- 2 In-State Schools, Hybrid format, plus 2 online options compared
Minnesota has two Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) programs: St. Catherine University and the University of Minnesota. Both offer Primary Care only, in a Hybrid format with regular campus days in the Twin Cities.
Because neither offers an MSN, Acute Care, or a fully online schedule, we added two online programs, UT Arlington and Walden University, to every comparison table below.
| School | Tracks | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Kate’s | Primary Care | Hybrid | One class day weekly, plus 1–3 intensives per semester | $1,200 | BSN-to-DNP, Post-Graduate Certificate | Twin Cities RNs who want every placement arranged for them |
| U of M | Primary Care | Hybrid | One campus week per semester; 1–2 campus days weekly from DNP year two | $1,207 | BSN-to-DNP, Post-Graduate Certificate | Nurses focused on children with special health care needs |
| UT Arlington (online) | 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 an MSN or online Acute Care |
| Walden University (online) | 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 RN-to-MSN or MSN-to-DNP entry with no campus travel |
Minnesota eligibility: Walden is based in Minneapolis, and its restricted-states list, updated September 2026, places no restriction on Minnesota for any PNP pathway. UTA’s NP tracks lead to licensure, so eligibility is set state by state. Minnesota applicants must confirm through UTA’s state authorization map or by emailing NursingSOA@uta.edu before applying.
Minnesota PNP Programs at a Glance
- Schools: 2 in-state (St. Kate’s, U of M), plus 2 online options compared (UTA, Walden)
- Primary Care: Yes
- Acute Care: Not in-state; available online through UTA
- MSN: Not in-state; RN-to-MSN and BSN-to-MSN available through both online options
- DNP: Yes, BSN-to-DNP in-state; MSN-to-DNP available through Walden only
- Certificate: Yes, Primary Care in-state; Acute Care through UTA
- Format: Hybrid in-state; both online options are Online
- Lowest published in-state tuition: $25K (St. Kate’s post-graduate certificate)
Choosing a PNP Program in Minnesota
Arranged Placements on a Weekly Schedule: St. Kate’s
A dedicated coordinator places every St. Kate’s NP student, so no one recruits their own preceptor. Both pathways require 810 clinical hours, above the 600–750 typical for Primary Care. It fits Twin Cities nurses who can block one weekday for class. BSN nurses must commit to a 68-credit DNP.
Special Health Care Needs Focus: U of M
U of M gives children with special health care needs a dedicated course, plus an optional Disability Policy and Services Certificate. The school arranges placements with Twin Cities preceptors. The trade-off is time: campus days and weekday clinical availability from year two make full-time work unrealistic.
MSN Entry and Online Acute Care: UTA
UTA fills both in-state gaps: a PNP master’s and Acute Care, fully online. Its Primary Care MSN is the lowest-cost degree in this comparison. Students find their own preceptors, and the BSN-entry MSN requires two years of RN experience. Acute Care adds two years of pediatric acute care experience.
More Entry Points and No Travel: Walden
Walden accepts ADN-prepared RNs and offers an MSN-to-DNP, neither available in-state. It requires no campus visits and publishes no RN experience minimum. It offers Primary Care only. Students search for preceptors first; Walden’s placement team steps in only after documented unsuccessful attempts.
Minnesota RN-to-MSN PNP Programs
No Minnesota school offers an RN-to-MSN PNP pathway, so ADN-prepared nurses must look to online programs. UTA offers RN-to-MSN tracks in both Primary Care and Acute Care. Walden offers a Primary Care RN-to-MSN that also admits diploma nurses and non-nursing bachelor’s graduates.
| 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
Minnesota BSN-to-MSN PNP Programs
Neither Minnesota school offers a PNP master’s, so BSN-prepared nurses who stay in-state must commit to a DNP. Both online options offer a BSN-to-MSN. UTA offers Primary Care and Acute Care with several starts per year. Walden offers Primary Care only, also with multiple starts.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 one rate for all states it enrolls from.
- Shortest completion: Walden, at about 24 months.
- Experience requirement: UTA requires two years of RN experience; Walden publishes none.
Compare more programs: See all BSN-to-MSN PNP programs
Minnesota BSN-to-DNP PNP Programs
Both Minnesota schools offer a Primary Care BSN-to-DNP. St. Kate’s runs 68 credits with three- and four-year plans; U of M runs 78 credits over three years. Walden is the only online option with a BSN-to-DNP, also in Primary Care. UTA does not offer a PNP doctorate.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Kate’s (in-state) | Primary Care | $82K | 3 years full-time; 4 years part-time | 810 |
| U of M (in-state) | Primary Care | $94K | 3 years | About 1,000, including 840 pediatric practicum |
| Walden University (online option) | Primary Care | $76K (after scholarship) | About 3.25 years | 1,000 minimum post-baccalaureate |
- Lowest estimated tuition: Walden, but only with its progress-based scholarship; without it, St. Kate’s is lower.
- Campus requirement: both in-state DNPs require weekly campus days; Walden requires none.
- Start term: St. Kate’s admits in fall only, with a January 15, 2027 priority deadline.
Compare more programs: See all BSN-to-DNP PNP programs
Minnesota MSN-to-DNP PNP Programs
No Minnesota school offers an MSN-to-DNP PNP pathway, and UTA does not offer one either. Walden’s online MSN-to-DNP is the only option in this comparison. It prepares graduates for Primary Care certification and builds the DNP project into coursework from the first term.
| 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 |
- Hidden cost risk: applicants with fewer than 600 verified prior clinical hours take up to 8 extra credits, which Walden’s published estimate does not include.
Compare more programs: See all MSN-to-DNP PNP programs
Minnesota Post-Master’s Certificate PNP Programs
Both Minnesota schools offer a Primary Care post-graduate certificate for practicing APRNs. St. Kate’s accepts an MS or DNP; U of M requires a DNP or concurrent Post-Master’s DNP enrollment. UTA offers Primary Care and Acute Care certificates online. Walden’s Primary Care certificate does not require an existing APRN credential.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Kate’s (in-state) | Primary Care | $25K | About 2 years (6 semesters) | 810; gap analysis may reduce |
| U of M (in-state) | Primary Care | $33K | About 2 years | 840 |
| 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 its gap analysis adds.
- Only Acute Care option: UTA, which requires two years of high-acuity direct patient care within the last five years.
- Experience requirement: St. Kate’s requires one year of RN or APRN experience.
Compare more programs: See all post-master’s certificate PNP programs
Other Online PNP Programs for Minnesota Nurses
Maryville University and Rasmussen University also offer online Primary Care PNP programs to Minnesota nurses. Rasmussen is based in Bloomington, and its program includes a one-weekend residency.
Maryville University PNP Programs
St. Louis | $900 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN to DNP / BSN to MSN / DNP
Four fully online pediatric primary care NP pathways: MSN, BSN-DNP, DNP-NP, and a post-master's certificate. Six start dates a year, no required campus visits... read more.
Rasmussen University PNP Programs
Bloomington | $925 cpc | Certificate / BSN to MSN
Rasmussen University offers two online, competency-based pediatric primary care NP pathways: an MSN-NP specialization and a post-graduate APRN certificate. Both use local practicums with placement support and one required on-campus weekend... read more.
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 five online entry pathways into one Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care specialization: BSN-to-MSN, RN-to-MSN, BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, and a post-master's certificate. All require 640 pediatric practicum hours arranged locally... read more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many PNP programs are available in Minnesota?
Two. St. Catherine University in St. Paul and the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis each offer a Primary Care BSN-to-DNP and a Primary Care post-graduate certificate.
Does Minnesota offer an Acute Care PNP program?
Not currently. U of M lists an Acute Care certificate, but it is not accepting applications. UTA offers online Acute Care tracks, which require two years of pediatric acute care RN experience.
Are any programs fully online?
Not in Minnesota. Both in-state programs are Hybrid, with weekly campus days during at least part of the program. Walden and UTA are fully online. Walden enrolls Minnesota students; UTA eligibility must be confirmed before applying.
Which program has the lowest estimated tuition?
In-state, St. Kate’s certificate, at about $25K. St. Kate’s DNP, at about $82K, also costs less than U of M’s $94K. Among the online options, UTA’s Primary Care certificate starts at about $13K, and its Primary Care MSN costs about $27K.
Which schools offer a DNP?
St. Kate’s and U of M offer a Primary Care BSN-to-DNP. Walden offers BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP in Primary Care. UTA does not offer a PNP doctorate.
Can students complete clinicals locally?
Yes. St. Kate’s coordinator arranges every placement. U of M arranges placements with Twin Cities preceptors but may ask students outside the metro to help find sites. Both online options expect students to find preceptors first, with school help when that fails.
Can I earn a PNP master’s degree in Minnesota?
Not through an in-state program. Both Minnesota schools prepare BSN nurses through a DNP only. For an MSN, use Walden’s online program, or UTA’s if it confirms Minnesota eligibility.