Madonna University’s College of Nursing and Health in Livonia, Michigan, offers 4 Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner options:
- MSN
- MSN (dual Adult-Gerontology Acute/Primary Care)
- BSN-DNP
- Post-MSN Certificate
All four require a Michigan RN license (certificate applicants may hold eligibility for one). Madonna delivers NP coursework through a mix of on-ground, hybrid, and online courses. It does not publish how often students must be on the Livonia campus.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition (Resident) | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | $53,280 | Not published (6-year limit) | 48 |
| MSN (dual AG Acute/Primary Care) | $59,940 | Not published (6-year limit) | 54 |
| BSN-DNP | About $79,920 | Not published (7-year limit) | About 72 |
| Post-MSN Certificate | $9,990–$16,650 | Not published | 9–15, plus up to 16 prerequisite |
Tuition estimates multiply Madonna’s 2026-2027 graduate nursing and doctoral rate ($1,110/credit, no residency difference) by catalog credit totals. The BSN-DNP credit total is our calculation (48-credit MSN plus 24 DNP-only credits) because Madonna publishes no combined total.
Madonna’s clearest point of difference is clinical placement. The university states that it provides dedicated placement assistance and that no NP student begins clinicals until a preceptor is secured. Many AGPCNP programs leave the preceptor search to students. The MSN also carries a published minimum of 849 supervised practicum hours, 600 of them in direct patient care.
The catch is geography and transparency. The MSN and BSN-DNP require a Michigan RN license, Madonna’s licensure disclosure covers only Michigan, and no source states how often students attend campus. The certificate’s published requirements also conflict across three university sources, so certificate applicants should expect the admission gap analysis, not the catalog, to define their plan.
Madonna will not start an NP student in clinicals without a secured preceptor, but its AGPCNP pathways are built for Michigan-licensed nurses who can handle a mix of on-ground and hybrid courses.
Quick Facts
| Program Types | MSN, dual AG Acute/Primary Care MSN, BSN-DNP, Post-MSN Certificate |
| Format | Mix of on-ground, hybrid, and online courses; DNP courses offered online |
| Campus Attendance | Not published |
| Clinical Hours | MSN: 849 minimum (600 direct care); BSN-DNP: 1,140 post-BSN; certificate: 600 direct care |
| Clinical Placement | Madonna assists; clinicals do not start until a preceptor is secured |
| Licensure Required | Michigan RN license |
| Start Terms | Rolling admission for Fall, Winter, and Summer |
| Tuition | $1,110 per credit (2026-2027), same for all students |
| Accreditation | CCNE (MSN, DNP, post-graduate APRN certificates) |
MSN: Nurse Practitioner (Adult-Gerontology Primary Care)
The MSN Nurse Practitioner with the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care track costs an estimated $53,280 for 48 credits. Madonna does not publish a standard completion time; master’s students must finish within six years of admission. Applicants need a BSN with a 3.2 GPA and a Michigan RN license. A dual Adult-Gerontology Acute/Primary Care concentration (54 credits, about $59,940) prepares graduates for both population certifications.
A published conflict worth knowing about. The 2025-2026 graduate catalog sets the AGPCNP track at 18 credits: Primary Care I, II, and III at 5 credits each plus a 3-credit NP Immersion. Madonna’s online plan of study lists the same courses at 4 credits each (3 for Immersion, each with a 5- or 4-credit cap), which sums to 15 while still stating an 18-credit minimum. The catalog’s own course description lists Primary Care III at 3–4 credits. This page uses the catalog’s 18-credit track and 48-credit program total because the catalog states the degree requirement.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN has three blocks: a 12-credit nursing core (theory, scholarship, policy, leadership), an 18-credit advanced practice core, and an 18-credit population track. All NP specialties share the first two blocks.
The sequencing is strictly gated. Health Promotion leads to Advanced Health Assessment, which leads to Clinical Readiness and Skill Building, a 2-credit course with 75 lab hours of case-based practice. Primary Care I cannot start until Clinical Readiness and Pharmacology are complete. The three primary care courses then run in order, each with 2 didactic credits and the rest as clinical practicum. Primary Care III centers on older adults with complex, multi-system conditions and readiness for autonomous practice. The program ends with NP Immersion, taken alongside the role development course.
The dual Acute/Primary Care track replaces Primary Care II and III with Adult-Gerontology Acute Care I, II, and III. It keeps only Primary Care I. Its listed course credits (5, 5, 5, 4, 4) sum to 23, one short of the catalog’s stated 24-credit track. Applicants set on outpatient primary care get three primary care practicum courses in the single-population track versus one in the dual track.
Nursing Core (12 credits)
- NUR 6120 Scientific Foundations Informing the Advanced Practice Role (3)
- NUR 6150 Translating and Integrating Scholarship for the Advanced Practice Role (3)
- NUR 7010 Health Policy Analysis and Advocacy (3)
- NUR 7020 Organizational and System Leadership (3)
Advanced Practice Core (18 credits)
- NUR 5070 and NUR 5080 Advanced Human Pathophysiology I and II (2 each)
- NUR 5240 Health Promotion for Advanced Practice (3, includes 30 service-learning hours)
- NUR 5270 Advanced Health Assessment (3, includes 75 lab hours)
- NUR 5280 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice (3, covers opioid prescribing and DEA regulations)
- NUR 5290 Clinical Readiness and Skill Building (2, includes 75 lab hours)
- NUR 7030 Advanced Practice Role Development and Integration (3, includes 60 indirect practice hours)
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Track (18 credits)
- NUR 5320 Primary Care I (5)
- NUR 6530 Primary Care II (5)
- NUR 6750 Primary Care III (5)
- NUR 6810 Nurse Practitioner Immersion (3)
Dual Acute/Primary Care Track (24 credits stated)
- NUR 5320 Primary Care I (5)
- NUR 5330 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care I (5)
- NUR 6540 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care II (5)
- NUR 6751 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care III (4)
- NUR 6810 Nurse Practitioner Immersion (4)
See the full requirements in the 2025-2026 graduate catalog and the MSN Nurse Practitioner plan of study.
MSN Clinical Requirements
- Minimum 849 supervised practicum clock hours, at least 600 in direct patient care
- Direct care hours sit in Primary Care I, II, and III and NP Immersion, in primary care settings
- Remaining hours come from labs (150), service learning (30), and indirect role practice (60)
- One practicum credit equals four clock hours per week of the semester
- Placement: Madonna provides dedicated placement assistance; students do not begin clinicals until a preceptor is secured
- Geographic limits and travel expectations: not published
The 849-hour figure includes non-patient hours, so compare the 600 direct care hours against other programs. The placement commitment removes the most common cause of NP clinical delays. Madonna does not say where sites are located, but because the program requires a Michigan RN license, applicants should expect placements in Michigan.
MSN Admissions
- BSN from an accredited college or university
- Minimum 3.2 undergraduate GPA
- Current, unencumbered Michigan RN license
- CV or resume highlighting RN work experience
- Essay on short- and long-term goals, including population focus
- Two recommendations: one from a current nursing leader or undergraduate clinical faculty, one from an advanced practice professional
- Interview with the program director or designee
- Criminal background clearance
- Transfer credit: up to 6 relevant graduate credits no more than 8 years old (general graduate policy)
- Rolling admission for Fall, Winter, and Summer; $25 application fee
Current Madonna BSN students can apply for direct admission with a 3.2 GPA before licensure. They must hold the BSN before starting graduate courses and earn a Michigan RN license within six months. Madonna does not allow pre-admission (special status) registration in any course required for the NP program, so applicants cannot get a head start on core courses.
BSN-DNP: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
The BSN-DNP costs an estimated $79,920 for about 72 credits. Students complete the AGPCNP MSN, receive the MSN, then finish the DNP course sequence. Madonna does not publish a completion time; doctoral students admitted post-baccalaureate must finish within seven years. Admission requirements match the MSN: BSN, 3.2 GPA, and a Michigan RN license.
A published gap worth knowing about. The 2025-2026 catalog lists an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care BSN-DNP model, and Madonna’s graduate nursing page links a BSN-to-DNP option. The DNP program page itself describes only the post-MSN entry, and Madonna publishes no BSN-DNP plan of study for this population. The 72-credit figure is our calculation: the 48-credit MSN plus the DNP’s 33 credits, minus three courses (NUR 6120, 7010, 7020) that appear in both.
BSN-DNP Curriculum
The first phase is the full MSN described above, including all AGPCNP clinical courses. The catalog states the MSN curriculum meets certification exam eligibility requirements, and the MSN is awarded when its coursework is complete. The doctoral phase adds statistics, epidemiology, finance, and a three-course DNP project sequence. Madonna offers its DNP courses online.
DNP-Only Courses (24 credits)
- NUR 6550 Biostatistics for the Health Professional (3)
- NUR 7050 Epidemiology for the Health Professional (3)
- NUR 7200 Scientific Inquiry Informing DNP Practice (3)
- NUR 7310 DNP Project Development (2)
- NUR 7810 Economic and Financial Management for Quality Health Care (3)
- NUR 8100 Advanced Research Methods Evaluating Information Technology (4)
- NUR 8200 DNP Project Implementation and Evaluation (1)
- NUR 8350 Scholarship Sustainability and Dissemination (1)
- NUR 8710 Interdisciplinary Perspectives of DNP Practice (4, includes 120 indirect practicum hours)
See the DNP plan of study for course details.
BSN-DNP Clinical Requirements
- 1,140 post-BSN practicum clock hours, including course-embedded and DNP project hours
- AGPCNP clinical hours and placement policy are the same as the MSN
- DNP project developed with faculty and partnering health care organizations
- Some students may need additional hours to meet program outcomes
BSN-DNP Admissions
- BSN from an accredited college or university with a 3.2 GPA
- Current, unencumbered Michigan RN license
- CV or resume highlighting RN experience
- Essay on goals, population focus, and how the DNP supports them
- Two recommendations (same sources as the MSN)
- Interview with the DNP program director or designee
- Criminal background clearance
- Direct admission for current Madonna BSN students, with the same licensure deadline as the MSN
- Rolling admission for Fall, Winter, and Summer
Post-MSN Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
The Post-MSN AGPCNP Certificate requires 9–15 credits beyond a 16-credit prerequisite sequence, an estimated $9,990–$16,650. Missing prerequisites add up to $17,760. Madonna does not publish a completion time. The catalog requires an MSN with a 3.0 graduate GPA and current national APRN certification.
Published conflicts worth knowing about. Madonna’s sources disagree on this certificate in four ways:
- Courses: The 2025-2026 catalog lists Adult-Gerontology Acute Care I, II, and III as the AGPCNP certificate requirements, identical to the acute care certificate. The plan of study lists the primary care sequence. This page uses the plan of study.
- Clinical hours: The catalog and the AGPCNP program page state 600 direct care hours. The post-master’s certificates page states 500. This page uses 600, published by two sources including the catalog.
- Eligibility: The catalog accepts current certification as an Adult, AGPC, Family, Gerontological, or Women’s Health NP, or Adult Health CNS. The plan of study instead includes a shorter track for acute care NPs and a track for applicants “not NP certified.”
- Unexplained course: The plan of study lists NUR 5230 (4–6 credits) in the standard track. The catalog describes NUR 5230 as a 1-credit informatics course for the nursing administration program.
Certificate Curriculum
The prerequisite sequence is the advanced practice core, usually met by current APRN certification. Certificate coursework depends on the applicant’s existing certification. Acute care NPs take one primary care course plus a flexible residency. Everyone else takes the full three-course primary care sequence. A gap analysis at admission sets each plan and can waive selected courses and clinical experiences for certified NPs.
Prerequisite Sequence (16 credits, usually met by APRN certification)
- NUR 5070 and NUR 5080 Advanced Human Pathophysiology I and II (2 each)
- NUR 5240 Health Promotion for Advanced Practice (3)
- NUR 5270 Advanced Health Assessment (3)
- NUR 5280 Pharmacology for Advanced Practice (3)
- NUR 6120 Scientific Foundations or NUR 7030 Advanced Practice Role Development (3)
Adult Acute Care or AGACNP Certified (9–11 credits)
- NUR 5320 Primary Care I (4–5)
- NUR 7130 Advanced Practice Residency (variable, up to 7)
All Others (12–15 credits)
- NUR 5320 Primary Care I (4–5)
- NUR 6530 Primary Care II (4–5)
- NUR 6750 Primary Care III (4–5)
See the certificate plan of study and the 2025-2026 graduate catalog.
Certificate Clinical Requirements
- 600 supervised direct patient care hours (500 on one university page)
- Hours sit in the primary care practicum courses (and the residency for acute care NPs)
- Outpatient primary care and specialty settings
- Waivers of selected clinical experiences possible through gap analysis
- Placement: Madonna’s NP programs page, which covers both MSN and post-MSN plans, states that the university assists with placement and that clinicals do not begin until a preceptor is secured
Certificate Admissions
- MSN from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program with a 3.0 graduate GPA (the certificate is awarded only after the MSN is complete)
- Current national APRN certification (see eligibility conflict above)
- Current, unencumbered Michigan RN license, or eligibility for one
- One year of RN practice preferred
- Two recommendations from supervisors or health professionals
- Resume and statement of goals related to population focus
- Interview with the NP program director, where prerequisite work is determined
- Criminal background clearance
- Rolling admission; $25 application fee
The certificate serves practicing APRNs adding the AGPCNP population. Under the catalog, an MSN-prepared nurse without APRN certification (an educator or administrator, for example) does not qualify. Acute care NPs face the shortest path, at 9–11 credits.
Tuition
Madonna’s 2026-2027 rate is $1,110 per credit for graduate nursing (master’s) and doctoral courses. As a private university, it charges the same rate to Michigan and out-of-state students. The 2025-2026 catalog and fee schedule list $1,100; this page uses the newer 2026-2027 rate, which adds $480 to the 48-credit MSN.
Estimated Total Tuition
| Pathway | Credits | Est. Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| MSN (AGPCNP) | 48 | $53,280 |
| MSN (dual AG Acute/Primary Care) | 54 | $59,940 |
| BSN-DNP | About 72 | About $79,920 |
| Post-MSN Certificate | 9–15 | $9,990–$16,650 |
| Certificate with all 16 prerequisite credits | 25–31 | $27,750–$34,410 |
Totals are our calculations from Madonna’s published rate and credit requirements, not university-published figures.
Fees Beyond Tuition
- Graduate application: $25
- Liability insurance: $21 per annual coverage period
- Graduation application: $100 (master’s), $125 (doctoral), $10 (certificate)
- Graduate School Fee: listed without an amount
- Payment plan: $35 (optional)
Madonna lists no separate clinical, lab, or technology fees for graduate nursing. See the official tuition and fees page and the 2026-2027 rate schedule.
Why Choose This AGPCNP Program?
Best suited for: Michigan-licensed RNs near Livonia who want the university to secure their preceptors and can attend some on-ground courses.
Preceptors Secured Before Clinicals Start
Madonna’s placement commitment is its strongest practical advantage. Students who must find their own preceptors often lose a term when a site falls through. Madonna’s policy means clinicals begin only when a preceptor is in place. The trade-off is that a student waits rather than starts early, and Madonna does not publish how long that wait can last.
A Michigan-Licensed Applicant Pool
The MSN and BSN-DNP require a Michigan RN license, and Madonna’s licensure disclosure addresses only Michigan NP certification. With on-ground and hybrid courses in the mix and no published campus schedule, this is a regional program. Nurses outside commuting range of Livonia should look elsewhere.
Four Entry Points, Including a Dual Population Track
Few AGPCNP programs offer this many routes. BSN holders choose a 48-credit MSN, a 54-credit dual Acute/Primary Care MSN, or a BSN-DNP with a built-in MSN. Certified APRNs use the certificate. The dual track adds both certifications for six more credits (about $6,660), but it trims primary care practicum to one course.
Published Requirements That Do Not Line Up
Madonna’s catalog, plans of study, and program pages conflict on AGPCNP track credits, certificate courses, certificate clinical hours, and certificate eligibility. The BSN-DNP has no published plan of study. Applicants should get their individual plan of study in writing at admission.
The Verdict
Madonna fits a Michigan RN in the Detroit metro area who values placement support over format flexibility, especially one weighing a dual acute/primary credential or a BSN-DNP. Nurses licensed outside Michigan, those needing a fully online program, and those who want a precise published plan before applying should compare other options.
Accreditation
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits Madonna’s MSN, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and its nursing programs are approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing. See Madonna’s accreditation page.
Graduates are eligible for the AGPCNP certification exams from ANCC and AANP. Madonna’s professional licensure disclosure addresses NP licensure only for Michigan, so applicants planning to practice elsewhere should confirm their state board’s requirements.
More AGPCNP Programs in Michigan
- Michigan State University - East Lansing
- Oakland University - Rochester
- Spring Arbor University - Spring Arbor
- University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
- University of Michigan-Flint - Flint