Indiana University School of Nursing offers 3 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) pathways:
- BSN-DNP Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Post-MSN DNP Advanced Clinical Track (AGACNP-focused)
- Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
All programs blend online coursework with required in-person lab and simulation days at the Fairbanks Hall Simulation Center on IU’s Indianapolis campus, where students practice advanced skills including endotracheal intubation, central line insertion, and thoracostomy tube placement.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| BSN-DNP AGACNP | ~$33,273 | 3 years |
| Post-MSN DNP AGACNP | ~$19,137+ | Varies |
| Certificate AGACNP | Varies by plan of study | Varies |
The BSN-DNP AGACNP track features small cohort sizes, paired clinical preceptors, and placement in high-acuity settings including Level I trauma centers across central Indiana.
IU’s AGACNP graduates consistently score above the national average on board certification exams administered by the ANCC and AACN.
BSN-DNP Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the BSN-DNP AGACNP program is approximately $33,273 and would take a minimum of 3 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Estimate based on 66 credit hours × $434.95/credit + ~$4,566 in mandatory fees across 6 semesters.
BSN-DNP Curriculum
The BSN-DNP AGACNP is a hybrid program totaling 66 credit hours and 1,005 required clinical hours. Coursework focuses on management of acute and chronic illness across adolescent, adult, obstetric, and geriatric populations, delivered through a combination of online lectures, expert guest lectures, and hands-on high-fidelity simulation.
The curriculum integrates advanced skills such as endotracheal intubation, central line insertion, and thoracostomy tube placement via IU’s partnership with The Simulation Center at Fairbanks Hall.
The program follows a 10-domain framework including knowledge for nursing practice, person-centered care, population health, scholarship, quality and safety, interprofessional partnerships, systems-based practice, informatics, professionalism, and professional development.
See the official curriculum page for more details.
BSN-DNP Clinicals
Students complete 1,005 supervised clinical hours coordinated by faculty with clinical partners across central Indiana. Clinical placements are in high-acuity environments and may include:
- Level I trauma centers
- Internal medicine / hospitalist services
- Cardiology
- Cardiothoracic surgery
- Critical care medicine
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Pulmonology
- Transplant services
BSN-DNP Admissions Requirements
- BSN from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program
- Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Active, unencumbered Indiana or Compact RN license
- One year of full-time RN experience (1,800 hours) in an appropriate setting prior to or during enrollment
- Resume including clinical experience with dates, certifications, leadership roles, and professional memberships
- Foreign-educated nurses must have degree equivalency evaluated by IU Indianapolis Office of International Affairs
Post-MSN DNP – Advanced Clinical Track
The estimated cost for the Post-MSN DNP Advanced Clinical Track is approximately $19,137 (minimum 37 credit hours × $434.95/credit + ~$3,044 in mandatory fees across ~4 semesters), with total duration varying by individualized plan of study.
DNP Curriculum
The Post-MSN DNP Advanced Clinical track requires a minimum of 37 credit hours of core coursework. Core courses include:
- NURS-D 650 – Data Analysis for Clinical and Administrative Decision Making (3 cr)
- NURS-D 710 – Analytical Thinking for Evidence-based Practice (3 cr)
- NURS-D 660 – Improving Population Health: Application of Evidence for Individual-Level Behavior Change (3 cr)
- NURS-D 743 – Trans-Disciplinary Approaches to Influencing Health Policy (3 cr)
- NURS-D 722 – Theoretical Basis of Project Implementation and Evaluation (3 cr)
- NURS-D 708 – Population Health Practicum (1 cr)
- NURS-D 750 – Doctor of Nursing Practice Project Planning (1–4 cr)
- NURS-I 640 – Informatics in Nursing Practice Project Implementation (3 cr)
- NURS-D 760 – Doctor of Nursing Practice Project Implementation (1–4 cr)
- NURS-D 721 – Advanced Leadership in Complex Systems (3 cr)
- NURS-D 615 – Performance Improvement and Patient Safety in Health Systems (3 cr)
- NURS-D 770 – DNP Project Evaluation and Dissemination (1–4 cr)
- NURS-D 748 – Leading Patient-Centered Interprofessional Collaborative Practice Environments (3 cr)
- NURS-D 735 – Population Health Surveillance and Management (3 cr)
See the official curriculum page for more details.
DNP Clinicals
The Post-MSN DNP requires a total of 1,000 clinical hours. Students may apply up to 500 clinical hours from prior completed graduate nursing coursework toward this requirement. The remaining hours are fulfilled through the DNP Project. Students with a gap in prior clinical hours complete additional DNP Project credits to reach the 1,000-hour total.
DNP Admissions Requirements
- Master of Science in Nursing from a NLNAC-, ACEN-, or CCNE-accredited program
- Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Current, unencumbered RN license
- 3 graduate credit hours in statistics from an accredited four-year university with a grade of 80% (3.0) or better
- Transcripts for all post-secondary coursework
- Three professional and/or academic references
- Personal statement (2–3 pages, double-spaced)
- Resume or CV
- Example of scholarly writing (report, published/unpublished article, or thesis)
- Copy of current, unencumbered RN license
- Documentation of master’s clinical hours completed (Post-MSN tracks)
- Qualified applicants are invited to a formal admission interview with DNP faculty
Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate in AGACNP varies based on an individualized plan of study and would take a variable amount of time to complete depending on the student’s prior graduate coursework and clinical hours.
Certificate Curriculum
The Post-Master’s Certificate in AGACNP is designed for nurses who already hold a Master’s degree or higher in nursing and wish to earn certification in the AGACNP specialty. Each student receives an individualized plan of study developed by faculty after admission to ensure all requirements for national certification in the AGACNP specialty area are met. Credit hours and time to completion vary by student.
Certificate Clinicals
Clinical requirements are determined on a per-student basis as part of the individualized plan of study, aligned with AGACNP certification requirements.
Certificate Admissions Requirements
- Master’s degree or higher in nursing
- Seeking AGACNP specialty certification in an additional specialty area
- Specific prerequisites determined individually after admission
- Note: Faculty develop individualized plans of study only after admission; admissions staff can provide general guidance beforehand
Tuition
Graduate in-state tuition is $434.95 per credit hour. A mandatory Student Services Fee of $761.02 per semester applies in addition to per-credit tuition. More curriculum details are available here.
Application Deadlines
The BSN-DNP Nurse Practitioner program admits one cohort per year for a fall start. Applications are reviewed in three cycles:
| Cycle | Application Window |
|---|---|
| Cycle I | July 15 – October 15 |
| Cycle II | October 16 – January 15 |
| Cycle III | January 16 – March 15 |
IU recommends applying in the earliest available cycle. If all seats are filled, applications continue to be accepted for the waitlist; waitlist applicants receive final decisions by May 1.
Accreditation
Indiana University School of Nursing’s BSN-DNP program requires an entry-level BSN from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program, and the Post-MSN DNP requires an MSN from a NLNAC-, ACEN-, or CCNE-accredited institution. IU’s AGACNP program prepares graduates for board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), and graduates are eligible to apply for prescriptive authority through the Indiana State Licensure Board.
Additional ACNP Programs in Indiana
- University of Indianapolis - Indianapolis
- University of Southern Indiana - Evansville