Texas nurses pursuing Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP credentials have access to 9 in-state programs.
Tuition ranges from $13,080 to $140,000 and completion timelines span from 12 months to 4 years depending on your current credentials and chosen track.
High Level Comparison Table
| School | Available Tracks | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Baylor University | BSN–DNP: $94K – 1,125 clinical hrs Post-Master’s DNP: $47K – hrs vary | Online DNP with strong placement support |
| Texas Christian University | BSN–DNP: 105–$140K | Intensive, high-touch DNP training (1,000 hrs) |
| Texas Tech University | MSN: $28K – 1,225 clinical hrs Certificate: $21K – 1,225 clinical hrs | High-hour MSN at mid-range cost |
| Texas Woman’s University | MSN: $26K – 585 clinical hrs Certificate: $16K – 585 clinical hrs | Texas-only budget AGACNP options |
| University of Texas at Arlington | MSN: $27K – 720 clinical hrs Certificate: $13K – 720 clinical hrs | Flexible online AGACNP with placement help |
| UT Health San Antonio | BSN to DNP: $30K – 1,080 hrs Certificate: $16K – 660 clinical hrs | Guaranteed clinical placements with hybrid DNP training |
| University of Texas at Tyler | Certificate: $16.5K–$23.5K | Structured 2-year certificate with 750 clinical hrs |
| University of Texas at El Paso | MSN: $27K – 720 clinical hrs Certificate: $16–$22K – 675–775 clinical hrs | Fully online options with 7-week terms |
| UT Medical Branch | BSN-DNP: $51K–$55K – 1,000+ clinical hrs MSN: $41K–$45K – 780 clinical hrs Certificate: $13K–$15K – 540 clinical hrs | Multiple AGACNP pathways with affordable graduate tuition |
List of Schools with Program Summaries
Below are Texas based and national online programs (with rolling admissions) for TX nurses.
Baylor University ACNP Programs
Waco | $1,150 cpc | Certificate / MSN
Baylor University offers two online DNP pathways in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, and both include required on-campus and virtual immersion experiences. The BSN-to-DNP AGACNP track includes 75 credits and 1,125 practicum hours with rotations in high-acuity settings such as ICU, ER, trauma, and specialty services, and Baylor provides clinical placement support for all rotations. The post-master’s DNP track is a 37-credit option for APRN-certified nurses, and it focuses on doctoral-level leadership and practice through an advanced residency without a role change. Both pathways hold CCNE accreditation and prepare graduates for national adult-gerontology acute care certification exams...read more.
Purdue Global ACNP Programs
Fully Online | $420 cpc | Certificate
Texas nurses can take the next step in their careers with Purdue Global’s Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Postgraduate Certificate. Delivered fully online, the program integrates VR-based clinical training and evidence-based coursework designed for acute and critical care practice. In just 1.5 years, nurses holding a master’s degree can prepare to manage acutely ill adult and older adult patients across Texas’s diverse hospital and trauma settings while becoming eligible for national AGACNP certification.
South College ACNP Programs
Fully Online | $615 cpc | Certificate / MSN
South College provides Texas nurses with accessible online Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner education through two program options: a comprehensive BSN-MSN track ($51,450-$53,695) and a Post-Graduate Certificate for those with existing graduate nursing degrees. Both programs feature flexible online coursework designed for working professionals, combined with supervised clinical practicums where Texas students gain hands-on experience managing high-acuity patients. Texas graduates complete extensive training in advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, diagnostics, and acute care management, preparing them to work in the state's extensive network of hospitals, trauma centers, ICUs, and specialty care facilities.
Texas Christian University ACNP Programs
Fort Worth | $2,145 / credit hour cpc | DNP
Texas Christian University offers one Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner option through its BSN-to-DNP DNP-AGACNP track. The program uses 100% online coursework with three on-campus intensives, and it offers 36-month and 48-month plans for different schedules. Students complete 70 total credits and at least 1,000 supervised clinical hours, with practicum experiences arranged close to home and overseen by TCU nursing faculty with support from qualified preceptors. The curriculum prepares graduates to manage chronically, acutely, and critically ill adults and older adults in acute care settings and to pursue national AGACNP certification through AACN or ANCC...read more.
Texas Tech University ACNP Programs
Lubbock | $589 cpc | Certificate / MSN
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center offers an MSN and a Post-Master’s Certificate track in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner preparation. Both tracks use online coursework with occasional travel to the Lubbock campus for skills labs, intensives, and OSCE-style competency checks. The MSN estimate is $28,272 for Texas residents based on $589 per credit hour for 48 credits, and the certificate estimate is $21,204 based on 36 credits at the same rate. Clinical training is intensive and includes about 1,225 hours in acute care settings, and graduates can pursue AGACNP certification through ANCC or AACN...read more.
Texas Woman’s University ACNP Programs
Denton | $576 cpc | Certificate / MSN
Texas Woman’s University offers an online MSN AGACNP and an online Post-Master’s AGACNP Certificate, and both require clinical experiences to be completed in Texas. The track prepares nurses to manage acutely, critically, and chronically ill adult and older adult patients in high-acuity settings such as ICUs and trauma units. The MSN includes 45 credits and about 585 clinical hours across three practicum courses, and students arrange sites with faculty guidance. The certificate focuses on AGACNP specialty coursework (with APRN core prerequisites if needed) and follows the same three-practicum clinical structure...read more.
University of Texas at Arlington ACNP Programs
Arlington | 654 cpc | Certificate / MSN
The University of Texas at Arlington offers an online MSN AGACNP and a Post-Master’s AGACNP Certificate designed for working nurses who need flexible scheduling. Both tracks emphasize acute and critical care decision-making for late adolescents, adults, and older adults in high-acuity settings. The MSN includes 720 supervised clinical hours and prepares graduates for advanced practice leadership roles in secondary and tertiary care. UTA also provides clinical placement support when students have difficulty securing a qualified preceptor...read more.
University of Texas at San Antonio ACNP Programs
San Antonio | $398 cpc | Certificate / DNP
UT Health San Antonio offers a BSN-to-DNP and a post-graduate certificate track for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner preparation. Both tracks use a hybrid format and require campus attendance one to three days per week based on enrollment status. The school guarantees clinical placement and arranges rotations through more than 400 clinical affiliates, which can reduce student workload for site searching. The BSN-to-DNP includes at least 1,080 post-bachelor’s clinical and project hours, while the certificate focuses on AGACNP specialty coursework with about 660 clinical hours and required OSCE assessments...read more.
UT Tyler ACNP Programs
Tyler | $928 cpc | Certificate
The University of Texas at Tyler offers a post-master’s AGACNP certificate that students complete online over about two years with sequential coursework. The program requires 30 credit hours and 750 direct patient clinical hours across six practicums, which build role skills through supervised acute care experiences. The didactic series uses a head-to-toe body systems approach to support evaluation, diagnosis, and management of acute, chronic, and critical conditions in adolescents and adults. The track targets MSN-prepared nurses who already finished advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacotherapeutics...read more.
UTEP ACNP Programs
El Paso | $552 cpc | Certificate / MSN
UTEP offers two online AGACNP pathways that use 7-week didactic courses designed for working nurses. The MSN track totals 49 credits with 720 clinical clock hours and usually takes about 2.5 to 3 years across seven semesters. The post-master’s certificate runs 29 to 40 credits based on APRN status and includes about 675 to 775 clinical hours, which often leads to an 18 to 24 month timeline. Some specialty courses may require up to three brief campus visits per semester for simulation labs and skills evaluations, and students may need to travel to secure appropriate clinical sites...read more.
UTMB ACNP Programs
Galveston | $500 cpc | Certificate / MSN / DNP
UTMB offers three AGACNP pathways that support online coursework with limited campus visits for some tracks. The BSN-to-DNP option is the longest route at 70 credits and is priced at about $51,000 to $55,000, while the MSN track runs 49 credits and typically costs about $41,000 to $45,000. The post-BSN/MSN certificate is the shortest option at 15 to 17 credits and is designed for certified FNP or AGPCNP clinicians who want AGACNP eligibility. All tracks include supervised clinical training and prepare graduates for national certification through ANCC or AACN...read more.
Walden University ACNP Programs
Fully Online | $775 cpc | Certificate / MSN / DNP
Walden University offers three Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner pathways that Texas nurses can complete online while continuing to work. Coursework covers advanced clinical knowledge, leadership, technology, and evidence-based care, followed by supervised practicum experiences arranged with program support. These AGACNP options help Texas nurses advance into acute care roles and prepare for national certification in adult-gerontology acute care practice.
West Coast University ACNP Programs
Fully Online | $700 cpc | Certificate / MSN
West Coast University’s AGACNP programs give Texas nurses three paths—MSN, RN to MSN, and a Post-Master’s Certificate—with flexible accelerated and working professional pacing. Courses are delivered fully online in 8-week terms, backed by two on-site intensive weekends and a clinical placements team that supports preceptor and site approval in acute and critical care environments. The CCNE-accredited curriculum builds advanced assessment, pharmacology, and acute care management skills that prepare graduates for national AGACNP certification and practice in Texas hospitals and specialty units.
Comparing Texas ACNP Programs
Which program is right for you?
TLDR: Program Selection Guide
Choose Baylor University if you hold a BSN and want a nationally ranked program (U.S. News #66) with clinical placement support and a faith-based academic environment. Baylor also offers the only Texas Post-Master’s DNP track for AGACNP-certified nurses who want to elevate to the doctoral level without changing their NP role.
Choose Texas Christian University if you are a Texas or New Mexico resident who prioritizes hands-on faculty supervision with three on-campus intensive sessions built into the program, and you want a structured 3- or 4-year pacing option. Note: TCU is the most expensive option in the state, so weigh the cost against its clinical support model carefully.
Choose Texas Tech University if you want one of the most affordable MSN or certificate options in the state with a strong clinical emphasis — Tech’s programs require approximately 1,225 clinical hours, among the highest in Texas, and the flat $589/credit rate applies to both in-state and out-of-state students.
Choose Texas Woman’s University if you are a Texas-based nurse seeking the lowest-cost MSN pathway in the state at $25,920, and you don’t need to relocate or travel for clinicals — all placements are completed within Texas.
Choose UTA if you hold an MSN and want the fastest and least expensive certificate option in Texas — UTA’s Post-Master’s Certificate can be completed in about 1 year for approximately $13,080. The MSN track is also competitively priced and includes optional clinical placement assistance.
Choose UT Health San Antonio if guaranteed clinical placement is non-negotiable for you. UTSA arranges all rotations through a network of 400+ clinical affiliates — a major differentiator — and offers the most affordable BSN-to-DNP in the state at approximately $30,248 for Texas residents.
Choose UT Tyler if you hold an MSN and want a structured, sequential 2-year certificate program with a clear 6-course practicum sequence totaling 750 clinical hours. It’s a straightforward, no-frills path to AGACNP certification.
Choose UTEP if you’re an El Paso-area or border-region nurse with 2–3 years of ICU experience who wants a fully online program with maximum flexibility — UTEP offers both MSN and certificate tracks at competitive Texas resident rates with two admission cycles per year.
Choose UTMB if you want the broadest range of options under one roof. UTMB is the only Texas school offering BSN-DNP, MSN, and certificate tracks, plus the only program in Texas with a dual FNP-AGACNP pathway. The certificate is also among the least expensive in the state at $13,000–$15,000 and can be completed in as little as 12 months.
Comparing DNP Programs
Five Texas programs offer a DNP pathway to AGACNP practice.
UT Health San Antonio is by far the most affordable BSN-to-DNP at ~$30,248 for Texas residents — a fraction of TCU’s price.
UTMB completes in the fewest semesters (12) while also remaining cost-effective.
TCU is the most expensive option but offers structured on-campus intensives and faculty-supervised clinicals close to home.
Baylor’s national ranking and clinical support team make it a strong mid-range option.
| School | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Format | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UT Health San Antonio | ~$30,248 (TX resident) | 3–4 years | Hybrid, 1–3 days/week campus | 1,080 |
| UTMB | ~$51,000–$55,000 | 3–3.5 years | Online, minimal campus | Integrated |
| Baylor University | ~$93,750 | 3 yrs, 4 mo. | Online + immersions | 1,125 |
| TCU | ~$105,000–$140,000 | 3–4 years | Online + 3 on-campus intensives | 1,000 |
| Baylor Post-Master’s DNP | ~$46,250 | 18–24 months | Online + immersions | Residency hrs |
A few important distinctions worth noting: UTSA guarantees clinical placement through 400+ affiliates — no other DNP program in the state makes this commitment.
TCU is currently limited to Texas and New Mexico residents only.
Baylor’s program is ranked No. 66 nationally by U.S. News & World Report (2024), the only ranked program among Texas AGACNP offerings.
Comparing Texas ACNP MSN Programs
Five Texas schools offer MSN-level AGACNP pathways.
Texas Woman’s University is the lowest-cost option at ~$25,920, followed closely by UTA (~$26,814), UTEP (~$27,048), and Texas Tech (~$28,272).
UTMB is the most expensive MSN but comes with 780 clinical hours and a well-recognized faculty.
All five are online-based, though most require occasional on-campus visits for skills labs or OSCEs.
| School | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Format | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Woman’s University | ~$25,920 | 2–3 years | Online (TX only) | 585 |
| UTA | ~$26,814 | ~2 years | Online | 720 |
| UTEP | ~$27,048 | 2.5–3 years | Online + max 3 campus visits/semester | 720 |
| Texas Tech | ~$28,272 | 2–3 years | Online + campus labs/OSCE | ~1,225 |
| UTMB | ~$41,000–$45,000 | 2–2.5 years | Online, minimal campus | 780 |
Texas Tech stands out for clinical depth — its ~1,225 clinical hours is the highest among Texas MSN programs.
However, TWU’s clinicals are limited to Texas, making it a Texas-only option.
UTA is the fastest MSN at approximately 2 years, while also offering optional preceptor assistance.
UTMB’s MSN premium is justified by nationally recognized faculty and a clear pathway to its dual FNP-AGACNP track.
Comparing ACNP Certificate Programs in Texas
Seven Texas schools offer some form of post-master’s or post-graduate AGACNP certificate. This is the most competitive segment — price, speed, clinical hours, and entry requirements vary significantly.
UTA is the fastest and least expensive option at ~$13,080 in about 1 year.
UTMB offers the lowest floor at $13,000–$15,000 with the option to complete in 12 months.
Texas Tech requires the most clinical hours (~1,225) but at a reasonable $21,204.
TWU is TX-only but affordable.
UT Tyler offers the most structured sequencing across 6 practicum courses.
| School | Entry Req. | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UTA | MSN | ~$13,080 | ~1 year | Not specified |
| UTMB | MSN (FNP or AGPCNP cert req’d) | ~$13,000–$15,000 | 12–18 months | 540 |
| TWU | MSN + APRN license | ~$15,552 | 1.5–2 years | 585 (TX only) |
| UT Health San Antonio | MSN + APRN cert | ~$15,904 | 1.5–2 years | 660 (guaranteed placement) |
| UTEP | MSN | ~$16,008–$22,080 | 18–24 months | 675–775 |
| UT Tyler | MSN | ~$16,500–$23,460 | 2 years | 750 |
| Texas Tech | MSN | ~$21,204 | 1.5–2 years | ~1,225 |
Key distinctions: UTMB’s certificate requires current FNP or AGPCNP certification — it is not open to all MSN-prepared nurses.
UTSA guarantees clinical placement, the only certificate program in the state to do so.
UTEP’s cost varies based on APRN status — nurses without existing APRN recognition pay for additional foundational coursework.
TWU and TCU clinicals are limited to Texas residents/in-state placements.
Admissions Comparison
| School | Min. GPA | Application Deadlines | Interview | Clinical Exp. Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor | 3.0 cumulative | Not specified | No | 1 yr acute care (last 2 yrs) |
| TCU | 3.0 preferred | Not specified | Yes | 1 yr acute care (conditional admission possible) |
| Texas Tech | 3.0 | Not specified | Yes (by invitation) | 1 yr ICU/ED/flight (last 5 yrs) |
| TWU | 3.0 (last 60 hrs); 2.5 provisional | Fall: Feb 15 / Spring: Sep 15 | No | 1 yr acute/critical care |
| UTA | 3.0 (MSN for cert) | Not specified | No | 2 yrs high-acuity (last 5 yrs, cert) |
| UT Health San Antonio | 3.0 (last 60 hrs) | DNP: Apr 1 / Cert: Aug 1 | Yes (NursingCAS/Kira) | 1 yr (2,000 hrs) acute/ICU/ER |
| UT Tyler | 3.0 (last 60 hrs) | Aug 9 (Fall) | No | 1 yr direct care (last 4 yrs) |
| UTEP | 3.0 | Fall: Jul 10 / Spring: Nov 14 | No | 2–3 yrs ICU/CCU |
| UTMB | 3.0 (upper div.) | Priority: Mar 15 / Deadline: Jun 1 | Yes (virtual) | 1 yr RN (ICU preferred) |
UTEP has the most stringent experience requirement at 2–3 years of ICU/CCU experience, explicitly excluding ED, PACU, and OR.
TCU offers conditional admission for applicants without acute care experience, making it the most accessible entry point for nurses transitioning from non-acute settings.
UTMB provides the most structured application timeline with a priority review date and rolling decisions after March 15.
TWU is the only program publishing clear semester-specific deadlines for both Fall and Spring entry.