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Online MSN PMHNP Program
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Overview
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Become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner to Treat Individuals Anywhere in the World
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The U.S. is facing a growing mental health crisis — and qualified psychiatric nurse practitioners are more essential than ever.
Earn your Master of Science in Nursing – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (MSN-PMHNP) from Hawai'i Pacific University in a CCNE-accredited format. Our online psychiatric nurse practitioner program prepares you to lead in the evolving field of mental health care.
Designed for working RNs, our program prepares you to deliver compassionate, evidence-based mental health care to diverse populations across the lifespan. With flexible scheduling and personalized clinical placement support, you can advance your career in one of the fastest-growing nurse practitioner specialties.
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CALENDAR
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Application Deadline:
December 5, 2025
Upcoming Start Date:
January 12, 2026
December 5, 2025
Upcoming Start Date:
January 12, 2026
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Program at a Glance
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100% online coursework with mobile-friendly delivery
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Small classes with accessible faculty who care about your success and well-being
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Prepare to pass ANCC certification exams on your first attempt
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Dedicated student support from first contact through graduation
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Earn your MSN-PMHNP in as few as 28 months
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Transfer up to 12 credits
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Why Choose HPU’s Online PMHNP Program?
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH-FOCUSED FACULTY
Learn from practicing PMHNPs, psychiatric nurses, and mental health clinicians who bring real-world experience into the classroom.
HOLISTIC, TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH
Build the skills to provide culturally competent, patient-centered care for individuals and families with complex psychiatric needs.
INTEGRATED CLINICAL PLACEMENT SUPPORT
Receive hands-on guidance to secure local psychiatric-focused practicum placements, including outpatient and inpatient settings.
FLEXIBLE ONLINE FORMAT
Complete coursework from anywhere while balancing work and clinicals in a part-time, asynchronous model.
MENTAL HEALTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Prepare to lead behavioral health teams, influence care delivery, and advocate for underserved populations.
CERTIFICATION PREPARATION
Graduate ready to sit for ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner board certification.
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Member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
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The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, post-graduate APRN certificate program, and Doctor of Nursing Practice at Hawai‘i Pacific University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
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Member of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF)
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Accredited by the Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC/WSCUC)
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Participant in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) to offer distance education in member states
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MSN-PMHNP Career Outcomes
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What Does a PMHNP Do?
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Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) assess, diagnose, and treat patients with mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, and psychotic disorders. PMHNPs:
- Conduct psychiatric evaluations and develop treatment plans
- Prescribe medications and manage psychopharmacological therapies
- Provide psychotherapy and mental health counseling
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary care teams in outpatient, inpatient, and telehealth settings
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Where Do PMHNPs Work?
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Common practice settings include:
- Outpatient psychiatric clinics
- Inpatient psychiatric hospitals
- Substance use recovery centers
- Primary care and integrated health teams
- Telehealth and virtual care platforms
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Job Outlook
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- Median NP Salary: $129,480 (BLS)
- NP Job Growth: 40% projected increase from 2023–2033
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Ready for your next step?
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MSN-PMHNP Curriculum Overview
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The 48-credit curriculum blends foundational nursing theory with advanced psychiatric coursework and clinical practicum experiences.
Delivered in a flexible, part-time format, it equips you with advanced clinical skills and confidence for psychiatric-mental health care across settings.
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Core MSN Courses
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- Introduction to Advanced Practice Roles
- Advanced Nursing Research
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Advanced Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
- Development and Implementation of Health Care Policy
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PMHNP Specialization Courses
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These advanced courses are designed to build your knowledge of psychiatric care, psychopharmacology, and therapeutic interventions across diverse mental health settings.
Courses include:
- Advanced Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing (3 courses)
- Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
- Practicum (3 courses)
- Project Proposal Paper
Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to sit for the ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) board certification exam.
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Clinical Placement Support
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HPU provides personalized clinical placement support to help you secure approved psychiatric-focused practicum sites in your local community. Our dedicated placement team works with each student to ensure access to diverse mental health settings that align with program requirements.
Examples of clinical settings include:
- Community mental health centers
- Behavioral health clinics
- Inpatient psychiatric units
- Telepsychiatry and integrated care models
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Core Courses
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Students may transfer up to 12 eligible credits from another college or university into HPU’s online MSN program.
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18 credits
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NUR 6000 Introduction to Advanced Practice Roles / 3 Credits
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This course covers the definitions of advanced practice nursing (APN) roles in community environments. Theoretical content includes ethics, multicultural population-focused care, community coordination strategies and interdisciplinary collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and leadership. Roles of the nurse as case manager, administrator, educator, researcher, consultant, and practitioner are explored. Communication issues including assertive behavior, conflict resolution, and the dynamics of change are examined.
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NUR 6010 Advanced Pathophysiology / 3 Credits
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This course covers the in-depth exploration of pathophysiological responses involved in processes affecting the body's optimal functioning. The ability to implement diagnostic reasoning, critical thinking, and the integration of scientific concepts with psychosocial and spiritual aspects of the human condition are enhanced using case studies. Human pathophysiological responses across the life span that incorporate the individual, families, and communities are surveyed.
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NUR 6020 Advanced Nursing Research / 3 Credits
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A broad range of quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry are explored as a means to forward nursing research.
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NUR 6025 Advanced Pharmacology / 3 Credits
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This course covers advanced knowledge of pharmacology integrated with the needs of the community served by the practitioner. A case-study method is utilized to support increased knowledge, development, and application.
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NUR 6030 Advanced Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning / 3 Credits
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This course expands upon health assessment skills and diagnostic reasoning concepts to determine the health status of clients across the life span. Focuses on the collection and interpretation of clinical data derived from the history and physical exam.
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NUR 8050 Development and Implementation of Health Care Policy / 3 Credits
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In this course the DNP student will develop knowledge, skills, and tools toward the DNP terminal competencies related to policy, policy development, and change to maintain high-quality care while remaining accessible and using scarce resources wisely.
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Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Curriculum
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At the conclusion of the program, PMHNP students will have completed a total of 630 clinical hours:
- NUR 6971 Advanced Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing I Practicum - 210 clinical hours
- NUR 6973 Advanced Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing II Practicum - 210 clinical hours
- NUR 6975 Advanced Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing III Practicum - 210 clinical hours
30 credits
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NUR 6026 Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan / 3 Credits
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Prepares the psychiatric/mental health APRN to prescribe psychotropic medications to clients in different settings. Applying evidence-based knowledge of psychopharmacological principles to treat specific psychiatric conditions is emphasized. Managing iatrogenic/trophicogenic problems caused by pharmacologic agents is explored. Neuropsychiatric development, brain function, neuroanatomy, and neurophysiology are examined in relation to pharmacologic agents. The relationship between specific psychopathological and neurological conditions and psychopharmacological treatments is examined. Prescribing, managing, and monitoring of psychopharmacotherapeutics are emphasized along with complementary and alternative agents. The role of the psychiatric/mental health APRN as prescriber for the patient with psychiatric conditions is incorporated throughout this course, including therapeutic challenges such as medication compliance, outcomes, ethical responsibilities, legalities, financial realities, cultural, and genetic diversity, and practical considerations.
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NUR 6970 Advanced Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing I / 3 Credits
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Facilitates the Psychiatric/Mental Health APRN for the complex role of providing mental health care and crisis intervention to adults/geriatric adults of differing social, economic, and cultural backgrounds within a recovery framework. Cultural assessment, psychiatric assessment and diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and co-morbidities are incorporated throughout the course. Treatment and management of mental health disorders using a variety of modalities and interventions with an emphasis on pharmacotherapy are explored. Synthesis of evidence-based, recovery-focused management in concert with the social, cultural, environmental, spiritual, and physical needs of the patient and family are emphasized.
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NUR 6971 Advanced Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing I Practicum / 5 Credits
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Prepares the psychiatric/mental health APRN to provide mental health care and crisis intervention to adults/geriatric adults of differing social, economic, and cultural backgrounds within a recovery framework. Cultural assessment, psychiatric assessment and diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and co-morbidities are incorporated throughout the course. Treating and managing mental health disorders are explored using a variety of modalities and interventions, with emphasis on communication theory and group theory focused on recovery. Synthesizing evidence-based, recovery-focused management is emphasized along with the social, cultural, environmental, spiritual, and physical needs of the patient and family.
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NUR 6972 Advanced Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing II / 3 Credits
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Facilitates Psychiatric/Mental Health APRN students in the complex role of providing recovery-focused, mental health nursing care to clients with chronic, and complex psychiatric needs of differing social, economic, and cultural backgrounds. Emphasis on psychotherapeutic management of clients across the lifespan while integrating evidence-based, recovery-focused approaches. Examination of the forensic, social, cultural, physical, economic, familial, spiritual, and societal impacts of severe mental illness incorporates local and world views as well as advocacy opportunities for the Psychiatric/Mental Health APRN. Synthesis of evidence-based, recovery-focused management in concert with the social, cultural, environmental, spiritual, and physical needs of these clients is explored.
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NUR 6973 Advanced Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing II Practicum / 5 Credits
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Prepares the psychiatric/mental health APRN to provide mental health care and crisis intervention to adults/geriatric adults of differing social, economic, and cultural backgrounds within a recovery framework. Cultural assessment, psychiatric assessment and diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and co-morbidities are incorporated throughout the course. Treating and managing mental health disorders using a variety of modalities and interventions are explored, with emphasis on communication theory and group theory focused on recovery. Synthesizing evidence-based, recovery-focused management are emphasized along with the social, cultural, environmental, spiritual, and physical needs of the patient and family.
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NUR 6974 Advanced Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing III / 3 Credits
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Facilitates the Psychiatric/Mental Health APRN for the complex role of providing mental health nursing care and crisis intervention to children, adolescents, and families of differing social, economic, and cultural backgrounds within a recovery framework. Cultural assessment, psychiatric assessment and diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and co-morbidities are incorporated throughout t course. Treatment and management of mental health disorders using a variety of modalities and interventions are explored. Synthesis of evidence-based, recovery-focused management in concert with the social, cultural, environmental, spiritual, and physical needs of children, adolescents, and families are emphasized.
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NUR 6975 Advanced Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing III Practicum / 5 Credits
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Prepares psychiatric/mental health APRN students to provide recovery-focused mental-health nursing care to clients with the chronic and complex psychiatric needs of differing social, economic, and cultural backgrounds. Emphasizes medication and therapeutic management of clients across the lifespan while integrating evidence-based, recovery-focused approaches. The student builds on the knowledge and concepts learned in NUR 6970 and NUR 6972 and gains a more in-depth understanding of treating people with complex psychiatric/mental health needs using recovery-focused interventions. An examination of the forensic, social, cultural, physical, economic, familial, spiritual, and societal impacts of severe mental illness incorporates local and world views, as well as advocacy opportunities, for the psychiatric/mental health APRN. Synthesizing evidence-based, recovery-focused management is explored along with social, cultural, environmental, spiritual, and physical needs of these clients.
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NUR 7000 Project Proposal Paper / 3 Credits
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This course is a rigorous culminating scholarly endeavor in which the student will integrate theoretical knowledge, clinical experience, and research in a faculty-guided project proposal.
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Admission Requirements
Applicants must hold:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited university
- 3.0 GPA from undergraduate degree preferred
- U.S. unencumbered state RN license
- Undergraduate statistics course is required
To complete your application, you’ll need:
- Application and application fee
- Transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- Statement of purpose
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Transfer Credits
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Students wishing to transfer course credits from an outside institution will need to meet with their Program Chair to review transcripts, course syllabi and fill out appropriate forms. A maximum of 12 semester credits of graduate work is transferrable if the following requirements are met:
- The institution is accredited
- Official transcripts and syllabi are available for review
- The courses are deemed to be equivalent in level, content, objectives, and competencies to the HPU graduate course it will be replacing
- The proficiency attained is equivalent to a "B" grade or higher
- Courses were completed within five calendar years of admission to HPU graduate nursing
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The following courses cannot be transferred to HPU for credit:
- Final project/paper or Capstone course
- Courses taken as part of a granted degree. For example, if a student has had a Master's degree in Public Health conferred, a health policy course taken during that curriculum may not be transferred in and applied to another degree requirements.
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Graduate-level attainments completed at institutions or through programs or examinations, evaluated by the ACE (American Council on Education) will be considered for appropriate transfer credit on the same basis as prospective transfer credit from graduate programs at U.S. colleges and universities. The Program Chair will use the ACE credit award recommendation as the starting point for the deliberation of credit award; in no case will more credits be awarded than the ACE recommends; usually the award will be more stringent.
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FAQs: MSN-PMHNP
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What does a PMHNP do?
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Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions using evidence-based therapy and medication management.
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How long does it take to become a PMHNP?
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You can complete HPU’s online MSN-PMHNP program in as few as 28 months while working part-time.
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Can I become a PMHNP online?
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Yes, HPU’s program is delivered online with flexible coursework and personalized clinical placement support.
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Can I work while completing the program?
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Yes, the part-time, fully online format is designed to support working nurses with flexible scheduling.
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Is HPU’s PMHNP program accredited?
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Yes, the MSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
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What clinical experience is required?
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The program includes supervised clinical hours in psychiatric settings. HPU helps students identify and secure approved local preceptors.
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What types of patients do PMHNPs work with?
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PMHNPs provide mental health care to individuals across the lifespan — including children, adolescents, adults, and older adults — treating conditions such as anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, and more.
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What certification will I be eligible for after graduation?
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Graduates are eligible to sit for the ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) board certification exam.
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What’s the scope of practice for a PMHNP?
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PMHNPs assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions across the lifespan. They provide therapy, prescribe medication, and may operate independently depending on the state. Their practice includes outpatient, inpatient, and telehealth care models.
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What’s the difference between a PMHNP and a psychiatrist?
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PMHNPs are advanced practice nurses with a focus on holistic, evidence-based mental health care. Psychiatrists are medical doctors. Both can diagnose and treat mental health conditions, but PMHNPs emphasize a nursing model of care.
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Tuition & Financial Aid
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HPU’s online MSN program is designed to be affordable, flexible, and accessible for working nurses advancing into APRN roles.
- $1,117 per credit
- Program length and total cost vary by specialization
- Eligible for federal financial aid and scholarships
- Employer-sponsored tuition assistance welcome
- Special tuition benefits available for active-duty military and veterans
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