Online MSN Programs in California: Your Guide to Top Schools
Are you a California RN looking to advance your career and increase your salary? With online MSN programs more popular than ever, pursuing an advanced nursing degree has never been more convenient. This guide reviews some of today’s top online MSN degree programs in California, with details on curriculum, cost, and duration. Let EduMed help you find the right school and start your MSN journey.
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NursingNursing Ed.In-Depth: Online MSN Programs in California
Online MSN programs in California are designed with working nurses in mind, offering the flexibility needed to advance your education without stepping away from your career. Most programs deliver didactic nursing, leadership, and specialty coursework—along with some virtual skills labs—through asynchronous online formats that let you complete assignments on your own schedule.
Depending on the school and specialization, program formats may include:
- Fully online coursework with no required campus visits
- Occasional in-person sessions, such as orientations or short on-campus intensives
- Virtual simulations or skills labs for select tracks
- In-person clinical practicums for hands-on specialties like nurse practitioner roles
To give you a better sense of what to expect, we’ve spotlighted three currently available online MSN programs in California below.
California Baptist University
The BSN to MSN program at California Baptist University, a private Christian-affiliated university, emphasizes a “holistic approach” that utilizes nursing theory as a guide. The program’s online option combines online coursework with in-person residencies attended on CBU’s Riverside campus.
All concentrations include practicum experiences giving students the option to practice in a variety of healthcare settings. The cohort-structured program requires a total of 38 to 61 credits (depending on concentration) and is completed in six to eight semesters of part-time study.
Duration: Six to eight semesters
Mode: Online with in-person residencies
Cost: $670/credit (tuition only)
Admissions Requirements:
- Active, unencumbered California Registered Nursing (RN) License
- BSN degree from an accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Minimum of one year of work experience as RN for Nurse Practitioner concentrations
- Successful interview with College of Nursing
- Required clearances: CPR certification, criminal background check, health clearance, drug testing, health insurance, and motor vehicle insurance
Curriculum:
Core Curriculum
- Interprofessional Education
- Nursing Science
- Research and Scholarship
- Health Policy and Bioethics
- Population Health and Health Promotion
- Applied Biostatistics
- Advanced Nursing Leadership
- Healthcare Informatics
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practicum
- Pharmacology for Acute Care
- Geriatric Pharmacotherapeutics for Acute Care
- Advanced Cardiac Rhythm Analysis
- Comprehensive Examination
Family Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum
- Comprehensive Examination
Nurse Educator
- Nursing Curriculum and Program Development
- Instructional Strategies for Nurse Educators
- Evaluation and Testing for Nurse Educators
- MSN Clinical Practicum
- Comprehensive Examination
- Organizational Culture and Diversity
- Nursing Informatics
- Nursing Informatics Practicum
- Nursing Informatics Capstone
Nursing Organizational Leadership
- Nursing Organizational Leadership
- Nursing Organizational Leadership Practicum
- Organizational Culture and Diversity
- Comprehensive Examination
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum
- Advanced Psychopharmacology
- Comprehensive Examination
FIND PROGRAMS NEAR YOU:
California State University – Channel Islands
CSU-Channel Islands in Ventura County offers an online MSN program with Family Nurse Practitioner emphasis that prepares graduates to provide primary and acute nursing care to diverse populations across the full patient lifespan.
All coursework is offered entirely online in an asynchronous format (allowing students to log on and complete coursework at any time) with the exception of certain practicum and culminating experience activities which are completed off-campus in program-approved practice settings.
The 46-credit curriculum incorporates the Core Competencies of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty leading to professional certification through either the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
Duration: Varies by student’s chosen study pace
Mode: Fully-online with exception of practicum and culminating experiences
Cost: $650/credit (tuition only)
Admissions Requirements:
- Current valid RN license
- Minimum overall postsecondary GPA of 2.5 or better and minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last sixty semester units
- Minimum one-year of relevant full-time clinical experience
- Two letters of recommendation
- Professional resume or CV
- 500-word statement explaining academic and professional goals
Curriculum:
Nursing Core
- Advanced Health Assessment and Promotion
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Theoretical Frameworks and Professional Roles
- Evidence-based Practice and Quality Improvement
- Healthcare Policy and Nursing Issues
- Informatics in Advanced Nursing Practice
- Culminating Experience
Family Nurse Practitioner
- Primary Care Across the Lifespan
- Primary Care Across the Lifespan Practicum
- Laboratory and Clinical Procedures for Advanced Practice
California State University – East Bay
Cal State East Bay’s hybrid-formatted Master of Science in Nursing (BSN to MSN) program takes a general approach to preparing graduates to fill leadership positions in healthcare administration, education, and consultation.
Designed with working nurses in mind, the 33-credit program is part-time with all coursework delivered online in an asynchronous format to accommodate the student’s busy work and life schedules.
Students additionally attend two-day immersion events each August on the school’s campus in Hayward to meet with faculty, staff, and fellow students, and to become familiar with program resources.
Students wishing to further specialize their courses of study can opt for concentration tracks in Nursing Education or Nursing Leadership and Administration, each with its own curriculums and course requirements.
Duration: Four semesters
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $649/credit
Admissions Requirements:
- BSN with cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Valid RN license or eligibility for California RN Licensure
- One year or more of professional nursing experience is preferred
- Two letters of recommendation
- Goal statement – a two-page essay indicating the applicant’s career interests and goals
- Interview
- STAT 100 Elements of Statistics and Probability or its equivalent, with a grade of “C” or better.
Curriculum:
- Theoretical Perspectives for Advanced Nursing Practice
- Scientific Inquiry, Methods, and Scholarship
- Healthcare Informatics
- Health Equity, Systems of Power, and Population Health
- Applying Principles of Patient Safety, Quality, and Highly Reliable Organizations
- Advanced Concepts in Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Health Assessments
- Contemporary Issues in Healthcare Economic & Social Policy
- Leadership, Influence, and Change in Interprofessional Teams
- Curriculum Development, Instructional Strategies, and Assessment
- Resource Management for Cost Effective Healthcare
- Synthesis: Implementing the Advanced Practice Nursing Role
FAQs About Online MSN Programs in CA
While the program spotlights offer a good idea of what individual programs have to offer, they’ve likely raised a number of questions about admission requirements, how to pay for online MSN programs, and how long it takes to earn your degree. To help, here are the answers to five questions commonly asked by prospective California online nursing master’s students:
What can I do with an MSN degree in California?
That depends on your preferred professional focus and chosen area of specialization. In general terms, MSN degrees prepare graduates for:
- Advanced practice in forensic nursing or nursing informatics
- Nurse practitioner roles in any of several specialized fields (adult-gerontology, acute care, family health, pediatrics, psychiatric-mental health practice, and women’s health, among others)
- Leadership positions throughout the healthcare field, including as nurse administrators and nurse educators
Additionally, an MSN degree provides a stepping stone to pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree leading to top-level careers primarily in post-secondary education, and advanced research.
Expert Insight
Most APRN roles require at least a master’s degree. Until recently, all APRN roles (including nurse anesthetist) had this requirement. But as of 2025, you need to earn a DNP to become a nurse anesthetist. If you want to be a nurse anesthetist and you have a BSN, consider a bridge program, such as a BSN-to-DNP program. This way you skip the traditional MSN program and earn a DNP quicker.
What are the admissions requirements for MSN programs in California?
Admission requirements for online MSN programs in California vary depending on the specific program and program type. (More on the types of MSN programs below.) Common admission requirements include:
- For graduates of RN to MSN programs: registered nurse license, nursing associate degree or diploma, professional nursing experience. A non-nursing bachelor’s degree is required by some programs.
- For BSN to MSN program graduates: registered nurse license, BSN degree, professional nursing experience.
- For graduates of direct-entry MSN programs: non-nursing bachelor’s degree (any major is acceptable in most cases).
Other common requirements include letters of recommendation, a current CV or resume, personal statement or statement of purpose, and interview. Clinical-focused programs may additionally require a criminal background check, physical exam, drug screening, and immunizations.
How long does it take to earn an MSN in California?
Lengths of California online MSN programs differ substantially depending primarily on study pace (full-time, part-time self-paced), chosen specialization or concentration, and the specific type of program. Here are estimated completion times for some of the most common MSN program types:
- Traditional MSN: Two to four years
- Accelerated MSN: 12 to 18 months
- RN to MSN: 24 to 48 months
- Direct Entry: Two to five years
These are broadly-drawn time estimates, though. So, it’s critical that you have a complete understanding of how much time you can expect to spend pursuing your degree in each program you’re considering before you enroll.
How affordable are California online MSN programs?
Online MSN programs in California are relatively affordable. But costs can vary substantially from program to program. The factors most strongly affecting program costs include:
- Specific program type and corresponding total number of credit hours
- School type—public or private
- California residency (specific to public colleges and universities)
The prices quoted in the spotlights above and the three programs listed just below will give you a general idea of what you can expect to pay for your MSN program.
Keep in mind, though, that these cost figures are for tuitions only and do not include additional program fees and the costs of such things as textbooks and other course materials. You’ll also want to factor in any financial aid help (see the next question) you receive when figuring out your total program bill.
California State University – Dominguez Hills
Total Credits: 30-48
$2,208/semester (up to 6 credits); $3,804/semester (more than 6 credits). Out-of-state residents pay an added $420/credit.
Samuel Merritt University
Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner
Total Credits: 49
$1,654/credit
Touro University California
Total Credits: 33-46
$870/credit
Where can I find financial aid to help pay for my MSN program in California?
For financial aid resources, consider scholarships and grants, employer tuition reimbursement opportunities, student loans, and more.
To get the details on any funding help that may be available (including external scholarships like the Deloras Jones Nursing Scholarship), contact a program adviser or your school’s financial aid office.
The California Department of Health Care Access and Information offers tons of valuable information on funding opportunities for healthcare professionals who provide or agree to provide direct patient care in areas of unmet need.
California’s Online MSN Options
Deciding to go for your MSN and to do so online are the first steps on your path to earning your MSN. The next step is to decide which MSN program type to pursue—that is, the type that will get you to the advanced nursing career you’re after most efficiently and effectively. Here are the four most common types of MSN programs and links to example programs offering them.
Traditional MSN
Traditional MSN programs are designed for current registered nurses with a previously earned bachelor’s degree in nursing. They can take around two years (sometimes less) full-time to complete and up to four years part-time.
Curriculums include graduate level didactic (lecture) nursing coursework often delivered entirely online and often in an asynchronous format. Clinically-focused programs typically also include in-person clinical rotation requirements and, in some cases, campus-attended labs.
Expert Insight
Consider the benefits and drawbacks of attending school full-time versus part-time. For example, I attended an online traditional MSN program after earning my bachelor’s in nursing. The program took a little over three years to complete because I chose to enroll part-time. Though it would have been great to finish sooner, the slower pace resulted in a more affordable tuition and better work/school-life balance.
Direct-Entry MSN
Direct-entry MSN programs are for students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and no nursing experience interested in entering the profession with the advanced training provided by an MSN.
These programs typically require a minimum of two years (and often more) of full-time study or up to five years part-time, and include all coursework, labs, and clinical hours needed to obtain RN licensure.
Accelerated MSN
RN to MSN bridge programs are for current RNs with an associate degree in nursing or a nursing diploma (in other words, without a BSN). As you might expect, program lengths are usually a bit longer than BSN to MSN programs, but you may be able to find ones that can be completed with as little as two years of full-time study.
Dual Master’s
Typically, a dual master’s MSN program is one that offers students the opportunity to earn a second master’s degree along with an MSN in a single course of study. In most cases, the second master’s degree is an MBA, but there are exceptions.
Unfortunately, there are currently no online MSN programs in California offering dual master’s options.
Career Outlook for MSNs in California
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $97,960 | $129,210 | $169,950 |
| California | $124,330 | $166,610 | $234,800 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $129,890 | $165,460 | $209,170 |
| Chico, CA | $127,900 | $159,400 | $196,250 |
| El Centro, CA | $95,980 | $166,090 | $205,460 |
| Fresno, CA | $126,050 | $161,550 | $204,230 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $106,540 | $158,400 | $178,450 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $126,710 | $164,510 | $212,380 |
| Merced, CA | $92,010 | $153,100 | $176,310 |
| Modesto, CA | $105,890 | $164,790 | $209,930 |
| Napa, CA | $166,400 | $216,380 | $217,440 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $80,590 | $155,440 | $200,430 |
| Redding, CA | $127,190 | $154,370 | $180,130 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $99,990 | $162,470 | $207,990 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $100,660 | $164,520 | $231,900 |
| Salinas, CA | $127,020 | $168,270 | $216,840 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $104,150 | $162,030 | $229,850 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $140,910 | $220,330 | $239,200+ |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $159,020 | $225,730 | $239,200+ |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $127,970 | $156,840 | $204,050 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $121,990 | $159,090 | $204,280 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $129,030 | $171,150 | $203,790 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $104,400 | $164,630 | $228,850 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $124,450 | $161,010 | $213,870 |
| Vallejo, CA | $129,210 | $169,990 | $239,200+ |
| Visalia, CA | $100,640 | $156,740 | $202,140 |
| Yuba City, CA | $110,620 | $158,280 | $219,910 |
Source: Nurse Practitioners, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2024, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
| Area | Curr. Jobs | Proj. Jobs | New Jobs | Growth % | Avg. Ann. Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 266,300 | 384,900 | 118,600 | 44.50% | 26,300 |
| California | 21,500 | 34,100 | 12,600 | 58.60% | 2,500 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
