2 Arkansas universities offer AG-ACNP programs, with 4 total pathways across BSN-to-DNP, MSN, and post-graduate certificate options. Arkansas State delivers its coursework fully online, while UAMS is mostly online. Tuition ranges from approximately $380–$525 per credit for residents ($888 nonresident at UAMS). Programs are based in Jonesboro and Little Rock.
Compare every Arkansas ACNP option below by cost, degree type, format, and clinical requirements.
| School | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
| Arkansas State University | Online | Optional weekend on-site skills labs | $380 cpc | MSN, Certificate | Budget-focused RNs who want fully online coursework |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Mostly Online | Team-based learning and simulation suggest on-site components | $525 | BSN-to-DNP, Certificate | BSN nurses seeking a doctorate with hands-on procedural training |
What’s the Best ACNP Program for You?
Best Overall Value
The MSN at Arkansas State University totals an estimated $16K on a pay-by-the-course model that folds standard program fees into the credit rate, making it the least expensive degree pathway in the state.
Strongest DNP
The BSN-to-DNP at UAMS is Arkansas’s only doctoral AG-ACNP pathway, pairing 1,120 practicum hours with training in central line placement, lumbar puncture, ventilator management, and other bedside procedures.
Best Post-Graduate Certificate on a Budget
Arkansas State’s post-master’s certificate runs an estimated $8K over about 16 months, the lowest-cost credential in the state for MSN-prepared nurses adding the AG-ACNP role.
Best Clinical Pipeline to Employment
UAMS reports that many students receive job offers directly from their clinical rotation sites, and its semester-by-semester facility rotation exposes students to a wider range of acute care employers.
Arkansas DNP ACNP Programs
UAMS operates the only DNP-level AG-ACNP program in Arkansas. The post-BSN pathway spans 72–73 credits, with four semesters of core doctoral coursework before specialty content begins in the fifth. Full-time students finish in 3 years; a 4-year part-time plan is available.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | BSN-to-DNP | $38K | 3 years full time | 1,120 |
- Procedural depth: UAMS — clinical training covers central venous and arterial lines, suturing, lumbar puncture, paracentesis, and ventilator management.
- Site rotation rule: UAMS — students cannot train where they work and must rotate to a different facility each semester unless faculty approve an exception .
- Entry bar: UAMS — 3.0 GPA, 2,000 verified RN hours before the advanced assessment course, and ACLS before clinical specialty courses; no GRE required.
Arkansas MSN ACNP Programs
Arkansas State runs the state’s only MSN-level AG-ACNP track: 41.5 credits over about 2 years full time, delivered 100% online with optional weekend skills labs. A team-teaching model keeps students in regular contact with experienced nurse educators, and three seminar-practicum pairs carry students from cardiac and pulmonary management through professional-role integration.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Arkansas State University | AG-ACNP (MSN) | $16K | About 2 years | Not clearly stated |
- Experience requirement: Arkansas State — 1,500 documented RN practice hours and a 3.25 undergraduate GPA are required for NP admission.
- Placement geography: Arkansas State — practicums must occur in states where the university holds operating authority.
- Unstated hour total: Arkansas State — three practicum courses are required, but no total clinical hour figure is published.
Arkansas Post-Graduate Certificate ACNP Programs
Both Arkansas schools offer AG-ACNP certificates for master’s-prepared nurses, and both begin with a curriculum gap analysis that can add foundational coursework to the required specialty sequence. Arkansas State’s version is cheaper and fully online; the UAMS certificate carries a defined 770-hour clinical requirement but conflicting duration figures.
| School | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| Arkansas State University | $8K | About 16 months | Not clearly stated |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | $12K | About 12 months | 770 |
- Lowest certificate cost: Arkansas State — ~$8K base, though gap analysis can add up to 9 support credits at $380 each.
- Space-available admission: UAMS — certificate seats are granted on a space-available basis, and an interview or essay may be required
Arkansas ACNP Program Summaries
Arkansas State University ACNP Programs
Jonesboro | $380 cpc | Certificate
Arkansas State packages its AG-ACNP training as an MSN and a post-master's certificate, both 100% online with optional weekend skills labs — the only Arkansas option with no required campus attendance. A team-teaching model pairs students with multiple experienced educators, and both tracks funnel through the same three-part seminar and practicum sequence covering cardiac, pulmonary, GI, endocrine, and other high-acuity adult-gerontology content. Certificate students receive an individualized study plan after gap analysis, keeping the credential lean at 21.5 credits minimum. Admissions set a real bar: a 3.25 GPA and 1,500 RN hours for the MSN. The program is ACEN-accredited, and graduates meet eligibility criteria for ANCC (AGACNP-BC) and AACN (ACNPC-AG) certification. Practicum placement is limited to authorized states. Best for working RNs who want the state's cheapest, most flexible route to AG-ACNP certification...read more.
UAMS Adult-Gerontology ACNP Programs
Little Rock | $525 cpc | Certificate
UAMS, the state's academic health center, runs a post-BSN DNP and a post-graduate certificate in adult-gerontology acute care. The CCNE-accredited DNP front-loads doctoral core courses, then builds procedural skill through task trainers, simulation, and 1,120 practicum hours spanning hemodynamic monitoring, line placement, and ventilator management. Placement rules are strict — no rotations at a student's own workplace, with new facilities each semester — but the payoff shows in the school's report that many students receive job offers from rotation sites. Applicants need 2,000 RN hours and ACLS before specialty clinicals. Best for BSN-prepared ICU nurses who want a doctorate, procedural depth, and employer connections inside Arkansas's largest health system...read more.
National Online ACNP Options
Arkansas’s field is small, and both in-state schools serve only the adult-gerontology population. Nurses without a BSN or those seeking an MSN-to-DNP bridge have no in-state AG-ACNP route, and UAMS’s unstated delivery format leaves distance learners with limited certainty.
Chamberlain University ACNP Programs
Chicago | $760 cpc | Certificate
Chamberlain University supports experienced RNs in Arkansas with two distinct, fully online AGACNP tracks: a 3-year MSN and a sub-2-year Graduate Certificate for those already holding an advanced degree. These programs feature doctoral-level faculty and robust clinical support, including two required on-ground immersion events for essential skills validation, ensuring high clinical competency. The estimated cost for the Graduate Certificate is $32,680, offering a fast and cost-effective route for Arkansas nurses to gain specialization in acute care.
Purdue Global ACNP Programs
West Lafayette | $420 cpc | Certificate
Purdue Global’s Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Postgraduate Certificate offers Arkansas nurses a fully online pathway that includes virtual reality acute care simulations and guided clinical practice. Over roughly 1.5 years, students complete 57 credits focused on advanced assessment, pharmacology, diagnosis, and critical care management. Graduates in Arkansas are ready to manage complex acute and chronic conditions in adult and geriatric patients and seek AGACNP certification.
South College ACNP Programs
Knoxville | $615 cpc | Certificate
Nurses in Arkansas can pursue advanced acute care training through South College’s online AGACNP programs. Students select either a BSN-MSN degree or a post-graduate certificate pathway. The curriculum blends asynchronous learning with clinical practicums focused on high-acuity adult and geriatric care.
Walden University ACNP Programs
Minneapolis | $775 cpc | Certificate
Arkansas nurses seeking to specialize in acute and critical care can choose Walden University’s fully online MSN-AGACNP, DNP-AGACNP, or Post-Master’s Certificate tracks, all backed by the Practicum Pledge® that helps secure preceptors and sites from Little Rock’s academic medical centers to Delta and Ozark rural hospitals. Students complete 640–1,000 faculty-supported clinical hours mastering advanced assessment, pharmacology, and management of high-acuity patients while benefiting from virtual simulation and flexible pacing options. This accessible, CCNE-accredited pathway equips Arkansas graduates to address critical provider shortages in trauma centers, cardiac ICUs, and underserved communities across the state.
FAQ
How many online ACNP programs are in Arkansas?
Two schools offer four AG-ACNP pathways: Arkansas State’s MSN and post-master’s certificate, both fully online, and UAMS’s BSN-to-DNP and post-graduate certificate, whose delivery format is not clearly stated.
Which Arkansas ACNP programs are fully online?
Arkansas State delivers both of its tracks 100% online; weekend on-site skills labs exist but are optional. UAMS does not publish a clear delivery format in the available materials.
Which Arkansas ACNP program has the lowest tuition?
Arkansas State’s post-master’s certificate is the least expensive credential at an estimated $8K, and its MSN is the cheapest degree at about $16K. UAMS charges $525 per resident credit, reaching roughly $38K for the DNP.
Can I study pediatric acute care in Arkansas?
No. Both Arkansas schools train only the adult-gerontology acute care population, and the confirmed national online providers are also AG-ACNP-only, so PNP-AC candidates must look elsewhere.
Which Arkansas school offers a DNP ACNP?
Only UAMS. Its post-BSN DNP takes 3 years full time or 4 part time, with 1,120 practicum hours. There is no in-state MSN-to-DNP AG-ACNP bridge.
How much ICU or RN experience do Arkansas programs require?
Arkansas State requires 1,500 documented RN practice hours before NP admission. UAMS requires 2,000 verified RN hours before its advanced assessment course, plus ACLS certification before clinical specialty courses begin.
Do Arkansas programs restrict where I complete clinicals?
Yes, in different ways. Arkansas State practicums must occur in states where the university holds operating authority. UAMS bars rotations on units where students work as staff nurses and requires a different facility each semester unless faculty approve an exception for limited community resources.