The University of Delaware (UD) School of Nursing offers five nurse practitioner specialties: family (FNP), psychiatric-mental health (PMHNP), adult-gerontology acute care (AGACNP), adult-gerontology primary care (AGPCNP), and pediatric primary care (PNP-PC). Every specialty is available as an MSN, a BSN to DNP, and a post-master’s certificate. UD is Delaware’s only in-state option for AGACNP, AGPCNP, and PNP-PC.
UD is a public university in Newark, and its NP coursework is delivered online. Three policies shape the decision more than any single specialty detail:
- UD helps find preceptors. The School of Nursing states that it partners with students to locate and secure preceptors, rather than leaving placement to students alone.
- One discounted rate for every student. A Dean’s Scholarship lowers MSN and certificate tuition to $913 per credit, and the DNP costs $1,116 per credit, with no residency premium and no added university fees.
- Licensure rules limit some applicants. UD requires a Delaware or compact-state RN license for most tracks, and its certificates require a multistate compact license.
Quick facts
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Nursing School | University of Delaware School of Nursing, College of Health Sciences |
| Location | Newark, DE |
| NP Specialties | FNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, AGPCNP, PNP-PC |
| Degree Options | MSN, BSN to DNP, and post-master’s certificate in all five; post-master’s DNP for certified APRNs |
| Format | Online coursework with occasional Newark intensives; certificates online |
| Clinical Placement | UD partners with students to secure preceptors |
| RN Experience | One year for the BSN to DNP; none published for the MSN |
| Tuition (2026-27) | $913 per credit (MSN, certificate); $1,116 per credit (DNP) |
| Accreditation | CCNE |
Comparing UD’s NP programs
Credit and clinical hour totals come from UD’s School of Nursing program pages. The MSN is a three-year part-time plan, and the BSN to DNP takes three years full-time or five years part-time.
| Pathway | Credits | Clinical hours | Base tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) | |||
| MSN | 48 | 816 | $43,824 |
| BSN to DNP | 81 | 1,120 | $90,396 |
| Post-master’s certificate | 24–40 | 750+ | $21,912–$36,520 |
| Psychiatric-Mental Health (PMHNP) | |||
| MSN | 48 | 816 | $43,824 |
| BSN to DNP | 81 | 1,008 | $90,396 |
| Post-master’s certificate | 24–40 | 500+ | $21,912–$36,520 |
| Adult-Gerontology Acute Care (AGACNP) | |||
| MSN | 42 | 816 | $38,346 |
| BSN to DNP | 68 | 1,016 | $75,888 |
| Post-master’s certificate | 24–40 | 750+ | $21,912–$36,520 |
| Adult-Gerontology Primary Care (AGPCNP) | |||
| MSN | 47 | 748 | $42,911 |
| BSN to DNP | 81 | 1,120 | $90,396 |
| Post-master’s certificate | 24–40 | 750+ | $21,912–$36,520 |
| Pediatric Primary Care (PNP-PC) | |||
| MSN | 44 | 816 | $40,172 |
| BSN to DNP | 70 | 1,016 | $78,120 |
| Post-master’s certificate | 24–40 | 500+ | $21,912–$36,520 |
Base tuition is credits times UD’s per-credit rate: $913 for the MSN and certificate, $1,116 for the DNP. DNP clinical hours include indirect project hours. Certificate credits and hours are set by a gap analysis of prior coursework. UD’s DNP summary lists 68–74 credits, while its track descriptions list 81 for FNP, PMHNP, and AGPCNP, so confirm totals with the School of Nursing.
What stands out about UD’s NP programs
- The broadest NP lineup in Delaware. UD offers five specialties and is the state’s only provider of AGACNP, AGPCNP, and PNP-PC programs.
- Every specialty at every level. Each of the five is available as an MSN, a BSN to DNP, and a post-master’s certificate.
- Placement help. UD is the only Delaware school that publishes a preceptor placement model.
- Heavy master’s clinical loads. Four of the five MSN tracks require 816 clinical hours.
- A costly doctorate. The BSN to DNP costs about $76,000 to $90,000 in base tuition, roughly double the MSN.
Which UD NP program fits your goal?
- FNP: Primary care across the lifespan, with separate older adult, women’s health, and pediatric practicums
- PMHNP: Psychotherapy and medication management across the lifespan; the DNP adds on-campus intensives
- AGACNP: Acute and critical care of adults; the shortest MSN and doctorate
- AGPCNP: Adult primary care with a frail and older adult focus
- PNP-PC: Primary care from birth to age 21
Family Nurse Practitioner
Credits 24–81 · Clinical hours 750–1,120 · MSN, BSN to DNP, certificate
UD’s FNP is listed as Family/Individual Across the Lifespan. The 48-credit MSN includes two 204-hour primary care practicums, separate 68-hour practicums in older adults, women’s health, and pediatrics, and a 204-hour clinical role immersion.
The BSN to DNP runs 81 credits with 1,120 clinical hours, 784 of them in direct care. It is one of UD’s two most expensive doctoral tracks.
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Credits 24–81 · Clinical hours 500–1,008 · MSN, BSN to DNP, certificate
UD prepares PMHNPs for both psychotherapy and medication management, with clinical training across individual, family, and group modalities. The 48-credit MSN adds advanced clinical neuroscience and psychopharmacology courses to three 204-hour practicums.
The 81-credit DNP uses a hybrid model with on-campus experiential intensives and simulations alongside UD’s healthcare theatre students. Its 1,008 clinical hours include 672 in direct care, fewer direct hours than UD’s other doctoral tracks.
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
Credits 24–68 · Clinical hours 750–1,016 · MSN, BSN to DNP, certificate
AGACNP students prepare to manage acute, critical, and acutely worsening chronic conditions in patients 18 and older. The 42-credit MSN is UD’s shortest NP master’s, with three 204-hour acute care practicums and a 204-hour role immersion.
The 68-credit DNP is also UD’s shortest NP doctorate, at about $76,000 in base tuition. It keeps the MSN’s 816 direct care hours and adds 200 indirect hours.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
Credits 24–81 · Clinical hours 748–1,120 · MSN, BSN to DNP, certificate
UD lists its AGPCNP as the Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP). It shares the FNP’s primary care core but drops the pediatric content, adding coursework in the primary care of frail and older adults.
The 47-credit MSN carries 748 practicum hours, the fewest of UD’s master’s tracks. The 81-credit DNP matches the FNP’s 1,120 clinical hours.
Pediatric Primary Care
Credits 24–70 · Clinical hours 500–1,016 · MSN, BSN to DNP, certificate
PNP-PC students prepare to care for patients from birth to age 21, including well-child care and common acute and chronic conditions. The 44-credit MSN includes a pediatric development course and three 204-hour pediatric practicums.
The 70-credit DNP adds 200 indirect hours to the same 816 direct care hours. UD offers no pediatric acute care track.
UD also offers a Nurse-Midwife MSN and certificate, outside the six specialties NPPrograms.com compares.
Post-master’s DNP
UD’s post-master’s DNP is for nurses who already hold an MSN and national certification in an advanced practice specialty. It is a three-year part-time plan focused on DNP core courses and a DNP project.
- Admission: a nursing master’s from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited school, national APRN certification, and a 3.5 graduate GPA
- Adding a specialty: certified NPs seeking a new population focus must dual-enroll in the DNP and a post-master’s certificate
- Clinical hours: set by an individualized plan based on prior clinical experience
Clinical placement
UD’s School of Nursing states that it partners with students to locate and secure qualified preceptors, with a dedicated team supporting them through the process. Its regional partners include ChristianaCare, Bayhealth, Nemours, and Beebe.
- Any state: rotations can take place outside Delaware with faculty approval and a contract between UD and the clinical agency.
- Not a guarantee: UD works to secure an initial preceptor, but replacement placements are not guaranteed.
- No clinical transfer: prior clinical hours do not reduce MSN requirements.
Format and campus requirements
| Program | Format | Campus time |
|---|---|---|
| MSN | Online, part-time | Occasional intensives in Newark |
| BSN to DNP | Online, full-time or part-time | 2–8 days per semester in Newark |
| PMHNP DNP | Hybrid | On-campus experiential intensives and simulations |
| Post-master’s certificates | Online, part-time | None stated on UD’s certificate page |
UD does not publish a fixed intensive schedule for the MSN. Ask how many Newark visits your specialty requires before applying from out of state.
Post-master’s certificates
UD offers a post-master’s certificate in all five NP specialties. It is designed for nurses who already hold NP or CNS certification and want to add a population focus. A gap analysis sets each student’s 24 to 40 credits.
- FNP, AGACNP, AGPCNP: at least 750 clinical hours
- PMHNP, PNP-PC: more than 500 clinical hours
Certificates for current NPs start in spring only, with a December 10 application deadline. UD estimates one to two years of part-time study, though its summary lists two to three years.
Admissions
- MSN: a BSN, a U.S. RN license, and a 3.0 undergraduate GPA
- BSN to DNP: a BSN from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited program, a 3.0 GPA, a Delaware or compact-state RN license, one year of RN experience, an interview, a writing sample, and three recommendations
- Post-master’s DNP: an MSN, national APRN certification, and a 3.5 graduate GPA
- Certificates: an MSN, a 3.5 graduate GPA, a multistate compact RN license, and NP or CNS certification
The MSN admits in fall and summer, with NursingCAS application deadlines of June 1 and April 1. The DNP admits once a year, with a July 1 deadline. No GRE is required.
Tuition
UD charges one rate to all NP students, regardless of residency. A College of Health Sciences Dean’s Scholarship lowers the master’s and certificate rate below UD’s standard $1,149 graduate rate.
| MSN | $913 per credit |
| Post-master’s certificate | $913 per credit |
| DNP | $1,116 per credit |
| University fees for online programs | None beyond tuition |
Source: UD School of Nursing MSN, certificate, and DNP pages. UD’s Graduate College lists a final 2026-27 MSN rate of $908 per credit, so confirm the current rate before budgeting.
- Master’s vs. doctorate: an MSN costs about $38,000 to $44,000 in base tuition, compared with $76,000 to $90,000 for the BSN to DNP.
- Certificate cost depends on the gap analysis: 24 to 40 credits works out to about $22,000 to $37,000.
- No out-of-state premium: the scholarship rate applies to every student, so nonresidents pay the same as Delaware residents.
Accreditation and certification
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits UD’s master’s, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs. UD’s School of Nursing is a member of the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence.
Graduates are eligible for the national board exam for their population focus, including ANCC certification for PMHNP and AGACNP and PNCB certification for PNP-PC.
State authorization
UD must comply with each state’s distance education rules, so eligibility depends on where you live and complete clinicals. Check UD’s state authorization page before applying.
Licensure is the bigger hurdle. The DNP requires a Delaware or compact-state RN license, and certificates require a multistate compact license, so nurses in non-compact states may need Delaware licensure first. UD’s PMHNP DNP is approved for practice experiences in Washington.
Who is the University of Delaware best for?
May be a strong fit for
- Delaware-area nurses seeking acute care, adult-gerontology primary care, or pediatric NP training
- Nurses who want the school’s help finding preceptors
- BSN nurses choosing between an MSN and a doctorate at the same school
- Certified NPs adding a second population focus online
- Out-of-state nurses with a compact license who want resident-level pricing
Compare other options if
- You hold an ADN or diploma and need an RN-to-MSN route
- You want a fully online program with no campus visits
- You want the lowest-cost FNP or PMHNP master’s or doctorate in Delaware
- You live in a non-compact state and do not hold a Delaware RN license
- You want pediatric acute care
Compare more NP programs in Delaware
UD is one of three Delaware universities with NP programs. See how it compares with Delaware State University and Wilmington University on the Delaware nurse practitioner programs page.