The Best Online MSN Programs
Nursing professionals who hold a registered nurse (RN) license play a crucial role in providing advanced medical care to patients across various healthcare settings. A significant number of RNs opt to advance their education by pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing degree to broaden their knowledge and skills.
The decision to attend graduate school is a big one and not to be taken lightly. However, there are many benefits to pursuing your MSN, including higher income earning potential, diverse job opportunities, and career advancement opportunities.
MSN programs usually take around 2-3 years to complete, depending on your chosen track, if you pursue full- or part-time study, and the nursing degree you start with. Program curriculums vary widely based on specialty.
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:
Upon completion of the graduate program, you will receive an MSN degree. Depending on the specialty you chose, you may then have to take an additional certification exam in order to become licensed to practice.
If you are pursuing an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) specialty, such as an NP or CRNA, you will be required to take an additional examination in order to become licensed to practice.
In order to specialize as a nurse practitioner, students are required to successfully pass one of two exams: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) exam or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) exam.
To become a certified nurse anesthetist, students must pass the national certification exam administered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurses Anesthetists (NBCRNA).
In order to become a certified nurse-midwife, students are required to successfully pass the certification exam administered by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).
Your RN license will remain unaffected regardless of whether you pass or fail your certification exam. As long as you are enrolled in school and studying for your APRN licensing exam, you can continue practicing as an RN.
If you obtain an MSN with a non-APRN track, you are not required to take any additional exams in order to work within that specialty. However, certifications are available in nearly every nursing specialty and are often considered an indication of your professional knowledge and dedication to the specialty.
Can You Complete an MSN Program Online?
Yes, but depending on your track, it will either be fully online or hybrid. APRN tracks, such as nurse practitioner and certified registered nurse anesthetist, require extensive clinical hours to be completed in person at a healthcare facility. Also, nursing education tracks usually require a certain number of practicum hours to be completed with a nurse educator. Other tracks, such as nursing informatics, may not have clinical hour requirements, in which case the program can be completed entirely online.
The following five online MSN programs are considered some of the best in the country for students who are looking for both flexibility and a quality education in their chosen specialty:
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
MSN Concentrations Offered: Nurse Practitioner (9 different specialties), Nurse Midwifery, Nursing Leadership, Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics
Accredited? Yes
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) offers an impressive 11 MSN concentrations to choose from. Their MSN programs are primarily distance-based, although APRN specialties require some on-campus intensive weekends and clinical preceptorship hours. Most programs can be completed in two to three years of full-time study.
UAB also offers an accelerated MSN option for people with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Finally, registered nurses without a BSN have the option of enrolling in their RN-to-MSN program.
UAB is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Location: Durham, North Carolina
MSN Concentrations Offered: Nurse Practitioner (8 different specialties), Health Informatics, Nursing and Healthcare Leadership, Nursing Education
Accredited? Yes
For their MSN program, Duke University offers 8 different APRN specialties and three non-APRN specialties. All majors are offered in an online format, although some courses will have required on-campus activities at least once per semester. These on-campus activities are usually two to five days in length and involve simulation and other hands-on competency activities. APRN specialties also require a certain number of clinical preceptorship hours that must be completed in person.
Duke University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
MSN Concentrations Offered: Nurse Practitioner (9 different specialties), Cardiovascular Perfusion Science, MSN-MPH in Bioethics Dual Degree, MSN-MPH Dual Degree
Accredited? Yes
Emory University offers 10 different MSN concentrations and two MSN-MPH dual degree programs. APRN specialties are taught in a hybrid format with online didactic instruction and in-person clinical experiences. All MSN-APRN specialties can be completed in four semesters of full-time study.
Students with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline can pursue an MSN degree at Emory through their Master of Nursing (MN) Pathway to Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program.
Emory also offers the unique Master in Cardiovascular Perfusion Science degree, which trains clinicians to operate cardiopulmonary bypass machines and other life-sustaining medical devices during surgery.
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
MSN Concentrations Offered: Nurse Practitioner (3 different specialties), Healthcare Leadership, Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics
Accredited? Yes
The University of South Carolina offers three APRN concentrations to choose from, as well as three non-clinical MSN degrees. Programs vary between one to three years in length.
Students pursuing a Nurse Practitioner track must complete a certain number of clinical hours in person. Non-clinical MSN tracks are distance-based with didactic coursework completed online. However, in-person practicum hours are required for the Nursing Education track.
The University of South Carolina also 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 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
MSN Concentrations Offered: Nurse Practitioner (9 different specialties), Nurse Midwifery, Clinical Research, Healthcare Innovation
Accredited? Yes
Ohio State University offers 9 different nurse practitioner specialties, as well as non-clinical MSN degrees in clinical research and healthcare innovation. Most programs can be completed within two to three years of full-time study.
The Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner APRN tracks can be completed via distance learning with in-person clinical hours completed near the student’s home. Coursework for non-APRN tracks can be completed entirely online.
Students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree can obtain their MSN through Ohio State’s Graduate Entry Master of Science program.
Ohio State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
