10 Shortest RN to MSN Online Nursing Programs | 2025

Chamberlain College of Nursing offers two RN to MSN options. Students may choose between a traditional, slower program or the accelerated RN to MSN degree.

Students interested in completing a faster, more intense program will love Chamberlain's RN to MSN. Students can finish the program in roughly 14 months. However, the accelerated RN to MSN has stricter admission requirements, which are important to remember when applying.

The RN to MSN program at Liberty University offers multiple nursing specialization options entirely online. The flexible program allows you to curate your studies around your work schedule. Unlike other RN to MSN tracks, Liberty University awards students a BSN during the program.

Liberty University also offers a deep discount to military members and their families, making its RN to MSN program even more affordable. 

Capella University partners with over 600 healthcare employers, allowing RN to MSN students excellent networking opportunities upon graduation. These partnerships also provide students with program discounts to help reduce overall tuition costs. Courses are entirely online, and there are multiple specializations available, including nursing education, care coordination, family NP, and adult-gerontology primary care NP.  

As one of the shortest online RN to MSN programs, Capella offers two paths for students. The "Flex Path" allows students to enroll in one or two courses at a time and complete them at their own pace. Conversely, the "Guided Path" enrolls students in one to three courses every ten weeks, which may be too slow a pace for some students.

Walden University offers 10 RN to MSN nursing specialty programs with varying completion dates. Their shortest RN to MSN online program can be completed in just 20 months. 

Students can choose between course-based or tempo learning. Not all specialties offer both pathways. Course-based offers a pre-set schedule with expected deadlines, and you will pay by course, while tempo learning is independent learning with no deadlines, and students pay a set fee that allows them to access and complete courses over a three-month time frame. 

Students at Charleston Southern University can earn an MSN in nursing leadership or nursing education in just 19 months. The school also offers a 10% tuition discount to employees of several local healthcare systems. 

The program at CSU offers five-week intensive classes that allow students to focus on teaching projects and hands-on learning. Despite the program being entirely online, students meet on campus twice during the program. An orientation residency day is held in August, and final presentations are held in December for graduating students.

University of Mary offers four online MSN programs, including an ADN to MSN program in nursing leadership and management. There are three BSN to MSN programs available to students, including nursing leadership and management, nurse educator, and nursing and health care informatics. 

Throughout the program, students must complete 500 hours of in-person clinical experience and a capstone seminar or service project designed to guide them in integrating nursing and management theory with practical application. 

The program includes bridge courses, core classes, and specialty courses that are completed over the five semesters.

WPU offers four RN-to-MSN pathways, including nursing education, nursing administration, FNP, and AGNP. While entirely online, all the MSN pathways require in-person clinical hours to graduate. 

After completing the BSN portion of the program, students are awarded a degree and then continue to the MSN portion. 

The RN to MSN pathway in nursing education has the shortest completion time, only 18 months, while the FNP takes roughly 28 months. 

Southern New Hampshire University offers five accelerated RN to MSN online pathways, including nursing education, population health, family NP, healthcare quality and safety, and nurse executive leadership. Not only does SNHU offer one of the fastest RN to MSN programs, but it also offers one of the cheapest. 

Herzing University offers nine RN to MSN programs, and students have the ability to enroll in an accelerated RN to MSN program or an RN to BSN to MSN track.

In the RN-BSN-MSN program, students earn a BSN along the way. Specializations range from NP programs ot nursing education and nursing leadership programs. Students can also apply credits towards a DNP terminal degree. 

The RN to MSN online program at ASU requires students to complete 36 credits for a total of 13 classes. Courses in this program do not lead to a bachelor’s degree but rather bridge the gap between an ADN and MSN. Students must complete two practicums during the course of the program, which are tailored to their career goals.