The University of Cincinnati College of Nursing offers three Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner pathways:
- MSN
- BSN-DNP
- Post-MSN Certificate (Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana residents only)
All three combine online coursework with in-person precepted clinicals and on-campus immersions. Graduates are prepared to care for patients age 13 and older. Every pathway requires an active, unrestricted RN license and at least one year of U.S. RN experience. UC does not admit online nursing students from seven states (see Accreditation).
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition (Resident) | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | $36,784 | Not published | 44 |
| BSN-DNP | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Post-MSN Certificate | $836/credit (individualized plan) | Not published | Individualized |
The MSN estimate multiplies UC’s 2026–2027 College of Nursing graduate rate ($836/credit Ohio resident) by the 44 credits UC Online publishes; UC’s current DNP and certificate pages do not state credit totals.
For applicants outside Ohio, UC’s pricing is the headline. The 2026–2027 non-resident surcharge for standard online graduate programs is $15 per credit, so a non-resident MSN student pays about $660 more than an Ohio resident across all 44 credits. Out-of-state students effectively pay in-state tuition.
The weaker side is published detail. UC’s current program pages give no course list, no completion time, no DNP or certificate credit total, and no statement on who secures clinical sites and preceptors. Starting Spring 2027, students also travel to campus for a three-day immersion during Advanced Health Assessment.
UC charges non-residents just $15 more per credit for its online MSN, but applicants accept a new on-campus immersion and thin published detail on timelines, credits, and preceptor placement.
Quick Facts
| Program Types | MSN, BSN-DNP, Post-MSN Certificate |
| Format | Online coursework, in-person precepted clinicals, on-campus immersions |
| Campus Attendance | Three-day immersion in Advanced Health Assessment, starting Spring 2027; other immersions not quantified |
| Clinical Hours | MSN: 504; DNP project practicums: 500 |
| Clinical Placement | Clinical Site Coordinator guides students; preceptor responsibility not published |
| Population Focus | Patients age 13 and older |
| Licensure Required | Active, unrestricted RN license; 1 year U.S. RN experience |
| Start Terms | MSN and certificate: spring, summer, fall; DNP: fall only |
| Tuition (2026–27) | $836/credit resident; $851/credit non-resident (online MSN and DNP) |
| Accreditation | CCNE (MSN, DNP, post-graduate APRN certificate) |
MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
The MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP requires 44 credits and 504 clinical hours. Estimated tuition is $36,784 for Ohio residents and $37,444 for non-residents. UC does not publish a standard completion time. It is the BSN-entry option for nurses who want the AGPCNP credential without a doctorate, and the only BSN-entry pathway with three start terms a year.
MSN Curriculum
UC Online’s program pages do not list individual courses. The term-by-term plan sits in UC’s sample curriculum (MajorMap). The program pages confirm these structural points:
- 44 credits, with courses offered in spring, summer, and fall
- Advanced Health Assessment comes before practicum; from Spring 2027 it includes a three-day on-campus immersion to demonstrate competency
- Kansas residents may add NURS8098 Clinical Elective (variable credit) to meet Kansas’s higher clinical hour requirement
Because the immersion is tied to Advanced Health Assessment rather than the final term, the campus trip falls early in the program. Students should budget travel to Cincinnati before they begin clinical rotations.
View the MSN sample curriculum or the curriculum and requirements page.
MSN Clinical Requirements
- 504 total clinical hours, in person and precepted
- Primary care focus, patients age 13 and older
- A Clinical Site Coordinator guides students through clinical and practicum requirements
- UC does not publish who secures clinical sites and preceptors, or whether placement is guaranteed
- Clinicals cannot be completed at a U.S. Embassy; military applicants must live on a base and complete clinicals there
Coordinator support is not the same as a placement guarantee. With no published commitment either way, distance students should plan as if they may need to identify local primary care preceptors themselves, especially in markets where NP preceptors are scarce.
MSN Admissions
- BSN from an accredited institution, with the nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE
- Active, unrestricted RN license with no disciplinary action
- At least one year of U.S. RN experience
- BSN GPA of 3.0 (recommended); science GPA of 3.0; undergraduate statistics grade of 2.0
- Three references, a 500–700 word goal statement, and a CV in PDF format
- Official transcripts sent to NursingCAS
- Fees: NursingCAS $85 ($90 international); UC Graduate School $65 ($70 international), waived through Spring 2027
- Deadlines: Spring 2027 (Nov. 15, 2026), Summer 2027 (March 15, 2027), Fall 2027 (July 15, 2027)
- Not open to residents of Arizona, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, or U.S. territories
Three start terms mean a missed deadline costs about four months, not a full year. International applicants must already hold or be able to obtain U.S. work authorization, since student visas do not cover online programs.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP (DNP)
The BSN-to-DNP Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP adds a doctoral project and 500 DNP practicum hours to AGPCNP preparation. UC’s current program page does not state a credit total, completion time, or tuition total, so this page does not estimate one. Admission is fall only, and the recommended BSN GPA is 3.25, higher than the MSN’s 3.0.
DNP Curriculum
UC describes the DNP layer as coursework in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, policy, informatics, and leadership, built around a scholarly project. The project runs across three DNP practicums:
- Practicum I: topic selection with a faculty advisor and a proposal defense
- Practicum II: implementation and dissemination
- Practicum III: final project defense
Projects must address care at a systems or population level, such as quality improvement, evidence-based practice implementation, policy analysis, or a new care model. Each student works with a chair and at least one other doctorally prepared UC faculty member, defends the project publicly, and submits a manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal.
View the DNP sample curriculum and the DNP project overview.
DNP Clinical Requirements
- 500 hours across three DNP practicum courses (project-focused)
- AGPCNP direct patient care hours are not stated on the DNP page; the MSN in the same specialty lists 504
- In-person precepted clinical practice, supported by a Clinical Site Coordinator; preceptor responsibility not published
- Three-day on-campus immersion in Advanced Health Assessment, starting Spring 2027
- Optional half-day summer workshop on preparing and presenting the project
The DNP state list is broader than the MSN’s. The DNP page also excludes Washington residents, while the MSN page says UC is approved to provide practice experiences there. A Washington nurse can pursue the MSN but not the BSN-DNP.
DNP Admissions
- BSN (or BA in Nursing) from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited program
- Active, unrestricted RN license; at least one year of U.S. RN experience at application
- BSN GPA of 3.25 (recommended); science GPA of 3.0; statistics grade of 2.0, completed within the last five years
- Three to six references from the past two to three years (for example, a direct supervisor, an advanced practice provider in the specialty, a colleague, a former professor)
- 500–700 word goal statement and CV in PDF format
- English proficiency score or waiver for some applicants educated outside the U.S.
- Fees: NursingCAS $80; UC Graduate School $65 ($70 international); $500 non-refundable matriculation fee applied to first-semester tuition
- Fall 2027: applications open Nov. 1, 2026; deadline June 1, 2027; classes start Aug. 23, 2027
- Not open to residents of Arizona, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Washington, or U.S. territories
The statistics recency rule can disqualify experienced nurses whose statistics course is more than five years old. UC also notes that applications may close early once capacity is reached, so the June 1 deadline is a ceiling rather than a target.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP Post-MSN Graduate Certificate
The AGPCNP Post-MSN Certificate is for nurses who already hold an MSN from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited program. UC builds an individualized plan of study from a transcript evaluation, so it publishes no fixed credit total, duration, or program tuition. Ohio residents pay $836 per credit. Applicants must live in Ohio, Kentucky, or Indiana.
A published conflict worth knowing about. The certificate page lists the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana residency rule under admission requirements, but its separate restrictions section lists only the same seven excluded states as the MSN. This page treats the explicit tri-state residency rule as controlling.
Certificate Curriculum
The plan of study depends on what prior graduate coursework covers. UC’s certificate page does not list courses, credits, or clinical hours; the sample curriculum carries that detail. Nurses whose MSN already includes advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment should expect a shorter plan than those coming from non-clinical MSN tracks.
View the certificate sample curriculum.
Certificate Clinical Requirements
- Clinical hours are not stated on the certificate page
- In-person precepted clinical practice and on-campus immersions
- Placement responsibility is not published
- International students must complete clinicals in the U.S. and hold U.S. work authorization
With every student living in the Cincinnati tri-state region, campus immersions are a short drive for most, and clinicals fall within the area where UC already operates.
Certificate Admissions
- BSN and MSN, each from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited program
- Active, unrestricted RN license; at least one year of U.S. RN experience
- APRN certification not listed as a requirement
- BSN GPA of 3.25 (recommended); science GPA of 3.0; statistics grade of 2.0
- Residence in Ohio, Kentucky, or Indiana
- Three to six references from the past two to three years; CV in PDF; transcripts to NursingCAS
- Deadlines: Spring 2027 (Nov. 1, 2026), Summer 2027 (April 1, 2027), Fall 2027 (July 1, 2027)
Because APRN certification is not required, the certificate is open to MSN-prepared nurses in education, leadership, or informatics roles, not only practicing NPs adding a population focus.
Tuition
UC’s Bursar sets 2026–2027 College of Nursing graduate tuition at $836 per credit for Ohio residents taking 9 or fewer credits, or $8,359 per semester at 10 or more credits. The rate is unchanged from 2025–2026, which the program pages still cite.
The 2026–2027 non-resident surcharge is $15 per credit ($150 per semester) for online graduate programs and $587 per credit ($5,871 per semester) for on-campus programs. The College of Nursing places the MSN and DNP in its online table: $851 per credit or $8,509 per semester for non-residents.
The certificate’s rate is published two ways. The certificate program page shows the online table ($851 per credit non-resident plus a $57-per-credit online learning fee). The college’s tuition and fees page instead lists the AGPCNP post-MSN certificate in its other table: $861 per credit for Kentucky and Indiana metro residents, $1,423 for other non-residents, plus a $34-per-credit program fee. Both cite 2025–2026 rates. Ohio residents pay $836 under either. This page uses the college-wide table, whose metro rate matches the certificate’s tri-state residency rule.
Estimated Total Tuition
| Pathway | Ohio Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| MSN (44 credits) | $36,784 | $37,444 |
| BSN-DNP | Not published | Not published |
| Post-MSN Certificate | $836/credit | $861/credit (KY/IN metro) |
Totals are calculated from published per-credit rates and credit totals; UC does not publish program totals.
Fees Beyond Tuition
- Online learning fee (MSN and DNP): $57 per credit part-time or $563 per semester full-time. At part-time rates, this adds about $2,508 across the MSN’s 44 credits.
- Program fee (certificate, per college tuition page): $34 per credit or $338 per semester
- Matriculation fee: $500 for the DNP, applied to first-semester tuition; the MSN page lists the fee without an amount
- Application fees: NursingCAS $80–$85; UC Graduate School $65 ($70 international)
See the official graduate tuition page and the College of Nursing’s scholarships and financial aid page.
Why Choose This AGPCNP Program?
Best suited for: Working RNs outside Ohio who want an online AGPCNP MSN at in-state pricing and can make a short trip to Cincinnati.
Non-Residents Pay $15 More Per Credit
UC’s online surcharge is $15 per credit. A non-resident MSN costs about $37,444 in tuition, $660 more than an Ohio resident. For out-of-state applicants, residency barely changes the price.
Three MSN Starts, One DNP Start
The MSN admits in spring, summer, and fall. The DNP admits in fall only, with a June 1 deadline that can close early. Applicants who are unsure about the doctorate can start the MSN sooner; UC does not publish a bridge from its MSN into the DNP on these pages.
A Tri-State Certificate Open to Non-APRNs
The post-MSN certificate serves only Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana residents, but it does not require existing APRN certification. That makes it a realistic route for local MSN-prepared nurse educators or leaders moving into primary care practice.
Coordinator Support, No Published Placement Commitment
UC names a Clinical Site Coordinator but does not say whether it finds sites and preceptors. Applicants in competitive clinical markets carry more risk here than at programs that guarantee placement in writing.
The Verdict
Out-of-state BSN-prepared nurses seeking an affordable online AGPCNP MSN have the strongest reason to choose UC, especially if they have local preceptor contacts. Tri-state MSN holders without APRN certification are a natural fit for the certificate. Applicants who need a written placement guarantee, want a fully remote program, or live in an excluded state should compare other options. DNP applicants should review UC’s sample curriculum closely, since the program page omits credits and length.
Accreditation
CCNE accredits UC’s baccalaureate, MSN, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. All three AGPCNP pathways prepare graduates for the AANPCB (AGNP-C) and ANCC (AGPCNP-BC) certification exams. See the College of Nursing accreditation page.
UC participates in NC-SARA but does not admit online nursing students from Arizona, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, or Tennessee (and Washington for the DNP). Kansas residents may need an added clinical elective. Check UC’s current state authorization page before applying.
Other AGPCNP Programs in Ohio
- Case Western Reserve University - Cleveland
- Kent State University - Kent
- Ohio State University - Columbus
- Ursuline College - Pepper Pike