The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) School of Nursing in Galveston offers one AGPCNP pathway:
- MSN (part-time, online)
Coursework is online and part-time only. Students travel to Galveston for orientation and for 2–3 days each semester. Applicants need an RN license in each state where they will complete clinicals. UTMB does not offer AGPCNP as a DNP track or as a post-graduate certificate.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition (Resident) | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | $19,208 | 7 part-time semesters | 49 |
Tuition estimate multiplies UTMB’s 2026–2027 School of Nursing graduate tuition for Texas residents ($392 per credit: $50 tuition, $286 designated tuition, $56 differential) by the 49-credit curriculum. Non-resident tuition and mandatory fees appear in the Tuition section.
- Why choose it: Texas residents pay about $19,200 in MSN tuition, or roughly $30,200 with fees, and Houston/Galveston students get coordinator-arranged clinical placements.
- Trade-off: Part-time only with one fall start, a trip to Galveston every semester, self-arranged clinicals outside Houston/Galveston, and $853 per credit for non-residents.
Quick Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MSN only (no AGPCNP DNP or post-graduate certificate) |
| Format | Online coursework, part-time only |
| Population Focus | Adolescents through older adults in primary care |
| Campus Attendance | Two-day orientation plus 2–3 days in Galveston each semester (sources vary; see Clinical Requirements) |
| Clinical Hours | 780 (280 above the 500-hour national minimum for NP programs) |
| Clinical Placement | Arranged for Houston/Galveston-area students; student-sourced elsewhere, with UTMB approval |
| Licensure Required | Active, unencumbered RN license in each state where clinicals occur |
| Start Terms | Fall only |
| Tuition (2026–2027) | $392/credit Texas resident; $853/credit non-resident; plus $70/credit distance education fee |
| Certification | Prepares graduates for ANCC or AANPCB certification |
| Accreditation | CCNE |
MSN – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
The MSN AGPCNP track costs an estimated $19,208 in tuition for Texas residents ($41,797 for non-residents) across 49 credits and seven part-time semesters. It admits BSN-prepared RNs with at least one year of recent experience. UTMB does not state the calendar length; the program page gives only the semester count.
MSN Curriculum
Semesters one through three cover the advanced practice core (theory and research, pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, health policy) plus two NP preparation courses: Geriatric Syndromes and NP Diagnostic Reasoning and Procedures. Semesters four through seven carry the specialty sequence: one 6-credit management course per semester for three semesters, then a 3-credit clinical role practicum.
The first specialty course, Common Problems of Adults (GNRS 5680), is the same course UTMB’s FNP students take in semester four. The tracks then split. AGPCNP students move to acute and then chronic and complex adult care, while FNP students take pediatrics. Geriatric Syndromes sits in semester two, before advanced health assessment, which puts aging content early in the plan.
Load is uneven. Semesters five and six carry 9 credits each, pairing a 6-credit management course with a 3-credit core course. Working nurses should plan their job schedules around those two terms.
Key courses:
- GNRS 5298 Geriatric Syndromes (2 credits)
- GNRS 5217 NP Diagnostic Reasoning and Procedures (2 credits)
- GNRS 5680 Common Problems of Adults (6 credits)
- GNRS 5635 AGPCNP II: Acute Health Problems of Adults (6 credits)
- GNRS 5613 AGPCNP III: Chronic & Complex Health Problems of Adults (6 credits)
- GNRS 5554 AGPCNP IV: Clinical Role Practicum (3 credits)
- GNRS 5350 Nurse Practitioner: Professional Role and Business Principles (3 credits)
- GNRS 53371 Public Health Principles in Advanced Practice Nursing (3 credits; course number as published)
See the full semester-by-semester curriculum on UTMB’s program page or in the 2026–2028 School of Nursing Bulletin.
MSN Clinical Requirements
- Total clinical hours: 780, per the 2026–2028 SON Bulletin
- Clinical courses: four courses each carry 3 clinical credit hours: Common Problems of Adults, AGPCNP II, AGPCNP III, and the AGPCNP IV practicum (semesters four through seven); the bulletin does not break the 780 hours out by course
- Population: adolescents through older adults in primary care settings
- Houston/Galveston area: course faculty and a Clinical Placement Coordinator arrange clinical experiences, and students must take part in the process
- Outside Houston/Galveston: students identify their own site and preceptor; UTMB must approve both and negotiates the affiliation agreement with the agency
- UTMB vets all preceptors and clinical sites
- Placement guarantee: none stated for either group
- License: active, unencumbered RN license in each state where clinicals occur; out-of-state students may need a Texas license or residence in a compact state
- Campus: orientation plus 2–3 days in Galveston each semester
The Houston/Galveston boundary is the policy that matters most. Local students get coordinated placement. Everyone else runs their own search, and each site still needs UTMB approval and a signed affiliation agreement before hours can count. Distance students should start securing preceptors well before semester four, when the first clinical course begins.
Clinical volume is a strength. At 780 hours, the track exceeds the 500-hour national minimum by 280 hours, packed into four consecutive part-time semesters. That is roughly 195 hours per clinical course if spread evenly (an estimate; UTMB does not publish per-course hours).
A published conflict worth knowing about. UTMB gives three campus-time figures. The AGPCNP page says 2–3 days each semester. The program FAQ says some tracks require 3–4 days and links to a per-program campus visit table. The 2026–2028 SON Bulletin describes a one-time two-day orientation plus visits of one to three days each semester, depending on track. This page uses the AGPCNP page’s 2–3 days because it is track-specific. UTMB notes that visit requirements can change.
MSN Admissions
- BSN from a CNEA- or CCNE-accredited nursing program
- Minimum 3.0 GPA on all college work and 3.0 in upper-division courses
- At least one year of RN experience within the last two years
- Active, valid, unencumbered RN license in the state(s) where clinical learning occurs
- Resume, official transcripts, and personal statement
- Three professional references, one from your current clinical manager or another authority who can speak to your clinical knowledge and professional commitment
- Application through NursingCAS
- Fall admission only
- Early notification review: September 15 to March 15, with decisions guaranteed by April 15; later applications reviewed as space allows (current dates)
- Transfer credit: up to 12 credit hours, of which no more than 6 may be AGPCNP track-specific; requested by petition after admission
- Non-native English speakers: TOEFL computer score of 83 or IELTS 6.5; a waiver may be requested with substantial U.S. work experience
- Personal interview with faculty may be required
The transfer cap matters most for nurses who already hold an MSN in another specialty. With no AGPCNP post-graduate certificate, they would enter this MSN, transfer at most 12 credits (no more than 6 of them track-specific), and complete at least 37 more, even where courses overlap with prior study.
The March 15 date is the only window with a guaranteed decision. Because the program starts once a year, a missed fall start delays enrollment by a full year.
The fully online format does not meet requirements for international students on visas that require on-campus enrollment.
Tuition
UTMB’s 2026–2027 School of Nursing graduate fee sheet charges per credit hour:
- Texas residents: $392 per credit ($50 tuition, $286 designated tuition, $56 differential)
- Non-residents: $853 per credit ($455 tuition, $398 designated tuition)
- Distance education fee: $70 per credit for online courses, regardless of residency
Residency is the largest cost variable. Non-residents pay $461 more per credit, about $22,600 more in tuition across 49 credits.
| Cost Component | Texas Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (49 credits) | $19,208 | $41,797 |
| Distance education fee (49 credits) | $3,430 | $3,430 |
| Recurring mandatory fees (7 semesters) | $7,240 | $7,240 |
| One-time fees (ID badge, orientation, graduation, commencement) | $366 | $366 |
| Estimated total | $30,244 | $52,833 |
Totals are calculated from the 2026–2027 fee sheet; UTMB does not publish a program total. Recurring fees use $1,034.24 per semester (library, Health Education Center, educational support software, materials, technology, registration, student center, and campus security fees). The distance education fee assumes all 49 credits are billed as online courses.
Costs outside these totals:
- Liability insurance: $2.74 per academic year
- Course and lab fees: vary by course
- Student health insurance
- Online exam proctoring fees charged by outside proctors, paid directly by the student
UTMB’s Paying for School page links to fee sheets by program and to School of Nursing scholarship information. It does not name scholarships specific to AGPCNP students.
Why Choose This AGPCNP Program?
Best suited for: Texas-licensed RNs, ideally in the Houston/Galveston area, who want a low-cost AGPCNP MSN and can commit to a fixed part-time, seven-semester schedule.
Resident Pricing Near $30,000 All-In
A Texas resident pays about $19,200 in tuition and about $30,200 including mandatory fees for the full NP master’s. Non-residents lose most of that advantage: at $853 per credit, the all-in estimate rises to about $52,800.
Placement Help Stops at the Houston/Galveston Line
Students near Galveston and Houston get a placement coordinator and faculty-arranged clinical experiences. Students elsewhere in Texas or out of state source their own preceptors, then wait on UTMB approval and an affiliation agreement. For them, UTMB’s placement support is mainly vetting and contracting, not site-finding.
One Pace, One Start
There is no full-time option and no spring or summer entry. The fixed part-time sequence suits nurses keeping full-time jobs. It does not suit anyone who wants to finish quickly or who misses the fall start.
An MSN-Only Specialty at UTMB
UTMB’s BSN to DNP covers FNP, AGACNP, and a dual FNP/AGACNP track, but not AGPCNP. There is also no AGPCNP post-graduate certificate. Applicants who want a primary care doctorate would need a separate MSN to DNP program later, and nurses who already hold an MSN have no shortened certificate route here.
The Verdict
The strongest case belongs to Texas residents in the Houston/Galveston area, who get resident pricing and coordinated placement. Texas residents elsewhere still get the price but must find their own preceptors and travel to Galveston each semester. Out-of-state applicants, nurses who want a full-time or spring start, those seeking a BSN-to-DNP in primary care, and MSN-prepared nurses looking for a post-master’s certificate should compare other programs.
Accreditation
UTMB’s graduate nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners. UTMB is institutionally accredited by SACSCOC. UTMB states that AGPCNP graduates are prepared to sit for certification through the AANPCB or ANCC.
The AGPCNP page does not publish a state-by-state authorization list. Applicants outside Texas should confirm eligibility with their own Board of Nursing before applying, since clinicals require an RN license in the state where they take place.
Other AGPCNP Programs in Texas
- Texas Woman's University - Denton
- University of Texas at Arlington - Arlington