Indiana University offers 2 acute care nurse practitioner tracks:
- BSN to DNP, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care (AGACNP)
- Post-Master’s Certificate, AGACNP
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition (IN) | Est. Tuition (Non-IN) | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSN-DNP AGACNP | $48.5K | $48.5K | 3 years (full-time) | 66 |
| Certificate | $14.3K-$20.8K | $37.3K-$54.3K | Not published | 22-32 |
Tuition is calculated rather than published.
IU charges BSN-DNP students one $735 rate whether or not they live in Indiana. Admission requires 1,800 hours of adult ICU, ED, or PCU experience, which BSN entrants may finish after enrolling but before clinicals.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | BSN-DNP, post-master’s certificate |
| Population Focus | Adult-gerontology acute care (AGACNP) |
| Format | Hybrid |
| Campus Visits | In-person lectures, labs, and simulation in Indianapolis; cadence not published |
| Clinical Hours | 750 direct care plus 250 project (BSN-DNP); 780 (certificate) |
| Clinical Placement | Faculty-coordinated with partners across central Indiana |
| RN Experience | 1,800 hours in adult ICU, ED, or PCU, plus ACLS |
| License Requirements | Active Indiana or Compact RN license |
| Start Terms | Fall only; three application cycles, July 15 to March 15 |
| Tuition | $735/credit (DNP); $650.25 IN / $1,697 non-IN (certificate) |
| Certification | ANCC AGACNP-BC or AACN ACNPC-AG |
| Accreditation | CCNE |
Requirements Shared Across All Tracks
Clinical Requirements
- Placement model: faculty coordinate placements with clinical partners across central Indiana
- Settings: Level I trauma centers, plus possible rotations in hospitalist medicine, cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, critical care, neurology, neurosurgery, pulmonology, and transplant
- Preceptors: students are paired with expert preceptors in high-acuity settings
- Specialty sequence: three acute care management courses carry 525 of the clinical hours
You Should Know: IU coordinates AGACNP placements with partners across central Indiana. Applicants also need an active Indiana or Compact RN license, so nurses outside Indiana should plan on clinical rotations in the Indianapolis region.
Campus Requirements
- Location: IU Indianapolis campus and The Simulation Center at Fairbanks Hall
- Format: IU calls the program hybrid, with in-person lectures, expert guest lectures, labs, and high-fidelity simulation
- Procedures taught: endotracheal intubation, central line insertion, and thoracostomy tube placement
- Cadence: IU does not publish the number or frequency of campus days
RN Experience and Licensure
- Experience: one year of full-time RN experience (1,800 hours) in an adult ICU, ED, or PCU
- ACLS: current certification required
- License: active, unencumbered Indiana or Compact RN license
You Should Know: Timing differs by track. BSN-DNP applicants without the 1,800 hours can be admitted but must complete them before the clinical phase. Certificate applicants must already have the experience, as an RN or APRN, when they apply.
BSN to DNP, AGACNP
The estimated tuition for the BSN-DNP Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track at Indiana University is approximately $48,510 (66 credits at $735/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 3 years of full-time study.
BSN-DNP Curriculum
The 66 credits split into a 34-credit core, 7 credits of DNP project work, and 25 credits of NP specialty coursework.
- NURS-Y 623: Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- NURS-Y 625: Advanced Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan (4 credits)
- NURS-Y 627: Pharmacology for Advanced Practice (3 credits)
- NURS-S 674: Management of the Acutely Ill Adult/Gero I (5 credits, 75 clinical hours)
- NURS-S 675: Management of the Acutely Ill Adult/Gero II (6 credits, 225 clinical hours)
- NURS-S 676: Management of the Acutely Ill Adult/Gero III (6 credits, 225 clinical hours)
- DNP Synthesis IV: Transition to Practice (3 credits)
- DNP project: project synthesis (4 credits) and project practicum (3 credits)
IU’s AGACNP page lists 750 direct patient care hours and 250 DNP project hours (1,000 total), while the IU Indianapolis Bulletin states 1,005 clinical hours for all BSN-DNP tracks.
More curriculum details are available here.
BSN-DNP Admissions
- Degree: BSN from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program
- GPA: 3.0 in the BSN
- References: two professional references, such as a nurse manager, NP, physician, or nursing faculty
- Documents: resume listing units and dates, plus a license screenshot from the state board site
- Deadlines: fall entry only; cycles run July 15 to October 15, October 16 to January 15, and January 16 to March 15
- Application fee: $70, waived for IU School of Nursing alumni
Post-Master’s Certificate, AGACNP
The estimated tuition for the Post-MSN Nurse Practitioner Certificate (AGACNP) at Indiana University is approximately $14,306 to $20,808 for Indiana residents (22 to 32 credits at $650.25/credit). IU does not publish a completion time.
Certificate Curriculum
- Credits: 22 to 32, set by an individualized plan based on prior graduate coursework
- Clinical hours: 780
- Advising: IU strongly encourages applicants to get a draft plan of study from a graduate advisor before applying
IU’s Post-MSN DNP Advanced Clinical track does not add a population focus. MSN-prepared APRNs seeking AGACNP certification at IU use this certificate.
Certificate Admissions
- Degree: MSN or DNP in an APRN role (CNS, nurse-midwife, nurse anesthetist, or NP) from an accredited program
- GPA: 3.0 in the MSN or DNP
- Experience timing: required at application
- Deadlines: fall entry only, using the same three cycles as the BSN-DNP
You Should Know: The certificate is not eligible for federal student loans. Certificate students can still receive School of Nursing scholarships and assistantships, and IU’s aid office advises on private loans.
Tuition
The BSN-DNP costs $735 per credit for Indiana residents and nonresidents alike, under IU’s approved 2026-27 rate schedule. The certificate uses the graduate nursing rate: $650.25 per credit for residents and $1,697 for nonresidents.
| Program | Credits | Estimated Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| BSN-DNP AGACNP | 66 | $48,510 |
| Certificate (Indiana resident) | 22-32 | $14,306-$20,808 |
| Certificate (nonresident) | 22-32 | $37,334-$54,304 |
- Combined mandatory fee: $1,243.84 per year at IU Indianapolis, or roughly $3,700 across a three-year BSN-DNP
- Application fee: $70
Be aware: IU’s fee schedule also lists per-credit nursing differentials ($55.21 graduate, $36.39 professional) without stating which applies to DNP students. If one applies, the all-in rate rises to about $771 to $790 per credit. IU’s tuition estimator gives the billed figure.
See IU’s approved 2025-27 tuition and fee schedule.
Financial Aid
The School of Nursing awards nearly $1 million in scholarships each year, mostly $1,000 to $2,500 per student, with applications open October 15 to January 15. Review IU School of Nursing scholarships.
Why Choose This ACNP Program?
- One DNP rate regardless of residency: nonresidents pay the same $735 per credit as Indiana residents on the BSN-DNP. Residency affects only the certificate.
- Experience runway for BSN entrants: nurses still building ICU, ED, or PCU hours can be admitted and finish the 1,800 hours before clinicals begin.
- Invasive procedures in simulation: students practice intubation, central lines, and chest tubes at the Fairbanks Hall simulation center.
- Faculty-coordinated placements: rotations run through IU’s central Indiana partners, including Level I trauma centers.
The BSN-DNP fits critical care nurses within reach of Indianapolis, including out-of-state Compact nurses who would otherwise pay nonresident rates. MSN-prepared APRNs adding acute care should weigh the certificate’s resident pricing against its federal loan exclusion.
Accreditation and Certification
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits all of IU School of Nursing’s bachelor’s, master’s, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. IU’s accreditation statement does not name the post-graduate APRN certificate separately, and ANCC requires that program itself to be accredited for certificate-holder eligibility.
Indiana University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The School of Nursing shares one curriculum and governance structure across its Bloomington, Fort Wayne, and Indianapolis campuses.
Both tracks prepare graduates in the adult-gerontology acute care population focus. Graduates are eligible for the ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP-BC) exam or the AACN Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNPC-AG) exam, then may apply for Indiana prescriptive authority.
Review More Acute Care NP Programs in Indiana
- Purdue Global - West Lafayette
- University of Indianapolis - Indianapolis
- University of Southern Indiana - Evansville