Explore 20+ Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs—Find the Best School for You

Things to Consider When Choosing an Online School

Accredited MSN programs offer several ways to earn an advanced nursing degree online, including baccalaureate-to-master’s, RN-to-MSN bridge and entry-level master’s programs, according to AACN. Core courses, specialty coursework and clinical hours vary by program and track, so confirm what an MSN degree requires at each school you are considering.

Goals

Are you hoping to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN)? Do you consider yourself a leader? The answers to these questions may help you develop your goals for earning an online MSN degree. AACN describes four APRN roles: nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist and nurse midwife. Education, certification and licensure requirements differ by role, and licenses are granted by each state or jurisdiction’s board of nursing, so check what your target role requires before you choose a program. If you plan to keep working while you study, ask each school how it schedules courses and clinical hours.

Schedule

If your time is limited by work or family obligations, compare how each online program schedules coursework. Asynchronous learning means you complete coursework on your own time, while synchronous learning meets at set times online. Ask each school which formats it uses, and whether it offers full-time and part-time enrollment.

Program Length

Completion time depends on the pathway. According to AACN, most baccalaureate-to-master’s programs may be completed in 18 to 24 months of full-time study, entry-level master’s programs take about 15 to 30 months, and RN-to-MSN programs take about 2 to 3 years. Credit loads vary by institution, so ask each school how long part-time study takes. Be sure to check requirements for nursing licensure in your state with your preferred university.

Clinical Hour Experience

Clinical or practice experience is part of preparing for advanced nursing roles, and the number of hours varies by program, role and concentration. For nurse practitioner certification, for example, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), which operates as NPCB, lists a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised direct patient care clinical hours in its family nurse practitioner candidate handbook. Clinical hours do not replace a license: nursing licensure is granted by your state or jurisdiction’s board of nursing, so confirm its requirements with your preferred university.

APRN Career Paths

APRN roles follow different education pathways. Students entering accredited nurse anesthesia programs on or after Jan. 1, 2022 must be enrolled in a doctoral program, according to the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). That requirement describes who may enter accredited programs, not the credentials of nurse anesthetists already in practice. For nurse practitioners, requirements depend on the specialty and certifier; the NPCB’s family nurse practitioner handbook, for example, lists completion of a graduate, postgraduate or doctoral FNP program among its eligibility requirements. Explore the specific education, certification and licensure requirements for each path before choosing a concentration: nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife and nurse practitioner.

Skills Obtained From an Online MSN Program

When enrolling in an MSN program online, you may already have specific medical/nursing skills. For tracks that prepare APRNs, CCNE’s 2024 accreditation standards require separate graduate-level courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced health assessment and advanced pharmacology, with role- and population-specific content integrated throughout the other courses.

The skills you obtain from an online MSN program may prepare you for a career as a nurse practitioner. According to an O*NET report, nurse practitioners have skills in:

• Active learning
• Critical thinking
• Judgment and decision-making
• Service orientation
• Systems evaluation
• Negotiation

If you are hoping to become a nurse practitioner, you may want to pursue further education. In 2018, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) called for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) to become the entry-level preparation for nurse practitioners by 2025, according to AACN’s DNP fact sheet. That goal is not itself a licensing or certification rule: eligibility is set by each certifying body and state board of nursing, so confirm the requirements for your specialty before you enroll.

A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a terminal degree in nursing practice, and AACN describes it as an alternative to research-focused doctoral programs (AACN DNP fact sheet). The curriculum of DNP programs often builds upon master’s in nursing coursework, focusing on evidence-based practice and quality improvement. According to AACN’s The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education, DNP programs are offered as post-baccalaureate and post-master’s programs, so check each program’s own admission requirements. The skills and education you gain from completing an MSN program may help you succeed as a DNP student.

Education Requirements for Online MSN Degree

Admission requirements vary by school and pathway. Use this checklist to compare programs, and confirm each item with the school’s admissions office:

• Prior education: the expected degree depends on the pathway. According to AACN, traditional post-baccalaureate master’s programs start from a bachelor’s degree, RN-to-MSN programs are designed for nurses with associate degrees, and entry-level master’s programs are developed for people with a bachelor’s or graduate degree in a discipline other than nursing.
• Nursing license: registered nurse (RN) licenses are granted by a state or jurisdiction’s board of nursing, and requirements vary by jurisdiction. Ask whether the program requires an active, unencumbered RN license and which state’s license it needs for your clinical placements.
• Academic record: ask each school about its minimum GPA, any prerequisite courses and whether it requires GRE scores.
• Application materials: ask which materials are required, such as academic transcripts (the record of your coursework), letters of recommendation, a resume, a statement of purpose or a separate GRE score report.

Curriculum for Online MSN Programs

Curricula vary by school and track. AACN’s The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (updated April 2026) describes ten domains of competence for nursing education, including population health, quality and safety, informatics and healthcare technologies, and systems-based practice.

Beyond the core curriculum, online MSN programs organize advanced study around a role or focus area, such as the roles AACN describes: administration, teaching, research, informatics and direct patient care. Specializations differ by school, so ask each program which ones it offers.

Is an Online Master’s in Nursing Right for me?

The Institute of Medicine’s 2011 report, “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health,” states that nursing education should serve as a platform for continued lifelong learning.

An online master’s in nursing is a graduate-level program, and there is more than one way in. According to AACN, the traditional post-baccalaureate master’s is the most prevalent option. AACN also describes RN-to-MSN bridge programs for nurses with associate degrees, entry-level master’s programs (also called generic or accelerated programs) for people with a bachelor’s or graduate degree in another discipline, and dual-degree programs. Similar to an online MSN program, some bachelor’s in nursing programs can also be completed online, such as online BSN programs.

RN-to-MSN programs are designed for nurses with associate degrees. According to AACN, they build the missing baccalaureate content into the front of the program, so bridge coursework varies by school.

Additional Nursing Programs

While an online MSN degree program may be right for some students, there are opportunities to further specialize in different career paths in nursing. Consider the following programs:

• Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
• Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) Online Programs
• Online Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
• Online Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) Programs
• Online Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) Programs
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Programs Online

Direct-Entry MSN Programs

If you have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing but are ready to switch fields, a direct-entry MSN program may be on your radar. According to AACN, these entry-level master’s programs are developed for people with a bachelor’s or graduate degree in a discipline other than nursing, take about 15 to 30 months, and have students complete initial RN licensure during the first year. Program structures differ, so ask each school whether it awards a separate degree along the way, how and when you would qualify for RN licensure, and what the timeline looks like.

RN-to-MSN Programs

Also catering to those with nontraditional educational backgrounds are RN-to-MSN programs. According to AACN, these programs are designed for nurses with associate degrees and take about 2 to 3 years. Admission requirements, including any work-experience requirement, vary by program, so check with each school before you apply.

Post-Graduate Nursing Certifications

Certificate programs are available to nurses who have completed a master’s degree, according to AACN, and focus areas include nursing education, leadership, informatics and specialty practice. A certificate awarded by a school is different from professional certification awarded by a certifying body, so check whether a program prepares you to sit for a specific certification exam.

Unlike online MSN programs, which are full-length degree programs, post-master’s certificate programs focus on a narrower area of study. Length and credit requirements vary by institution and specialty, so confirm them with each school.

What Are the Application Requirements?

Post-master’s certificate programs are designed for nurses who have already completed a master’s degree, according to AACN. Other requirements vary by school and certificate type.

Information about specific requirements is available from the school administering the certificate program. Ask each school what it requires; items to ask about include academic transcripts, letters of reference, a resume, an interview, proof of active licensure, previous work experience in the specialty and prerequisite coursework.

What Type of Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates Are Offered?

AACN lists specialty practice among certificate focus areas. The specialty areas below are examples of nurse practitioner and midwifery focus areas. Whether a school offers a certificate in a given area varies by institution, and these labels are not a list of certificate programs:

• Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
• Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) Online Programs
• Online Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
• Online Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) Programs
• Online Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) Programs
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Programs

The types of certificates available vary from school to school. Details such as length of program and curriculum also vary based on each school’s particular requirements, so confirm them before you apply.

Program Accreditation

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits online Master of Science in Nursing programs. The CCNE is recognized as a national accrediting agency for bachelor’s, graduate and residency programs in nursing. Programmatic accreditation, such as CCNE’s review of a nursing program, normally applies to programs within an institution, while institutional accreditation normally applies to an entire school, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Licensure requirements differ by jurisdiction, so confirm your state board of nursing’s requirements before you enroll in a program (NCSBN).

Scholarship Options for Nursing Students

There are numerous options for nursing student scholarships. Professional organizations are one source; for example, the California School Nurses Organization (CSNO) offers a graduate scholarship for school nurses. Check with your university’s financial aid office, state organizations and state health departments for scholarships, grants, fellowships and loan repayment programs that may apply to you.

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.