4 Schools • 2 Campus • 2 Hybrid
Four California schools offer eight AGPCNP tracks between them. Pathways include BSN-to-DNP, post-master’s DNP, MSN, an entry-level MSN for non-nurses, and a post-master’s certificate. Two schools are campus-based and two use hybrid delivery, so every option involves some in-person attendance and none is fully online. Estimated resident tuition runs from about $31,000 to $130,000, and completion takes roughly 16 months to five years.
Highlights include:
- Azusa Pacific University lets students set their own clinical pace at 2–6 units per semester
- Loma Linda University allows up to 12 core units as a nondegree student while an application is under review
- San Diego State University offers a post-master’s DNP for NPs and CNSs who already hold national board certification
- UCSF offers an optional Occupational and Environmental Health focus within the AGPCNP specialty
Compare California AGPCNP Programs
| School | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
| Azusa Pacific University | Campus | 4 DNP intensives; MSN unstated | $895–$1,160 | BSN-DNP, MSN, ELM-MSN, certificate | Career changers |
| Loma Linda University | Hybrid | 4+ days per quarter | $1,004 | BSN-DNP | Inland Empire BSN nurses |
| San Diego State University | Campus | Not clearly stated | $1,036 | BSN-DNP, post-master’s DNP | Lower-cost doctorate |
| UCSF | Hybrid | Varies by quarter | $11,262–$13,464/quarter | BSN-DNP | Newer BSN nurses |
CPC is derived and inclusive of mandatory per-credit fees at California resident rates, rounded to the nearest dollar; Loma Linda’s rate is per quarter unit, and UCSF’s is a flat per-quarter charge excluding waivable health insurance. Full rate breakdowns are on each school profile.
What’s the Best AGPCNP Program for You?
Best Doctoral Value
San Diego State University’s three-year BSN-DNP is California’s lowest-cost BSN-to-DNP at an estimated $73K for residents, though applicants should confirm the DNP’s CCNE accreditation status.
Best for Inland Empire Nurses
Loma Linda University assigns every clinical rotation in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, so students never search for preceptors.
Best for Newer Nurses
UCSF requires no RN work experience from AGPCNP applicants, opening a doctoral path to nurses within a year or two of their BSN.
Best for Career Changers
Azusa Pacific University’s ELM-MSN is the state’s only AGPCNP pathway for bachelor’s holders who are not yet nurses.
Best for MSN-Prepared Nurses
Azusa Pacific University’s post-master’s certificate lets California-certified NPs, nurse-midwives, and CNSs petition to waive coursework, cutting cost below the published total.
California DNP AGPCNP Programs
All four schools offer a BSN-to-DNP, and Loma Linda, SDSU, and UCSF arrange every clinical placement. The APU, Loma Linda, and UCSF DNPs are CCNE-accredited; SDSU’s was pending ahead of a March 2026 review with no published result. UCSF’s pathway is also under California BRN review. SDSU’s post-master’s DNP adds the doctorate for certified NPs and CNSs rather than preparing new AGPCNPs.
| School | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| APU (BSN-DNP) | $81K | 3–4.5 years | 1,000 hrs |
| LLU (BSN-DNP) | $119K | 3.8–5 years | 1,000+ hrs |
| SDSU (BSN-DNP) | $73K–$94K | 3–4 years | 1,000 hrs |
| SDSU (Post-Master’s DNP) | $41K–$52K | 1.3–1.7 years | 1,000 hrs |
| UCSF (BSN-DNP) | $130K | 3 years | 1,000 hrs |
Doctoral hour totals can include DNP project or practice hours; APU publishes a direct-care split of 750 hours, while the other schools do not.
- Part-time premium: San Diego State University — flat semester billing adds about $21K to the four-year plan.
- Student-sourced placement: Azusa Pacific University — doctoral students find their own preceptors, with coordinator support.
- Insurance adds cost: UCSF — the waivable student health premium lifts the $130K resident estimate to about $172K.
- Gap course: SDSU (Post-Master’s DNP) — applicants lacking advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, or health assessment add a 3-unit course.
California MSN AGPCNP Programs
Azusa Pacific University is California’s only AGPCNP option at the master’s level. SDSU has paused master’s admissions during its DNP transition, and UCSF closed its MS pathway to new students. APU’s catalog requires MSN applicants to live in Southern California and have one year of nursing experience. The ELM-MSN adds four accelerated prelicensure semesters and the NCLEX before the same graduate AGPCNP sequence.
| School | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| APU (MSN) | $41K | 2–3 years | 540 hrs |
| APU (ELM-MSN) | $103K | 3.5–4.5 years | 540 hrs |
- Career-changer cost: APU (ELM-MSN) — $103K resident, with $62K covering the prelicensure phase.
- Clinical margin: APU (MSN) — 540 direct-care hours, 40 above the 500-hour national certification minimum.
- Transfer savings: APU (MSN) — up to 9 approved graduate units can transfer, worth about $8K.
California Post-Graduate Certificate AGPCNP Programs
Azusa Pacific University runs California’s only AGPCNP post-master’s certificate. The 35-unit plan drops the MSN’s academic core but keeps the advanced practice core, the full 12-unit clinical course, and gerontology. Classes run from the Azusa main campus around evening lectures. Unlike SDSU’s post-master’s DNP, this certificate prepares nurses for a new AGPCNP population focus.
| School | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| APU (Certificate) | $31K | 1.5–2.5 years | Not clearly stated |
- Broad eligibility: Azusa Pacific University — open to MSN-prepared educators, administrators, and informaticists, not only practicing APRNs.
- Limited seats: Azusa Pacific University — enrollment depends on seat availability, and a gap analysis sets each plan of study.
National Online AGPCNP Options
No California school offers a fully online AGPCNP program, and each ties students to one region: Southern California at APU, the Inland Empire at Loma Linda, San Diego at SDSU, and the Bay Area at UCSF. Nurses outside those areas, and MSN or certificate seekers who cannot meet APU’s residency rule, may look at national online programs such as Walden University and Purdue Global.
- Walden University: $785 per quarter credit ($960 for DNP courses); MSN, RN-to-MSN, BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP, post-master's certificate
- Chamberlain University: $760 per credit plus per-course APRN fees; MSN, RN-BSN-to-MSN, graduate certificate
- Purdue Global: $420 per quarter credit; post-master's certificate only
Confirm California authorization and clinical placement policies directly with any national program before applying.
FAQ
How many AGPCNP programs are in California?
Four California-based schools offer AGPCNP tracks: Azusa Pacific University, Loma Linda University, San Diego State University, and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Together they offer eight tracks across DNP, MSN, and certificate levels.
Are there fully online AGPCNP programs in California?
No. APU and SDSU are campus-based, while Loma Linda and UCSF are hybrid. APU offers some online coursework but still requires in-person course and clinical work.
Which California AGPCNP program has the lowest tuition?
APU’s post-master’s certificate is lowest at about $31K resident. For BSN-prepared nurses, APU’s $41K MSN is the lowest-cost route to AGPCNP certification. Nonresidents pay more at SDSU and UCSF, while Loma Linda charges one rate regardless of residency.
Which California schools offer a DNP for AGPCNP?
All four schools offer a BSN-to-DNP; SDSU and UCSF admit fall cohorts only. SDSU also runs a post-master’s DNP for nurses already certified as NPs or CNSs.
Do California AGPCNP programs require campus visits?
Yes. Loma Linda requires at least four campus days per quarter and holds all exams on campus. UCSF’s campus time increases after the first fall, APU’s DNP adds four intensives, and SDSU teaches graduate nursing courses mainly in person.
Can I complete AGPCNP clinicals near home in California?
Only within each school’s region. Loma Linda assigns rotations in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, SDSU places students across the San Diego region, and UCSF uses Bay Area sites such as Kaiser, Stanford, and the VA. APU students live near a Southern California regional center and secure their own sites.
Do I need a California RN license to apply?
SDSU and UCSF require an active California RN license to apply. Loma Linda accepts any US RN license at application but requires California licensure before classes begin, and APU checks license status through California’s Breeze system. Out-of-state nurses should start California licensure by endorsement early.