Quinnipiac University Nurse Practitioner Programs

Quinnipiac University’s School of Nursing in Hamden, Connecticut, offers four nurse practitioner population focuses: family (FNP), psychiatric-mental health (PMHNP), adult-gerontology primary care (AGPCNP), and adult-gerontology acute care (AGACNP). Each is a BSN-entry MSN. PMHNP is also available as a post-master’s certificate for practicing NPs.

All pathways are Mostly Online: online coursework plus one-week immersions on the Connecticut campus. Every MSN track requires 780 clinical hours. Two policies shape the practical decision more than specialty choice:

• Enrollment is limited to nine Northeast states. Applicants must live in CT, MA, NY, NJ, RI, NH, VT, ME, or PA.
• Clinical placement is arranged in Connecticut only. Students in the other eight states find their own sites and preceptors.

Quick facts

Category	Information
Nursing School	School of Nursing
Location	Hamden, CT
NP Specialties	FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP, AGACNP
Degree Options	MSN in all four specialties; post-master’s certificate in PMHNP
Format	Mostly Online
Campus Visits	Two to four one-week immersions, depending on pathway
Clinical Placement	School-arranged in Connecticut only
Eligible States	CT, MA, NY, NJ, RI, NH, VT, ME, PA
Minimum GPA	3.0 (BSN)
RN Experience	One year full-time (about 2,000 hours)
Entry Points	BSN for MSN; MSN plus NP credentials for the certificate
Cost per Credit	$1,085 (2026-27)
Accreditation	CCNE; NECHE institutional

Comparing Quinnipiac’s NP programs

Format, placement policy, admissions, and tuition rates are shared across all four specialties. The MSN tracks also share a graduate core (NUR 501, 502, 503, 504), an advanced practice core (NUR 520/520L, 522, 530), and a Transition to Practice capstone (NUR 669). Each track then adds its specialty courses and four practicums of 150, 240, 240, and 150 hours.

Pathway	Credits	Duration	Est. tuition	Clinical hours	Campus immersions
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
MSN	56	About 2 years full-time	$61K	780	3
Psychiatric-Mental Health (PMHNP)
MSN	57	2+ years	$62K	780	3
Post-master’s certificate	34	1.5–2 years	$37K	Not stated	2
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care (AGPCNP)
MSN	50	2 years FT / 3 years PT	$54K	780	3
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care (AGACNP)
MSN	51	2+ years (6 semesters)	$55K	780	4, plus lab residency

On the tuition column: these are estimates, not Quinnipiac-published program costs. They multiply catalog credits by the 2026-27 rate of $1,085 per credit and exclude fees.

Credit totals follow the academic catalog plans of study. Quinnipiac’s cost pages list lower totals for FNP (53) and AGPCNP (45), so confirm your track’s total with the School of Nursing before budgeting. Clinical hours are preceptored practicum hours across four sequential practicum courses.

What stands out about Quinnipiac’s NP programs

• Where you live decides the placement workload. Connecticut students get arranged sites. Students in the other eight states find their own preceptors for all 780 hours, across four separate rotations.
• Identical clinical hours across the MSN tracks. Clinical volume does not separate the specialties here. Population focus, credits, and campus time do.
• AGACNP has the highest entry bar and the most campus time. It requires acute care RN experience, includes four immersions plus a lab residency, and runs each specialty course once a year.
• No institutional aid for online students. Graduate grants and merit scholarships are limited to on-campus programs, and these NP programs are delivered online.
• Built-in DNP continuation. MSN NP graduates can enter Quinnipiac’s post-master’s DNP within two years without a new application.

Which Quinnipiac NP program fits your goal?

• FNP: Primary care across the lifespan, including two dedicated pediatric courses
• PMHNP: Psychiatric assessment, psychopharmacology, and psychotherapy across the lifespan
• AGPCNP: Primary care from adolescence through older adulthood, without the pediatric coursework
• AGACNP: Acute and critical care for adults and older adults; requires acute care RN experience
• PMHNP certificate: Current NPs adding a psychiatric population focus

Family Nurse Practitioner

Credits 56 · Clinical hours 780 · Immersions 3 · MSN

The MSN Family Nurse Practitioner is the longest primary care track at 56 credits, typically completed in about two years of full-time study. Part-time options extend the timeline.

The specialty sequence covers primary care across the lifespan: Common Problems in Primary Care (NUR 636), Complex Problems in Primary Care (NUR 642), and Primary Care of the Child and Family I and II (NUR 652 and 654). NUR 639, Advanced Specialty Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning, includes an on-campus residency on procedural skills such as ECG interpretation and diagnostic exams.

The practical difference from the AGPCNP: the FNP adds two pediatric courses and six credits. Nurses who want to treat children in primary care need the FNP. Nurses focused on adolescents, adults, and older adults can reach primary care practice in fewer credits through the AGPCNP. Full course requirements are in the FNP catalog.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Credits 57 / 34 · Clinical hours 780 (MSN) · Immersions 3 / 2 · MSN · Certificate

The MSN Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner requires 57 credits and takes 2+ years. It prepares students for psychiatric care across the lifespan.

The specialty sequence pairs medication management with psychotherapy. It includes Advanced Specialty Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning for the PMHNP (NUR 700), which carries an on-ground immersion; Psychopharmacology Foundations (NUR 702); Psychotherapy Foundations (NUR 704); and Psychotherapeutic Interventions I through IV (NUR 706-712), which run alongside the four practicums. Clinical settings include schools, community health clinics, hospitals, private practices, criminal justice facilities, and home care. See the PMHNP curriculum.

The Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate requires 34 credits and takes 1.5 to 2 years. Applicants need a master’s degree in nursing, current nurse practitioner credentials, and professional NP experience. An MSN alone does not qualify, so RNs without NP certification should look at the MSN. The certificate requires two one-week immersions rather than three, and the nine-state residency limit applies.

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Credits 50 · Clinical hours 780 · Immersions 3 · MSN

The MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner requires 50 credits. Full-time students finish in two years and part-time students in three.

The population focus runs from adolescence through older adulthood in primary care. The specialty sequence shares NUR 636, NUR 639 (with its procedures residency), and NUR 642 with the FNP, and adds Reproductive Health Problems in Primary Care (NUR 634) in place of the FNP’s pediatric courses. Clinical settings include outpatient clinics, medical offices, and skilled nursing facilities.

This is the shortest BSN-entry primary care option at Quinnipiac and fits nurses who don’t plan to treat young children. See the AGPCNP catalog for full course requirements.

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Credits 51 · Clinical hours 780 · Immersions 4 · MSN

The MSN Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner requires 51 credits over 2+ years, with six semesters as the working minimum. It is the only Quinnipiac NP track that prepares students for acute and critical care.

Specialty coursework includes Advanced Specialty Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning for the AGACNP (NUR 660), which carries an on-ground immersion; Advanced Acute Care Pharmacology (NUR 662); and Acute Care Diagnosis and Management I through III (NUR 664, 666, 668). All 780 practicum hours are in acute care settings.

• Entry requirement: The required year of RN experience must be in acute care. ER or critical care experience is preferred, and a reference should speak to specialty clinical experience.
• Campus time: Four one-week immersions, plus a separate on-ground residency for the NUR 520L assessment lab.
• Annual course rotation: Each specialty course runs once a year in a set term, including summer. A grade below B- in a specialty course delays progression by a full year.

Graduates are prepared for adult-gerontology acute care practice. The track does not cover pediatric acute care or primary care.

Clinical placement

Placement policy is the biggest practical factor in choosing Quinnipiac. It applies to every specialty:

• Connecticut students: The School of Nursing arranges clinical sites.
• Other eligible states: Students find their own sites and preceptors. The school offers guidance and preceptor recommendations but does not place them.
• New York residents: May enroll but cannot complete clinical requirements in New York. They must plan on rotations in Connecticut or New Jersey.
• Relocating mid-program: Students must notify the program director immediately. Progression can be jeopardized if Quinnipiac is not approved to place students in the new state.

For out-of-state students, 780 hours means securing preceptors four separate times, plus clinical travel for New York students. Quinnipiac’s professional licensure disclosures list current licensure information by state.

Format and campus immersions

Pathway	Format	On-campus requirement
FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP MSN	Mostly Online	Three one-week immersions
PMHNP certificate	Mostly Online	Two one-week immersions
AGACNP MSN	Mostly Online	Four one-week immersions, plus NUR 520L assessment-lab residency

Immersions take place on the Connecticut campus and focus on simulation and hands-on skills. In the FNP and AGPCNP tracks, they are tied to the assessment lab, the diagnostic reasoning course, and the final practicum. Out-of-state students should budget travel, lodging, and time off for each visit.

Progression rules apply to every track:

• Students need a B- or better in nursing courses, including both faculty and preceptor clinical evaluations.
• A lower grade means retaking the course when next offered, which moves the student to a later cohort.
• Two unsatisfactory grades in one semester result in dismissal.
• Students cannot switch NP specialties after enrollment.

Admissions

These requirements apply to MSN applicants in all four specialties.

Requirement	Detail
Nursing degree	BSN with a minimum 3.0 GPA
RN license	Unencumbered, unrestricted RN license
Experience	At least one year full-time RN experience (about 2,000 hours)
Statistics	Undergraduate statistics with a C or better; conditional acceptance available with Quinnipiac’s statistics course
Residency	CT, MA, NY, NJ, RI, NH, VT, ME, or PA
References	At least one from a professional supervisor or faculty member
Written materials	Resume and two-part personal statement (300 words maximum per prompt)
Other	Official transcripts, $45 application fee, TOEFL or IELTS for international applicants
Clearances	Background check and drug screen after acceptance
Deadlines	Rolling; final deadlines about two weeks before classes: January 1 (spring), August 1 (fall)

Admission is competitive and class sizes are limited. AGACNP applicants need acute care experience, and certificate applicants need current NP credentials, as noted above. Residents of other states can contact Graduate Admissions about future availability. See the AGPCNP admissions page for an example of current requirements.

Tuition

Graduate nursing tuition is $1,085 per credit for 2026-27, with no residency differential. Estimated tuition for each pathway appears in the comparison table: $60,760 for the FNP, $61,845 for the PMHNP MSN, $36,890 for the PMHNP certificate, $54,250 for the AGPCNP, and $55,335 for the AGACNP.

2026-27 rates. Accident insurance and the commuter meal plan do not apply to students in strictly online programs. Tuition and fees are updated annually. Quinnipiac’s graduate grants and merit scholarships are limited to on-campus programs, so online NP students rely on federal loans (FAFSA plus Quinnipiac’s graduate aid application), employer reimbursement, or outside scholarships. See Quinnipiac’s tuition and financial aid page for current rates.

Continuing to the DNP

MSN NP graduates can enter Quinnipiac’s post-master’s DNP within two years of graduating without a new application.

• Concentrations: Care of Populations and Nursing Leadership. Neither adds an NP credential or clinical specialty.
• Credits: A minimum of 36, making it a separate degree commitment.
• Practice hours: The DNP requires 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice hours and accepts up to 500 from the MSN.

Accreditation and certification

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits Quinnipiac’s BSN, MSN, and DNP programs. The New England Commission of Higher Education accredits the university.

Graduates are prepared for national certification in their population focus. Quinnipiac reports 2025 first-attempt pass rates of 87% for FNP graduates and 100% for both AGPCNP and AGACNP graduates.

Who is Quinnipiac University best for?

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