The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) offers one Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) track: the BSN Entry to DNP – Advanced Nursing Focus pathway. Program highlights include:
- Hybrid delivery — majority of coursework online with required in-person components; no F-1 visa eligibility
- Clinical placements arranged by UCSF faculty at top Bay Area health systems — students do not self-source preceptors
- AGPCNP specialty ranked tied for 3rd in the nation by U.S. News & World Report
The BSN Entry to DNP is an 11-quarter hybrid program combining online coursework with hands-on clinical training at Bay Area sites that UCSF arranges. Students earn the profession’s highest clinical degree — the DNP — while completing advanced AGPCNP specialty training and an evidence-based scholarly DNP project. The program admits one cohort per year for fall entry only.
Program Comparison
UCSF offers a single AGPCNP entry point. Total Cost of Attendance figures below are annual estimates from UCSF’s published data; additional years apply for the full 11-quarter program.
| Program | Est. Tuition & Fees (Annual COA) | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| BSN Entry to DNP – AGPCNP | $94,339/yr (CA Resident) / $106,584/yr (Non-Resident) | 11 quarters (~2.75 years) |
Program Track Overview
BSN Entry to DNP – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
The BSN Entry to DNP – AGPCNP at UCSF carries an estimated annual Cost of Attendance of $94,339 (CA resident) or $106,584 (non-resident), with the program completed over 11 quarters (approximately 2.75 years) on a full-time basis.
DNP Curriculum
The program requires a minimum of 43–71 units across 7 core quarters, integrating advanced AGPCNP specialty training with DNP-level scholarship. A DNP Practicum course (NURSING 463.1) runs every quarter; individual practicum units are calculated at 1 unit per 30 practice hours, scaled to each student’s remaining hour requirement.
Students complete a scholarly DNP Project over three sequential courses (N263A–C), representing a terminal synthesis of evidence addressing a real-world health care practice issue. An optional Occupational and Environmental Health focus is available within the AGPCNP specialty.
Quarter 1
- NURSING 263 – DNP Prologue (2 units)
- NURSING 263.11 – Concepts and Contemporary Issues for the DNP (3 units)
- NURSING 263.12 – Critical Appraisal of Evidence-Based Practice (3 units)
- NURSING 463.1 – DNP Practicum (1–5 units)
Quarter 2
- NURSING 263.24 – Organizational Systems and Economics for DNPs (2 units)
- NURSING 263.21 – Strategic Leadership for the DNP (2 units)
- NURSING 463.1 – DNP Practicum (1–5 units)
Quarter 3
- NURSING 263.14 – Improving Health Outcomes Through QI and Patient Safety (3 units)
- NURSING 263.13 – Methods and Measurement for Translational Practice Inquiry (3 units)
- NURSING 463.1 – DNP Practicum (1–5 units)
Quarter 4
- NURSING 263A – DNP Project I: Project Conceptualization and Planning (2 units)
- NURSING 263.18 – Advanced Concepts in Clinical Prevention & Population Health (3 units)
- NURSING 463.1 – DNP Practicum (1–5 units)
Quarter 5
- NURSING 263B – DNP Project II: Project Planning and Implementation (2 units)
- NURSING 263.1 – DNP Intersession (1 unit)
- NURSING 263.23 – Healthcare Finance for DNP Leaders (2 units)
- NURSING 463.1 – DNP Practicum (1–5 units)
Quarter 6
- NURSING 263C – DNP Project III: Project Implementation and Evaluation (2 units)
- NURSING 263.19 – Informatics for the Nurse Leader (2 units)
- NURSING 463.1 – DNP Practicum (1–5 units)
Quarter 7
- NURSING 263.2 – DNP Epilogue (1 unit)
- NURSING 263.15 – Advanced Health Policy and Advocacy (3 units)
- NURSING 463.1 – DNP Practicum (1–5 units)
Approved Electives
- NURSING 363 – Foundations of Academic and Clinical Teaching in Nursing (2 units)
- NURSING 363.1 – Teaching in the Online Environment (2 units)
More curriculum details in the course catalog.
DNP Clinicals
The AGPCNP specialty requires a minimum of 570 precepted clinical residency hours; the DNP degree requires a total of 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice hours for conferral. UCSF faculty identify and coordinate all clinical placements — students do not self-source preceptors. Students are responsible for their own travel and expenses to clinical sites.
- 570 minimum clinical residency hours for the AGPCNP specialty
- 1,000 total post-baccalaureate practice hours required for DNP degree conferral
- All placements arranged by UCSF AGPCNP specialty faculty
- Settings include community clinics, hospital-based primary care, long-term care, occupational health clinics, and private practice
- Clinical sites include: UCSF Health, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFGH), Kaiser Permanente, Stanford Health Care, Veterans Administration, Sutter Health, Alameda Health Systems, Dignity Health, and John Muir Health
- Students cover their own travel and expenses to assigned sites
- Proof of active RN licensure in California (or state of DNP project) required before clinical participation
DNP Admissions & Prerequisites
- BSN from an accredited institution required; minimum 3.0 GPA
- Active RN license in California (or state where DNP project will occur)
- College-level statistics course completed within 5 years of program start (proof of enrollment required by application deadline)
- Resume or curriculum vitae detailing work history, professional and volunteer activities
- Three confidential letters of recommendation addressing academic ability, work experience, and leadership potential
- Goal statement and personal statement
- No GRE required
- Application fee: $120 (U.S. citizens/permanent residents); $140 (international applicants); fee waivers available for demonstrated financial need
- International applicants: TOEFL minimum 92 overall (24 speaking, 24 writing) or IELTS minimum 7.0; scores valid for 2 years
- F-1 visa holders are not eligible — program’s hybrid format cannot satisfy F-1 in-person attendance requirements
- Fall 2026 application is closed; Fall 2027 applications open September 2026
- UC employees in eligible titles may qualify for a two-thirds reduction in Student Services Fee and Tuition through spring 2031
Tuition
UCSF publishes tuition as an annual Cost of Attendance (COA) rather than a per-credit rate. The BSN to DNP annual COA breakdown is as follows:
- Summer Fees: $12,682
- Tuition & Fees (annual): $41,037
- Cost of Living (12 months): $38,736
- Books & Supplies: $840
- Commute Costs: $1,044
- CA Resident Total COA: $94,339
- Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition: $12,245
- Non-Resident Total COA: $106,584
Financial aid is available; UC employees in eligible titles may qualify for a two-thirds reduction in Student Services Fee and Tuition through spring 2031.
UCSF doesn’t publish a per-credit rate, but here’s a reasonable estimate based on the available data:
Inputs:
- Annual Tuition & Fees: $41,037
- Summer Fees (likely one-time): $12,682
- Program length: 11 quarters (~2.75 years)
- Total program units: 43–71 (wide range due to variable practicum units)
Rough calculation:
- ($41,037 × 2.75) + $12,682 = ~$125,500 total tuition/fees
- Divided by the midpoint of 57 units = ~$2,200/unit
At the low end (43 units): ~$2,920/unit At the high end (71 units): ~$1,768/unit
Best single estimate: ~$2,200/unit, though the wide practicum unit range makes this less reliable than a standard per-credit figure.
For context, UC graduate nursing programs typically run $1,800–$2,500/unit, so this estimate lands in a plausible range. Worth noting that because living expenses ($38,736/year) dominate the UCSF COA, the tuition component alone understates the true financial burden for most students.
More tuition details are available here.
Accreditation
The UCSF DNP program — including the BSN Entry to DNP AGPCNP pathway — is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The BSN Entry to DNP Advanced Practice pathway is currently under review by the California Board of Registered Nursing (CA BRN).