There are a number of MSN degree options, including bridge and dual-degree programs.
With an MSN, you can specialize in roles like NP, CNS, or Nurse Educator for higher pay and leadership opportunities.
Are you considering getting your master's in nursing? A Master of Science in Nursing degree can open the doorway to more opportunities for you as a nurse, from leadership positions to advanced clinical roles, as well as a higher salary!
If you've been thinking about advancing your degree, now's the time! Read on to explore all the different types of master's degrees in nursing and specialty paths you can take.
Popular Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs
Sponsored
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. Chamberlain offers BSN, MSN, and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
Depending on where you're starting out, there are a lot of different ways to earn your MSN.
1. BSN to MSN Programs
Ideal Candidate
✅ RNs who hold a BSN
What's Needed
🎓 BSN Degree 🧠 3.0 GPA 🪪 Active RN License
Program Length
🕙 2-3 years
Program Cost
💲 $5,000 - $50,000
If you're an RN who already holds a bachelor of science in nursing, this is the route for you. In a BSN to MSN program, you can continue directly from your undergraduate degree into an MSN program or choose to work with your undergraduate degree while pursuing your MSN.
If you have your Associate’s Degree in Nursing, or if you have a diploma RN, you can either earn your BSN and then apply to an MSN program, OR you can earn both your BSN and MSN at the same time, known as an RN-to-MSN bridge program.
These typically allow RNs to earn their MSN about a year sooner than the traditional route. The shortest RN to MSN online program is about 14 months long.
If you have a bachelor’s degree in a different field, this type of program is designed for you. Rather than having to start from scratch and earn another bachelor's degree, direct-entry MSN programs allow you to jump right into your MSN degree. Perfect for any aspiring nurses who know they want to work as an APRN or other master's educated level nurse.
Requirements for a Direct-Entry MSN Program
A bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field from an accredited college or university.
Minimum GPA: Usually 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (some schools accept 2.75+ with strong other qualifications).
Prerequisite coursework
Entrance exams
Experience
4.) Dual Master's Degree Programs
Ideal Candidate
✅ RNs who want leadership roles
What's Needed
🎓 BSN Degree 🧠 3.0 GPA 🪪 Active RN License
Program Length
🕙 2-3 years
Program Cost
💲 $30,000 - $80,000
If you know that you want to one day become a hospital CEO or a Chief Nursing Officer, you may want to consider a dual master's degree in nursing program. With these, you can earn an MSN at the same time as you earn a more leadership-focused degree like an MSN/MBA or an MSN/MHA -- Master's in Healthcare Administration. You can also earn an MSN/MPH if you want your career to take a public health route.
Requirements for a Dual Master's Program
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Minimum GPA: Usually 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
Nurse practitioners work to provide advanced care to different patient populations; they can independently assess, diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication.
Nurse practitioner programs prepare nurses to work as advanced practice registered nurses in the specialty area of their choosing, such as an aesthetic nurse practitioner, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or family nurse practitioner.
Some courses will allow you to specialize in your chosen field through your degree program, while others require you to become a general practitioner and then take an additional certification course to specialize.
Popular Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs
Sponsored
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. Chamberlain offers BSN, MSN, and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
Clinical nurse specialist programs are specifically designed to prepare nurses to assume an APRN role but focus more on patient safety and research than actually treating patients.
The goal of a CNS is to serve as a clinical expert in one specialty field, such as geriatrics or acute care, while working closely with staff, other healthcare providers, and patients to provide optimal outcomes.
They strive to improve healthcare through evidence-based practice at the individual patient and systems levels.
3. Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
Program Length: 🕙 2-5 years
Expected Salary: 💰 $128,790 per year (BLS)
Program Cost:💲$12,000 - $90,000
Online Options? 💻 Yes
Certified nurse-midwife programs educate nurses on how to safely care for women during labor, delivery, and the prenatal period. Classes focus solely on women’s health, and clinical courses allow students to learn how to care for these types of patients.
CNMs are practitioners who provide complete pre- and postnatal care, labor and delivery services, and women’s health care. They can work in an office setting, at a hospital or birth center, or in private practices.
Public health programs focus on broad public health goals, such as healthcare policy, population, or community health.
A public health nurse may complete population studies, perform research, analyze outcomes, and provide education and advocacy for public health goals. They may work at the state or local level on infectious diseases and provide nursing interventions like disease prevention and health promotion.
Additionally, earning an MSN/MPH dual degree can prepare you for related Master of Public Health jobs, such as clinical nurse officer or public health educator.
Nursing education MSN programs focus on advanced nursing knowledge and how to teach. Classes focus on educating students on how to prepare the next generation.
As a Nurse Educator, you will be responsible for educating nurses at the clinical and classroom levels.
Nurse educators can conduct research, present at conferences, consult, publish academic pieces, and work to stay current on healthcare developments in the nursing profession.
Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNLs) deliver and supervise bedside care and work with other team members to assess and improve clinical care. After earning your MSN, it’s recommended that nurses also become certified through the Commission on Nurse Certification as a CNL.
Clinical Nurse Leaders collaborate with other healthcare team members, acting as liaisons between caregivers, patients, and administrators to improve outcomes and redesign the care environment to provide improved quality of care.
Nursing informatics programs focus on teaching nurses about electronic systems, databases, and communications technologies. The MSN courses will educate you on how to utilize these programs, so even if you aren’t the most computer-savvy at the start of the program, you will be upon graduation.
Informatics nurses work at the intersection between technology and nursing. Theyconsult on new technology systems, analyze and build data systems to reach healthcare goals, and write computer programs.
Expected Salary: 💰 $117,960 per year, $56.71 per hour (BLS)
Program Cost:💲$10,000 - $35,000
Online Options? 💻 Yes
Nurse Administrator/Executive/Leadership programs prepare nurses to manage a team of other nurses and/or healthcare members.
Courses within the nurse administration program focus on advanced nursing knowledge and executive leadership. You can expect to take courses focused on management, leadership, and budget planning.
A nurse administrator, sometimes referred to as a nurse manager or executive, may serve as a unit manager or in more expanded leadership roles. Additional advanced certifications fornurse administrators and Executives are available as well.
Nurse research programs teach nurses to perform, assess, analyze, and provide recommendations based on research.
Research nurses develop and implement studies to investigate and provide information on new medications, vaccinations, and medical procedures.
Is a Master's Degree in Nursing Worth It?
Earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree can be a worthwhile investment, depending on your career goals and personal circumstances.
An MSN opens doors to advanced roles, which are often accompanied by higher salaries and greater autonomy. It also enables specialization in areas like pediatrics, oncology, or family health.
However, pursuing an MSN requires a substantial financial and time commitment, with tuition costs often exceeding $30,000. Balancing work, studies, and personal life can also be challenging.
The benefits can outweigh the drawbacks for those passionate about advancing their nursing careers and taking on leadership roles.
MSN Resources
MSN Programs
Ready to take the next step and enroll in an MSN program? Whether you're looking for the cheapest, the fastest, or the easiest to get into, we have an article that can help you choose the perfect MSN program for your needs.
Popular Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs
Sponsored
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. Chamberlain offers BSN, MSN, and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
Accreditation
CCNE
Location
Online
Prerequisite
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
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FAQs
Which nursing master’s degree is best?
If you want to advance your career clinically, an NP will be the best route. For teaching or administrative positions, an MSN will probably be best.
Can I get my MSN without my BSN?
Yes. Many schools offer direct RN-MSN programs.
How many years does it take to get a master’s in nursing?
It takes 2-3 years to earn a master’s in nursing.
Do MSN nurses get paid more than BSN nurses?
An MSN-prepared nurse with a specialty role, such as a nurse manager or nurse educator, may make more than a BSN-prepared nurse.
What are the options for paying for a nursing master's degree?
There are lots of ways to pay for your MSN including tuition reimbursement from your employer, scholarships, student loans, grants, and more.
Do hospitals pay for your MSN?
Some hospitals do offer tuition reimbursement or assistance for MSN degrees.
What should you consider when choosing an MSN program?
The first thing you want to consider when choosing an MSN program is ensuring the program is nationally accredited. The two main accreditation bodies in the United States are the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).Other things to consider when choosing an MSN program include: cost, student-to-faculty ratio, attrition rate, certification exam pass rate, program offerings , clinical requirements, and online vs. in-person requirements.
Kathleen Gaines (nee Colduvell) is a nationally published writer turned Pediatric ICU nurse from Philadelphia with over 13 years of ICU experience. She has an extensive ICU background having formerly worked in the CICU and NICU at several major hospitals in the Philadelphia region. After earning her MSN in Education from Loyola University of New Orleans, she currently also teaches for several prominent Universities making sure the next generation is ready for the bedside. As a certified breastfeeding counselor and trauma certified nurse, she is always ready for the next nursing challenge.
Education: MSN Nursing Education - Loyola University New Orleans BSN - Villanova University BA- University of Mary Washington
CCNE
Online
RN Required
