The Best Online Direct-Entry MSN Programs
There are many different paths to obtaining a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, and these paths are not limited to current registered nurses (RNs). If you have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and are interested in transitioning into the nursing profession by obtaining your MSN, a direct-entry program is the best option.
What is a Direct-Entry MSN Program?
Direct-entry MSN programs are specifically designed for students with a bachelor’s degree in a professional field other than nursing. They prepare students to pursue careers in an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) role, education, leadership, management, and more.
At the end of the program, students are awarded an MSN degree. However, in order to become licensed to practice as registered nurses, they must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) exam after graduation. If they completed their MSN in an APRN specialty, an additional licensure exam is required in order to practice as an APRN.
The length of a direct-entry MSN program varies depending on the specialty you choose and whether or not you pursue full- or part-time study. Direct-entry programs make every attempt to utilize credit hours from your previous degree when appropriate. They are also often accelerated, meaning you can obtain your MSN degree in less time than a traditional master’s program.
MSN Specialty Options
Choosing your MSN specialty track is an important decision since it significantly impacts the direction of your career moving forward. It is important to choose a track that you are passionate about and that matches both your professional goals and personal responsibilities.
Here are the most common MSN specialties:
Can I Complete a Direct-Entry MSN Program Entirely Online?
Unfortunately, you cannot. Direct-entry MSN programs are usually conducted in a hybrid format. These programs require a certain number of hands-on clinical hours in order to fulfill degree requirements. Classwork is typically completed online and may be offered in a synchronous or asynchronous format.
The following five online direct-entry MSN programs are considered some of the best in the country for students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree who are looking for both flexibility and a quality education:
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Accredited? Yes
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing offers an accelerated direct-entry MSN option for people with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or higher.
The program is rigorous and can be completed in just three semesters of full-time study.
The curriculum teaches foundational nursing competencies and involves in-person clinical hours in a variety of specialties.
Students who are admitted to the Accelerated Master’s in Nursing Pathway (AMNP) are also eligible to apply for the Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Fellowship, which provides a one-time scholarship of $5,000.
UAB is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Location: New York, New York
Accredited? Yes
Columbia University School of Nursing offers a Masters Direct Entry (MDE) program for non-nurse college graduates who wish to pursue an MSN and become registered nurses. The program is full-time and accelerated, allowing students to graduate in 15 months.
The curriculum provides basic nursing knowledge and practice expertise, including over 1,000 clinical hours in a variety of healthcare settings. At the end of the program, students receive an MSN degree and are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam.
Upon completion of the MDE program, students are able to enroll directly into one of Columbia’s doctoral nursing programs: the Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) program or the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) program.
Columbia University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher
Education (MSCHE) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Accredited? Yes
Students with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline can pursue an MSN degree at Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing through their Master of Nursing (MN) Pathway to Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program.
The program is offered in four different specialty areas: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care, and Women’s Health/Gender-Related Studies.
Emory’s program is conducted in a hybrid format. Classes are offered online with required on-campus intensives and clinical hours at various healthcare sites. The curriculum includes nursing, leadership, and research-focused courses.
Emory University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Location: Colombia, South Carolina
Accredited? Yes
The University of South Carolina College of Nursing offers a Master’s Entry to Practice Nursing (MEPN) degree, which prepares students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree to enter the nursing profession. The program can be completed within five semesters of full-time study.
The curriculum is offered in a hybrid format through a combination of online courses, face-to-face classes, and required in-person clinical experiences. The program teaches basic nursing knowledge in a variety of specialties, as well as leadership and research skills.
The University of South Carolina is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Accredited? Yes
Students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree can obtain their MSN through Ohio State University’s College of Nursing Graduate Entry Master of Science program. Once prerequisites are completed, students can finish the program within three years of full-time study.
Halfway through the program, students will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to take an additional exam to become certified to practice in their respective APRN specialty.
The goal of the program is to prepare students for advanced nursing practice by providing them with a variety of clinical experiences, as well as the knowledge, values, and skills necessary for success.
Ohio State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
