10 Most Affordable Online MSN Programs

This university is home to two excellent low-cost MSN options. The first is an affordable online FNP program with three start dates annually. The second, a nursing administration degree, has convenient seven-week-long courses and six start dates.

Students must hold a Texas RN license to attend these programs. However, they can take online classes from any location. The FNP program maintains a 100% certification pass rate for first-time test takers.

U.S. News & World Report and Fortune Magazine regard UCF as one of the best online nursing programs nationwide. Students interested in this program can select from three excellent and affordable online MSN degrees. The school also provides students access to over 200 scholarships, helping mitigate the already low tuition.

Attending UCF is advantageous because the school does not require GRE test scores. Additionally, those with non-nursing bachelor's degrees are eligible for the program, provided they meet the admission requirements.

Unfortunately, state regulatory requirements prevent Colorado residents from attending these programs.

Northeastern State's MSN coursework is 100% online, with seven-week courses and six start dates annually. Students can select from an MSN in Nursing Education, Informatics, or Nursing Leadership. Students must complete at least 200 clinical hours with an approved preceptor regardless of specialty.

Fort Hays offers two of the cheapest online MSN degree programs nationwide. Students can select from an MSN in nursing administration or nursing education. Unfortunately, the university cannot accept students from Alabama, Tennessee, or Utah into its affordable online MSN programs.

These programs require in-person clinical rotations, and the school encourages students to find their clinical sites and preceptors. However, if a student cannot find a site, FHSU can provide one in Fort Hays, Kansas.

FAU offers exceptionally reasonable online MSN tuition for Florida residents and non-residents. Students have various options, including NP, nursing administration, and nursing education. Although FAU does not require GREs, its programs are competitive, and the school selects only a few students for each cohort. 

 While the didactic coursework is entirely online, FAU provides clinical placement for students. Clinical sites are only in South Florida (Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties), so students must have a Florida RN license before applying.

Prospective MSN students at UAB can select from four excellent, affordable online programs. While coursework is entirely online, they must also complete a minimum number of required in-person clinical hours.

In addition to being among the cheapest online MSN degree programs, Alabama uniquely offers a dual PMHNP/FNP program. The program prepares students to address patients' concerns due to increasing comorbidities.

Ohio University offers five different MSN specializations for students to choose from. Coursework, especially NP specialties, focuses on rural and underserved populations. Entry is highly competitive, and some students must complete a brief admissions interview. During the interview, they will answer questions regarding their specialty, role in the profession, and career aspirations.

The MSN program at Denver is a general MSN program for individuals interested in leadership, education, and research. Classes focus on leadership and educational theories, and students can complete the program in just 15 months. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 to graduate.

CSU-Dominguez Hills is home to three online MSN options for aspiring clinical nurse specialists (CNSs). The university also offers online MSN programs in FNP, nursing education, and nursing administration. 

However, the school is well-known for its excellence in CNS education. Online CNS students also complete 500 supervised clinical hours with qualified preceptors.

GCSU offers Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP), Nurse Educator (NE), and Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) degrees. These cheap online master's in nursing programs offer flexibility with online didactic coursework. However, students in these programs must attend clinical rotations in Georgia.

Full-time students can complete these programs in six semesters, while part-time students take up to nine. However, all students have up to seven years to complete all coursework and clinicals to be eligible for graduation.