In Delaware, there is only one in state school for ACNP training, but nurses can expand their options to five schools if they consider national online institutions. See table below for details.
Tuition ranges from approximately $16K to $76K depending on degree level and entry point. Program completion timelines span from 1 year (post-master’s fast track) to 5 years part-time for a DNP.
| School | Est. Cost Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Chamberlain University | MSN: $42K Cert: $33K | 100% online AGACNP with doctorally prepared faculty |
| Purdue Global | Cert: $24K | Lowest-cost certificate option |
| South College | MSN: $51K–$54K Cert: $34K–$36K | Accelerated 21-month asynchronous BSN-to-MSN |
| University of Delaware | MSN: $37K Cert: $16K–$35K DNP: $76K | – online AGACNP with 100% board pass rate – individualized certificate planning – National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence recognition |
| Walden University | MSN: $45K–$65K DNP: $58K–$65K Cert: $31K | Most entry point options |
Delaware ACNP Program Summaries List
Chamberlain University ACNP Programs
Fully Online | $760 cpc | Certificate / MSN
Chamberlain University’s ACNP programs provide Delaware nurses with a flexible learning path, delivering coursework entirely online while requiring brief onsite intensives for clinical skill validation. Featuring doctorally-prepared faculty and the Practicum Commitment® for placement support, Delaware students receive the mentorship and resources needed for skill mastery. Accredited by CCNE, the curriculum equips Delaware RNs for advanced practice in acute adult and geriatric care settings.
Purdue Global ACNP Programs
Fully Online | $420 cpc | Certificate
Purdue Global provides Delaware nurses with a fully online Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certificate program designed for master's-prepared RNs working in acute care settings. The 1.5-year program costs $23,940 and includes unique virtual reality acute care training alongside traditional clinical rotations under qualified preceptors. Delaware students benefit from experienced nursing faculty and preparation for national AGACNP certification, with eligibility for advanced practice licensure upon program completion.
South College ACNP Programs
Fully Online | $615 cpc | Certificate / MSN
Nurses in Delaware can access South College’s online AGACNP programs built for working professionals. Students choose between a BSN-MSN degree or a post-graduate certificate in acute care. Both options emphasize real-world clinical training with critically ill adult and geriatric patients.
University of Delaware ACNP Programs
Newark | $886 cpc | Certificate / MSN / DNP
The University of Delaware provides three online AGACNP pathways designed for working nurses at different stages of practice. Tuition remains competitive due to scholarship-supported rates, and clinical placement assistance reduces the burden on students. The MSN pathway focuses on advanced acute care preparation, while the DNP expands into leadership and population health systems. The certificate option offers a streamlined route for already certified advanced practice nurses seeking an additional specialty...read more.
Walden University ACNP Programs
Fully Online | $775 cpc | Certificate / MSN / DNP
In Delaware, Walden’s online AGACNP DNP, MSN, and post-master’s certificate options offer flexible didactic study combined with supervised practicum experiences arranged in Delaware or other approved clinical sites. Delaware nurses gain access to the Practicum Pledge® field placement service, virtual skills lab, and Grand Rounds sessions that reinforce high-acuity decision-making and real-world case analysis. Graduates are academically prepared to sit for national AGACNP certification and to manage complex adult-gerontology populations across Delaware’s hospitals and specialty units.
Comparing Delaware AGACNP Options
Here are some things to consider when researching the best educational track for you.
TL;DR – Quick Decision Guide
Choose Chamberlain University if you want a well-known brand with doctorally prepared faculty and structured clinical placement support at a mid-range price.
Choose Purdue Global if you already hold an MSN and want the lowest-cost certificate option with innovative VR-based acute care training.
Choose South College if you’re entering at the BSN level and want a fast 21-month MSN completion track.
Choose the University of Delaware if academic prestige, a 100% board pass rate, and individualized curriculum planning matter to you.
Choose Walden University if you’re an FNP or AGPCNP looking for the fastest certificate completion, or if you want the widest range of entry points from RN to DNP.
DNP-AGACNP Programs ofr Delaware
Only two schools offer a DNP-AGACNP pathway: University of Delaware and Walden University.
Delaware is the more affordable option at ~$75,888, while Walden’s BSN-to-DNP runs ~$65,350 and its MSN-to-DNP is ~$58,000 — making Walden the lower-cost DNP path for most entry points.
| School | Entry Point | Est. Cost | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Delaware | BSN or MSN | ~$76K | 3 yrs FT / 5 yrs PT | 1,016 hours |
| Walden University | BSN to DNP | ~$66K | 3 years FT | 1,000+ hours |
| Walden University | MSN to DNP | ~$58K | 2.5 years FT | 1,000+ hours |
Standout note: University of Delaware’s DNP includes 200 indirect care hours and an intensive DNP project immersion, and the school is recognized as a National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence — a meaningful distinction for AGACNP-focused students.
MSN-AGACNP Programs in Delware
Four schools offer MSN-AGACNP pathways with varying entry points and price tags.
University of Delaware is the most affordable MSN at ~$37,212, while South College’s 21-month BSN-to-MSN is the fastest full MSN completion available.
| School | Entry Point | Est. Cost | Duration | Credits | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Delaware | BSN | ~$38K | 2–3 yrs PT | 42 | 816 hours |
| Chamberlain University | BSN | ~$43K | 3 years FT | 48 | 700 hours |
| Walden University | BSN | ~$45K | 2 years FT | 58 | 640 hours |
| Walden University | RN (no BSN) | ~$66K | 2.5–3 yrs FT | 84 | 640 hours |
| South College | BSN | ~$52K–$54K | 21 months FT | 79 | 700+ hours |
Standout note: Walden’s RN-to-MSN track is one of the few options that accepts associate degree-prepared nurses directly into an AGACNP MSN pathway without requiring a BSN first.
South College’s 21-month timeline is the fastest MSN-to-completion in this group.
Delaware AGACNP Certificate Programs
Certificate programs are best suited for nurses who already hold an MSN or doctoral degree.
Purdue Global offers the lowest-cost option at ~$23,940, while Walden’s fast-track certificate is the fastest at just 1 year for eligible FNPs or AGPCNPs.
| School | Entry Requirement | Est. Cost | Duration | Credits | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue Global | MSN or DNP | ~$24K | 1.5 years FT | 57 QCH | Not specified |
| University of Delaware | MSN + NP/CNS cert | ~$16K–$36K | 2–3 yrs PT | 18–40 (individualized) | 750+ hours |
| Walden University | MSN | ~$32K | 1.5 years FT | 38 | 640 hours |
| Walden University – Fast Track | MSN + FNP or AGPCNP cert | ~$32K | 1 year FT | 38 (up to 20 transfer credits) | 500 hours |
| Chamberlain University | MSN or DNP | ~$33K | 1 yr 10 months | 36 | 700 hours |
| South College | MSN | ~$35K–$36K | Varies | 53 | 700+ hours |
Standout notes: University of Delaware’s certificate is the most customizable — credit requirements are determined by a gap analysis, so students with more relevant prior coursework may pay significantly less than the top-end estimate.
Purdue Global requires a minimum of 1 year full-time acute care RN experience (2,000 hours) and current ACLS certification, making it the most experience-gated program on this list.
Note that Purdue Global’s certificate is not available in all states.
Clinical Placement Support
Securing a preceptor is one of the biggest challenges for NP students. Here’s how each school addresses it:
- Chamberlain University – Offers the Practicum Commitment®, providing dedicated support for securing clinical placements and preceptors.
- Purdue Global – Includes a mandatory VR immersive acute care skills experience using an Oculus headset to supplement clinical training. Students in some states may need additional hours, completed at no extra tuition cost.
- South College – Works collaboratively with students to identify preceptors and clinical sites, with the college managing affiliation agreements. Students are expected to come with potential sites identified at admission.
- University of Delaware – Provides faculty-supported preceptor placement assistance and reports a 100% board pass rate across programs. Clinical placements are approved in any state.
- Walden University – Offers the Practicum Pledge®, with a dedicated Field Placement Team that partners with students throughout the placement process.
Admissions Snapshot
| School | Program | Min. GPA | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chamberlain University | MSN-AGACNP | Contact admissions | Rolling |
| Chamberlain University | Graduate Certificate | Contact admissions | Rolling |
| Purdue Global | Postgraduate Certificate | 2.5 cumulative | Rolling |
| South College | BSN-MSN / Certificate | 3.0 cumulative | Rolling |
| University of Delaware | MSN-AGACNP | 3.0 undergraduate | July 1 / Nov 15 / Dec 10 / Apr 1 |
| University of Delaware | Post-Master’s Certificate | 3.5 graduate | Dec 10 / Apr 1 / July 1 |
| University of Delaware | DNP-AGACNP | 3.0 (BSN) / 3.5 (MSN) | July 1 |
| Walden University | All tracks | Not specified | Rolling |
Note: University of Delaware is the only school in this group with structured application deadlines tied to specific semester start dates, which requires more advance planning than rolling admission programs.