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The Registered Nurse (RN) is a noble, necessay professional. Much more than the person administering shots or putting band-aids on skinned knees, nurses are part of a fast growing field with high-earning potential, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The profession promises to grow at a much faster rate than the national average over the next decade, and the median wage is around the $70,000 mark. A pretty nice set-up already, the move to pursue the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree is often prompted by a desire to move into administration, education, or a specialized field. For RN’s who want to be a family nurse practitioner (FNP), midwife, mental health/psychiatric nurse, etc., an MSN degree is a must. And it bears mentioning that although it is not always necessary to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing (many RN to MSN programs can attest to that), it is pretty much commonplace for any online MSN program to require applicants to be currently licensed nurses.
We get it–you’re a working nurse, with very little time to spare looking for your perfect online MSN program. Don’t worry, we here at Master’s Programs Guide have got you covered! Since the online Master of Science in Nursing is one of the most popular online master’s degrees, there are a veritable plethora of MSN programs offered online. We waded through many programs to find the ones that really stand out, looking in particular at schools that are accredited. There are currently two main accrediting agencies for nursing programs, the CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Educations) and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), which was originally called the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The “NLN” of the NLNAC is beginning accreditation services again as the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA), so programs may soon be displaying their CNEA accreditation. We also looked for schools that have National League for Nursing (NLN) Center of Excellence (COE) in Nursing Education designation (less than 100 institutions of higher education in the United States currently hold the designation of NLN COE greatness). All of the information we gathered to rank the schools is publicly available, and in addition to using our Master’s Programs Guide Core Methodology Criteria, we also assigned points based on these features significant to an exceptional online master of nursing program:
- Program accreditation
- NLN Center of Excellence designation
- Coursework that prepares students to take certification exams such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), and the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC) exams
- Any unique and extraordinary features that helped the program stand apart
See Also: Best Online Master’s Programs for Physician’s Assistants
#1. Johns Hopkins University
Online Master of Science in Nursing Health Systems Management Track; Online Master of Science in Nursing Health Systems Management/Master of Business Administration Dual Degree Program
Program Details: The Johns Hopkins CCNE-accredited School of Nursing (which is also a designated NLN Center of Excellence) provides an entirely online MSN in Health Systems Management degree program that is grounded “in evidence-based practice” and can be customized based on the student’s coursework choices and practicum experience. The 35-credit Johns Hopkins MSN in Health Systems Management degree requires 376 clinical hours and a twelve-hour core of classes like “Context of Healthcare for Advanced Practice Nursing” and “Biostatistics for Evidence-Based Practice.” For students who desire more business coursework with their MSN curriculum, there is a dual degree option provided through the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and Carey Business School online MSN/MBA. This 65-credit hour program requires the same 376 clinical hours and MSN core and additional classes such as “Economics for Decision Making” and “Business Communication.” In addition to the rigorous and practical coursework provided by the “internationally recognized” Johns Hopkins faculty, students benefit from the new School of Nursing Academic Success Center (ASC). The ASC makes available all manner of academic support and resources at no cost.
Named for abolitionist Johns Hopkins, who left money in his will for the establishment of an institution of higher education, Johns Hopkins University was founded in 1873 in Baltimore, Maryland. Hopkins also bequeathed money for a health center, which is the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Johns Hopkins University opened to students in 1876, and the current enrollment now exceeds 24,000 students. Ten academic divisions comprise this coeducational private research university, and Johns Hopkins is one of the original founding members of the prestigious American Association of Universities. Regional accreditation is granted by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
#2. Ohio State University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: Located in The Ohio State University College of Nursing and provided through Ohio State Online, the online MSN degree program trains students to excel in a multitude of clinical settings through rigorous “coursework, clinical experience and evidence based practice.” Offering four CCNE-accredited tracks online, the MSN degree requires a core curriculum, a specialty core curriculum unique to each track, and clinical hours (distance students must find their own clinical site in their area). The Ohio State online MSN specializations include tracks in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PHMNP), and Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL). The core curriculum shared by all tracks include classes like “Quality Improvement and Informatics” and “Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Across the Life Span,” and the specialty coursework prepares each student to sit for their respective specialty certification exams. Ohio State Online’s “focus on faculty” translates into a winning situation for online students due to the level of expertise demonstrated by the Ohio State online MSN faculty, and all on-campus resources are available to online students as well through Ohio State Online Student Services and Benefits.
The Ohio State University (Ohio State), located in Columbus, Ohio, is a land-, sea-, and space-grant university that was established in 1870 and had its first graduating class in 1878. Additional regional campus locations are spread around the state, and eighteen academic schools and colleges make up this institution of higher education (known for having the third largest campus in the nation). The flagship university of Ohio, this public research institution serves nearly 60,000 students at the main campus in Columbus and over 66,000 students statewide. The Higher Learning Commission has regionally accredited Ohio State continuously since 1913.
#3. Saint Xavier University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Photo courtesy of Saint Xavier University
Program Details: Saint Xavier University’s online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program provides students with three CCNE-accredited tracks through the SXU School of Nursing and Health Sciences, which is one of only a small collection of schools in the nation to be designated as an NLN Center of Excellence in Nursing Education. Students can pursue the SXU online MSN in Clinical Leadership, Executive Leadership (Nursing Administration), or Saint Xavier’s online MSN Nurse Educator track. The Executive Leadership track requires 35-credit hours, and the other two tracks both require 38-credits—all three require some previous professional nursing experience. There is a practicum requirement for all three as well, and plenty of support is offered to help students successfully complete their hours. All coursework is taught by the SXU Online Master of Science Faculty, who are experts in the field with real-world, practical experience in both nursing and teaching, and successfully prepares students to take certification exams in their chosen area. The ample student resources include a dedicated Student Services Coordinator, and student testimonials attest to the program’s quality and accessibility.
Chicago’s first Catholic university, Saint Xavier University, was chartered in 1846 by the Sisters of Mercy to originally educate women and the economically disadvantaged. Now, approximately 4,000 students are enrolled in the Chicago, Illinois campus, and nearly 100 academic degree programs are offered through the two schools and one college: College of Arts and Sciences, Graham School of Management, and School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Becoming coeducational in 1969, this private institution of higher education sits on over 100 acres in the southwest side of Chicago, and regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.
#4. University of Kansas
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Photo courtesy of University of Kansas
Program Details: The KU School of Nursing, located at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC), is one of the elite NLN COE in Nursing Education designated schools of nursing. The School offers an entirely online Master of Science degree program, and three of the focus area options can be completed online: KU MS in Nursing Informatics, KU MS in Organizational Leadership, or KU MS in Public Health Nursing. The 37-39 credit hour (depending on which concentration is chosen), CCNE-accredited MS in Nursing degree program can be completed within two years on a full-time basis, or in three to four years if pursued part-time. Students engage in a curriculum including a common nursing core, a leadership core, a two-credit hour research project, and their chosen specialty core. The KU Center for Online and Distance Learning supports the impressive KU School of Nursing faculty as they “envision and implement online courses” for the benefit of online students. An online tutorial, the KUMC Student’s Guide to Online Learning, helps prospective students orient themselves to online learning and the KUMC.
In 1864, the University of Kansas (KU) was established in Lawrence, Kansas. Initially a coeducational preparatory school, the first college classes were held in 1869. The main campus in Lawrence is joined by branch campuses around the state. The School of Nursing is located in the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC), which is in Kansas City and also houses the School of Health Professions and School of Medicine. KU is a public research university, and over 345 academic degree programs are offered through thirteen schools. Over 30,000 students are enrolled in this institution of higher education regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
#5. University of Cincinnati
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Photo courtesy of the University of Cincinnati Creative Services
Program Details: University of Cincinnati Online (UC Online) provides an entirely online MSN degree program with four Nurse Practitioner (NP) specialties from which students can choose to customize their academic and career path. The specialties (Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwifery, and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner) range from 44 to 57 credit hours and can all be completed within two years at an accelerated pace. All online program tracks strongly encourage applicants to have at least one year of RN experience, but some require specialized work experience. The MSN degree program is located in the CCNE-accredited UC College of Nursing, and the renowned faculty include “professors who are either practicing in the field or are accomplished researchers.” In addition to the CCNE accreditation, the UC Online Master’s in Midwifery program is certified by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME), and all programs prepare students to take their specific certification exams upon graduation. UC Online student support is provided from admission through graduation, and is evidenced by the student testimonials full of high praise.
Cincinnati College and the Medical College of Ohio merged in 1870 to establish Cincinnati College, which would grow to university status and become the University of Cincinnati (UC)–one of the largest in the nation. Multiple campuses are located throughout Ohio, and the Cincinnati campus remains the main location. A public research institution with the Carnegie Foundation’s designation of Highest Research Activity, UC enrolls nearly 45,000 students in more than 350 academic degree programs. UC is a space-grant school and part of the University System of Ohio, and regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.
#6. University of Arizona
Online Master of Science in Nursing Clinical Systems Leadership
Program Details: As a member of both the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Western Institute of Nursing, the UA College of Nursing provides respected and reputable nursing programs. The UA Online Master of Science in Nursing Clinical Systems Leadership degree is accredited by CCNE and provided as both an RN to MSN program (for students who hold an associate nursing degree—the ADN track) or an MSN program (for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in nursing—the BSN track). Offered entirely online, the coursework is comprised of eleven classes for the AND track and eight for the BSN track, and students can complete the program in as little as fifteen months. Classes such as “Population Health,” “Healthcare Business Dynamics,” and “Healing Environments and Practices” are taught by the invested and caring UA College of Nursing faculty, who are “award-winning educators, motivated mentors, and accomplished scholars.” Student resources (from outreach counselors to enrollment advisors and more) enhance the online student experience, and interested RNs can read about AU MSN in Clinical Systems Leadership graduates and their positive experiences.
Tucson, Arizona was chosen in 1885 to become the location of the University of Arizona (UA or “Arizona”), and construction began on the school two years later. UA is the oldest university in Arizona, and 32 students enrolled in classes the first year the school opened in 1891. More than 44,000 students are now enrolled, and UA offers over 350 academic degree programs through 20 schools and colleges. Designated with Very High Research Activity, UA is a public land-grant institution of higher education, and the school’s regional accreditation is provided by the Higher Learning Commission.
#7. University of North Carolina Charlotte
Online Master of Science in Nursing in Nursing Administration
Program Details: The UNC Charlotte School of Nursing, which has NLN Center of Education Excellence designation, provides the MSN in Nursing Administration degree program completely online through Distance Education (DE) at UNCC. A CCNE-accredited program, the 36-credit hour degree can be completed in just over two years on a part-time basis, and it prepares students to pursue ANCC certification in Nursing Administration or Nursing Administration Advanced. The UNCC MSN in Nursing Administration curriculum presents core coursework such as “Health Policy and Planning in the U.S” and system core coursework like “Health Disparities and Nursing,” which is followed by specialty courses that cover a number of topics, such as “Health Informatics and Financial Management for Nurses” and “Curriculum and Instruction in Nursing Education.” A final capstone course (“Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice”) completes the degree, and students are provided with UNCC Distance Education resources and services throughout the course of their education to help them succeed. Additionally, UNCC School of Nursing faculty are accomplished and connected, and an Advisory Board helps support the program.
Opening as the Charlotte Center to offer college education to returning veterans, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte or UNCC) began in 1946 and officially became UNCC in 1965 when it joined the statewide UNC System. Nearly 30,000 students are currently enrolled, and UNCC offers over 225 academic degree programs through nine colleges. Comprised of three campuses, UNC Charlotte’s main campus is located in University City on 1,000 acres. This public research university is classified as having Higher Research Activity, and regional accreditation is granted by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
#8. University of North Carolina Greensboro
Photo courtesy of UNCG
Program Details: The CCNE-accredited UNC Greensboro School of Nursing, through UNCG Online, provides two entirely online concentrations for the MSN degree: Nursing Administration and Nursing Education. The UNCG Online Master of Science in Nursing Administration degree requires 37-credit hours and 504 clinical hours—all coursework is delivered online, and the clinical experience is “determined by student interest area and geographical location” and coordinated by the student “in collaboration with the faculty and Graduate Program Clinical Coordinator.” Similarly, the 38-credit hour UNCG Online Master of Science in Nursing Education degree also requires a clinical practicum (210 hours), which students can set up in their area of residence along with assistance. In addition to the support offered by the Graduate Program Clinical Coordinator and various online student services such as the Career Services Center, the UNCG School of Nursing faculty have a wealth of experience and are “involved in collaborative, interdisciplinary research in community and health care settings.” Another stamp of quality on the online MSN program: UNCG is one of the few NLN Centers of Excellence.
Known as the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) since 1964, the school was established as a school for women in 1891 as the State Normal and Industrial School. The school was originally located on donated land in Greensboro, North Carolina, and when the institution opened for classes in 1892 nearly 200 students were enrolled. Having joined the University of North Carolina System in 1971, UNCG now has just under 20,000 coeducational students enrolled in the eight academic schools and colleges of this public university. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges regionally accredits UNCG.
#9. Ball State University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: Ball State Online provides the online programs for Ball State University, including the fully online Ball State MS in Nursing program. The MS degree is located in the CCNE-accredited Ball State School of Nursing (which is also designated as an NLN COE) and offers three concentration options, two requiring 36-credit hours (Nurse Educator and Nurse Administration) and a 47-credit hour Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) focus. The curriculum for all three concentration options share a research core and a nursing core, and a specialized core unique to each. The Nurse Educator and Nurse Administration focus areas both finish with a 180-hour practicum experience, whereas the FNP concentration requires 690 supervised clinical hours (students are responsible for locating preceptors and clinical hours and supervision in their location). Additionally, students who complete the FNP program are prepared to sit for the FNP certification exam. All online courses are taught by the same Ball State School of Nursing faculty, who “are passionate about teaching and mentoring online students,” and online students are able to fully access all of Ball State’s student services to help them succeed.
When a school in Muncie, Indiana closed in the early 1900s, it was purchased by five brothers. The Ball brothers donated the school to the state of Indiana, and a new institution opened in 1918. The Indiana State Normal School Eastern Division was quickly renamed in the brothers’ honor and gained university status in 1965 to become Ball State University. Two campuses join the main campus in Muncie, and almost 350 academic degree programs are provided to the 22,000 currently enrolled students. Ball State is comprised of eight schools and colleges and has regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.
#10. University of Texas at Arlington
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: Several specialty areas are made available for the online MSN student at the UTA College of Nursing and Health Innovation. Students who are already licensed nurses can participate in one of three specific online MSN degree paths: a 36-credit hour MSN in Nursing Administration focus, a 39-credit hour MSN in Nursing Education focus, or an MSN Nurse Practitioner (NP) focus. The UTA College of Nursing MSN Nurse Practitioner Programs are presented as Accelerated Online opportunities, and five specialty areas are offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP), Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-PC), Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-AC), Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG PCNP), and Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG ACNP). All programs are accredited by CCNE and provide rigorous, relevant, 100% online coursework that prepares students for certification exams. The caring and committed UTA College of Nursing graduate faculty members are award-winning and share a passion for nursing as well as for teaching, and the small online class sizes allow for lots of individual attention. UTA distance learner testimonials provide insight into the program.
Established as Arlington College in Arlington, Texas in 1895, the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) started out as a private institution of higher education. The school changed names multiple times prior to joining the University of Texas System in 1967, the point at which the name was restructured to UTA. A public research university, UTA has a High Research Activity designation and enrolls more than 40,000 students in over 180 academic degree programs housed with in the nine schools and colleges. Regional accreditation for UTA comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
#11. Western Kentucky University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: Designed for students who live in Kentucky or Tennessee, the WKU School of Nursing MSN with a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) concentration is available entirely online. The 43-credit hour online MSN PMHNP program is provided in a part-time cohort format, beginning every spring and summer. Already licensed RN’s will take courses such as “Advanced Physiological and Pathophysiological Concepts,” “Nursing, Politics and Health Policy,” and “Theoretical Foundations of Professional Nursing” and complete 600 clinical hours, and at the completion of the program will be fully prepared to sit for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (across the lifespan) certification exam. All coursework is presented by the accomplished WKU School of Nursing faculty, who have experience in clinical practice, research, and teaching. Additionally, all faculty members have access to specific online resources, such as an “experienced staff of Instructional Designers and online media experts” to help them craft their online courses. The MSN program is offered through WKU Online, which also provides online student services and resources to help the online student successfully complete their program.
A complex and rich history of institutions of higher education moving locations, closing, merging, transitioning and changing names led to the foundation in 1906 of what is now Western Kentucky University (WKU). Sixty years later in 1966, the institution was definitively named WKU, and this public research university located on a hilltop in Bowling Green, Kentucky currently offers more than 300 academic degrees through its five colleges. More than 20,000 students (known as Hilltoppers) are enrolled, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission provides WKU with its regional accreditation.
#12. California University of Pennsylvania
Online Master of Science in Nursing; Online Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration; Online MBA in Nursing Administration and Leadership
Program Details: Through Global Online, Cal U offers two MSN degrees, a dual MSN-MBA degree, and an MBA degree with a Nursing Administration and Leadership concentration. The Cal U MSN in Nursing Education program (36-credit hours) and the Cal U MSN in Nursing Administration and Leadership program (30-credit hours) are both CCNE-accredited and offered entirely online “for busy nurses who are looking to advance their careers.” Both specialty focus areas require 150 practicum hours and the relevant and rigorous curriculum, taught by the experienced and dedicated Cal U Department of Nursing faculty, leads students to successfully sit for their certification exams. Core courses for both cover topics such as “Health Policy in Nursing” and “Information Systems for Nurses in Health Care Organizations.” Students who want a stronger business focus can opt between the MSN-MBA Dual Degree or the MBA in Nursing Administration degree program. Both require 54-credit hours and are ideal for “nurse leaders who want to gain a competitive edge.” Regardless of program choice, graduate nursing students enrolled in Cal U Global Online programs receive full support throughout their education.
California University of Pennsylvania (Cal U) was established in 1852 as a community school by the local residents of California, Pennsylvania. The school would grow to offer college education, and the name changed several times before the school gained its current name in 1983. Almost 8,000 students are currently enrolled at this public university, and more than 160 academic degree programs are offered. Cal U joined the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, and this institution of higher education is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
#13. Monmouth University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: The Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies at Monmouth University offers its MSN program online “to accommodate the working nurse.” The CCNE-accredited MSN program ranges between 36 and 48-credit hours depending upon which focus specialty area is chosen; students can choose between Forensic Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Education, Nurse Practitioner (which also offers three additional tracks), and School Nurse. The 39-credit hour Monmouth School of Nursing and Health Studies MSN in Forensic Nursing is one of only a few programs of its kind offered in the United States. Provided entirely online, students engage in specialty coursework such as “Interpersonal Violence,” “Diagnosis and Treatment of Psychopathology,” and “Advanced Health Assessment for Forensic Nurses” and are prepared to work in a myriad of settings—such as investigations, disaster response situations, and legal consultations. The faculty are caring and committed and have a wealth of creative research to share with their students. Monmouth University Graduate Studies Information Sessions are offered regularly throughout the year to provide insight into the online programs, and prospective online students can attend them virtually.
Monmouth University was originally founded as Monmouth Junior College in 1933. First becoming Monmouth College in 1956, the school became a university in 1995. Located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, Monmouth is conveniently situated within an hour from both New York and Philadelphia and is close enough to walk to the beaches. A primarily residential, private liberal arts institution of higher education with a current enrollment of over 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students, eight academic departments and schools comprise Monmouth, offering over 50 programs and certificates. Regional accreditation for Monmouth comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
#14. University of Colorado Denver
Online Master of Science in Nursing Leadership (i-LEAD); Online Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Health Care Informatics
Program Details: The University of Colorado Denver CCNE-accredited College of Nursing offers two entirely online MS in nursing degree programs: the 30-credit hour i-LEAD Nursing Leadership and Health Systems MS program and the 34-credit hour online MS in Nursing degree program with a Health Care Informatics concentration at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Both specialized programs are supported through CU Online and taught by the award-winning CU College of Nursing faculty. The i-LEAD program prepares nurses to become “effective leaders and managers in a variety of health care settings,” and, in addition to the MS in Nursing core, coursework includes topics such as “Relational Communication,” “Systems & Leadership Theory,” and a three-credit hour administrative internship. The Health Care Informatics program is interdisciplinary and students participate in a curriculum made up of the MS in Nursing core, informatics core coursework, specialty courses, and a practicum in their home area. The program progresses the ideals held by the American Nurses Association’s Scope and Standards of Nursing Informatics to produce competent informatics specialists. Both programs offer flexibility and CU Online student resources.
The University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Anschutz) in the nearby town of Aurora are the two campuses of CU Denver. In 2011, the name of the school was officially designated as the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Denver/Anschutz). With a Carnegie Classification of Very High Research Activity, the Anschutz Medical Campus houses the School of Dental Medicine, the School of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the School of Pharmacy, Colorado School of Public Health, and the Graduate School. The Higher Learning Commission provides regional accreditation.
#15. University of Pittsburgh
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Photo courtesy of University of Pittsburgh
Program Details: The University of Pittsburgh CCNE-accredited School of Nursing has made two concentration areas for the MSN degree program accessible entirely online through Pitt Online. Two distinct tracks are offered: the 42-credit hour Pitt Nursing Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL®) program and the 37.5-credit hour Pitt Nursing MSN with a Nursing Informatics concentration, and both tracks prepare students to successfully sit for their respective certification exams. The core MSN curriculum (which offers classes such as “Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Culturally Diverse Populations” and “Ethics for Advance Practice Nursing”) is enhanced by both specialty courses and role development courses, and both specialty areas are taught by the same professors as the on-site program. The quality of the educational experience is evidenced by the impressive certification exam pass rates. All students are assigned an advisor to help them navigate the online MSN program and assistance is offered for distance students finding sites for their clinical hour requirement. For prospective students who desire to learn more, Pitt Online Virtual Open Houses (asynchronous online information sessions) are offered regularly.
The University of Pittsburgh was established as the Pittsburgh Academy by Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Hugh Henry Brackenridge in 1787, and the school would grow and move locations to finally become University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) in 1908. A private institution of higher education until it joined Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth System of Higher Education in 1966, seventeen schools and colleges are housed within Pitt. Nearly 29,000 students are currently enrolled in this coeducational research university, and regional accreditation is provided to Pitt through the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
#16. Regis College
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: The Regis Richard and Sheila Young School of Nursing, an ACEN-accredited, NLN designated Center of Excellence, offers students with either a BSN or an associate degree a fully online MSN degree program with five Nurse Practitioner focus areas. Students can specialize in Adult-Geriatric Nurse Practitioner (AGNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), or Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP), and the five tracks prepare graduates to successfully sit for their specialty area certification exams. All programs can be completed in about two years (three years for RN’s who hold an associate degree as opposed to a bachelor’s), and range from 46 to 49-credit hours. Regis’ dedication to social justice, equity, and lifelong learning is threaded throughout the curriculum to prepare nurses who will “promote lasting change in the medical field by providing patients of any age the knowledge they need to lead healthy lives.” The MSN degree is provided online through Regis College Online, and students can look forward to multi-layered support system and a nursing faculty that are industry experts as well as caring professors.
Founded in 1927 by the Roman Catholic religious order known as the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston, Regis College is located in Weston, Massachusetts. Named for the Reverend Mother Mary Regis Casserly, who founded the Boston contingent of the Order, the school was a women’s college until 2007. The first classes were held in the fall of 1927, and 55 students enrolled. A private university, Regis College enrolls over 3,000 students currently in the four schools that comprise the institution. A Military Friendly Institution, Regis is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
#17. Thomas Jefferson University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Photo courtesy of Thomas Jefferson University
Program Details: Thomas Jefferson University’s Jefferson College of Nursing provides a CCNE-accredited online MSN degree program for current RN’s with eight relevant specialty tracks. In addition to the six Nurse Practitioner tracks offered (Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Family-Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care NP, and Women’s Health – Gender-Related NP), students can pursue Nursing Informatics or the Jefferson online MSN with Community Systems Administration (CSA) specialty. The core curriculum for the Jefferson MSN is shared by all programs, which all require 36-credit hours to graduate, and the specialization coursework prepares students to successfully sit for their certification exams. Courses such as “Health Policy, Legal & Ethical Dimensions of Practice,” “Epidemiology for the Health Professions,” and “Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse” are taught by the Jefferson College of Nursing faculty members, who are “outstanding clinicians and exemplary teachers.” Thomas Jefferson University is designated as one of the elite NLN Centers of Excellence, so prospective students can be assured that the online MSN will be a program of high quality and rigorous academics.
With a history that dates back to 1824, the institutions of higher education known as Thomas Jefferson University and Philadelphia University united in 2017 (maintaining the name “Thomas Jefferson University”). Located in Center City and East Falls, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the school is known simply as “Jefferson,” and this private university has a strong focus on “redefining humanly possible.” Sixteen academic schools, colleges, and institutes make up Jefferson, and almost 8,000 students are enrolled in the over 160 degree programs offered. Regional accreditation is provided by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
#18. Florida Atlantic University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Photo courtesy of Florida Atlantic University
Program Details: Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing (accredited by CCNE) provides a Master of Science in Nursing program with many concentration options and online core coursework. With tracks ranging from Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner to Nursing Administration & Financial Leadership to Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (plus four other concentrations: CNL, FNP, Advanced Holistic Nursing, and Nurse Educator), students have many avenues of study with FAU. The percentage numbers for passing certification exams (such as the Family Nurse Practitioner) are an impressive 100%, so prospective students can be certain they will engage in a rigorous and insightful program within FAU’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. The faculty have an impressive array of awards and research areas of their own, and the philosophy of caring deeply permeates the entire atmosphere at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, so students are surrounded by support and infused with a caring spirit in their studies. Additionally, the program can be pursued on a flexible full-time or part-time basis to accommodate the schedules of students.
Established in 1961, Florida Atlantic University (FAU) offered senior-level and graduate classes on a former army base in Boca Raton, Florida in 1964 with an initial enrollment of nearly 900 students. In 1984, FAU welcomed underclassmen, and five satellite campuses across the state join the Boca Raton main campus. Now over 30,000 students are enrolled at this member of the State University System of Florida, and FAU has a High Research Activity designation, offering almost 200 academic degree programs through its ten colleges. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges regionally accredits this public research university.
#19. Lamar University
Online Master of Science in Nursing; Online Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration
Program Details: Two entirely online MSN concentration options are available through the JoAnne Gay Dishman School of Nursing at Lamar University, as well as an MSN-MBA dual degree in collaboration with the Business Department. The Nursing Education track (Lamar’s online MSNE degree program) and the Nursing Administration track (Lamar’s online MSNA degree program) are both 37-credit hours and share a common MSN core. Classes such as “Theoretical Foundations,” “Advance Nursing Issues,” and “Healthcare Policy and Finance” are taught by faculty who employ “innovative teaching strategies to assist students in gaining new knowledge and skills.” Graduates of Lamar’s MSN program “have high pass rates on national certification exams,” and a great deal of support is offered to current students through Lamar University Online. The Lamar MSN/MBA dual degree is 61-credit hours and can be completed in about three years. Information on the benefits of an LU Online degree are presented via a series of videos, and prospective students can explore topics such as “On-Campus Quality with Online Convenience,” “Why You Will Love Our Faculty,” and “Experience a Week in the Life of an Online Student.”
Established as the South Park Junior College in 1923, Lamar University (LU) first offered classes to 125 students. The school grew so successfully that a contest to rename it was held in 1932, and Republic of Texas President, Mirabeau B. Lamar became the namesake. Located in in Beaumont, Texas and a member of the Texas State University System since 1995, LU currently enrolls more than 15,000 students in over 150 academic degree programs. Seven colleges make up this doctoral research university, and the institution is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
#20. University of South Carolina
Online Master of Science in Nursing Administration
Program Details: Through USC Online, the University of South Carolina provides an entirely online MSN in Nursing Administration (NA) degree program for students who want to gain the skills to effectively “manage the delivery of nursing and health care services across the spectrum of health care.” Locate in the USC College of Nursing, the 30-credit hour MSN in NA program is completely online but is joined by three other USC MSN program tracks that provide 100% online coursework with some required on-campus clinical course “check-offs” (MSNs in Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner). All coursework prepares students for certification exams and is taught by experienced University of South Carolina faculty who have real-world nursing experience and who genuinely care about their students. The MSN in NA curriculum is comprised of two leadership classes requiring field work hours, which can be completed at the student’s current place of employment. Other classes include topics such as “Theoretical & Conceptual Foundations for Nursing,” “Financing Health Care,” and “Introduction to Biostatistics,” and students can complete the program in twelve to eighteen months.
South Carolina College, the original name of the University of South Carolina (USC), was established in 1801. Located in Columbia, South Carolina, nine students and two professors were present when the first classes began in 1805. The Civil War caused the school to close for a time, but it reopened as USC in 1873. More than 34,000 students are now enrolled in the programs offered by the sixteen academic schools and colleges at this flagship of the University of South Carolina System. A sea-grant institution with High Research Activity designation, USC is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission.
#21. Northern Kentucky University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: The Department of Nursing within the NKU College of Health Professions offers an entirely online, CCNE-accredited Master of Science in Nursing degree program, with no less than six concentration options from which students can choose for a customized degree experience. The NKU Online MSN degree provides a core set of coursework required for all of the concentrations, with classes such as “Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice” and “Healthcare Policy & Economic in Population Health.” The MSN in Nursing Education and MSN in Nurse Executive Leadership degrees both require 33-credit hours, while the other four concentrations (Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gero Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and Psych-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) range from 43 to 47-credit hours. Students participate in NKU’s Online MSN program on a part-time basis, and it can generally be completed in about two-years on a part-time basis, depending on the concentration. All coursework is taught by the experienced and accomplished NKU Nursing faculty “who are focused on student success,” and students will find themselves positioned to take their respective certification exams upon graduation.
Northern Kentucky State College was founded in 1968 after the University of Kentucky’s educational extension classes had been offered in the northern region of the state since 1946. The school’s current location is in Highland Heights, Kentucky, just a few miles southwest of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1976, the school became Northern Kentucky University (NKU), and now nearly 15,000 students are enrolled in almost 130 academic degree programs within the eight schools and colleges. NKU is a member of the state university system and is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
#22. Columbus State University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Photo courtesy of Columbus State University
Program Details: Students participating in the online MSN degree program at Columbus State University reap the benefit of not one but two prestigious institutions. The online MSN degree is offered in collaboration between Columbus State and Georgia Southwestern University as part of the Georgia Intercollegiate Consortium for Graduate Nursing Education (GICGNE). Offered through Columbus State’s School of Nursing within the College of Education and Health Professions, the online MSN degree program provides three 36-credit hour specialty tracks (Informatics, Leadership, or Nurse Educator), or students could pursue the 44-credit hour Columbus State MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) degree program. ALl MSN programs are accredited by CCNE, and the MSN core curriculum offers some shared coursework in classes such as “Research for Evidence-Based Nursing Practice” and “Advanced Pathophysiology.” The CSU Online graduate nursing students get to partake in both the online student resources offered by the university, as well as the specialized support provided through CSU ADVISE. Within the School of Nursing, distance learners have access to support and resources such as a Clinical Placement Coordinator to assist them with finding a suitable practicum location.
Columbus State University (CSU) in Columbus, Georgia began as a junior college in 1958. Columbus College welcomed almost 300 enrolled students in its first year, and the school became a four-year institution in 1965. It was in 1996 that the school became CSU when it joined the University System of Georgia, and now two campuses—the main Columbus campus and the RiverPark campus—serve the current student body of over 7,000 with nearly 100 academic degree programs housed in six colleges. CSU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
#23. William Carey University
Online Master of Science in Nursing; Online Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration
Photo courtesy of William Carey University
Program Details: Through William Carey Online Learning, the CCNE-accredited Joseph and Nancy Fail School of Nursing at William Carey University provides students with two entirely online graduate nursing programs. The 41-credit hour MSN degree with a concentration in Nurse Educator is ideal for RN’s “who are seeking advanced preparation and leadership roles.” Made up of a core curriculum, clinical experiences, and specialty electives (with choices such as “Integrating Holistic Healthcare in Nursing Education” and “Gerontology Nursing and Caring for an Aging Population”), graduates of the MSN program will be prepared to sit for the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) certification exam. The William Carey dual online MSN-MBA degree requires 53-credit hours, and “prepare nurses for administrative roles that facilitate quality patient care in the increasingly complex health care industry.” Coursework includes business classes like “Accounting for the Healthcare Decisions” and “Business Ethics and Leadership”. All online students are assigned an academic advisor as soon as they are admitted to their program, and William Carey Online provides tutorials and guides to help online students find answers and guidance.
With roots that stretch back to 1892, William Carey University has a rich history. Multiple fires and a move led to the Mississippi Baptist Convention establishing the Mississippi Woman’s College in 1911 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. By 1953, the Convention wanted the school to become coeducational, and so the next year men were admitted and the college was renamed after the eighteenth century missionary. The institution gained university status and became William Carey University (WCU or William Carey) in 2006. Nearly 5,000 students are currently enrolled at this private Christian liberal arts school, and regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
#24. University of Alabama in Huntsville
Online Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Administration
Photo courtesy of The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Program Details: Only offered online, the UAH College of Nursing online MSN – Nursing Administration degree is a flexible, entirely online program that can be pursued either full or part-time. The College of Nursing is designated as an NLN Center of Excellence, and the CCNE-accredited MSN is aligned with the competencies promoted both by the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Requiring 30-credit hours, the MSN in Nursing Administration is comprised of coursework and 225 hours of clinical experience (which can be completed locally at the student’s place of residence). The asynchronous curriculum is made up of classes such as “Foundational Concepts for Nurse Administrators,” “Scholarly Inquiry for Advanced Practice,” and “US Health Care System,” which are taught by the UAH College of Nursing faculty. The faculty, who bring their own “experience in leadership and administration, research, scholarship, and teaching,” are “dedicated to educating and inspiring individuals to become nurse leaders” who are competent and caring, and who become scholars and advocates who work for the best for their patients and fellow nurses.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) started as an extension center for the University of Alabama in 1950. In the 1960s, the University of Alabama Huntsville Center was growing to the extent that a research institute was constructed. By 1969, UAH became an independent university, and now this public research university with a “high” designation from the Carnegie Foundation enrolls nearly 10,000 students. A member of the University of Alabama System and a space-grant institution, UAH is comprised of nine colleges that offer more than 100 academic degree programs, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges regionally accredits the school.
#25. Liberty University
Online Master of Science in Nursing; Online Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration; Online Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Science in Healthcare Administration
Program Details: Liberty University Online offers a fully online MSN degree program, as well as two additional dual MSN programs, also online. The Liberty University online Nursing and Healthcare Administration dual degree program (MSN/MSHA) and the Liberty MSN/MBA degree join the MSN degree, which is housed within the CCNE-accredited Liberty University School of Nursing (LUSON). The MSN degree offers five specializations—students can choose from Community Health, Health Policy, Nursing Administration, Nurse Educator, and Nursing Informatics. The core MSN curriculum requires fifteen credit hours, and students take classes such as “Health Policy & Ethics,” “Managing Population Health,” and “Nursing Issues, Informatics & Technology.” All specialization areas provide concentration coursework, and the Nursing Educator and Nursing Administration tracks have a curriculum aligned with the standards determined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and CCNE and both require 200 clinical hours via four practicum courses. Students can complete the degrees in one year at an accelerated pace or, more commonly, in two years. Cultivating a warm and inviting virtual atmosphere, Liberty University Online provides many resources for online students.
Founded as Lynchburg Baptist College in 1971, evangelical Christian minister Jerry Falwell started what would become Liberty University. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty started its distance education offerings in 1985, which is now known as LU Online. Over 110,000 students are enrolled in online programming currently, and they join the 15,000 on-campus students to make Liberty the largest Christian institution of higher education in the world. Seventeen schools and colleges provide over 600 academic degree programs at this private university, and regional accreditation is provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
#26. Eastern Kentucky University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Photo courtesy of Eastern Kentucky University
Program Details: Located in the College of Health Sciences and provided online by EKU Online, two fully online MSN degree programs are offered by Eastern Kentucky University. EKU’s MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) degree is a 46-credit hour program, and the curriculum meets the “requirements of the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensing, Accreditation, Certification, and Education” and has a “high certification exam pass rate” for graduates. Classes such as “Advanced Nursing Practice Issues,” “Principles of Epidemiology,” and “Advanced Pharmacology” are shared with the 47-credit hour EKU MSN Rural Health Family Nurse Practitioner program. Proud of the graduates’ “100% pass rate on national certifying exams,” Eastern offers not only rigorous coursework and extensive clinical hour requirements, but also “unparalleled staff and faculty access, rich engagement opportunities and every resource possible to succeed.” No on-campus visits are required at any point, and these CCNE-accredited programs are joined by three entirely online Post-MSN certificate options: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Family Nurse Practitioner.
The Eastern Kentucky State Normal School was established by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1906 to train teachers for the area. The school would be located in Richmond, Kentucky on the campus of the former Central University, which had been founded in 1874. Several name changes and expansion would lead to the definitive name change in 1966 to Eastern Kentucky University (EKU or “Eastern”). A public university, Eastern has multiple branch campuses and enrolls nearly 17,000 students in the academic degree programs of its six colleges. Regional accreditation is granted to EKU by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
#27. Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Photo courtesy of OSF HealthCare
Program Details: Provided entirely online through Distance Learning, the Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing MSN degree provides working nurses the opportunity to advance their skills and knowledge in a CCNE-accredited program. Four specialty focus areas are offered entirely online—students can opt to focus in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP), Nursing Educator, Nursing Management Leadership, or Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (there are two additional options—Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and FNP, but these specialty areas require some on-campus visits during the practicum courses). All students receive academic advisors once admitted to help them chart out their plan of study, and the Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing faculty boast a “diversity in teaching experience, community service, clinical background and educational preparation” that they bring to the classroom. There are some shared courses between the specialty areas, such as “Analysis of Evidence-Based Practice” and “Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice,” and each specialty offers unique and specialized coursework as well. The programs are tailored to assure that students integrate the academic components in order to sit for certification exams.
The Saint Francis Medical Center is the University of Illinois College of Medicine’s teaching hospital. Located in Peoria, Illinois, the Saint Francis Medical Center is part of the OSF HealthCare System (Order of St. Francis). The hospital that led to the Center was originally established by the Franciscan Sisters in 1876. In 1905, the St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing was established for the nuns, and in 1918 women who were not members of the religious order could enroll. The Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing, now coeducational, is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
#28. University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: All seven of the MSN tracks provided through the UTMB School of Nursing offer entirely online coursework coupled with a two-day on-campus online student orientation. Two of the CCNE-accredited tracks do not require any other on-campus residencies (the other five tracks have varying levels of on-campus requirements): Executive Nurse Leader (ENL) and Nurse Educator (NE). The 41-credit hour UTMB MSN Nurse Educator Program offers a specialized curriculum and shares a common core of MSN coursework with five of the other tracks, with classes required such as “Pathophysiology,” “Innovations in Community Health Practice,” and “The Learning Environment” and finishes with a capstone teaching practicum in the final semester. The UTMB MSN Executive Nurse Leader Program requires 39-credit hours and can be completed in two years on a part-time basis, and classes cover topics like “Public Health Principles in Advanced Practice Nursing,” “Leader as Communicator,” and “Health Care Economics.” The faculty are encouraged to practice, being provided support through the UTMB School of Nursing Faculty Practice Website. MSN graduates can stay connected through the UTMB School of Nursing Alumni Association.
Part of the University of Texas System, the University of Texas Medical Branch is located in Galveston, Texas. Founded as the University of Texas Medical Department in 1891 (an extension of the University of Texas, located in Austin), the school began with 23 students first in attendance and thirteen faculty members. Currently, over 3,000 students are enrolled and over 1,000 faculty work within UTMB’s seven schools and institutes, and there are four hospitals on campus as well as a comprehensive medical library. UTMB is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
#29. Queens University of Charlotte
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Photo courtesy of Queens University of Charlotte
Program Details: Located in the Queens University of Charlotte Blair College of Health, the Presbyterian School of Nursing provides three entirely online MSN specializations. The CCNE-accredited degree program at Queens offers students a Nurse Educator MSN Specialization, Nurse Administrator MSN Specialization, and Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) MSN Specialization. The Online MSN Nursing Curriculum at Queens requires for each specialization a set of core courses, which includes classes such as “Theoretical Foundations,” “Data Interpretations,” and “Health Policy,” and students can finish the program within two years. The three specialization options all feature specialized coursework that helps prepare students to successfully sit for their respective certification exams. All online classes are taught by the award-winning Queens Online MSN Faculty, who “act as mentors” in addition to providing rigorous coursework and who have an impressive array of collective experience. Current students and recent graduates provide MSN Program Testimonials to give prospective students a glimpse into the program, and the Queens Nursing Resource Center makes resources such as articles, student spotlights, and virtual open house information sessions available to assist students and those interested in the program.
Established as the Charlotte Female Institute in 1857, Queens University of Charlotte is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Men were first allowed to take classes in the 1940s, and the school became fully coeducational in 1987. The name changed several times through the years, and in 2002 when university status was granted, the school gained its current name. Nearly 50 academic degree programs are offered in the six schools and colleges that make up Queens, and over 2,500 students are enrolled at this private institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges regionally accredits Queens University.
#30. McKendree University
Online Master of Science in Nursing; Online Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration
Photo courtesy of McKendree University
Program Details: The McKendree University Division of Nursing in the School of Nursing & Health Professions provides three MSN specialty focus areas as well as a Dual MSN/MBA degree program online through McKendree Worldwide for convenience and flexibility. Students can opt between a focus in Nursing Education, Nursing Management/Administration, or Population Health (Palliative Care) to specialize their degree. The 60-hour online dual MSN/MBA degree program at McKendree is ideal for the nurse who “desires to achieve an administrative role in health care” and offers classes, in addition to the MSN core, such as “Customers and Competitive Advantage,” “Stakeholder Management and Ethics,” and “Electronic Commerce.” The MSN core offers relevant coursework such as “Health Policy and Advocacy,” “Cultural Diversity in Healthcare Populations,” and “Health Promotion/Disease Prevention,” and each specialty track provides specific classes to enhance the chosen focus area. The CCNE-accredited MSN program faculty has experience in the field of nursing and teaching, and the McKendree Worldwide Online Student Resources offers services and support to help all online students find success in their program.
Both the oldest college in Illinois and the oldest in America to be continuously affiliated with the United Methodist Church, McKendree University was founded as the Lebanon Seminary in 1828. The Lebanon, Illinois institution of higher education welcomed 72 students in its first year. The first U.S.-born Methodist Bishop, William McKendree, became the namesake in 1830 when the school was renamed McKendree College, and university status was granted in 2007. Now nearly 3,000 students are enrolled in the academic degree programs offered by McKendree’s four schools and colleges, and this private university is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
#31. Sacred Heart University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: Offering RN’s who do not have a bachelor’s degree in nursing an avenue to directly enter the CCNE-accredited program, Sacred Heart University’s Online MSN degree program is accessible completely online. The program can be completed in just two years, and requires either 36 or 39-credits hours (depending on specialization chosen). Students engage in core courses like “Theory and Professional Roles for Contemporary Nursing Practice” and choose from four Advanced Nursing Specializations (CNL, Nursing Management & Executive Leadership, Nursing Education, or FNP). The required practicum can be performed in the student’s area of residence, and understanding the need for flexibility and online convenience, Sacred Heart gives online MSN students up to six years to complete the program. All courses are taught by the same on-campus faculty, who have practiced clinically for many years and have participated in scholarly pursuits as well in order to strengthen their experience as professors. The program prepares graduates to sit for their certification exams and has many accolades–prospective students can read the SHU MSN Student Testimonials to learn more about the benefits of the program.
Sacred Heart University was established in 1963 by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis as an institution open to all students regardless of sex, race or religion. The progressive university had less than 200 students in its first year, but has grown to become the second-largest Roman Catholic university in New England. Located in Fairfield, Connecticut, Sacred Heart offers more than 70 academic degree programs to 8,500 students through the seven schools and colleges that comprise the university. A private Catholic liberal arts school, Sacred Heart is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
#32. Jacksonville University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: The Jacksonville University Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences Keigwin School of Nursing presents a CCNE-accredited, fully online MSN degree program with three specialization options: Clinical Nurse Educator, Leadership in Healthcare Systems, or Informatics. The eighteen-credit hour MSN core includes classes such as “Organization, Delivery, and Policy in Healthcare,” “Nursing Leadership and Advanced Roles,” and “Information Systems & Technology for Improved Healthcare.” The 33-credit hour MSN in Clinical Nurse Educator specialization provides the skills for RN’s to train other nurses as part of staff development or teach at the higher education level. The other tracks are both 30-credit hours; the Leadership in Healthcare System specialization provides a focus on Nursing Leadership and Management, and the MSN with a Specialization in Informatics offers coursework in “Law, Ethics and Public Issues in Healthcare Informatics” and “Data Analytics and Impact on Patient Care.” Graduates of all three specialization options will be able to pursue certification upon completion of their program. The MSN degree program has not just an experienced Keigwin School of Nursing faculty, but also a full Leadership Team to assure the quality of the program.
Originally chartered as the junior college William J. Porter University in 1934, Jacksonville University (JU) went through several significant changes before gaining its current name in 1956 and becoming a full four-year institution in 1961. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, the private non-profit university offers nearly 100 academic degree programs to 4,000 currently enrolled students. A member of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF), JU is comprised of four colleges and two academic institutes. This institution of higher education has been continuously regionally accredited since 1950 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
#33. University of Massachusetts Amherst
Online Master of Science in Nursing Education
Program Details: The CCNE-accredited College of Nursing provides the online UMass Amherst Master of Science in Nursing Education concentration (MS-NE) for currently licensed nurses who desire to “be a leader in nursing education in academia and practice.” A 33-credit hour MS-NE program, all coursework is offered entirely online with an in-residence practicum required, and students gain the skills to both train nursing students and “provide patient education in healthcare settings.” The UMass Amherst online MS-NE curriculum is aligned with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) for Master’s Education standards, and includes courses such as “Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning,” “Curriculum Development & Evaluation Process,” and “Advanced Pharmacology,” and students can be confident they will be equipped to pursue NLN Nursing Education certification. The College of Nursing faculty have an impressive list of both academic and practice-based achievements to provide students with both practical and educational excellence. Online MS-NE students benefit both from the UMass Nursing resources and UMass Amherst office for Online Education resources, which include services such as one-on-one academic advising and professional development.
Begun as a land-grant institution, the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) started as the Massachusetts Agricultural College in 1863 in Amherst, Massachusetts. Classes welcomed 56 all-male students in 1867, and women began being admitted in 1892. The name became the University of Massachusetts in 1947, and UMass Amherst is the flagship campus in the University of Massachusetts System. Over 30,000 students are currently enrolled in nearly 150 academic degree programs offered in the nine schools and colleges of this public research university with Highest Research Activity designation, and regional accreditation comes from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
#34. Samuel Merritt University
Online Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner
Photo courtesy of Samuel Merritt University
Program Details: The CCNE-accredited School of Nursing at Samuel Merritt University offers the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track entirely online. Available for RN’s residing in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia (although authorization for other states may be in process—interested prospective students are encouraged to check the website regularly for updates), the entirely online coursework is coupled with three semesters of clinical practice (totaling 630 hours—and SMU helps with placement). The program provides a “thorough, rigorous 49-credit curriculum,” and students can finish in under two years on a full-time basis. Classes such as “Family Centered Advanced Practice Nursing,” “Health Protection, Promotion & Screening,” and “Analysis of Health Policy Issues” are taught in such a way as to place “an emphasis on meeting the needs of multicultural and underserved populations.” The SMU School of Nursing faculty are “distinguished scholars . . . who conduct research to advance their scientific fields” and pass that experience on to their students. Webinars providing information on the SMU online MSN-FNP program are provided.
Both Samuel Merritt Hospital and the Samuel Merritt School of Nursing opened in 1909 and are named in honor of famed Dr. Samuel Merritt. This was the beginning of what would become first Samuel Merritt College in 1981 and then Samuel Merritt University (SMU) in 2009. This private, degree-granting, health sciences institution of higher education was founded in Oakland, California, but has additional California campuses in Sacramento and San Mateo. Nearly 2,500 students are currently enrolled in the health science degrees offered through two schools and three departments of SMU. Regional accreditation for SMU comes from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
#35. University of West Georgia
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Photo courtesy of University of West Georgia
Program Details: The University of West Georgia Tanner Health System School of Nursing provides the completely online MSN program through UWG Online. A 36-credit hour CCNE-accredited MSN program, tracks focusing on either Education or Health Systems Leadership are offered to customize the degree (within Health Systems Leadership students have additional opportunities to customize through either a focus on Leader/Manager or Clinical Nurse Leader). Students begin the program in the fall with an online orientation and finish in two to three years. Classes are varied, including topics like “Role of Caring Healthcare Professional,” “Curriculum Development in Nursing Education,” and “Epidemiology for Nursing Education and Practice,” and are taught by UWG Department of Nursing faculty, who are comprised of research and practice-based instructors. Additionally, both the Education and Health Systems Leadership focus area tracks are offered entirely online as CCNE-accredited, post-master’s certificate programs (the Post-Master’s Certificate in Health Systems Leadership offers both the Leader/Manager and the Clinical Nurse Leader tracks). Credit hour requirements range from thirteen to sixteen-credit hours, and students can transfer in up to six credit hours.
The University of West Georgia (UWG) was established as the Fourth District Agricultural and Mechanical School in 1906 in Carrollton, Georgia. The school would transition into a junior college, a four year college (in 1957), and finally the university that it is today in 1996. Nearly 100 academic degree programs are offered through the seven colleges and schools of this public doctoral research university, and just under 14,000 students are currently enrolled. UWG is part of the University System of Georgia and regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
#36. Old Dominion University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: ODU Online provides entirely online coursework for the CCNE-accredited MSN Nurse Administrator program. Housed in the Old Dominion University School of Nursing, the 36-credit hour MSN program can be completed in as few as five months on a full-time basis and can lead directly into ODU’s DNP program if students choose to continue their studies. Coursework is made up of relevant classes such as “Evidence-Based Research and Theories,” “Strategic Leadership,” and “Ethical Concepts and Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing.” The program promises “faculty committed to delivering high quality nursing education through the use of innovative teaching methods,” and resources are available for online students both through ODU Online and the School of Nursing (a particular benefit is the ODU School of Nursing Student Clinical Services Coordinator who helps Program Directors and students find the best fit for the student’s clinical practicum experience). The ODU School of Nursing also offers three other online MSN program tracks (with several additional specializations) as online programs with some on-campus requirements: Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Midwifery.
Norfolk, Virginia’s Old Dominion University (ODU) had humble beginnings in 1930 as the Norfolk Division of The College of William and Mary. The extension center programs proved popular, and ODU became its own degree-granting, independent institution of higher education in 1962 and then gained university status in 1969. Over 200 academic degree programs are provided by this public research university to more than 24,000 enrolled students, and ODU has a Higher Research Activity designation in addition to being a space- and sea-grant school. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges regionally accredits ODU.
#37. Ferris State University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: The Ferris State University online MSN degree program, fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), is housed within the College of Health Professions School of Nursing and offered entirely online through Ferris Online. Two concentrations are provided with no on-campus requirements: Nursing Education and Nursing Administration (the Nursing Informatics concentration requires some on-campus courses offered by the College of Business). The 37-credit hour program starts with an orientation session (online students may access it virtually) and requires eighteen credit hours of core coursework, including classes such as “Introduction to Advanced Nursing Roles,” “Health Care Systems, Policy, & Advocacy,” and “Clinical Prevention & Population Health.” The remaining courses are determined by the student’s choice of concentration, and all students participate in two capstones: a practicum experience and final academic project. The Ferris MSN curriculum is aligned with the AACN Essentials of Master’s Education and includes the necessary competencies encouraged by the Institute of Medicine and QSEN. Students benefit from online resources, as well as from the highly skilled and caring Ferris School of Nursing faculty.
Ferris State University (Ferris) was established in 1884 in Big Rapids, Michigan by Woodbridge Nathan Ferris. Originally named the Big Rapids Industrial School, the institution would go through several name changes before becoming Ferris State College in 1963 and then gaining university status in 1987. Ferris became part of Michigan’s Higher Education System in 1950, and now this public university enrolls over 14,500 students, making it the ninth largest in the state. Eight colleges provide nearly 200 academic degree programs, and the Higher Learning Commission grants Ferris with regional accreditation.
#38. Herzing University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: Herzing University provides their CCNE-accredited MSN degree program with entirely online coursework for RN’s who currently hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Students can choose from one of three specialty tracks: the Herzing Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) program, Herzing’s MSN – Nursing Education program, or the Herzing MSN in Nursing Leadership and Administration program. All three programs prepare students to sit for their certification exams, and the MSN in Nursing Leadership and Administration curriculum is aligned with the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) core components. The MSN-FNP program requires 48-credit hours whereas the other two programs each require 36 hours. Another requirement of the MSN-FNP program is 675 clinical hours (for which practicum placement assistance is provided). A core curriculum is shared between all three, with courses such as “Health Policy and Management” and “Organizational Systems and Behaviors” taught by expert faculty members who provide individual attention and support. For nurses who already hold an MSN degree, additional online opportunities include Herzing’s post-master’s nursing certificate programs.
Initially a computer training institute, Herzing University was founded in 1965 by husband and wife team Henry and Suzanne Herzing. The original campus was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and now eleven campuses cover different parts of the U.S.—with corporate headquarters now located in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin (this is also where the online programs division is located). The school became Herzing College in 1996 and Herzing University in 2009, and gained non-profit status in 2015. Regional accreditation for Herzing is granted by the Higher Learning Commission.
#39. Nova Southeastern University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: NSU’s Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing offers a fully online, non-clinical MSN degree program (additionally offered is the MSN Advanced Practice Registered Nurse program, which is a hybrid online degree program requiring some on-campus residencies. Students of this program have several concentration choices). The 36-credit hour MSN program offers students three non-clinical program tracks: Nursing Education, Executive Nurse Leadership, or Nursing Informatics. All three tracks begin with core courses such as “Health Promotion and Disease Prevention,” “Advanced Nurse Roles,” and “Evidence and Practice,” and they also require a practicum to complete the program. Ideal for nurses who want to advance in their career, “improve the practice of nursing, and support healthier communities,” NSU’s online MSN students will learn from the highly experienced and qualified faculty within the College of Nursing. The promise of successfully completing the program and achieving advancement is evidenced by spotlights on nursing alumni from the College of Nursing at NSU, and once prospective students enter the program the are surrounded by NSU Nursing resources and services.
Nova Southeastern University (NSU) was established as the Nova University of Advanced Technology in in 1964. Thirty years later Nova merged with the Southeastern University of the Health Sciences to officially become NSU. An initial student enrollment of seventeen in 1964 has grown to a current enrollment of over 20,000 students, and more than 150 academic degree programs are provided through sixteen schools and colleges. Main campus is in Davie, Florida, and is joined by campuses across the state and in Puerto Rico. NSU has a High Research Activity designation, and regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
#40. Chatham University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: An entirely online, CCNE-accredited MSN degree program is available through Chatham University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS). The MSN program is housed within the School of Health Sciences, and the three specialization tracks offered to students are in Nursing Leadership, Nursing Educator, and Nursing Informatics. The 33-credit hour “contemporary nursing curriculum” for the online MSN presents classes such as “Introduction to Organizational Leadership in Nursing” and “Health Assessment and Promotion Across the Lifespan” as part of the eighteen-hour core, and each track provides fifteen specialty track credits. All students complete the program with a practicum and a capstone, and are provided guidance as well as academic excellence throughout the program by the Chatham Nursing Faculty. The fast-paced MSN program begins each fall and students progress together as a cohort either as full-time or part-time students. Advisors and orientations help students get acclimated to the rigorous nature of the program, and the Chatham University SCPS Support & Resources (such as the Student Success Center and the University’s PACE Center) provides additional support.
Chatham University was founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1869 as the Pennsylvania Female College. The first enrollment numbered over 100, and now the school has grown to become coeducational and has a student body of over 2,200. The name changed several times, becoming Chatham College in 1955 (named for William Pitt, First Earl of Chatham, who was also the namesake of Pittsburgh) and then Chatham University in 2007 when the school was granted university status. Over 60 academic degree programs are offered at this private institution of higher education, and regional accreditation comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
#41. University of St. Francis
Online Master of Science in Nursing-Nursing Administration
Photo courtesy of the University of St. Francis
Program Details: The fully online MSN in Nursing Administration (NUAD) degree program at the St. Francis Leach College of Nursing, a CCNE-accredited school, is ideal for RN’s who want to “ethically manage nursing personnel and services in hospitals and other health care delivery agencies.” The St. Francis MSN NUAD curriculum ranges from 36 to 45-credit hours, depending upon a student’s educational history and current goals (students entering the program who have already earned a MS in Health Administration degree receive twelve credits towards the degree, and students can opt for an additional nine-credit hours of optional education courses). The coursework includes the graduate core of classes such as “Advanced Practice Nursing: Roles and Issues” and “Evidence-Based Healthcare” with an advanced core of administration classes such as “Health Care Law and Compliance” and “Management & Human Resources of Health Care Organizations.” There are no clinical hour requirements, but a final capstone completes the degree for all students. USF offers other MSN tracks online with some on-campus requirements: Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, or Nursing Educator.
The University of St. Francis was started by the congregants of the Third Order of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate in Joliet, Illinois in 1920. Originally the Assisi Junior College, the school only admitted female members of the congregation. Within five years the school opened to all female students, and men were admitted when the school became coeducational in 1971. The name first changed to College of St. Francis in 1930, and again in 1998 when university status was granted. Nearly 4,000 students are currently enrolled in the four colleges of this Catholic, Franciscan university, and the Higher Learning Commission provides regional accreditation.
#42. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Online Master of Science in Nursing with a specialty in Advanced Population Health
Program Details: Offering three “pathways” to enter into the online MS in Nursing degree program with a specialization focus in Advanced Population Health, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene provides many opportunities for “future leaders for population health nursing with a focus on Hawaii and the Pacific Region.” Students can begin the 30-39 credit hour program (the program is 30 credits but if students opt for a thesis it is an additional nine credits) as an RN with a bachelor’s or associate degree or as a non-nurse with a different undergraduate degree. Coursework is all offered online, and students complete their fieldwork and capstone within their own resident community. The UH Mānoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene faculty have an impressive history of research and active practice (such as community disaster preparedness and response and global health initiatives), and the classes they teach (such as “Leadership, Role, Identity and Organizational/System Change,” “Epidemiology for Advanced Nursing,” and “Global Health”) provide a rigorous and relevant academic experience for students.
The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UH Mānoa) was founded in 1907, making it the oldest of the ten UH campuses. Located in the Mānoa Valley, UH Mānoa is also the flagship campus of the UH System. A land-, sea-, space-, and sun-grant institution, UH Mānoa is a public doctoral research university with Very High Research Activity (as determined by the Carnegie Foundation). Over 17,000 students are currently enrolled in more than 240 academic degree programs offered through seventeen schools and colleges, and regional accreditation is granted by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.
#43. Kennesaw State University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Photo courtesy of Kennesaw State University
Program Details: Part of the MSN in Leadership in Nursing program at Kennesaw State, the CCNE-accredited Online MSN Nursing Administration and Transformational Leadership track is a 40-credit hour program that can be completed in just fifteen months on a full-time basis. Located in the WellStar School of Nursing at KSU, the MSN in Nursing Administration degree program offers mostly asynchronous, entirely online coursework, in topics such as “Conflict Management & Ethics of Leadership for Advanced Practice Nursing” and “Global Initiatives in Healthcare, Changing World.” A 135-hour practicum is required within the student’s geographic location, but because the faculty and administrators are “committed to providing guidance and advisement through the academic process,” students feel fully supported. The faculty provide “innovative teaching and scholarship” to enhance the virtual learning atmosphere, and distance learning at KSU provides plenty of online student support and resources. Applying to the MSN program has become even more convenient—the WellStar School of Nursing recently did away with the GRE requirement, and up to nine credit hour may be transferred into the program.
Kennesaw State University (KSU) was founded as the Kennesaw Junior College in 1964 in Cobb County, Georgia with an initial enrollment of more than 1,000 students. Two campus locations in Kennesaw and Marietta, Georgia serve the more than 35,000 students currently enrolled. Over 150 academic degree programs are provided through the thirteen colleges, and KSU is classified as having Moderate Research Activity by the Carnegie Foundation. A public research university and the third largest in the University System of Georgia, KSU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
#44. Indiana State University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: Indiana State University’s College of Health and Human Services offers an entirely online MSN degree with a Nursing Education concertation through the ACEN-accredited Department of Advanced Practice Nursing within the School of Nursing. The Indiana State Online MSN in Nursing Education degree offers students three culminating experience options (an Evidence Based Practice Course, Culminating Project, or Master’s Thesis), which determines the credit hour requirements of 37 or 40-credit hours. Classes such as “Nursing Theory Development,” “Measurement and Assessment in Nursing,” and “Advanced Pathophysiology” prepare students to meet the NLN certification competencies and are taught by “faculty who are leaders in nursing education, research, and community engagement.” Graduates of the Indiana State MSN in Nursing Education program sing the praises of the program, the faculty, and the curriculum, and current online learners reap the benefit of the ISU Online Students Service Concierge to help them succeed. Other resources include an online-accessible library, Career Center, Time Management Tools, and for prospective students who are considering the MSN program, an Online Education Readiness Quiz is made available.
The Indiana State Normal School was the first incarnation of Indiana State University. Established in 1865 as a teacher training school, the school in Terre Haute, Indiana opened for classes in 1870 to 23 students. Name changes occurred before the institution became Indiana State University in 1965 (Indiana State Teachers College in 1929, and then Indiana State College in 1961). A public doctoral research university, Indiana State offers almost 200 academic degree programs through seven colleges, and more than 13,500 students are currently enrolled. Regional accreditation for Indiana State is provided by the Higher Learning Commission.
#45. University of Arkansas
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas
Program Details: The U of A Eleanor Mann School of Nursing, which is housed within the College of Education and Health Professions, provides an entirely online, CCNE-accredited MSN degree program. Offered through U of A Online, the online MSN with a Nurse Educator Concentration offers students both a 42-credit hour thesis option and a 39-credit hour non-thesis option (this option includes a project and final comprehensive exam). The U of A Online MSN-Nurse Educator degree program curriculum is sectioned into a graduate nursing core, a graduate clinical core, the nurse educator concentration core, and the thesis of scholarly project. A practicum experience is required, and students can arrange for it to be within their local communities. The award-winning Eleanor Mann School of Nursing faculty provides the rigorous online coursework but also “recognizes the uniqueness of individual students as adult learners and strives to provide flexible opportunities for learning.” All online MSN students are considered part of the U of A community, and U of A Online provides a myriad of student resources, services and opportunities to succeed.
Located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the University of Arkansas was established in 1871 as the Arkansas Industrial University. By 1899 the student body desired a name that better represented the expanded scope of the school, and the University of Arkansas (U of A) was chosen. Now over 27,000 students are enrolled in more than 200 academic degree programs offered through U of A’s eleven schools and colleges, and this land- and space-grant institution is also the flagship of the University of Arkansas System. This public doctoral research university is classified with Highest Research Activity, and regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.
#46. Lewis University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Photo courtesy of Lewis University
Program Details: Providing two online specialization options, the Lewis University College of Nursing and Health Professions offers RN’s a CCNE-accredited MSN degree that will help them advance in their career to become an “expert practitioner and innovative leader who will transform practice in an increasingly complex healthcare system.” Students can choose the 40-credit hour MSN in Nursing Education degree program, which offers specialty classes such as “Educational Theory and the Scholarship of Teaching” and “Role Transition for the Nurse Educator.” The 36-credit hour MSN in Healthcare Systems Leadership program provides specialty track classes like “Leadership Strategies for Administration and Nursing Practice” and “Financial Management for Nurse Leaders.” Both programs start with the MSN core courses, covering topics like “Applied Biostatistics for Advanced Nursing Practice” and “Healthcare Organizations, Systems, and Policy,” and the Lewis College of Nursing faculty all “have real world experience” and work with students individually to help them succeed. Online student resources start as early as the first inquiry—prospective students have available to them dedicated Graduate Admission Advisors, and that attention and care continues through to graduation.
Established in Romeoville, Illinois in 1932, Lewis University was begun as the Holy Name Technical School. The Chicago Archdiocese and Bishop Bernard J. Scheil founded the school to train young men in aviation technology, and Frank J. Lewis (a Catholic philanthropist) donated funding to help the school thrive. Renamed in his honor as Lewis College in 1948, university status was gained in 1973, and Lewis University is a coeducational private Roman Catholic with 6,500 currently enrolled students. The 410-acre campus is in the Chicago suburb of Romeoville, and over 115 academic degree programs are provided either on-campus and/or online. Lewis’ regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.
#47. Drexel University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: Drexel University Online presents an online MSN degree “designed to prepare nurses for leadership nursing positions in the rapidly growing and evolving healthcare landscape.” The Drexel Online MSN core curriculum offers fifteen-credit hours of coursework such as “Advanced Ethical Decision Making in Health Care,” “Confronting Issues in Contemporary Health Care Environments,” and “Research Methods and Biostatistics.” Located in the Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions, the program provides six specialty CCNE-accredited MSN concentrations in Clinical Nurse Leader, Clinical Research, Leadership in Health Systems Management, Nursing Education, Nursing Innovation, and Quality, Safety, and Risk Management in Healthcare. The Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions faculty boast impressive and extensive research and practical experience that they pass on to their students. Some of the concentrations require a clinical practicum experience, whereas some require a final capstone project—the concentrations range in required credit hours as well. Drexel Online support is extensive for online students—with tutorials, resources, and services provided. Additionally, online MSN students whose concentration requires clinical hours will get assistance in placement.
Philanthropic banker Anthony Drexel founded the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1891, although classes would not start for the coeducational student body until 1919. This school would go on to become Drexel University, and the main campus is located in the Philadelphia neighborhood of University City. Almost 25,000 students are currently enrolled in more than 200 academic degree programs offered through Drexel’s fifteen schools and colleges, and this private research university (classified with Very High Research Activity by the Carnegie Foundation) is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
#48. Appalachian State University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: Appalachian State University’s online MSN program provides a concentration focus in Nursing Education and can be completed entirely online on a part-time basis in just two years. Located in the App State Department of Nursing within the Beaver College of Health Sciences and provided through App State Online, the 39-credit hour program curriculum is aligned with the core competencies found in The Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Currently seeking CCNE accreditation, the online MSN program offers classes such as “Contemporary Issues in Nursing,” “Education Tests and Measurements in Nursing,” and “Educational Theories for Nursing Academic and Practice Settings,” as well as a research project, a clinical practicum, and a thesis. Ideal for nurses who desire to move in to “leadership roles as educators in a variety of complex academic or clinical environments,” current students of the MSN program give praise to the caring and supportive App State Department of Nursing faculty, who have extensive experience both in clinical and educational settings.
Founded in 1899, Appalachian State University (Appalachian or App State) was started as the teacher training school Watauga Academy. Established by the Dougherty brothers in Watauga County (now Boone, North Carolina), the school quickly grew to become the Appalachian Training School in 1903. Three more name changes through the years led to Appalachian State University in 1967, and in the early 1970s the school became part of the UNC System. Over 19,000 students are enrolled in 150 academic degree programs within the nine schools and colleges, and regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
#49. University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: The Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing & Health Sciences at UCCS provides an entirely online MSN degree with three Nurse Practitioner (NP) specialty focus options (the online MSN degree is not available in all states—students should check to make sure their state of residence is accepted). Students can choose between the 47-credit hour Primary Care Family NP, the 47-credit hour Primary Care Adult/Gero NP, and the 48-credit hour Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) to customize their education—all three are CCNE-accredited. Core courses such as “Philosophical Foundations in Nursing Practice” and “Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics” are offered through Canvas, the online delivery system, and all students are required to participate in 630 contact hours of a clinical practicum. Students have up to six years to complete the degree, and student resources are provided to assist students both academically and professionally. The UCCS Beth-El College of Nursing faculty has a wide variety of experience, both clinical and scholarly, and students benefit from the interdisciplinary nature of the College.
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) had its earliest beginnings as the Cragmor Sanitarium, which opened in 1905 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Many changes through the years would lead to the facility being purchased by the University of Colorado (UC) in the mid-1960s (extension classes had been offered by UC since the 1920s). The Colorado Springs Center of the University of Colorado would gain independence in 1972, and in 1974 the name became UCCS when the University of Colorado System reorganized. Over 70 academic degree programs are offered in six colleges to over 12,000 students, and regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.
#50. Vanderbilt University
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Program Details: The Vanderbilt MSN in Nursing and Health Care Leadership (NHCL) degree program is new and all coursework will be offered entirely online in a part-time format to accommodate working nurses. Known as the Vanderbilt Master of Science in Nursing degree in the Nursing and Health Care Leadership Program at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, the MSN NHCL degree joins several other specialty tracks, and online students will reap the benefits of the prestigious school’s faculty expertise. The 39-credit hour program is accredited by the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA), and begins with an on-campus orientation (there may be other on-campus requirements periodically). A clinical placement is an expected requirement, and students receive assistance in finding a practicum site within their local community from both the Vanderbilt School of Nursing faculty and the Clinical Placement staff. The faculty of the Vanderbilt School of Nursing (VUSN) are involved in cutting edge research and practice, and will prepare students to “manage and lead the delivery of nursing and health care services across multiple settings and specialty areas.”
In 1873, “Commodore” Cornelius Vanderbilt, who resided in New York and had never been to the South, donated $1 million to endow a university in Nashville, Tennessee in order to try to heal some of the divisions amplified by the Civil War. Originally imagined as The Central University of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, the school was named Vanderbilt University in honor of The Commodore. Ten schools and colleges comprise the university, and nearly 12,000 students are currently enrolled at this private research institution. Classified by the Carnegie Foundation with Very High Research Activity, Vanderbilt is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.