Top 10 Online Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) Programs
Becoming an acute care nurse practitioner can increase your salary and advance your career, but finding time to attend classes can be challenging. Fortunately, online ACNP programs accommodate working nurses, allowing you to keep working while advancing your education.
Read on to see the top online acute care nurse practitioner programs for 2025.
Popular Online Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Programs
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, and the School of Nursing has been delivering graduate nursing programs in a distance-learning environment since 2011. Georgetown's online programs allow students to learn from wherever they are while they pursue an accredited, mission-driven nursing education that will allow them to deliver high-quality care.
CCNE
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.
For more than 15 years, American Sentinel College of Nursing & Health Sciences at Post University has been educating registered nurses and healthcare professionals like you online. We offer a number of advanced online nursing degrees designed to give you the advanced education needed to achieve your personal and professional goals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Natiowide except AZ, CA, DC, LA, NY, OR, TN, WA, PR
Top Online ACNP Programs
Our ranking criteria are based on factors such as tuition, acceptance rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and accreditation and use the latest and most robust U.S. government data sets, specifically the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and College Scorecard.
|
School |
Tuition |
Program Length |
Accreditation |
|
Vanderbilt University |
$1,997 per credit hour |
3-4 hours |
CCNE |
|
Duke University |
$2,166 per credit hour |
2 years |
CCNE |
|
Herzing University |
$755 per credit hour |
24 months |
CCNE |
|
Drexel University |
$1,134 per credit hour |
3 years |
CCNE |
|
University of Connecticut |
$1,200 per credit hour |
2.5 years |
CCNE |
|
George Washington University |
$1,530 per credit hour |
3 years |
CCNE |
|
Case Western University |
$2,308 per credit hour |
2 years |
CCNE |
|
University of Virginia |
$888-$1,450 per credit hour |
21 months |
CCNE |
|
Widener University |
$1,030 per credit hour |
18-36 months |
CCNE |
|
Emory University |
$2,082 per credit hour |
4 semesters |
CCNE |
Vanderbilt offers one of the top acute care NP programs online nationwide. Students in this program can complete clinical rotations in their local areas or at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. While students complete most coursework online, the university also requires them to attend in-person intensives.
Vanderbilt students can attend different ACNP programs depending on their career and education goals. The university offers full and part-time Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) ACNP programs online. Students who have already completed an advanced nursing program can also pursue a post-MSN certificate through Vanderbilt.
- Application Deadline: October 15th
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (615) 322-3800
- Email Address: VUSN-Admissions@vanderbilt.edu
Duke has over 2,000 clinical partners nationwide and internationally. These partnerships allow students to access an abundance of practicum sites and preceptors.
This program culminates in an MSN degree for those with an undergraduate degree. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) may pursue Duke's post-graduate ACNP certificate program.
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (919) 613-9787
- Email Address: SonAdmissions@dm.duke.edu
Herzing's 100% online ACNP program requires students to complete 48 credit hours and 585 clinical hours. The university offers six start dates annually, which allows students to keep working while they attend.
The program culminates in an MSN degree and prepares students for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification exam.
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Contact Info: (888) 920-0937
Popular Online Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Programs
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. Chamberlain offers BSN, MSN, and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
For more than 15 years, American Sentinel College of Nursing & Health Sciences at Post University has been educating registered nurses and healthcare professionals like you online. We offer a number of advanced online nursing degrees designed to give you the advanced education needed to achieve your personal and professional goals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Natiowide except AZ, CA, DC, LA, NY, OR, TN, WA, PR
Philadelphia's Drexel University offers students direct access to some of the country's top healthcare systems. These connections are vital for students who need to find clinical placements and preceptors.
Upon completing the acute care nurse practitioner online program, Drexel students earn an MSN. Although most of the curriculum is online, students must attend several in-person intensives. So, living near the school and having reliable transportation is ideal.
- Application Deadline: March 3rd
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (800) 2-DREXEL
- Email Address: CNHPGraduateDivision@drexel.edu
Connecticut offers several online ACNP options, including a traditional MSN, a postgraduate certificate, and a BS to DNP. Because of its versatility, UConn is among the best acute care nurse practitioner schools online. It also extends the same faculty and services to online students and in-person attendees.
The university requires that students find their own clinical placements. They will work closely with the program director to find a successful match.
- Application Deadline: April 15th
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (860) 486-1968
- Email Address: shea.bridenbeck@uconn.edu
U.S. News & World Report ranked GWU's online ACNP programs as seventh in the nation. The university offers both an MSN and DNP pathway to becoming an acute care nurse practitioner. Students who enjoy high-intensity environments like intensive care units and emergency rooms will fit right in at GWU.
Throughout the program, students must complete at least 650 hours of clinical experience with a university-approved preceptor. They must also attend some in-person experiences, including intensives and simulations, at the Washington, D.C., campus.
- Application Deadline:
- Priority: December 1st
- Final: July 1st
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (202) 994-7901
- Email Address: nursing@gwu.edu
$2,308 per credit hour
Case Western University's online acute care nurse practitioner program requires 39 credit hours of classes and 700 clinical hours. Before enrolling in the program, CWU requires students to accumulate at least one year of ICU experience.
Depending on their educational background, students can enroll in the MSN or postgraduate certificate ACNP program. The university also offers full—and part-time options to increase flexibility.
- Application Deadline:
- Spring: October 1st
- Summer/Fall: March 15th
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (216) 368-0700 or (216) 368-5981
- Email Address: admissionsfpb@case.edu
Resident: $888 per credit hour
Non-Resident: $1,450 per credit hour
UVA is ranked as one of the top public MSN programs nationwide. It offers full-time and part-time online acute care NP programs. The school also guarantees its alumni entrance into the program if they meet the admission criteria.
To earn their MSN degree, students in this program must complete a minimum of 500 clinical hours and 43-44 credit hours. The school also offers part-time options to increase flexibility and allow students to work while attending.
- Application Deadline: January 5th
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (434) 924-0066
- Email Address: nursing-admissions@virginia.edu
MSN: 18-36 months
DNP: 24-36 months
Widner offers a variety of options for students interested in earning an ACNP degree online. They can pursue an MSN or a terminal DNP degree with the addition of an extra year of study. Although this program's classes are online, students must attend one in-person health assessment lab in Chester or Harrisburg, PA.
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (610) 499-4282
- Email Address: gcs@widener.edu
10 . Emory University
The online acute care NP program at Emory allows students to work while attending didactic courses from their homes. To earn an ACNP degree, they must complete 48 credit hours and 700 in-person clinical hours.
Emory primarily offers this program as an MSN. However, students can pursue a more extensive and longer DNP option as well.
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (404) 727-7980
- Email Address: nursingquestions@emory.edu
What to Expect in Online ACNP Programs
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements vary depending on the program, but generally, requirements include:
- Registered nurse license
- Program application
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited nursing program
- Letter(s) of recommendation
- Official transcripts
- Resume/CV
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 in previous coursework
- Personal statement
- Relevant clinical experience
- College-level statistics course
- GRE, if applicable
- Interview, if applicable
Classes & Coursework
Specific classes vary depending on the school. However, all online acute care nurse practitioner programs require the same basic courses, including:
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Health and Physical Assessment
- Ethics
- Scientific Research
- Health Policy
- Advanced Nursing Roles in Health Care
- Foundation of Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
- Advanced Nursing Practice for Population-Based Care
In addition to didactic courses, students must complete at least 500 in-person clinical hours with an approved preceptor.
How to Choose an Online ACNP Program
Students should weigh several factors when choosing an online ACNP program. These include, but are not limited to:
- Accreditation
- Pass rate
- Attrition rate
- Tuition
- Reputation
- Private vs. public
- Online vs. in-person
Popular Online Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Programs
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. Chamberlain offers BSN, MSN, and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
For more than 15 years, American Sentinel College of Nursing & Health Sciences at Post University has been educating registered nurses and healthcare professionals like you online. We offer a number of advanced online nursing degrees designed to give you the advanced education needed to achieve your personal and professional goals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Natiowide except AZ, CA, DC, LA, NY, OR, TN, WA, PR
FAQs
-
Is ACNP or FNP better?
- Whether ACNPs or FNPs are better depends on your career goals and preferences. ACNPs generally work in hospital settings, specifically ICUs or ERs. FNPs work in primary care and care for pediatric to adult patients.
-
Can you switch from ACNP to FNP?
- You cannot switch from ACNP to FNP unless you have passed the national certification exam as an FNP. The quickest way to go from an ACNP to an FNP is to earn a post-masters certificate.
-
What is the difference between ACNP and AGACNP?
- The primary difference between an ACNP and an AGACNP is the type of patients they treat. ACNPs treat patients with acute and complex medical conditions in critical care settings. AGACNPs care for patients with acute, chronic, and critical illnesses.
