Georgia College & State University (GCSU) offers three nurse practitioner population focuses through its School of Nursing in Milledgeville: family (FNP), psychiatric-mental health (PMHNP), and women’s health (WHNP). Each is available as an MSN, a BSN to DNP, and a post-master’s certificate.
GCSU is a public university with one of the lowest NP price points in Georgia. Three policies shape the decision more than any single specialty detail:
- One rate for everyone. For 2026–27, every graduate nursing program bills $393 per credit, with no out-of-state premium.
- One summer cohort. MSN and DNP students start together each May after a mandatory on-campus immersion.
- Clinicals stay in Georgia. Students secure their own preceptors with help from a clinical coordinator, and every clinical hour must be completed in Georgia.
Quick facts
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Nursing School | GCSU School of Nursing |
| Location | Milledgeville, GA |
| NP Specialties | FNP, PMHNP, WHNP |
| Degree Options | MSN, BSN to DNP, and post-master’s certificate (all three); MSN to DNP |
| Format | Mostly Online: online classes plus an opening immersion, a lab week, and about five more campus trips |
| Clinical Placement | Student-secured with clinical coordinator help; all hours in Georgia |
| Entry Points | BSN (MSN, DNP); master’s degree (certificates, MSN to DNP) |
| RN License | Georgia or compact RN license |
| Tuition | $393 per credit for all graduate nursing programs (2026–27) |
| Accreditation | CCNE |
Comparing GCSU’s NP programs
| Pathway | Credits | Clinical hours | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) | |||
| MSN | 40 | 630 | 6 semesters full-time, 9 part-time |
| BSN to DNP | 78 | 1,185 | 9 semesters full-time |
| Post-master’s certificate | 11–33 | Up to 630 | Up to 2 years |
| Psychiatric-Mental Health (PMHNP) | |||
| MSN | 39 | 570 | 6 semesters full-time, 9 part-time |
| BSN to DNP | 79 | 1,190 | 9 semesters full-time |
| Post-master’s certificate | 11–32 | Up to 570 | Up to 2 years |
| Women’s Health (WHNP) | |||
| MSN | Not published | 675 | Full-time or part-time |
| BSN to DNP | 77 | About 1,180 | 9 semesters |
| Post-master’s certificate | Varies | Varies | Varies |
Figures come from GCSU’s programs of study. DNP clinical totals combine direct and indirect hours. Certificate credits are set by a gap analysis: board-certified APRNs start from an 11-credit minimum, while master’s-prepared nurses without APRN certification take the full sequence.
What stands out about GCSU’s NP programs
- Low public pricing at every level. The FNP MSN runs about $15,700 in tuition, and the FNP BSN to DNP about $30,700.
- Women’s health. GCSU is one of two Georgia schools with a WHNP program, alongside Emory.
- Certificates without APRN certification. Master’s-prepared nurses without NP certification can enter the full certificate sequence.
- Published pass rates. MSN-FNP graduates passed certification at 100% from 2021 to 2023.
Which GCSU NP program fits your goal?
- FNP: Primary care across the lifespan, with the shortest FNP MSN in Georgia at 40 credits
- PMHNP: Psychiatric care across the lifespan through an MSN, DNP, or certificate
- WHNP: Gynecologic, reproductive, and prenatal care for women
Family Nurse Practitioner
Credits 11–78 · Clinical hours 630–1,185 · MSN · BSN to DNP · Certificate
The FNP MSN runs 40 credits and 630 clinical hours over six full-time or nine part-time semesters. The 78-credit BSN to DNP schedules 1,185 hours, 756 of them in direct patient care.
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Credits 11–79 · Clinical hours 570–1,190 · MSN · BSN to DNP · Certificate
The PMHNP MSN runs 39 credits and 570 clinical hours. The 79-credit BSN to DNP schedules 1,190 hours. MSN-PMHNP graduates passed certification at 78% to 89% from 2021 to 2023.
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Clinical hours 675 (MSN) · MSN · BSN to DNP · Certificate
The WHNP MSN includes 675 clinical hours, and the 77-credit BSN to DNP adds doctoral coursework and practice hours. GCSU does not publish the WHNP MSN credit total.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
GCSU’s DNP has two entry points.
- BSN to DNP: FNP, PMHNP, or WHNP over nine full-time semesters; part-time options began with the 2025 admission cycle
- MSN to DNP: at least 37 credits and 360 practice hours, with no built-in NP specialty; GCSU says students can add FNP, PMHNP, or WHNP preparation
- Experience: a year of full-time RN work before precepted courses
Post-master’s certificates
GCSU’s post-master’s certificates cover FNP, PMHNP, and WHNP through two routes.
- Board-certified APRNs: an individualized plan from a gap analysis, starting at 11 credits
- Master’s-prepared nurses without APRN certification: the full sequence, up to about 32 to 33 credits
- Testing: no entrance exam is required
Clinical placement
GCSU states that the School of Nursing clinical coordinator assists students in securing their own preceptors. All clinical hours must be completed in Georgia with preceptors the school approves.
The practical trade-off: students get coordinator support, but still own the preceptor search, and the Georgia-only rule limits out-of-state nurses.
Format and campus requirements
Coursework is online, with synchronous Thursday classes by video plus asynchronous modules. Campus time is fixed rather than weekly:
| Program | Format | Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| MSN (FNP, PMHNP, WHNP) | Mostly Online | Opening immersion (four days for FNP and WHNP), a 45-hour fall lab week, and about five more trips |
| BSN to DNP | Mostly Online | First-semester onboarding, then labs about once per semester for one to three days |
| Certificates and MSN to DNP | Mostly Online | First-semester onboarding; other visits described as minimal |
Tuition
GCSU’s 2026–27 distance-learning rate sheet charges one rate for every graduate nursing program and every residency status.
| MSN, DNP, and certificates, per credit | $393 |
| Online learning fee, 7+ credits | $410 per semester |
| Online learning fee, 6 or fewer credits | $205 per semester |
| Pathway | Credits | Estimated Tuition and Fees |
|---|---|---|
| FNP MSN, full-time | 40 | $17,565 |
| PMHNP MSN, full-time | 39 | $16,967 |
| FNP BSN to DNP | 78 | $33,934 |
| PMHNP BSN to DNP | 79 | $34,327 |
| WHNP BSN to DNP (tuition only) | 77 | $30,261 |
| FNP or PMHNP certificate (tuition only) | 11–33 | $4,323–$12,969 |
These are NPPrograms.com estimates: credits times $393, plus the online learning fee for each semester of the full-time plan. See GCSU’s cost of attendance page for current figures.
Admissions
- Degree: a BSN from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited program, with a 2.75 GPA on the last 60 nursing hours
- License: a Georgia or compact RN license
- Materials: three professional references, a resume, a goals statement, and an interview; DNP applicants add a writing exercise and a statistics course
- Testing: no GRE
- Deadlines: applications open July 15 for the May cohort, with early, regular, and late rounds; GCSU’s pages list different final dates, so confirm with the program
Accreditation and certification
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits GCSU’s BSN, MSN, and DNP programs. GCSU publishes certification results by program:
| Year | MSN-FNP | MSN-PMHNP | MSN-WHNP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 100% | 88.9% | None reported |
| 2022 | 100% | 77.8% | 100% |
| 2023 | 100% | 88.9% | 100% |
Who is GCSU best for?
May be a strong fit for
- Georgia nurses who want a low-cost MSN or DNP
- Nurses interested in women’s health
- Out-of-state nurses with a compact license who can complete clinicals in Georgia
- Master’s-prepared nurses adding FNP or PMHNP without APRN certification
- Students who want published certification pass rates
Compare other options if
- You need a spring or fall start
- You want the school to arrange your preceptors
- You plan to complete clinicals outside Georgia
- You need adult-gerontology or pediatric preparation
- You cannot travel to Milledgeville several times a year
Compare more NP programs in Georgia
- Augusta University - Augusta
- Brenau University - Norcross
- Emory University - Atlanta
- Georgia Southern University - Statesboro
- Georgia State University - Atlanta
- Mercer University - Atlanta
- South University - Savannah
- Valdosta State University - Valdosta