Massachusetts has four institutions offering Pediatric Nurse Practitioner programs across nine tracks spanning MSN, certificate, and dual-credential options.
Tuition ranges from approximately $39,975 for Regis College’s online MSN (BSN entry) to $180,096 for Boston College’s Direct Entry pathway, with program completion spanning roughly 2 to 3.5 years depending on entry point and degree level.
Quick Overview Table
| School | Est. Cost (Rounded) | High-Level Program Snapshot |
|---|---|---|
| Boston College | BSN/MSN Entry: $90K Direct Entry: $180K RN/ADN Entry: $90K+ | – on-ground only at Chestnut Hill campus – students rotate across 3–6 clinical sites per program – clinical network includes Boston Children’s Hospital, Mass General & more – social justice–integrated curriculum |
| MGH Institute of Health Professions | Post-BSN to MS PNP:$90K CAS: $57K all-in | – on-ground at Charlestown Navy Yard campus in Boston; – 2 years (5 terms) for both tracks – 100% of clinical placements arranged by the School of Nursing – 800+ placement sites anchored by the Mass General Brigham network; – 15 clinical credit hours across three practicum courses – 600+ affiliated clinical site employees |
| Northeastern University | MSN PNP PC: $80K MSN PNP Dual AC/PC: $101K CAGS PNP PC: $47K CAGS PNP Dual AC/PC: $68K | – on-ground only in Boston; no online option – fall entry only; deadline July 1 – placements at Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston Medical Center – only program in New England offering dual Acute & Primary Care PNP preparation |
| Regis College | MSN PNP: $40K–$49K MSN PNP: $55K–$65K | – 100% online — no campus visits required at any point – most affordable and flexible option in Massachusetts – 664–724 total clinical hours completed in student’s local community – students take an active role in securing their own placements; – clinical coordinators provide support – lowest-cost MSN PNP in Massachusetts – only fully online program among in-state schools |
Mass PNP Program Summaries
Boston College PNP Programs
Chestnut Hill | $1,952 cpc | BSN to DNP / BSN to MSN / RN to MSN
Boston College's Connell School of Nursing prepares pediatric primary care nurse practitioners (CPNP-PC) through six entry routes: BSN, non-APRN MSN, ADN, and non-nursing bachelor's routes to the MS, plus BSN and ADN routes to the DNP. Classes meet on the Chestnut Hill campus, and program directors match students with preceptors at Boston-area clinical partners. Graduate tuition is $1,952 per credit for 2026-2027... read more.
Mass General Brigham PNP Programs
Boston | $1,661 cpc | Certificate / BSN to MSN
Mass General Brigham University of Health Professions (formerly MGH Institute of Health Professions) offers three pediatric primary care NP pathways: a Direct-Entry MS for non-nurses, a post-BSN MS, and a post-MSN Certificate of Advanced Study. All are hybrid programs based in Boston, prepare graduates for the PNCB CPNP-PC exam, and include school-arranged clinical placements... read more.
Northeastern University PNP Programs
Boston | $1,995 cpc | Certificate / BSN to MSN
Northeastern University's School of Nursing offers six pediatric NP pathways: a BSN-to-MSN in primary care or dual acute and primary care, post-master's CAGS options in primary, acute, or dual care, and a 16-credit acute care certificate for certified primary care PNPs and FNPs... read more.
Regis College Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs
Weston | $1,061 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN to DNP / BSN to MSN / RN to MSN
Regis College's Young School of Nursing offers pediatric primary care NP preparation (CPNP-PC) through online BSN-to-MSN, RN-to-MSN, BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, and post-master's certificate pathways, plus a direct-entry MSN for non-nurses that begins on the Weston campus. Every pathway requires 800 clinical hours, students help find their own preceptors, and tuition is $1,061 per credit... read more.
Which Massachusetts PNP Program Is Right for You?
TLDR: How to Choose
Choose Regis College if you want the most affordable MSN in Massachusetts and prefer a fully online program with no campus visits — it’s the only 100% online PNP option among in-state schools.
Choose MGH Institute of Health Professions if you want every clinical placement handled for you through the Mass General Brigham network at no additional effort — it’s the only Massachusetts PNP program that guarantees 100% arranged preceptors across 800+ sites.
Choose Northeastern University if you need the dual Acute & Primary Care PNP credential — it’s the only program in New England that prepares graduates for both PNCB certification exams in a single pathway.
Choose Boston College if you want the broadest entry pathway options — including Direct Entry for non-nurses — combined with a strong social justice clinical lens and access to Boston’s most recognized pediatric institutions.
Massachusetts PNP DNP Programs
No Massachusetts institution in this guide offers a DNP-level PNP program. Nurses seeking a doctoral pathway will need to enroll in a national online program. Three fully CCNE-accredited options are available with no campus visit requirements:
| School | Track | Est. Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryville University | BSN-DNP PNP | ~$74K–$77K | 40 months | 750 hrs |
| Maryville University | MSN-to-DNP PNP | ~$68K–$71K | 36 months | 750 hrs |
| Walden University | BSN-DNP or MSN-DNP PNP | ~$71K–$76K | ~3–3.25 years | Not published |
Maryville offers six start dates per year with a 92% PNCB certification pass rate — 11 points above the 2023 national average. Walden’s Practicum Pledge® provides structured placement support that escalates to a dedicated field placement team if needed.
Massachusetts PNP MSN Programs
All four Massachusetts schools offer MSN-level PNP programs, but they differ sharply on format, cost, and entry requirements. Regis is the clear cost and flexibility leader for working nurses; Boston College and MGH IHP are the strongest options for nurses who want in-person Boston-area clinical training with established hospital networks.
| School | Track | Est. Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regis College | MSN PNP (BSN entry) | $40K–$49K | ~26 months | 664–724 | 100% online |
| Northeastern | MSN PNP – Primary Care | ~$80K | 2–3 years | Not published | On-ground |
| MGH IHP | Post-BSN to MS PNP | ~$90K all-in | 2 years | Not published (15 clinical cr.) | On-ground |
| Boston College | MSNP PNP (BSN/MSN entry) | ~$90K | 2 years FT / 4 years PT | Not published | On-ground |
| Northeastern | MSN PNP – Dual AC/PC | ~$101K | 2–3 years | Not published | On-ground |
Northeastern’s Dual AC/PC MSN is the most expensive in-state option at ~$101K but is the only track in New England that qualifies graduates for both PNCB primary care and acute care certification exams.
For nurses who want the MSN without the Boston price tag, Maryville University (~$42K, 100% online, 750 clinical hours, 6 start dates/year) and Walden University (~$45K, Practicum Pledge® support) are strong national alternatives.
Massachusetts PNP Certificate Programs
Two Massachusetts schools offer post-master’s certificate options. MGH IHP’s CAS is the more affordable of the two at ~$57K all-in, but final cost depends on a gap analysis at matriculation — nurses missing pathophysiology, health assessment, or pharmacology equivalents will pay more.
Northeastern’s CAGS is the only certificate in New England offering dual AC/PC certification eligibility.
| School | Track | Est. Cost | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MGH IHP | CAS – Post-MSN PNP | ~$57K all-in (baseline) | ~2 years | Not published (15 clinical cr.) |
| Northeastern | CAGS PNP – Primary Care | ~$47K | ~2 years | Not published |
| Northeastern | CAGS PNP – Dual AC/PC | ~$68K | ~2 years | Not published |
Both Northeastern CAGS tracks require three prerequisites (Advanced Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, and Health Assessment) completed with a B or better before specialty coursework begins — these do not count toward the certificate credits.
For nurses seeking a more affordable online certificate option, Maryville University (~$32K, 750 hours) and Rasmussen University (~$29K, competency-based pacing) are both CCNE-accredited national alternatives.
Clinical Placements and Preceptor Support
Clinical placement is where Massachusetts programs differ most — and the variation between fully arranged and fully self-sourced is significant.
MGH Institute of Health Professions arranges 100% of clinical placements at no additional student effort through a network of 800+ sites anchored by Mass General Brigham. Students never self-source preceptors. A $1,900 clinical placement fee is charged each fall term to support this service. This is the strongest placement guarantee of any Massachusetts PNP program.
Boston College places students across 3 to 6 clinical sites through its established Boston-area partnerships, which include Boston Children’s Hospital, Mass General, Brigham and Women’s, Franciscan Children’s, and community health settings serving homeless and refugee populations. Specific placement coordination details are not published — contact the CSON Graduate Office for details.
Northeastern University arranges placements through its Boston-area clinical partner network, including Boston Children’s Hospital and MGH. Dual-track students receive placements in both primary care and high-acuity settings (PICU, ED, specialty inpatient). Specific coordination details are not published.
Regis College students take an active role in securing their own local placements, supported by clinical coordinators. Students are encouraged — but not required — to complete hours outside their current employer. Faculty approval is required to use the same workplace site. This model offers the most geographic flexibility but requires more student initiative.
Admissions at a Glance
| School | Program | Min. GPA | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston College | MSNP PNP (BSN/MSN entry) | B or better | Dec. 15 (early) / Mar. 15 (regular) / Oct. 1 (spring) |
| Boston College | MSNP PNP (Direct Entry) | 3.0 | July start only; contact program |
| Boston College | MSNP PNP (RN/ADN entry) | B or better | Dec. 15 (early) / Mar. 15 (regular) / Oct. 1 (spring) |
| MGH IHP | Post-BSN to MS PNP | B or better | Confirm at mghihp.edu |
| MGH IHP | CAS – Post-MSN PNP | B or better | May 1, 2026 (Fall 2026) |
| Northeastern | MSN PNP – PC or Dual AC/PC | 3.0 | July 1 (Fall only) |
| Northeastern | CAGS PNP – PC or Dual AC/PC | 3.0 | July 1 (Fall only) |
| Regis College | MSN PNP (BSN entry) | 3.0 preferred | Rolling admissions |
| Regis College | MSN PNP (ADN/non-nursing bachelor’s) | 3.0 preferred | Rolling admissions |
No Massachusetts PNP program requires GRE scores. Northeastern has the latest application deadline in the state at July 1 — but it’s also fall-only, meaning missing that window means waiting a full year. Boston College is the only school offering spring admission for the PNP specialty, giving it the most scheduling flexibility among the on-ground programs.
Regis College’s rolling admissions make it the easiest to access on short notice. MGH IHP’s CAS has a firm May 1 deadline for Fall 2026 — earlier than Northeastern’s but later than BC’s regular deadline.