Hunter College’s Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing offers 3 Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner pathways:
- MS
- DNP (post-baccalaureate)
- DNP (post-master’s)
All three require a New York State RN license and are taught in a hybrid, campus-based format in Manhattan. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Every pathway starts in fall, with a February 15 application deadline through NursingCAS.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition (Resident) | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS AGPCNP | $21,840 | ~2–3 years (part-time) | 42 |
| DNP AGPCNP (Post-BSN) | $55,800 | Not published | 90 |
| DNP AGPCNP (Post-Master’s) | $29,760–$55,800 | Not published | 48–90 |
Tuition estimates multiply Hunter’s Fall 2025 New York resident part-time rates ($520/credit for the MS, $620/credit for the DNP) by each pathway’s credit total, with all 90 post-BSN DNP credits billed at the DNP rate.
- Why choose it: The 42-credit MS costs about $21,840 for New York residents and schedules 630 precepted clinical hours.
- Trade-off: Every pathway requires a New York RN license and regular campus attendance, the MS cannot be completed through full-time study, and Hunter does not clearly publish who arranges clinical sites.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MS; DNP (post-BSN and post-master’s) |
| Format | Hybrid. Part-time courses typically meet on campus 1–2 times per week, afternoons and evenings; many core courses are partly online |
| Clinical Hours | MS: 630 (catalog lists 735); Post-BSN DNP: 1,130 (catalog minimum 1,000) |
| Clinical Schedule | At least 1 full day per week in fall and spring, 2 days in summer; preceptor shifts may fall on any day, day or evening |
| Clinical Placement | Responsibility for finding sites and preceptors not clearly published |
| Licensure Required | New York State RN license and current registration |
| Experience | 2 years full-time RN experience (MS and post-BSN DNP) |
| Start Term | Fall only; February 15 deadline |
| Tuition | $520/credit MS; $620/credit DNP (NY resident) |
| Accreditation | CCNE |
Master of Science – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
The MS-AGPCNP program costs an estimated $21,840 for New York residents (42 credits at $520). Hunter publishes no fixed timeline. Its graduate FAQ states this specialization cannot be completed through consistent full-time study, so plan on part-time enrollment of roughly 2–3 years (estimate). Applicants need a New York RN license and two years of full-time RN experience.
A published conflict worth knowing about. The program page lists 630 supervised clinical hours, built from three 210-hour practicums. The graduate catalog entry states 735 hours. This page uses 630 because it is the only figure that reconciles with a published course-by-course breakdown.
MS Curriculum
The 42 credits divide into four blocks: a 12-credit nursing core (theory, research, policy, health promotion), a 9-credit advanced practice core (pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment), an 18-credit primary care sequence, and one 3-credit elective.
The specialty sequence is unusual in structure. Each Primary Care Nursing course is a single 6-credit course combining didactic content with 210 precepted hours, rather than a separate lecture and practicum. Each is offered in only one term: NURS 755 in fall, NURS 757 in spring, NURS 768 in summer. Missing or repeating one course likely pushes graduation back a full year.
The summer course runs 12 weeks (late May to mid-August), meeting once a week on campus for about 5–6 hours, plus 210 clinical hours. That works out to about 17.5 clinical hours per week (calculated).
Nursing Core (12 credits)
- NURS 700 – Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science (3)
- NURS 702 – Advanced Nursing Research (3)
- NURS 704 – Healthcare Systems & Policy (3)
- NURS 749 – Health Promotion & Disease Prevention in Diverse Populations (3)
Advanced Practice Core (9 credits)
- NURS 717 – Advanced Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice (3)
- NURS 750 – Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (3)
- NURS 751 – Advanced Health Assessment (3)
Specialization (18 credits, 630 practicum hours)
- NURS 755 – Primary Care Nursing I (6 credits, 210 hours) – fall only
- NURS 757 – Primary Care Nursing II (6 credits, 210 hours) – spring only
- NURS 768 – Primary Care Nursing III (6 credits, 210 hours) – summer only
Elective (3 credits): one elective, any semester.
More curriculum details are available here.
MS Clinical Requirements
- Total: 630 supervised clinical hours per the program page (catalog states 735)
- Distribution: 210 hours each in fall, spring, and summer
- Weekly time: at least one full day per week in fall and spring; at least two days in summer
- Preceptor schedules: may include day and evening hours on any of the seven days of the week
- Placement responsibility: not clearly published
- Clearance: health documentation plus site-specific requirements such as criminal background checks and drug screening before preceptorships begin
The clinical burden here is the schedule, not the hour total. Preceptor shifts can land on weekends or evenings, and the summer course compresses 210 hours into 12 weeks. Hunter’s FAQ warns that rigid work schedules may present significant challenges, so nurses on fixed shifts should confirm they can rearrange work before applying.
MS Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing with a minimum 3.0 GPA, cumulative and in the nursing major
- New York State RN license and current registration
- At least 2 years of post-baccalaureate full-time RN experience
- Basic statistics course and an undergraduate research course or equivalent
- Two letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose of about 500 words
- U.S. citizenship or permanent residency (F-1 and J-1 visa applicants not eligible)
- Application through NursingCAS; February 15 deadline; fall start only
The experience and licensure rules carry the most weight. New graduates cannot apply, and nurses licensed only in another state must hold a New York license first. Full requirements are on Hunter’s admission requirements page.
Doctor of Nursing Practice – AGPCNP (Post-BSN)
The post-baccalaureate DNP-AGPCNP costs an estimated $55,800 for New York residents (90 credits at $620). Hunter does not publish a completion timeline. The pathway contains the full 42-credit MS sequence plus 48 doctoral credits, and it sets a higher GPA bar (3.5) than the MS.
A published conflict worth knowing about. The DNP program page lists 1,130 supervised practicum hours (630 specialty plus 500 capstone). The graduate catalog and Hunter’s DNP fact sheet state 1,000 required hours. The two are compatible: 1,000 is the degree minimum, while 1,130 is what the published curriculum schedules. This page reports 1,130 as the planned total.
Post-BSN DNP Curriculum
The first 42 credits match the MS exactly, including the fixed fall, spring, summer practicum sequence. The remaining 48 credits add a 30-credit doctoral core, 6 elective credits, and a 12-credit capstone.
The doctoral core leans toward population health and systems work. It includes two public health courses (biostatistics and epidemiology), clinical genetics, health care finance, and quality improvement. The capstone runs as four sequential courses: internship, proposal, implementation, then evaluation and dissemination.
Doctoral Core (30 credits)
- NURS 716 – Informatics for Evidence-Based Practice (3)
- NURS 780 – Health Care Ethics in the Life Span (3)
- NURS 800 – Leading Systems and Organizations (3)
- NURS 801 – Leadership for Quality Improvement (3)
- NURS 802 – Analytic Methods for Evidence-Based Practice (3)
- NURS 804 – Finance and Management of Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
- NURS 810 – Clinical Genetics (3)
- NURS 850 – Health Policy and Population-Focused DNP Practice (3)
- PH 750 – Fundamentals of Biostatistics (3)
- PH 752 – Fundamentals of Epidemiology (3)
DNP Capstone (12 credits, 500 practicum hours)
- NURS 90001 – Capstone 1: Internship (3 credits, 105 hours)
- NURS 90002 – Capstone 2: Proposal Development (3 credits, 105 hours)
- NURS 90003 – Capstone 3: Implementation (3 credits, 210 hours)
- NURS 90004 – Capstone 4: Evaluation & Dissemination (3 credits, 80 hours)
Electives (6 credits), in addition to the 3-credit MS-level elective.
Post-BSN DNP Clinical Requirements
- Total: 1,130 practicum hours per the program page (catalog minimum 1,000)
- AGPCNP direct care: 630 hours in NURS 755, 757, and 768
- DNP capstone: 500 hours across four capstone courses
- Placement responsibility: not clearly published
The practicum schedule and clearance rules described for the MS apply to the first 630 hours.
Post-BSN DNP Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing with a minimum 3.5 GPA
- New York State RN license and current registration
- At least 2 years of post-baccalaureate full-time RN experience
- Undergraduate statistics course and a discrete undergraduate nursing research course
- Two letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose of about 500 words
- Satisfactory interview
- U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
- NursingCAS; February 15 deadline; fall start
The GPA gap matters. An applicant with a 3.0–3.49 GPA qualifies for the MS but not the post-BSN DNP. The research prerequisite is also stricter: it must be a discrete nursing research course, not an equivalent.
Doctor of Nursing Practice – AGPCNP (Post-Master’s)
The post-master’s DNP costs an estimated $29,760 for New York residents at its 48-credit minimum, rising toward $55,800 if few credits are waived. Hunter does not publish a timeline. Applicants must already hold national certification at an advanced level.
Post-Master’s DNP Curriculum
Based on an individual review of the prior graduate record, Hunter waives up to 42 credits for the same or equivalent master’s coursework completed with a B or better. A full waiver leaves 48 credits: the 30-credit doctoral core, 6 elective credits, and the 12-credit capstone listed above.
Waivers cover only same or equivalent coursework. A master’s in a different specialty is unlikely to waive the AGPCNP practicum sequence, so those applicants should expect more than 48 credits (interpretation).
Post-Master’s DNP Clinical Requirements
- Capstone: 500 practicum hours across NURS 90001–90004
- Prior hours: relevant supervised clinical hours from the master’s degree may count toward the 1,000-hour DNP requirement
- Placement responsibility: not clearly published
Post-Master’s DNP Admissions
- Master’s degree in nursing with a graduate GPA of 3.5 or higher
- New York State RN license and current registration
- National certification at an advanced level from a national nursing certifying body
- Two letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose of about 500 words
- Satisfactory interview
- U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
- NursingCAS; February 15 deadline; fall start
The certification requirement excludes master’s-prepared nurses who never sat for an advanced practice board exam.
Tuition
Hunter’s Fall 2025 graduate tuition table lists these rates:
- MS Nursing, NY resident: $520 per credit part-time, or $6,045 per semester full-time (each includes an academic excellence fee)
- MS Nursing, non-resident: $945 per credit
- DNP, NY resident: $620 per credit part-time, or $7,315 per semester full-time
- DNP, non-resident: $1,000 per credit
A rate conflict worth knowing about. The nursing school’s own tuition page lists $905 per credit for non-resident MS students. The catalog table is dated Fall 2025 and itemizes each fee, so this page uses $945. Across 42 credits, the difference is $1,680.
The flat full-time DNP rate costs less than per-credit billing once a semester exceeds about 12 credits (calculated). The MS full-time rate matters little, since Hunter says this specialty cannot be completed through consistent full-time study.
Estimated Total Tuition
| Pathway | NY Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| MS AGPCNP (42 credits) | $21,840 | $39,690 |
| DNP AGPCNP, Post-BSN (90 credits) | $55,800 | $90,000 |
| DNP AGPCNP, Post-Master’s (48–90 credits) | $29,760–$55,800 | $48,000–$90,000 |
Totals are calculated from the published per-credit rates and credit requirements; Hunter does not publish program totals.
Fees Beyond Tuition
- Mandatory fees per semester: $153.45 full-time, $90.95 part-time (student activity $13.45, technology $125 or $62.50, consolidated service $15)
- Clinical clearance: background checks and drug screening costs may not be reflected in published tuition and fees
Why Choose This AGPCNP Program?
Best suited for: New York-licensed RNs in the New York City area with at least two years of experience who want a low-cost public MS and can study part-time while freeing up full clinical days.
$520 Per Credit for a 630-Hour Clinical Sequence
The MS combines a public-university price with clinical volume above the certification floor. At about $21,840 for residents, it is priced well below what most private programs charge per credit, while still scheduling 630 precepted hours. For residents, the cost case is strong.
A Part-Time Program on a Fixed Clinical Calendar
Enrollment is part-time, but the clinical year is not flexible. Three practicums run fall, spring, and summer in strict order, and preceptor shifts can fall on evenings or weekends. Nurses who cannot shift work days, especially during the 12-week summer course, will struggle to progress on schedule.
Licensure, Experience, and Campus Attendance Define the Applicant Pool
A New York RN license, two years of full-time RN experience, and U.S. citizenship or permanent residency are required. Courses meet on campus 1–2 times per week. This is a commuter program for working New York City nurses, not a distance option.
Two DNP Doors With Different Bars
The post-BSN DNP requires a 3.5 GPA and an interview, against 3.0 for the MS. The post-master’s DNP requires advanced national certification and can drop to 48 credits through waivers. A nurse with a 3.0–3.49 GPA can enter through the MS and return later for the post-master’s DNP, provided they earn a 3.5 graduate GPA and certify.
The Verdict
Hunter fits experienced New York RNs who live near Manhattan and want AGPCNP preparation at public tuition. The MS gives the clearest value. Applicants who need a fully online format, full-time study, a fixed work schedule, or guaranteed placement support should compare other options, as should anyone not licensed in New York.
Accreditation
Hunter’s master’s degree in nursing programs and Doctor of Nursing Practice program are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Graduates are eligible for New York State NP certification and meet the educational requirements for national board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB). Because all pathways require a New York RN license and campus attendance, out-of-state distance authorization is not a factor.
Additional AGPCNP Programs for New York Students
- Adelphi University - Garden City
- Keuka College - Keuka Park
- NYU - New York
- St. John Fisher University - Rochester
- St. Joseph's University - Brooklyn
- Stony Brook University - Stony Brook
- SUNY Brockport - Brockport