Mississippi nurses have one in-state AGACNP program — at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) — along with four nationally accredited online options.
Program costs range from approximately $23,940 to $65,350, and completion timelines run from 1 year to 3 years depending on entry degree and track.
All programs listed here meet Mississippi’s ACNP licensure requirements: CCNE or ACEN accreditation, a minimum of 500 supervised clinical hours, and the three APRN core courses — advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology.
Mississippi ACNP Program Summaries
Chamberlain University ACNP Programs
Fully Online | $760 cpc | Certificate / MSN
Chamberlain University brings accessible, high-quality Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner education to Mississippi nurses through 100% online MSN and Graduate Certificate programs with robust Practicum Commitment® support for securing local preceptors and clinical sites statewide. Mississippi students develop expertise in managing critically ill adults and older adults through 700 supervised acute-care clinical hours, advanced pharmacology, and two mandatory on-ground immersion experiences. Graduates are ready to address the state’s critical shortage of acute-care providers in Jackson, Gulf Coast hospitals, the Delta region, and underserved rural facilities.
Purdue Global ACNP Programs
Fully Online | $420 cpc | Certificate
Purdue Global’s Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Postgraduate Certificate gives Mississippi nurses a fully online format with VR-based acute care skills training. The 57-credit program takes about 1.5 years full time and focuses on advanced assessment, pharmacology, and critical care management. Graduates in Mississippi prepare to treat acutely ill adult and older adult patients and pursue AGACNP certification.
South College ACNP Programs
Fully Online | $615 cpc | Certificate / MSN
Mississippi nurses seeking advanced practice credentials can enroll in South College's online Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner programs, which accommodate working professionals through asynchronous online coursework and flexible clinical placement support. The BSN-MSN AGACNP program requires a minimum 3.0 GPA and 800 hours of acute care nursing experience (ICU, step-down, trauma, or ER), with an estimated total cost of $51,450-$53,695 for the 21-month program. Mississippi graduates are prepared to sit for national AGACNP certification through ANCC or AANP and provide advanced nursing care to adults and older adults with acute, chronic, and critical conditions in healthcare facilities across the state.
UMMC ACNP Programs
Jackson | $579 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN / DNP
UMMC offers three AGACNP pathways to fit nurses at different career stages — from BSN-prepared RNs entering graduate study, to experienced NPs adding a specialty credential. Resident tuition ranges from approximately $25,900 for the MSN to $41,700 for the BSN-DNP, with the post-graduate certificate varying by prior coursework. Full-time completion ranges from roughly 2 years (MSN) to 3 years (DNP), making UMMC one of the more time- and cost-efficient options for AGACNP training in Mississippi...read more.
Walden University ACNP Programs
Fully Online | $775 cpc | Certificate / MSN / DNP
Walden University enables Missouri nurses to become adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners through three online pathways designed for working professionals. The comprehensive curriculum covers acute care management, older adult care, and advanced pharmacology with practicum experiences in ICU, hospital medicine, and specialty services. Missouri students benefit from multiple entry points including BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, BSN-to-MSN, and RN-to-MSN options to match their current credentials and career goals.
Choosing the Best ACNP Program for You in Mississippi
TLDR: Which Program Is Right for You?
Choose UMMC if you want the lowest-cost MSN or BSN-DNP in the state and direct access to Mississippi’s only Level 1 trauma center for clinicals. It is the strongest choice for Mississippi-based nurses who want an in-state credential and a defined clinical network.
Choose Walden University if you need a flexible entry point — RN-to-MSN, BSN-to-MSN, BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, or a post-master’s certificate — or if you are an FNP/AGPCNP seeking the fast-track certificate pathway.
Choose Chamberlain University if you are a BSN-prepared nurse who wants dedicated clinical placement support through a formal institutional guarantee (Practicum Commitment®) and all doctorally prepared faculty.
Choose Purdue Global if you hold an MSN and want the most affordable postgraduate certificate available — at ~$23,940, it is the lowest-cost certificate option in this group and includes VR-based acute care simulation training.
Choose South College if you are a BSN-prepared nurse who wants one of the faster MSN timelines in this group — at 21 months — or need a post-graduate certificate with a structured residency practicum component.
Mississippi ACNP MSN Programs
Four schools offer AGACNP MSN tracks accessible to Mississippi nurses.
UMMC is the lowest-cost option at ~$25,900 and the only one with a defined in-state clinical network.
South College stands out for its 21-month BSN-to-MSN timeline — the fastest MSN completion in this comparison.
| Program | Entry Requirement | Est. Cost | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMMC | BSN | ~$25,900 (resident) | ~2 years (5 semesters) | 630 minimum |
| South College | BSN | ~$51,450–$53,695 | 21 months | Distributed across 4 practica |
| Chamberlain University | BSN | ~$42,230 | 3 years (8 semesters) | 700 |
| Walden University | BSN or RN (ADN/diploma) | ~$44,950 (BSN-MSN) / ~$65,100 (RN-MSN) | 2 years (BSN-MSN) / 2.5–3 years (RN-MSN) | 640 |
UMMC in Focus: UMMC’s MSN program is the only in-state option and carries a significant cost advantage for Mississippi residents. Students benefit from structured clinical placements through UMMC’s network of over 200 affiliated hospitals, community health centers, and specialty clinics — including the state’s only Level 1 trauma center and only children’s hospital.
The program distributes 630 clinical hours across four progressively intensive practicum courses, and an optional Nursing Education and Instruction (NEI) concentration adds 10 credits for nurses targeting faculty or staff development roles.
Mississippi ACNP DNP Programs
Three DNP pathways are available to Mississippi nurses.
UMMC’s BSN-DNP is again the most affordable at ~$41,700 for Mississippi residents, and it offers the highest clinical hour count in this group — 1,230 hours — built around the same in-state clinical network.
Walden’s MSN-to-DNP is the faster option for already MSN-prepared nurses, at 2.5 years.
| Program | Entry Requirement | Est. Cost | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMMC BSN-DNP | BSN | ~$41,700 (resident) | ~3 years (8 semesters) | 1,230 (minimum) |
| Walden BSN-DNP | BSN | ~$65,350 | 3 years | 1,000+ (minimum) |
| Walden MSN-DNP | MSN | ~$58,000 | 2.5 years | 1,000+ (minimum) |
UMMC in Focus: The BSN-DNP culminates in a Rapid Evidence Synthesis and Evidence Implementation Project and includes an optional NEI concentration. DNP students at UMMC complete a higher total clinical hour count than any other program in this comparison — 1,230 hours — with placements developed through individualized faculty-guided plans. The program requires a minimum 3.2 GPA and one year of critical care or ED experience.
Post-Graduate and Post-Master’s Certificate Programs
For MSN-prepared nurses seeking AGACNP specialty credentials, five certificate tracks are available.
Purdue Global is the lowest-cost option at ~$23,940.
Walden’s Fast-Track Certificate is the fastest at 1 year, designed specifically for certified FNPs or AGPCNPs transitioning to acute care.
UMMC’s Post-Graduate Certificate is the most individualized — credit requirements and cost are customized based on prior graduate coursework.
| Program | Entry Requirement | Est. Cost | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue Global Certificate | MSN (2.5 GPA min); 1 yr acute care RN experience; ACLS required | ~$23,940 (Lowest) | ~1.5 years | Not specified; VR simulation required |
| Walden Post-Master’s Certificate (Fast Track) | MSN + active FNP or AGPCNP certification | ~$31,170 | 1 year (Fastest) | 500 |
| Walden Post-Master’s Certificate (Standard) | MSN | ~$31,170 | 1.5 years | 640 |
| Chamberlain Graduate Certificate | MSN or DNP in nursing | ~$32,680 | 1 year 10 months | 700 |
| South College Post-Graduate Certificate | MSN | ~$34,450–$35,930 | Varies by pace | Distributed across 4 practica |
| UMMC Post-Graduate Certificate | MSN (must include clinical courses); 1 yr RN experience in critical care or ED | Individualized | Individualized | 500–630 |
Note for Mississippi nurses: Purdue Global’s AGACNP certificate is not available to residents of Hawaii, Louisiana, New York, Washington, or several other states — but Mississippi is eligible. Confirm current state availability with Purdue Global admissions before applying.
Clinical Placement and Preceptor Support
Securing a qualified acute care preceptor is one of the most challenging aspects of any AGACNP program. Here is how each program approaches it.
UMMC — Faculty develop individualized clinical placement plans for each student based on goals and geographic location. Mississippi nurses benefit from UMMC’s statewide network of 200+ affiliated hospitals and specialty clinics, with placements coordinated directly by program staff.
Chamberlain University — Offers the Practicum Commitment®, a formal institutional commitment to assist any student who cannot independently secure a placement. Certificate students are encouraged to identify sites before admission but are not left without institutional support.
Walden University — Offers the Practicum Pledge®, providing dedicated field placement coordinators who partner with students to identify suitable preceptors and sites. A dedicated Field Experience Preparation course guides students through the process before clinicals begin.
South College — Works with students to identify potential preceptors and ensures affiliation agreements are in place, but students are expected to identify potential clinical sites and preceptors as part of the admission process.
Purdue Global — Students complete a mandatory VR immersive acute care skills experience (Oculus headset). No formal placement guarantee is described; students should confirm support resources directly with admissions.
Admissions Snapshot
| Program | Track(s) | Min. GPA | RN Experience Required | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMMC | MSN, BSN-DNP, Post-Graduate Certificate | 3.0 (MSN/Certificate); 3.2 (DNP) | 1 yr RN experience; acute/critical care preferred (MSN); 1 yr critical care or ED (DNP/Certificate) | March 15 (fall admission only) |
| Chamberlain University | MSN-AGACNP, Graduate Certificate | Contact admissions (GPA reviewed individually) | Not specified for MSN; active RN license required | Rolling admissions |
| Purdue Global | Postgraduate Certificate | 2.5 | 1 yr (2,000 hrs) acute care RN experience; ACLS required | Rolling / continuous start dates |
| South College | BSN-MSN, Post-Graduate Certificate | 3.0 (must maintain throughout) | 800 hrs acute care RN experience prior to first practicum (BSN-MSN) | Rolling admissions |
| Walden University | BSN-MSN, RN-MSN, BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP, Post-Master’s Certificate (Standard & Fast Track) | Not published; no GRE required | Active RN license required; no minimum hours stated | Rolling / multiple start dates |
Mississippi licensure note: UMMC requires students to obtain Mississippi RN licensure or privilege before the program begins. Out-of-state nurses applying to UMMC should initiate the Mississippi endorsement process well in advance of the March 15 deadline.