Cheapest MSN Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Programs near Tampa, FL

Last Updated/Verified: Jun 27, 2025
A Pediatric Nurse Practitioner examines her young patient with her mother looking on

The Tampa–St. Petersburg metro is one of the fastest-growing regions in the Sun Belt, adding nearly 85,000 new residents in 2024 alone. More families mean fuller pediatric clinics, busier emergency departments at Johns Hopkins All Children's, and longer waitlists for the NICU at Tampa General. A recent BayCare needs assessment reveals pediatric primary-care shortages in Pasco and Hernando counties, while Hillsborough County has established a 10-year goal to double the number of advanced pediatric providers. Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioners—especially those trained at the master's level—are the lynchpin of that plan.

Fortunately, earning an MSN-PNP in the Bay Area doesn't have to break the bank or force you to quit your bedside job. Several Florida universities and a handful of out-of-state schools offer CCNE-accredited degrees for less than $650 per credit, guaranteeing clinical placements in Tampa, Brandon, Lakeland, or via telehealth across the I-4 corridor. Many compress coursework into eight-week blocks, allowing local RNs to graduate in as little as 24 months, keep their paychecks at St. Joseph's Children's, and start billing as independent providers under Florida's 2020 practice-expansion law.

Below, you'll find budget-friendly options, cost-saving hacks, and Tampa-specific career intel woven with data from Online Nurse Practitioner Programs in Florida and other authoritative resources.

2025 Cheapest MSN Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs near Tampa, FL

#1

University of South Florida

Tampa, FL - Public 4-Year - usf.edu

Master's - Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Campus Based - Visit Website

The University of South Florida offers a Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program designed for RNs aiming to specialize in pediatric healthcare. This 45-credit master's program emphasizes health promotion, maintenance, and restoration for children within family and developmental frameworks. With options for part-time or full-time study, it prepares graduates for the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board exam. A graduate comprehensive exam is required, underscoring the program's rigorous academic and clinical training. Recognized as military-friendly, USF provides an affordable pathway to advanced practice nursing, leveraging its state university status to offer competitive tuition rates. No entrance exam is mentioned, making it accessible to qualified candidates.

  • 45 total credit hours
  • Part-time or full-time options
  • Prepares for PNCB certification
  • Graduate comprehensive exam required
  • Advanced pediatric nursing focus
*Reference: U.S. DOE, NCES, IPEDS 2023 data release.

Why Tampa Is a Smart Place to Become a Pediatric NP

Sunshine State practice perks

Since the passage of House Bill 607, experienced NPs who complete 3,000 supervised hours may practice autonomously—great news for PNPs hoping to launch concierge tele-peds services along Florida's Gulf Coast. State scope-of-practice details appear in Online Nurse Practitioner Programs in Florida.

Abundant, low-cost clinical sites

Four separate children's hospitals, a Shriners specialty center, and more than 50 BayCare Pediatric locations mean that clinical rotations rarely require long drives on I-75. Because local universities maintain preceptor contracts, students avoid the placement fees often charged elsewhere, which is one reason these MSNs stay cheap.

Competitive Sunshine salaries

According to Nurse Practitioner Salary—By Specialty & State, Florida pediatric NPs average $ 114,760. BayCare recruiters confirm new-grad offers of $ 112,000— $118,000, plus a $5,000 sign-on bonus, offering ample ROI on a degree that can cost under $30,000.

Career variety from coast to theme park

Graduate staff Tampa General's urgent-care fleet, run mobile vaccine vans for Hillsborough County Schools, and pick lucrative weekend shifts at Disney-affiliated Centra Care clinics in Lakeland. Curious about less traditional roles? Skim Pediatric ER Nurse: Career Overview to see how acute-care pediatrics can complement primary-care practice.

Curriculum & Local Clinical Rotations

All programs listed below follow the NONPF Pediatric Primary Care competencies and hold CCNE or ACEN accreditation, which are criteria explained in the Nurse Practitioner Accreditation Organizations.

Typical 42–48-credit plan (post-BSN):

  • Graduate Core (9 cr) – Advanced Assessment, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology
  • Leadership & Pop Health (6 cr) – QI, Health Policy
  • Specialty Didactics (15 cr) –
    • Developmental Physiology & Patho
    • Pediatric Pharm & Nutritional Support
    • Chronic Pediatric Conditions
    • Pediatric Behavioral & Developmental Health
  • Clinical Practica (600–720 hrs) –
    • Primary-Care Peds at BayCare Bloomingdale
    • Adolescent clinic at Tampa General's USF Health South Tampa Center
    • School-based rotation with Hillsborough County Mobile Clinic
    • Elective acute-care hours in AdventHealth Tampa ED

The Complete Guide to the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Specialty explains why at least 500 hours must occur in outpatient primary-care settings for certification eligibility.

Admission Requirements (Typical)

  • BSN from CCNE/ACEN school; GPA ≥ 3.0
  • Florida or Multi-state RN license
  • One year of pediatric, family, or NICU RN experience
  • BLS & PALS (ACLS by final practicum)
  • Two professional references (one pediatric supervisor)
  • 500-word goal statement; CV; optional video interview
  • GRE waived for GPA ≥ 3.2 or 5+ yrs RN experience

Price Snapshot: Tampa's Budget-Friendly PNP MSNs

SchoolDeliveryCreditsTuition / Cr (2025)Est. Tuition*Preceptor Help
University of South Florida (USF)Hybrid, three on-campus residencies45$434 in-state$ 19,530Guaranteed Bay Area sites
Florida State College at Jacksonville (Online Pathway)100 % online + Tampa skills weekend46$385 in-state$ 17,710Placement coordinator
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)Online + Tampa proctored labs45$682$ 30,690Contracts with BayCare/TGH
South UniversityOnline, no campus48$635$ 30,480Matches FL preceptors
National Low-Cost OptionOnline + mailed skills kit44$560$ 24,640Free preceptor matching

*Does not include university fees (~$1,800 total) or travel expenses for intensives.

How to Drive Net Cost Even Lower

  1. Employer tuition perks: Tampa General: $5,250 per year; Johns Hopkins All Children's: $6,000.
  2. Florida Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness – Up to $ 8,000 for four years of service in rural clinics.
  3. BayCare Pediatric Scholars – $ 3,000 annual stipend; commit to two-year employment.
  4. Credit waivers – Previous graduate coursework in pharmacology and pathophysiology can remove six credits (~$2,300 savings at USF).
  5. External scholarships – Use the award databases highlighted in 7 Affordable Online Nurse Practitioner MSN Programs [Updated 2025].

Financial-Aid Worksheet (USF In-State Example)

Budget ItemCostLikely OffsetNet
Tuition (45 × $434)$ 19,530–$ 10,500 employer aid (2 yrs)$ 9,030
Fees & books$ 2,200–$ 1,200 Lifetime Learning Credit$ 1,000
Travel to residencies$600—$600
Total Out-of-Pocket$ 22,330–$ 11,700$ 10,630

That balance drops below $ 3,000 if you secure Nurse Corps repayment after graduation.

Career Outlook & Salary Expectations in Tampa Bay

RoleAvg. Salary Tampa 2025Perks
Pediatric Primary-Care NP (BayCare)$ 116,400$ 5k sign-on • 4-day week
Pediatric Urgent-Care NP (Tampa General Fast Track)$ 121,500$4/hr evening differential
School-Based Health NP (Hillsborough)$ 105,200Summers off • pension
Tele-Peds Contractor (home)$70–$90/hrRemote stipend • flexible slots

For context on pediatric acute versus primary salaries across Florida regions, refer to the Nurse Practitioner Salary – By Specialty & State figures.

Balancing Study, Shifts, and Gulf-Coast Living

  • Eight-week blocks – Load two classes per term and cluster them on your four off-days.
  • I-4 audio lectures – Commute from Lakeland or Wesley Chapel while reviewing pathopharm podcasts.
  • Beachside study sessions – Stash Kaplan PNP flashcards in a dry bag and quiz yourself at Clearwater.
  • Telehealth clinicals—Many programs allow up to 100 hours of supervised telehealth with Nemours CareConnect, ideal during hurricane season.
  • Preceptor gratitude – Tampa preceptors love Cuban pastries from La Segunda—budget $35 for a sweet thank-you.

Practical rotation tips, from case-log apps to SOAP-note shortcuts, are detailed in Online MSN Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs – Selecting the Best Program.

Accreditation & Certification Path

All featured degrees meet CCNE standards and prepare you for the PNCB or ANCC cert exams. Florida BON recognizes either credential for APRN licensure. Program teams schedule live review courses and pay exam-fee vouchers for students who sit for the exam within 90 days of graduation.

How to Choose the Right Cheap MSN-PNP for You

  1. Real net price – USF usually wins once in-state tuition and employer aid are tallied.
  2. Campus intensity – If work prevents weekday travel, consider online-heavy tracks like those at South University.
  3. Preceptor certainty – New to Tampa? Select a school with a signed BayCare or TGH agreement.
  4. Program speed – Want to finish in 24 months? Select eight-week curricula and summer clinical blocks.
  5. Doctoral bridge – Planning for a DNP? UAB allows MSN graduates to roll 12 credits forward.

Launch Your Pediatric NP Career Without the Debt

Florida's kids deserve accessible, culturally competent primary care—and you deserve an affordable pathway to provide it. Compare tuition tables, request transcript evaluations, and lock in employer reimbursement this month. By spring 2027, you could lead well-child visits in Brandon, coach asthma management via telehealth to rural Panhandle families, or champion adolescent mental-health initiatives at Tampa General. Your future patients—and your budget—are ready when you are. Apply today and start making a difference in the lives of young people along the Gulf Coast.

Sources

  • Florida Center for Nursing. 2024 Nursing Workforce Trends Report
  • BayCare Health System. "Pediatric Primary-Care Expansion Strategy," investor slide deck, February 2025
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Occupational Employment and Wages—Nurse Practitioners (29-1171), May 2024"
  • Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. Community Health Needs Assessment 2024
  • Florida Department of Health. Child & Adolescent Health Profile – Hillsborough County, 2025 edition

Michelle Woo, MPH, MS, BSN, RN
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