Rush University’s College of Nursing offers all six nurse practitioner population foci: family (FNP), psychiatric-mental health (PMHNP), adult-gerontology primary care (AGPCNP), adult-gerontology acute care (AGACNP), pediatric primary care (PNP-PC), and pediatric acute care (PNP-AC). Every NP track leads to a Doctor of Nursing Practice. Rush offers no NP master’s, and post-graduate certificates exist only in the two acute care specialties.
Three policies shape the decision more than any single specialty detail:
- Doctoral pricing with a discount for prior preparation. Rush charges $1,493 per credit in 2026–27. A BSN-entry DNP runs about $102,000 to $106,000, but certified APRNs can enter most specialties through plans of 29 to 41 credits.
- Campus time depends on the specialty. The PMHNP has no required campus visits, while the AGACNP meets on campus weekly.
- Clinical geography depends on the specialty too. FNP and AGACNP clinicals are Chicago-area only. The other tracks enroll distance students, but placement support stops short of a guarantee.
Quick facts
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Nursing School | Rush University College of Nursing |
| Location | Chicago, IL |
| NP Specialties | FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP, AGACNP, PNP-PC, PNP-AC |
| Degree Options | BSN to DNP (six tracks); MSN to DNP (six tracks); post-graduate certificate (AGACNP, PNP-AC) |
| Format | Varies by specialty: Online (PMHNP), Mostly Online (FNP, AGPCNP, PNP), Hybrid (AGACNP) |
| Clinical Hours | 1,008 for BSN entry in every specialty, including 252 DNP project hours |
| Clinical Placement | Rush-arranged in the Chicago area for FNP; collaborative and not guaranteed in other tracks |
| RN Experience | None required (FNP, PNP-PC) to six months of recent acute care (AGACNP, PNP-AC) |
| Tuition | $1,493 per credit (2026–27), all residencies, plus a $429 DNP fee each semester |
| Accreditation | CCNE (MSN, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate); HLC |
Comparing Rush’s NP programs
Every BSN-entry track runs 68 or 71 credits with 1,008 clinical hours. MSN-entry credits depend on whether the applicant is already a certified APRN, and Rush sets each MSN student’s final plan through a gap analysis after admission.
| Pathway | Credits | Clinical hours | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) | |||
| BSN to DNP | 71 | 1,008 | BSN; RN experience preferred |
| MSN to DNP | 62 | 1,008 | MSN in nursing |
| Psychiatric-Mental Health (PMHNP) | |||
| BSN to DNP | 68 | 1,008 | BSN; psychiatric work preferred |
| MSN to DNP (non-APRN) | 53–56 | 1,008 | MSN in nursing |
| MSN to DNP (APRN) | 41 | 1,008 | Certified APRN |
| Adult-Gerontology Primary Care (AGPCNP) | |||
| BSN to DNP | 71 | 1,008 | BSN; RN experience preferred |
| MSN to DNP (non-APRN) | 59 | 1,008 | MSN in nursing |
| MSN to DNP (APRN) | 38 | 756 new | Certified APRN; 1,000 combined hours |
| Adult-Gerontology Acute Care (AGACNP) | |||
| BSN to DNP | 71 | 1,008 | BSN; six months of adult acute care |
| MSN to DNP (non-APRN) | 59 | 1,008 | MSN; six months of adult acute care |
| MSN to DNP (APRN) | 38 | 756 | Certified APRN |
| Postdoctoral certificate | 21 | 504 | DNP or PhD; practicing APRN |
| Pediatric Primary Care (PNP-PC) | |||
| BSN to DNP | 68 | 1,008 | BSN; no experience required |
| MSN to DNP (non-APRN) | 56 | 1,008 | MSN in nursing |
| MSN to DNP (APRN) | 38 | 1,008 | Certified APRN |
| Pediatric Acute Care (PNP-AC) | |||
| BSN to DNP | 68 | 1,008 | BSN; six months of pediatric acute care |
| MSN to DNP (non-APRN) | 56 | 1,008 | MSN; six months of pediatric acute care |
| MSN to DNP (APRN) | 29 | 752–1,008 | Certified APRN |
| Postgraduate certificate | 12 | 504 | Certified NP; two years of pediatric acute care |
Figures come from Rush’s program and curriculum pages. Clinical hours include 252 DNP project hours where a DNP is awarded. Two published figures do not reconcile: the AGACNP curriculum page lists 924 hours for BSN entry while its course hours sum to 1,008, and the PMHNP non-APRN plan is published at 56 credits while its components sum to 53.
What stands out about Rush’s NP programs
- All six NP populations. Rush and UIC are the only Illinois schools offering every specialty, and Rush adds MSN-entry doctorates in all six.
- Short doctorates for certified APRNs. APRN plans run 29 credits (PNP-AC), 38 (AGPCNP, AGACNP, PNP-PC), or 41 (PMHNP), against 68 to 71 from a BSN.
- A fully online PMHNP. Rush requires no campus visits for its psychiatric DNP, though classes meet synchronously.
- Pediatric acute care from four starting points. BSN, non-APRN master’s, APRN, and a 12-credit certificate that does not require a doctorate all lead to CPNP-AC.
- Consistent clinical volume. Every BSN-entry track schedules 1,008 hours, 756 of them in specialty practicum and residency.
Which Rush NP program fits your goal?
- FNP: Primary care across the lifespan, with placement in the Chicago area
- PMHNP: Psychiatric care through an online doctorate, for nurses anywhere Rush can enroll
- AGPCNP: Adult primary care, with the option to spend the residency in a specialty such as cardiology
- AGACNP: Adult acute and critical care, for Chicago-area nurses with six months of acute care experience
- PNP-PC: Pediatric primary care, open to nurses with no pediatric experience
- PNP-AC: Pediatric acute care, from a BSN, a master’s, or a post-graduate certificate
Family Nurse Practitioner
Credits 62–71 · Clinical hours 1,008 · BSN to DNP · MSN to DNP
The FNP DNP runs 71 credits from a BSN or 62 from a nursing master’s, over about 2.5 years full-time or 3.5 part-time. The 1,008 clinical hours include 756 in specialty practicum and residency. Rush places students within its academic medical center and community partners, and sites can be up to 100 miles away.
Clinical sites are Chicago-area only, and Rush states that FNP students must live nearby. Rush admits one cohort of 42 each fall. The MSN entry trims only the nine-credit graduate core, so it is not a short route for APRNs adding family practice.
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Credits 41–68 · Clinical hours 1,008 · BSN to DNP · MSN to DNP
The PMHNP DNP runs 68 credits from a BSN, 53 to 56 for non-APRN master’s holders, and 41 for certified APRNs. All three plans are part-time, take about three to four years, and carry 1,008 clinical hours. Coursework is online with synchronous classes and no required campus visits; DNP project presentations can be given online.
Rush gives preference to applicants working in a psychiatric setting but sets no minimum. Its public materials do not say who arranges PMHNP placements. U.S. News has ranked Rush’s PMHNP DNP among the top three nationally for several years.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
Credits 38–71 · Clinical hours 756–1,008 · BSN to DNP · MSN to DNP
The AGPCNP DNP runs 71 credits from a BSN, 59 for non-APRN master’s holders, and 38 for certified APRNs, who complete 756 new clinical hours. Rush requires at least five campus visits and a residency of three days a week in the final year. The 336-hour residency can be completed in a specialty such as cardiology.
Clinical sites are in Chicago and its suburbs, and out-of-state students may complete practicum at home. Rush matches students to rotations by interest but publishes no placement guarantee. There is no AGPCNP master’s or certificate.
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
Credits 21–71 · Clinical hours 504–1,008 · BSN to DNP · MSN to DNP · Certificate
The AGACNP DNP runs 71 credits from a BSN, 59 for non-APRN master’s holders, and 38 for certified APRNs. A 21-credit postdoctoral certificate is open only to practicing APRNs who hold a DNP or PhD. Applicants need six months of recent adult critical or acute care experience by the application deadline.
This is Rush’s most campus-bound NP track: about a quarter of didactic courses meet weekly on campus, and clinical sites are Chicago-area only. The residency runs three days a week, and Rush advises students not to work during it.
Pediatric Primary Care
Credits 38–68 · Clinical hours 1,008 · BSN to DNP · MSN to DNP
The PNP-PC DNP runs 68 credits from a BSN, 56 for non-APRN master’s holders, and 38 for certified APRNs. All three plans carry the same 1,008 clinical hours. Students come to Chicago for two skills days, and no pediatric RN experience is required.
Primary care management runs across three courses rather than one or two. Rush admits PNP-PC students each fall, with a February 1 deadline for the 2027 cohort. There is no PNP-PC certificate.
Pediatric Acute Care
Credits 12–68 · Clinical hours 504–1,008 · BSN to DNP · MSN to DNP · Certificate
The PNP-AC DNP runs 68 credits from a BSN, 56 for non-APRN master’s holders, and 29 for certified APRNs, all part-time. DNP applicants need six months of recent pediatric acute care experience. The 12-credit postgraduate certificate is open to certified NPs with two years of pediatric acute care experience, and it does not require a doctorate.
Every acute care student must complete pediatric palliative care training before the first acute care management course. DNP students make two 2–3 day campus visits, and certificate students make two one-week visits. Applicants outside Chicago must confirm with the program director that the track is available in their state and locale.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Every Rush NP track is a DNP, with three entry points:
- BSN to DNP: all six specialties, at 68 or 71 credits
- MSN to DNP for non-APRNs: all six specialties, at 53 to 62 credits; the graduate nursing core is waived
- MSN to DNP for APRNs: PMHNP, AGPCNP, AGACNP, PNP-PC, and PNP-AC, at 29 to 41 credits; the FNP has no separate APRN plan
- Gap analysis: master’s-prepared students receive an individualized plan after admission, so the published credits are a starting point
MSN applicants need graduate research and biostatistics or epidemiology coursework. Missing courses are added to the plan of study.
Post-graduate certificates
Rush offers certificates only in acute care, and eligibility differs sharply between the two:
- AGACNP postdoctoral certificate: 21 credits (12 to 28 by gap analysis) and 504 clinical hours; requires a DNP or PhD and practice as an APRN
- PNP-AC postgraduate certificate: 12 credits and 504 clinical hours, at least eight months part-time; open to certified NPs with two years of pediatric acute care experience, with fall, spring, and summer starts
Master’s-prepared NPs who want to add adult acute care at Rush use the 38-credit MSN to DNP instead.
Clinical placement
Placement policy changes by specialty, and only the FNP describes placement Rush arranges itself.
- FNP: Rush places students within its medical center and community partners; Chicago area only, with travel up to 100 miles
- AGACNP: Chicago-area sites only, with clinical objectives set alongside a faculty adviser
- AGPCNP: interest-based matching for Chicago-area rotations; out-of-state students may complete practicum at home, and no guarantee is published
- PNP-PC and PNP-AC: students and faculty identify sites together and Rush negotiates contracts, with no guarantee of success
- PMHNP: placement policy not published
Distance students in the PMHNP, AGPCNP, and PNP tracks should expect to help find preceptors. The AGPCNP and AGACNP residencies run three days a week, which is difficult to combine with full-time work.
Format and campus requirements
Coursework is online in every track, but required campus time ranges from none to weekly.
| Program | Format | Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| PMHNP | Online | No required visits; synchronous classes and an optional orientation |
| PNP-PC | Mostly Online | Two skills days |
| PNP-AC DNP | Mostly Online | Two 2–3 day visits |
| PNP-AC certificate | Mostly Online | Two one-week visits |
| AGPCNP | Mostly Online | At least five visits: simulation days plus DNP proposal and presentation |
| FNP | Mostly Online | 17 to 18 campus days, four per clinical term |
| AGACNP | Hybrid | About 25% of didactic courses weekly on campus, plus labs |
Admissions
- Degree: a BSN from a regionally accredited institution, or a master’s in nursing for MSN entry
- GPA: 3.0 cumulative and 3.0 prelicensure nursing GPA
- Licensure: a U.S. RN license; recent graduates may submit it at matriculation
- Experience: none required (FNP, PNP-PC), preferred (PMHNP, AGPCNP), or six months of recent acute care (AGACNP, PNP-AC)
- Materials: three leadership references (a current manager preferred), essays, a CV, and a faculty interview; no GRE
- Fees: NursingCAS plus a $40 Rush supplemental application
Applicants may apply to only one Rush program and one admission term per cycle, so choosing between specialties happens before applying. Deadlines differ by track, from November 2, 2026 (PMHNP early decision) to March 1, 2027 (AGPCNP and AGACNP early decision), and most tracks admit only in the fall.
Tuition
Rush charges one per-credit rate to every post-licensure graduate nursing student, with no residency difference.
| Per credit (2026–27) | $1,493 |
| DNP administrative fee, per semester | $429 |
| Rush supplemental application | $40 |
| Pathway | Credits | Estimated Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| BSN to DNP (FNP, AGPCNP, AGACNP) | 71 | $106,003 |
| BSN to DNP (PMHNP, PNP-PC, PNP-AC) | 68 | $101,524 |
| MSN to DNP, FNP | 62 | $92,566 |
| MSN to DNP, non-APRN (AGPCNP, AGACNP) | 59 | $88,087 |
| MSN to DNP, non-APRN (PMHNP, PNP-PC, PNP-AC) | 53–56 | $79,129–$83,608 |
| MSN to DNP, APRN (PMHNP) | 41 | $61,213 |
| MSN to DNP, APRN (AGPCNP, AGACNP, PNP-PC) | 38 | $56,734 |
| MSN to DNP, APRN (PNP-AC) | 29 | $43,297 |
| AGACNP postdoctoral certificate | 21 | $31,353 |
| PNP-AC postgraduate certificate | 12 | $17,916 |
- The DNP fee adds up: at three semesters a year, it adds roughly $3,000 to $4,700 depending on program length.
- Rates rise annually: the rate moved from $1,436 to $1,493 this year, and Rush tells students to expect increases.
- Certificate pages lag: both certificate pages still list $1,436 per credit; estimates here use the 2026–27 rate.
These are NPPrograms.com estimates built from Rush’s published rate and credit totals, and they exclude fees, travel, and living costs. See Rush’s 2026–27 tuition rates.
Accreditation and certification
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits Rush’s MSN, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs. Rush University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Certification follows the population focus: ANCC or AANP for FNP and AGPCNP, ANCC for PMHNP and AGACNP, and the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board for CPNP-PC and CPNP-AC.
State authorization
Rush cannot enroll residents of Louisiana, Tennessee, or Canada in online programs, or New York residents in APRN specialty programs. The PMHNP page also lists California as unavailable. The AGACNP does not meet Pennsylvania licensure requirements, and PNP-AC availability varies by state and locale. Students who move after enrolling fall under their new state’s rules, so check Rush’s state authorization page before applying or relocating.
Who is Rush best for?
May be a strong fit for
- Certified APRNs adding a second population through a short DNP
- Psychiatric nurses who want an online doctorate with no campus visits
- Pediatric nurses seeking acute care certification from any starting credential
- Chicago-area nurses who want FNP placement inside an academic medical center
- Nurses who want 1,008 clinical hours in a doctorate
Compare other options if
- You want an NP master’s rather than a doctorate
- Tuition is your main constraint
- You live outside the Chicago area and want FNP or AGACNP
- You need guaranteed placement outside Illinois
- You live in Louisiana, Tennessee, or New York
Compare more NP programs in Illinois
- Bradley University - Peoria
- DePaul University - Chicago
- Loyola University Chicago - Chicago
- University of Illinois Chicago - Chicago