Master’s in Nursing (MSN) vs. Doctorate in Nursing (DNP) Degree – What’s the Difference?

Similarities Between an MSN vs. DNP

Both the MSN and DNP are specialized programs that may help prepare you for your nursing career. Both programs give you the chance to explore more specialized fields of study than the more general education offered by a bachelor’s degree, and AACN’s APRN education resources cover both master’s and practice doctorate programs.

Admission requirements vary by program. AACN describes several master’s pathways, including programs for nurses who hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), RN-to-master’s programs and entry-level master’s programs. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits DNP programs with both post-baccalaureate and post-master’s pathways.

After completing either of these degree programs, you may be more qualified and prepared for more opportunities than you would with a bachelor’s degree alone. These programs may prepare you to become an advanced practice registered nurse, pursuing a specialized career as a clinical nurse specialist, family nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, or nurse practitioner, as AACN’s APRN education resources describe.

Differences Between an MSN vs. DNP

The major difference between the MSN and the DNP is that the DNP is a terminal degree in nursing practice, and it helps to prepare nurses at the highest level of their practice–especially those planning to go into leadership positions. The MSN, being a master’s degree, does cover some of the same material as the DNP, but it is a different level of degree.

The DNP may still prepare you to pursue a specialty area, and AACN says DNP graduates also work in nursing education, administration, public health, informatics and policy.

These programs also take different amounts of time to complete. AACN lists 18 to 24 months of full-time study for a BSN-to-master’s program. DNP length varies by program and entry point. CCNE says every DNP student completes at least 1,000 hours of practice post-baccalaureate, and institutions determine how many earlier graduate clinical hours count toward that total for nurses who already hold a master’s degree.

MSN vs. DNP at a glance

The list compares the MSN and DNP by degree level, focus, ways to enter, typical length, advanced practice roles and other career areas.

• Degree level: The MSN is a master’s degree, according to AACN. The DNP is a doctoral degree and a terminal degree in nursing practice, according to AACN.
• Focus: MSN programs prepare nurses for roles such as nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse educator and nurse administrator (AACN). DNP programs are practice-focused doctorates with content in evidence-based practice, quality improvement and systems leadership (AACN).
• Ways to enter: Master’s pathways include BSN-to-master’s, RN-to-master’s and entry-level master’s programs (AACN). DNP programs offer post-baccalaureate and post-master’s pathways (CCNE).
• Typical length: A BSN-to-master’s program takes 18 to 24 months of full-time study, and an RN-to-master’s program takes two to three years (AACN). DNP length varies by program and entry point, and every DNP student completes at least 1,000 practice hours post-baccalaureate (CCNE).
• Advanced practice roles: MSN graduates may become nurse practitioners (American Association of Nurse Practitioners) or certified nurse-midwives (American College of Nurse-Midwives), while nurse anesthetist preparation includes doctoral program enrollment (American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology). DNP graduates may work as nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists and nurse-midwives (AACN).
• Other career areas: MSN graduates may become nurse administrators, nurse educators and public health nurses (AACN). DNP graduates also work in nursing education, administration, public health, informatics and policy (AACN).

Master’s in Nursing Overview

An MSN degree is a graduate degree that may help registered nurses advance their careers. This degree program provides you with a specialized education that may prepare you to become an advanced practice registered nurse, as AACN’s APRN education resources describe.

If you decide that earning a graduate degree in nursing is right for you, you’ll have many nurse practitioner programs to choose from. AACN says some RN-to-master’s programs are offered largely online or in a blended classroom and online format, so an online MSN program may be one option to consider. Online FNP programs may also help prepare you for this specialized career field.

Education Requirements

Education requirements for an MSN may vary from program to program. AACN describes BSN-to-master’s programs for nurses who hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), RN-to-master’s programs (typically two to three years) and entry-level master’s programs (typically 15 to 30 months), according to its master’s education overview.

AACN says specific requirements for RN-to-master’s programs vary by institution and by a student’s previous coursework. If you’re considering a particular MSN program, it’s best to thoroughly read the program’s admissions requirements to determine what additional steps you might need to take before applying.

Salary

With an MSN degree, you may be qualified for more specialized nursing occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports wages by occupation rather than by degree. The following are the national median annual wages for these nursing occupations as of May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program:

• Registered nurses: $97,550
• Nurse midwives: $134,040
• Nurse practitioners: $132,300

Keep in mind that many factors, including your location and years of experience, may affect nursing salaries.

Scope of Practice

During an MSN program, you may learn skills that you’ll use in advanced practice or leadership roles. Depending on the career path you choose, your scope of practice may differ.

For example, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) says nurse practitioners assess, diagnose and treat acute and chronic conditions, order and interpret diagnostic tests, and prescribe medications. The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) says certified nurse-midwives provide care that spans pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period, gynecologic health and family planning, and that they also care for healthy newborns during the first 28 days of life. Rules for what each role may do independently vary by state: AANP says NPs practice under the rules and regulations of the state in which they are licensed, and ACNM says midwifery practice can vary from state to state. Check with your state board of nursing.

What can you do with an MSN degree?

One of the potential benefits of an MSN degree is that you may be able to pursue many career paths. Your MSN may prepare you to become an advanced practice registered nurse. Below are just a few of the careers that you may pursue with an MSN:

• Nurse practitioner (NP): AANP says NPs work in settings such as clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms and private practices, and that all NPs complete a master’s or doctoral degree program.
• Psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP): Psychiatric and mental health care is one of the population specialties AANP lists for NPs. A PMHNP focuses on patients with psychiatric and mental health needs.
• Women’s health nurse practitioner (WHNP): A women’s health nurse practitioner specializes in women’s health and gender-related care, one of the specialties AANP lists for NPs.
• Family nurse practitioner (FNP): A family nurse practitioner specializes in care for individuals across the lifespan, according to AANP’s list of NP specialties.
• Certified nurse-midwife (CNM): As a certified nurse-midwife, you may care for women through pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period and care for healthy newborns during the first 28 days of life, according to ACNM. ACNM says CNM graduates hold a master’s degree, DNP or Doctor of Midwifery from an accredited midwifery program.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Overview

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program delivers specialized, advanced training to nurses who want to hold upper-level positions. AACN describes research-focused doctorates and the practice-focused DNP as distinctly different approaches to the highest level of nursing education, so a DNP program may help nurses gain skills and education for further advanced practice and leadership roles.

During a DNP program, you may learn evidence-based practice, quality improvement and systems leadership, according to the AACN DNP fact sheet. With a DNP degree, you may also be able to pursue many career options, including becoming a certified nurse-midwife or, with additional preparation in teaching, a nurse educator, according to AACN’s DNP education overview.

Education Requirements

DNP program education requirements may vary, depending on the program. CCNE says it accredits DNP programs with post-baccalaureate and post-master’s pathways, so some programs may admit nurses who hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing while others build on an earlier master’s degree.

Programs set their own additional admission requirements, and every DNP student completes at least 1,000 hours of practice post-baccalaureate, per CCNE. It’s best to carefully review the requirements of the programs you are considering.

Salary

With a DNP, you may be able to pursue more specialized career paths and leadership roles. BLS reports wages by occupation rather than by degree, so its data can’t show the pay difference between an MSN and a DNP. The national median annual wage as of May 2025 was $236,590 for nurse anesthetists, a role for which the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) says preparation includes doctoral program enrollment, and $80,250 for postsecondary nursing instructors and teachers. Completing a DNP program may help prepare you to become an APRN in various specialties such as nurse anesthetist. Other careers may include becoming a nurse educator, a role for which AACN recommends doctoral preparation plus additional preparation in teaching, or a patient advocate, a role the Patient Advocate Certification Board (PACB) describes as protecting and promoting client rights within the health care system. Salaries will vary depending on your geographic location, your years of experience, and where you work.

Scope of Practice

Earning your DNP degree may be applicable for many career options, whether that’s leading change in a practice, caring for a vulnerable population or being a mentor to other nurses. NONPF has called for moving entry-level nurse practitioner education to the DNP by 2025, and AACN reports that all students entering an accredited nurse anesthesia program since Jan. 1, 2022, have been enrolled in a doctoral program.

A DNP degree may help prepare you for many nursing career pursuits, and your scope of practice will largely depend on the career you choose. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, your DNP education will focus on areas like evidence-based practice, systems leadership and quality improvement.

What can you do with a DNP degree?

With a DNP degree, you may potentially hold leadership positions. You might choose to specialize in one of many different fields, but just a few of your potential career options include:

• Nurse educator: With your specialized knowledge, you might choose to educate future nurses in college or at the postgraduate level. AACN says nurses seeking full-time faculty positions at four-year colleges and universities should pursue doctoral preparation, and that faculty should also have additional preparation in teaching, such as pedagogy, curriculum development and student assessment. AACN reports that U.S. nursing schools turned away 92,672 qualified applications in 2025, citing insufficient faculty and other resource constraints, so teaching the future generation of nurses is more important than ever.
• Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA): AANA says CRNAs administer anesthesia and manage patient care during surgical, diagnostic, therapeutic and obstetrical procedures, and that preparation includes enrollment in a doctoral program.
• Patient advocate: PACB says patient advocates help clients voice their concerns, protect their rights wiith a bachelor’s degree or higher, equivalent experience, and who meetthin the health care system and make sure their values and wishes are considered. PACB’s board certification for patient advocates is open to candidates who have a bachelor’s degree or higher, or equivalent experience, and meet its other requirements.
• Private practice: Nurse practitioners may consider working in private practice settings. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) provides resources on practice management for NPs interested in private practice or expanding their knowledge on health care business.

In addition to these upper-level, specialized roles, a DNP degree may also prepare you for many of the same roles you could have with an MSN, including nurse practitioner and certified nurse-midwife careers, according to AACN.

Frequently asked questions

Is a DNP higher than an MSN?

Yes, as a degree level. The MSN is a master’s degree, while the DNP is a doctoral degree that AACN describes as a terminal degree in nursing practice. A higher degree level doesn’t mean every role requires it: AANP says all nurse practitioners complete a master’s or doctoral degree program.

Do you need an MSN to get a DNP?

Not always. CCNE accredits DNP programs with both post-baccalaureate and post-master’s pathways, so some programs admit nurses who hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing, while others build on an earlier master’s degree. Check each program’s admission requirements.

Do you need a DNP to become a nurse practitioner?

AANP says all nurse practitioners complete a master’s or doctoral degree program. NONPF has called for moving entry-level nurse practitioner education to the DNP by 2025, and AACN says institutions may award either degree for advanced practice preparation. Check the requirements of the programs, certifying bodies and state boards of nursing that apply to you.

How long does it take to earn an MSN or a DNP?

AACN lists 18 to 24 months of full-time study for a BSN-to-master’s program. DNP length varies by program and entry point, and CCNE says every DNP student completes at least 1,000 hours of practice post-baccalaureate.

Do DNPs earn more than MSNs?

BLS reports wages by occupation rather than by degree, so it doesn’t show a pay difference between the two degrees. In May 2025, the national median annual wage was $132,300 for nurse practitioners, $134,040 for nurse midwives and $236,590 for nurse anesthetists. The 90th percentile annual wage for nurse practitioners was $174,420, meaning about 10% earned more than that.

Is an MSN a doctor?

No. The MSN is a master’s degree, according to AACN. The DNP is a doctoral degree.