Master of Science
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
With a master’s degree in this specialty, you’ll be ready to become an independent provider who cares for patients ranging from teenagers to older adults. You’ll care for complex chronically ill patients who require ongoing care, often in a fast-paced environment. You can also dive deeper into other specialties, like cardiology, hospital medicine, or critical care.
When the unexpected happens, you can be there to save lives and help people get back to the life they want to live.
Overview
Format
Hybrid online
Mostly online with some in-person requirements on the CU Anschutz Campus in Aurora, CO.
Avg. time to complete
2.5 years
8 semesters
Exam prep
AG-ACNP
When you finish the program, you can sit for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) exam to become board-certified.
Clinical placements set up for you
If you’re in Denver or Aurora, we arrange clinical placements for you. We work with some of the top clinics and hospitals in the metro area to provide high-quality, hands-on experiences.
Expert faculty dedicated to your success
Many of our faculty are recognized locally and nationally for their excellence in nursing, education, and research. Our educators are passionate about helping students advance their knowledge and careers.
100%
Board certification exam pass rate for this specialty
#1
Nursing master’s program in Colorado*
Career
When you complete the MS Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program, you can take the board certification test through the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. After passing the exam, you'll be ready to get your license, unlocking a new career path and scope of practice. Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners can get licensed to work in all 50 states, including Colorado.
What you can do
- Prescribe medication
- Serve as an independent provider
- Assess, diagnose, and treat health conditions
- Educate patients about health management and disease prevention
Who you can care for
Patients who are complex chronically ill, ranging in age from mid- to late-adolescents to older adults
Where you can work
- Hospitals
- Clinics
Admissions
Deadline(s)
| Start term | Application opens | Priority deadlinetooltip | Extended deadlinetooltip |
| Fall 2025 | August 15, 2024 | January 15, 2025 | April 1, 2025 |
Get started
1
Check the requirements
Understand the admissions requirements like how many letters of recommendation you need and what courses should be on your transcript.
2
Start your application
Work on your application and submit it through NursingCAS.
Curriculum
Immersive learning
You’ll learn in a clinical setting for 720 hours during this program. We arrange your placements, if you’re in the Denver Metro, ensuring you get the training and supervision you need to succeed.
Comprehensive coursework
This program includes 34 credit hours in the classroom. You’ll take classes including foundations of healthcare informatics and theory foundations of advanced nursing.
Skills and knowledge you'll gain
Costs
| Residency status | Estimated total tuition** |
| Colorado residents | $38,465 |
| Eligible western state residents** | $38,465 |
| Nonresidents | $62,377 |
| Additional expenses | Time frame | Estimated costs |
| Matriculation fee | One-time | $140 |
| Other fees | By term | Fall $392, Spring $232, Summer $180 |
| Books and supplies | Total for program | $2,000 |
| CU health insurance (may be waived with proof of comparable personal health insurance) | By term | Fall $1,575, Spring $1,575, Summer $1,050 |
The program directors have been really supportive. If you tell them what you are looking for and what your goals are, they are going to do everything in their power to help those come true. They’ve tailored my clinical experiences to set me up for success.
Sam Moldo, RN
CU Nursing Alum
MS Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program
Become the nurse practitioner looked to first 
Get your degree from the top nursing college in Colorado. Start your journey to become a CU nurse today.