MSN-to-DNP AGPCNP programs let nurses with a master’s degree earn the Doctor of Nursing Practice without repeating graduate coursework. Here is how the 27 programs on this page compare:
- Schools: 27 programs in 19 states
- Formats: 4 Online, 12 Mostly Online, 9 Hybrid, 2 Campus
- Cost per credit: about $308 at UNC Greensboro to $1,493 at Rush University
- Two program types: some add the AGPCNP role for nurses without NP certification, while others only award the doctorate to nurses already certified
- Credits: as few as 30 for certified APRNs and up to 80 or more for nurses adding the AGPCNP role
Compare MSN-to-DNP AGPCNP Programs
Below is a comparison of MSN-to-DNP AGPCNP programs by cost per credit and delivery format. The rate shown is each school’s headline graduate rate; some schools bill doctoral courses differently, so check each profile for the DNP rate and total tuition.
| School | Location | Cost Per Credit | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | $609 | Mostly Online |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | $744 | Mostly Online |
| Arizona State University | Tempe, AZ | $952 | Hybrid |
| San Diego State University | San Diego, CA | $1036 | Campus |
| Colorado Christian University | Lakewood, CO | $696 | Mostly Online |
| University of Colorado Anschutz | Anschutz, CO | $820 | Mostly Online |
| Wilmington University | Wilmington, DE | $886 | Mostly Online |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | $431.43 | Hybrid |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University | West Palm Beach, FL | $850 | Hybrid |
| Rush University | Chicago, IL | $1493 | Mostly Online |
| North Park University | Chicago, IL | $925 | Mostly Online |
| DePaul University | Chicago, IL | $852 | Online |
| Purdue Global | West Lafayette, IN | $420 | Online |
| University of Louisville | Louisville, KY | $761 | Hybrid |
| LSU Health Sciences Center | New Orleans, LA | $1071 | Campus |
| UMass Dartmouth | Dartmouth, MA | $751.67 | Mostly Online |
| UMass Chan | Worcester, MA | $961 | Hybrid |
| University of Maryland, Baltimore | Baltimore, MD | $963 | Hybrid |
| Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI | $978.25 | Hybrid |
| Walden University | Minneapolis, MN | $785 | Online |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | $951.25 | Mostly Online |
| University of Missouri-St. Louis | St. Louis, MO | $1009 | Mostly Online |
| UNC Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | $307.56 | Hybrid |
| Nebraska Methodist College | Omaha, NE | $850 | Mostly Online |
| Hunter College | New York, NY | $520 | Hybrid |
| Adelphi University | Garden City, NY | $980 | Online |
| East Tennessee State University | Johnson City, TN | $692 | Mostly Online |
Two Kinds of MSN-to-DNP Programs
The most important question is whether a program prepares you for AGPCNP certification or assumes you already hold it. Program names rarely make this clear.
Programs that add the AGPCNP role. These suit MSN-prepared nurses in education, leadership, or informatics who are not yet nurse practitioners. They include the full AGPCNP clinical sequence, so credit totals are high.
- Walden University — 80 quarter credits, including the full AGPCNP specialization
- Rush University — 59 credits for non-APRN master’s-prepared nurses
- LSU Health Sciences Center — 65 credits for Louisiana-licensed APRNs adding the AGPCNP role
Programs for nurses already certified. These award the DNP to practicing APRNs or NPs and do not lead to a new AGPCNP certification.
- UNC Greensboro — 30-credit online post-master’s DNP for APRNs
- University of South Florida — 31-credit post-master’s DNP for certified APRNs
- Nebraska Methodist College — 34-credit APRN-to-DNP
- Rush University — 38 credits for APRNs
- San Diego State University — 36-unit post-master’s DNP requiring specialty board certification
- UMass Dartmouth — post-master’s DNP for certified NPs
- Adelphi University — DNP for nurses already certified as AGPCNPs
Other schools, including Hunter College and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, set credit totals by a review of each applicant’s prior coursework. Hunter lists 48 to 90 credits and Maryland 45 to 80.
Fully Online MSN-to-DNP AGPCNP Programs
Three programs deliver the MSN-to-DNP without campus visits. Clinical and DNP project hours are still completed in person.
- DePaul University — Chicago, IL
- Purdue Global — West Lafayette, IN
- Walden University — Minneapolis, MN
Adelphi is listed as Online in the table because its master’s and certificate programs are fully online, but its DNP is hybrid.
FAQ
How many MSN-to-DNP AGPCNP programs are there?
This page lists 27 programs in 19 states. Each links to a full profile with tuition, clinical hours, and admissions details.
Can I become an AGPCNP through an MSN-to-DNP program?
Yes, at schools that include the AGPCNP clinical sequence, such as Walden and Rush’s non-APRN track. Many MSN-to-DNP programs only admit nurses who are already certified, so confirm this before applying.
Do my master’s clinical hours count toward the DNP?
Usually, yes. DNP programs require 1,000 post-baccalaureate clinical hours, and documented hours from your master’s program count toward that total. Walden, for example, adds up to 8 credits for students with fewer than 600 verified precepted hours.
Are there fully online MSN-to-DNP AGPCNP programs?
Yes. DePaul, Purdue Global, and Walden require no campus visits. Most other programs are mostly online, with a limited number of campus events.
Which MSN-to-DNP AGPCNP program costs the least?
UNC Greensboro has the lowest listed rate at about $308 per credit for North Carolina residents, and its post-master’s DNP runs 30 credits. It is open to APRNs, not nurses seeking a first NP certification.
Compare other AGPCNP pathways: RN to MSN, BSN to MSN, BSN to DNP, and Post-Master’s Certificate.