Rush University offers 8 acute care nurse practitioner tracks:
- BSN to DNP AGACNP
- MSN to DNP AGACNP (APRNs and non-APRNs)
- Postdoctoral Certificate AGACNP
- BSN to DNP PNP-AC
- MSN to DNP PNP-AC (APRNs and non-APRNs)
- Postgraduate Certificate PNP-AC
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSN-DNP AGACNP | $106K | 3.5 years (up to 10 semesters) | 71 |
| MSN-DNP AGACNP (APRN) | $56.7K | Up to 3.3 years (10 semesters) | 38 |
| MSN-DNP AGACNP (non-APRN) | $88.1K | Up to 3.3 years (10 semesters) | 59 |
| Cert AGACNP | $31.4K | 1-1.5 years (3-5 terms) | 21 |
| BSN-DNP PNP-AC | $101.5K | Up to 3.7 years (11 semesters) | 68 |
| MSN-DNP PNP-AC (APRN) | $43.3K | Up to 3 years (9 semesters) | 29 |
| MSN-DNP PNP-AC (non-APRN) | $83.6K | Up to 3 years (9 semesters) | 56 |
| Cert PNP-AC | $17.9K | 8 months minimum | 12 |
Tuition is calculated rather than published. MSN-to-DNP durations are Rush’s maximums.
Rush runs acute care tracks for both adult-gerontology and pediatric populations, with BSN, MSN, and doctoral entry points. The AGACNP is hybrid with Chicago-area clinicals; the PNP-AC is mostly online with a few short campus visits.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP (APRN and non-APRN), post-graduate certificate, in both populations |
| Population Focus | AGACNP and PNP-AC |
| Format | AGACNP: Hybrid. PNP-AC: Mostly Online |
| Campus Visits | AGACNP: weekly on-campus courses. PNP-AC: two or three short visits |
| Clinical Hours | 756 specialty hours plus 252 project hours (BSN-DNP); 504 (certificates) |
| Clinical Placement | AGACNP: Chicago area only. PNP-AC: Rush coordinates; no guaranteed site |
| RN Experience | Six months recent acute care in the track’s population, by the application deadline |
| Start Terms | AGACNP DNP: fall. PNP-AC: fall (BSN entry), summer (MSN entry) |
| Tuition | $1,493 per credit (2026-27) plus $429 DNP fee per semester |
| Certification | ANCC AGACNP-BC; PNCB CPNP-AC |
| Accreditation | CCNE (MSN, DNP, post-graduate APRN certificate); HLC |
| State Restrictions | No new students from LA or TN, no APRN students from NY; AGACNP not licensure-eligible in PA |
Requirements Shared Across All Tracks
Clinical Requirements
- Practicum sequence: every DNP track uses NSG 606 Specialty Practicum, NSG 607 Immersion Residency, and NSG 609A-C project practica (252 hours)
- AGACNP placement: Chicago-area sites only, with clinical objectives set alongside a faculty adviser
- AGACNP residency: three days a week; Rush advises students not to work during the full-time residency
- PNP-AC placement: Rush coordinates ICU and subspecialty experiences but does not guarantee a specific site
- Hour totals: the AGACNP curriculum page lists 924 hours (BSN-DNP) and 672 (APRN MSN-DNP), while its course hours sum to 1,008 and 756
Campus Requirements
- AGACNP format: about 75% of didactic courses online and 25% in a weekly on-campus format, plus simulation labs, conferences, and clinical evaluations
- AGACNP pace: coursework starts part-time and becomes full-time about halfway through
- PNP-AC DNP: optional one-day orientation, then two- to three-day visits for the DNP proposal and the final presentation
- PNP-AC certificate: two one-week visits, one with each pediatric acute care management course
You Should Know: The AGACNP is built for students living near Chicago. Weekly campus courses and Chicago-only clinical sites rule out distance study, and the full-time residency makes continued full-time work impractical.
RN Experience and Licensure
- RN license: current U.S. RN license
- AGACNP experience: six months of recent adult critical care or adult acute care nursing, completed by the application deadline
- PNP-AC experience: six months of recent pediatric acute care nursing, completed by the application deadline
- Academics: 3.0 cumulative and prelicensure nursing GPA; no GRE
- Application: three letters from people in leadership roles (current manager preferred), essays, and faculty interviews
You Should Know: Rush cannot enroll new students from Louisiana or Tennessee, or APRN students from New York. The AGACNP does not meet Pennsylvania licensure requirements, and students who relocate after enrolling fall under their new state’s rules.
BSN to DNP AGACNP
The estimated tuition for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner DNP at Rush is approximately $106,003 (71 credits at $1,493/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 3.5 years (up to 10 semesters).
BSN to DNP AGACNP Curriculum
- Structure: 12 graduate core, 18 APRN core, 14 DNP core, 15 population, and 12 practicum credits
- NSG 570A: Pharmacotherapeutics Acute Care (3 credits)
- NSG 571A: Management: Adult/Gerontology I (3 credits)
- NSG 571C and 571D: Management: Adult/Gerontology Acute and Critical Illness I and II (4 and 2 credits)
- NSG 572: Quality and Safety for the Aging Adult (3 credits)
- NSG 606: DNP Specialty Practicum (4 credits, 336 hours)
- NSG 607: DNP Immersion Residency (5 credits, 420 hours)
- NSG 609A-C: DNP Project Practicum (3 credits, 252 hours)
More curriculum details are available here.
BSN to DNP AGACNP Admissions
- Degree: BSN from a regionally accredited institution
- Deadlines: NursingCAS opens August 6, 2026; early decision March 1, 2027
- Start: fall term begins September 7, 2027
- Fee: $40 Rush supplemental application
MSN to DNP AGACNP
The estimated tuition for the MSN to DNP AGACNP at Rush is approximately $56,734 for APRNs (38 credits) or $88,087 for non-APRNs (59 credits), at $1,493/credit. The program can generally be completed in up to 10 semesters, depending on gap analysis.
MSN to DNP AGACNP Curriculum
- APRN plan (38 credits): DNP core, the five AGACNP population courses, NSG 606 (1 credit, 84 hours), NSG 607 (420 hours), and NSG 609A-C (252 hours)
- Non-APRN plan (59 credits): adds the 18-credit APRN core and the full 336-hour specialty practicum
- Gap analysis: plans are individualized, and portfolio review can add courses or clinical hours
MSN to DNP AGACNP Admissions
- Degree: MSN; the APRN plan requires current APRN certification
- Prerequisites: advanced health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacology, transition to the APRN role, research, and biostatistics/epidemiology
- Non-APRN rule: research and biostatistics/epidemiology must be completed before admission or added to the plan
Postdoctoral Certificate AGACNP
The estimated tuition for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Postdoctoral Certificate at Rush is approximately $31,353 (21 credits at $1,493/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 1 to 1.5 years (three to five terms).
Postdoctoral Certificate AGACNP Curriculum
- Credits: 12 to 28 depending on prior coursework (about $18K to $42K); the published plan totals 21
- Specialty courses: the same five AGACNP population courses as the DNP (15 credits)
- Practica: NSG 606 (84 hours) and NSG 607 (420 hours), for 504 direct care hours
- Schedule: part-time, two to three days a week once clinicals start, and full-time in the final term
- Prerequisites: advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, diagnostics, transition to the APRN role, and health promotion
More curriculum details are available here.
Postdoctoral Certificate AGACNP Admissions
- Degree: DNP or PhD, held by a practicing APRN
- Experience: six months of acute care experience
You Should Know: The AGACNP certificate requires a doctorate. MSN-prepared nurse practitioners adding acute care at Rush use the 38-credit MSN to DNP instead.
BSN to DNP PNP-AC
The estimated tuition for the Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner DNP at Rush is approximately $101,524 (68 credits at $1,493/credit). The program can generally be completed in up to 11 semesters of part-time study.
BSN to DNP PNP-AC Curriculum
- Structure: 12 graduate core, 18 APRN core, 14 DNP core, 12 specialty, and 12 practicum credits
- NSG 551A: Advanced Primary Care of the Child I (3 credits)
- NSG 556: Applied Pharmacology, Pediatric (3 credits)
- NSG 557A and 557B: Pediatric Acute Care I and II (3 credits each)
- NSG 606: DNP Specialty Practicum (6 credits, 504 hours)
- NSG 607: DNP Immersion Residency (3 credits, 252 hours)
- Palliative care: ELNEC pediatric, palliative care certification, or coursework before NSG 557A
More curriculum details are available here.
BSN to DNP PNP-AC Admissions
- Degree: BSN from a regionally accredited institution
- Deadlines: early decision February 1, final May 3, 2027
- Start: fall term begins September 7, 2027
MSN to DNP PNP-AC
The estimated tuition for the MSN to DNP PNP-AC at Rush is approximately $43,297 for APRNs (29 credits) or $83,608 for non-APRNs (56 credits), at $1,493/credit. The program can generally be completed in up to 9 semesters of part-time study.
MSN to DNP PNP-AC Curriculum
- APRN plan (29 credits): DNP core, NSG 557A-B, NSG 606 (252 hours), NSG 607 (252 hours), and NSG 609A-C (252 hours)
- Clinical floor: prior clinical hours plus specialty practicum and immersion hours must reach at least 1,000
- Non-APRN plan (56 credits): adds the APRN core, NSG 551A, NSG 556, and the 504-hour specialty practicum
MSN to DNP PNP-AC Admissions
- Prerequisites: advanced health assessment, physiology/pathophysiology, pharmacology, Advanced Primary Care of the Child didactic, biostatistics/epidemiology, transition to the APRN role, and research
- Deadline: March 1, 2027
- Start: summer term begins May 10, 2027
Postgraduate Certificate PNP-AC
The estimated tuition for the Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Postgraduate Certificate at Rush is approximately $17,916 (12 credits at $1,493/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 8 months of part-time study.
Postgraduate Certificate PNP-AC Curriculum
- NSG 557A and 557B: Pediatric Acute Care I and II (3 credits each)
- NRS 541P: Specialty Practicum (3 credits, 252 hours)
- NRS 600P: Specialty Residency (3 credits, 252 hours)
- Prerequisites: graduate pathophysiology, pharmacology, physiology, health assessment, primary care of the child, APRN role transition, and palliative care training
More curriculum details are available here.
Postgraduate Certificate PNP-AC Admissions
- Eligibility: certified nurse practitioner with pediatric experience
- Direct entry: pediatric or family NP graduates; other NPs may need prerequisites set by gap analysis
Tuition
Rush charges $1,493 per credit for post-licensure graduate nursing in 2026-27.
| Program | Credits | Estimated Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| BSN to DNP AGACNP | 71 | $106,003 |
| MSN to DNP AGACNP (APRN) | 38 | $56,734 |
| MSN to DNP AGACNP (non-APRN) | 59 | $88,087 |
| Postdoctoral Certificate AGACNP | 21 | $31,353 |
| BSN to DNP PNP-AC | 68 | $101,524 |
| MSN to DNP PNP-AC (APRN) | 29 | $43,297 |
| MSN to DNP PNP-AC (non-APRN) | 56 | $83,608 |
| Postgraduate Certificate PNP-AC | 12 | $17,916 |
- DNP administrative fee: $429 per semester (fall, spring, summer), about $4,290 over a 10-semester DNP
Be aware: Both certificate pages still list $1,436 per credit, the prior-year rate. Estimates use the 2026-27 rate, and Rush raises tuition annually.
See the official tuition page.
Financial Aid
Aid options are on Rush’s Office of Student Financial Aid page.
Why Choose This ACNP Program?
- Two acute care populations. Rush offers both AGACNP and PNP-AC, each with BSN, MSN, and doctoral or post-graduate entry.
- MSN to DNP for non-APRNs. Master’s-prepared nurses without an APRN credential can enter either specialty through a 59- or 56-credit plan.
- Six-month experience gate. Applicants qualify with six months of recent acute care in the track’s population, completed by the application deadline.
- Mostly online pediatric option. PNP-AC coursework is asynchronous, with two or three short campus visits per program.
The AGACNP suits Chicago-area adult acute care nurses who can step back from work during residency. The PNP-AC suits pediatric acute care nurses who want a doctorate with little campus time.
Accreditation and Certification
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits Rush’s MSN program, its DNP programs, and its post-graduate APRN certificate programs. Both certificates fall under that accreditation.
Rush University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
AGACNP graduates are eligible for the ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP-BC) certification. PNP-AC graduates are eligible for the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board’s CPNP-AC exam.
Research More Illinois AG-ACNP Programs
- Bradley University - Peoria
- Chamberlain University - Chicago
- Loyola University Chicago - Chicago
- Rosalind Franklin University - North Chicago
- University of Illinois Chicago - Chicago