- 1 In-State School, Mostly Online format, plus 2 online options compared
Mississippi has one Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) program: the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). It offers separate Primary Care and Acute Care tracks and is Mostly Online.
Because there is only one in-state option, we added two online programs, UT Arlington and Walden University, to every comparison table below.
Compare Options
| School | Tracks | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMMC (in-state) | Primary Care + Acute Care | Mostly Online | Face-to-face intensives in Jackson for the DNP; MSN and certificate not clearly stated | $596.20 (no charge above 9 credits per semester) | BSN-to-MSN, BSN-to-DNP, Post-Graduate Certificate | Experienced pediatric RNs who want either population at the lowest cost |
| 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 | Associate-degree RNs and nurses who need a start date outside fall |
| 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 without pediatric experience, or MSN-prepared nurses seeking a DNP |
Mississippi eligibility: Walden’s restricted-states list, updated September 2026, places no restriction on Mississippi for any PNP pathway. UTA’s NP tracks lead to licensure, so eligibility is set state by state. Mississippi applicants must confirm through UTA’s state authorization map or by emailing NursingSOA@uta.edu before applying.
Mississippi PNP Programs at a Glance
- Schools: 1 in-state (UMMC), plus 2 online options compared (UTA, Walden)
- Primary Care: Yes
- Acute Care: Yes, in-state at all three degree levels; UTA also offers it online
- MSN: Yes, BSN entry only in-state; RN-to-MSN available through the online options
- DNP: Yes, BSN-to-DNP only in-state; MSN-to-DNP available through Walden
- Certificate: Yes, post-graduate APRN certificates in both populations in-state; UTA and Walden also offer post-master’s certificates
- Format: Mostly Online in-state; both online options are Online
- Lowest published in-state tuition: $27K for either MSN track; certificate tuition is not published
Choosing a PNP Program in Mississippi
Both Populations at the Lowest Cost: UMMC
UMMC fits Mississippi nurses who already have pediatric bedside experience. It offers Primary Care and Acute Care at the MSN, DNP, and certificate levels, and billing stops after nine credits per semester. Students secure preceptors with school help, backed by more than 200 affiliated sites and the state’s only children’s hospital. The trade-offs are a fall-only start for degree tracks, a strict experience gate, and no outcomes data yet, since the separate tracks begin enrolling in Fall 2026.
RN-to-MSN Entry and More Start Dates: UTA
UTA adds what UMMC lacks for associate-degree nurses: RN-to-MSN tracks in both Primary Care and Acute Care. Its Primary Care MSN costs about the same as UMMC’s, and it admits more than once a year. The trade-off is placement: students locate their own preceptors. The BSN-entry MSN requires two years of RN experience, and Acute Care tracks require pediatric acute care experience.
MSN-to-DNP and No Experience Gate: Walden
Walden is the only option compared here with an MSN-to-DNP, and it publishes no RN experience requirement, no campus visits, and multiple starts per year. Its RN-to-MSN also admits diploma nurses. The trade-offs are Primary Care only, the highest tuition on this page, and placement: students search first, and the Practicum Pledge team assists only after documented attempts.
Mississippi RN-to-MSN PNP Programs
No Mississippi program offers an RN-to-MSN PNP pathway; UMMC requires a BSN. Both online options do. UTA offers Primary Care and Acute Care RN-to-MSN tracks for associate-degree nurses. Walden offers a Primary Care RN-to-MSN open to diploma nurses, associate-degree nurses, and nurses with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
| 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 Primary Care at $35K, which excludes any general education still owed.
- Shortest completion: Walden, at about 28 months.
- Only Acute Care option: UTA. Its Acute Care MSN phase requires two years of pediatric acute care RN experience within five years.
Compare more programs: See all RN-to-MSN PNP programs
Mississippi BSN-to-MSN PNP Programs
UMMC offers Mississippi’s only in-state BSN-to-MSN PNP pathway, with matching Primary Care and Acute Care tracks at 48 credits each. Both admit once a year for fall, with a March 15 deadline. UTA adds online Primary Care and Acute Care MSN tracks. Walden adds an online Primary Care MSN. Both online options admit more than once a year.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMMC (in-state) | Primary Care | $27K | About 2 years | 630 |
| UMMC (in-state) | Acute Care | $27K | About 2 years | 630 |
| 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: UMMC at $27K for either track. UTA Primary Care rounds to the same figure.
- Shortest completion: UMMC and Walden, at about two years.
- Experience requirement: UMMC requires one year of pediatric RN experience for Primary Care and two years of pediatric critical or emergency care for Acute Care. UTA requires two years of RN experience. Walden publishes none.
Compare more programs: See all BSN-to-MSN PNP programs
Mississippi BSN-to-DNP PNP Programs
UMMC offers Mississippi’s only in-state PNP doctorate, a 71-credit BSN-to-DNP in both Primary Care and Acute Care. It requires a 3.2 nursing GPA plus prior research and statistics coursework. Walden adds an online Primary Care BSN-to-DNP. UTA does not offer a PNP DNP.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMMC (in-state) | Primary Care | $39K | About 3 years | 1,230 total (630 pediatric practicum) |
| UMMC (in-state) | Acute Care | $39K | About 3 years | 1,230 total (630 pediatric practicum) |
| Walden University (online option) | Primary Care | $76K (after scholarship) | About 3.25 years | 1,000 minimum post-baccalaureate |
- Lowest estimated tuition: UMMC at $39K, about half of Walden’s scholarship-dependent $76K.
- Only Acute Care option: UMMC.
- Campus requirement: UMMC’s DNP adds face-to-face intensives in Jackson. Walden publishes none.
Compare more programs: See all BSN-to-DNP PNP programs
Mississippi MSN-to-DNP PNP Programs
No Mississippi program offers an MSN-to-DNP PNP pathway; UMMC’s doctorate admits BSN-prepared nurses only. Walden is the only option compared here with an MSN-to-DNP, in Primary Care. UTA does not offer a PNP DNP.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walden University (online option) | Primary Care | $71K (after scholarship) | About 3 years | 1,000 minimum post-baccalaureate, including verified prior hours |
- Experience requirement: Applicants with fewer than 600 verified prior clinical hours add up to 8 credits of DNP field experience.
Compare more programs: See all MSN-to-DNP PNP programs
Mississippi Post-Master’s Certificate PNP Programs
UMMC offers post-graduate APRN certificates in Primary Care and Acute Care. Plans are set after transcript review, and admission is for spring only, with a September 15 deadline. UTA adds online Primary Care and Acute Care certificates, also set through a gap analysis. Walden adds an online Primary Care certificate.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMMC (in-state) | Primary Care | $13K–$19K (est.) | 2–3 semesters | 630 |
| UMMC (in-state) | Acute Care | $13K–$19K (est.) | 2–3 semesters | 630 |
| 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: UMMC and UTA Primary Care, both starting near $13K depending on prior coursework.
- Shortest completion: UMMC, at two to three semesters.
- Experience requirement: UMMC requires one year of pediatric experience for Primary Care and two years of pediatric critical or emergency care for Acute Care. UTA Acute Care requires two years of high-acuity direct patient care within five years.
Compare more programs: See all Post-Master’s Certificate PNP programs
Other Online PNP Programs for Mississippi Nurses
Maryville University and Rasmussen University also offer online Primary Care PNP programs to Mississippi nurses. The directory below lists more options.
Maryville University PNP Programs
St. Louis | $900 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN to DNP / BSN to MSN / DNP
Maryville University provides 100% online PNP options for Mississippi RNs across MSN, BSN-to-DNP, DNP-NP, and Post-Master’s Certificate tracks with six start dates per year. Designed with no GRE requirements and self-arranged local clinical placements, the programs require 750 clinical hours focused on health promotion, well-child care, and complex pediatric condition management. Billed at $900 to $995 per credit hour, Maryville prepares Mississippi graduates to achieve strong board certification pass rates while pursuing advanced practice roles.
Rasmussen University PNP Programs
Bloomington | $925 cpc | Certificate / BSN to MSN
Rasmussen University delivers MSN-NP and Post-Graduate Certificate tracks in Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP) practice through a flexible online competency-based model available to Mississippi healthcare workers. The curriculum combines self-paced study in pediatric health promotion and complex care with four local community practicums and a single on-campus weekend residency. Spanning 21 to 27 months with total estimated tuition and fees of $29,670 to $51,680, these CCNE-accredited options allow Mississippi RNs to advance their credentials without weekly deadline constraints.
Walden University Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs
Minneapolis | $785 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN to DNP / BSN to MSN / RN to MSN
Walden University offers online DNP, MSN, and Post-Master’s Certificate tracks in Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) practice for registered nurses residing in Mississippi. The program utilizes a quarter-credit model featuring virtual skills labs, case-based reviews, and Practicum Pledge® assistance to support Mississippi students in securing local clinical placements. Estimated tuition spans from ~$35,690 for the certificate to ~$76,415 for the DNP, giving Mississippi nurses accessible pathways to gain specialized training in child growth, developmental milestones, and acute or chronic illness management.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many PNP programs are available in Mississippi?
Mississippi has one PNP program, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. It offers six tracks: Primary Care and Acute Care at the MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and post-graduate certificate levels.
Does Mississippi offer an Acute Care PNP program?
Yes. UMMC offers Acute Care at all three levels. Admission requires two years of RN experience in pediatric critical or emergency care, and inpatient pediatric experience may be considered. UTA also offers online Acute Care tracks, including an RN-to-MSN.
Are any programs fully online?
UMMC is Mostly Online. The DNP adds face-to-face intensives on the Jackson campus; campus requirements for the MSN and certificate are not clearly stated. UTA publishes no campus visits for its online tracks, and Walden publishes none for any PNP pathway.
Which program has the lowest estimated tuition?
In-state, UMMC’s MSN is $27K for either track and its DNP is $39K. UMMC does not publish certificate tuition, though its profile estimates $13K–$19K. Among the online options, UTA’s Primary Care certificate starts at $13K and its Primary Care MSN is $27K.
Which schools offer a DNP?
UMMC offers a BSN-to-DNP in Primary Care and Acute Care, with a fall-only start. Walden offers online BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP tracks in Primary Care. UTA does not offer a PNP DNP.
Can students complete clinicals locally?
UMMC students secure preceptors with school assistance, using an affiliation network of more than 200 sites. Placements must be in place the semester before clinicals begin. UTA and Walden students complete clinicals where they live but locate their own preceptors, with school assistance when attempts fail.
Can I become a PNP in Mississippi without a BSN?
Not through an in-state program, since UMMC requires a BSN. UTA’s RN-to-MSN admits associate-degree nurses in both populations. Walden’s RN-to-MSN also admits diploma nurses and nurses with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.