Georgia has three in-state Pediatric Nurse Practitioner programs in the supplied data: Augusta University, Emory University, and Georgia State University. All three prepare nurses for pediatric primary care only, so no in-state school offers acute care or dual primary/acute preparation. Pathways include the MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and post-graduate certificate. Every program is mostly online, with some required campus attendance. Estimated resident tuition runs from about $9K for Augusta’s certificate baseline to $156K for Emory’s BSN-to-DNP.
Highlights include:
- Georgia State has the lowest estimated MSN tuition among the supplied programs, at about $22K.
- Augusta’s BSN-to-DNP costs about $34K for residents, under a quarter of Emory’s doctoral estimate.
- Emory’s MSN runs four consecutive full-time semesters with 780 clinical hours.
- Augusta admits only nurses who live in Georgia or South Carolina.
- Georgia State requires at least one year of recent pediatric clinical experience.
Compare Georgia Pediatric NP Programs
| School | Population Focus | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
| Augusta University, Augusta | Primary Care | Mostly Online | Skills intensives | $405–$445 resident | BSN-DNP, Certificate | Georgia and South Carolina nurses seeking a low-cost DNP |
| Emory University, Atlanta | Primary Care | Mostly Online | Campus intensives | $2,110–$2,320 | MSN, BSN-DNP, Certificate | Nurses wanting a fast MSN and Atlanta children’s hospital rotations |
| Georgia State University, Atlanta | Primary Care | Mostly Online | Once per semester | $464, all residencies | MSN, BSN-DNP, Certificate | Experienced pediatric RNs wanting a low-cost MSN with placement help |
Cost per credit includes mandatory per-credit fees where published. Georgia State charges every residency status the same rate and bills a separate online learning fee of up to $660 per semester.
What’s the Best PNP Program for You?
Best Overall Value
Georgia State University pairs the lowest estimated MSN tuition among the supplied programs with a clinical placement coordinator. The trade-off is a stricter entry gate and a single annual start.
Best Doctoral Option
Augusta University delivers a BSN-to-DNP at a fraction of Emory’s estimated cost, with a published part-time plan. Its PNP concentration reports a 100% board pass rate in four of the last five years.
Best Certificate Option
Augusta University also has the lowest baseline certificate estimate among the supplied programs. It suits nurses who already hold NP certification and want to add pediatric primary care.
Best Primary Care Option
Emory University offers MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and certificate entry. Its MSN is the fastest in the supplied data and carries the most MSN clinical hours.
Georgia MSN PNP Programs
Two Georgia schools offer a BSN-entry MSN in pediatric primary care. The choice comes down to speed versus cost. Emory compresses the degree into four full-time semesters at a private-university price. Georgia State takes longer and costs far less, but screens applicants for pediatric experience. Both require a BSN and Georgia RN licensure, and Emory also accepts a multistate license. Georgia State’s master’s program also admits associate-degree RNs through an RN-to-MS bridge.
| School | Population Focus | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Emory University | Primary Care | $109K | 4 semesters full-time | 780 hrs |
| Georgia State University | Primary Care | $22K | 2–2.5 years full-time | 600 hrs |
- Single published rate: Emory University — private tuition applies to all students, with flat-rate billing in semesters of 12 or more credits.
- Part-time flexibility: Emory University — part-time plans add a spring start alongside the full-time fall cohort.
- One intake per year: Georgia State University — spring start only, with a November 1 deadline, so a missed window costs a full year.
- Harder admissions: Georgia State University — a writing sample and an interview are required.
Georgia BSN-to-DNP PNP Programs
Augusta and Emory both offer a BSN-entry doctorate in pediatric primary care. They sit at opposite ends of the cost range. Augusta charges public resident rates but limits enrollment to two states. Emory finishes sooner on a full-time schedule, while Augusta publishes a four-year part-time plan. Both programs exceed the clinical hours of either Georgia MSN, and both embed a scholarly DNP project. Augusta also accepts MSN-prepared applicants into the same doctoral track. Georgia State also lists a BSN to DNP with pediatric NP preparation (87 credits and 1,000 clinical hours in a hybrid format), but it does not publish tuition for the doctorate.
| School | Population Focus | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Augusta University | Primary Care | $34K | 3–4 years | 1,183 hrs |
| Emory University | Primary Care | $156K | 2.5 years full-time | 1,140 hrs |
- Two-state resident rate: Augusta University — the resident rate covers South Carolina residents too; the published nonresident estimate is about $96K.
- Hour accounting differs: Emory University — its 1,140 hours are direct clinical hours, plus 120 DNP project hours; Augusta’s total includes lab and DNP residency hours.
- Lighter entry requirements: Augusta University — no GRE or MAT, and one year of nursing experience is recommended rather than required.
- Faster doctorate: Emory University — seven consecutive full-time semesters, fall start only.
Georgia Post-Graduate Certificate PNP Programs
All three schools offer a certificate for nurses who already hold a graduate nursing degree. Entry rules differ more than population focus does. Augusta requires current NP certification, Emory requires an active APRN license, and Georgia State requires a master’s in nursing. Prior coursework shapes cost at Augusta and Georgia State, while Emory publishes only a per-credit rate. Augusta’s certificate is part-time only. At Georgia State, waivers can shorten the core, but the 600-hour specialty sequence stays fixed.
| School | Entry Point | Population Focus | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Augusta University | Certified NP entry | Primary Care | $9K | 1 year part-time | 549–750 hrs |
| Emory University | APRN entry | Primary Care | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated |
| Georgia State University | MSN entry | Primary Care | $12K–$20K | Varies by waivers | 600 hrs |
- Baseline pricing: Augusta University — the estimate covers 19 certificate credits plus a required 2-credit prerequisite, and a gap analysis can add coursework and clinical hours.
- Waiver-based range: Georgia State University — the low end assumes only the non-waivable 26-credit specialty sequence, and the high end is the 43-credit baseline.
- Broadest entry: Georgia State University — the only supplied certificate open to MSN holders without NP certification or APRN licensure.
- Aid limits: Georgia State University — post-master’s certificate students may not qualify for federal financial aid.
- Cost unknown: Emory University — only the $2,152 per-credit rate is published, so request a credit count before comparing totals.
National Online PNP Options
Georgia’s in-state options leave clear gaps. No supplied program offers pediatric acute care or dual preparation. Only Georgia State offers an RN-to-MSN route, and all three require some campus travel. Augusta is closed to nurses outside Georgia and South Carolina, and Georgia State requires pediatric experience.
Associate-degree RNs can compare RN-to-MSN PNP programs.
BSN-prepared nurses who need a different schedule or entry rules can review BSN-to-MSN PNP programs, and MSN holders can compare MSN-to-DNP PNP programs.
Population focus, state authorization, and placement support vary by school, so confirm each program accepts Georgia residents before applying.
Maryville University PNP Programs
St. Louis | $900 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN to DNP / BSN to MSN / DNP
Georgia: Georgia nurses interested in pediatric advanced practice can complete Maryville University’s Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program entirely online with no campus requirement. Georgia students are able to meet their clinical requirements locally, which helps keep the program accessible for working registered nurses across the state. With MSN, DNP, and certificate pathways available, the program supports both entry-level advancement and post-master’s specialization.
Rasmussen University PNP Programs
Bloomington | $925 cpc | Certificate / BSN to MSN
Rasmussen University offers two online, competency-based pediatric primary care NP pathways: an MSN-NP specialization and a post-graduate APRN certificate. Both use local practicums with placement support and one required on-campus weekend... read more.
Walden University Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs
Minneapolis | $785 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN to DNP / BSN to MSN / RN to MSN
Walden’s Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care tracks deliver Georgia nurses comprehensive online training via DNP, MSN, and certificate pathways, complete with virtual labs and Grand Rounds for real-world pediatric scenarios. Georgia students arrange practicums locally with program-backed support, covering essential skills in health assessment, pharmacology, and specialized pediatric populations over about 1.5–3.25 years. The CCNE-accredited programs, costing $35,690–$76,415, position Georgia graduates for successful primary care practice and certification.
FAQ
How many PNP programs are in Georgia?
The supplied data includes three Georgia schools: Augusta University, Emory University, and Georgia State University. Together they offer MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and post-graduate certificate pathways, all in pediatric primary care.
Are any Georgia PNP programs fully online?
No. All three are mostly online. Augusta requires orientation, a skills intensive, and a DNP defense on campus. Emory requires intensives in Atlanta. Georgia State requires an on-site class each semester plus lab days in Advanced Health Assessment. Clinical rotations are completed at approved sites.
What is the lowest-cost PNP program in Georgia?
For a first NP degree, Georgia State’s MSN has the lowest estimate among the supplied programs, at about $22K in tuition for every residency status. Augusta’s BSN-to-DNP runs about $34K for residents. For certified NPs, Augusta’s certificate baseline is about $9K.
Can South Carolina or other out-of-state nurses enroll?
South Carolina residents can enroll at Augusta and pay resident rates, but nurses in other states cannot. Emory’s eligibility varies by state, so confirm before applying. Georgia State charges online students $464 per credit regardless of residency, and its certificate requires an active Georgia RN license.
Do Georgia PNP programs require pediatric nursing experience?
Only Georgia State requires it: at least one year of recent pediatric clinical experience in a hospital or community setting. Augusta recommends one year of general nursing experience for its DNP. Emory lists no experience requirement in the supplied data.
Are Georgia PNP programs accredited?
Yes. All three schools’ PNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and graduates are eligible for CPNP-PC certification through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).
Does any Georgia school offer an acute care PNP program?
No. Every supplied Georgia program prepares nurses for CPNP-PC certification only. Nurses who want to care for hospitalized or critically ill children need an out-of-state acute care or dual program that is authorized to enroll Georgia residents.