The University of Missouri (Mizzou) Sinclair School of Nursing offers 3 Pediatric Nurse Practitioner pathways, all in primary care:
- MS(N) – Primary Care (CPNP-PC)
- BSN-DNP – Primary Care (CPNP-PC)
- MSN-DNP – Primary Care (CPNP-PC)
All three are delivered through Mizzou Online with a small number of required campus events in Columbia. Students arrange their own local preceptors. There is no acute care track and no post-graduate certificate.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS(N) – PC | $34.7K | 3–3.5 yrs (part-time) | 51 |
| BSN-DNP – PC | $49.1K | 4 yrs FT; 5–6 yrs PT | 72 |
| MSN-DNP – PC | From $24.9K | ~3 yrs (part-time) | 36.5+ (gap analysis) |
Tuition estimates multiply Mizzou Online’s 2026–2027 rate of $681.30/credit, charged to all online students regardless of residency, by the published credit total. The MSN-DNP figure uses the 36.5-credit minimum the catalog requires at Mizzou.
- Why choose it: Mizzou has the lowest per-credit rate of Missouri’s three PNP schools, and the same rate applies to out-of-state students. Its curriculum also includes a dedicated 90-hour pediatric mental health clinical course.
- Trade-off: It is primary care only, with no acute care track or certificate, and you find your own preceptors.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MS(N), BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP |
| Population Focus | Primary Care (CPNP-PC) only, all pathways |
| Format | Mostly Online: MS(N) 3 campus events; DNP 4 campus events |
| Clinical Hours | MS(N): total not published (540+ in fixed-hour courses); DNP: 1,000 minimum |
| Clinical Placement | Student-arranged local preceptors; faculty approve site and preceptor |
| Distinctive Coursework | Pediatric Mental Health Assessment and Treatment; Special Health Care Needs of Children |
| RN License | Current, unencumbered RN license |
| RN Experience | No minimum published |
| Start Terms | Summer, Fall (apply by Feb. 15); Spring (apply by Sept. 30) |
| Tuition | $681.30/credit for all online students (2026–27) |
| Accreditation | CCNE (nursing); Higher Learning Commission (university) |
Clinical Education
Clinical policy is the same for the MS(N) and both DNP entry points.
- Students are encouraged to find preceptors in their own area. Mizzou does not advertise placement assistance.
- The preceptor submits an application and agency contract at least 12 weeks before the rotation. Course faculty must approve both before clinicals start.
- NURSE 8420 (Newborn Through Adolescence Primary Care) requires a pediatric primary care practice. Family practice preceptors qualify only if they average 8–10 pediatric patients a day.
- NURSE 7145 (Procedures and Diagnostics) must be in a general urgent care or emergency setting.
- Telehealth hours are limited at faculty discretion in pediatric courses and not allowed in the procedures, diagnostics, practicum, and residency courses.
- States whose boards of nursing restrict out-of-state clinical students cannot be used for clinicals. Mizzou also does not accept online applications from some states.
Self-placement is the main practical burden here. The 12-week contract lead time means you need a committed preceptor a full semester ahead, and the pediatric-volume rule rules out most family practices in areas without a pediatric clinic. Confirm your state on Mizzou’s state authorization page before applying.
MS in Nursing – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care
The estimated tuition for the MS in Nursing, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care is approximately $34,746 (51 credits at $681.30/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 3 to 3.5 years of part-time study. It prepares graduates for the PNCB CPNP-PC exam and is open to BSN-prepared nurses.
MS(N) Curriculum
The plan pairs a short graduate core with a pediatric specialty sequence. Six specialty courses carry fixed 90-hour clinical components, and a final Advanced Clinical Nursing Practicum closes the program. Two courses stand out against typical PNP curricula: a full clinical course in pediatric mental health and one on children with special health care needs.
- NURSE 7145 Procedures and Diagnostics (3.5)
- NURSE 8010 Family Dynamics and Intervention (2)
- NURSE 8210 Special Health Care Needs of Children (3.5)
- NURSE 8420 Newborn Through Adolescence Primary Care (3.5)
- NURSE 8550 Advanced Diagnostics and Reasoning in Practice (3.5)
- NURSE 8680 Pediatric Mental Health Assessment and Treatment (3.5)
- NURSE 8720 Symptom Management in Acute and Chronic Illness (3–5)
- NURSE 8980 Advanced Clinical Nursing Practicum (3.5)
The 2026–27 catalog course list sums to 50.5–52.5 credits depending on the NURSE 8720 load; Mizzou Online publishes 51. More curriculum details are available here.
MS(N) Clinical Requirements
- Total clinical hours: not published as a single figure
- 540 hours across six fixed-hour courses (90 each): NURSE 7145, 8210, 8420, 8550, 8680, 8720
- NURSE 8980 practicum: hours vary; at least half must be in pediatrics, with up to three preceptors (60+ hours each)
- Required settings: pediatric primary care practice (8420); urgent care or ER (7145)
- Campus: three on-campus events in Columbia over the program
The 540 fixed hours already clear the 500-hour certification floor before the practicum is counted, so the total likely falls in the normal 600–750 range for a single population. Mizzou does not confirm a final number. Ask for your plan’s exact hour total at admission.
MS(N) Admissions
The MS(N) has a lower GPA bar than the DNP and needs one fewer reference.
- BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 credits of undergraduate nursing coursework (leadership, practice, or scholarship evidence considered below that)
- Two professional references from master’s- or doctorate-prepared nurses or faculty
- Kira Talent video and written interview (replaces a personal statement)
- CV and unofficial transcripts
- Apply through NursingCAS, then the MU Graduate School after acceptance
DNP – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care
The estimated tuition for the DNP with an emphasis in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care is approximately $49,054 for BSN entry (72 credits at $681.30/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 4 years full-time or 5–6 years part-time; MSN-prepared students typically finish in about 3 years part-time. Both entry points prepare graduates for the PNCB CPNP-PC exam.
MSN-DNP cost depends on a transcript review. Mizzou builds post-master’s plans from prior graduate coursework and does not publish a set credit total. The catalog requires at least 36.5 credits at Mizzou, so the floor is about $24,867 (36.5 × $681.30). Nurses without prior pediatric NP preparation will need more.
DNP Curriculum
Foundation and DNP Core
The core adds epidemiology, informatics, quality and safety, health program design, and a leadership institute to the MS(N) courses. The DNP residency project must address a problem affecting a rural or underserved population or a critical health system need.
Pediatric Specialty Sequence
The specialty sequence matches the MS(N), with heavier credit loads in some clinical courses and a rural health course added.
- NURSE 8210 Special Health Care Needs of Children (3.5–5)
- NURSE 8420 Newborn Through Adolescence Primary Care (3.5–5)
- NURSE 8680 Pediatric Mental Health Assessment and Treatment (3.5)
- NURSE 8310 Health Disparities of Rural and Other Underserved Populations (3)
- NURSE 8720 Symptom Management in Acute and Chronic Illness (3–5)
- NURSE 8089 Transition to APRN Practice (1)
- NURSE 9070 DNP Clinical Residency (1–5)
- NURSE 9080 DNP Residency Project (3)
Electives fill the plan to 72 credits. More curriculum details are available here.
DNP Clinical Requirements
- Minimum 1,000 faculty- or preceptor-supervised clinical hours
- Same 540 hours in the six fixed-hour specialty courses as the MS(N)
- NURSE 9080 residency project: 180 hours
- NURSE 9070 clinical residency: hours vary with prior supervised hours
- MSN-DNP: prior master’s clinical hours may transfer with advisor approval
- Campus: four on-campus events in Columbia over the program
The 1,000-hour minimum is standard for a post-baccalaureate DNP and matches the floor at UMSL. It is roughly 400 hours more than a typical single-population MSN, which is the main reason the BSN-DNP takes 1–2 years longer than the MS(N).
DNP Admissions
The DNP sets a higher GPA bar than the MS(N), and MSN applicants face the highest bar of all.
- BSN or MSN from a nationally accredited nursing program
- GPA: 3.3 in the last 60 undergraduate nursing credits (BSN entry); 3.5 minimum (MSN entry)
- Graduate-level statistics course with a C or better within five years
- Three professional references from master’s- or doctorate-prepared nurses or faculty (no staff-nurse peers)
- Kira Talent interview, CV, transcripts
- MSN entry: APRN certification documents and verification of prior clinical hours
- After admission: background check, drug screen, immunizations, CPR
General Admissions
- Current, unencumbered RN license; international nurses must hold a Missouri RN license before coursework
- No minimum RN or pediatric experience published for any pathway
- Deadlines: Feb. 15 for summer or fall start; Sept. 30 for spring start (the spring 2027 deadline has passed, so the next is Feb. 15, 2027)
- Decisions are issued about one month after each deadline
- Non-native English speakers need qualifying TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Cambridge scores
Three start terms is more flexible than most PNP programs, which often admit once a year. The lack of an experience requirement opens the MS(N) to newer BSN nurses, though the strong-reference rule means you need advanced-practice or faculty contacts willing to vouch for you.
Tuition
Estimated tuition runs from about $24,900 for the shortest MSN-DNP plan to about $49,100 for the BSN-DNP. The rate is the same in-state and out-of-state.
| Program | Est. Tuition (All Online Students) |
|---|---|
| MS(N) – PC | $34,746 |
| BSN-DNP – PC | $49,054 |
| MSN-DNP – PC | From $24,867 (36.5-credit minimum) |
Calculated from the $681.30 per-credit 2026–2027 Mizzou Online rate; not university-published totals except the MS(N) and BSN-DNP figures, which match Mizzou Online’s own estimates.
Key Cost Takeaways
- No out-of-state premium. Online students pay the same rate regardless of residency.
- The rate rose sharply. Earlier Mizzou estimates used $470.50/credit plus separate technology and course fees; the current published estimates use a single $681.30 rate.
- Mizzou notes that department course fees may still apply and does not itemize them on the program pages. Budget for possible clinical course fees.
- Four (DNP) or three (MS(N)) trips to Columbia are unbudgeted travel costs.
- Military and veteran students receive a 10% reduction off base tuition.
- Rate increases require Board of Curators approval at least 30 days before a term, so multi-year plans will likely cost more than these estimates.
Even after the increase, Mizzou remains the least expensive Missouri PNP option per credit, below UMKC‘s flat $803 and UMSL‘s $1,009. The BSN-DNP is about $11,000 less than UMKC’s. See current figures on the official tuition page.
Why Choose This PNP Program?
Best suited for: a BSN or MSN nurse anywhere in an authorized state who wants primary care pediatric preparation at the lowest cost in Missouri and can line up a pediatric preceptor independently.
Who It Fits
- Out-of-state nurses who want a public-university PNP without nonresident tuition
- Nurses focused on outpatient pediatrics who do not need acute care credentials
- BSN nurses with modest experience who want a master’s first and the option to continue to the DNP
- Nurses interested in child behavioral health, given the dedicated mental health clinical course
- Students who need a spring or summer start
Lowest Cost in the State
At $681.30 per credit, Mizzou undercuts both in-state rivals at every degree level it offers. Because the rate is not tied to residency, the savings hold for students outside Missouri.
Pediatric Mental Health and Complex-Needs Training
Both degrees require a 90-hour clinical course in pediatric mental health assessment and treatment and another in special health care needs of children. Many PNP programs fold mental health into general primary care courses. Here it is a standalone clinical requirement.
Potential Drawbacks
- Primary care only. Nurses who want CPNP-AC or dual preparation should look at UMKC or UMSL.
- No post-graduate certificate. Certified NPs adding pediatrics must enter the DNP.
- Students arrange their own preceptors with 12-week contract lead times.
- The MS(N) does not publish a total clinical hour figure.
- Online applications are not accepted from some states, and boards with clinical restrictions cannot host rotations.
- Three or four required campus trips to Columbia.
The Verdict
Mizzou is the cost pick among Missouri PNP programs. It suits nurses committed to pediatric primary care, especially those outside Missouri who would pay nonresident rates elsewhere, and its pediatric mental health clinical course is a genuine curricular plus. The main limitation is scope: no acute care, no dual track, and no certificate. Nurses who want hospital-based pediatric practice should compare UMKC and UMSL. Nurses without local pediatric contacts should weigh the self-placement burden before applying.
Accreditation
The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The Sinclair School of Nursing’s master’s and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The university states that MS(N) and DNP PNP graduates are eligible for the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board’s Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care (CPNP-PC) exam. Out-of-state applicants should confirm licensure eligibility on Mizzou’s state authorization page.
Other PNP Programs in Missouri
- Maryville University - St. Louis
- University of Missouri-Kansas City - Kansas City
- University of Missouri-St. Louis - St. Louis