An MSN is essential for nurses seeking career advancement and the ability to influence patient care significantly. With an MSN, you can acquire specialized expertise, enabling you to excel in diverse roles, including nursing leadership, research, education, and policy development.
Nurses with a master's degree in nursing typically earn higher salaries than those with only a bachelor's degree. The salary can vary depending on geographic location, years of experience, specialization, and employer.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for an MSN-level role like a nurse practitioner is $129,480. In comparison, the average salary for an RN is $86,070.
Online MSN programs offer flexibility for working nurses who wish to advance their education while balancing their professional and personal responsibilities.
Applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria to get into an online MSN program. The typical criteria can include:
Graduates of MSN programs are prepared for a wide range of career opportunities in nursing and healthcare. Some common career paths associated with an MSN include:
We offer a personalized enrollment experience that matches you with online nursing programs that align with your needs. Here's how it works:
Answer a few quick questions about your background and career goals — this should only take about 5 minutes.
We'll match you with courses, certificates and/or degrees that can help you achieve your goals.
Our enrollment advisors are trained to guide you seamlessly through selecting the right advanced nursing program from one of our accredited academic partners. Their services are offered at no cost to you, and that's how it will stay.
"Having advised many nurses, I've learned that nurses go into healthcare for a reason—they care about people. I admire their innate ability to adapt to changes in healthcare and their commitment to lifelong learning."
- Katie P., Enrollment Advisor
Yes. All states currently require at least a master's degree in nursing to become an NP. NPs are advanced practice registered nurses who provide primary and specialty healthcare services to patients of all ages.
A master's-level education is necessary to acquire the advanced clinical knowledge and skills needed to practice independently as a nurse practitioner.
The duration of an MSN program can vary depending on factors such as program format, enrollment status, and specialization chosen.
Full-time: Most MSN programs take two to three years to complete on average.
Part-time: The timeline will depend on what level of course load you carry each semester.
Working nurses and those with other commitments can pursue an institution with accelerated programs. The most common "accelerated" program for an MSN is the RN to MSN. The RN-to-MSN considers your degree and the training you need to bridge the gap between an RN and BSN, then takes you through to the Master of Science in Nursing degree. The accelerated option can save students time and money. For example, some RN-to-MSN programs reduce the required credits for a traditional MSN degree from 39 to 33 credits.
Clinical practicum experiences provide hands-on training in real-world healthcare settings, allowing you to apply your knowledge and skills in a supervised environment. As an online student, you’ll also gain practical experience through virtual simulations and clinical rotations at approved healthcare facilities.
The curriculum of an MSN program covers advanced nursing theory, research methods, healthcare policy, and specialized clinical practice. Students may choose from a variety of concentrations, including family nurse practitioner, nurse anesthesia, nurse educator, and nurse leadership.
The core curriculum of an MSN program covers a wide range of subjects, including, but not limited to:
When you lean into a specialization, like nursing administration, coursework can look like: