Regis University’s Loretto Heights School of Nursing, part of the Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions in Denver, offers two nurse practitioner population focuses: family and psychiatric-mental health. Each specialty is available three ways: as a Master of Science (MS), as a post-BSN to DNP, and as a post-graduate certificate.
Every NP pathway is built around one full class day per week. FNP students choose between classes on the Northwest Denver campus and a synchronous remote pathway. PMHNP classes are synchronous online only. Two policies shape the practical decision:
- Students arrange their own clinical sites. Faculty and Regis’s Clinical Support Unit help, but Regis does not place students.
- Both specialties admit once a year. Programs start in May, with applications due February 1.
Quick facts
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Nursing School | Loretto Heights School of Nursing, Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions |
| Location | Denver, CO |
| NP Specialties | FNP, PMHNP |
| Degree Options | MS, post-BSN to DNP, and post-graduate certificate in both specialties |
| Format | FNP: Campus or Online (synchronous); PMHNP: Online (synchronous) |
| Class Schedule | One full day per week (FNP: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. MT) |
| Clinical Placement | Student-arranged, with faculty and Clinical Support Unit help |
| Minimum GPA | 2.75 for MS and DNP; 3.0 graduate GPA for certificates |
| Entry Points | BSN for MS and DNP; MSN for certificates |
| Start Term | May, once a year |
| Cost per Credit | $1,055 master’s level; $1,108 doctoral level (2026-27) |
| Accreditation | CCNE; HLC institutional |
Comparing Regis’s NP programs
Format, placement policy, admissions, and tuition rates are shared across both specialties. Both MS programs are 48 credits: an 18-credit graduate core covering ethics, theory, research, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health policy, plus 30 specialty credits.
| Pathway | Credits | Duration | Est. tuition | Clinical hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) | ||||
| MS | 48 | 2 years | $51K | 630 |
| Post-BSN to DNP | 74–79 | 4–5 years | $79K–$85K | 1,000 total |
| Post-graduate certificate | 21–36 | Varies | $22K–$38K | Set by plan of study |
| Psychiatric-Mental Health (PMHNP) | ||||
| MS | 48 | 2 years | $51K | 630 |
| Post-BSN to DNP | 74–79 | 4–5 years | $79K–$85K | 1,000 total |
| Post-graduate certificate | 26–36 | Varies | $27K–$38K | Set by plan of study |
On the tuition column: these are estimates, not Regis-published program costs. They use 2026-27 per-credit rates and exclude fees. DNP estimates bill 48 credits at the $1,055 master’s rate and the remaining 26 to 31 credits at the $1,108 doctoral rate.
MS hours are specialty clinical hours. The DNP’s 1,000 hours are total post-baccalaureate clinical hours, including the 630 completed in the MS portion. Certificate hours depend on which courses a student’s gap analysis requires.
What stands out about Regis’s NP programs
- Fixed weekly class day. All NP coursework meets one full day per week, so students can plan work schedules around a single predictable day.
- Campus or remote FNP. The FNP is the only Regis NP specialty with an in-person option. PMHNP students attend live online classes only.
- One application window. Both specialties start in May. Applications open September 1 and close February 1, so missing the deadline means waiting a year.
- Student-arranged clinicals. Regis supports the search but does not place students. This is the main practical factor for distance students.
- Limited certificate seats. Regis states that certificate enrollment is limited and the certificates may not be offered every year.
Which Regis NP program fits your goal?
- FNP: Primary care across the lifespan, including pediatrics and women’s health
- PMHNP: Psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, psychopharmacology, and treatment across the lifespan
Family Nurse Practitioner
Credits 48 / 74–79 / 21–36 · Clinical hours 630 · MS · Post-BSN DNP · Certificate
The MS Family Nurse Practitioner, Post-BSN to DNP, and Post-Graduate FNP Certificate prepare nurses for primary care of patients of all ages.
The specialty sequence includes Advanced Health Assessment of the Family, Women’s Health and Childbearing for the FNP, Primary Health Care of Children and Their Families, and Primary Care Procedures. The core clinical component is a three-course Primary Health Care Across the Lifespan sequence.
Clinicals begin in the fourth semester. The 630 hours are split evenly across the final three semesters, 210 hours per course, and cover pediatric, adult, women’s, and family care. Clinical hours are generally completed on weekdays, in urban and rural settings.
FNP classes are offered in two formats:
- Campus-based pathway: Face-to-face classes on the Northwest Denver campus
- Remote pathway: Live virtual classes on the same weekly schedule. Residents of Louisiana and New York are not eligible.
Two years of RN clinical practice is strongly preferred. The certificate includes the same three-course primary care clinical sequence and is offered in both formats. Graduates are eligible for FNP certification through the AANPCB or ANCC.
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Credits 48 / 74–79 / 26–36 · Clinical hours 630 · MS · Post-BSN DNP · Certificate
The MS Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Post-BSN to DNP, and Post-Graduate PMHNP Certificate prepare nurses to assess, diagnose, and treat mental illness in individuals, families, and groups.
Specialty courses include Psychopharmacology for Advanced Practice and Psychiatric Assessment and Psychopathology. These are followed by three Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice courses, each paired with supervised clinical time.
Students complete 630 mentored clinical hours over the final three semesters. Clinicals start in the fourth semester, and sites may include telehealth.
The PMHNP is synchronous online only, with no campus-based option. Two years of behavioral health or community health RN experience is preferred. Unlike the FNP, the PMHNP requires an admissions interview, with virtual interview days from December through February.
Regis states that PMHNP certificate enrollment is very limited because clinical placements are competitive. Graduates are eligible for the national certification exam administered by the ANCC.
Clinical placement
Both specialties use the same model: students arrange their own clinical sites, working with faculty and Regis’s Clinical Support Unit.
This matters most for remote students living far from Denver. They need to find preceptors in their own communities for 630 MS hours spread over three semesters. Applicants who want a school to secure sites for them should weigh this before applying.
Format and schedule
| Pathway | Format | Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| FNP, campus-based | Campus | One day per week on the Northwest Denver campus |
| FNP, remote | Online (synchronous) | One day per week in a live virtual classroom |
| PMHNP, all pathways | Online (synchronous) | One full day per week in a live online class |
| DNP doctoral coursework | Online | No on-campus requirements |
Classes are live, not self-paced. FNP sessions run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time, so distance students in other time zones should account for the shift.
The post-BSN to DNP pathway
The Post-BSN to DNP awards both the MS and the DNP. It is 74 to 79 credits in either specialty.
Students first complete the full 48-credit MS curriculum for their specialty. They then move into online doctoral coursework in theory, statistics, epidemiology, health policy, outcomes research, and informatics. The program ends with Application to Practice practica and a population-focused project defense. Practica credits vary based on the clinical hours each student still needs. The DNP catalog lists the course sequence.
- Additional hours: Students reach 1,000 total post-baccalaureate clinical hours, with roughly 370 completed in doctoral practica.
- Pacing: The doctoral portion can be completed on a two- or three-year plan.
- Certification after the MS: Students can pursue board certification after the MS portion, before or while completing the DNP.
- Higher tuition rate: Doctoral credits bill at $1,108, compared with $1,055 for master’s-level credits.
Admission mirrors the MS requirements. DNP applicants also submit a two-page personal statement and complete health and immunization clearance. Two years of nursing experience is recommended.
Post-graduate certificates
Both certificates are for nurses who already hold a master’s degree in nursing. The normal eligibility route requires an MSN from an NLN- or CCNE-accredited program, a minimum 3.0 graduate GPA, at least two years of nursing work experience, a current RN license, AHA BLS certification, a résumé, a personal statement, and three recommendations. PMHNP certificate applicants also complete a required interview.
- Credits vary. A transcript review sets each student’s plan of study, and some core courses may be waived. Certificates run 21 to 36 credits for FNP and 26 to 36 for PMHNP.
- Seats are not guaranteed. Regis states that certificate enrollment is limited and may not be offered every year.
- Same cycle. The FNP certificate follows the May start and September 1 to February 1 application window used by the degree programs.
Admissions
These requirements apply to MS and post-BSN to DNP applicants in both specialties.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Nursing degree | BSN from an NLN- or CCNE-accredited program |
| Minimum GPA | 2.75 undergraduate, with a C or better in all nursing courses |
| Statistics | C or better; may be completed after admission but before NR 602 |
| RN license | Active RN license |
| Certification | Current AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) |
| Recommendations | Three professional letters, one from a current employer |
| Written materials | Résumé and essay; two-page personal statement for DNP |
| Experience | Two years preferred: RN clinical practice (FNP) or behavioral or community health (PMHNP) |
| Clearances | Background check and drug screen |
| Application | NursingCAS; opens September 1, due February 1, for a May start |
PMHNP applicants must also complete an admissions interview. Regis publishes separate PMHNP application requirements.
Tuition
Regis publishes one per-credit rate for master’s-level nursing courses and a higher rate for doctoral courses. Estimated tuition for each pathway appears in the comparison table. The MS in either specialty is estimated at $50,640 (48 credits at $1,055). DNP estimates range from $79,448 to $84,988, and certificates from $22,155 to $37,980 for FNP and $27,430 to $37,980 for PMHNP.
| Master’s-level tuition per credit | $1,055 |
| Doctoral-level tuition per credit | $1,108 |
| Lab fee (one time, FNP) | $300 |
| Clinical placement fee (one time, FNP) | $300 |
| Typhon clinical tracking (FNP) | $90 |
| NursingCAS application | $70 |
2026-27 rates. Background check and drug screen costs are extra, and Regis notes that clinical and application fees may also apply to the PMHNP. Rates are set annually and may change. See Regis’s cost of attendance for graduate students for current tuition and fees.
Accreditation and certification
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits the BSN, MS, and DNP programs at the Loretto Heights School of Nursing. Regis University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
FNP graduates are eligible for certification through the AANPCB or ANCC. PMHNP graduates are eligible for the ANCC certification exam.
Who is Regis University best for?
May be a strong fit for
- Working RNs who can commit one full weekday to live classes each week
- Denver-area nurses who want in-person FNP classes
- Nurses outside Colorado seeking an FNP or PMHNP with no campus travel, except Louisiana and New York residents for the remote FNP
- BSN-prepared nurses who want the MS and DNP in one program, with the option to certify after the MS
- Nurses comfortable securing their own clinical sites with faculty and Clinical Support Unit help
Compare other options if
- You want the school to arrange clinical placements
- You need self-paced coursework or can’t attend a fixed weekday session on Mountain Time
- You want a start term other than May, or you have missed the February 1 deadline
- You live in Louisiana or New York and want the remote FNP
- You want an NP specialty other than FNP or PMHNP
- You hold an MSN and need a certificate seat guaranteed in a specific year
Compare more NP programs in Colorado
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