Top Direct-Entry Master's in Nursing (MSN) Programs

What is a Direct Entry MSN Program?

Direct-entry master of science in nursing (MSN) programs are for students with a non-nursing bachelor's degree who want to start a career in nursing. Some programs allow graduates to work as nurse generalists while others as advanced practice registered nurses (APRN). 

In a direct-entry (MSN) program, students can earn a bachelor of nursing (BSN) and a master of nursing (MSN) simultaneously by combining the two in an accelerated program.

Some direct-entry MSN programs bypass a BSN completely for an MSN. These programs still allow students to take the NCLEX midway through their programs so students can earn licensure as an RN during their studies.

Top Direct-Entry Master's in Nursing (MSN) Programs for Non-Nursing Majors

Our ranking criteria is based on factors such as tuition, acceptance rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and accreditation and uses the latest and most robust U.S. government data sets, specifically the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and College Scorecard. 

1.  University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

UCLA’s Master’s Entry Clinical Nurse (MECN) program is designed to prepare non-nurses with a bachelor's degree in another field for a nursing career. 

Graduates of the MECN program are eligible to take a Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNL) certification exam and apply for a Public Health Nursing Certificate. The program is extremely competitive, with over 500 applicants each year, but accepting only 70 students are accepted per cohort. 

• Tuition: $14,514 annually 
• Program Length: 2 years
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Application Deadline: November 1st
• Contact Info:
  • Email: sonsaff@sonnet.ucla.edu
  • Phone number: (310) 825-3109
• Online Options Available? No
• Website

2.  Johns Hopkins University

Through the Johns Hopkins University direct-entry MSN program, students will be prepared to take the NCLEX-RN to become licensed as an RN upon graduation. Students are divided into two sections of approximately 60 students for lecture classes. The ratio for clinicals is one instructor to six or seven students. For the first semester, students are assigned clinical placements but after that,  students can identify their clinical sites. 

• Tuition: $1,881 per credit hour
• Program Length: 2 years
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Application Deadline:
  • Fall: November 1st and January 15th
  • Spring: July 1st and October 1st
• Contact Info:
  • Email: jhuson@jhu.edu
  • Phone number: (410) 955-4766
• Online Options Available? No
• Website

3. Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University's School of Nursing has a reputation for excellence in accelerated programs. In addition to a 1-year online MSN program, the university offers a "pre-special entry" for students with non-nursing bachelor's degrees. Students who enter this program can complete BSN content and clinical work in just three semesters. Students are eligible to apply to one of these specialty areas including a variety of NP subspecialties. 

Direct entry MSN students should expect 30-40 hours of classroom and clinical experience per week throughout the program. 

• Tuition: $1,997 per credit hour
• Program Length: 2 to 3 years
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Application Deadline: Rolling
• Contact Info:
  
  • Email: VUSN-Admissions@vanderbilt.edu
  • Phone number: (615) 322-3800
• Online Options Available? No
• Website

4. The University of Texas, Austin

The University of Texas at Austin offers an “Alternate Entry” MSN (AE-MSN) program for non-nursing bachelor's students. The AE-MSN program offers students four distinct graduate school pathways to choose from. Training for each program is extremely rigorous, and upon graduation, students can expect to start in entry-level careers and advance their careers quickly.  

Students may choose a form for AE-MSN program concentrations:

• Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG CNS)
• Leadership in Diverse Settings (LeaDS)
• Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program (PMHNP)
• Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PC-PNP)

As one of the best nurse practitioner schools in Texas, UT Austin is an excellent choice for aspiring APRNs and nursing leaders.

• Tuition: 
  • Resident: $1,418 per credit hour
  • Non-resident: $2,035 per credit hour
• Program Length: 3 years
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Application Deadline: October 1st
• Contact Info:
  • Email: nugrad@nursing.utexas.edu
  • Phone number: (512) 471-7913
• Online Options Available? No
• Website

5. University of California, Davis

Davis's University of California campus is located in northern California, about 45 minutes west of Sacramento. The school offers an accelerated Master’s Entry Program in Nursing (MEPN) for students with a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field who wish to become advanced practice nurses. 

Students typically attend classes Monday through Friday and should expect to work in clinics in the evenings and weekends.

Graduates earn an MSN and are eligible for a Public Health Nurse certification.

• Tuition: $12,762 annually 
• Program Length: 18 months (6 consecutive quarters, including summers)
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Application Deadline: November 1st
• Contact Info
  • Email: hs-BettyIreneMooreSON@ucdavis.edu
  • Phone number: (916) 734-2145
• Online Options Available? No
• Website

6. University of California, Irvine

The University of California, Irvine, has a direct entry master's in nursing program with a concentration in Community and Population Health Nursing (CPHN). The school's website reports that the benefits of their program include small cohort sizes and preparing graduates for careers that advocate for healthcare opportunities within many underserved populations.

The program is accelerated and can be completed in as little as two years. Students have access to clinical partnerships with rotations throughout UCI Health and immersion opportunities in local communities.

• Tuition
  • Resident: $12,264 annually 
  • Non-Resident: $24,509 annually
• Program Length: 2 years
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Application Deadline: November 30th
• Contact Info
  • Phone number: (949) 824-1514
• Online Options Available? No
• Website

7. University of Rochester

At the University of Rochester, students can achieve a BSN in 12 months and then continue into a master's in nursing program and become nurse practitioners (NP). The recommendation is to apply to the 12-month BSN program before applying to the NP portion. Students can gain insight into clinical specialties and determine which NP specialty is a good fit.  Admission to the program is highly competitive and there are limited spots available. 

The NP specialties to choose from include Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, Family, Family Psychiatric Mental Health, and Pediatric.

• Tuition: $1,740 per credit hour
• Program Length: 3-4 years
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Application Deadline: November 1st
• Contact Info:
  • Email: son-info@urmc.rochester.edu
    Phone number: (585) 275-2375
• Online Options Available? No
• Website

8. The Ohio State University

Ohio State enables students with a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field to earn a Master of Science in Nursing in one cohesive program. The program is full-time, with year-round coursework. There are seven NP specializations available to students to choose from in the program including, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP, Family NP, Nurse-Midwifery, Neonatal NP, Pediatric Primary Care NP, Psychiatric Mental Health NP, and Women’s Health NP.

• Tuition: 
  • Resident: $9,682 by semester
  • Non-Resident: $22,982 by semester
• Program Length: 3 years
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Application Deadline:
  • Summer Round 1: October 15th
  • Summer Round 2: March 1st
• Contact Info:
  • Email: nursing@osu.edu
  • Phone number: (614) 292-8900
• Online Options Available? No
• Website

9. Marquette University

Marquette lets students choose between online and on-campus learning options - one at the Milwaukee campus and one at the Pleasant Prairie campus. The program at the Milwaukee campus is primarily in-person while the Pleasant Prairie campus offers didactic coursework primarily online.

Marquette University’s online nursing master’s program was recently ranked in the top 18% of all nursing programs by U.S. News & World Report. 

• Tuition: $65,000
• Program Length: 5 to 8 semesters
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Application Deadline: February 1st
• Contact Info:
  • Email: gradadmit@marquette.edu
  • Phone number: (866) 891-8438
• Online Options Available? Yes
• Website

10. Gwynedd Mercy University

Started in 2022, the program at Gwynedd allows students to earn a master’s level nursing degree while holding a bachelor’s degree in another field. The program is full-time and held in person for over 20 consecutive months. Students complete a total of 765 hours of clinical practice experience within the network of more than 100 regional healthcare partners.

• Tuition: $810 per credit hour
• Program Length: 20 months
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Application Deadline: February 1st
• Contact Info:
  • Email: accelerate@gmercyu.edu
  • Phone number: (844) 707-9359
• Online Options Available? No
• Website

About Direct-Entry MSN Programs

Careers for Nurses Who Have Completed a Direct-Entry MSN Program

Direct entry MSN programs prepare students to enter many different advanced-level nursing roles, such as:

• Nurse Practitioner
• Certified Nurse Midwife
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
• Nurse Educator
• Nurse Researcher
• Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)
• Nursing Informatics
• Nurse Administrator
• Public Health 

Direct-Entry Master’s in Nursing Classes

Typical coursework usually includes a combination of classwork and in-person clinical rotations. Coursework usually includes studies on the following topics:

• Nursing practice essentials
• Physiology and pathology
• Health assessments
• Pharmacology
• Nursing ethics
• Nursing theory
• Evidence-based nursing practice
• Women’s Health
• Pediatric Nursing
• Nursing leadership
• Public health
• Pharmacology
• Nursing research
• Population-based healthcare

Is a Direct-Entry MSN Program Right for Me?

Direct-entry MSN programs are ideal for those interested in working in the nursing profession but hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. These programs should be considered for individuals interested in working beyond the bedside. If you are interested in working as a nurse administrator, nurse educator, or APRN, direct-entry MSN programs are a good option. 

While these programs are costly, they are the most cost-effective and time-efficient way to earn an MSN. You could be working as a nurse leader in as little as 20 months.

Direct-Entry MSN FAQs 

• Can you go straight to an MSN degree?

  • Yes, some direct-entry MSN programs bypass a BSN completely for an MSN.  These programs still allow students to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) midway through their programs, and students earn RN licensure during their studies.

• What does direct-entry MSN mean?

  • Direct-entry master’s in nursing programs allow students to earn a BSN and MSN - or bypass a BSN for an MSN - all within an accelerated schedule. Direct-entry MSN programs are for non-nurses with a bachelor's degree in a different field.

• Is an MSN the same as an NP?

  • Nurse practitioners (NPs) must earn an MSN in a specialized program that prepares them to practice in fields such as gerontology, family practice, women’s health, acute care, psychiatric care, or pediatric care. You can earn an MSN and not become an NP. Students who earn an MSN enter into more administrative roles such as nurse administration, informatics, research, education, or another executive nursing role.

• Are RN to MSN programs worth it?

  • If you already have an associate's degree in nursing (ADN), an RN-MSN program is faster and may make more sense than earning a BSN and MSN individually. RN-MSN programs ensure that you do not retake courses that you have already studied and allow you to start practicing sooner.