Online MSN Programs

There are many reasons why one would choose the MSN program. Here are a few of the most common questions aspiring students have about this advanced educational pursuit.

Why does this degree matter?

For nurses seeking professional advancement, the MSN degree is significant – it is the gold standard for moving into greater clinical or management responsibility, which can lead to higher pay, better hours, and saying goodbye to holiday or overnight shifts. It can also be a ticket out of the grind, so to speak, by allowing nurses to move into the teaching profession.

How do I get into a program?

Most online MSN programs require incoming students to hold an active registered nursing license. Nurses must have an associate degree and at least one year of work experience.  Some programs may not require incoming students to be licensed nurses, but in that case, they may expect the student to have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field.

How long does it take?

How long a master’s in nursing takes depends significantly upon the program and the student because one of the wonderful things about online learning is the ability to self-pace. One student may choose to attend school part-time, another may want to go full-time, and another may find a program that allows them to take one course at a time as their schedule allows. However, most students who are already nurses will take between one and two years to complete the 36 and 42 credits hours required to graduate. Students with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field may need up to three years to finish their program through an accelerated track. Essentially, these programs are squeezing two years of undergraduate and two years of graduate instruction into three years.

What will it cost?

No MSN program will come cheap; the cost can sometimes prevent registered nurses from pursuing a higher degree. However, transfer credit can help, as can plenty of financial aid options from federal and state governments and private organizations or employers. Given the many variables, we can only provide a ballpark figure on tuition: a typical online MSN student can expect to pay roughly $20,000 to $60,000 for their degree.

How will the MSN change my career?

Students who complete an online MSN program can earn a much higher salary, often an additional $10,000 per year or more. They can take on greater patient responsibility as well. For example, an APRN may obtain the ability to prescribe medications legally. In addition, the master’s degree will allow them to take on a level of specialization and organizational responsibility not otherwise possible, such as becoming a clinical care coordinator.

Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available

Specializations

One primary reason a master’s student chooses to enroll in an online MSN program is to gain more in-depth knowledge about a particular area of nursing. That is why most MSN programs will have several specializations or concentrations. Popular ones include public health, informatics, executive leadership, and education. A critical aspect of choosing the best online master’s nursing program will be finding one that offers a preferred specialization.

Online options

There are two primary forms of delivering online coursework. Asynchronous learning allows students to listen to a lecture or complete coursework at their chosen time. Synchronous learning, though it enables students to participate in class from anywhere, requires that students sign on at a specific time of the day with the rest of their classmates. Asynchronous learning will provide master’s in nursing students the most flexibility but may not offer the deeply collegial learning atmosphere that some might prefer.

Affordable tuition

Cheaper is usually better, but there comes a point where you get what you pay for. For most nursing students, the cheapest tuition will be a major factor in finding the best program, as long as the low tuition doesn’t compromise the education. In some cases, what the student is giving up may not matter as much, such as access to certain student services. For others, paying a higher tuition for greater access to student help may be worth the money.

Excellent faculty and staff

A solid education is a team effort that requires effort and coordination from several parties, including the school’s faculty and staff. High-quality faculty and staff can make learning easier and more effective, but they can also play an indirect yet equally important role in a student’s success. For instance, professors who still practice nursing may have useful networking connections with future healthcare employers. Faculty members who engage in active, published research can provide additional opportunities and knowledge for students interested in academia and medical research.

A solid NCLEX passage rate

The student will already work as an RN in most online MSN programs. However, some programs accept non-RN students, so one way to measure the quality of these programs is to look at the NCLEX-RN passage rates. The higher the first-time passage rate, the better. If students want to become advanced practice nurses, they may need to take additional certification exams concerning their chosen specialty. Asking about these certification exam passage rates can shed some light on the effectiveness of a particular MSN program.

There are many reasons why online master’s in nursing programs are wildly popular. Here are a few:

Self-Pacing

Flexibility is perhaps the biggest reason students choose an online learning option for their MSN degree. One level of flexibility speaks to the courses’ pacing; some programs allow students to choose full-time or part-time attendance or even spread out the courses to serve their busy schedules better. Most students take about two years to complete their online MSN degree, but it can be done in as little as one year for those particularly motivated. Those with truly hectic schedules can plan the courses to take three or more years, if necessary.

Flexible Clinical Requirements

Depending on a student’s specialization, they can sometimes earn their MSN 100 percent online without needing to complete clinicals or practicums. But for most MSN concentrations, clinicals will be required. The good news is that many online programs will allow students to meet their clinical hour requirements at their current jobs, so there will be no disruption in their working lives.

Study Anytime, Anywhere

Another major aspect of flexibility in pursuing an online MSN degree is the ability to complete course requirements on the student’s schedule. It can be listening to a course lecture while on the bus, doing a reading assignment between shifts at work, or completing an assignment and turning it in at three in the morning, when the rest of the family is asleep. Online learning programs allow this unparalleled flexibility, essential for most working nursing students.

Evidence of Excellent Time Management

Attending classes online usually means working full-time as well. This is especially true in online MSN programs, where many students are full-time nurses even as they pursue education as full-time students. By completing an MSN degree online, students have tangible evidence to demonstrate their ability to stay organized and manage their time wisely. This can be useful when negotiating for a raise and greater responsibility at work.

Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available

There will be some similarities among accredited MSN programs, online or traditional. Most of these similarities will exist in the core curriculum. Typical core courses will cover topics such as policy, advocacy, research, and evidence-based nursing practice. However, there will also be some similar courses for programs with comparable specializations. Here are examples of what to expect from a few common specialization tracks:

Nursing graduate students may wonder what their career and life will look like post-graduation: “What kind of job can I do with my MSN?” and “Will I need additional certifications?” The following points showcase what an MSN grad can expect:

Students who complete an online MSN program can earn a much higher salary, often an additional $10,000 per year, or more. They can take on greater patient responsibility as well. For example, an APRN may obtain the ability to legally prescribe medications. In addition, the master’s degree will allow them to take on a level of specialization and organizational responsibility, otherwise not possible.

Licensure and Certification

For many advanced nursing careers, licensure or certification will be required. At the very least, an RN license will be necessary. Even for MSN graduates who don’t expect to practice nursing, an active license is strongly recommended to demonstrate a requisite level of knowledge and competence in the nursing field. For those who intend to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse, such as nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, and nurse anesthetists, certification and/or an advanced practice registered nursing license will usually be necessary, depending on state or employer requirements. 

Once a certification or licensure is obtained, nurses must take several continuing education courses each year. There may also be an exam the nurse must take after several years, depending on the certification or license.

Where do MSN Graduates Work?

Nurses who obtain their master’s degree in nursing online will have several options for choosing where to work. One of the most common will be in a healthcare setting, either as an advanced practice nurse or nurse practitioner. These jobs are often found in hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices. They are in high demand, with many job openings staying unfilled due to a shortage of qualified applicants. The following chart reflects the anticipated job growth and median salaries of some common nursing positions that usually require an MSN degree.

Not all nurses with a master’s degree in nursing will work in a clinical setting. Some will research as a clinical nurse researcher, assist attorneys and the court system as a legal nurse consultant, or teach the next generation of nurses as a nurse educator. And don’t forget – the MSN degree can eventually lead to a doctorate. A terminal degree, such as a Ph.D., may be recommended for those who want access to postsecondary teaching and research positions.

Learn more about the MSN degree in the following guides, including what the MSN program is like for those who already have their RN and those who have earned their BSN.

1. Discover the Top RN to MSN Online Programs
2. Online BSN to MSN Programs: An In-Depth Guide