Boston College’s Connell School of Nursing prepares pediatric nurse practitioners for primary care through six entry pathways:
- BSN to MSN – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- BSN to DNP – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- MSN to NP Master’s – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- RN (ADN) to MSN – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- RN (ADN) to DNP – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
- Non-Nursing Bachelor’s to MSN – Primary Care, CPNP-PC
Every pathway leads to the same Pediatric Primary Care specialty. Boston College does not offer an acute care pediatric track or a post-graduate PNP certificate. Classes meet on the Chestnut Hill campus, clinical placements are at Boston-area sites, and every route except Direct Entry requires a current RN license at admission.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN – BSN Entry | $94K | 2 yrs FT; part-time available | 48 |
| MSN – MSN Entry | $94K | 2 yrs FT; part-time available | 48 |
| MSN – ADN Entry | $94K+ (est.) | 2 yrs FT after bridge courses | 48 + bridge |
| MSN – Direct Entry | $187K | About 3 yrs | 96 |
| DNP – BSN Entry | $142K | About 3 yrs FT (est.) | 73 |
| DNP – ADN Entry | $142K+ (est.) | 3+ yrs (est.) | 73+ (est.) |
Tuition estimates multiply Boston College’s 2026-2027 Connell School of Nursing graduate rate ($1,952 per credit) by the published credit total. ADN-entry figures exclude bridge coursework, which is set by individual portfolio review.
Boston College stands out for how many starting points lead to the same pediatric primary care specialty. A nurse with a BSN, an associate degree, or a non-APRN master’s can enter, and so can a career changer with a bachelor’s in another field, with a master’s or DNP exit. The pediatric sequence includes a full course on developmental-behavioral and mental health concerns in children, and program directors match each graduate student with a preceptor from a Boston-area partner network that includes Boston Children’s Hospital, Franciscan Children’s, and Shriners Children’s Boston.
That model is built around in-person study. Fall 2026 pediatric courses meet in campus classrooms on Tuesdays, and clinical rotations run through Boston-area sites, so the program fits applicants who live in eastern Massachusetts or can move there. The MSN requires 500 clinical hours, the certification minimum, and 48 credits at $1,952 comes to about $94,000 in tuition.
Boston College offers pediatric primary care preparation from six starting points with school-matched Boston preceptors, but every pathway requires regular attendance on the Chestnut Hill campus.
Quick Facts
| Population Focus | All pathways: Pediatric Primary Care (CPNP-PC) |
| Format | Campus: classes in Chestnut Hill, clinicals at Boston-area sites |
| Clinical Hours | MSN: 500 | DNP: 1,000, including at least 750 direct patient care |
| Clinical Placement | Program directors and clinical staff match students with preceptors |
| RN License Required | All pathways except Direct Entry |
| Distinctive Coursework | Developmental-Behavioral and Mental Health in Pediatrics (3 cr.) |
| Start Terms | MSN and DNP: fall or spring | Direct Entry: July |
| Tuition | $1,952 per credit (2026-2027) |
| Accreditation | CCNE (master’s and DNP) |
Clinical Education
All six pathways share one placement model, described here once.
- Hours: 500 for master’s students and 1,000 for DNP students, per the Connell School’s clinical experience page
- Placement: program directors and clinical experience staff match each graduate student with a preceptor; students may propose settings and learning goals
- Sites: students rotate among 3 to 6 clinical sites drawn from more than 85 Boston-area partners
- Pediatric-relevant partners named by BC: Boston Children’s Hospital, Franciscan Children’s, Shriners Children’s Boston, Boston Medical Center, Dimock Center, South Boston Community Health Center, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, and Cristo Rey Boston High School
- Simulation: a portion of clinical hours may take place in the school’s simulation lab
The partner list covers all of BC’s NP specialties, and the school does not break out which sites host pediatric students. What matters for applicants is that BC takes responsibility for the preceptor match, which removes the most common obstacle in pediatric primary care programs. Placements are local, so students need reliable transport around greater Boston.
The master’s hour total sits at the 500-hour certification minimum and below the 600-750 hours common for single-population PNP programs. Spread over the two practicum semesters, 500 hours works out to roughly 17 hours a week (est., based on two 15-week terms). The DNP total of 1,000 hours is well above the usual range, with the additional hours tied to the DNP project.
General Admissions
These materials apply to every pathway. Each pathway section below lists only its own eligibility rules and deadlines.
- Résumé or CV, two pages maximum
- Goal statement: two prompts, each up to 1.5 double-spaced pages
- Two recommendations: a recent employer or supervisor, and a professor or instructor
- Transcripts from all institutions (official copies preferred at application, required if admitted)
- Copy of RN license, where applicable
- $75 non-refundable application fee
- TOEFL or IELTS for applicants whose native language is not English, with exemptions for some citizens
BC describes the goal statement essays as very important to the admission committee’s decision, so they deserve more time than a routine personal statement.
Master of Science, Nurse Practitioner: BSN Entry
The Master of Science, Nurse Practitioner Track for BSN-prepared RNs costs an estimated $93,696 (48 credits at $1,952), takes four full-time semesters, and has part-time plans of study. It prepares graduates for pediatric primary care practice, and the university catalog states that they can pursue PNCB certification as a pediatric primary care NP (CPNP-PC). Applicants need a current RN license.
MSN Curriculum
The first year is an advanced practice core shared by all five of BC’s NP specialties. The second year is the pediatric sequence: a primary care theory course and a precepted practicum each semester, the developmental-behavioral and mental health course in the fall, and three specialty courses or electives. The published plan labels second-year courses as specialty placeholders; the fall 2026 course schedule identifies the pediatric titles below.
Advanced Practice Core (Year 1, 24 credits)
- NURS 7531 Just and Equitable Care of the Whole Person (3 cr.)
- NURS 7672 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 cr.)
- NURS 7430 Advanced Health/Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan (3 cr.)
- NURS 7420 Advanced Pharmacology Across the Life Span (3 cr.)
- NURS 7532 Foundations of Primary Care Across the Lifespan (3 cr.)
- NURS 7530, 7417, and 7416: Nursing Inquiry, Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse, and Ethical Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing (3 cr. each)
Pediatric Specialty Sequence (Year 2, 24 credits)
- NURS 7712 Pediatric Primary Care Advanced Practice Nursing I (3 cr.)
- NURS 7711 Pediatric Primary Care Advanced Practice Nursing Clinical Practicum I (3 cr.)
- NURS 7714 Developmental-Behavioral and Mental Health in Pediatrics (3 cr.)
- Specialty Primary Care II and Specialty Clinical II, spring (3 cr. each)
- Three specialty courses or electives (9 cr.)
NURS 7714 covers early identification, evaluation, and family-based intervention for developmental-behavioral and mental health concerns, including when to refer. That is more behavioral health content than many pediatric primary care plans carry as a standalone course.
View the official MS, Nurse Practitioner curriculum.
MSN Clinical Requirements
- 500 clinical hours
- Two precepted practicum courses in the second year, one each semester
- Preceptor matched by the school (see Clinical Education above)
MSN Admissions
- BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program
- Undergraduate GPA of B or better
- Completed statistics course (AP credit not accepted)
- Current RN license
- Deadlines: December 15 (early, fall), March 15 (regular, fall), October 1 (spring)
BC restricts only its Family specialty to fall entry, so pediatric applicants can also start in spring.
Master of Science, Nurse Practitioner: MSN Entry
The MSN entry route is for nurses who hold a master’s in nursing but are not APRNs. It follows the same 48-credit pediatric primary care curriculum, costs the same estimated $93,696, and carries the same 500 clinical hours and deadlines as BSN entry. Current APRNs are not eligible.
- Master’s degree from a nationally accredited nursing program
- Undergraduate GPA of B or better, statistics course, current RN license
RN (ASN) to Master of Science, Nurse Practitioner
The RN to MS route lets associate-degree RNs skip a separate BSN. Tuition is an estimated $93,696 plus bridge courses (est.; the 48-credit MS figure is fixed, and bridge credits vary by applicant). Once bridge work is done, the curriculum, 500 clinical hours, and pediatric primary care preparation match BSN entry.
- Associate degree from a nationally accredited nursing program
- About 112 earned college credits: 42 in general education and 70 in nursing-related specialty knowledge
- Portfolio review to determine which general education bridge requirements are already met
- Boston College nursing bridge courses completed before the MS curriculum begins
- Undergraduate GPA of B or better, statistics course, current RN license
- Deadlines: December 15, March 15, October 1 (spring)
The 112-credit expectation means this route suits RNs who already hold substantial college coursework. Applicants with fewer credits face more bridge work, which adds both time and tuition before the NP curriculum starts.
Direct Entry Master of Science, Nurse Practitioner
The Direct Entry pathway is for applicants with a bachelor’s degree in another field. It totals 96 credits, an estimated $187,392, and takes about three years from a July start through the final NP semester (computed from the published plan). Students earn a pre-licensure MS in Nursing, pass the NCLEX, then complete the 48-credit NP curriculum in pediatric primary care. No RN license is needed to apply.
Direct Entry Curriculum
The first 48 credits run full time over four semesters (summer, fall, spring, summer) and cover foundations, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and adult, psychiatric, child, childbearing, and population health nursing, each with a clinical course. The MS in Nursing is conferred August 30, after which students become eligible for the NCLEX. The second 48 credits are the same NP core and pediatric sequence described under BSN entry.
- NURS 7013 and 7014 Direct Entry Child Health Nursing Clinical and Theory (3 cr. each)
- NURS 7011 Direct Entry Population Health Nursing Clinical, about 80 clinical hours (2 cr.)
- NURS 7017 Nursing Care Across Settings: Synthesis Practicum, about 160 clinical hours (4 cr.)
- HLTH 8000 Examining Diversity in Nursing and Health Care (3 cr.)
View the official Direct Entry curriculum.
Direct Entry Clinical Requirements
- At least 500 direct patient care clinical hours in the NP portion, per the university catalog
- Pre-licensure clinical courses in adult, psychiatric, child, childbearing, and population health; the plan gives hour figures only for the population health clinical and synthesis practicum
- Clinical placements begin in the first fall semester
- A clinical placement year for the NP portion is assigned at admission
- Students may move to part-time during the NP portion, subject to clinical seat availability
Direct Entry Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university
- Minimum 3.0 GPA (undergraduate, or combined undergraduate and graduate)
- GRE preferred, not required
- Prerequisites with B- or better, all completed before matriculation: nutrition, lifespan or child development, statistics, human anatomy and physiology I and II with lab, general chemistry I with lab, microbiology with lab
- Science courses and labs completed within five years; at least three science prerequisites done or in progress at application preferred
- Deadlines: October 1 (early), December 15 (regular); July start only
Direct Entry applicants are admitted into a specific NP specialty. Switching from pediatrics later requires applying to the new specialty with no guarantee of acceptance, and it can delay graduation because clinical years are assigned at admission. Applicants should be settled on pediatric primary care before applying.
Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Nursing Practice
The Post-Baccalaureate DNP totals 73 credits, an estimated $142,496, and can be completed full or part time. About three years full time is an estimate (est.) based on 73 credits at the 12-credit semester load used in the MS plan. The university catalog lists Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner among its specialties, preparing graduates for CPNP-PC certification. Applicants need a BSN and a current RN license.
DNP Curriculum
The DNP program page describes students earning a master’s degree for the NP portion and continuing directly into DNP coursework. The catalog describes the DNP core as epidemiology, health care policy, health information technology, program planning and evaluation for population health, and health care quality, along with advanced pathophysiology, health assessment, and pharmacotherapeutics. The fall 2026 schedule runs a three-course DNP-level pediatric primary care series; its second course, NURS 9833 Pediatric Primary Care Advanced Practice Nursing II (6 cr.), covers chronic condition management and the pediatric APN’s leadership role.
DNP Clinical Requirements
- 1,000 clinical hours for DNP students (clinical experience page)
- At least 750 of those in direct patient care, plus a practicum tied to the clinical project (university catalog)
Twice the master’s hours makes the DNP the stronger choice for students who want more supervised pediatric practice before certification, though part of the 1,000 is project work rather than patient care.
DNP Admissions
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree from a nationally accredited nursing program
- Undergraduate GPA of B or better, statistics course (AP credit not accepted), current RN license
- Deadlines: December 15 (early), March 15 (regular), October 1 (spring)
RN (ASN) to Doctor of Nursing Practice
The RN to DNP route takes associate-degree RNs through bridge coursework into the DNP, with Pediatric Primary Care among the specialties (CPNP-PC). Credits depend on an individual portfolio review. Tuition is estimated at $142,496 or more (est.; at least the Post-Baccalaureate DNP’s 73 credits, plus bridge courses), over three or more years (est.).
A published conflict worth knowing about. The university catalog describes this route for associate-degree RNs who complete bridge coursework. The DNP program page lists “a master’s degree from a nationally accredited nursing program” among its RN to DNP eligibility rules, alongside about 112 college credits. A master’s requirement would contradict the purpose of the route, so this page follows the catalog.
- At least 750 direct patient care hours plus 250 indirect care hours within the DNP project (university catalog)
- About 112 earned college credits, B undergraduate GPA, statistics course, current RN license
- Full-time or part-time study
- Deadlines: December 15, March 15, October 1 (spring)
Tuition
Connell School of Nursing graduate tuition is $1,952 per credit for 2026-2027, the same rate for every pathway and for Massachusetts and out-of-state students. That is $76 more per credit than the 2025-2026 rate of $1,876, which adds $3,648 to a 48-credit MSN and $5,548 to a 73-credit DNP.
Estimated Total Tuition
| Pathway | Est. Tuition |
|---|---|
| MSN – BSN or MSN Entry (48 cr.) | $93,696 |
| MSN – ADN Entry (48 cr. + bridge) | $93,696 + bridge (est.) |
| MSN – Direct Entry (96 cr.) | $187,392 |
| DNP – BSN Entry (73 cr.) | $142,496 |
| DNP – ADN Entry (73+ cr.) | $142,496+ (est.) |
Figures are calculated from the published per-credit rate and credit totals; they are estimates, not university totals.
Fees Beyond Tuition
- Graduate activity fee: $62 per semester at 7 or more credits, $42 below 7 (2026-2027 fee table). The direct-cost section of the same page still lists $116 and $80; this page uses the dated 2026-2027 table.
- Health insurance: $4,403 for 2025-2026, required under Massachusetts law unless waived with comparable coverage
- Initial ID card fee: $50 for entering students
- Application fee: $75
Key Cost Takeaways
- Direct Entry costs about twice the BSN-entry MSN because it adds 48 pre-licensure credits at the same graduate rate.
- BC reports that 72% of master’s and DNP students receive financial aid, including scholarships, fellowships, assistantships, and tuition remission. Aid requires at least half-time enrollment, generally 6 credits.
- ADN-entry totals depend on how many bridge credits the portfolio review requires.
See Boston College’s official graduate cost of attendance.
Why Choose This PNP Program?
Best suited for: nurses and career changers in the Boston area who want pediatric primary care preparation in person, with a choice of master’s or DNP.
Six Entry Routes to One Pediatric Specialty
Few applicants are shut out by their starting credential. A non-nurse can enter through Direct Entry, an ADN-prepared RN can bridge without a separate BSN, and a BSN holder can choose between the 48-credit MSN and the 73-credit DNP.
School-Matched Preceptors in Boston
Program directors and clinical staff arrange preceptors from more than 85 Boston-area partners, including several children’s hospitals and community health centers. Students do not have to find their own pediatric sites.
A Dedicated Behavioral Health Course
NURS 7714 gives developmental-behavioral and mental health concerns a full three-credit course in the MSN, useful for students heading into general pediatric practice, where these visits are common.
Drawbacks to Weigh
- Classes meet in person in Chestnut Hill; there is no online option.
- Primary care only: no acute care PNP track and no post-graduate certificate.
- The MSN’s 500 clinical hours are at the certification minimum.
- At $1,952 per credit, tuition runs from about $94,000 for the MSN to about $187,000 for Direct Entry.
The Verdict
Boston College makes the most sense for applicants who can attend classes in Chestnut Hill and want the school to handle preceptor placement for pediatric primary care, especially career changers and ADN-prepared RNs who have few in-person routes to a PNP. Nurses who need an online program, want acute care preparation, or are looking for a lower-cost master’s should compare other options.
Accreditation
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits the Connell School’s master’s and DNP programs. The master’s program received a 10-year accreditation in 2018, and the DNP is accredited through December 31, 2027. The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing reviews the master’s program annually and has continued its full approval.
The catalog states that pediatric primary care graduates can pursue national certification, which for new graduates means the PNCB CPNP-PC exam. The ANCC pediatric primary care exam closed to new candidates in 2020. See Boston College’s accreditation page.
Additional Pediatric NP Programs Based in Massachusetts
- Mass General Brigham University of Health Professions - Boston
- Northeastern University - Boston
- Regis College - Weston
Choose the best Massachusetts Pediatric Nursing Program for you