The University of Missouri–St. Louis offers 3 Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- BSN-to-DNP AGPCNP
- MSN-to-DNP AGPCNP
- Post-Graduate Certificate (PGC) AGPCNP
All three tracks are delivered primarily online with minimal on-campus requirements — the DNP programs include a required three-day on-campus intensive — and applications are submitted through NursingCAS.
The BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP offer fall starts only; the PGC offers a fall start for non-APRN students and a summer start for current APRNs.
A Direct Admit option provides priority access for recent UMSL BSN graduates or UMSL Externship program completers with a 3.75 GPA.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| BSN-to-DNP AGPCNP | $71K resident | Not clearly stated (full- or part-time options) |
| MSN-to-DNP AGPCNP | $33K+ resident | Not clearly stated (variable) |
| Post-Graduate Certificate AGPCNP | $20K–$31K resident | 1–2 years part-time |
UMSL is ranked #1 in Missouri for affordability and uniquely allows MSN-prepared nurses to earn their AGPCNP post-graduate certificate by year two while simultaneously completing the DNP — two credentials on a single three-year timeline.
BSN-to-DNP AGPCNP
The estimated cost for the BSN-to-DNP Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner at the University of Missouri–St. Louis is approximately $71,000 for Missouri residents.
Program duration is not clearly stated; full- and part-time options are available with fall start only.
DNP Curriculum
The BSN-to-DNP AGPCNP totals 70 credit hours and is structured across three content blocks — Foundational Concepts, Clinical Expertise, and Integration of Practice — plus an 11-credit AGPCNP specialty block.
The foundational block (30 credits) covers healthcare systems, research and evidence-based practice, social determinants of health, biostatistics, evidence-based practice for the DNP, leadership, epidemiology, health informatics, program evaluation and quality management, and healthcare policy and economics.
The clinical expertise block (12 credits) builds the APRN science foundation: pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, and introduction to diagnostic reasoning.
The AGPCNP specialty block adds foundational adolescent and geriatric health, adult health I, and adult health II.
The integration block includes three practicum courses and a three-course DNP clinical scholarship project sequence.
All students must complete a required three-day on-campus intensive; all other coursework is distance-mediated.
Foundational Concepts (30 credits):
- NURSE 6111 – Healthcare Systems (3 cr)
- NURSE 6130 – Research, Interventions and Evidence-Based Practice (3 cr)
- NURSE 6424 – Social Determinants of Health for Underserved Populations (3 cr)
- NURSE 7211 – Biostatistics I (3 cr)
- NURSE 7215 – Evidence-Based Practice for the DNP (3 cr)
- NURSE 7220 – Leadership in Practice (3 cr)
- NURSE 7230 – Epidemiology (3 cr)
- NURSE 7240 – Health Informatics (3 cr)
- NURSE 7260 – Program Evaluation and Quality Management in Healthcare (3 cr)
- NURSE 7443 – Healthcare Policy and Economics (3 cr)
Clinical Expertise (12 credits):
- NURSE 6518 – Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr)
- NURSE 6520 – Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr)
- NURSE 6524 – Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr)
- NURSE 6530 – Introduction to Diagnostic Reasoning (3 cr)
AGPCNP Specialty (11 credits):
- NURSE 6722 – Foundations of Adolescent and Geriatric Health (3 cr)
- NURSE 6739 – Adult Health I (4 cr)
- NURSE 6740 – Adult Health II (4 cr)
Integration of Practice (9–18 credits):
- NURSE 6954 – Advanced Practice Nursing: Practicum I (1–4 cr)
- NURSE 6955 – Advanced Practice Nursing: Practicum II (1–4 cr)
- NURSE 7954 – Advanced Practice Nursing: Practicum III (1–4 cr)
- NURSE 7291 – DNP Clinical Scholarship Project I (2 cr)
- NURSE 7292 – DNP Clinical Scholarship Project II (2 cr)
- NURSE 7293 – DNP Clinical Scholarship Project III (2 cr)
DNP Clinicals
All BSN-to-DNP students must complete a minimum of 8 practicum credit hours, with one credit hour equivalent to 75 clinical practice hours — a minimum of 600 clinical hours. Practicum courses are completed at practice sites under approved preceptors. UMSL assists students in finding residency sites, and students may also identify their own preceptors with faculty approval.
A three-day on-campus intensive experience is required.
- Minimum practicum credits: 8 credit hours
- Minimum clinical hours: 600 (8 credits × 75 hrs/credit)
- Maximum practicum: up to 12 credits = 900 hours depending on plan of study
- NURSE 6954, 6955, 7954 – Practicum I, II, III (1–4 credits each)
- UMSL assists in finding residency sites; student self-placement also permitted with faculty approval
- All preceptors must be licensed and credentialed in the state of the practice site
- At least half of residency hours must be with an APRN
- Required three-day on-campus intensive included in program
DNP Admissions
The BSN-to-DNP AGPCNP requires a BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program with a 3.0 GPA; a Direct Admit option with priority enrollment is available for qualifying UMSL graduates.
- BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program required
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 (calculated on last 60 hours of BSN)
- Current professional licensure (unencumbered RN)
- Completion of undergraduate or graduate general statistics course
- NursingCAS application required
- Holistic review: GPA, personal statement, essay, work/volunteer experience, professional activities, leadership roles, honors, award recognitions all considered
- Faculty mentor assigned at start of program
- Priority deadline: January 15 for fall admission; rolling admissions until class is full or July 31
- Fall start only
- Notification by March for priority applications; within four weeks for rolling
- Required DNP orientation held Thursday–Friday the week before fall term begins
- Direct Admit Option: Available to UMSL BSN graduates or UMSL CON Externship completers with BSN from nationally accredited program and 3.75 GPA in last 60 hours; spaces first awarded to Direct Admit applicants; students without prior RN experience must maintain clinical RN practice throughout the program
MSN-to-DNP AGPCNP
The estimated cost for the MSN-to-DNP Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner at UMSL is approximately $33,000 for Missouri residents (33 credits × $1,009/credit).
Actual cost varies depending on whether AGPCNP specialty courses are required. Program duration is not clearly stated and varies by individual plan of study.
MSN-to-DNP Curriculum
The MSN-to-DNP AGPCNP requires a minimum of 33 credits focused on doctoral competencies not typically covered in a master’s program. Credit for previously completed equivalent MSN courses may be awarded based on transcript review.
The curriculum covers social determinants of health, biostatistics, evidence-based practice for the DNP, leadership, epidemiology, health informatics, program evaluation and quality management, healthcare policy and economics, a nursing elective, and the three-course
DNP clinical scholarship project sequence. AGPCNP specialty courses (NURSE 6722, 6739, 6740) may also be required if not completed in the master’s program.
- NURSE 6424 – Social Determinants of Health for Underserved Populations (3 cr)
- NURSE 7211 – Biostatistics I (3 cr)
- NURSE 7215 – Evidence-Based Practice for the DNP (3 cr)
- NURSE 7220 – Leadership in Practice (3 cr)
- NURSE 7230 – Epidemiology (3 cr)
- NURSE 7240 – Health Informatics (3 cr)
- NURSE 7260 – Program Evaluation and Quality Management in Healthcare (3 cr)
- NURSE 7443 – Healthcare Policy and Economics (3 cr)
- NURSE 7291 / 7292 / 7293 – DNP Clinical Scholarship Project I, II, III (2 cr each)
- Nursing elective (3 cr)
- Note: AGPCNP specialty courses may be added if not completed in prior MSN program — contact the program director for an individualized credit estimate
MSN-to-DNP Clinicals
MSN-to-DNP students complete clinical hours through the DNP Clinical Scholarship Project coursework. Specific practicum credit requirements for the MSN-to-DNP pathway are not fully detailed in the source — prospective students should contact the program directly to confirm clinical hour requirements.
- Clinical hours completed through DNP project coursework and any required practicum credits
- Note: Total clinical hours and practicum credit requirements for the MSN-to-DNP track are not explicitly detailed — contact the program for an individualized plan
MSN-to-DNP Admissions
The MSN-to-DNP requires an MSN from a nationally accredited nursing program with a minimum 3.0 GPA; fall start only.
- MSN from a nationally accredited nursing program required
- Minimum MSN GPA: 3.0
- Current professional licensure
- Completion of undergraduate or graduate general statistics course
- NursingCAS application required
- Holistic review: same criteria as BSN-to-DNP track
- Priority deadline: January 15; rolling admissions thereafter through July 31
- Fall start only
Post-Graduate Certificate AGPCNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate in Adult-Geriatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care at UMSL is approximately $20,000 (20 credits × $1,009) depending on which courses are required after a gap analysis of prior graduate coursework.
The average part-time student completes the certificate in 1–2 years.
Certificate Curriculum
The post-graduate certificate is fully individualized based on each student’s prior academic work, experience, goals, and specialty requirements.
All students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours from UMSL, plus 8 credit hours of practicum (600 hours). Students who have already completed equivalent courses — pathophysiology, health assessment, pharmacology, and diagnostic reasoning — at the graduate level may receive credit for those, focusing coursework on the AGPCNP specialty content and residency.
Current APRNs pursuing additional certification may also receive residency hour credit for prior supervised patient care hours in the pursuit specialty.
The certificate can be pursued concurrently with the DNP, with the PGC typically completed by the end of year two and the DNP at year three.
Full course list (courses required based on gap analysis):
- NURSE 6518 – Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr)
- NURSE 6524 – Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr)
- NURSE 6520 – Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr)
- NURSE 6530 – Introduction to Diagnostic Reasoning (3 cr)
- NURSE 6722 – Foundations of Adolescent and Geriatric Health (3 cr)
- NURSE 6739 – Adult Health I (4 cr)
- NURSE 6740 – Adult Health II (4 cr)
- NURSE 6954 – Advanced Practice Nursing: Practicum I (1–4 cr)
- NURSE 6955 – Advanced Practice Nursing: Practicum II (1–4 cr)
- NURSE 7954 – Advanced Practice Nursing: Practicum III (1–4 cr)
Note: Minimum 12 credit hours of coursework required at UMSL; actual total is determined by individual gap analysis — contact the program director for a preliminary estimate.
Certificate Clinicals
All PGC students must complete a minimum of 8 practicum credit hours, equivalent to 600 clinical hours. Current APRNs may be eligible for residency hour credit based on prior supervised patient care hours in the AGPCNP specialty. UMSL assists students in finding residency sites, and students may also arrange their own placements with faculty approval.
- Minimum practicum credit hours: 8 (= 600 clinical hours)
- 1 credit hour = 75 clinical practice hours
- Simulation hours do not count toward residency hours — all hours must be direct patient care
- UMSL assists in finding residency sites; self-placement permitted with approval
- Preceptors must be licensed and credentialed in the state of practice; at least half of hours must be with an APRN; minimum 1 year of experience required
- Current APRNs: residency hour credit may be awarded for prior supervised patient care hours — area emphasis coordinator determines eligibility
- Intensive requirements vary: current APRNs attend 1 day per intensive (select intensives); non-APRNs attend 3 days per intensive (includes health assessment, diagnostics, and both diagnosis/management courses)
Certificate Admissions
The PGC requires an MSN or DNP from a nationally accredited nursing program with a minimum 3.0 GPA; fall start for non-APRNs, summer start for current APRNs.
- MSN or DNP from a nationally accredited nursing program required
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Current professional licensure; copies of all APRN certifications if applicable
- NursingCAS application required
- Essay (three sections: introduction/rationale, 250–400 words each; learning goals; alignment with UMSL core values)
- Current CV or resume (CON template recommended)
- Two letters of professional recommendation from master’s- or doctorally-prepared nurses or faculty (no family, friends, fellow staff nurses, or religious leaders)
- Official transcripts from all universities attended
- Applicants seeking second certification must document grade of B or higher in advanced health assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology (5000-level or higher)
- Priority deadline: January 15 for fall admission; rolling admissions through July 31
- Non-APRN students: fall start only; current APRN students: summer start
Tuition
UMSL charges $1,009 per credit for Missouri residents and $1,970 per credit for non-residents in the College of Nursing’s DNP, PhD, and post-graduate certificate programs (2026–27 rates). Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP) participants pay $1,514 per credit.
Unlike some online programs that extend in-state pricing to all authorized states, UMSL applies standard resident vs. non-resident distinctions — making it significantly more affordable for Missouri residents than for out-of-state nurses.
UMSL is ranked #1 in Missouri for affordability by Business Insider, and financial aid is available through NursingCAS-linked processes.
See the official tuition and fees page for more details.
Accreditation
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Missouri–St. Louis is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). UMSL is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Graduates of the AGPCNP BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, and post-graduate certificate tracks are eligible to sit for board certification as an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner.
Compare to Other AGPCNP Programs in Missouri
- Barnes-Jewish College - St. Louis
- University of Missouri-Kansas City - Kansas City