Pennsylvania is a great state for ACNP education. In the state there are 23 ACNP program tracks across 10 universities.
Program costs ranging from $11,960 to $89,885 depending on degree level, residency status, and program structure.
Quick Overview Table for AGACNP Tracks
| School | Est. Cost (Rounded) | High-Level Program Snapshot |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Crest College | MSN: $24K BSN-DNP: $59K Cert: $12K | – fully online with clinical practicums – 756 MSN clinical hours; 1,092 total hours for BSN-DNP – dual CCNE & ACEN accreditation – dedicated clinical placement support and board prep built in – 88% first-time and 100% ultimate board pass rate (2023–2024) |
| Drexel University | MSN: $67K Cert: $46K | – online delivery with required on-campus intensives – 800 clinical hours (MSN) – students secure clinical sites with department support – ranked Best Online Graduate Nursing Program by U.S. News – 100% reported board pass rate |
| Duquesne University | MSN: $78K Cert: $63K | – fully online with three required on-campus residencies – 775 total clinical hours – aligned with NONPF competencies – requires prior acute care experience (ICU preferred) |
| Moravian University | MSN: $40K | – on-campus MSN format – 650 total clinical hours – strong acute and critical care focus – requires 1 year recent critical care experience |
| Penn State University | BSN-DNP: $74K Cert: $29K | – hybrid format (online + in-person components) – 1,238 total practicum hours (DNP) – 700+ global clinical partners – requires 2 years acute care hospital experience – Nese College of Nursing NLN Center of Excellence |
| Saint Joseph’s University | MSN: $50K Cert: $21K–$34K | – flexible online classes with onsite clinical components – 720 clinical hours (MSN) – 100% reported AACN/ANCC board pass rate – strong Pennsylvania clinical network – requires 2 years RN experience (3,000 hours) |
| Thomas Jefferson University | MSN: $69K Cert: $24K–$36K | – online or hybrid study options – 750 total clinical hours – clinical placement is shared student–faculty responsibility – graduates eligible for ANCC or AACN certification |
| University of Pennsylvania | MSN: $90K Cert: $22K | – hybrid format; 15-month full-time option – strong preceptor matching through Penn health system – specialty exposure in trauma, oncology, cardiology, surgery – certificate designed for primary care NPs working in acute care |
| Widener University | MSN: $48K BSN-DNP: $77K Cert: $32K | – hybrid format with faculty-supervised clinical placements – 750 clinical hours (MSN/Cert); 1,310 total hours (DNP) – ICU, trauma, and hospitalist rotation access – mentorship from clinically active faculty |
List of Schools with ACNP Programs
Program summaries for bot PA and national online schools that have rolling admissions.
Cedar Crest College ACNP Programs
Allentown | $670 to $795 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN / DNP
Cedar Crest College offers online MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and post-master’s AGACNP options with clinical practicums, clinical placement support, and board exam prep. The MSN includes 35 credits and 756 clinical hours with advanced assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and acute care management courses plus a clinical residency. The BSN-to-DNP adds 22 DNP credits and 336 practicum hours on top of the MSN clinical sequence for a total of 1,092 clinical/practicum hours, with DNP project work built into the plan. The certificate follows the AGACNP specialty sequence (gap analysis may add core courses) and uses the same 756-hour clinical structure as the MSN...read more.
Chamberlain University ACNP Programs
Fully Online | $760 cpc | Certificate / MSN
Chamberlain University offers Pennsylvania nurses an online AGACNP MSN and post-graduate certificate option designed for those seeking a career in adult-gerontology acute care. The programs include 700 hours of supervised clinical practice and in-person immersion experiences for essential skills training. With board-certified NP faculty and practicum placement assistance, Pennsylvania nurses receive structured guidance throughout their clinical progression.
Drexel University ACNP Programs
Philadelphia | $1169 cpc | Certificate / MSN
Drexel University offers an online MSN and a post-master’s AGACNP certificate with required on-campus residency intensives. The MSN track includes 57 quarter credits and 800 clinical hours, with a strong focus on diagnostic reasoning, pharmacology, and acute and critical care management across medical and surgical settings. The certificate track is designed for MSN-prepared nurses and uses a gap analysis to tailor coursework and clinical hours based on prior NP experience. Both programs prepare graduates for AGACNP certification and emphasize high-acuity adult and geriatric care...read more.
Duquesne University ACNP Programs
Pittsburgh | $1,840 cpc | Certificate / MSN
Duquesne University offers two AGACNP tracks that run online and include three required on-campus residency visits for skills training and clinical labs. The MSN track costs an estimated $77,922 and takes about 3 years, while the post-master’s certificate costs an estimated $62,832 and takes about 2.5 years. Both tracks follow NONPF competencies and prepare graduates to manage complex acute, critical, and chronic conditions across the adult lifespan through high-acuity clinical experiences...read more.
Moravian University ACNP Programs
Bethlehem | $899 cpc | MSN
Moravian University offers an on-campus MSN Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track that prepares RNs to manage adult patients in acute care units and outpatient specialty settings. The estimated tuition is $39,524 for 44 credits, and most part-time students finish in about 2 to 3 years. The curriculum includes advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and assessment plus an acute care clinical year with three practicum courses totaling 650 supervised clinical hours across internal medicine, critical care, and specialty rotations...read more.
Penn State University ACNP Programs
University Park | $1,298 cpc | Certificate / DNP
Penn State offers a BSN-to-DNP AGACNP track and a post-graduate APRN AGACNP certificate in a hybrid format with in-person components and required clinical practicums. Both options require two years of acute care hospital experience before admission and focus on advanced assessment, therapeutics, and management of critically ill adult and older adult patients. The BSN-to-DNP plan includes 57 credits and 1,238 total practicum hours that combine AGACNP clinical training with doctoral project work. The certificate uses a minimum 22 credits and 600 practicum hours, with an individualized plan based on transcript review and possible added coursework...read more.
Purdue Global ACNP Programs
Fully Online | $420 cpc | Certificate
Registered Nurses in Pennsylvania looking to transition into critical care can leverage Purdue Global’s online platform to earn their AGAC-NP certificate without relocating. The program specifically targets those with at least 2,000 hours of acute care experience, offering a rigorous 12-course sequence. Pennsylvania students will gain hands-on experience through local clinical rotations under expert preceptors, supplemented by innovative virtual reality simulations to master high-stakes diagnostic reasoning.
Saint Joseph’s University ACNP Programs
Philadelphia | 1002 cpc | Certificate / MSN
Saint Joseph’s University offers MSN and post-master’s certificate AGACNP options built for working nurses through flexible online coursework with required in-person clinical training. The MSN track includes 47–49 credits and 720 clinical hours, with clinical placement requirements that can take time to secure and must be approved in advance. The certificate track uses a gap analysis to set credit and clinical hour totals, with 540 hours for certified NPs and 720 hours for non-NPs. Both tracks require BLS and ACLS before clinicals, plus Pennsylvania clearances, drug screening, and immunization compliance, and the program reports a 100% AGACNP exam pass rate...read more.
South College ACNP Programs
Fully Online | $615 cpc | Certificate / MSN
Nurses in Pennsylvania can enroll in South College’s online AGACNP programs designed for working professionals. The BSN-MSN and post-graduate certificate options combine online study with supervised clinical experiences. Both pathways emphasize advanced decision-making in acute and critical care.
Thomas Jefferson University ACNP Programs
Philadelphia | $1,337 cpc | Certificate / MSN
Thomas Jefferson University offers an MSN and a post-graduate AGACNP certificate with online or blended course options and flexible pacing for working nurses. The MSN includes 45 credits and prepares BSN nurses to manage high-acuity patients across the full acute care spectrum, with 750 clinical hours completed across three specialty clinical courses. The post-graduate certificate targets nurses who already hold a graduate nursing degree and uses a gap analysis to confirm which APRN core courses are still needed before AGACNP specialty coursework. Both pathways use a shared clinical placement partnership model and require a mandatory on-campus orientation before the program begins...read more.
University of Pennsylvania ACNP Programs
Philadelphia | $6,890 cpc | Certificate / MSN
University of Pennsylvania offers an MSN AGACNP program and a streamlined post-master’s AGACNP certificate designed for primary care NPs who already manage acute patients. The MSN uses a hybrid format with full-time and part-time options, combining core APRN courses, acute care theory, and a year-long clinical sequence focused on advanced clinical decisions and the AGACNP professional role. Penn Nursing provides strong clinical placement support through a large preceptor network across Penn and regional health systems, with options in areas such as critical care, trauma, cardiology, oncology, surgery, and palliative care. The streamlined certificate is mostly online and requires clinical hours at the student’s current workplace, with an affiliation agreement in place before enrollment...read more.
Walden University ACNP Programs
Fully Online | $775 cpc | Certificate / MSN / DNP
Walden University provides Pennsylvania RNs with flexible online AGACNP education at three degree levels to match diverse career goals and existing credentials. The MSN track requires 640 clinical hours while the DNP requires 1,000 post-baccalaureate hours, all focused on acute and critical care of adults and older adults. Pennsylvania nurses receive support through virtual skills labs, Walden Grand Rounds, and dedicated field placement teams to secure preceptors across the Commonwealth.
West Coast University ACNP Programs
Fully Online | $700 cpc | Certificate / MSN
West Coast University’s CCNE-accredited AGACNP programs are available to Pennsylvania nurses and satisfy the educational standards required by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP certification and prescriptive authority. The 100% online coursework, paired with only two required on-campus intensive weekends and dedicated clinical placement coordinators, makes the program accessible for working Pennsylvania RNs with recent critical-care experience. Graduates are well-prepared to sit for national certification exams and practice in hospitals and intensive care settings across the Commonwealth.
Widener University ACNP Programs
Chester | $1,060 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN / DNP
Widener University offers hybrid MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and post-master’s AGACNP tracks that blend online coursework with in-person learning and clinical practicums. The MSN includes 45 credits and 750 faculty-supervised clinical hours across three 250-hour practicum courses, with ICU, trauma, and hospitalist-style experiences. The BSN-to-DNP includes 73 credits and 1,310 total hours by adding 560 DNP practicum hours to the 750 AGACNP clinical hours, with a DNP project sequence. The post-master’s certificate includes 30 credits and the same 750-hour practicum structure used in the MSN...read more.
Comparing ACNP Programs in Pennsylvania
How should you choose the best option for you?
TLDR: Program Selection Guide
Choose Cedar Crest College if you want the most affordable option in the Lehigh Valley with dual CCNE and ACEN accreditation ($23,860 MSN or $11,960 certificate), dedicated clinical placement support, built-in board exam prep, and strong outcomes (88% first-time pass rate, 100% ultimate pass rate).
Choose Drexel University if you want a U.S. News-ranked program (#45 online graduate nursing) with a quarter system (57 quarter credits), required on-campus residency intensives, 800 clinical hours, and 100% board pass rates at $66,633 MSN.
Choose Duquesne University if you prefer fully online delivery with three mandatory on-campus residency visits for hands-on skills, curriculum aligned with NONPF competencies, and 775 clinical hours emphasizing the Synergy Model throughout coursework.
Choose Moravian University if you want on-campus education in Bethlehem with 650 clinical hours, a dedicated acute care clinical year structure, and direct admission pathway for Moravian BSN graduates at $39,524 for 44 credits.
Choose Penn State University if you need DNP-level preparation (no MSN option) through a Center of Excellence program with 1,238 total hours (750 clinical + 488 doctoral project), access to 700+ clinical partners globally, and two years acute care experience requirement.
Choose Saint Joseph’s University if you want demonstrated excellence with 100% pass rates on AACN/ANCC exams, flexible online classes with onsite clinical components, clinical support at premier Pennsylvania facilities, and 2 years/3,000 hours of nursing experience requirement.
Choose Thomas Jefferson University if you prefer online/combination delivery with flexible 2-3 year study options, 750 clinical hours requiring 16+ hours/week during clinical courses, and partnership-based clinical placement at $68,759 MSN.
Choose University of Pennsylvania if you want a premier CCNE-accredited program with hybrid learning, fast-track full-time option (15 months), extensive clinical network across Penn and mid-Atlantic systems, and unique streamlined certificate for primary care NPs transitioning to acute care.
Choose Widener University if you want hybrid in-person/online format with mentorship from clinically active faculty, 750 MSN clinical hours including simulation (16 hours per practicum course), and clinical experiences in medical/surgical ICUs, trauma units, and hospitalist rotations.
Comparing DNP ACNP Programs in PA
Three Pennsylvania schools offer a DNP pathway to AGACNP practice.
Cedar Crest is the most affordable at $58,765, but it’s structured as a part-time 6-year program — a major commitment.
Penn State completes fastest at 3 years and offers the most robust clinical infrastructure with 700+ global partners.
Widener falls in the middle on both cost and time, with the highest total clinical hours of the three at 1,310.
| School | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Format | Total Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Crest College | $58,765 + fees | ~6 years (PT) | Online + clinicals | 1,092 |
| Penn State | ~$73,980 + fees | ~3 years (PT) | Hybrid | 1,238 |
| Widener University | ~$77,380 + fees | ~5 years | Hybrid | 1,310 |
Penn State stands out for its dedicated clinical placement team and 700+ global affiliate network — students can complete requirements at their place of employment.
Cedar Crest’s 6-year timeline is the longest of any PA program but keeps per-semester costs low.
Penn State is the only DNP program in Pennsylvania requiring 2 years of acute care experience before admission, making it the most selective DNP option in the state.
Comparing ACNP MSN Programs in PA
Seven Pennsylvania schools offer MSN-level AGACNP pathways — the most competitive segment in the state.
Cedar Crest is the least expensive at $23,860, and Penn’s full-time track is the fastest at 15 months, though it carries the highest MSN price tag at $89,885.
For mid-range options, Widener, Saint Joseph’s, and Moravian offer strong programs in the $39,000–$52,000 range.
| School | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Format | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Crest College | ~$23,860 + fees | ~3 years (PT) | Online | 756 |
| Moravian University | ~$39,524 | 2–3 years (PT) | On-campus | 650 |
| Widener University | ~$47,700 + fees | 2–3 years | Hybrid | 750 |
| Saint Joseph’s University | ~$49,398–$51,498 | 3 years (FT) | Online + onsite | 720 |
| Thomas Jefferson University | ~$68,759 | 2–3 years | Online/hybrid | 750 |
| Drexel University | ~$66,633 + fees | ~3 years (PT) | Online + intensives | 800 |
| Duquesne University | ~$77,922 | 3 years (FT) | Online + 3 residencies | 775 |
| University of Pennsylvania | ~$89,885 | 15 mo. (FT) / 2–3 yrs (PT) | Hybrid | Not specified |
Drexel logs the highest confirmed clinical hours at 800, while Moravian’s 650-hour requirement is the lowest.
Penn’s 15-month full-time option is unmatched for speed in this state.
Saint Joseph’s 100% board pass rate and three annual start terms make it one of the most attractive mid-range options.
Duquesne’s mandatory on-campus residencies provide structure that fully online programs can’t replicate — a meaningful differentiator for hands-on learners.
Comparing Certificate Programs
Pennsylvania has robust certificate offerings across eight programs.
Cedar Crest is the most affordable at $11,960, while Drexel and Duquesne are by far the most expensive — a notable outlier in this category.
Penn’s Streamlined Certificate is a unique option specifically designed for primary care NPs managing acute patients in their current role.
| School | Entry Req. | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Crest College | MSN | ~$11,960 + fees | ~1.5 years (PT) | 756 |
| University of Pennsylvania | MSN + APRN (primary care) | ~$21,534 | ~12 months (PT) | At employer site |
| Saint Joseph’s University | MSN | ~$21,042–$34,068 | 12–18 months | 540–720 (varies) |
| Thomas Jefferson University | MSN/DNP | ~$24,066+ | 12–18 months | 750 |
| Penn State | Master’s or higher | ~$28,556 + fees | ~2 years | 600 min. |
| Widener University | MSN | ~$31,800 + fees | 1.5–2 years | 750 |
| Drexel University | MSN | ~$45,591 + fees | ~2 years | 500–800 (varies) |
| Duquesne University | BSN + MSN | ~$62,832 | 2.5 years | 775 |
Several key distinctions stand out. Penn’s Streamlined Certificate requires you to currently work with acutely ill patients and have your employer sign an affiliation agreement — it’s only viable if your job site qualifies.
Saint Joseph’s certificate cost varies significantly based on whether you hold NP licensure (540 hrs, lower cost) vs. non-NP status (720 hrs, higher cost).
Drexel and Duquesne are priced well above the field — they’re best justified for nurses who specifically want those institutions’ credentials or need their clinical structures.
Cedar Crest remains the standout value for MSN-prepared nurses at $11,960 with 756 clinical hours.
Admissions Comparison for PA ACNP Programs
| School | Min. GPA | App. Deadlines | Interview | Clinical Exp. Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Crest College | 3.0 | Not specified | Yes (with Director) | None req’d (1 yr preferred) |
| Drexel University | 3.0 (MSN); 3.5 (Certificate) | Not specified | Possible (phone/in-person) | Not specified |
| Duquesne University | 3.0 | Not specified | Possible | 1+ yr acute care (ICU preferred) |
| Moravian University | 3.0 | Not specified | Yes (Admissions Committee) | 1 yr recent critical care |
| Penn State | 3.0 | Mar 1 / Jun 30 / Oct 1 (rolling) | Yes (video/in-person) | 2 yrs acute care hospital |
| Saint Joseph’s University | 3.0 | Rolling (Aug/Jan/May starts) | Not specified | 2 yrs / 3,000 clinical hrs |
| Thomas Jefferson University | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | BSN + current RN license |
| University of Pennsylvania | 3.0 | Multiple (by term/enrollment type) | Not specified | 1 yr with acutely/critically ill pts |
| Widener University | 3.0 | Not specified | Yes (after preliminary review) | Not specified (PA/multi-state RN req’d) |
Penn State has the most stringent experience requirement at 2 full years of acute care hospital experience — no other PA program mandates this level before admission.
Saint Joseph’s mirrors that bar with 2 years and a minimum of 3,000 documented clinical hours.
Cedar Crest is the most accessible, requiring no prior clinical experience (though 1 year is preferred).
Drexel’s certificate program is the only PA program requiring a 3.5 GPA — a full half-point above the field standard, reflecting its more competitive entry threshold.
Penn offers the most structured application calendar with clearly published deadlines tied to enrollment type and start term, making it the easiest program to plan around.