Tuition per credit hour
In-state: $432.
Out-of-state: $1,250. New England residents may qualify for tuition break. See details and other costs
Credit hours
53 required credit hours. Most courses are equal to 3 credit hours. Browse course list
Financial aid
Over 150 graduate assistantships available with stipend & tuition assistance, plus scholarship & fellowship opportunities. Explore aid
Admissions
No application fee. No GRE required. Apply by April 1 for fall term, November 1 for spring term. View application process & deadlines
Program Highlights
Program requirements
Our Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (P-MHNP) program prepares an advanced practice nurse with skills in therapeutic interventions and medication management. Coursework builds on the baccalaureate degree in nursing and is based on theory and research in nursing.
Career advancement
Master’s students gain skills in clinical decision making and differential diagnosis; case management and consultation; client/patient teaching; assessments and interventions; and program design, implementation, and evaluation.
Certifications
Upon graduation, you’ll be eligible to sit for national certification through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and/or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Our graduates routinely pass above the national average.
Hands-on learning
Clinical placement varies by your area of academic concentration. Specialty areas include family practice, internal medicine, cardiology, endocrinology, women’s health, pulmonology, dermatology, orthopedics, and pediatrics, to name a few.
Accreditation
This program is approved by the Maine State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Learning spaces
We offer robust learning environments. Expand upon your clinical skill set, using both traditional and state-of-the-art technology in our simulation labs.
Dedicated faculty
Our faculty are active in research and policy issues at the state and national level, are board members of state and national nursing associations, and frequently publish in leading nursing journals.
Graduate student support
Our Office of Graduate Studies connects you with opportunities for professional development, scholarships, and graduate assistantships. They also foster our graduate student community through Peer Mentorship and the Graduate Student Board.
Scholarship opportunities
Scholarships offer financial aid that doesn’t need to be repaid. We encourage students in graduate degree programs to apply for scholarship opportunities.
Do you live in New England?
You may be eligible for a special reduced tuition rate, as part of the New England Regional Student Program (RSP).
Connect with us
Our monthly Graduate Information Sessions are an excellent way to learn more about the benefits of our program, as well as our admissions and financial process.

Admission information: MS in Nursing – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (across the lifespan)
Application deadlines
Application deadline | Fall term start | Spring term start |
---|---|---|
Final | April 1 | November 1 |
Admissions Pathway: Early consideration for BS in Nursing — Traditional Program students* | November 1 | Not applicable |
Admissions Pathway: BS in Nursing — Traditional Program & Accelerated Program students** | April 1 | Not applicable |
* Must be a current student in the University of Southern Maine BS in Nursing — Traditional Program.
** Must be a current student in the University of Southern Maine BS in Nursing — Traditional Program or Nursing — Accelerated Program.