Online DNP Adult-Gerontology NP Programs – What’s the Best Program for You?

Last Updated/Verified: Feb 22, 2024

Those who want to obtain the most prestigious roles as an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) often gravitate to a doctorate. As the highest degree, a nurse practitioner can attain — besides a Ph.D. — the Doctor of Nursing (DNP) pathway provides nurses with extensive experience with the education they need to attain leadership roles of all kinds. Most programs insist that you have already attained your master’s degree before they will admit you, though some BSN-DNP AGNP programs are also available. All AGNP-DNP programs will require an active nursing license and at least a year of experience in the AGNP field.

Compare the 2024 Top Ranked Online AGNP DNP Programs

For nurses who wish to enter the most advanced nursing careers working with adult and elderly  patients, the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner DNP degree is a great program to consider. As schools continue to expand online educational offerings, prospective students may find that they have many wonderful distance-learning options to choose from. That's why we have ranked the best online AGNP DNP programs across the nation. Start your search with these exceptional schools and programs below, and to find out more about our rankings process visit our Methodology page.

1.
University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA

Overview:

University of Iowa's DNP, which can be completed online, prepares nurses to lead both in clinical settings and in larger, healthcare policy development. More than providing advanced clinical care, DNP students study patient advocacy, preventive care, health interventions, and how to improve patient outcomes.

Highlights:
  • Graduate credits may apply toward program completion.
  • Poster presentations and projects are required to graduate.
  • On-site visits are required for some courses.
2.
Augusta University

Augusta, GA

Overview:

Augusta University offers an advanced  Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (DNP-AGACNP) program. Tailored for experienced nurses seeking to elevate their practice, this program may be offered in a hybrid format, blending online coursework with on-campus intensives. Augusta University prepares nurses for leadership roles in advanced practice nursing.

Highlights:
  • Full-time and part-time schedules are available
  • Cohort locations are on our Augusta and Athens campuses
  • Interactive web-based classes taught by experienced online instructors
3.
University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA

Overview:

Nurses who seek to practice at the highest level can earn their Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner at the University of Pittsburgh. The primarily online program readies care providers to treat adult patients in home health care and outpatient care centers.

Highlights:
  • Grads can sit for national certification exams.
  • RNs can start with a BSN or MSN degree.
  • Some in-person courses may be required.

Why Get a DNP Adult-Gerontology NP Degree?

There are a number of reasons why a DNP degree is an attractive option for a dedicated nurse practitioner. Because it involves a significant commitment of time, money, and effort, earning this degree demonstrates your dedication to the industry.

With the knowledge you’ve learned and the clinical hours you’ll have to complete in order to be awarded a DNP, you’ll have access to nearly any job within the industry. This could mean a leadership role at a private practice, at a research facility, or at a hospital. Before deciding on this degree pathway, students should consider the following:

Pros

  • Access to the highest level positions as an AGNP are reserved for those who hold a DNP
  • DNPs command high salaries
  • Leadership, administrative/managerial, and research roles are all options for AGNPs with a DNP

Cons

  • Those with an MSN may decide that the shorter, cheaper post-master’s certificate in the AGNP specialty fulfills their needs
  • Those with a BSN may find they can meet their professional goals by pursuing an MSN rather than a DNP
  • The DNP pathway can be very challenging, lengthy, and expensive

How to Choose an Online DNP Adult-Gerontology NP Program

In order to meet the needs of busy nurse practitioners, many programs’ educational facilities offer their AGNP-DNP programs as a part-time option, or they provide an accelerated format. Depending on your personal work schedule and life responsibilities, it might be best to choose a program that offers all classes online.

Students entering this pathway are encouraged to choose a properly accredited AGNP-DNP program. In addition to this, nurses should know whether they wish to pursue a DNP program in the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner specialty, or the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialty. Many schools offer both options.

DNP AGNP Curriculum

The DNP curriculum is diverse and far-ranging. It provides students with extensive knowledge of patient aspects of the industry as well as policy, research, prevention, and more. Common AGNP courses in the DNP program include:

  • Interprofessional Collaboration with Professionals and Patients
  • Advanced Nursing Practice and Clinical Scholarship
  • Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes
  • Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice

Over 1,000 clinical hours are typically required for doctorate adult-gerontology nurse practitioner programs. Most schools have a clinical coordinator or advisor to help students arrange preceptors for these requirements. For those already working in the field, clinical hours can often be completed in your place of employment.

List of Online DNP Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Programs

Finding an online/hybrid DNP Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner program near you is a snap with our listings. Browse the programs below to get started.

Select Your State:

Arizona

University of Arizona
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Tucson, AZ

Arkansas

University of Arkansas
  • Online Doctor of Nursing Practice: Adult-Geriatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Fayetteville, AR
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Little Rock, AR

California

Brandman University
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Hybrid
Irvine, CA
Loma Linda University
  • Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Concentration
Loma Linda, CA

Colorado

University of Northern Colorado
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner BSN - DNP
  • Post-Bachelor's Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN-to-DNP) degree program with Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Emphasis
Greeley, CO

Delaware

University of Delaware
  • DNP Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Hybrid
Newark, DE

Georgia

Augusta University
  • DNP- Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP
Augusta, GA

Hawaii

Hawai‘i Pacific University
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Honolulu, HI

Illinois

Bradley University
  • DNP-AGACNP TRACK
  • DNP-AGPCNP TRACK
Peoria, IL
Rush University
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (NP) Hybrid
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Chicago, IL
University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Hybrid
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Hybrid
Chicago, IL
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Hybrid
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Hybrid
Rockford, IL

Indiana

Saint Mary's College
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) Hybrid
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-PCNP) Hybrid
Notre Dame, IN

Iowa

University of Iowa
  • Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care
  • Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care
Iowa City, IA

Kansas

University of Kansas
  • Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
Lawrence, KS

Kentucky

Kentucky State University
  • BSN-DNP: Doctorate Of Nursing Practice
Frankfort, KY
University of Kentucky College of Nursing
  • BSN-DNP: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Track Hybrid
  • BSN-DNP: Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Hybrid
Lexington, KY

Maryland

Johns Hopkins University
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Hybrid
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Hybrid
Baltimore, MD

Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • BSN TO DNP: Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
Amherst, MA
University of Massachusetts Boston
  • BS-to-DNP: Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
Boston, MA

Michigan

Wayne State University
  • Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner- Acute Care (AGNP-AC)
  • Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner- Primary Care (AGNP-PC)
Detroit, MI

Minnesota

University of Minnesota
  • Adult Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Hybrid
Twin Cities, MN

Mississippi

University Of Mississippi Medical Center
  • BSN-DNP: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Hybrid
  • BSN-DNP: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Hybrid
Jackson, MS

Missouri

Maryville University
  • BSN to DNP: AGACNP (Adult-Gerontology Acute Care)
  • DNP-NP: AGPCNP (Adult-Gerontology Primary Care)
St. Louis, MO
University of Missouri - St. Louis
  • Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner Hybrid
St. Louis, MO
University Of Missouri Kansas City
  • 2ND NP ROLE DNP: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Hybrid
Kansas City, MO

Nebraska

Creighton University
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Hybrid
Omaha, NE

New Mexico

New Mexico State University
  • Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
Las Cruces, NM

New York

Hunter College
  • Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Hybrid
NY, NY
Stony Brook University
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Hybrid
Stony Brook, NY
University at Buffalo
  • Post-BS to DNP: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Hybrid
  • Post-MS to DNP: Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Buffalo, NY

Ohio

The University of Toledo
  • BSN-DNP Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Toledo, OH

Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh
  • BSN to DNP: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
  • MSN to DNP: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Hybrid
  • MSN to DNP: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Hybrid
  • BSN to DNP: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
Pittsburgh, PA

Tennessee

East Tennessee State University
  • BSN to DNP: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Hybrid
  • MSN to DNP: Adult Nurse Practitioner/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (ANP/GNP) Hybrid
Johnson City, TN
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center- Memphis
  • Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Memphis, TN

Washington

University of Washington
  • Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Hybrid
  • Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Hybrid
Seattle, WA

Washington, DC

The George Washington University
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (Post-BSN opportunity)
Washington, DC

Are we missing your school's nurse practitioner program or need to update any of the information listed? Please contact us.