This demographic shift has led to a greater prevalence of chronic illnesses, complex health conditions, and a mounting demand for specialized primary care services across the adult and older adult populations. However, access to timely, effective primary care remains a challenge in many regions due to provider shortages and an expanding burden of chronic disease management.
Adult-gerontology nurse practitioners (AGNPs) are uniquely prepared to meet these evolving healthcare needs. They are trained to assess, diagnose, and manage chronic and acute conditions spanning adulthood through advanced age, provide preventive screenings, develop comprehensive treatment plans, prescribe medications, and promote patient and family education. AGNPs work collaboratively with other health professionals to improve care quality, lead wellness initiatives, and advocate for older adults in community, outpatient, and long-term care settings.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for nurse practitioners in May 2024 was $129,210 (BLS May 2024). The states of Florida, Texas, California, New York, and Ohio employ the most nurse practitioners, with the highest annual mean wages in California ($173,190) and New York ($148,410).
Jobs in the nurse practitioner market are exploding and are expected to increase by 40 percent in the U.S. between 2024 and 2034, adding 128,400 jobs (BLS 2025). Family nurse practitioners must have at least an MSN to practice, and the requirement is moving toward a DNP.
To practice as an AGNP, nurses must complete graduate-level education, followed by certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or a relevant accrediting body. Available graduate degree pathways for nurse practitioners may include:
- MSN-AGNP Bridge Program: Also called RN-MSN, RN-MSN Bridge, or RN-BSN-MSN, this type of program is designed for nurses who have earned an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN), a nursing diploma, or an RN license with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
- MSN-AGNP: Also called BSN-to-MSN, this type of graduate program is designed for graduates of bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) programs.
- BSN to DNP-AGNP and MSN to DNP AGNP: Doctor of nursing practice (DNP) programs may be offered to applicants with a BSN or MSN and include courses to prepare graduates for psychiatric-mental health practice.
- Post-Master’s AGNP Certificate: Designed for MSN graduates who may or may not have earned an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) specialization and want to move into psychiatric-mental health practice.
To help nurses find affordable AGNP master’s, doctoral, and post-master’s certificate programs, HealthcareDegree.com has compiled a list of the 20 most affordable online adult gerontology nurse practitioner programs, both by in-state and out-of-state tuition prices.
These rankings are based on tuition data HealthcareDegree.com collected from its sister site NPSchools.com in late 2025 from over 1,000 online nurse practitioner programs. Each list is ordered by the lowest in-state or out-of-state tuition price. Tuition information is as current as possible, the latest published by each school at the outset of the 2025-2026 academic year.
| Featured AGNP Programs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ohio University | MSN - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP | Program Website |
| Ohio University | Post-Graduate Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Certificate | Program Website |
| Walden University | MSN - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP | Program Website |
| Walden University | MSN - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP | Program Website |
| Wilkes University | Post-Graduate Cert - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP | Program Website |
| Georgetown University | MSN - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP | Program Website |
| St. John Fisher University | MSN - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP | Program Website |
| St. John Fisher University | MSN - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP | Program Website |
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Most Affordable In-State Online AGNP in 2026
Check out the 20 most affordable online AGNP programs by the total cost of in-state tuition in 2026. For this listing, we used resident tuition, meaning tuition for residents of the state where the program is based.
Most Affordable Out-of-State Online AGNP Programs in 2026
Following is a listing of the 25 most affordable out-of-state online AGNP programs in 2026 by total tuition cost. This list features non-resident tuition data, the tuition owed by students who do not reside in the state where the program is based. These programs accept students from other states, but may have some state restrictions.
Find an Affordable Online Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Program
These online AGNP programs ranked by affordability can open up opportunities you might have yet to consider to earn a graduate degree or certificate and move into the world of adult gerontology nursing. They are designed for working nurses to continue working while earning an affordable graduate education.
These online AGNP programs offer affordable tuition and flexible online learning modes, and the BSN to MSN programs can be completed in two to three years on a part-time basis. Those attending full-time can complete the programs more quickly. Note that DNP programs take about four years to complete part-time. With the tremendous need for nurse practitioners, these AGNP programs can provide a viable and necessary career pathway without the heavy burden of more expensive tuition.
Farheen Gani
WriterFarheen Gani is a writer and research expert in healthcare degrees. She has written about healthcare career scholarships, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and reproductive health specialists, among other topics, since 2019. She writes about healthcare, technology, education, and marketing. Her work has appeared on websites such as Tech in Asia and Foundr, as well as top SaaS blogs such as Zapier and InVision. You can connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter (@FarheenGani).