Online RN to MSN Programs: Find the School for You
Are you a registered nurse interested in leadership and skill development? Online RN to MSN programs allow you to build on your professional experience and fast-track directly to a master’s. Let EduMed show you how these programs work, how much they cost, how to get in, and what you can expect after you have your MSN in hand.
The following professionals lent their expertise to this article:
HealthcareNursingAdv Nursing EditorialSenior CareDementia Care
NursingNursing Ed.Ranking Today’s Best Online RN to MSN Programs
What Nurses Recommend When Choosing an RN-to-MSN Bridge Program
The programs featured in this guide offer credible, high-quality pathways for RNs who want to move directly into graduate-level nursing without completing a standalone BSN. Whether this is the right route for you depends on where you are in your career, your specialty interests, and how quickly you want to reach the MSN credential. Our nursing experts share what to weigh.
Don't Underestimate Graduate Coursework
RN-to-MSN bridge programs seem like a shortcut on paper, but they are a serious time commitment. I’ve seen experienced nurses underestimate how much time the graduate-level writing and research takes and how difficult it is while working full-time. Before you choose the accelerated path, be honest with yourself about how much work you’re willing to take on. If you can’t afford to step back from full-time work, it may be wiser to complete your degrees in order instead of compressing your timeline.
Choose Your Specialty Track Carefully
Give your MSN specialty track more thought than you think you need to. Many RN-to-MSN programs ask you to choose a concentration early, and changing directions after you’ve started graduate coursework can be difficult and costly. Talk with nurses working in the roles you’re considering, look at job openings in your area, and think about where you’d like your career to be five or ten years from now to help you make that determination.
How They Work: Online RN to MSN Profiles
Earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is a great way for registered nurses to advance their careers into specialized practice and leadership roles. But for many working RNs, fitting an advanced degree program into their already busy work and life schedules can be tough.
Fortunately, high-quality, fully-accredited online RN to MSN programs offer qualified candidates a convenient way to bypass a full Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and go directly to earning their MSN. These online “bridge” programs are designed with working RNs in mind, with benefits that include:
- Practical course loads
- Flexible study schedules
- Faster completion times
- Substantial cost savings
Below are spotlights of two current online RN to MSN programs to give you a solid understanding of just how these programs operate.
RN to MSN – Jacksonville University
Students in Jacksonville University’s 100% online RN to MSN program earn both their BSN and nursing master’s degrees in a single course of study. Students choose one of three specializations:
- Clinical Nurse Educator
- Leadership in Healthcare Systems
- Nursing Informatics
Students in the program receive 30 credits for their RN license and approximately 60 credits for their ADN degree. Therefore, earning their BSN and MSN degrees in the program requires completion of approximately 60 additional credits of undergraduate and graduate nursing coursework.
The entire program can be completed in as few as 18 months full-time. Part-time options are also available.
Duration: 18 to 24 months
Mode: Fully online
Cost: $32,700 (tuition only, based on total of 60 credits)
Admissions Requirements:
- Completed application
- Active RN license
- Unofficial transcripts from regionally-accredited colleges and universities plus transcripts reflecting the applicant’s completed nursing degrees and coursework regardless of regional accreditation
The following may be requested of applicants with a 3.0 or lower cumulative GPA:
- Letters of recommendation
- Statement of intent
Curriculum:
BSN Core Courses
- Professional Nursing
- Evidence-Based Nursing
- Assessment and Pathophysiology I & II
- Nursing Leadership and Health Care Policy
- Community Focused Professional Nursing
- Advanced Acute Care Concepts
MSN Core Courses
- Nursing Theory and Research I & II
- Organization, Delivery and Policy in Healthcare
- Nursing Leadership and Advanced Roles
- Information Systems and Technology for Improved Health Care
- Advanced Role Practicum
Plus 12 credits in one of the three specializations.
Best For: Current RNs looking to advance their careers into education, informatics, and leadership roles.
FIND PROGRAMS NEAR YOU:
RN to MSN – University of Southern Maine
The University of Southern Maine (USM) offers an accelerated online RN to MSN program that requires 60 credits and can be completed in as few as 24 months. Students choose from two concentration tracks:
- Nursing Administration and Leadership
- Nursing Education
The curriculum combines online theory coursework and hands-on practicum experiences to provide a quality program that aligns with accreditation standards of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Undergraduate (RN to BSN bridge) courses are taken through the University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK). Graduate coursework (MSN) is completed through USM.
A full range of financial aid options is available to qualifying RN to MSN students, including scholarships and graduate assistantships. Six program starts are available each year.
Duration: As few as 24 months
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $37,500 (tuition and fees)
Admissions Requirements:
- Minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0
- RN licensure
- GRE or MAT scores if GPA is less than 3.0
- Undergraduate Statistics course with a grade of C or better
- Complete online application
- Official undergraduate transcripts
- Resume or CV
- Essay/personal statement
Curriculum:
RN to BSN Bridge Courses (taken through UMFK):
- Holistic Health Assessment
- Conceptual Issues of Professional Nursing
- Health Promotion
- Transcultural Care in Nursing
- Health-Related Research and Evidence-Based Practice
- Healthcare Ethics and the Law
- Integrated Nursing Practice
MSN Courses – Nursing Administration and Leadership Track:
- Nursing Theory and Knowledge Development
- Nursing Research
- Leadership, Health Policy, and Role
- Chronic Illness Care
- Leadership in Advanced Nursing Practice
- Population Health Leadership
- Health Care Operations: Human Resources, Law, and Ethics
- Health Care Finance, Budgeting, and Planning
- Information Management and Healthcare Technology
- Evidence-Based Practice Change in Health Care
- Leading Change in Complex Healthcare Environments
- Quality Improvement
MSN Courses – Nursing Education Track:
- Nursing Theory and Knowledge Development
- Nursing Research
- Leadership, Health Policy, and Role
- Advanced Health Assessment with Integrated Pathopharmacology
- Chronic Illness Care
- Population Health Leadership
- Evaluation & Measurement in Nursing Education
- Foundations of Nursing Education
- Methods of Education In Nursing
- Evidence-Based Practice Change in Health Care
- Academic Nursing Education Practicum
- Information Management and Healthcare Technology or Quality Improvement
Best For: Current RNs looking to advance their careers into education and leadership positions.
Answers to Common RN to MSN Student Questions
Even with your extensive experience as an RN, the prospect of pursuing a nursing graduate degree can feel a bit overwhelming. To help ease your concerns, here are the answers to five of the most often-asked questions by prospective RN to MSN students.
Is an RN to MSN program worth it?
If you’re an registered nurse seeking to save time and money on earning your nursing master’s, then absolutely.
Moving up the career ladder into leadership and advanced specialized clinical practice roles as a registered nurse today requires, at minimum, an MSN degree. And there’s no more convenient and affordable way to get your MSN than through an online RN to MSN bridge program.
What percentage of nurses have an MSN degree?
Recent figures on the subject are hard to come by. But in 2022, the AACN reported that 17.4% of the registered nurses in the U.S. held an MSN degree. This figure, along with the extraordinary growth in nurse practitioner jobs projected by the U.S. Department of Labor (see the stats below), evidences an exceptionally high demand for MSN-trained nurses now and for many years to come.
Do you have to take NCLEX-RN again for after earning your MSN?
This one is simple: No.
With the exception of a very limited number of unusual circumstances, once you’ve taken and passed the NCLEX-RN, you never have to take it again. And if you’re an RN to MSN program student, you have, of course, already taken and passed the NCLEX-RN.
It should be noted here, though, that earning your MSN does not relieve you of the need to renew your RN license on a regular basis according to your state’s licensure regulations.
What is the best nursing master’s degree to get?
“Best” is a subjective term. But if you measure “best” by level of demand for graduates, then an MSN degree in any of a number of nurse practitioner specialties would be the best.
Among the most in-demand of those specialties are:
- Acute Care/Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP/AGACNP)
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Acute and Primary Care)
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Just remember, though, that the actual best nursing master’s is the one that prepares you for the nursing career you want.
Do MSN programs include clinical experiences?
It depends on the area of specialization of the program.
In general terms, MSN specialties that prepare students for direct patient care and advanced practice roles include clinical requirements. Among them are:
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Nurse Midwife
- Nurse Practitioner, including all specialties (FNP, PMHNP, AGNP, etc.)
MSN programs that often have no clinical requirements include:
- Nursing Administration and Leadership
- Nursing Education
- Nursing Informatics
Expert Insight
Clinical hours are only required if your role after graduation will be a clinical one (i.e., APRNs). But you may still need to complete practicum hours through other MSN programs. For example, as a prior Nurse Educator MSN student, I was required to complete practicum hours, which I completed through a preceptorship at a university as a nursing instructor intern.
Find Online RN to MSN Degrees by State
RN to MSN Program Cost Comparison
Cost is a critical factor for all college students, including those pursuing their nursing master’s. As you’ll find during your program search, the costs of online RN to MSN programs vary, sometimes substantially, from school to school.
Factors impacting cost include:
- Program length and student’s chosen study pace
- Geographic location
- Program and school reputation
- Whether the program is offered by a public or private school
- For public school programs, whether the student is an in-state or out-of-state resident
To illustrate this point, below are the estimated current tuition and fees costs for several quality online RN to MSN programs. Keep in mind that these figures do not take into account any financial aid resources you may obtain to help lower your total education price tag.
| School Name | Program Type | Tuition & Fees |
|---|---|---|
School Name | Program Type RN to MSN | Tuition & Fees $37,500 |
School Name | Program Type RN to MSN | Tuition & Fees $38,076 |
School Name | Program Type RN to MSN | Tuition & Fees $32,207 |
School Name | Program Type RN to MSN | Tuition & Fees $32,330 |
School Name | Program Type RN to MSN – FNP | Tuition & Fees $42,444 |
School Name | Program Type RN to MSN | Tuition & Fees $35,984 |
School Name | Program Type RN to MSN – Nursing Education | Tuition & Fees $30,381 |
RN to MSN Certification Requirements
As a licensed RN, you won’t be taking the NCLEX-RN again once you’ve earned your master’s. But with your MSN, you can beef up your resume by obtaining one or more professional certifications in your chosen nursing specialty.
There are several providers of nursing certifications, the largest of which is the American Nurses Association Credentialing Center (ANCC). Below are descriptions of the exam and other requirements for two popular ANCC certifications to give you an idea of what earning a certification is all about.
Family Nurse Practitioner Certification (FNP-BC)
The Family Nurse Practitioner Certification (FNP-BC) exam tests your preparedness to work as a family nurse practitioner in a professional healthcare setting. Eligibility requires a graduate degree in nursing and a current, active RN license.
The current cost of the exam is $295 for American Nurses Association (ANA) members and $395 for non-members. Certification is valid for five years.
The ANCC provides an exam readiness pretest to help applicants prepare for the real exam.
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP-BC)
The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Board Certified (AGACNP-BC) certification provides a “valid and reliable” assessment of the holder’s clinical knowledge and skills as an adult-gerontology acute care NP.
Like the FNP certification, AGACNP-BC exam eligibility requires a nursing graduate degree and current, active NP licensure. Exam costs are the same as for the FNP certification exam, as well.
You can access a variety of test information and prep resources at the bottom of the webpage linked above.
Salary & Career Outlook for RNs with MSNs
| Area | Occupation | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | RNs | $68,940 | $97,550 | $137,470 |
| NPs | $101,340 | $132,300 | $174,420 | |
| Alabama | RNs | $58,150 | $77,080 | $98,910 |
| NPs | $86,300 | $105,750 | $134,650 | |
| Alaska | RNs | $85,030 | $109,480 | $149,070 |
| NPs | $95,570 | $155,170 | $207,490 | |
| Arizona | RNs | $70,540 | $99,500 | $130,930 |
| NPs | $104,400 | $134,420 | $173,270 | |
| Arkansas | RNs | $60,780 | $78,940 | $103,660 |
| NPs | $99,420 | $125,660 | $205,810 | |
| California | RNs | $101,260 | $140,270 | $213,320 |
| NPs | $120,340 | $168,520 | $240,830 | |
| Colorado | RNs | $79,500 | $100,260 | $124,940 |
| NPs | $87,770 | $132,930 | $170,310 | |
| Connecticut | RNs | $80,350 | $102,740 | $134,870 |
| NPs | $109,930 | $138,470 | $173,810 | |
| Delaware | RNs | $78,340 | $99,520 | $123,860 |
| NPs | $97,450 | $131,040 | $162,870 | |
| District of Columbia | RNs | $79,390 | $102,540 | $151,170 |
| NPs | $115,200 | $135,880 | $180,300 | |
| Florida | RNs | $67,970 | $84,190 | $120,330 |
| NPs | $101,920 | $129,510 | $163,600 | |
| Georgia | RNs | $68,920 | $93,550 | $128,640 |
| NPs | $99,160 | $129,430 | $166,060 | |
| Hawaii | RNs | $82,500 | $136,320 | $147,830 |
| NPs | $106,450 | $135,570 | $174,350 | |
| Idaho | RNs | $71,210 | $92,460 | $121,230 |
| NPs | $100,480 | $132,540 | $169,710 | |
| Illinois | RNs | $69,170 | $95,990 | $118,190 |
| NPs | $102,440 | $130,680 | $161,470 | |
| Indiana | RNs | $66,750 | $83,500 | $105,750 |
| NPs | $101,790 | $128,830 | $155,260 | |
| Iowa | RNs | $63,840 | $78,630 | $100,500 |
| NPs | $107,990 | $130,160 | $167,590 | |
| Kansas | RNs | $63,180 | $79,320 | $100,840 |
| NPs | $98,330 | $126,650 | $158,080 | |
| Kentucky | RNs | $64,170 | $81,040 | $111,750 |
| NPs | $95,710 | $122,870 | $162,960 | |
| Louisiana | RNs | $63,800 | $80,230 | $104,740 |
| NPs | $99,050 | $125,600 | $159,570 | |
| Maine | RNs | $74,160 | $86,990 | $106,950 |
| NPs | $107,820 | $130,260 | $166,740 | |
| Maryland | RNs | $76,780 | $99,790 | $124,790 |
| NPs | $99,920 | $131,110 | $169,330 | |
| Massachusetts | RNs | $80,310 | $104,550 | $174,510 |
| NPs | $111,950 | $142,440 | $207,710 | |
| Michigan | RNs | $77,260 | $94,300 | $116,710 |
| NPs | $101,640 | $131,450 | $165,870 | |
| Minnesota | RNs | $79,960 | $101,510 | $132,430 |
| NPs | $98,950 | $133,260 | $170,140 | |
| Mississippi | RNs | $60,610 | $77,090 | $100,350 |
| NPs | $98,780 | $124,730 | $156,830 | |
| Missouri | RNs | $63,230 | $81,780 | $104,390 |
| NPs | $100,650 | $129,930 | $162,060 | |
| Montana | RNs | $70,120 | $85,280 | $113,920 |
| NPs | $105,110 | $137,210 | $166,940 | |
| Nebraska | RNs | $66,020 | $84,730 | $106,190 |
| NPs | $103,820 | $132,130 | $161,990 | |
| Nevada | RNs | $79,500 | $103,670 | $133,270 |
| NPs | $85,380 | $140,670 | $172,170 | |
| New Hampshire | RNs | $75,610 | $99,700 | $123,190 |
| NPs | $106,070 | $137,550 | $166,240 | |
| New Jersey | RNs | $83,060 | $106,500 | $135,170 |
| NPs | $122,390 | $159,310 | $183,420 | |
| New Mexico | RNs | $74,300 | $94,340 | $123,540 |
| NPs | $106,320 | $137,520 | $175,020 | |
| New York | RNs | $79,760 | $109,440 | $157,090 |
| NPs | $112,730 | $153,510 | $198,060 | |
| North Carolina | RNs | $67,660 | $84,350 | $110,220 |
| NPs | $103,530 | $128,990 | $164,320 | |
| North Dakota | RNs | $65,520 | $80,730 | $103,480 |
| NPs | $103,490 | $130,070 | $162,020 | |
| Ohio | RNs | $66,980 | $82,510 | $105,290 |
| NPs | $100,780 | $124,870 | $154,680 | |
| Oklahoma | RNs | $60,530 | $82,920 | $106,390 |
| NPs | $99,490 | $133,390 | $167,950 | |
| Oregon | RNs | $95,280 | $129,010 | $155,010 |
| NPs | $124,660 | $155,680 | $194,070 | |
| Pennsylvania | RNs | $70,800 | $96,430 | $117,900 |
| NPs | $102,940 | $130,140 | $163,720 | |
| Rhode Island | RNs | $77,410 | $100,640 | $129,840 |
| NPs | $111,420 | $135,970 | $176,410 | |
| South Carolina | RNs | $66,860 | $82,360 | $106,520 |
| NPs | $97,080 | $123,290 | $160,170 | |
| South Dakota | RNs | $54,040 | $78,060 | $98,220 |
| NPs | $103,080 | $128,840 | $156,000 | |
| Tennessee | RNs | $63,970 | $81,500 | $104,920 |
| NPs | $82,790 | $117,590 | $137,880 | |
| Texas | RNs | $67,120 | $95,970 | $127,950 |
| NPs | $96,880 | $131,670 | $161,980 | |
| Utah | RNs | $68,920 | $84,600 | $109,050 |
| NPs | $102,980 | $130,920 | $175,220 | |
| Vermont | RNs | $77,670 | $97,460 | $126,100 |
| NPs | $108,510 | $134,740 | $167,610 | |
| Virginia | RNs | $67,830 | $93,600 | $125,580 |
| NPs | $99,990 | $127,810 | $161,470 | |
| Washington | RNs | $89,630 | $124,200 | $161,910 |
| NPs | $122,420 | $156,100 | $187,240 | |
| West Virginia | RNs | $57,210 | $80,130 | $131,760 |
| NPs | $100,220 | $127,320 | $155,500 | |
| Wisconsin | RNs | $77,470 | $95,530 | $119,860 |
| NPs | $106,320 | $131,980 | $166,260 | |
| Wyoming | RNs | $65,770 | $83,760 | $107,350 |
| NPs | $101,970 | $132,200 | $165,250 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Showing 1 – 10 of 52 entries
| Area | Occupation | Curr.Jobs | Proj.Jobs | NewJobs | Growth % | Avg. Ann.Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | RNs | 3,172,500 | 3,349,900 | 177,400 | 5.60% | 193,100 |
| NPs | 266,300 | 384,900 | 118,600 | 44.50% | 26,300 |
Source: Projections Central
