Hawaii Pacific University offers 3 acute care nurse practitioner tracks:
- MSN AGACNP
- BSN to DNP AGACNP
- Post-Master’s Certificate AGACNP
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN AGACNP | $53.2K | 2 years (24 months) | 46 |
| BSN-DNP AGACNP | $84.4K | 2.8-3.7 years (34-44 months) | 73 |
| Certificate | $28.9K | 1 year (12 months) | 25 |
In July 2026, CCNE directed all three of HPU’s graduate nursing programs to show cause why accreditation should not be withdrawn, citing clinical placement sufficiency and course sequencing. The programs remain accredited while HPU responds.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MSN, BSN to DNP, Post-Master’s Certificate |
| Population Focus | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care (AGACNP) |
| Format | Online, asynchronous coursework |
| Campus Visits | None published |
| Clinical Hours | 630 specialty hours; DNP totals over 1,000 practicum hours |
| Clinical Placement | Local sites; HPU provides placement resources, not a guarantee |
| RN Experience | Not required; acute or inpatient experience recommended |
| Distinctive Coursework | NUR 6982 sim lab: ventilator management, ABGs, cardioversion, pacing, CT interpretation |
| License Requirements | Unencumbered U.S. RN license |
| Start Terms | MSN and DNP: Spring 1 2027 (January 11) |
| Tuition | $1,156 per credit (2026-27) |
| Certification | ANCC AGACNP-BC or AACN ACNPC-AG |
| Accreditation | CCNE, under a show-cause directive since July 2026 |
| State Restrictions | Does not meet APRN education rules in AZ, DC, KS, LA, NY, PR, TN |
Requirements Shared Across All Tracks
All three tracks use the same seven-course AGACNP specialty sequence (25 credits) and the same clinical requirements.
Clinical Requirements
- Total specialty hours: 630, across three practicum courses
- Sequence: NUR 6984 (126 hours), NUR 6986 (252 hours), NUR 6987 (252 hours)
- Practicum credits: 15, or 42 clinical hours per credit; the practica also carry seminar content
- Settings: hospital-based acute care, including ICUs, trauma units, and emergency departments
- Location: sites near the student’s home
- Placement model: HPU provides resources and placement specialists to help students find preceptors and sites
You Should Know: HPU describes placement as support, not a guarantee. CCNE’s July 2026 directive cited the availability and sufficiency of clinical placements in these same programs.
Campus Requirements
- Campus visits: none published for any AGACNP track
- Coursework: online and asynchronous
- Clinicals: completed face to face at local facilities
Be aware: HPU describes NUR 6982 as a didactic and Sim Lab course but does not say where the simulation component takes place.
RN Experience and Licensure
- RN license: unencumbered U.S. state RN license, required at application
- Acute care experience: recommended, not required, for MSN applicants
- GPA: 3.0 undergraduate GPA preferred for MSN and DNP applicants
- Prerequisite: a statistics, research methods, or evidence-based practice course
- Application materials: application and fee, transcripts, CV or resume, statement of purpose
- Transfer credit: up to 12 graduate credits completed within five years, at a B or higher
You Should Know: HPU’s licensure disclosure states the programs do not meet APRN educational requirements in Arizona, District of Columbia, Kansas, Louisiana, New York, Puerto Rico, or Tennessee.
MSN AGACNP
The estimated tuition for the Online MSN-AGACNP at Hawaii Pacific University is approximately $53,176 (46 credits at $1,156/credit).
The program can generally be completed in about 24 months.
MSN Curriculum
- Core (18 credits): NUR 6000, 6010, 6020, 6025, 6030, and NUR 8050 Health Care Policy
- NUR 6980: Fundamentals of Acute Care I (3 credits)
- NUR 6982: Advanced Clinical Decision Making (3 credits)
- NUR 6983: Fundamentals of Acute Care II (3 credits)
- NUR 6985: Fundamentals of Acute Care III (1 credit)
- Practica: NUR 6984, 6986, 6987 (15 credits)
- NUR 7000: Project Proposal Paper (3 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Admissions
- Degree: BSN from an accredited university
- Deadline: December 18, 2026, for the January 11, 2027 start
BSN to DNP AGACNP
The estimated tuition for the Online BSN to DNP-AGACNP at Hawaii Pacific University is approximately $84,388 (73 credits at $1,156/credit).
The program can generally be completed in about 34 months full time or 44 months part time.
DNP Curriculum
- Core and specialty: the same 18-credit core and 25-credit AGACNP sequence as the MSN, without NUR 7000
- DNP coursework (21 credits): NUR 8000, 8010, 8020, 8030, 8040, 8070, 8080
- NUR 9010: Doctoral Project I: Development (3 credits)
- NUR 9020: Doctoral Project II: Implementation (3 credits)
- NUR 9030: Doctoral Project III: Data Analysis and Dissemination (3 credits)
- Practice hours: over 1,000 supervised hours in total, including the 630 specialty hours
- Project site: a practice site in the student’s state of licensure
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know: The BSN to DNP awards only the DNP. No MSN is conferred en route, so a student who leaves before the doctoral project holds no graduate degree.
DNP Admissions
- Degree: BSN from an accredited nursing program
- Deadline: December 18, 2026, for the January 11, 2027 start
Post-Master’s Certificate AGACNP
The estimated tuition for the Online Post-Master’s Certificate AGACNP at Hawaii Pacific University is approximately $28,900 (25 credits at $1,156/credit).
The program can generally be completed in about 12 months.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate is the 25-credit AGACNP specialty sequence and clinical requirement described above, with no core or project courses. HPU’s certificate page states more than 500 clinical hours; the identical practica total 630 on the MSN page.
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Admissions
- Degree: MSN from an accredited nursing program
- Prior coursework: NUR 6000, 6010, 6020, 6025, 6030, and 8050 equivalents
- Recency: core courses within five years unless currently practicing as an APRN
- Gap analysis: HPU reviews the MSN transcript and may request syllabi
- Deadline: July 31, 2026 for the August 31, 2026 start; the next cycle is not yet posted
You Should Know: Missing roles, research, or policy courses can be taken at HPU in the first semester, adding up to 9 credits ($10,404). Any gaps must be closed before clinical placement begins.
Tuition
HPU charges $1,156 per credit for all online graduate nursing programs in 2026-27, up from $1,117 in 2025-26.
| Program | Credits | Estimated Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| MSN AGACNP | 46 | $53,176 |
| BSN to DNP AGACNP | 73 | $84,388 |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 25 | $28,900 |
- Application fee: $45
- Enrollment deposit: $200, credited to the student account
- University fees: billed separately from tuition; the 2025-26 fee matrix lists a $110 nursing clinical fee per course
Totals are published by HPU and exclude books and university fees. See the 2026-27 graduate tuition schedule.
Financial Aid
Federal aid, employer tuition assistance, and military and veteran benefits apply. See HPU’s tuition and aid page.
You Should Know: Grad PLUS loans are closed to new borrowers starting programs after July 1, 2026. HPU classifies nursing as graduate, not professional, so federal Direct Loans cap at $20,500 a year.
Why Choose This ACNP Program?
- No RN experience requirement: HPU admits BSN nurses without ICU or acute care experience. Prior inpatient exposure is recommended only.
- Fully online coursework: No campus visits are published for any of the three tracks. Clinicals run at hospitals near home.
- Critical care skills course: NUR 6982 covers ventilator management, ABG analysis, cardioversion, pacing, and CT interpretation through didactic and simulation work.
- Three entry points, one sequence: BSN nurses choose between the MSN and the DNP, and MSN-prepared NPs can add AGACNP through the 25-credit certificate.
The program suits working RNs without acute care experience who want an online AGACNP path and can locate their own hospital preceptors while CCNE’s review is pending.
Accreditation and Certification
The MSN, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. On July 8, 2026, CCNE directed all three to show cause why accreditation should not be withdrawn.
A show-cause directive is not an adverse action, and the programs remain accredited. HPU hosts a scheduled CCNE on-site evaluation of the MSN and certificate programs November 9-11, 2026, and must report on the cited concerns by March 1, 2027. Read HPU’s show-cause notice.
Hawaii Pacific University is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission and participates in NC-SARA.
Graduates of all three tracks are eligible for the ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP-BC) exam or the AACN Acute Care Nurse Practitioner-Adult-Gerontology (ACNPC-AG) exam.