of DNP field experience.
Compare more programs: See all MSN-to-DNP PNP programs
Hawaii Post-Master’s Certificate PNP Programs
No Hawaii program offers a post-master’s PNP certificate. Chaminade’s Primary Care certificate is post-doctoral and is shown for doctorally prepared NPs. UTA adds online Primary Care and Acute Care post-master’s certificates. Walden adds an online Primary Care post-master’s certificate. UTA sets each plan of study through a gap analysis.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaminade (in-state) | Primary Care | $22K (post-doctoral) | 12 months | 630 |
| UT Arlington (online option) | Primary Care | $13K–$21K | About 12 months (est.) | About 720 (est.) |
| UT Arlington (online option) | Acute Care | $16K–$24K | About 14 months (est.) | About 720 (est.) |
| Walden University (online option) | Primary Care | $33K | About 5–7 quarters | 640 |
- Lowest estimated tuition: UTA Primary Care at $13K–$21K, depending on the gap analysis.
- Only Acute Care option: UTA. It requires two years of high-acuity direct patient care within the last five years.
- Experience requirement: Chaminade requires a nursing doctorate, an active APRN license, and current NP board certification. Walden requires no existing APRN certification.
Compare more programs: See all Post-Master’s Certificate PNP programs
Other Online PNP Programs for Hawaii Nurses
Maryville University and Rasmussen University also offer online Primary Care PNP programs to Hawaii nurses. The directory below lists more options.
Maryville University PNP Programs
St. Louis | $900 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN to DNP / BSN to MSN / DNP
Maryville University’s Pediatric Nurse Practitioner programs are an excellent choice for nurses in Hawaii seeking fully online PNP education without ever leaving the islands. The four flexible tracks—MSN, BSN-to-DNP, DNP-NP, and Post-Master’s Certificate—feature 100% online coursework, local clinical placements anywhere in Hawaii, six annual start dates, and no GRE or campus visits required. Graduates achieve a 92% certification pass rate, giving Hawaii nurses a strong pathway to advance their careers in pediatric primary care.
Rasmussen University PNP Programs
Bloomington | $925 cpc | Certificate / BSN to MSN
Rasmussen University delivers MSN-NP and Post-Graduate Certificate options in Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP) practice through a flexible online competency-based model accessible to Hawaii healthcare providers. The curriculum combines self-paced coursework in pediatric health promotion and complex care with four local community-based practicums and a single on-campus weekend residency. Spanning 21 to 27 months with total estimated tuition and fees of $29,670 to $51,680, these CCNE-accredited programs allow Hawaii nurses to advance their clinical credentials without weekly deadline constraints.
Walden University Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs
Minneapolis | $785 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN to DNP / BSN to MSN / RN to MSN
Walden University offers online DNP, MSN, and Post-Master’s Certificate tracks in Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) practice for registered nurses residing in Hawaii. Operating on a quarter-credit schedule, the program features virtual skills labs, case-based reviews, and Practicum Pledge® assistance to aid Hawaii students with local field placement matching. With estimated tuition spanning from ~$35,690 for the certificate to ~$76,415 for the DNP, Hawaii RNs can gain specialized clinical expertise in child development, acute and chronic illness management, and advanced health promotion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many PNP programs are available in Hawaii?
Hawaii has one PNP program, at Chaminade University of Honolulu. It offers a Primary Care MSN, a BSN-to-MSN-to-DNP, and a post-doctoral certificate.
Does Hawaii offer an Acute Care PNP program?
No. Chaminade prepares nurses for Primary Care only. UTA offers online Acute Care MSN, RN-to-MSN, and certificate tracks, which require pediatric acute care RN experience.
Are any programs fully online?
Chaminade is Mostly Online. Coursework is online, but every pathway requires a multi-day Honolulu immersion each year, so nurses outside O’ahu should budget for travel. UTA publishes no campus visits for its online tracks, and Walden publishes none for any PNP pathway.
Which program has the lowest estimated tuition?
In-state, Chaminade’s post-doctoral certificate is lowest at $22K, and its MSN is $55K. Chaminade charges one rate regardless of residency. Among the online options, UTA’s Primary Care certificate starts at $13K and its Primary Care MSN is $27K.
Which schools offer a DNP?
Chaminade offers a Primary Care BSN-to-MSN-to-DNP with a Fall-only start. Walden offers online BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP tracks in Primary Care. UTA does not offer a PNP DNP.
Can students complete clinicals locally?
Chaminade does not clearly state whether it arranges clinical sites or whether students secure their own. UTA and Walden students complete clinicals where they live but locate their own preceptors, with school assistance when attempts fail.
Is there a post-master’s PNP certificate in Hawaii?
No. Chaminade’s certificate requires a nursing doctorate and current NP board certification, so MSN-prepared NPs are not eligible. UTA and Walden offer online post-master’s PNP certificates that enroll Hawaii nurses.