In Massachusetts, nurse practitioners have full practice authority, which means they can practice independently without a collaborative agreement with a doctor. This ability provides a range of opportunities for NPs in the state to have control over their careers and make a difference in the lives of people in the state. An adult gerontology nurse practitioner (AGNP) is an exciting option in this field. In this role, the NP works with patients aged young adults to seniors, focusing on aging and how it affects the body.
If you’re interested in pursuing this career path, there are multiple AGNP programs to consider in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts RN to AGNP Programs
RN to AGNP programs are designed for nurses with an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s in another field to pursue an AGNP degree. These programs do not require students to complete a BSN degree separately, making the process more streamlined.
Boston College
- Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
- Campus + In-person
Modality: On campus with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 112
Clinical Hours: 1,000
Tuition: $1,804 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Boston College’s RN to DNP AGNP Primary Care lets associate-degree RNs go directly to the doctorate without separate BSN and MSN milestones — uncommon among MA programs. The in-person program runs through the Connell School of Nursing with hands-on simulation labs, high-fidelity manikins, and Boston-area academic medical center clinical placements.
Regis College
- Weston, Massachusetts
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Unspecified
Clinical Hours: 600
Tuition: $995 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Regis runs a multi-credential RN-to-MSN bridge with two AGNP entry points: RN to BSN to AGNP Acute Care and RN to BSN to AGNP Primary Care. Students earn the BSN as they progress, then the MSN at completion. RNs without a bachelor’s complete four bridge classes plus general education prerequisites depending on prior coursework.
Massachusetts BSN to AGNP Programs
These programs are for BSN-prepared nurses who want to pursue a career as an AGNP. Multiple options are available, including acute and primary care tracks and DNP programs.
Boston College
- Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
- Campus + In-person
Modality: On campus with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 112
Clinical Hours: 1,000
Tuition: $1,804 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Boston College’s primary-care AGNP doctoral catalog runs three entry points. The BSN to DNP AGNP Primary Care serves bachelor’s-prepared nurses. The Direct Entry DNP AGNP admits applicants with bachelor’s degrees in non-nursing fields. The MSN to DNP AGNP serves practicing master’s-prepared NPs adding doctoral preparation.
College of Our Lady of the Elms
- Chicopee, Massachusetts
- Hybrid + In-person
Modality: Hybrid with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: 1,000
Tuition: $1,010 per credit + fees for DNP courses; $938 per credit + fees for core courses for those starting with a BSN
Program Overview:
Elms’s BSN/MSN to DNP AGNP Acute Care admits both BSN- and MSN-entry students. BSN entrants take 80 credits; MSN entrants in another field take 70 credits. Hybrid format combines on-campus sessions with online coursework. Elms is the Western MA Catholic-affiliated option, fitting Springfield-area nurses pursuing acute care doctoral preparation.
MGH Institute of Health Professions
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Hybrid + In-person
Modality: Hybrid with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $1620 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
MGH Institute’s AGNP catalog covers four entry points: Direct Entry AGNP Acute Care and Direct Entry AGNP Primary Care for non-nursing-bachelor’s applicants, plus BSN to AGNP Acute Care and BSN to AGNP Primary Care for nursing graduates. The Massachusetts General Hospital affiliation supports clinical placements across one of the country’s most prestigious academic medical centers.
Northeastern University
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Varies
Modality: Varies
Credit Hours: 43
Clinical Hours: 600
Tuition: $975 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Northeastern offers four AGNP pathways: BSN to AGNP Acute Care, BSN to AGNP Primary Care, Direct Entry AGNP Acute Care, and Direct Entry AGNP Primary Care for non-nursing-bachelor’s applicants. Online options also exist. The Bouvé College location pairs the academic curriculum with broad Boston-area clinical placements.
Regis College
- Weston, Massachusetts
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Various
Clinical Hours: Various
Tuition: $995 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
Regis College runs a wide AGNP catalog with online-friendly delivery. BSN-prepared nurses choose between BSN to AGNP Acute Care online and BSN to AGNP Primary Care online. Online DNP options include BSN to DNP AGNP Acute Care and BSN to DNP AGNP Primary Care, both of which can be paired with leadership or education concentrations.
Salem State University
- Salem, Massachusetts
- Hybrid + Campus + In-person
Modality: Hybrid with on-campus requirements and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 45
Clinical Hours: 750
Tuition: $514.20 per credit + fees for residents; $609.30 per credit + fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
Salem State’s BSN to AGNP Primary Care admits multiple entry points: BSN-prepared nurses, RNs with a diploma or associate plus a bachelor’s in another field. Once accepted, students meet with a program coordinator to build an individualized plan of study reflecting prior experience and prerequisite coursework.
University of Massachusetts Boston
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Campus + In-person
Modality: On campus with in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $806.92 per credit + fees for residents, $1,575.05 per credit + fees for non-residents
Program Overview:
UMass Boston offers a master’s and doctoral pair for AGNP. The BSN to AGNP Primary Care MSN runs 27 MSN core credits plus 21 AGNP specialty credits. The BSN/MSN to DNP AGNP Primary Care admits BSN- or MSN-prepared students; BSN entrants complete 58 core credits, MSN entrants run a shorter sequence. Manning College of Nursing pairs the program with Boston-area clinical placements.
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
- Dartmouth, Massachusetts
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: Varies
Clinical Hours: Varies
Tuition: $682.92 per credit + fees for residents; $1,232.42 per credit for non-residents
Program Overview:
UMass Dartmouth’s BSN to DNP AGNP Primary Care runs 63 credits with 1,008 practicum hours. Classes are entirely online except one required on-campus day per semester. The school also offers a Post-Graduate Certificate AGNP Primary Care for already-credentialed APRNs adding the specialty.
University of Massachusetts Lowell
- Lowell, Massachusetts
- Online + Campus + In-person
Modality: Online with on-campus requirements and in-person clinical
Credit Hours: 750
Clinical Hours: 45
Tuition: $600 to $750 per credit + fees
Program Overview:
UMass Lowell’s BSN to AGNP Primary Care mixes online and on-campus delivery. Full-time students finish in two years; part-time runs three to five. The program features Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) sessions with standardized patients — distinctive among MA AGNP programs and a strong signal for clinical-skill assessment quality.
Online Massachusetts AGNP Programs
All MA AGNP programs require in-person clinical rotations. Classroom delivery is where they split. The lightest on-campus footprints are at UMass Dartmouth (one campus day per semester) and UMass Lowell (mostly online with periodic intensives). Regis College offers fully-online classroom delivery with in-person clinicals only. Boston College and MGH Institute remain campus-based for their AGNP tracks.
Best AGNP Programs in Massachusetts
Best fit depends on care setting and entry credential. For matched acute and primary care master’s and direct-entry tracks, MGH Institute and Northeastern lead. For Boston academic medical center training, Boston College’s Connell School of Nursing leads. For UMass-system public-affiliated picks, UMass Boston, Dartmouth, and Lowell offer lower-cost AGNP master’s and DNP tracks. Regis College runs the broadest online catalog. Salem State’s multi-entry-point BSN to AGNP fits non-traditional applicants.
Massachusetts’ Most Affordable AGNP Programs
Total cost depends heavily on residency and program format. The UMass campuses (Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell) offer the lowest per-credit rates for MA residents under the public-system tuition structure. Salem State adds another lower-cost public option. Among private programs, College of Our Lady of the Elms (Springfield) and Regis College (Weston) sit at the lower end of the private tier. Per-credit cost alone doesn’t tell the full story — fees, completion pace, and clinical placement costs all factor in.