- 2 In-State Schools, Mostly Online format, plus 1 online option compared
North Carolina has two Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) programs. Duke University offers Primary Care and Acute Care, and UNC Chapel Hill offers Primary Care; both use a Mostly Online format.
Because neither school offers an RN-to-MSN or MSN-to-DNP pathway, this guide adds one online program, Walden University, to every comparison table below.
| School | Tracks | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke (Durham) | Primary Care + Acute Care | Mostly Online | Three required NP Intensives in Durham | $2,345 | MSN, Certificate | Pediatric RNs seeking Acute Care or school-arranged clinical placement |
| UNC (Chapel Hill) | Primary Care | Mostly Online | One on-campus experience per semester | $1,031.34 (plus $30.03 distance fee) | MSN, BSN-to-DNP, Certificate | North Carolina residents who want lower-cost Primary Care and faculty-placed clinicals |
| Walden University (online) | Primary Care | Online | None | $785 per quarter credit (NP coursework) | RN-to-MSN, MSN, DNP | ADN or diploma RNs, MSN nurses seeking a DNP, and nurses who cannot travel |
North Carolina PNP Programs at a Glance
- Schools: 2 in-state (Duke and UNC), plus 1 online option compared
- Primary Care: Yes, at Duke, UNC, and Walden
- Acute Care: In-state at Duke only
- MSN: BSN entry in-state at Duke and UNC; RN entry online only (Walden)
- DNP: BSN entry in-state at UNC; MSN entry online only (Walden)
- Certificate: In-state at Duke and UNC; Walden’s certificate is not open to North Carolina residents
- Format: Duke and UNC are Mostly Online; Walden requires no campus visits
- Lowest published in-state tuition: $44K for UNC’s full-time MSN (residents)
Choosing a PNP Program in North Carolina
Acute Care and Placement Support: Duke
Duke is the only North Carolina school with Acute Care, offered at the MSN and certificate levels. A placement team arranges clinical sites near home for a one-time $1,500 fee. The trade-offs: tuition above $100K for either MSN, three mandatory intensives in Durham, and one year of acute care pediatric RN experience for the Acute Care track.
Lower Cost and Faculty-Placed Clinicals: UNC
UNC charges residents the lowest in-state rate and is the only North Carolina school with a PNP DNP. Faculty secure clinical placements across the state. The trade-offs: Primary Care only, one fall start with a December 1 deadline, a campus visit every semester, and placements built around North Carolina.
RN Entry, MSN-to-DNP, and No Campus Visits: Walden
Walden covers two entry points neither in-state school offers: an RN-to-MSN for diploma and ADN-prepared nurses, and an MSN-to-DNP. It has multiple starts a year and publishes no RN experience minimum. The trade-offs: Primary Care only, students search for preceptors first, and its certificate is closed to North Carolina residents.
North Carolina RN-to-MSN PNP Programs
No North Carolina program offers an RN-to-MSN PNP pathway. Duke’s MSN accepts an accredited ADN plus a bachelor’s degree in any field, but UNC requires a BSN. Walden offers an online Primary Care RN-to-MSN for nurses with a hospital diploma, an associate degree, or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walden University (online) | Primary Care | $57K (after scholarship) | ~28 months | 640 |
- Experience requirement: Walden publishes no RN experience minimum.
Compare more programs: See all RN-to-MSN PNP programs
North Carolina BSN-to-MSN PNP Programs
Duke and UNC both offer BSN-to-MSN PNP pathways. Duke offers Primary Care and Acute Care with rolling admission. UNC offers Primary Care only, with one fall start and full-time or part-time plans. Walden adds an online Primary Care MSN with multiple starts a year and no campus visits.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke (Durham) | Primary Care | $103K | 2–2.5 years | 616 |
| Duke (Durham) | Acute Care | $101K | 2–2.5 years | 616 (up to 766 with intensive practicums) |
| UNC (Chapel Hill) | Primary Care | $44K–$48K (full-time to part-time) | 2 years full-time; 3 years part-time | 600 |
| Walden University (online) | Primary Care | $45K (after scholarship) | ~24 months | 640 |
- Lowest estimated tuition: UNC, at $44K for residents studying full-time.
- Only Acute Care option: Duke. Its Acute Care MSN requires one year of acute care pediatric RN experience.
- Campus requirement: Duke requires three intensives in Durham; UNC requires one campus experience per semester; Walden requires none.
Compare more programs: See all BSN-to-MSN PNP programs
North Carolina BSN-to-DNP PNP Programs
UNC offers North Carolina’s only BSN-to-DNP PNP pathway, in Primary Care, with full-time and part-time plans. Its 72 credits add 400 practice hours beyond the 600-hour pediatric sequence. Duke’s PNP tracks stop at the MSN. Walden adds an online Primary Care BSN-to-DNP with no campus visits.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNC (Chapel Hill) | Primary Care | $69K–$76K (full-time to part-time) | 3 years full-time; 5 years part-time | 1,000 total practice hours |
| Walden University (online) | Primary Care | $76K (after scholarship) | ~3.25 years | 1,000 minimum (post-baccalaureate) |
- Lowest estimated tuition: UNC, at $69K for residents studying full-time.
- Shortest completion: UNC, at about 3 years full-time.
- Experience requirement: UNC requires one year of paid clinical RN work within three years of applying; Walden publishes no minimum.
Compare more programs: See all BSN-to-DNP PNP programs
North Carolina MSN-to-DNP PNP Programs
No North Carolina program offers an MSN-to-DNP PNP pathway. Walden offers one online, in Primary Care. Applicants with fewer than 600 verified clinical hours from their prior program take up to 8 additional credits of DNP field experience, a cost not included in Walden’s estimate.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walden University (online) | Primary Care | $71K (after scholarship) | ~3 years | 1,000 minimum (post-baccalaureate) |
Compare more programs: See all MSN-to-DNP PNP programs
North Carolina Post-Master’s Certificate PNP Programs
Duke and UNC both offer post-graduate PNP certificates built from a gap analysis. Duke offers Primary Care and Acute Care and admits board-certified NPs adding a population. UNC offers a part-time Primary Care certificate. Walden’s PNP certificate is not available to North Carolina residents.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke (Durham) | Primary Care | Not clearly stated ($2,345 per credit) | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated |
| Duke (Durham) | Acute Care | Not clearly stated ($2,345 per credit) | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated |
| UNC (Chapel Hill) | Primary Care | $23K (full 22-credit sequence) | ~2 years (part-time) | Up to 600 (set by plan of study) |
- Lowest estimated tuition: UNC, at about $23K for residents if the full pediatric sequence is required.
- Only Acute Care option: Duke, the only certificate route to CPNP-AC in North Carolina.
Compare more programs: See all Post-Master’s Certificate PNP programs
Other Online PNP Programs for North Carolina Nurses
Maryville University and Rasmussen University also list online PNP programs. Confirm North Carolina enrollment with each school before applying.
Duke University PNP Programs
Durham | $2,345 cpc | Certificate / BSN to MSN
Duke University School of Nursing offers four PNP pathways: MSN and post-graduate certificate tracks in Primary Care (CPNP-PC) and Acute Care (CPNP-AC), delivered mostly online with three on-campus intensives in Durham... read more.
UNC at Chapel Hill PNP Programs
Chapel Hill | $1,031.34 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / BSN to MSN
UNC Chapel Hill offers three Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care pathways: a 45-credit MSN, a 72-credit BSN-DNP, and an individualized post-graduate certificate. All are distance-based with one on-campus experience per semester and faculty-arranged clinical placements in North Carolina... read more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many PNP programs are available in North Carolina?
Two. Duke offers Primary Care and Acute Care MSNs and certificates. UNC offers a Primary Care MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and certificate. This guide also compares Walden University, an online program that enrolls North Carolina residents.
Does North Carolina offer an Acute Care PNP program?
Yes, at Duke only, through the MSN and post-graduate certificate. The Acute Care MSN requires one year of acute care pediatric RN experience and adds up to 150 hours of intensive clinical practicum.
Are any programs fully online?
Not in-state. Duke requires three mandatory NP Intensives in Durham; it announces dates months ahead but does not publish their length. UNC requires one on-campus experience per semester in Chapel Hill. Walden runs its PNP tracks fully online with no campus visits.
Which program has the lowest estimated tuition?
In-state, UNC’s full-time MSN is about $44K for residents. Duke charges one rate to all students, about $101K–$103K for either MSN. Among online options, Walden’s BSN-to-MSN is about $45K after its progress-based scholarship.
Which schools offer a DNP?
UNC offers a Primary Care BSN-to-DNP. Walden offers Primary Care DNPs at both BSN and MSN entry. Duke does not offer a PNP DNP.
Can students complete clinicals locally?
Yes. Duke’s placement team arranges sites near where students live, drawing on more than 2,000 facilities. UNC faculty secure placements across North Carolina; students need a car. Walden students complete clinicals locally but search for preceptors first.
Can I become a PNP in North Carolina without a BSN?
Yes. Duke’s MSN accepts an accredited ADN plus a bachelor’s degree in any field. Walden’s online RN-to-MSN admits diploma and associate degree nurses. UNC requires a BSN.