South Carolina has one in-state AGPCNP program, at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Nursing in Charleston. MUSC offers a BSN-to-MSN and a BSN-to-DNP, each full-time or part-time, with online coursework and occasional campus immersions. MUSC calls the track Adult-Gerontology NP (AGNP), but it targets the adult-gerontology primary care certification exam.
MUSC has no RN-to-MSN, no AGPCNP certificate, and no post-master’s AGPCNP DNP. To cover those gaps, every table below also compares two online programs: Walden University and Purdue Global.
Compare AGPCNP Programs for South Carolina Nurses
| School | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
| MUSC (in-state) | Mostly Online | Occasional immersions | $938 | BSN-MSN, BSN-DNP | In-state MSN or DNP |
| Walden (online option) | Online | None | $785–$960 | RN-MSN, MSN, BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP, certificate | ADN entry, MSN-to-DNP |
| Purdue Global (online option) | Online | None | $420 | Certificate | Lowest certificate tuition |
MUSC’s cost per credit is derived from its 2026–27 full-time South Carolina resident rate, including the semester program fee and the $70 online fee, rounded to the nearest dollar. Walden and Purdue Global charge one national tuition rate per quarter credit, before fees, so compare total tuition in the pathway tables below.
South Carolina AGPCNP Programs at a Glance
- Schools: 1 in-state (MUSC), plus 2 online options compared
- RN-to-MSN: online only (Walden), for diploma- or ADN-prepared RNs
- BSN-to-MSN: MUSC in-state; Walden online
- BSN-to-DNP: MUSC in-state; Walden online
- MSN-to-DNP with an AGPCNP focus: online only (Walden)
- Post-graduate certificate: online only (Walden and Purdue Global)
- Campus visits: MUSC requires occasional immersions; Walden and Purdue Global require none
- Accreditation: all three hold CCNE accreditation for the programs compared
- Published clinical hours: Walden only; MUSC and Purdue Global publish no total
Choosing an AGPCNP Program in South Carolina
In-State MSN or DNP on One Clinical Track: MUSC
MUSC’s MSN and DNP share the same 25-credit precepted sequence: Advanced Care Management I–III and a 7-credit Role Practicum. The full-time MSN costs about $57,256 for South Carolina residents over two years, and the full-time fall-start DNP about $76,194. MUSC publishes neither total clinical hours nor who finds clinical sites. Practicums take place in the state where the student holds RN licensure.
No Campus Visits and Five Pathways: Walden
Walden is the only option here with an RN-to-MSN and an AGPCNP-focused MSN-to-DNP. No campus visit is required at any level; the DNP intensive is optional. Every pathway publishes clinical hours, starting at 640. Students begin the preceptor search, and the Practicum Pledge® brings in Walden’s Field Placement Team after several documented attempts. Students must register for the Pledge separately.
Lowest Certificate Tuition: Purdue Global
Purdue Global’s 60-quarter-credit certificate costs about $25,200 at $420 per credit, plus a $295 resource fee each term. It takes about 1.5 years, offers multiple starts a year, and sets a 2.5 GPA minimum. Students identify their own clinical sites with university facilitation. Purdue Global does not publish the certificate’s clinical hours.
South Carolina RN-to-MSN AGPCNP Programs
No South Carolina school offers an RN-to-MSN AGPCNP pathway, and MUSC and Purdue Global require a BSN or higher. Walden’s RN to MSN admits RNs with a hospital diploma, an ADN, or a bachelor’s degree outside nursing. It adds 26 foundational credits to the standard MSN.
| School | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Walden (online option) | $53K–$59K | 2.5 years | 640 hrs |
- Degree awarded: Walden — the MSN only; the foundational courses are not a BSN
- Transfer credit: Walden — up to 40 credits, the most of its five pathways
Compare more programs: See all RN-to-MSN AGPCNP programs
South Carolina BSN-to-MSN AGPCNP Programs
MUSC’s 60-credit MSN is South Carolina’s only in-state AGPCNP master’s. It prefers a 3.0 GPA, requires undergraduate statistics and three recommendations, and interviews selected applicants. Walden’s 58-quarter-credit MSN publishes no minimum GPA and requires no essay or application fee. Both admit BSN-prepared RNs.
| School | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| MUSC (in-state) | $57K–$66K | 2–3 years | Not clearly stated |
| Walden (online option) | $41K–$47K | 1.75 years | 640 hrs |
Both figures include program and clinical fees. MUSC’s range spans full-time and part-time study; Walden’s spans its totals with and without the Believe & Achieve Scholarship.
- Lower total: Walden — $41K–$47K, versus $57K for MUSC’s full-time MSN
- Full-time saves: MUSC — part-time costs about $8,358 more for the same 60 credits
- Thesis capstone: MUSC — two capstone courses end in a thesis with an oral presentation
Compare more programs: See all BSN-to-MSN AGPCNP programs
South Carolina BSN-to-DNP AGPCNP Programs
MUSC’s 76-credit DNP/MSN is the state’s only AGPCNP doctorate. It keeps every MSN clinical course and replaces the capstone with DNP project, quality, and systems courses plus two residency terms. Walden’s 90-quarter-credit BSN-to-DNP is fully online. Costs overlap, so the choice turns on campus travel, published clinical hours, and pacing.
| School | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| MUSC (DNP/MSN) | $76K–$94K | 2.7–3.7 years | Not clearly stated |
| Walden (online option) | $72K–$79K | 3.25 years | 1,000 hrs |
MUSC’s range covers the full-time fall start, part-time study, and the full-time spring start. Walden’s spans its totals with and without the Believe & Achieve Scholarship.
- Start term matters: MUSC — the full-time fall start costs about $17,352 less than the spring start
- Doctoral premium: MUSC — about $18,938 more than the full-time MSN, with no added NP clinical courses
- Published hours: Walden — 1,000 post-baccalaureate hours, at least 400 at the DNP level
Compare more programs: See all BSN-to-DNP AGPCNP programs
South Carolina MSN-to-DNP AGPCNP Programs
No South Carolina school offers a post-master’s DNP that adds the AGPCNP focus. MUSC’s Post-MSN DNP serves nurses who are already APRNs and does not prepare students for AGPCNP certification. Walden’s 80-quarter-credit MSN-to-DNP adds both the specialty and the doctorate.
| School | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Walden (online option) | $67K–$74K | 3 years | 640+ hrs |
- Hidden cost: Walden — applicants with fewer than 600 verified precepted hours from their master’s add up to 8 credits
Compare more programs: See all MSN-to-DNP AGPCNP programs
South Carolina Post-Graduate Certificate AGPCNP Programs
MUSC lists no post-graduate AGPCNP certificate, so MSN-prepared nurses adding the specialty must study online. Walden’s 35-quarter-credit certificate admits nurses with an MSN, DNP, or PhD in nursing and requires a 3.0 GPA. Purdue Global’s 60-quarter-credit certificate admits nurses with a nursing master’s or a DNP and sets a 2.5 minimum.
| School | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Walden (online option) | $29K | 1.5 years | 640 hrs |
| Purdue Global (online option) | $25K | 1.5 years | Not clearly stated |
Walden’s figure includes fees; Purdue Global’s is tuition only.
- Lowest tuition: Purdue Global — about $25K, before its $295 per-term resource fee
- Lower GPA bar: Purdue Global — 2.5, versus Walden’s 3.0
- Published clinical hours: Walden — 640, matching its MSN
Compare more programs: See all post-graduate certificate AGPCNP programs
Other Online AGPCNP Programs for South Carolina Nurses
Other national online programs may also enroll South Carolina nurses. NP programs restrict enrollment by state and often require clinicals in an approved state, so check each school’s current availability list before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many AGPCNP programs are available in South Carolina?
One. MUSC in Charleston offers an AGPCNP BSN-to-MSN and BSN-to-DNP. Walden and Purdue Global are online programs compared on this page.
Are any programs fully online?
Walden and Purdue Global list no campus visits. MUSC delivers coursework online with occasional campus immersions but does not publish their number, length, or timing. Clinicals are in person at all three.
Which program has the lowest estimated tuition?
It depends on the pathway. For the MSN, Walden’s $41K–$47K undercuts MUSC’s $57K full-time resident cost. For the BSN-to-DNP, MUSC’s full-time fall start is about $76K, inside Walden’s $72K–$79K range. For a certificate, Purdue Global is about $25K.
Which program helps with clinical placements?
None publishes school-arranged placement. MUSC does not state who finds sites, and students route preceptor paperwork to its clinical coordinator. Walden and Purdue Global expect students to lead the search, with Walden’s team assisting after several documented attempts.
Is MUSC cheaper full-time or part-time?
Full-time. MUSC charges a flat rate per full-time semester, so the full-time MSN costs about $57,256 for residents versus about $65,614 part-time. Nonresidents pay about $16,452 more for the full-time MSN.
When are MUSC’s application deadlines?
For fall 2027, applications for both the MSN and DNP/MSN open August 15, 2026, and close May 1, 2027. The MSN’s spring 2027 deadline is October 31, 2026. MUSC admits in fall and spring.
Can I become an AGPCNP in South Carolina without a BSN?
Yes, online. Walden’s RN to MSN admits RNs with a hospital diploma, an ADN, or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. MUSC and Purdue Global require a BSN or higher.