- 2 In-State Schools, Mostly Online and Hybrid formats, plus 2 online options compared
Maryland has two Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) programs: Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON). Hopkins offers Primary Care and dual Primary/Acute Care, mostly online. UMSON offers separate Primary Care and Acute Care tracks in a hybrid format.
Neither school is fully online or accepts ADN-prepared nurses, so we added two online programs, UT Arlington and Walden University, to every comparison table below.
Compare Maryland Pediatric NP Options
| School | Tracks | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins (in-state) | Primary Care; Dual (PC/AC) | Mostly Online | 2–4 immersion semesters in Baltimore | $2,098 (DNP); $2,450 (MSN, 2027-2028) | BSN-to-MSN, BSN-to-DNP | Acute care pediatric nurses who want both credentials and can study full-time |
| UMSON (in-state) | Primary Care + Acute Care | Hybrid | Face-to-face instruction; frequency not clearly stated | $963 | BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, Postdoctoral Certificate | Maryland residents who want a doctorate with school-arranged placements |
| 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 the lowest MSN tuition or online Acute Care |
| 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 an entry point the in-state schools lack, with no campus travel |
Maryland eligibility: Walden’s restricted-states list, updated September 2026, places no restriction on Maryland for any PNP pathway. UTA’s state authorization map lists its online PNP tracks as available to Maryland residents. Maryland caps students per practicum site, so Walden advises starting the preceptor search three quarters early.
Maryland PNP Programs at a Glance
- Schools: 2 in-state (Johns Hopkins, UMSON), plus 2 online options compared (UTA, Walden)
- Primary Care: Yes, at both in-state schools
- Acute Care: Yes, UMSON’s Acute Care DNP and Hopkins’ dual DNP; online MSN through UTA
- MSN: Yes, BSN entry at Hopkins (Primary Care, first start Fall 2027); RN-to-MSN through the online options only
- DNP: Yes, BSN-to-DNP at both schools; MSN-to-DNP at UMSON and Walden
- Certificate: In-state, postdoctoral only (UMSON); post-master’s certificates online
- Format: Hopkins Mostly Online; UMSON Hybrid; both online options Online
- Lowest estimated in-state tuition: Up to $41K (UMSON postdoctoral certificate, Maryland resident)
Choosing a PNP Program in Maryland
Dual Certification in One Plan: Johns Hopkins
Hopkins is the only program here with one plan leading to both CPNP-PC and CPNP-AC. A placement coordinator assigns sites from a partner network, generally within 100 miles of home. The trade-offs: full-time only, fall-only admission, and the dual track requires a year of acute care pediatric RN experience.
School-Arranged Placements and Part-Time Plans: UMSON
UMSON arranges each student’s placement through partners that include children’s hospitals in Maryland, DC, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Three-, four-, and five-year plans suit working nurses. The catch is that every route is doctoral, and the Acute Care track requires two years of inpatient RN experience, one in pediatrics or a NICU.
Lowest Tuition and RN-to-MSN Entry: UTA
UTA charges Maryland residents the same $654 per credit as Texans and offers online Acute Care, RN-to-MSN, and post-master’s certificates, none of which the in-state schools offer. Students find their own preceptors, and Acute Care tracks require two years of pediatric acute care RN experience within five years.
More Entry Points, No Campus Travel: Walden
Walden offers five entry points, multiple starts a year, and no published RN experience minimum, but Primary Care only. Students start their own preceptor search, which Maryland’s per-site limits make harder.
Maryland RN-to-MSN PNP Programs
No Maryland school offers an RN-to-MSN PNP pathway, so ADN- and diploma-prepared nurses must look online. UTA offers RN-to-MSN tracks in Primary Care and Acute Care. Walden offers a Primary Care RN-to-MSN with no separate BSN application.
| 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, though its totals exclude any general education still owed.
- Shortest completion: Walden, at about 28 months.
- Only Acute Care option: UTA. The Acute Care MSN it feeds into requires two years of pediatric acute care RN experience.
Compare more programs: See all RN-to-MSN PNP programs
Maryland BSN-to-MSN PNP Programs
Hopkins’ new Primary Care MSN is Maryland’s only master’s-level PNP option, starting Fall 2027 with clinicals in the Baltimore-Washington region. UMSON offers no MSN. UTA offers both populations online, and Walden offers Primary Care, each with multiple starts per year.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins (in-state) | Primary Care | $102K (est.) | 5 semesters, full-time | 760 |
| 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’s Primary Care MSN, at the same rate Texans pay.
- Campus requirement: Hopkins requires two immersion semesters in Baltimore; UTA and Walden require none.
- Experience requirement: UTA requires two years as an RN; Hopkins prefers one; Walden publishes no minimum.
Compare more programs: See all BSN-to-MSN PNP programs
Maryland BSN-to-DNP PNP Programs
Both Maryland schools offer BSN-to-DNP PNP pathways. Hopkins offers Primary Care and a dual Primary/Acute Care track on a fixed three-year plan. UMSON offers separate Primary Care and Acute Care tracks on three- to five-year plans. Among the online options, only Walden offers a BSN-to-DNP, in Primary Care.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins (in-state) | Primary Care | $144K (est.) | 3 years, full-time | 760, plus 240 project hours |
| Johns Hopkins (in-state) | Dual (PC/AC) | $159K (est.) | 3 years, full-time | 960, plus 160 project hours |
| UMSON (in-state) | Primary Care | $77K resident (est.) | 3–5 years | 810, plus 275 practicum hours |
| UMSON (in-state) | Acute Care | $77K resident (est.) | 3–5 years | 810, plus 275 practicum hours |
| Walden University (online option) | Primary Care | $76K (after scholarship) | About 3.25 years | 1,000 minimum post-baccalaureate |
- Lowest estimated tuition: Walden and UMSON, within about $1K of each other. Walden’s figure assumes its progress-based scholarship; UMSON’s excludes fees.
- Only standalone Acute Care option: UMSON. Hopkins teaches Acute Care only within its dual track.
- Experience requirement: Hopkins’ dual track requires a year of acute care pediatric RN experience by the first day. UMSON’s Acute Care track requires two years of inpatient RN experience.
Compare more programs: See all BSN-to-DNP PNP programs
Maryland MSN-to-DNP PNP Programs
UMSON is Maryland’s only MSN-to-DNP PNP option, in Primary Care or Acute Care. A gap analysis at admission sets each student’s credits and cost. Hopkins does not offer this pathway. Among the online options, Walden offers a Primary Care MSN-to-DNP; UTA does not offer a PNP doctorate.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMSON (in-state) | Primary Care | $43K–$77K resident (est.) | 2–4 years (est.) | Up to 810, set by gap analysis |
| UMSON (in-state) | Acute Care | $43K–$77K resident (est.) | 2–4 years (est.) | Up to 810, set by gap analysis |
| Walden University (online option) | Primary Care | $71K (after scholarship) | About 3 years | 1,000 minimum post-baccalaureate, including verified prior hours |
- Only Acute Care option: UMSON.
- Hidden cost risk: Walden applicants with fewer than 600 verified prior clinical hours take up to 8 extra credits, which its published estimate does not include.
Compare more programs: See all MSN-to-DNP PNP programs
Maryland Post-Master’s Certificate PNP Programs
No Maryland school offers a post-master’s PNP certificate to nurses with only an MSN. UMSON’s Primary Care and Acute Care certificates are postdoctoral and require an existing doctorate. MSN-prepared nurses can use UTA’s online certificates in both populations or Walden’s Primary Care certificate, which requires no existing NP credential.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMSON (in-state) | Primary Care (postdoctoral) | Up to $41K resident (est.) | About 2 years (est.) | 990 |
| UMSON (in-state) | Acute Care (postdoctoral) | Up to $41K resident (est.) | About 2 years (est.) | 990 |
| 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’s Primary Care certificate, depending on how many core courses the gap analysis adds.
- Only Acute Care option for MSN-prepared nurses: UTA, which requires two years of high-acuity direct patient care within the last five years.
- Doctorate required: UMSON reviews certificate applicants only if they hold both a graduate nursing degree and a doctorate.
Compare more programs: See all post-master’s certificate PNP programs
Other Online PNP Programs for Maryland Nurses
Maryville University also offers online Primary Care PNP programs at the MSN, DNP, and post-master’s certificate levels. Confirm Maryland enrollment eligibility with any online program before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many PNP programs are available in Maryland?
Two Baltimore schools offer nine PNP pathways: three at Johns Hopkins and six at UMSON.
Does Maryland offer an Acute Care PNP program?
Yes, at the doctoral level only: UMSON’s standalone Acute Care DNP and Hopkins’ dual DNP. Both require prior acute or inpatient RN experience.
Are any programs fully online?
Not in Maryland. Hopkins requires two to four immersion semesters in Baltimore, depending on track. UMSON combines online classes with face-to-face instruction. UTA and Walden require no campus visits.
Which program has the lowest estimated tuition?
In-state, UMSON’s postdoctoral certificate runs up to about $41K for residents but requires a doctorate. Its MSN-to-DNP starts at about $43K, and its BSN-to-DNP runs about $77K before fees. Online, UTA’s Primary Care certificate starts at about $13K, and its Primary Care MSN is the lowest-cost MSN at about $27K.
Which schools offer a DNP?
Hopkins offers BSN-to-DNP in Primary Care and dual Primary/Acute Care. UMSON offers BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP in both populations. Walden offers both entry points in Primary Care. UTA offers no PNP doctorate.
Can students complete clinicals locally?
Hopkins places DNP students within about 100 miles of home; MSN clinicals are in the Baltimore-Washington region. UMSON arranges placements with mid-Atlantic partners. UTA and Walden students find their own preceptors.
Can I become a PNP in Maryland without a BSN?
Not through an in-state program, though Hopkins accepts an entry-level nursing master’s in place of a BSN. ADN- and diploma-prepared RNs can use UTA’s or Walden’s online RN-to-MSN.