Georgia has 16 universities offering nurse practitioner programs across five NP specialties: family (FNP), psychiatric mental health (PMHNP), adult-gerontology primary care (AGPCNP), adult-gerontology acute care (AGACNP), and pediatric primary care (PNP-PC). Students can enter through MSN, BSN-to-DNP, post-master’s DNP, and post-graduate certificate pathways, and two schools document RN-to-MSN entry for associate-degree nurses. No Georgia school offers pediatric acute care (PNP-AC).
Jump to: FNP (15) PMHNP (8) AGPCNP (5) AGACNP (7) PNP-PC (3)
Family practice dominates: 15 schools offer FNP, and six offer nothing else. Emory University and Georgia State University (GSU) are the only schools covering all five specialties, and Emory adds neonatal (NNP), women’s health (WHNP), and Family/Emergency tracks. Public per-credit rates mostly run about $269 to $464, while private schools charge $1,100 or more. Georgia Southern University offers four specialties fully online at one rate for all residency statuses.
Compare Georgia Nurse Practitioner Programs
| School | Specialties | Degrees | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emory University Atlanta | FNP PMHNP AGPCNP AGACNP PNP-PC FNP/ENP NNP WHNP | MSN • DNP • Certificate | Mostly Online |
| Georgia State University (GSU) Atlanta | FNP PMHNP AGPCNP AGACNP PNP-PC | RN-to-MSN • MSN • DNP • Certificate | Mostly Online |
| Augusta University Augusta | FNP PMHNP AGACNP PNP-PC | DNP • Certificate | Mostly Online |
| Georgia Southern University Statesboro | FNP PMHNP AGPCNP AGACNP | DNP (MSN exit) • Certificate | Online |
| Mercer University Atlanta | FNP PMHNP AGPCNP AGACNP | MSN • DNP • Certificate | Hybrid |
| Brenau University Norcross | FNP PMHNP AGACNP | MSN • Certificate | Varies by specialty |
| Georgia College & State University (GCSU) Milledgeville | FNP PMHNP WHNP | MSN • DNP • Certificate | Mostly Online |
| South University Savannah | FNP AGPCNP | RN-to-MSN • MSN | Online |
| Valdosta State University Valdosta | FNP PMHNP | MSN • DNP • Certificate | Hybrid |
| Albany State University Albany | FNP | MSN • Certificate | Online |
| Clayton State University Morrow | FNP | MSN • Certificate | Online |
| Columbus State University Columbus | FNP | MSN | Online |
| Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) Americus | FNP | MSN • Certificate | Online |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) Kennesaw | FNP | MSN | Hybrid |
| Middle Georgia State University (MGA) Macon | AGACNP | MSN • Certificate | Mostly Online |
| University of North Georgia (UNG) Dahlonega | FNP | MSN • Certificate | Campus |
Schools are listed by number of NP specialties offered, then alphabetically. Specialties show only programs identified in our Georgia specialty research, and not every degree is available in every specialty. “Varies by specialty” marks schools where attendance differs by track; Brenau’s FNP and PMHNP programs meet monthly, while its AGACNP certificate meets once a semester. Georgia Southern’s MSN is an exit point inside its BSN-to-DNP, not a standalone degree, FNP/ENP marks Emory’s Family/Emergency DNP. Emory’s NNP and WHNP programs, GCSU’s WHNP program, and Brenau’s FNP programs come from the schools’ own sites rather than our specialty research. Valdosta State also lists an adult-gerontology NP certificate without stating primary or acute care, so it is not counted.
NP Programs by Specialty
Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
Fifteen of Georgia’s 16 NP schools offer FNP preparation, and six offer no other NP specialty.
| School | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| Albany State | Same per-credit rate for residents and nonresidents |
| Augusta | Doctorate only, with 1,183 clinical hours |
| Brenau | MSN and certificate with monthly Saturday classes in Norcross |
| Clayton State | Online, with all clinical hours in Georgia |
| Columbus State | Only fully asynchronous FNP program |
| Emory | Only Family/Emergency DNP (adds ENP-C eligibility) |
| GCSU | Shortest MSN at 40 credits |
| Georgia Southern | Certification-eligible MSN exit inside the DNP |
| GSU | RN-to-MSN bridge into its MSN programs |
| GSW | 780 clinical hours with no campus visits |
| Kennesaw State | Most MSN clinical hours (840) |
| Mercer | Faculty oversee every placement |
| South University | Online RN-to-MSN for ADN nurses, plus a Savannah campus MSN |
| North Georgia | Only campus-based FNP program |
| Valdosta State | Separate certificate tracks for current PNPs and AGNPs |
- Cost: Public MSN tuition mostly falls between $14K and $22K. Mercer (about $42K full-time), South ($41K), and Emory ($109K) sit far higher.
- Doctorates: Valdosta State (about $27K), GCSU (about $31K), and Georgia Southern (about $33K) are the lowest-cost FNP doctorates. Emory’s run $156K to $177K.
- Clinical hours: MSN totals range from 585 (Clayton State, GSU) to 840 (Kennesaw State).
- Clinical geography: Clayton State, GCSU, and Kennesaw State keep all hours in Georgia. Albany State, Columbus State, GSW, and South allow hours in the student’s licensure state, subject to authorization.
Compare all Georgia FNP programs →
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Programs
Eight universities offer PMHNP preparation, and the post-graduate certificate is the most common route (eight schools).
| School | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| Augusta | Open only to Georgia and South Carolina residents |
| Brenau | Certificate students can start the DNP concurrently |
| Emory | Blake Scholars Program covers certificate tuition for a child and adolescent focus |
| GCSU | Lowest certificate floor (about $4K at the 11-credit minimum) |
| Georgia Southern | Only PMHNP with no named campus visits |
| GSU | Requires psychiatric RN experience or psych volunteer hours |
| Mercer | Post-master’s DNP with built-in PMHNP preparation |
| Valdosta State | Recurring weekend meetings every semester |
- Degree split: Only four schools offer a standalone PMHNP MSN (GCSU, GSU, Mercer, Valdosta State). Augusta and Emory reach PMHNP through the BSN-to-DNP.
- Campus time: Six of eight require scheduled or recurring campus attendance.
- Doctoral cost: Georgia Southern’s BSN-to-DNP runs about $33K; Emory’s runs about $181K.
Compare all Georgia PMHNP programs →
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP Programs
Five universities offer AGPCNP preparation, the narrowest adult specialty in Georgia.
| School | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| Emory | 780-hour MSN in about 16 months |
| Georgia Southern | Lowest cost at every level |
| GSU | Certificate open to MSN holders without APRN certification |
| Mercer | Faculty oversee every placement |
| South University | Only ADN-entry route (RN-to-MSN) |
- MSN cost: About $18K at Georgia Southern’s exit and $22K at GSU, compared with about $109K to $111K at Emory.
- Doctoral entry: Georgia Southern (about $33K), GSU, and Mercer (about $64K full-time) offer a BSN-to-DNP.
- No campus visits: Georgia Southern and South publish no campus requirement.
Compare all Georgia AGPCNP programs →
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Programs
Seven universities offer acute care NP preparation, all with an adult-gerontology focus.
| School | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| Augusta | Faculty meet each student and preceptor at the clinical site |
| Brenau | Two-semester certificate with school-arranged placements |
| Emory | MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and certificate entry at private rates |
| Georgia Southern | Requires a documented year of critical care work |
| GSU | Certificate open only to FNPs and adult-gerontology NPs |
| Mercer | BSN-to-DNP with no minimum work experience |
| Middle Georgia State | Lowest-cost acute care MSN (about $13K) |
- Experience gates vary widely. Georgia Southern requires critical care employment, while Mercer’s BSN-to-DNP requires none.
- Certificates are most common (all seven schools), but most do not publish clinical-hour totals.
- Doctoral cost spread: Georgia Southern (about $33K) and Augusta (about $34K in-state) vs. Mercer (about $64K full-time) and Emory (up to $177K).
Compare all Georgia AGACNP programs →
Pediatric Primary Care NP Programs
Three universities offer pediatric primary care preparation. None offers PNP-AC or dual primary/acute preparation.
| School | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| Augusta | Lowest documented BSN-to-DNP cost (about $34K resident) |
| Emory | MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and certificate entry at private rates |
| GSU | Lowest-cost MSN (about $23K) |
- All three require some campus attendance.
- GSU requires a year of recent pediatric clinical experience, and Augusta admits only Georgia and South Carolina residents.
Compare all Georgia PNP programs →
Which Georgia NP School Fits Your Goals?
Widest Specialty Selection: Emory offers eight NP tracks, including the state’s only neonatal and Family/Emergency programs. GSU covers the five common specialties at public rates.
Online Doctorate at Public Rates: Georgia Southern offers BSN-to-DNP preparation in four specialties with no named campus visits, at about $33K for every residency status. Students recruit their own preceptors.
Best for ADN-Prepared Nurses: South University’s online RN-to-MSN leads to FNP or AGPCNP. GSU’s bridge feeds its MSN programs after undergraduate prerequisites are completed.
Most Consistent Placement Support: Mercer faculty oversee or help secure placements across all four of its NP specialties.
Adding a Specialty as a Certified APRN: Brenau offers certificates in FNP, PMHNP, and AGACNP, and certificate students can start its DNP concurrently. Valdosta State prices shorter FNP certificates for current PNPs and AGNPs.
Emergency Practice: Emory’s Family/Emergency DNP is the only Georgia program that prepares graduates for both FNP and ENP-C certification.
Georgia NP Programs by Entry Pathway
Pathway availability depends heavily on specialty.
| Specialty | MSN | BSN-to-DNP | Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|
| FNP | 14 | 7 | 11 |
| PMHNP | 5 | 6 | 8 |
| AGPCNP | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| AGACNP | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| PNP-PC | 2 | 3 | 3 |
MSN counts include Georgia Southern’s MSN exit, which requires entering its BSN-to-DNP.
ADN or RN to NP Programs
Two schools document routes for associate-degree nurses:
- South University: online RN-to-MSN leading to FNP or AGPCNP. It accepts ADN or diploma RNs and requires a 3.0 GPA before graduate courses.
- Georgia State University: RN-to-MSN bridge into its MSN programs. Students complete two bridge courses and any missing undergraduate coursework first.
No Georgia school documents an ADN-to-DNP route.
BSN to MSN NP Programs
Fifteen schools offer master’s-level entry in at least one specialty. Augusta does not. Pediatric MSN entry is limited to Emory and GSU.
BSN to DNP NP Programs
Seven universities offer direct doctoral entry:
- Augusta: FNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, PNP-PC
- Emory: FNP (including Family/Emergency), PMHNP, AGACNP, PNP-PC, WHNP
- Georgia Southern: FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP, AGACNP
- Mercer: FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP, AGACNP
- GCSU: FNP, PMHNP, WHNP
- GSU: FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP, PNP-PC
- Valdosta State: FNP
Georgia Southern and Valdosta State let students leave with an MSN partway through. Georgia Southern’s exit comes at 43 credits, with four years to return.
MSN to DNP Programs
- Mercer offers a post-master’s DNP with built-in PMHNP or AGACNP preparation. It is open to certified APRNs.
- GCSU offers a 37-credit MSN-to-DNP without a built-in NP specialty; GCSU says students can add FNP, PMHNP, or WHNP preparation.
- Augusta lists a post-MSN DNP for FNP and accepts MSN-prepared applicants into its PNP-PC doctoral track. Details are not clearly published.
Post-Graduate NP Certificates
Thirteen schools offer at least one certificate, so changing specialties is easiest in FNP, PMHNP, and AGACNP. Entry rules differ more than price:
- APRN certification required: Augusta, Emory, and Georgia Southern for most specialties
- MSN without APRN certification accepted: GSU (PMHNP, AGPCNP, PNP-PC), GCSU, Valdosta State, and Brenau (FNP, PMHNP)
- Narrowest gate: GSU’s AGACNP certificate admits only FNPs and adult-gerontology NPs
Many programs set credits through a gap analysis, so published costs are estimates.
What Do NP Programs Cost in Georgia?
| Per-Credit Tier (resident) | Schools | Cost Context |
|---|---|---|
| Under $300 | Middle Georgia State, North Georgia | MGA is AGACNP only; UNG is FNP only |
| $300 to $470 | Albany State, Augusta, Clayton State, Columbus State, GCSU, Georgia Southern, GSU, GSW, Kennesaw State, Valdosta State | Georgia Southern charges $411 for DNP-pathway students and $293 for its MSN; GCSU charges $393 across graduate nursing programs (2026–27) |
| $660 to $920 | South University, Brenau | South bills per quarter credit, which is not directly comparable to semester rates |
| $1,150 and up | Mercer, Emory | Emory charges $2,110 (DNP) to $2,320 (MSN) for 2026–27; Mercer’s flat semester rates make full-time study far cheaper than its $1,199 per-credit MSN rate suggests |
The lowest per-credit school may not be the lowest-cost option for your goal. Specialty, credit totals, and fees change the math. Compare equivalent pathways:
| Pathway | Lowest Documented Options | Context |
|---|---|---|
| MSN | MGA (about $13K), UNG (about $14K), GCSU (about $16K) | MGA is AGACNP only; Georgia Southern’s MSN exit (about $18K) requires entering its DNP |
| BSN-to-DNP | Valdosta State (about $27K), GCSU (about $31K), Georgia Southern (about $33K) | Valdosta State’s DNP is FNP only; tuition before fees |
| Certificate | GCSU FNP and PMHNP (from about $4K), Georgia Southern AGPCNP and AGACNP (about $5K) | Gap analysis can raise totals |
Residency matters at some schools. Augusta’s nonresident doctoral estimates exceed $90K, and Kennesaw State charges $1,175 per credit out of state. Albany State, Georgia Southern, and GSU’s online programs charge the same rate regardless of residency.
Online NP Programs in Georgia
Attendance requirements vary by school and sometimes by specialty.
No required campus attendance
- Albany State, Clayton State, Columbus State, and GSW (FNP)
- Georgia Southern (FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP, AGACNP)
- South University (FNP online option, AGPCNP)
Limited campus attendance
- Augusta: orientation, multi-day campus intensives, and an in-person DNP defense
- Emory: mandatory intensives in Atlanta, dates published in advance
- GSU: lab days or a semester-opening class; the AGACNP certificate starts with a week in Atlanta
- Middle Georgia State: about two immersion days per semester
- Brenau AGACNP: one weekend per semester
- GCSU (FNP, PMHNP, WHNP): a start-of-program immersion, a 45-hour lab week, and about five more campus trips
Recurring campus attendance
- Kennesaw State: up to one weekend per month
- Valdosta State: five weekend meetings each fall and spring, four each summer
- Mercer: in-person Atlanta labs
- Brenau FNP and PMHNP: monthly Saturday classes or weekend intensives in Norcross
Campus-based
- North Georgia (FNP)
Outside FNP and AGPCNP, Georgia Southern is the only no-campus choice. Every PNP-PC program requires travel to Atlanta or Augusta, and all programs require in-person clinical hours.
Clinical Placement and Practicum Requirements
| School | Placement Approach | Important Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Mercer | Faculty oversee all placements; students may suggest preceptors | Georgia RN license required for admission |
| Brenau | University-arranged (AGACNP); clinical coordinator assists other tracks | AGACNP 100-mile guarantee applies to Georgia residents only |
| GCSU | Students secure preceptors with clinical coordinator help | All clinical hours in Georgia |
| Augusta | Faculty visit each clinical site in person | Enrollment limited to Georgia and South Carolina residents |
| Emory | Student-secured with Clinical Placement Team support | Students may not contact major Atlanta health systems directly |
| GSU | Varies by specialty: placement coordinator (PNP-PC); students network for preceptors (PMHNP) | Not clearly stated for AGACNP or AGPCNP |
| Georgia Southern | Student-secured | Clinicals in Georgia or South Carolina only |
At GSU, the specialty you choose affects placement support more than the university does. Ask each program who finds preceptors for your specific track.
Choosing an NP Program in Georgia
Start with specialty. FNP applicants can choose from 15 schools. PNP-PC applicants have three, and PNP-AC applicants must look outside Georgia.
Separate primary and acute care. All seven acute care programs are adult-gerontology. Experience requirements range from none (Mercer BSN-to-DNP) to a year of critical care (Georgia Southern).
Match the degree before comparing tuition. Augusta offers no MSN, and Georgia Southern’s MSN requires entering its DNP. A certificate is not a substitute for a first NP degree.
Count campus trips. Requirements range from none to monthly weekends, and they can differ between specialties at the same school.
Confirm placement responsibility. Mercer and Brenau (AGACNP) document strong support, while Georgia Southern students find their own preceptors.
Check residency rules. Augusta admits only Georgia and South Carolina residents, and several schools keep clinical hours inside Georgia.
FAQ
How many nurse practitioner schools are in Georgia?
Sixteen Georgia universities offer NP programs across five specialties. Emory offers the most, with eight NP tracks, and Georgia State follows with five.
Which NP specialties are available in Georgia?
FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP, AGACNP, and PNP-PC. Emory and GCSU also offer women’s health (WHNP), and Emory offers neonatal (NNP). No Georgia school offers pediatric acute care (PNP-AC).
Are there online NP programs in Georgia?
Yes. Georgia Southern offers four specialties with no published campus visits. Albany State, Clayton State, Columbus State, Georgia Southwestern, and South University also offer no-campus options, mostly in FNP.
Can I become an NP in Georgia with an ADN?
Yes, at two schools. South University offers an online RN-to-MSN leading to FNP or AGPCNP, and Georgia State offers an RN-to-MSN bridge into its MSN programs.
Which Georgia schools offer BSN-to-DNP NP programs?
Augusta, Emory, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Mercer, Georgia College & State University, and Valdosta State (FNP). Specialty options differ at each school.
What are the lowest-cost NP options in Georgia?
For standalone MSNs, Middle Georgia State (AGACNP), North Georgia, and GCSU run about $13K to $16K. For doctorates, Valdosta State (FNP), GCSU, and Georgia Southern run about $27K to $33K.
Which school offers emergency NP preparation?
Emory’s Family/Emergency DNP is the only Georgia program that prepares graduates for both FNP and ENP-C certification.