The University of Southern Indiana offers 3 acute care nurse practitioner tracks:
- MSN AGACNP
- BSN-to-DNP AGACNP
- Post-Master’s Certificate AGACNP
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN AGACNP | $24.1K | 2.5-3 years (8-9 semesters) | 44 |
| BSN-DNP AGACNP | $43.0K | 4-5 years (12-15 semesters) | 72 |
| Certificate | $10.4K-$15.3K | Not published | 19-28 |
Tuition is calculated rather than published. Semester counts are derived from published year ranges.
No RN experience is required to apply to any USI acute care track, and the MSN admits three times a year. The BSN-to-DNP and certificate each admit once a year.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MSN, BSN-to-DNP, Post-Master’s Certificate |
| Population Focus | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care (AGACNP) |
| Format | Online |
| Campus Visits | None listed on USI’s program pages |
| Clinical Hours | 750 direct clinical hours |
| Clinical Placement | Student’s own geographic area; written agency agreement required |
| RN Experience | Recommended, not required: one year full-time or 2,000 hours |
| License Requirements | Unencumbered U.S. RN license in every state of practice |
| Start Terms | MSN: January, May, August. DNP: August. Certificate: May |
| Tuition | $546.94/credit in-state (MSN, certificate); $596.94/credit (DNP) |
| Certification | ANCC AGACNP-BC or AACN ACNPC-AG |
| Accreditation | CCNE (MSN, DNP, post-graduate APRN certificate) |
| State Restrictions | Enrollment limited to approved states; active military excepted |
Requirements Shared Across All Tracks
Clinical Requirements
- Clinical hours: 750 direct clinical hours in the AGACNP specialty
- Location: completed in the student’s own geographic area
- Agency agreements: a written agreement with each clinical agency is required before clinical experiences begin
- Preceptor network: USI works with preceptors in numerous U.S. states
- Grade standard: B or better in every course
Campus Requirements
- Campus visits: none listed; USI describes all three tracks as 100% online
RN Experience and Licensure
- RN license: unencumbered U.S. RN license in all states of practice, required to enroll and to remain in the program
- RN experience: one year full-time or 2,000 hours as an RN within the past five years, recommended but not required for the MSN and certificate
- DNP experience: the BSN-to-DNP page lists no experience expectation
- Residence: applicants in states where USI is not authorized, or does not meet licensure requirements, are ineligible
You Should Know: Moving to a state the graduate nursing program does not recognize ends progression in coursework. Active military status is the only exception. Check your state on USI’s licensure disclosure page before applying.
MSN AGACNP
The estimated tuition for the MSN AGACNP at USI is approximately $24,065 (44 credits at $546.94/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 2.5-3 years.
MSN AGACNP Curriculum
- Total: 44 credits
- Graduate nursing core: 16 credits
- Clinical core: 9 credits (pathophysiology, health assessment, pharmacology)
- AGACNP specialty courses: 19 credits
You Should Know: USI raised the MSN from 42 to 44 credits for 2026-27, and the specialty sequence grew from 15 to 19 credits. Older catalog pages and third-party listings still show the 42-credit plan.
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN AGACNP Admissions
- Degree: BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program and a regionally accredited institution
- GPA: 3.00 cumulative BSN GPA, including RN-completion transfer courses
- Statistics: undergraduate statistics, C or better, completed by application
- Application: online application, $40 fee, official transcript from the highest-degree institution
- Deadlines: November for January start, April for May, July for August
BSN-to-DNP AGACNP
The estimated tuition for the BSN-to-DNP AGACNP at USI is approximately $42,980 (72 credits at $596.94/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 4-5 years.
BSN-to-DNP AGACNP Curriculum
- Total: 72 credits, down from 78 under the prior catalog
- Doctoral requirements: 36 credits
- Core, project, and specialty courses: 36 credits
- Practice hours: direct and indirect practice hours in addition to credits
- Study options: full-time and part-time
Be aware: USI does not publish a total for the DNP’s indirect practice hours. The 750-hour figure covers direct clinical hours only.
More curriculum details are available here.
BSN-to-DNP AGACNP Admissions
- Degree, GPA, and statistics: same as the MSN; the 3.00 BSN GPA applies to all applicants
- Resume: current resume or CV uploaded to the application account
- Entry: August only; application and documents due in July
You Should Know: The BSN-to-DNP admits only in August and the certificate only in May. Missing either deadline delays entry by a full year.
Post-Master’s Certificate AGACNP
The estimated tuition for the Post-Master’s Certificate in AGACNP at USI is approximately $10,392-$15,314 (19-28 credits at $546.94/credit). USI does not publish a completion time.
Certificate Curriculum
- Total: 28 credits, or as few as 19 after transfer
- Transfer limit: up to 9 graduate credits, B or better, syllabus review required
- Specialty courses: must be completed at USI; outside APRN specialty courses do not transfer
- Clinical: the shared 750-hour requirement applies
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Admissions
- Degree: MSN from a nationally and regionally accredited institution
- Research course: graduate research course, B or better
- Application: online application, $40 fee, three references, resume or CV, official transcripts
- Entry: May only; application and documents due in April
Tuition
USI’s 2026-27 graduate rate is $446.94 per credit for Indiana residents and Kentucky reciprocity students, plus a nursing program fee of $100/credit (MSN, certificate) or $150/credit (DNP). The all-in rate is $546.94/credit for the MSN and certificate and $596.94/credit for the DNP.
Online non-residents pay $496.94/credit before the program fee, $50/credit more on every track.
| Program | Credits | Estimated Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| MSN AGACNP | 44 | $24,065 |
| BSN-to-DNP AGACNP | 72 | $42,980 |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 19-28 | $10,392-$15,314 |
Mandatory fees add about $123-$130 per semester: a University Services Fee ($22.75-$30 by credit load) and a $100 Comprehensive Learning Fee for loads under 12 credits.
More tuition details are available here. Aid options are listed on USI’s scholarships and aid page.
Why Choose This ACNP Program?
- No experience gate: RN experience is recommended, not required, so a newer RN can apply straight from the BSN.
- Three MSN starts: January, May, and August entry keep the MSN timeline flexible.
- Certificate transfer credit: MSN-prepared nurses with graduate pathophysiology, assessment, and pharmacology can reduce the certificate to 19 credits.
- No campus travel: all three tracks are 100% online, with clinicals in the student’s own region.
USI fits an RN in an approved state who wants an online AGACNP credential without first logging years of bedside acute care.
Accreditation and Certification
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits USI’s master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program. All three AGACNP tracks fall under that accreditation.
USI is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
All three tracks share the adult-gerontology acute care population focus, covering late adolescents through older adults. Graduates are eligible to sit for the ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP-BC) exam or the AACN ACNPC-AG exam.
Additional AG-ACNP Programs in Indiana
- Indiana University - Indianapolis
- Purdue Global - West Lafayette
- University of Indianapolis - Indianapolis