Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) treat children of all ages, from birth through childhood, adolescence, and into young adulthood. Like all nurse practitioners in Massachusetts, PNPs can practice independently. They do not need to have a cooperative relationship with a doctor, giving them plenty of options and control over their careers.
Nurses who want to pursue a PNP degree in Massachusetts have many options, whether they’re looking for on-campus or distance learning.
Massachusetts RN to Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Programs
RN to PNP programs are designed to make it more convenient for those with an associates or diploma to get advanced degrees in nursing without first completing a BSN.
Boston College
- Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
- Campus + In-person
Modality: On campus with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 112
Clinical Hours: 1,000
Tuition: $1,804 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Boston College runs an uncommon RN to DNP PNP Primary Care that lets associate-degree RNs go straight to the doctorate without first earning a BSN or MSN. The 112-credit program splits into 42 general education credits and 70 specialty credits, delivered in person on the Chestnut Hill campus with access to BC’s simulation labs, high-fidelity manikins, and the broader Boston academic medical center clinical network.
Regis College
- Weston, Massachusetts
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Unspecified
Clinical Hours: Unspecified
Tuition: $995 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Regis’s RN to BSN to PNP stands out among RN-to-MSN bridges because it awards both the BSN and the MSN at completion — most bridge programs only confer the MSN. Applicants holding a bachelor’s in another field may already satisfy some of the prerequisites. The Weston-based program fits Boston-area RNs who want both credentials in one continuous track.
Massachusetts BSN to Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Programs
These programs are for BSN-prepared nurses interested in pursuing a PNP. MSN and DNP options are available, as well as some programs that allow for distance learning.
Boston College
- Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
- Campus + In-person
Modality: On campus with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: 1,000
Tuition: $1,804 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Boston College’s PNP doctorate catalog covers three entry points. The BSN to DNP PNP Primary Care and MSN to DNP PNP Primary Care serve nurses already holding a nursing degree. The Direct Entry DNP PNP Primary admits applicants with a bachelor’s in a non-nursing field; the first five semesters prepare them for NCLEX before pediatric primary care coursework begins. All tracks run on campus with access to BC simulation labs and Boston-area clinical placements.
MGH Institute of Health Professions
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Hybrid + In-person
Modality: Hybrid with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $1620 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
MGH Institute’s PNP catalog leverages the Massachusetts General Hospital affiliation directly. The BSN to PNP runs 48 credits over two years. The Direct Entry PNP serves applicants with a bachelor’s in another field at 91 credits over three years (plus prerequisites). Direct Entry students sit for NCLEX before transitioning to PNP-specific clinicals.
Northeastern University
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Varies
Modality: Varies
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $975 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Northeastern’s PNP options include a BSN to PNP, a Direct Entry PNP for non-nursing-bachelor’s applicants, and a Post-Graduate Certificate PNP for already-credentialed NPs. The standout feature is dual specialization: students can pair Pediatric Primary Care with Pediatric Acute Care to qualify for both certifications. The Boston Bouvé College location pairs the academic program with broad clinical placement options across the city’s pediatric medical centers.
Regis College
- Weston, Massachusetts
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with in-campus requirements and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Various
Clinical Hours: Various
Tuition: $995 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Regis College runs five PNP entry points, all delivered with online coursework. The BSN to PNP master’s runs 13 core classes plus four specialty classes and 660 clinical hours. The BSN to DNP PNP and MSN to DNP PNP add doctoral-level coursework, with credit load and clinical hours adjusting based on entry credential. Regis’s online format fits New England-region nurses without requiring relocation to Weston.
Online Massachusetts PNP Programs
Most MA PNP programs require in-person clinical rotations because pediatric primary and acute care depend on hands-on patient contact. The most flexible online options are at Regis College, which delivers all five PNP entry points with online coursework. Northeastern’s online BSN to PNP also offers flexible classroom delivery. Boston College and MGH Institute remain campus-based for their PNP tracks, trading flexibility for direct access to Boston’s major academic medical center clinical networks.
Best PNP Programs in Massachusetts
Best fit depends on entry credential and clinical setting interest. For dual-specialty training, Northeastern’s pairing of Pediatric Primary Care + Pediatric Acute Care is unique in MA. For direct-to-doctorate paths from associate-degree RNs, Boston College’s RN to DNP PNP Primary Care is uncommon nationally. For applicants targeting an academic medical center pipeline, MGH Institute (Massachusetts General Hospital affiliation) and Boston College (Connell School of Nursing) lead. For online flexibility, Regis College runs the broadest catalog with five entry points.
Massachusetts’ Most Affordable PNP Programs
MA’s PNP programs are concentrated at private institutions, which keeps the per-credit tuition floor relatively high. There is no SUNY/CUNY-style public PNP option in the state. By published per-credit rate, the more affordable choices among the six PNP programs tend to be Regis College and Northeastern’s online tracks, which avoid Boston’s on-campus residential costs. Each program layers its own fees, so non-residents in particular should compare total cost rather than per-credit alone.