PMHNP Programs in Minnesota
Minnesota has four verified PMHNP programs based in the state, spanning the University of Minnesota and the College of St. Scholastica (both BSN-to-DNP) plus Walden University, a large online university headquartered in Minneapolis (MSN and post-master's certificate). It is also a strong place to practice: nurse practitioners have full practice authority, and the statewide NP wage is about $133,260 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), above the $132,300 national median. Here are the verified Minnesota programs, the accredited online options Minnesota residents can pursue, the state licensure path, and what the job market and pay look like.
The short version
Minnesota has four verified PMHNP programs based in the state, spanning BSN-to-DNP, MSN, and post-master's certificate routes — the full list is below, generated from our verified dataset.
The in-state options include two campus-based doctoral routes — the University of Minnesota and the College of St. Scholastica (Duluth), both BSN-to-DNP — plus Walden University, a large online university headquartered in Minneapolis offering an MSN and a post-master's certificate.
Minnesota grants nurse practitioners full practice authority (since 2015), so a PMHNP can ultimately evaluate, diagnose, and prescribe independently after meeting the state's requirements.
The statewide NP wage is about $133,260 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), above the $132,300 national median.
Many accredited programs based in other states also enroll Minnesota residents; confirm authorization with each. See the online PMHNP ranking.
If you are searching for PMHNP programs in Minnesota, the verified in-state field has four programs spanning a useful mix of routes. Two are campus-based doctoral tracks: the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, both BSN-to-DNP. The other two come from Walden University, a large online university headquartered in Minneapolis that offers an MSN and a post-master's certificate delivered fully online. Between them you can choose a doctoral or master's entry point, and a campus or online format. Minnesota is also a strong place to train and practice, with full practice authority for nurse practitioners and a statewide NP wage above the national median.
This guide covers the four verified Minnesota-based programs, plus the broader set of accredited online programs Minnesota residents can complete from anywhere in the state. It also covers the Minnesota context that actually shapes your decision: licensure, pay, and the job market. The program list below is generated from our verified dataset, and where a Minnesota-specific number is not separately published, we label it rather than estimate.
The 4 verified PMHNP programs based in Minnesota
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN
The College of St. Scholastica
Duluth, MN
Accredited online PMHNP programs Minnesota residents can do
Most PMHNP study is online. These verified, accredited programs enroll students from most states and let you complete the supervised clinical hours near you. Online programs set their own state authorization, so confirm each one admits Minnesota residents before you apply.
California State University, Fresno
CCNE-accredited · post-master's certificate · 540 clinical hrs
Program pageDrexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions
CCNE-accredited · post-master's certificate · 640 clinical hrs
Program pageFairleigh Dickinson University Henry P. Becton School of Nursing and Allied Health
ACEN-accredited · MSN · 750 clinical hrs
Program pageGeorgia Southern University School of Nursing
CCNE-accredited · BSN-to-DNP · 630 clinical hrs
Program pageGeorgia State University Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions
CCNE-accredited · MSN · 500 clinical hrs
Program pageHerzing University
CCNE-accredited · MSN / post-master's certificate · 540 clinical hrs
Program pageJohns Hopkins University School of Nursing
CCNE-accredited · post-master's certificate · 500 clinical hrs
Program pageLa Salle University School of Nursing and Health Sciences
CCNE-accredited · MSN · 692 clinical hrs
Program pageLewis University College of Nursing and Health Sciences
CCNE-accredited · MSN · 540 clinical hrs
Program pageNorthern Kentucky University School of Nursing
CCNE-accredited · MSN · 750 clinical hrs
Program pageRadford University School of Nursing
CCNE-accredited · post-master's certificate · 540 clinical hrs
Program pageRocky Mountain University of Health Professions
CCNE-accredited · post-master's certificate · 540 clinical hrs
Program pageSimmons University
CCNE-accredited · MSN / post-master's certificate · 756 clinical hrs
Program pageUniversity of Cincinnati College of Nursing
CCNE-accredited · post-master's certificate
Program pageUniversity of South Alabama College of Nursing
CCNE-accredited · MSN / post-master's certificate · 600 clinical hrs
Program pageConfirm current state authorization with each program. For the full comparison of these programs, see our online PMHNP ranking.
How to become a PMHNP in Minnesota
The path to becoming a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner in Minnesota is the same graduate-nursing route used nationwide, with one local variable: your APRN license and prescriptive authority come from the Minnesota Board of Nursing. Here are the five steps.
- 01
Earn a BSN and an RN license
Most PMHNP programs admit Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates who hold an active RN license. If you start with an associate degree or a non-nursing bachelor's, bridge programs exist. You'll practice on a Minnesota RN license while you complete graduate school.
- 02
Enroll in an accredited PMHNP program
Choose an MSN or a BSN-to-DNP with a PMHNP focus. The degree must hold CCNE or ACEN accreditation, or it won't qualify you for the certification exam. Minnesota has 4 verified in-state programs (listed above), and 45 accredited online programs also enroll Minnesota residents.
- 03
Complete a minimum of 500 supervised clinical hours
The ANCC requires at least 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours, and many programs require 600 to 750. Securing local clinical placements is the biggest practical hurdle, so confirm whether a program arranges your preceptors before you enroll.
- 04
Pass the ANCC PMHNP-BC certification exam
The ANCC PMHNP-BC first-time pass rate was 83% in 2024 and 82% in 2025. Either the ANCC exam or the newer AANPCB PMHNP exam qualifies you for state licensure; ANCC's PMHNP-BC is the one most employers list by name.
- 05
Get Minnesota APRN licensure and DEA registration
The Minnesota Board of Nursing issues your APRN license and prescriptive authority once you're certified, and a federal DEA registration lets you prescribe controlled substances. Practice authority varies by state, so confirm current Minnesota requirements with the board before you enroll.
For the full national pathway, including itemized cost, timeline, and program selection advice, see our complete guide on how to become a PMHNP.
Minnesota NP licensure and full practice authority
Minnesota is a full-practice-authority state, and has been since 2015. The AANP defines full practice authority as allowing nurse practitioners to evaluate, diagnose, order tests, and prescribe under the authority of the state board of nursing, without a mandated physician collaboration agreement, once the state's requirements are met. That independence is a meaningful advantage over reduced- and restricted-practice states, and it widens what an experienced PMHNP can do, including independent and cash-pay practice.
Licensure runs through the Minnesota Board of Nursing on top of national certification. The credential you earn is the same nationwide; what Minnesota adds is the practice environment.
What the state requires
- Active Minnesota RN license
- Graduate PMHNP degree from an accredited program
- National PMHNP-BC certification (ANCC)
- APRN licensure from the Minnesota Board of Nursing
- DEA registration to prescribe controlled substances
State board: Minnesota Board of Nursing
PMHNP pay in Minnesota
The Minnesota statewide NP wage is about $133,260 per BLS OEWS state data, May 2025, above the $132,300 national NP median (BLS OOH).
BLS does not separately publish entry-level or experienced PMHNP wages for Minnesota, so we do not show those tiers rather than estimate them. Psychiatric-mental health is one of the higher-paying NP specialties, and full practice authority lets experienced PMHNPs pursue independent and cash-pay models that raise the ceiling. Our PMHNP salary guide breaks pay down by experience, setting, and practice model.
The Minnesota PMHNP job market
Demand for psychiatric prescribers is strong in Minnesota, as it is nationally. The BLS projects nurse practitioner employment to grow about 40% from 2024 to 2034 nationally; a Minnesota-specific projection is not separately verified here. The Twin Cities support large health systems that hire psychiatric prescribers and host clinical placements, while much of rural Minnesota faces persistent mental health workforce shortages. Full practice authority and the growth of telehealth widen your options across both settings.
- Community mental health centers and FQHCs in the state often qualify for the federal NHSC Loan Repayment Program.
Choosing a PMHNP program in Minnesota
With four in-state programs plus the national online field, a few factors matter more than location.
- Accreditation first: confirm any program you compare is CCNE- or ACEN-accredited before you enroll, including out-of-state online options.
- Degree level: decide whether you want a master's or a doctoral entry point. Minnesota offers both — BSN-to-DNP at the University of Minnesota and the College of St. Scholastica, and an MSN (plus a post-master's certificate) at Walden.
- Format: the University of Minnesota and the College of St. Scholastica are campus-based, while Walden is a large online university; weigh campus proximity against the flexibility of an online track.
- Clinical placement support: ask who arranges your preceptors. Some programs place you, while others have you secure your own sites — a major practical difference.
- Cost: compare full program cost, not just per-credit rates, and check whether a campus program offers resident tuition. See our online PMHNP ranking for the national online field.
Keep researching
Best Online PMHNP Programs
The national field of accredited online options.
Best PMHNP Programs
Our overall ranking of verified PMHNP programs.
PMHNP Programs by State
Browse every state's verified programs.
How to Become a PMHNP
The pathway, certification, and clinical-hour requirement.
PMHNP Salary Guide
What psychiatric NPs earn by state, experience, and setting.
Questions, answered
How many PMHNP programs are in Minnesota?+
Does Minnesota allow nurse practitioners to practice independently?+
How much do PMHNPs make in Minnesota?+
Can I study a PMHNP online in Minnesota?+
What do I need to become a licensed PMHNP in Minnesota?+
Program details and figures trace to primary sources; gaps are labeled, not estimated.
- [1] Walden University, MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (program page)
- [2] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS: Nurse Practitioners (29-1171), national and state wages
- [3] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Nurse Practitioners
- [4] AANP, State Practice Environment (Minnesota: full practice authority)
- [5] Minnesota Board of Nursing