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MSN with NP Specialties

Study to Become a Nurse Practitioner

You’ll be prepared to work with patients across the adult years, throughout the human life span, or in psychiatric and mental health settings. The Master of Science in Nursing with Nurse Practitioner (NP) Specialties offers the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner–Primary Care (PNP-PC), and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specialties.

Program at a Glance

The nationally ranked School of Nursing prepares nurses to lead the way in healthcare by providing a deeper level of compassionate care in clinics, hospitals, schools, and beyond.

Application Deadline

  • Priority deadline April 1, with a final deadline June 15 (for fall start)
  • Priority deadline July 15, with a final deadline September 30 (for spring start)

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Program Information

  • Program Units: 44-56
  • Cost per Unit: $860
  • Base Cost: $37,840-$48,160*

Location

  • Azusa (Main Campus), Inland Empire, San Diego
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Yellow Ribbon and Military Friendly School

Nursing students smiling

Gain Hands-on Experience

  • Prepares you to be a nurse practitioner for patients across the human life span
  • Prepares you for advanced practice by the state of California
  • Provides preparation for FNP national certification examinations

By the Numbers

1 of 79 Best Western Colleges according to The Princeton Review’s 2024 Best Colleges Guide
13:1 student-to-faculty ratio
100 % of incoming students receive financial aid

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Program Details

Browse the tabs below—if you have questions, visit the Student Services Center page, and we’ll make sure you get the info you need.

Admission Requirements—Domestic Applicants

The university graduate and program admission requirements below must be met before an application is considered complete.

  • Graduate application for admission
  • $45 nonrefundable application fee
  • Official transcripts from all institutions leading to and awarding the applicant’s bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and all postbaccalaureate study

    An official transcript is one that Azusa Pacific University receives unopened in an envelope sealed by the former institution and that bears the official seal of the college or university. A cumulative minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average on the posted degree is required for regular admission status. Provisional admittance may be granted to individuals with a lower GPA if competency can be shown through multiple measures.
  • Transcripts should show completion of a BSN from a NLN- or CCNE-accredited program. Transcripts should also indicate completion of the following prerequisite undergraduate courses: health assessment, pathophysiology, nursing research, statistics, nursing leadership, and community health nursing.
  • Written statement, one to two pages in length:
    • Describe your professional nursing goals
    • Articulate your personal definition of nursing and concept of career opportunities in this field
  • Copy of RN license status, including your name (find status on CA.gov's Breeze system)
  • Current résumé, including the following:
    • Employment and educational experience
    • Professional or academic honors
    • Volunteer activities
  • Two recommendations from professional references who have the ability to evaluate your performance (e.g. managers, supervisors, and academic faculty; not coworkers)
  • See additional requirements for program-specific requirements

Send official transcripts to:

Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
[email protected]

Admission Requirements—International Applicants

Azusa Pacific University is authorized under federal law by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services and the U.S. Department of State to enroll nonimmigrant, alien undergraduate and graduate students. APU issues and administers both the I-20 and DS 2019 (F-1 and J-1 status documents, respectively).

To apply for a graduate program at APU, the following requirements must be fulfilled in addition to meeting the domestic applicant and program-specific admission requirements specified above.

International applicants must also:

  • Demonstrate proficiency in English through a placement test with the Academic Success Center, or through a TOEFL/IELTS score that meets program-specific requirements. Refer to APU’s English proficiency requirements to learn more. Request that official test scores be sent to APU. All other forms of proof indicated in the English proficiency requirements must be submitted directly to International Services.
  • Provide a Graduate Affidavit of Financial Support (PDF) and a bank statement from within the last six months proving financial ability to pay for education costs through personal, family, or sponsor resources.
  • Submit a copy of a valid passport showing biographical data, including your name, country of citizenship, date of birth, and other legal information.
  • Get foreign transcripts evaluated. International credentials (transcripts, certificates, diplomas, and degrees) must be evaluated by a foreign transcript evaluation agency. View our policy and a list of approved Foreign Transcript Evaluation Agencies.

Send official transcripts to:

Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
[email protected]

What to Expect

After all admission materials have been received by the Student Services Center, the faculty or department chair reviews the applicant’s file. The applicant is notified in writing of the admission decision.

Transfer of Credits

Following admission, 9 units of approved graduate work completed elsewhere may be applied toward the MSN degree. Advanced Health Assessment may be considered for transfer credit if it was taken postlicensure as a registered nurse and the student was enrolled in an advanced practice nursing program. Advanced Pharmacology may be considered for transfer credit toward GNRS 594 Pharmacology in Advanced Practice Nursing if it was taken less than 24 months prior to the APU MSN program admit date.

Many financial aid options are available to make your nurse practitioner program affordable.

Delivering high quality graduate programs takes a comprehensive support system. Your investment in an advanced degree includes those services and personnel that partner with you in pursuit of higher education. Below is a detailed breakdown of the fees associated with the benefits and services included in your degree program.

School of Nursing Fees

Tuition and Fees
Cost
Nursing Master’s Degree, Credential, and Most Certificate Programs (per unit) $860
PhD in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)(per unit) $1,160
Oncology Nurse Practitioner Certificate (per unit) $1,160
Audit (per unit) half-price tuition
Nursing Clinical Fee (per semester; includes malpractice insurance) $600
Graduate Nursing Advanced Practice Lab Fee (per course) $275

Nursing courses may require additional fees. View a complete list of university fees.

All stated financial information is subject to change. Contact Student Services Center at (626) 815-2020 for more information.

Financial Aid

Several types of financial aid are available to graduate students. The resources range from federal loans and state grants to, for some graduate programs, fellowships and scholarships. For details about financial aid available for your program, please contact the Student Services Center at (626) 815-2020.

Military Benefits

Military members—and in some cases their spouses and dependents—qualify for financial assistance covering tuition, housing, and books. Azusa Pacific is a Yellow Ribbon University and Military Friendly School, so you can be confident that you’ll receive the benefits and flexibility you need to complete your education.

Program-Specific Aid

For more details on these scholarships and funding opportunities, as well as other possible resources, please contact the School of Nursing at (626) 815-5386.

Nurse Faculty Loan Program

The Nurse Faculty Loan Program is a government loan program set up to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty by providing loans to students in advanced nursing education programs. Students must be pursuing a MSN or doctoral nursing degree. The NFLP loans will be forgiven—up to 85 percent of the amount received—over a consecutive four-year period if the student commits to serve as full-time faculty at a school of nursing following graduation. Faculty at private universities, state schools, and community colleges are eligible. Students receiving these loans must also complete the nursing education courses prior to graduation.

If you have questions, we’re here to help! Connect with a representative who can walk you through the program details and application process.

Contact Your Admissions Representative

School of Nursing

Phone

(626) 815-5386

Mail

School of Nursing
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000

Hours

Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
(voicemail messages left will be addressed on the next business day)

Student Services Center

Contact (626) 812-3016 or [email protected], and visit apu.edu/ssc for details on the admissions process, financial aid, and class registration.

International Services

International students should contact +1-626-812-3055 or [email protected], and visit apu.edu/international/.

  • Azusa Pacific University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
  • The baccalaureate degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice at Azusa Pacific University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). 
  • The traditional baccalaureate nursing program, upper-division transfer (2+2/LVN to BSN) programs, entry-level master’s program, and the nurse practitioner program are approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing.

Featured Faculty

Karen French

Karen French

Department Chair, MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Program at Azusa and Associate Professor

Amanda Thurman

Amanda Thurman

Program Director, Assistant Professor School of Nursing

Sabrina Friedman, EdD

Sabrina Friedman, EdD

Associate Professor

Career Outlooks and Outcomes

Azusa Pacific campus

APU School of Nursing Receives $4.4 Million in Grants from HRSA

APU’s School of Nursing, the third largest producer of nurses in the state of California, received two grants totalling $4,396,200 from the Health Resources and Services Administration to help students afford a nursing education.

Note: This information is current for the 2024-25 academic year; however, all stated academic information is subject to change. Refer to the current Academic Catalog for more information.
 
*Base Cost (cost per unit x program units) is provided to aid in program comparison only.
All stated financial information is subject to change. View Tuition tab above.

Related Programs

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

  • Azusa
  • San Diego
  • Inland Empire

BSN to DNP

  • Online
  • Azusa
  • San Diego
  • Inland Empire
  • Monrovia

Available Concentrations:

Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN)—Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), Health Systems Leadership