Edgewood University offers 3 Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- MSN (standalone)
- MSN AGPCNP + DNP Executive Leadership (sequential pathway)
- Post-Master’s Certificate
All three tracks are delivered fully online with no on-campus requirements. The MSN and DNP pathway are available full- or part-time with fall, spring, and summer entry points.
This program suits nurses who want maximum scheduling flexibility, prefer a fully online format, and value the option to credential at the master’s level before committing to doctoral study.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN AGPCNP | ~$52K | 3 years (full-time) / 2–3 years (part-time) |
| MSN AGPCNP + DNP Executive Leadership | ~$75K | 5 years (full-time) |
| Post-Master’s Certificate AGPCNP | ~$16K–$29K | Not clearly stated |
Edgewood’s AGPCNP program is one of the few where you can earn your MSN, sit for AGPCNP certification, and start practicing — all before completing the optional DNP Executive Leadership pathway — entirely online with three start dates per year and no campus visits required.
MSN AGPCNP
The estimated cost for the MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner at Edgewood University is approximately $52,000 (48 credits × $1,092/credit).
The program takes 3 years to complete on a full-time basis or 2–3 years part-time.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN AGPCNP requires 48 total credits structured across a shared core (18 credits) and AGPCNP-specific concentration courses (30 credits).
Required core courses (18 credits):
The core covers clinical prevention and assessment, theoretical foundations of role development, healthcare systems and policy, advanced leadership, applied statistics, and evidence-based practice.
- NRS 600 – Clinical Prevention: Assessment and Planning (3 cr)
- NRS 612 – Theoretical Foundations of Role Development for the Nurse Leader (3 cr)
- NRS 625 – Healthcare Systems and Policy (3 cr)
- NRS 645 – Advanced Leadership Roles in the Healthcare System (3 cr)
- NRS 665 – Applied Statistics (3 cr)
- NRS 670 – Evidence-Based Practice (3 cr)
AGPCNP concentration courses (30 credits):
The concentration adds differential diagnosis, an adult and older adult care course, equity and management of diverse populations, transition to practice, advanced pathophysiology, advanced physical assessment, advanced pharmacology, health systems informatics, and three progressive AGPCNP Advanced Practice Clinical courses.
- NRS 680 – Differential Diagnosis (3 cr)
- NRS 690 – Caring for the Adult and Older Adult (3 cr)
- NRS 696A – Equity and Management of Diverse Populations for the Nurse Practitioner (1.5 cr)
- NRS 696D – Transition to Practice for the Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (1.5 cr)
- NRS 701 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 cr)
- NRS 702 – Advanced Physical Assessment (3 cr)
- NRS 703 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 cr)
- NRS 830 – Health Systems Informatics (3 cr)
- NRS 720 – AGPCNP Advanced Practice Clinical I (3 cr)
- NRS 721 – AGPCNP Advanced Practice Clinical II (3 cr)
- NRS 722 – AGPCNP Advanced Practice Clinical III (3 cr)
Courses are offered in 8-week sessions with three clinical courses spanning full 16-week semesters in year three. Students who plan to continue to the DNP substitute NRS 810 (Population Health and Health Policy) for NRS 600 and NRS 820 (Healthcare Service and Clinical Quality) for NRS 625 — those substitutions are built into the 5-year pathway plan.
MSN Clinicals
Clinical requirements are distributed across three AGPCNP Advanced Practice Clinical courses (9 clinical credits total) taken in year three.
Practicum and advanced practice clinical courses require face-to-face meetings and in-practice hours, though all other coursework is delivered online.
Total clinical hours are not explicitly stated in the source material — prospective students should confirm the requirement directly with the program.
- NRS 720 – AGPCNP Advanced Practice Clinical I (3 cr, 16-week course)
- NRS 721 – AGPCNP Advanced Practice Clinical II (3 cr, 16-week course)
- NRS 722 – AGPCNP Advanced Practice Clinical III (3 cr, 12-week course)
- Clinical settings: primary care settings for adolescents (ages 13+), adults, and geriatric patients
- Health form, criminal background check, and proof of current RN license from the state/country of practicum required before beginning clinical courses
- Note: Total clinical hours not explicitly stated — contact the program directly to confirm
MSN Admissions
The MSN AGPCNP requires a BSN or higher from a nationally accredited nursing program; three start dates per year are available with no GRE requirement noted.
- BSN or higher from a nationally accredited nursing program required
- Cumulative GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (computed on the highest degree held at time of application)
- Current RN license required
- Online graduate application
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
- Two letters of recommendation from nursing supervisors and/or colleagues addressing probability of success in graduate school
- Written statement: 500 words maximum addressing ambition to attend Edgewood’s MSN program, plus relevant educational and professional experience
- Application deadlines: August 1 (fall), January 1 (spring), May 1 (summer)
- ⚠️ Guaranteed admission for Edgewood University BSN graduates within the past 3 years with a 3.0+ GPA — no additional application materials required
- International students must contact the Admissions Office for additional requirements
MSN AGPCNP + DNP Executive Leadership
The estimated cost for the combined MSN AGPCNP and DNP Executive Leadership pathway at Edgewood University is approximately $75,000 (69 credits × $1,092/credit).
The full pathway takes 5 years to complete on a full-time basis.
DNP Curriculum
The MSN+DNP pathway integrates the full AGPCNP clinical and specialty curriculum with an executive-leadership-focused DNP layer — totaling 69 credits across five years.
Students pursuing this pathway make two course substitutions in the MSN phase:
- NRS 810 (Population Health and Health Policy) replaces NRS 600
- and NRS 820 (Healthcare Service and Clinical Quality) replaces NRS 625
After completing the MSN AGPCNP requirements (typically at the end of year three), students are eligible to sit for AGPCNP certification and begin working in that role while completing the DNP portion in years four and five.
The DNP layer covers applied research methods, DNP role and residency development, healthcare finance and regulatory environments, and two leadership capstone courses. The program confers the AGPCNP degree at the completion of the MSN requirements, not at the end of the full 5-year program.
DNP-phase additional courses (21 credits, years 4–5):
- NRS 800A – Applied Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice I (2 cr)
- NRS 800B – Applied Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice II (2 cr)
- NRS 802A – Introduction to the DNP: Role, Residency, and Project I (2 cr)
- NRS 802B – Introduction to the DNP: Role, Residency, and Project II (3 cr)
- NRS 803A – DNP Residency I (2 cr)
- NRS 803B – DNP Residency II (2 cr)
- NRS 805 – Healthcare Finance and Regulatory Environments (2 cr)
- NRS 845 – Leadership Capstone I (3 cr)
- NRS 850 – Leadership Capstone II (3 cr)
MSN-phase course substitutions for DNP pathway students:
- NRS 810 – Population Health and Health Policy (replaces NRS 600) (3 cr)
- NRS 820 – Healthcare Service and Clinical Quality (replaces NRS 625) (3 cr)
DNP Clinicals
Clinical requirements for the DNP pathway are the same as the MSN during years one through three — three AGPCNP Advanced Practice Clinical courses (9 clinical credits).
The DNP phase in years four and five includes residency credits (NRS 803A and 803B) focused on leadership rather than direct patient care clinicals.
- AGPCNP clinical courses: NRS 720, 721, 722 (years 2–3, same as MSN)
- DNP residency: NRS 803A / 803B (leadership residency, years 4–5)
- Note: Total clinical hours not explicitly stated — contact the program directly to confirm
DNP Admissions
Admission requirements for the MSN+DNP pathway are identical to the MSN AGPCNP; students select the pathway at entry and are advised accordingly.
- BSN or higher from a nationally accredited nursing program required
- Cumulative GPA: 3.0
- Current RN license
- Same application materials as MSN (application, transcripts, two letters of recommendation, written statement)
- Application deadlines: August 1 (fall), January 1 (spring), May 1 (summer)
- Note: Students select the DNP pathway at the time of enrollment; consult an advisor to confirm pathway selection and course substitutions before registering for year one courses
Post-Master’s Certificate AGPCNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner at Edgewood University ranges from approximately $16,000 (15 credits) to $29,000 (27 credits) at $1,092 per credit, depending on which courses are waived based on prior APRN coursework.
Program duration is not clearly stated.
Certificate Curriculum
The post-master’s certificate totals 27 credits at maximum, with a minimum of 15 credits required after course evaluation.
Nurses holding an APN certification are evaluated for potential waivers of the APRN core courses — advanced pathophysiology, advanced physical assessment, and advanced pharmacology — as well as differential diagnosis.
Syllabi are required for any requested substitutions or waivers.
All three AGPCNP Advanced Practice Clinical courses (NRS 720, 721, 722) are required regardless of prior clinical hours. The APRN core courses must have been taken separately and delineated as population- or role-focused to qualify for waiver consideration.
Full certificate course list (up to 27 credits):
- NRS 680 – Differential Diagnosis (3 cr) — may be waived with documentation
- NRS 690 – Caring for the Adult and Older Adult (3 cr)
- NRS 696A – Equity and Management of Diverse Populations for the Nurse Practitioner (1.5 cr)
- NRS 696D – Transition to Practice for the Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (1.5 cr)
- NRS 701 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 cr) — may be waived with documentation
- NRS 702 – Advanced Physical Assessment (3 cr) — may be waived with documentation
- NRS 703 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 cr) — may be waived with documentation
- NRS 720 – AGPCNP Advanced Practice Clinical I (3 cr)
- NRS 721 – AGPCNP Advanced Practice Clinical II (3 cr)
- NRS 722 – AGPCNP Advanced Practice Clinical III (3 cr)
Note: Minimum 15 credits required after evaluation; maximum 27 credits if no waivers are granted. Contact the program before applying to estimate your specific credit requirement.
Certificate Clinicals
The three AGPCNP Advanced Practice Clinical courses are required for all certificate students regardless of prior clinical hours. Clinical settings focus on primary care for adolescents (ages 13+), adults, and geriatric patients.
- NRS 720, 721, 722 — AGPCNP Advanced Practice Clinical I, II, III (required for all students)
- Health form, criminal background check, and state RN license proof required before clinical courses
Certificate Admissions
The post-master’s certificate requires an MSN or DNP from a nationally accredited nursing program; applications are submitted as non-degree seeking.
- MSN or DNP from a nationally accredited nursing program required
- Cumulative GPA: 3.0 (computed on the highest degree held)
- Current RN license
- Online application (non-degree option)
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
- Two letters of recommendation from nursing supervisors/colleagues
- Written statement (500 words maximum)
- Full transcript and syllabi review required for waiver/substitution consideration — syllabi must be available for any course requested for waiver
- Application deadlines: August 1 (fall), January 1 (spring), May 1 (summer)
- Students cannot receive more than one C in the certificate program; academic probation applies, and dismissal follows if 3.0 is not achieved in the next term after probation
Tuition
Edgewood University charges $1,092 per credit for all nursing programs — MSN, DNP, and post-graduate nursing certificates — with no resident/non-resident distinction (June 2025–May 2026 rates). This flat rate applies equally across the MSN AGPCNP, the combined MSN+DNP pathway, and the post-master’s certificate.
Graduate students are eligible for Federal Stafford Loans; the university also works with employers for tuition reimbursement plans, corporate partner discounts, third-party billing, and monthly payment options.
Veterans may access additional aid.
See the official tuition and fees page for more details.
Accreditation
The Master of Science in Nursing program at Edgewood University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
The program is also approved by the State of Wisconsin Board of Nursing.
Graduates of the MSN AGPCNP, the MSN+DNP pathway, and the post-master’s certificate are eligible to sit for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certification examination.
Compare With More AGPCNP Programs in Wisconsin
- Concordia University Wisconsin - Mequon
- Marquette University - Marquette