Online Nursing MSN Programs
An online MSN or Masters of Science in Nursing is an advanced degree that helps Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates, verified Registered Nurses, and other bachelor’s degree holders acquire more skills and knowledge via virtual training in the different fields of Nursing.
MSN Programs Online
We utilized specific metrics to rank the best online Master’s in nursing programs, making finding a schedule that works for you easier.
Take your time to read through and use our guide for choosing a program that suits your requirements.
These are the best CCNE-accredited online MSN programs.
BEST ONLINE MSN PROGRAMS
These are the best online Master’s degree programs in nursing.
Highly rated programs are built on solid conventional academic foundations, as shown by student-instructor access, graduation rates, and teacher certifications.
Additionally, they educate remote learners while providing substantial career and financial assistance.
1. JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
Johns Hopkins University is a private university in Baltimore that provides online Master’s degrees in nursing. They offer an online MSN in nursing leadership and a joint MSN/MBA program.
Both are focused on organizational leadership in healthcare. The institution’s numerous programs have a high online enrolment percentage of 46 percent.
BSN; minimum 3.0 GPA; RN license; official transcripts (from all post-secondary institutions); and three letters of reference are required for admission (2 academics and one professional preferred).
The program requires 12 credit hours at $1,790 per credit each semester. The curriculum lasts between 16 and 36 months, depending on whether you choose full-time or part-time study.
The school’s 2019-20 NCLEX-RN pass rate is 97.5 percent, and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredits them.
2. WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY
The WGU is a private, non-profit online university headquartered in Millcreek, Utah.
In contrast to most colleges’ traditional cohort-based class structure, the University utilizes an online competency-based learning paradigm. They provide a Master of Science in Nursing – Leadership and Management curriculum (BSN to MSN; RN to MSN).
Western Governors University is the first institution of higher education in the history of the United States to have received accreditation from four regional accrediting agencies.
They do not award degrees based on credits but demonstrate competency.
So if you have completed college coursework at another accredited institution or have obtained industry credentials, you may have your transcripts and certifications evaluated to determine if you are eligible for transfer credits.
Tuition for a six-month term is $4,240, and 82% of graduates complete the program within 24 months. They have a 100% admission rate and a 93 percent NCLEX pass rate.
3. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLER
Tyler, Texas, is home to the University of Texas at Tyler (UT Tyler). It was founded in 1971 and is a member of the UT System. The institution’s nursing and health sciences faculty provides various MSN programs.
Online Nursing Administration-MSN, Online Nursing Education-MSN, and Online MSN-MBA are available programs.
It is 36 hours and costs $17,064 for full-time, in-state online enrollment. Tuition varies according to delivery style and semester hours, and the college provides financial aid and scholarships to deserving students.
Admission requirements include a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 semester credit hours of undergraduate work and three professional or academic letters of recommendation.
You must also submit proof of current licensure and a two-page essay or video describing why you are interested in pursuing a particular MSN degree and your plans afterward.
Overall, Texas programs passed the 2020 NCLEX-RN test at 91.00 percent, above the national average of 86.76 percent.
4. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA-CHAPEL HILL
The Institution of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was the United States’ first public University. They offer online MSN programs in health care leadership and management, including on-campus immersions.
Full-time and part-time alternatives are available, and the program is available for at least 18 months.
The programs’ instructional design incorporates both asynchronous and synchronous learning components. Students must be on campus for work immersion course requirements each semester.
Tuition ranges from $859 to $1,774 per credit hour for in-state students and from $2,113 to $3,251 for out-of-state students.
BSN, RN license, minimum 2.75 GPA, and experience in healthcare leadership are required for admission.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has accredited the University, and the college has a 94 percent pass rate on the NCLEX-RN in 2019-20.
5. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
The University of Michigan provides an online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree in Leadership, Analytics, and Innovation.
The Online MSN degree program delivers materials and assignments online, enabling students to complete the course on schedule.
The bulk of the degree’s material is delivered asynchronously, allowing the students to study independently, which fits their work/life obligations.
The curriculum offers 33 credits at the cost of $1,536 per credit. The University boasts a high admission rate of 26% for online programs, and program lengths range from two to three years.
The University of Michigan School of Nursing (UMSN) earned a 96.5 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), far better than 84.7 percent.
6. UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI KANSAS
The University of Missouri, Kansas City, provides one of the top online Master in nursing programs in specialization opportunities.
They offer online Master’s degrees in nursing in three tracks: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP).
There are full-time and part-time curriculum options, with the full-time program lasting two years and the part-time program lasting around three years.
Total credit hours range between 43 and 47, depending on the concentration area.
The MS(N) in Leadership in Nursing and Healthcare Systems will cost $17,000, with several available scholarships.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) has accredited the University with an 88.7 percent pass rate on the NCLEX.
7. VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
Vanderbilt University is a private college in Nashville, Tennessee, that offers online Masters’s in nursing masters programs with various specializations.
Students may specialize in multiple areas, such as emergency or family nurse practitioners.
Admission criteria include a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an RN licensure, or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Tuition is $1,793 per credit; a minimum time commitment of 30 months is required.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited the institution with a 95 percent pass rate on the NCLEX-RN in 2021.
8. UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
The University of Central Florida public university offers over 100 online programs, including an online master’s of science in nursing.
They provide leadership and management training and nursing education, and healthcare simulation.
Like many online MSN programs, their curriculum combines asynchronous coursework with on-campus summits, internships, and practicums.
Admission criteria include:
- A BSN or RN licensure and an associate or certificate in nursing.
- A bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing.
- Preparatory coursework.
Tuition is $288 per credit, with an 18-month minimum commitment.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has accredited the institution’s online MSN program.
In 2019/20, the schools’ NCLEX-RN pass rate was 96.6 percent.
9. THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA
The University of West Florida, located in Pensacola on the US’s West Coast, offers numerous online programs, including an online master’s in nursing.
Admission criteria include a BSN with a minimum 3.0 GPA, an RN license, and courses in statistics.
UWF prepares students for nurse practitioner licensing exams with most online MSN programs. The 45-credit program includes asynchronous core and specialty courses, and students are expected to complete onsite clinical practicums on-campus.
The online family nurse practitioner MSN program tuition is $385 per credit hour for in-state students and $1,044 per credit hour for out-of-state students.
The average length of the study is 27 months.
The Commission accredits the program on Collegiate Nursing Education, and the institution scored 91.5 percent on the NCLEX-RN in 2019-2020.
10. GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Georgetown University is a private institution located in Washington, DC that provides one of the best online MSN programs in the country.
Specializations are available, including acute care for adults and seniors, family practice, midwifery, and women’s health. Students are required to complete online courses that are both live and self-paced.
Admission criteria for the program include:
- A BSN.
- An RN license.
- A minimum 3.0 GPA in undergraduate statistics.
- A year of intensive care unit experience for the AG-ACNP track.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has accredited the institution; tuition is $2,278 per credit.
Georgetown University claims an 85-100 percent certification rate and an average of 23-27 months of program duration.
11. THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS
The online Master’s in nursing program at the University of Central Arkansas is primarily designed for registered nurses with bachelor’s degrees in nursing.
Post-certificate Master’s and second MSN degree alternatives are available for master’s-prepared nurses who still need to fulfill academic requirements for national certification.
Adult/gerontology nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, nurse educator with a clinical specialty, and clinical nurse leader are the four specialization tracks accessible to students in this program.
While all programs are primarily online, online Master’s in nursing students must visit the University’s Conway campus occasionally.
Admission criteria for the program include a BSN, an RN license, and a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.70 on a 4.00 scale or a GPA of 3.00 on the previous 60 hours of earned credit—prior coursework in statistics with a grade of C or higher.
Their in-state tuition is $4,594, and they have an 85.69 percent pass rate on the NCLEX.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has accredited the institution’s program.
12. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
South Carolina University is a private research university in Los Angeles that offers an online MSN degree.
The institution has a 17% acceptance rate for online applications, and students interested in studying at USC may enroll full-time or part-time.
Their online MSN in family nurse practitioner involves live online lectures and clinical rotations in students’ localities. The program requires a minimum time commitment of 21 months.
The program’s tuition is $1,995 per credit, and entry criteria include a BSN, a minimum 3.0 GPA, statistics courses, a registered nurse license, and one year of clinical experience.
The institution is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and has an astonishing 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN in 2019.
13. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY COLLEGE STATION
Students may specialize in nursing education, family nurse practitioner, or forensic nursing via Texas A&M’s online Master’s degrees.
Students do most of their coursework online; however, online learners are expected to complete 45 hours of clinical experiences on campus. The program requires a minimum time commitment of 27 months.
Tuition for in-state students is $805 per credit; out-of-state students’ education costs $1,335 per credit.
Admission requirements include the following: a bachelor’s degree in nursing; a registered nurse license; statistics coursework with a grade of “C” or higher; and extracurricular activities such as volunteer, community, or military service; leadership, involvement, and awards in professional activities.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accredited the institution with a 99.3 percent pass rate on the NCLEX-RN in 2019-20.
14. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
OU’s online MSN programs prepare students to alter patients’ health and quality of life through nursing care.
MSN – clinical nurse leader; MSN – family nurse practitioner; MSN – neonatal nurse practitioner; and MSN – psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner are available programs.
Their MSN programs include synchronous coursework. Students must attend online lectures on certain days and hours and conduct clinical experiences onsite.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has accredited the program, which requires a minimum of 27 months of study.
Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree in nursing, a minimum 3.0 grade point average, and a valid RN license. Tuition is $837 per credit.
Additionally, the University has a high online enrollment rate of 34%.
15. STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY
Stony Brook, a member of the State University of New York system, offers many online MSN programs in which students take asynchronous courses.
The institution has a 22 percent enrolment rate, and students may select from seven specialties in nursing education, nursing midwifery, nursing leadership, and nurse practitioner (NP) training.
BSN; minimum 3.0 GPA; RN licensure; and certain prior studies are required for admission.
The programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and require a minimum commitment of 24 months.
Students who live in-state pay $471 for each credit, while out-of-state students pay $963. For 2020, the School’s NCLEX-RN pass rate is 97 percent.
16. OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY
Old Dominion University, located in Norfolk, Virginia, is a forward-thinking public doctoral research university that provides online Master’s degrees in nursing.
The programs offer a plethora of content personalization choices.
There are four nurse specialist tracks, three nurse practitioner tracks, a nurse-midwifery track, and four nurse specialist tracks.
Although most of them are conducted entirely online, most involve some in-person components, such as standardized patient experiences or the complete exam.
Students may finish their clinical experiences in or near their hometowns in most circumstances.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has accredited Old Dominion University’s Master’s degree program in nursing.
Their in-state tuition is around $8,736, and they have a 96.42 percent pass record on the NCLEX.
17. THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN INDIANA
The University of Southern Indiana prides itself on being ranked 5th in veterans’ top online graduate nursing programs and 29th in the best online graduate nursing programs.
They offer a seven-track online master’s degree in nursing. Among the alternatives include nursing education, nursing administration and leadership, and a variety of nurse practitioner careers.
The Commission recognizes the University of Southern Indiana’s Master’s degree in nursing in Collegiate Nursing Education.
In-State tuition is $8,497 and has an 85.48 percent pass rate on the NCLEX.
18. AMERICAN SENTINEL COLLEGE OF NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCES AT POST UNIVERSITY
In March 2021, American Sentinel University joined Post University to become the American Sentinel College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
The University developed a curriculum tailored only to online learning since it recognized the unique needs of working healthcare professionals compared to typical classroom students.
They are one of the few online organizations entirely dedicated to healthcare.
Online MSN Specializations are available in the following areas: infection prevention and control; case management; nursing education; nursing management and organizational leadership; and nursing informatics.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has accredited the institution’s online MSN programs.
19. AZUSA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY
Azusa Pacific University is a private Christian university in Southern California, near Los Angeles.
In Healthcare Administration and Leadership, Nursing Education, CNS Specialties, NP Specialties, SNSC Specialty, SNSC, and FNP Certificate, and with SNSC and PNP Certificate are among the online MSN Specializations provided.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has accredited the institution’s online MSN programs.
20. JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY
Jacksonville University’s School of Nursing offers an Online option for earning an MSN degree. The program can be run full-time or part-time, with a minimum time requirement of 18 months.
The Commission accredits the Master’s degree program in Nursing at Jacksonville University on Collegiate Nursing Education.
MSN Degree Online
When selecting an online MSN program, choosing a program that provides the most outstanding results is critical and worth the time, energy, and money invested.
Several colleges in the United States of America offer online MSN degree programs, and we hope the information we have given will assist you in narrowing your search.
