IUPUI Online Clinical Nurse Specialist & Nurse Practitioner Programs
#12 Most Affordable NP School
- MSN – Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
- MSN – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- MSN – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Post-Master's Adult-Gerontology CNS Certificate
- Post-Master's Pediatric CNS Certificate
- Post-Master's Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certificate
- Post-Master's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate
The Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) School of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program with three specializations that are distance accessible:
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
- Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist (P-CNS)
MSN students come to the Indianapolis, Indiana campus approximately seven to nine times during the program and complete all other coursework online. Some additional in-person days for specialization courses may be required, however, these can usually be attended online by distance education students. Preceptorships must be completed in Indiana and take place at approved locations local to the student. Both full-time and part-time options of study are available and students move through as a cohort.
Online Post-Master’s Certificates are also offered in each of these specializations plus Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG-CNS). Typically students do not need to attend any campus immersions for the certificate programs, with the exception of the AG-CNS program which requires one to four campus visits for the Advanced Concepts in Gerontology course. Again clinicals must be completed in Indiana at approved locations. Students participate in synchronous sessions through videoconferencing technology, as well as asynchronous course delivery.
Clinical nurse specialists are prepared to serve patients in varied healthcare settings such as clinics, hospitals, schools, home care situations, long-term care, and government facilities. Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialists serve populations ranging from young adulthood through adulthood and geriatric patients. Graduates are eligible to take the AG-CNS certification exam through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialists serve newborns, infants, toddlers, children and adolescents in various settings. CNSs develop care plans for their patients and groups of patients with similar needs. They promote cost-effective health care and improved patient outcomes. P-CNSs may lead teams from various disciplines and mentor other nurses to promote the delivery of high-quality nursing care. Clinical nurse specialist duties may lean more towards administrative and program development as opposed to direct patient care. Graduates are eligible to take the national certification exam for Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist certification through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
Nurse practitioners may focus more on direct patient care and working in teams to serve patients in various locations such as clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms, schools, rehabilitation centers, prisons, private practice, and government facilities. Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners serve the mental health needs of patients, prescribing psychotropic medications, and assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients. PMHNPs serve patients across the lifespan. Graduates are eligible to take the PMHNP certification exam through the ANCC.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioners serve newborns, infants, children, adolescents, and young adults, sometimes up to the age of 24. PNPs provide primary care, assessing, diagnosing, and treating acute and chronic illnesses. Graduates of this track are eligible to take the PNP-Primary Care certification exam through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). IUPUI is located in Indianapolis, Indiana.
For the 2023-2024 academic year, we have 140 NP schools in our database and those that advertise with us are labeled “sponsor”. When you click on a sponsoring school or program, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.
What to Expect from the IUPUI Online Nursing Programs
Admission Requirements: All nursing applicants must hold an unencumbered RN license in their state of residence. An Indiana RN license will be required for clinicals. The GRE and GMAT are not required.
- Program Specific Admission Requirements
- MSN: Hold a BSN degree from a CCNE, CNEA, or ACEN accredited program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Application materials include an application, application fee, a resume or CV, contact information for three professional references, answers to five essay questions, official transcripts, and proof of RN licensure. Prerequisites include undergraduate statistics with a grade of 80% or higher.
- Post-Master’s Certificate: Hold a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree from a CCNE, CNEA, or ACEN accredited program with a minimum GPA of 3.0. The same application materials are required as the MSN. Courses not completed during the MSN degree will need to be completed to earn the certificate. Each student will have an analysis done to see which courses are required.
State Restrictions: Although IUPUI accepts students from all NC-SARA states, clinicals for the programs listed here must be completed in Indiana. Students outside Indiana may participate in the program but must move to Indiana to complete clinicals, therefore all other states are considered restricted as this would not be feasible for most students. The IUPUI nursing programs meet certification requirements for the state of Indiana.
Study Plan: The MSN and certificate programs only admit students in the Fall of each year and students move through as a cohort. The semester format allows for courses to run 16 weeks during the Fall and Spring and 12 weeks during the Summer. The MSN can be completed in two years on a full-time basis or three years on a part-time basis. The certificate programs can be completed in two years on a part-time basis due to when courses are offered. There is no full-time option for post-master’s certificates. Courses are completed online, with seven to nine campus visits for the MSN programs. The certificate programs are typically 100 percent online, with the exception of the AG-CNS program which requires one to four campus visits for the Advanced Concepts in Gerontology course. For all programs, clinicals are completed where the students live in Indiana.
MSN Curriculum: The MSN tracks comprise 42 credits each and involve the completion of 525 clinical hours completed in Indiana. Core courses include Nursing Theory I; Leadership for Advanced Nursing Practice; Nursing Research Methods I; Measurement and Data Analysis; Advanced Pathophysiology; Advanced Pharmacology; and Advanced Physical Assessment.
- PMHNP Specialty Courses: Neuropsychopharmacology; Substance Use/Abuse; and Advanced Clinical Practice PMHNP I-III.
- PNP Specialty Courses: Dynamics of Family Health; Child and Family Wellness Assessment; Advanced Practice Nursing of Children; Advanced Nursing Management; Child Health Maintenance; and Collaborative Clinical Practice.
- P-CNS Specialty Courses: CNS I: Scientific Basis of Practice; CNS II: Symptom Management; CNS III: System-Level Leadership; Child Health Maintenance; Advanced Nursing Management–Pediatrics.
AG-CNS Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: The AG-CNS Post-Master’s Certificate comprises 17 credits and includes 525 clinical hours. Courses include CNS I: Scientific Basis of Practice; CNS II: Symptom Management; CNS III: System-Level Leadership; and Advanced Concepts in Gerontology.
PMHNP Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: The PMHNP Post-Master’s Certificate comprises 20 credits and includes 525 clinical hours. Courses include Neuropsychopharmacology; Substance Use/Abuse; and Advanced Clinical Practice PMHNP I-III.
PNP Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: The PNP Post-Master’s Certificate comprises 17 credits and includes 525 clinical hours. Courses include Child and Family Wellness Assessment; Advanced Practice Nursing of Children; Advanced Nursing Management; Child Health Maintenance; and Collaborative Clinical Practice.
P-CNS Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: The P-CNS Post-Master’s Certificate comprises 20 credits and includes 525 clinical hours. Courses include Child Health Maintenance; Advanced Nursing Management in Pediatrics; CNS I: Scientific Basis of Practice; CNS II: Symptom Management; and CNS III: System-Level Leadership.
Online Experience: IUPUI online nursing students utilize Zoom for videoconferencing and collaboration. Synchronous class sessions may take place as often as twice a week during specialty courses and distance students connect via Zoom. Students will need a built-in or external web camera as well as a sound card and headset for the best audio quality. It is recommended that computers be new within the past five years and have an updated operating system and web browser.
Other courses or parts of courses are delivered asynchronously with assignments, assessments, readings, and projects due as assigned. MSN students come to campus for orientation, five lab days, and a practice day. Student services include academic advising, faculty office hours, technical support, library and bookstore services, career counseling, and disability services.
On-Site Requirements: The MSN programs require students to attend seven to nine campus visits including an in-person MSN orientation during the week before classes begin. Students will also come to the Indianapolis, Indiana campus for five lab days for the Advanced Physical Assessment course and the MSN Professional practice day which takes place during the last Spring semester. Distance education students are not required to come to campus for the synchronous sessions, but rather attend via videoconferencing. Synchronous dates are published in advance and may take place once a week or more or less often depending on the specialization and course.
Post-master’s certificate students are not required to come to campus for Advanced Physical Assessment unless this course was not completed as part of their MSN program. This would mean five campus visits would be added to the program. Certificate students may be required to attend the MSN orientation day and the MSN Professional Practice Day. In addition, AG-CNS certificate students come to campus one to four campus times for the Advanced Concepts in Gerontology course. Again synchronous sessions are attended via videoconferencing. Clinicals for both programs are completed near the student’s residence in Indiana.
Paying for the IUPUI Online Nursing Programs
IUPUI online NP and CNS programs are designed primarily for Indiana residents. Non-resident students willing to travel to Indiana for clinicals (which must be completed in Indiana), will be charged higher tuition. Each program’s tuition is listed in its table below.
IUPUI graduate nursing students may be eligible for unsubsidized federal student loans through the FAFSA. Some employers may also offer a tuition reimbursement program. Students should check with the Indiana University School of Nursing (IUSON) as to the option of scholarships. In addition, MSN and certificate students may seek outside resources for scholarships and grants.
IUPUI offers MSN and certificate programs with AGCNS, PCNS, PNP, and PMHNP specializations to residents of Indiana, that require 7 campus visits for the MSN and are offered part-time and full-time in cohorts.
MSN – Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
MSN – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
MSN – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master's Adult-Gerontology CNS Certificate
Post-Master's Pediatric CNS Certificate
Post-Master's Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certificate
Post-Master's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate
1111 Middle Drive, NU 122
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
CNS – Clinical Nurse Specialist
August
No
7
42
525
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Program Tuition
42
$625.00
$26,250.00
N/A
N/A
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
PNP – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
August
No
8
42
525
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Program Tuition
42
$625.00
$26,250.00
N/A
N/A
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
August
No
8
42
525
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Program Tuition
42
$625.00
$26,250.00
N/A
N/A
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
CNS – Clinical Nurse Specialist
August
Yes
1
17
525
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Program Tuition
17
$625.00
$10,625.00
N/A
N/A
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
CNS – Clinical Nurse Specialist
August
Yes
0
20
525
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Program Tuition
20
$625.00
$12,500.00
N/A
N/A
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
PNP – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
August
Yes
0
17
525
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Program Tuition
17
$625.00
$10,625.00
N/A
N/A
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
August
Yes
0
20
525
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Program Tuition
20
$625.00
$12,500.00
N/A
N/A
Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. Rates may change, so please check here for the latest tuition information. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. “Resident” and “non-resident” refer to the student’s school-recognized state residency status. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees.
Sara Navratil
WriterSara Navratil is a freelance writer and a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer. She’s the owner of Sara Liza Life, a company dedicated to helping people rewrite their lives. She enjoys researching and writing about healthcare-related topics, including information on online NP programs. When not working she likes to read, bake, and spend time with her family.