Top 15 Nationally Ranked NP Program — Hybrid Online with On-Campus Intensives
University of Rochester School of Nursing offers two Pediatric Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- MS – PNP-PC (45 credits, BSN entry, 660 clinical hours, hybrid online with on-campus intensives)
- Advanced Certificate – PNP-AC (12–18 credits, PNP-PC MSN entry, 2 semesters)
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MS – PNP-PC | $80,220 est. | Not clearly stated |
| Advanced Certificate – PNP-AC | $20,880–$31,320 est. | 2 semesters |
The program uses a holistic application review process. Three application deadlines per year offer scheduling flexibility uncommon among top-ranked NP programs.
Clinical placements carry course-specific site placement fees ($25/course for clinical and lab courses). NY State RN licensure is required for both programs.
Program Tracks Overview
MS – Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
The MS PNP-PC at the University of Rochester School of Nursing is estimated at approximately ~$78,300 in base tuition
Estimate based on 45 credits × $1,740/credit plus approximately ~$1,920 in course-specific lab and site placement fees, for a total estimated cost of approximately ~$80,220.
Program duration is not clearly stated in available materials.
Students complete 660 supervised clinical hours across three sequential clinical specialty courses. Graduates are prepared to sit for the CPNP-PC exam through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).
The program is a hybrid online format with on-campus intensives in Rochester, NY — up to once per semester in each clinical or lab course, typically two consecutive days.
MS Curriculum
The MS PNP-PC totals 45 credit hours organized across two components:
- Professional core (22 cr.): Advanced nursing foundations, physiology and pathophysiology, population health, pharmacology, evidence-based practice, advanced health assessment, diagnostic and clinical reasoning, and mental health and wellness in acute and primary care.
- Clinical specialty (20 cr.): Three sequential Pediatric Primary Care NP courses with embedded clinical hours (180, 240, and 240 hours respectively).
Professional Core (22 cr.):
- NPG 402 – Foundations and Professional Roles in Advanced Practice Nursing (3 cr.)
- NPG 404 – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology (3 cr.) / $35 lab fee
- NUR 467 – Population Health in Theory and Practice (3 cr.)
- NPG 406 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 cr.)
- NPG 400 – Evidence-Based Practice for Nurse Practitioners (3 cr.)
- NPG 410 – Advanced Health Assessment (4 cr.) / $465 lab fee + $25 site placement fee
- NPG 412 – Diagnostic and Clinical Reasoning (4 cr.) / $570 lab fee + $25 site placement fee
- NPG 414 – Mental Health and Wellness in Acute and Primary Care (2 cr.) / $35 lab fee
Clinical Specialty (20 cr.):
- NPG 431 – Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner I (6 cr. / 180 clinical hrs) / $190 lab fee + $25 site placement fee
- NPG 432 – Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner II (7 cr. / 240 clinical hrs) / $95 lab fee + $25 site placement fee
- NPG 433 – Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner III (7 cr. / 240 clinical hrs) / $370 lab fee + $25 site placement fee
Program format includes several on-campus intensives per semester for clinical and lab courses — students must be able to travel to the Rochester, NY campus up to once per semester per clinical or lab course. On-campus intensive dates are provided well in advance.
View more curriculum details on the official program page.
MS Clinicals
Students complete 660 supervised clinical hours across three sequential clinical specialty courses. Clinical sites span a variety of primary care and specialty settings.
- NPG 431 – Pediatric Primary Care NP I (180 clinical hrs)
- NPG 432 – Pediatric Primary Care NP II (240 clinical hrs)
- NPG 433 – Pediatric Primary Care NP III (240 clinical hrs)
- Total: 660 supervised clinical hours
- Practice settings include primary care offices, school-based health centers, hospital and specialty practices, and pediatric emergency departments
- Site placement fee: $25/clinical course
- On-campus simulation and skills labs in Helen Wood Hall supplement clinical preparation
MS Admissions
No GRE required. Three application windows per year. Holistic review process. No interview mentioned for the MS program — interview possible for Advanced Certificate applicants only.
- BSN from an accredited school, or equivalent master’s RN license-qualifying degree (e.g., direct master’s entry)
- Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA from most recent relevant degree
- Current NY State RN license
- Statistics course with grade of C or above
- No clinical experience requirement for the PNP-PC specialty specifically
- Two letters of recommendation:
- Required: one professional reference from an advanced practice colleague (NP preferred; CNS, CRNA, PA, MD, or CNM acceptable) who can speak to nursing quality, professional conduct, and potential for advanced practice success
- Plus either: one academic reference from a prior professor or clinical instructor, OR one professional reference from a nursing supervisor addressing professional conduct, nursing performance, communication, leadership, and potential for graduate success
- Letters from friends, family, or non-healthcare supervisors not accepted
- Current resume or CV
- Short-answer responses (200-word limit each) to prompts within the application portal
- TOEFL, IELTS, or DET scores for non-native English speakers
- Official transcripts from all schools attended
- No GRE required
- Spring entry deadline: Sept. 15 | Summer entry deadline: Jan. 15 | Fall entry deadline: April 15
- Application opens: Spring (May 1) / Summer (Oct. 1) / Fall (Feb. 1)
Advanced Certificate – Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
⚠️ The University of Rochester School of Nursing is not currently accepting applications to the PNP-AC Advanced Certificate program.
The information below is provided for reference only — check the official program page for updates on when applications may reopen.
The Advanced Certificate PNP-AC at the University of Rochester School of Nursing prepares PNP-PC certified nurse practitioners to additionally care for children with acute, complex, critical, and chronic illnesses.
It is noted as the first program of its kind in New York State. When active, the program spans 2 semesters and totals 12–18 credits (6–9 credits per semester depending on individual clinical hour requirements).
Estimated tuition: approximately ~$20,880–$31,320 (12–18 credits × $1,740) plus lab and site placement fees. Graduates are prepared to sit for the CPNP-AC exam.
Certificate Curriculum
The PNP-AC Advanced Certificate curriculum is composed of selected professional core and clinical courses. Professional core courses are typically transferred in from the student’s primary care PNP program.
Professional Core Courses (typically transferred in):
- NPG 404 – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology
- NPG 406 – Advanced Pharmacology
- NPG 410 – Advanced Health Assessment
Clinical Specialty Courses (2 courses, 2 semesters):
- NUR 433 – Pediatric Acute Care NP I (4 didactic cr. + 1 lab cr. + variable clinical cr.)
- NUR 434 – Pediatric Acute Care NP II (4 didactic cr. + 1 lab cr. + variable clinical cr.)
Final credit count — and therefore total cost — depends on the number of clinical hours needed, determined individually with faculty advisement. Students design their own degree plans with faculty guidance. Didactic content is delivered online; two on-campus intensives per semester are required.
View more details on the official program page.
Certificate Clinicals
- Clinical hours embedded in NUR 433 and NUR 434 (variable; determined individually)
- Practice settings include pediatric ICUs, pediatric inpatient units, pediatric emergency rooms, urgent cares, trauma centers, and specialty practices (cardiology, pulmonology, neurology)
- Two on-campus intensives per semester in Rochester, NY
- Total clinical hours not published — determined by individual plan with faculty advisement
Certificate Admissions
When active, fall admission only (one cohort per year).
- MSN as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from an accredited school
- One year of RN experience in a pediatric acute care setting
- Minimum 3.0 GPA from master’s degree
- NY State RN license
- Advanced pharmacology, pathophysiology, and physical assessment completed with C or above
- Two letters of recommendation from academic or professional references
- Current resume or CV
- Short-answer responses (200-word limit each, 5 prompts) + 500-word essay
- Interview possible after application submission
- TOEFL, IELTS, or DET for non-native English speakers
- Official transcripts from all schools attended
- Fall admission only when active | Application deadline: April 15
Tuition
University of Rochester School of Nursing charges graduate students on a per-credit basis. The rates below apply for Fall 2026, Spring 2027, and Summer 2027 and are subject to change.
- Graduate tuition rate: $1,740/credit hour
- MS PNP-PC base tuition (45 cr.): $78,300
- Part-time student health record processing fee (one-time, upon matriculation): $55
Course-specific fees for the MS PNP-PC (estimated total: ~$1,920):
- NPG 404 – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology: $35 lab fee
- NPG 410 – Advanced Health Assessment: $465 lab fee + $25 site placement fee
- NPG 412 – Diagnostic and Clinical Reasoning: $570 lab fee + $25 site placement fee
- NPG 414 – Mental Health and Wellness: $35 lab fee
- NPG 431 – PNP Primary Care I: $190 lab fee + $25 site placement fee
- NPG 432 – PNP Primary Care II: $95 lab fee + $25 site placement fee
- NPG 433 – PNP Primary Care III: $370 lab fee + $25 site placement fee
Additional estimated expenses (for financial aid or immigration planning purposes):
- Housing and food: $12,960/year (estimated)
- Books and supplies: $1,965/year (estimated)
- Travel: $3,000/year (estimated)
- Personal: $3,000/year (estimated)
- PNCB certification exam fee: varies by organization (~$315–$425)
- NY State licensure fee: $85
Course fees are course-specific and may change. Not all courses carry fees — reference the program degree plan and the official tuition schedule to calculate your precise total. Fee amounts shown above are current as of the published schedule.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The University of Rochester School of Nursing’s MS and Advanced Certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The program is recognized as a top 15 nationally ranked nurse practitioner program.
Graduates of the MS PNP-PC are prepared to sit for the Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care (CPNP-PC) exam through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB). Graduates of the Advanced Certificate PNP-AC (when active) are prepared to sit for the CPNP-AC exam. NY State APRN licensure is available upon program completion and exam passage.