UW Madison ACNP Programs (Acute Care) Online

The University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing offers 3 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:

Capstone Certificate – AGACNP
Post-BS DNP – AGACNP
Post-MS DNP – AGACNP

Program Tracks Overview

Program	Est. Tuition (Resident)	Est. Duration
Capstone Certificate AGACNP	~$12,068	3 Semesters (~1 Year)
Post-BS DNP AGACNP	~$37,212 (tuition & fees)	3–4 Years Full-Time
Post-MS DNP AGACNP	Individualized plan	3–4 Years

Program Highlights:

Hybrid delivery — asynchronous online coursework with in-person sessions typically held once or twice per month
Clinical placements arranged by dedicated coordinators at nationally ranked Level I trauma centers and acute/critical care hospitals
100% certification pass rate; ranked #19 Best Undergraduate Nursing Program by U.S. News & World Report (2025)

Capstone Certificate – Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nursing

The estimated cost for the UW–Madison AGACNP Capstone Certificate is approximately $12,068 for residents (18 credits × $670.47/credit) or $27,061 for non-residents (18 × $1,503.40/credit), and would take approximately 3 semesters (1 year) to complete on a full-time basis. The program admits for the fall term only.

Certificate Curriculum

The 18-credit curriculum is organized into a core foundation sequence and clinical application courses. All credits must be earned in residence at UW–Madison while enrolled in the certificate program.

Core Courses (12 credits)
- NURSING 722 – Advanced Practice Nursing Theory: Adults and Older Adults (3 cr.)
- NURSING 726 – Foundations for APN Clinical Practice I (3 cr.)
- NURSING 727 – Foundations for APN Clinical Practice II (3 cr.)
- NURSING 826 – Foundations for APN Clinical Practice III (3 cr.)
Clinical Application Courses (6 credits — 2 credits each)
- NURSING 728 – Advanced Practice Clinical Application and Role Development I (2 cr.)
- NURSING 729 – Advanced Practice Clinical Application and Role Development II (2 cr.)
- NURSING 828 – Clinical Leadership III (2 cr.)

Curriculum focuses on evidence-based approaches to adult and geriatric health, clinical decision-making, care coordination across systems, and advanced health promotion and clinical management.

More curriculum details available on the course catalog page.

Certificate Clinicals

The program includes 500 clinical hours distributed across the foundations and clinical application coursework. Clinical placements are arranged by the School of Nursing and include nationally ranked Level I trauma centers, acute and critical care hospitals, community hospitals, and critical access centers.

500 total clinical hours embedded in core and application courses
Placements coordinated by UW–Madison clinical placement coordinators
Practice settings include hospitals, ICUs, EDs, urgent care centers, surgical suites, and specialty care environments
Minimum grade of C required in each course; pass/fail and audit elections do not count toward completion

Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions

Advanced practice nursing background required (program targets APRN-prepared nurses seeking to expand scope into acute care)
Fall admission only — application deadline: February 1, 2027 for Fall 2027; February 1, 2028 for Fall 2028
Program does not support F-1 visas
For complete application requirements, visit UW–Madison’s Guide

Post-BS DNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

The estimated tuition and fees for the UW–Madison Post-BS DNP AGACNP program is approximately $37,212 for Wisconsin residents over 3 years ($12,404/year × 3), based on 2025–26 cost of attendance figures.

The program requires a minimum of 68 credits (71 with the required 3-credit graduate statistics prerequisite) and is completed over 3–4 years full-time. Students with a non-APRN master’s degree may waive up to 18 credits based on prior graduate coursework.

Post-BS DNP Curriculum

The 68-credit curriculum is organized around three components: systematic evaluation of practice, leadership/policy, and clinical practice. Students follow a cohort-based course sequence and select either the 3-year or 4-year program plan. A 3-credit graduate statistics course is required as a prerequisite (not included in the 68-credit plan).

Year 1 — Foundations (29 credits across Fall, Spring, Summer)
- N704 – Leadership in Advanced Practice Nursing I (3 cr.)
- N706 – Nursing Research (3 cr.)
- N811 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 cr.)
- N722 – Advanced Practice Nursing Theory: Adults & Older Adults (3 cr.)
- N601 – Advanced Assessment (3 cr.)
- N605 – Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nurses (3 cr.)
- N806 – Evaluation and Application of Evidence-Based Practice (3 cr.)
- N703 – Health Policy in the US (3 cr.)
- N764 – Nursing and Health Informatics (3 cr.)
- N708 – Ethics for Advanced Practice in Health Care (2 cr.)
Year 2 — Clinical Foundations and Application (23 credits)
- N726 – Foundations for APN Clinical Practice I (3 cr.)
- N728 – Advanced Practice Clinical Application and Role Development I (3 cr., 250 clinical hours)
- N702 – Health Promotion/Illness Prevention in Diverse Communities (3 cr.)
- N727 – Foundations for APN Clinical Practice II (3 cr.)
- N729 – Advanced Practice Clinical Application and Role Development II (3 cr., 250 clinical hours)
- N772 – Leadership and Organizational Decision Making in Health Care (3 cr.)
- N761 – Program Planning, Evaluation and Quality Improvement (3 cr.)
- N906 – Scholarly Project I (2 cr.)
Year 3 — Clinical Leadership and Scholarly Project (16 credits)
- N826 – Foundations for APN Clinical Practice III (3 cr.)
- N828 – Clinical Leadership III (3 cr., min. 160 clinical hours)
- N906 – Scholarly Project II (2 cr.)
- N829 – Clinical Leadership IV (3 cr., min. 160 clinical hours)
- N906 – Scholarly Project III (2 cr.)
- Elective (3 cr., can be taken any semester)

More curriculum details available on the course catalog page.

Post-BS DNP Clinicals

Clinical hours are distributed across three dedicated clinical course blocks. Total supervised clinical hours exceed 660 across the program, with an additional scholarly project component requiring an oral presentation of publishable-quality work.

N728 + N729 – Advanced Practice Clinical Application I & II: 250 combined clinical hours
N828 + N829 – Clinical Leadership III & IV: minimum 160 combined clinical hours (per semester)
N826 – Foundations for APN Clinical Practice III (3 cr.)
Placements at nationally ranked Level I trauma centers, acute/critical care hospitals, community hospitals, and critical access centers
Clinical placements arranged by UW–Madison coordinators — students do not self-arrange
Domestic and international DNP immersion opportunities available

Post-BS DNP Prerequisites & Admissions

BSN from an accredited program (non-APRN master’s holders are considered post-BSN and may waive up to 18 credits)
Minimum GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 credits of the baccalaureate degree
Active, unencumbered RN license (Wisconsin RN license or eligibility to obtain one by program start date)
Minimum 1 year of professional nursing experience
Graduate-level statistics course completed with grade of B or better within the last 5 years (may be completed after applying, but must be done before the fall term start)
Three professional letters of recommendation
Statement of Purpose/Reasons for Graduate Study
Curriculum vitae or resume
Copies of all nursing and professional licenses
Unofficial transcripts from all previously attended institutions (official required upon admission recommendation)
Fall admission only — Priority application window: September–December 1
Must select a specialty track at time of application — switching focus areas after starting is rarely approved
Must select 3-year or 4-year program plan
All degree requirements must be completed within 7 years of first enrollment
Maximum one grade below a B (or U grade) permitted in any 12-month period; overall 3.0 GPA required

Post-MS DNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

The cost and credit requirements for the UW–Madison Post-MS DNP AGACNP program are individualized — a personalized program plan is developed upon admission based on the student’s prior master’s coursework and transcript review.

The program is completed over 3–4 years and follows the same hybrid cohort model as the Post-BS track.

Post-MS DNP Curriculum

Post-MSN students are certified (or eligible for certification) as APRNs. Prior master’s coursework may satisfy portions of the required 68-credit plan. The same core curriculum applies, but courses may be waived where prior graduate work aligns. A personalized program plan is issued at admission.

Same course requirements as Post-BS DNP — individualized waiver of courses based on prior MSN transcript review
Scholarly project required: paper of publishable quality with oral presentation to faculty, students, and community
3-year and 4-year plan options available — applicants with an MSN are encouraged to choose the 3-year plan
Minimum 32 residence credits and 34 graduate-level credits required regardless of waivers

Post-MS DNP Clinicals

Clinical requirements mirror the Post-BS DNP track. Placement coordinators arrange supervised clinical experiences; students do not self-arrange.

N728 + N729 – Clinical Application I & II (250 combined hours)
N828 + N829 – Clinical Leadership III & IV (minimum 160 combined hours)
Clinical settings: Level I trauma centers, acute/critical care hospitals, community hospitals, critical access centers

Post-MS DNP Prerequisites & Admissions

Master’s degree in a nursing specialty track from an accredited program
Minimum GPA of 3.5 for the master’s degree
Current APRN certification or eligible for certification
Active, unencumbered RN license (Wisconsin license or eligibility to obtain one)
Minimum 1 year of professional nursing experience
Graduate-level statistics course with grade of B or better within the last 5 years
Three professional letters of recommendation
Statement of purpose, CV or resume, copies of all nursing licenses
Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended
Fall admission only — Priority application window: September–December 1
Must complete all degree requirements within 5 years of first enrollment
Maximum one grade below a B (or U grade) in any 12-month period; overall 3.0 GPA required

Tuition

Capstone Certificate — flat per-credit rate, all students:

Residency	Per Credit	Est. Total (18 Credits)
Wisconsin Resident	$670.47	~$12,068
Non-Resident	$1,503.40	~$27,061

DNP Programs — annual cost of attendance (2025–26), tuition & fees only:

Residency	Tuition & Fees (Per Year)	Est. Total (3 Years)
Wisconsin Resident	$12,404	~$37,212
Non-Resident	$25,732	~$77,196
Minnesota Resident	$21,478	~$64,434

DNP tuition estimates are based on cost of attendance figures (tuition & fees only), not a published per-credit rate for this specific track. Living expenses, housing, and personal costs are not included.

Full cost of attendance for residents is ~$35,710/year. Incoming graduate students should budget an additional $1,100 for a required computer purchase in their first year.

More tuition details are available here.

Application Deadlines

Program	Deadline	Term
Post-BS & Post-MS DNP AGACNP	December 1 (priority)	Fall (only)
Capstone Certificate AGACNP	February 1, 2027	Fall 2027
Capstone Certificate AGACNP	February 1, 2028	Fall 2028

DNP applications open in early September each year. The priority due date is December 1. Both programs are fall-entry only. Contact Graduate Admissions at admissions@nursing.wisc.edu or (608) 263-5180 with questions.

Accreditation

UW–Madison’s nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), with the next accreditation review scheduled for 2026–2027. Graduates of all AGACNP tracks are prepared to sit for the ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner board certification examination and gain the AGACNP credential, with licensure eligibility in all 50 states upon certification.