3 Schools • 2 Hybrid • 1 Online
Three Indiana schools offer seven adult-gerontology acute care (AG-ACNP) pathways: two MSNs, two BSN-to-DNPs, and three post-master’s certificates. No in-state school offers pediatric acute care.
Tuition runs from about $10K for a certificate to $49K for a doctorate, and degree programs take 2.5 to 5 years.
Highlights include:
- University of Southern Indiana is the only fully online program in the state and the only one with no RN experience requirement.
- Indiana University charges BSN-to-DNP students one $735 rate regardless of residency and places them with central Indiana partners, including Level I trauma centers.
- University of Indianapolis staff help secure clinical sites, but enrollment is limited to nurses in Indiana and four neighboring states.
- Both Indianapolis programs teach intubation, central line, and chest tube placement in on-campus simulation.
Compare each school’s online format, campus commitment, cost, and degree options below.
| School | Track | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University Indianapolis; | AG-ACNP | Hybrid | In-person lectures, labs, and simulation | $735 DNP; $650.25 certificate | BSN-to-DNP, Certificate | ICU, ED, or PCU nurses near Indianapolis seeking a DNP |
| University of Indianapolis | AG-ACNP | Hybrid | Regularly scheduled simulation sessions | $828 CPC | MSN, Certificate | Experienced acute care RNs in the five-state region wanting an MSN |
| University of Southern Indiana | AG-ACNP | Online | None | $546.94 MSN and certificate; $596.94 DNP | MSN, BSN-to-DNP, Certificate | Newer RNs and nurses outside central Indiana |
What’s the Best ACNP Program for You?
Best Overall Value
University of Southern Indiana offers an online MSN for about $24K at the resident rate, the lowest degree price in the state.
Strongest DNP
Indiana University pairs 1,000 clinical hours with faculty-coordinated placements at central Indiana partners, including Level I trauma centers, and finishes in about three years full-time.
Best Hybrid MSN
University of Indianapolis is the only in-state MSN with campus procedure simulation, and its staff help students secure clinical sites.
Best for Newer RNs
USI recommends but does not require RN experience on all three tracks, so a nurse can apply straight from the BSN.
Best Experience Runway
IU admits BSN applicants who have not yet logged 1,800 hours of adult ICU, ED, or PCU work, as long as they finish before clinicals begin.
Indiana DNP ACNP Programs
Two schools offer BSN-to-DNP entry in adult-gerontology acute care. No in-state school offers an MSN-to-DNP that adds the AG-ACNP population focus; IU’s post-MSN Advanced Clinical track does not. The choice comes down to campus access and time. IU runs a three-year hybrid plan anchored in Indianapolis, while USI’s online plan takes four to five years at a lower resident price.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University (BSN-to-DNP) | AG-ACNP | $49K | 3 years full-time | 1,000 hrs |
| University of Southern Indiana (BSN-to-DNP) | AG-ACNP | $43K resident | 4–5 years | 750 direct hrs |
- Lowest doctoral cost: University of Southern Indiana — $43K at the resident rate; online non-residents pay $50 more per credit.
- Fastest doctorate: Indiana University — about three years full-time, with fall entry only across three application cycles.
- Unpublished practice hours: University of Southern Indiana — indirect DNP practice hours are not stated, and the program admits in August only.
- Possible fee increase: Indiana University — its fee schedule lists a per-credit nursing differential that, if applied to DNP students, lifts the rate to about $771–$790.
Indiana MSN ACNP Programs
Two schools offer the MSN, and both require 750 clinical hours. The differences are cost, campus time, and the experience you need on day one. USI runs fully online with three start dates a year. UIndy adds scheduled simulation in Indianapolis and staff support for clinical sites, at a higher price and with a stricter experience bar.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Indianapolis (MSN) | AG-ACNP | $36K | About 2.6 years (8 semesters) | 750 hrs |
| University of Southern Indiana (MSN) | AG-ACNP | $24K resident | 2.5–3 years | 750 hrs |
- Lowest MSN cost: University of Southern Indiana — about $24K for residents, roughly $12K below UIndy.
- Experience bar: University of Indianapolis — one year of full-time RN experience to apply and two years by program start.
- Regional limit: University of Indianapolis — enrollment is open only to nurses in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky.
- Start dates: University of Southern Indiana — January, May, and August entry, against Fall and Spring at UIndy.
Indiana Post-Graduate Certificate ACNP Programs
All three schools offer a post-master’s AG-ACNP certificate, and each sets credits by reviewing prior graduate coursework. USI publishes the lowest range. IU’s resident price sits slightly higher with more clinical hours. UIndy publishes no credit range, duration, or hour total, so its cost is unknown until the gap analysis is done.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University (Certificate) | AG-ACNP | $14K–$21K resident | Not published | 780 hrs |
| University of Indianapolis (Certificate) | AG-ACNP | Set by gap analysis | Varies | Not clearly stated |
| University of Southern Indiana (Certificate) | AG-ACNP | $10K–$15K resident | Not published | 750 hrs |
- Lowest certificate cost: University of Southern Indiana — $10K–$15K, with up to 9 transfer credits cutting the plan to 19.
- Federal aid gap: Indiana University — the certificate is not eligible for federal student loans.
- Accreditation check: Indiana University — its CCNE statement does not name the certificate separately, and ANCC requires the certificate program itself to be accredited.
- Single intake: University of Southern Indiana — May entry only, while IU admits in fall only.
National Online ACNP Options
Walden University offers online RN-to-MSN, BSN-to-MSN, BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, and post-master’s certificate pathways in AG-ACNP.
Purdue Global, based in West Lafayette, offers an online MSN, an MSN-DNP Path, and a postgraduate certificate.
Maryville University offers an online MSN, BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, and post-master’s certificate.
Chamberlain University offers a Mostly Online MSN and graduate certificate.
South College offers an online BSN-to-MSN and post-graduate certificate.
FAQ
How many ACNP programs are in Indiana?
Three schools offer seven AG-ACNP pathways. Indiana University offers a BSN-to-DNP and a certificate, the University of Indianapolis an MSN and a certificate, and the University of Southern Indiana an MSN, a BSN-to-DNP, and a certificate. All three are CCNE-accredited.
Are there fully online ACNP programs in Indiana, and do any require campus visits?
USI is the only fully online option, with no campus visits listed on any track. IU and UIndy are hybrid. IU holds in-person lectures, labs, and simulation in Indianapolis, and UIndy holds regularly scheduled simulation sessions there. Neither publishes a count of campus days.
Which Indiana ACNP program has the lowest tuition?
USI is lowest on every pathway it offers: $10K–$15K for the certificate, $24K for the MSN, and $43K for the BSN-to-DNP at resident rates. IU’s DNP costs $49K at one rate for all students. Non-residents pay $37K–$54K for IU’s certificate, against $14K–$21K for Indiana residents.
Can I study pediatric acute care in Indiana?
No. All seven Indiana pathways are adult-gerontology acute care, and IU’s pediatric NP track is primary care. Graduates of the in-state programs are eligible for the ANCC AGACNP-BC or AACN ACNPC-AG exam.
How much ICU experience do Indiana programs require?
IU requires 1,800 hours of adult ICU, ED, or PCU experience plus current ACLS. BSN-to-DNP applicants can finish those hours after admission, while certificate applicants need them at application. UIndy requires one year of full-time RN experience to apply and two years by the MSN start, with ICU, ER, or step-down recommended. USI recommends one year or 2,000 hours but requires none.
Can I complete clinicals near home?
At USI, clinicals take place in your own area under a written agency agreement, but enrollment is limited to approved states, and moving to an unrecognized state ends progression. IU places students with central Indiana partners and requires an active Indiana or Compact RN license. UIndy staff help secure sites in Indiana and its contiguous states.
Is Purdue Global an Indiana option?
Purdue Global is based in West Lafayette but operates as a national online university, so it is compared with the national options above. Indiana residents receive a 10% reduction on its graduate tuition and per-term resource fee.