Earn an MSN Degree from a Top Online School

With the demand for nurses expected to increase dramatically in the next decade and with the vast amount of career options available, there is no better time to pursue an advanced nursing degree from an accredited online nursing school. Below are the top online colleges that offer nursing masters degrees.

University of Cincinnati
MSN - Adult Nursing
MSN - Clinical Nursing
MSN - Nurse Midwifery
MSN - Women's Health
More...
University of Cincinnati — The University of Cincinnati's online nursing programs knows no geographic bounds. Cinci offers several online master's degree programs in nursing, including MSN in clinical nursing, MSN in adult nursing, MSN in nurse midwifery, MSN in nursing administration, MSN in psychiatric health nursing, and MSN in women's health. Students of these programs are required to be BSN holders with some nursing experience.
Click Here
Walden University
RN to MS in Nursing
MSN - Informatics
MSN - Education
MSN - Leadership
BSN to MS in Nursing
Walden University — Walden University provides nurses with the unique opportunity to advance their careers through master's programs for registered nurses. Specialties include informatics, education, leadership and a general course to help you acquire the knowledge to educate nursing students, staff and patients-and prepare for current and future career opportunities. Walden also offers several BSN to MSN programs.
Click Here
University of Phoenix
MS in Nursing
MSN - Health Education
MSN - Informatics
MSN - Health Administration
MSN - Healthcare Mgmt
University of Phoenix — The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of registered nurses with baccalaureate-degree preparation. Coursework covers advanced nursing content and process, as well as leadership skills, teaching experience and the ability to manage health care systems. Areas of specialty within their MSN program include health education, informatics, health administration, and healthcare management.
Click Here
Grand Canyon University
Dual Degree: MSN/MBA
MSN - Nurse Education
MSN - Nurse Leadership
Grand Canyon University — Earn your dual master's degree in business and nursing, along with specialties in clinical care, education, family nurse practitioner, or nursing leadership at Grand Canyon University's college of nursing and health sciences. Each course can provide you with the skills and techniques you need to become the best in your field.
Click Here
Drexel University
RN to BSN to MSN
MSN - Psychiatric Nurse
MSN - Clinical Trials
MSN - Adult Acute Care
More...
Drexel University — The RN to BSN to MSN track offered by Drexel University is a cutting-edge program that allows students to work on their bachelor's degree while simultaneously pursuing their master's. Students enrolling in this program must be a licensed registered nurse with some prior college experience, perhaps an associate's degree. MSN programs offered: adult acute care, adult psychiatric and mental health, clinical trials research, contemporary nursing faculty, innovation and intra/entrepreneurship in advanced nursing practice, and nursing leadership in health systems management.
Click Here
Graceland University
MSN - Nurse Education
Graceland University — The 40-credit MSN nurse educator program from Graceland University is CCNE accredited, with online courses lasting eight weeks per session. The curriculum, which includes courses in advanced health assessment, education technology, and issues in nursing education, is designed with the working RN in mind, as students are able to complete the degree from home after hours.
Click Here
Liberty University
MS in Nursing
Liberty University — Learn how to provide expert clinical care and related health care services to individuals, families and groups of people across the lifespan in a variety of acute care and community settings through Liberty University's Master of Science in Nursing program. Liberty University incorporates core Christian values into all of their degree offerings in order to provide all students a thorough academic and spiritually enriching program of study.
Click Here
Saint Xavier University
MS in Nursing
Saint Xavier University — For nurses looking for a more advanced role in the workplace, consider the online MSN degree program from Saint Xavier University, which offers a Clinical Nurse Leader focus. Graduates of this program will be prepared to critically assess patient data and treatment options as well as coordinate with doctors and other nurses.
Click Here
American Sentinel University
RN to MSN
MSN - Informatics
MSN - Case Management
MSN - Leadership
MSN - Infection Prevention
American Sentinel University — For registered nurses looking for further advancement in their careers, the RN to MSN degree programs offered by American Sentinel University offer the learning experience required to advance in nursing informatics, case management, organizational leadership, infection prevention, and more. Students of this program complete 21 undergraduate credits plus 36 graduate-level credits to obtain their degrees.
Click Here
Kaplan University
MS in Nursing
MSN - Nurse Administration
MSN - Nurse Education
Kaplan University — Earn your M.S. in Nursing with a specialty in nurse administration or nurse education with an online degree from Kaplan University. The Master of Science in Nursing is also a foundation for future doctoral studies, and these online programs makes it easy for you to keep working while you study.
Click Here
Capella University
MSN - Nurse Educator
MSN - Nurse Educator Bridge
Capella University — The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs from Capella University Online are geared toward BSN graduates currently working as registered nurses (RNs). They offer MSN - Nurse Educator and MSN - Nurse Educator Bridge programs. For those wishing for a flexible and affordable plan to take their nursing careers to the next level, Capella is a very sound choice.
Click Here
Norwich University
MSN - Nurse Administration
MSN - Nurse Education
Norwich University — Norwich University offers master's in nursing degree programs in nurse administration and nursing education. Graduates of each of these programs will be well skilled in healthcare communication, critical thinking, and nursing leadership. Both programs consist of 36 credit hours of online coursework divided into six online seminars.
Click Here
Benedictine University
MS in Nursing
Benedictine University — Benedictine offers an MS in Nursing program that prepares students with the expert nursing knowledge and skill they will need to become specialized nurse practitioners in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinical care units, and doctors' offices.
Click Here
See more Masters in Nursing degrees...

Nursing Degree Directory

For individuals seeking a master's degree in nursing, we have outlined the variety of MSN degrees available online:

BSN to MSN

MSN

MSN Dual Degrees

RN to MSN

Frequently Asked Questions About Masters Degrees in Nursing

NurseWho needs a masters degree in nursing?

Depending on one's level of education, there are a wide variety of different fields a nurse can work in. Some types of nursing, specifically those that require advanced skills and expertise, require more advanced degrees. Specifically, a nursing masters degree will enable someone who may or may not have previous nursing experience to break into the field, or advance their career and pay scale. Advanced practice nurses; such as clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives, and nurse practitioners must have their master's degree in nursing.

What are the different types of degrees in this field?

There are a wide variety of specializations available to students who are interested in obtaining their MSN degree. Additionally, students who may not want to pursue such a high level of education can also choose from bachelor's in nursing degrees, or even certifications.

  • Master of Science in Nursing - MSN: This is the comprehensive nursing masters degree. Usually students elect to specialize in an area, but others may choose to simply pursue the comprehensive degree. MSN degree programs typically provide students with coursework that is designed to enhance both the knowledge and skill sets of registered nurses who have baccalaureate-degree preparation.
  • MSN - Clinical Nursing: This degree program usually takes less than two years to complete and will prepare students to be nurses specifically in clinical settings.
  • MSN - Health Administration: Specializing in health administration is great for those who are more interested in the business side of health care. Students will receive instruction in nursing as well as the basics of business, management, and perhaps even finance.
  • MSN - Adult Nursing: Going for a Master of Science in nursing, with a focus on Adult Nursing is perfect for those who are interested in caring for adults. The program will typically focus on teaching students about healthcare as it relates to persons who are in their 20s to 60s.
  • MSN - Informatics: Health informatics is one of the fastest growing specializations in the healthcare field. With new technologies and the ever-increasing amount of information that needs to be managed, having an MSN with a specialization in informatics is an excellent career choice.
  • MSN - Leadership: In any health care organization, strong leadership is a must. To that end, an MSN degree with a specialization in Leadership can prepare nurses to both lead and manage teams in a variety of settings. This degree program will involve many courses on business, specifically focusing on management, and communication.

What is the average salary of someone with a Masters in Nursing?

Demand for nurses is on the rise, and so anyone with a nursing degree can command a very competitive salary. However, persons who have advanced degrees in nursing will be able to command higher salaries than those who have less education. While an RN will typically have an average yearly salary of $55,000, someone who has an advanced nursing degree (such as an MSN) can expect to see their wages increase to the range of $60,000 to $90,000 yearly. Some can even make more depending on their area of expertise and the healthcare organization they are employed by. Click to get More info about masters in nursing average salaries.

What schools offer Masters in Nursing degrees?

Many different schools currently offer masters degrees in nursing. Some of these schools are traditional brick and mortar institutions while others offer degrees online. Tuition and fees vary amongst schools, and many institutions offer different specializations for an MSN degree:

  • University of Phoenix: The University of Phoenix offers several different degree options for MSN students. Students can pursue an MSN with specializations in Nursing, Health Education, Informatics, Health Administration, and Healthcare Management.
  • University of Cincinnati: Becoming a Bearcat is a great decision if one is interested in pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing degree. Students can specialize in a variety of areas including Clinical nursing, Adult Nursing, Nurse Midwifery, and more.
  • Walden University: Walden University offers highly competitive degree programs for nursing masters degrees. Students can obtain a comprehensive MS in Nursing, or they can get an MSN with specializations in Informatics, Education, or Leadership.
  • Grand Canyon University: This accredited institution offers a variety of degree options for prospective nursing students. Students can elect to get a dual degree (getting an MSN and MBA), or getting an MSN with specializations in either Nurse Education or Nurse Leadership.
  • Ball State University: The alma mater of David Letterman is located in Indiana, and has a well respected school of nursing. Students can benefit from a master's in nursing program that Ball State provides online.
  • Johns Hopkins University: Considered by many to be one of the top nursing schools in the country, Johns Hopkins offers a highly competitive, and extremely rewarding Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program. The MSN program requires a minimum of 18-24 months of full time study in order to obtain the degree.
  • Yale University: This historic Ivy League institution offers an excellent Masters in Nursing program through the Yale University School of Nursing. Students can specialize in a variety of areas including, clinical specialties, adult advanced practice nursing, nurse-midwifery, and more.
  • The University of Central Florida: UCF has been offering students highly competitive and valuable degree programs for many years. Students can enroll in their college of nursing in order to pursue a master's degree in nursing. This program will generally take around two years to complete and will prepare students to obtain well-paying nursing jobs in a variety of health care settings.
  • Union University: This Christ-centered, people-focused university functions to provide students with a high quality education. Interested persons can elect to enroll in a Masters of Science in Nursing degree that has several different tracks including education, administration, nurse anesthesia, family nurse practitioner, and more.
  • The University of Illinois at Chicago: UIC has a plethora of highly regarded nursing programs. These programs include a BSN program, an RN to BSN program, a PhD program, and more.

What kinds of financial aid are available for schools offering master's in nursing degrees?

If one is able to demonstrate appropriate need, then financial aid options are always available. To that end, everyone should always fill out a FAFSA. Additionally, there are many other scholarships and grants that prospective nursing students can apply for. Some of these scholarships include the Lambda Pi Alpha Sorority Scholarship, The MidAtlantic Cardiovascular Foundation Nursing Scholarship, the Providence Saint John Foundation Health Care Scholarship, the 2010 A Nurse I Am Scholarship, The Medial Professionals of Tomorrow Scholarship, and many more. The best way to find out more about financial aid options is to search for nursing scholarships and grants online.

Find a Nursing School Near You

To begin, enter your ZIP code:


Latest Articles from our Blog