1 In-State School • 1 Online • 2 Online Options Compared
Hawaii has one acute care nurse practitioner program, at Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) in Honolulu. It offers an AG-ACNP MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and post-master’s certificate, all Online with no published campus visits. Tuition runs $29K–$84K, and completion takes 1 to about 3.7 years depending on pathway and pace.
Because there is only one in-state option, we added two online programs, Walden University and Maryville University, to every comparison table below. Compare each school’s online format, campus commitment, cost, and degree options below.
Compare Options
| School | Track | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Pacific University (in-state) | AG-ACNP | Online | None published; asynchronous coursework | $1,156 + $110 clinical fee per course | BSN-to-MSN, BSN-to-DNP, Post-Master’s Certificate | BSN nurses without acute care experience |
| Walden University (online option) | AG-ACNP | Online | None published; virtual skills lab | $785 per quarter credit (specialty courses) | RN-to-MSN, BSN-to-MSN, BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, Post-Master’s Certificate | Nurses who need RN-to-MSN entry or are certified FNPs |
| Maryville University (online option) | AG-ACNP | Online | None required | $900 master’s; $995 doctoral + $775/semester technology fee | BSN-to-MSN, BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, Post-Master’s Certificate | Nurses seeking the lowest MSN or DNP tuition compared here |
Hawaii eligibility: Walden’s AG-ACNP practicum restrictions do not include Hawaii. Maryville publishes no state restriction list, so Hawaii applicants should confirm eligibility with admissions before applying.
Hawaii ACNP Programs at a Glance
- Schools: 1 in-state (HPU), plus 2 online options compared (Walden, Maryville)
- Adult-gerontology acute care: Yes, at all three schools
- Pediatric acute care: Not offered in-state or by either online option
- MSN: Yes, BSN entry only in-state; RN-to-MSN available through Walden
- DNP: BSN entry only in-state; Walden and Maryville offer BSN and MSN entry
- Certificate: Yes, in-state; Walden and Maryville also offer one
- Format: Online in-state; both online options are Online
- Lowest published in-state tuition: $29K (post-master’s certificate)
Choosing an ACNP Program in Hawaii
No Experience Gate and Local Clinicals: HPU
HPU admits BSN nurses with no RN or acute care experience requirement; inpatient experience is recommended only. Its 630 specialty hours run in hospital ICUs, trauma units, and emergency departments near home, and placement specialists help students find sites without guaranteeing one. In July 2026, CCNE directed all three HPU 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.
Most Entry Points: Walden
Walden covers entry points HPU lacks, including RN-to-MSN for diploma and associate-degree nurses, MSN-to-DNP, and a shortened certificate for certified FNPs. It publishes no campus visits, no acute care or ICU requirement, and quarterly starts. The trade-off is placement: students identify their own site and preceptor, with Practicum Pledge support but no guarantee.
Lowest MSN and DNP Tuition: Maryville
Maryville has the lowest MSN and BSN-to-DNP tuition compared here and the most specialty clinical hours, at 750. Coursework is fully online with six start dates a year. Applicants need one year of professional nursing experience, not acute care experience specifically. Maryville says clinicals are completed locally but does not say whether the student or the university finds the preceptor.
Hawaii RN-to-MSN ACNP Programs
No Hawaii program offers an RN-to-MSN AG-ACNP pathway; HPU and Maryville both require a BSN. Walden is the only option compared here that admits diploma nurses, associate-degree nurses, and nurses holding a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walden University (online option) | AG-ACNP | $59K | About 2.5 years | 640 hrs |
- Bridge pricing: Walden — 26 undergraduate foundation credits bill at $435 rather than $785, though the block does not equal a BSN.
- Experience requirement: Walden — no acute care or ICU experience required at any stage.
Compare more programs: See all RN-to-MSN AG-ACNP programs
Hawaii BSN-to-MSN ACNP Programs
HPU offers Hawaii’s only in-state BSN-to-MSN AG-ACNP pathway, a 46-credit online program with asynchronous coursework. Walden and Maryville add online MSNs with more frequent starts: quarterly at Walden and six times a year at Maryville.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Pacific University (in-state) | AG-ACNP | $53K | About 2 years | 630 hrs |
| Walden University (online option) | AG-ACNP | $48K | About 2 years | 640 hrs |
| Maryville University (online option) | AG-ACNP | $42K | 20–32 months | 750 hrs |
- Lowest estimated tuition: Maryville — $42K, plus a $775 technology fee each semester.
- Most clinical hours: Maryville — 750, against 630 at HPU and 640 at Walden.
- Experience requirement: Maryville — one year of professional nursing experience; HPU and Walden require none.
- Single posted start: HPU — the next MSN start is January 11, 2027, with a December 18, 2026 deadline.
Compare more programs: See all BSN-to-MSN AG-ACNP programs
Hawaii BSN-to-DNP ACNP Programs
HPU offers Hawaii’s only in-state BSN-entry AG-ACNP doctorate, with full-time and part-time plans and the same January start as its MSN. Walden and Maryville add online BSN-to-DNPs at lower estimated tuition.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Pacific University (in-state) | AG-ACNP | $84K | 34–44 months | 1,000+ hrs |
| Walden University (online option) | AG-ACNP | $79K | About 3.25 years | 1,000 hrs minimum |
| Maryville University (online option) | AG-ACNP | $70K | 3–4 years | 750 hrs specialty; DNP total not published |
- Lowest estimated tuition: Maryville — $70K, about $14K below HPU.
- No exit degree: HPU — no MSN is conferred en route, so leaving before the doctoral project ends with no graduate degree.
- Project location: HPU — the doctoral project runs at a practice site in the student’s state of licensure.
Compare more programs: See all BSN-to-DNP AG-ACNP programs
Hawaii MSN-to-DNP ACNP Programs
No Hawaii program offers an MSN-to-DNP AG-ACNP pathway. Walden and Maryville both admit MSN-prepared nurses into an online doctorate that includes the full AG-ACNP specialty sequence.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walden University (online option) | AG-ACNP | $74K | About 3 years | 1,000 hrs minimum |
| Maryville University (online option) | AG-ACNP | $64K | About 3 years | 750 hrs specialty; DNP total not published |
- Lowest estimated tuition: Maryville — $64K for 68 credits.
- Cost can rise: Walden — applicants with fewer than 600 verified clinical hours add up to 8 credits, as much as $7,680.
Compare more programs: See all MSN-to-DNP AG-ACNP programs
Hawaii Post-Graduate Certificate ACNP Programs
HPU offers Hawaii’s only in-state post-master’s AG-ACNP certificate, the same 25-credit specialty sequence and 630 clinical hours as its MSN. Walden adds a standard certificate and an APRN-entry version for certified FNPs. Maryville’s certificate runs 18 to 35 credits, set by transcript review.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Pacific University (in-state) | AG-ACNP | $29K | About 1 year | 630 hrs |
| Walden University (online option) | AG-ACNP | $29K | About 1.5 years | 640 hrs |
| Walden University (APRN-entry) | AG-ACNP | $15K | About 1 year | 500 hrs |
| Maryville University (online option) | AG-ACNP | $16K–$32K | Up to 2 years (part-time) | 750 hrs |
- Lowest for certified FNPs: Walden APRN-entry — $15K after transferring 17 credits.
- Fastest completion: HPU — about 12 months, though the next cohort has not been posted.
- Cost can rise: HPU — missing core courses add up to 9 credits ($10K), and gaps must close before clinicals begin.
Compare more programs: See all AG-ACNP certificate programs
National Online ACNP Options
- Chamberlain University offers a Mostly Online AG-ACNP MSN and graduate certificate.
- South College offers an online AG-ACNP BSN-to-MSN and post-graduate certificate.
- West Coast University offers a Mostly Online AG-ACNP MSN, RN-to-MSN, and post-master’s certificate, with two on-site intensive weekends in Anaheim or Richardson, Texas.
- Purdue Global lists Hawaii among its blocked jurisdictions.
FAQ
How many ACNP programs are in Hawaii?
One, at Hawaii Pacific University. It offers an AG-ACNP MSN, a BSN-to-DNP, and a post-master’s certificate. Neither HPU nor the two online options compared here offers pediatric acute care.
Are any programs fully online?
Yes. HPU publishes no campus visits for any track, though it does not say where the simulation component of NUR 6982 takes place. Walden and Maryville publish no campus visits either.
Which program has the lowest tuition?
In-state, HPU’s certificate is lowest at $29K, and its MSN is $53K. Among the online options, Walden’s APRN-entry certificate is $15K for certified FNPs, and Maryville’s MSN is $42K.
Which schools offer a DNP?
HPU offers BSN-to-DNP entry only. Walden and Maryville offer both BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP online.
Can I complete clinicals in Hawaii?
Yes. HPU places students at sites near home with help from placement specialists, but no guarantee. Walden students find their own site and preceptor with school support. Maryville says clinicals are completed locally but does not say who finds the preceptor.
Do I need ICU or acute care experience?
No school compared here requires it. HPU recommends inpatient experience, Walden lists none, and Maryville requires one year of general professional nursing experience.
Is HPU’s ACNP program still accredited?
Yes. CCNE’s July 2026 show-cause directive is not an adverse action, and all three programs remain accredited. CCNE evaluates the MSN and certificate on site November 9–11, 2026, and HPU must report on the cited concerns by March 1, 2027.