Kent State University Online Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) Programs
#19 Best Overall NP School
- Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Certificate
- BSN to DNP – Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (BSN to DNP AGCNS)
- BSN to DNP – Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (BSN to DNP WHNP)
- MSN – Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- MSN – Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
- Post-Master's Certificate – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate
The Kent State University (KSU) College of Nursing offers online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN to DNP), and Post-Master’s Certificate programs with two specializations:
- Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG-CNS)
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
Additionally, a Post-Master’s Certificate is offered with a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specialization. No campus visits are required for these 100% online programs, however, students do complete a clinical preceptorship at an approved site local to them.
KSU is a designated Center of Excellence in Nursing Education through the National League for Nursing. Courses are designed by expert faculty with many years of practical experience. Class sizes are kept small, allowing for individualized attention and more personalized interaction. Tests and exams are proctored virtually and delivered through Blackboard Learn.
Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialists (AG-CNSs) serve patients from young adults through adulthood and older patients. CNSs typically create care plans for their patients and groups of patients with unique or similar needs. Health promotion may include focusing on cost-effective health care and improved patient outcomes. Clinical nurse specialists may also lead teams from other disciplines and serve as mentors for less-experienced nurses to promote the delivery of high-quality nursing care.
Generally, CNS duties trend towards administrative and leadership roles as opposed to direct patient care, although this varies from position to position. Graduates are eligible to take the AG-CNS certification exam through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Women’s health nurse practitioners focus on direct patient care of women, generally during the years from early adolescence through late adulthood. According to Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH), the role of women’s health NPs includes administering fertility evaluations, pregnancy testing, contraceptive care, breast cancer screening and evaluation, well-women exams, general health assessments, pap-smears, and other screenings.
In addition, WHNPs may address problems with menstruation and menopause, urinary issues and incontinence, sexually transmitted diseases, endometriosis, and general sexual health. WHNPs care for women before, during, and after pregnancy. Graduates are eligible to take the WHNP-BC certification exam through the National Certification Corporation (NCC).
Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners serve children and adults with mental health needs and disorders. PMHNPs may carry out individual, family, or group therapy or psychotherapy, prescribe psychotropic medications, and work in teams to collaborate and improve mental health conditions of their patients.
Graduate-prepared clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners may serve patients in various locations such as private and public clinics, women’s health centers, birthing centers, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, correctional facilities, schools, emergency rooms, home health care situations, and government facilities.
Kent State University 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). Kent State University is located in Kent, Ohio.
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What to Expect from the Kent State University Online NP and CNS Programs
Admission Requirements: All nursing applicants must have earned a minimum 3.0 GPA or higher in previous coursework and hold an unencumbered RN license in their state of residence. Application materials include a resume or CV, an essay, three reference letters, official transcripts, and passing English language proficiency test scores as necessary.
- Program Specific Admission Requirements
- MSN: Hold a BSN degree from an accredited program and have completed undergraduate statistics with a grade of C or better. No GRE or GMAT required. The essay should be 2-3 pages in length.
- BSN to DNP: Hold a BSN degree from a CCNE or ACEN-accredited program and have completed undergraduate statistics with a grade of C or better. The GRE is required. The resume must show professional nursing experience and the essay should be 300 words. BSN to DNP students will also have a pre-admission interview.
- Post-Master’s Certificate: Hold a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree or doctorate in nursing practice (DNP) from an accredited program. Applicants may submit syllabi for all courses that are to be considered for transfer which will be determined through a gap analysis. In place of the essay, certificate applicants will submit a goal statement of no more than 250 words. Prerequisites include graduate-level pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced health assessment with a “B” or higher.
State Restrictions: Although Kent State University accepts students from most states into their online programs, nursing programs have more restrictions as clinical hours and other factors may not meet each state’s requirements for licensure. Students should always check with the College of Nursing at KSU as well as with their state licensing board to determine eligibility to study and become certified in distance learning nursing programs.
For the AG-CNS program, students from the following states may enroll: Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
For the WHNP and PMHNP programs, students from the following states may enroll: Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. In addition, students from Minnesota may enroll in the WHNP MSN and WHNP and PMHNP certificate programs.
Study Plan: The Kent State programs are offered both part-time and full-time and begin in the Fall and Spring semesters. The MSN programs can be completed in 2-to-3.5 years. The BSN to DNP programs can be completed in as little as 3.5 years. And the certificate programs can be completed in 1-to-2 years. Both part-time and full-time options are available and students take courses in the Fall and Spring. Courses are completed 100 percent online with clinicals fulfilled near the students.
MSN Curriculum: Core courses for the MSN degree include Advanced Health Assessment; Pathophysiology for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse; Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing; Methods of Inquiry; Health Policy and Advanced Nursing Practice; Clinical Diagnostics for Advanced Practice Nurses; and Advanced Nursing Informatics.
AG-CNS Specialty Courses: The AG-CNS track comprises 37 credit hours and requires completion of 525 clinical hours. Specialty courses include Theoretical Basis for Nursing Practice I; Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist I-III; and Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum I-III.
WHNP Specialty Courses: The WHNP track comprises 42 credit hours and requires completion of 675 clinical hours. Courses include Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner I-V and Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner Practicum I-V.
BSN to DNP Curriculum: The AG-CNS track comprises 71 credit hours and requires completion of 1,050 clinical hours. The WHNP track comprises 76 credit hours and requires completion of 1,200 clinical hours. Each track follows the MSN courses and once completed, students earn an MSN degree. These additional courses are included in the MSN portion: Clinical Analytics; Population Health; Advanced Leadership in Healthcare. DNP courses include Doctor of Nursing Practice Seminar; Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice; Doctoral Nursing Practice Practicum I-IV; Application of Evidence-Based Practice; Organizational Systems; Quality Improvement in Healthcare Delivery; and Healthcare Finance and Economic Policy.
- AG-CNS Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: The AG-CNS Post-Master’s Certificate comprises 19 credits and includes 525 clinical hours. Courses include Clinical Diagnostics for Advanced Practice Nurses; Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist I-III; and Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum I-III.
- WHNP Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: The WHNP Post-Master’s Certificate comprises 20 credits and includes 525 clinical hours. Courses include Clinical Diagnostics for Advanced Practice Nurses; Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner I-V; and Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner Practicum I-V.
- PMHNP Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: The PMHNP Post-Master’s Certificate comprises 25 credits and includes 600 clinical hours. Courses include Advanced Mental Health Assessment and Psychopathology; Neurobiology and Psychopharmacology of Major Psychiatric Disorders; Individual Psychotherapy; Family and Group Psychotherapy; Individual, Organization, and Community Consultation; Individual Therapy Practicum; Medication Management and Individual Therapy Practicum; Family and Group Therapy; and Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum IV; Nurse Practitioner Role.
Online Experience: Kent State University delivers courses through Blackboard Learn. Most of the courses in the online WHNP and PMHNP programs are synchronous, which means that there will be scheduled course times with other outside work. Most of the courses in the AG-CNS programs are asynchronous and do not require specific log in times. Those that are synchronous will have published synchronous schedules. DNP coursework is asynchronous.
Developed by expert faculty, the small class sizes and focused, individualized attention from experienced nurse educators make this program very attractive as an online option. Learning activities are created specifically for the online environment to be innovative and engaging. Students have access to the same student services as campus students, as well as 24/7 technical support, virtually proctored exams, and the FlashLine centralized portal system.
On-Site Requirements: There are no on-site requirements as the graduate nursing programs outlined here offer 100% online coursework. Clinicals must be completed at approved locations near the student. Students are always welcome to visit the Kent, Ohio campus and to participate in graduation on campus. Students can also take a virtual tour of the campus online.
Paying for the Kent State University Online Nursing Programs
Kent State University charges Ohio residents slightly less than non-residents for its online MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and post-master’s certificate programs. There is a distance learning fee per credit and may be other fees included with tuition costs. For a full tuition report, please see the tables below, and for cost clarifications and updates, please contact the KSU admissions department.
Kent State University graduate nursing students may be eligible for unsubsidized federal student loans through the FAFSA. In addition, many employers offer tuition reimbursement programs. KSU, the College of Nursing, and other healthcare organizations may also offer scholarships to graduate nursing students. Graduate nursing students may also seek outside resources for scholarships and grants. Payment plans are available through Kent State University.
Kent State University offers MSN and certificate programs with AGCNS, WHNP, and PMHNP specializations that are fully online with local clinicals, offer small class sizes, and hail from a designated Center of Excellence in Nursing Education.
Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Certificate
BSN to DNP – Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (BSN to DNP AGCNS)
BSN to DNP – Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (BSN to DNP WHNP)
MSN – Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
MSN – Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master's Certificate – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate
Henderson Hall, Box 5191
Kent, Ohio 44242
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
CNS – Clinical Nurse Specialist
Fall, Spring
Yes
0
19
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, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OK, OR, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY
Program Tuition
19
$549.90
$10,448.10
$559.90
$10,638.10
Program Essentials
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
CNS – Clinical Nurse Specialist
Fall, Spring
Yes
0
71
1,050
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Yes
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OK, OR, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, WA, WI, WY
Program Tuition
71
$549.90
$39,042.90
$559.90
$39,752.90
Program Essentials
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
WHNP – Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
Fall, Spring
Yes
0
76
1,200
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Yes
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OK, OR, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, WA, WI, WY
Program Tuition
76
$549.90
$41,792.40
$559.90
$42,552.40
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
CNS – Clinical Nurse Specialist
Fall, Spring
Yes
0
37
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, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OK, OR, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY
Program Tuition
37
$549.90
$20,346.30
$559.90
$20,716.30
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
WHNP – Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
Fall, Spring
Yes
0
42
675
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, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OK, OR, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY
Program Tuition
42
$549.90
$23,095.80
$559.90
$23,515.80
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Fall, Spring
Yes
0
25
600
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
None
Program Tuition
25
$549.90
$13,747.50
$559.90
$13,997.50
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
WHNP – Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
Fall, Spring
Yes
0
21
675
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, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OK, OR, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY
Program Tuition
21
$549.90
$11,547.90
$559.90
$11,757.90
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.