The Top Direct-Entry Master’s in Nursing Programs
January 25, 2022 · 6 Min Read
If you have a non-nursing bachelor's degree and want to pursue a master's in nursing, a direct-entry MSN program could be a good fit. Find the best programs here.
Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree?
Direct-entry nursing master's programs allow students without a nursing background to earn a master of science in nursing (MSN). Individuals who majored in non-nursing fields for their bachelor's degree can take advantage of these programs. Students explore the foundations of nursing and graduate prepared to become advanced practice nurses or pursue another nursing specialty.
If you are interested in direct-entry MSN programs, this guide will answer your questions about how to choose a school and what to expect.
We use a data-driven methodology to rank the top direct-entry master's in nursing programs, making it easier for you to find a program that works for you. Our methodology is based on metrics that we believe matter most to students, including: academic quality, affordability, reputation, and program offerings.
Keep reading to learn more about direct-entry master's in nursing programs, or go straight to our list of the top direct-entry master's in nursing programs.
What Can You Do with an MSN
Nursing professionals considering the next step in their career can earn an MSN, which allows students to advance their clinical knowledge and skills, discover strategies for providing excellent direct patient care, acquire pertinent leadership skills, and explore health policy. Graduates qualify for multiple advanced positions, including nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, or nurse educator.
Nurse practitioner majors can choose specialties, such as family nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner, and cardiology nurse practitioner. While MSN graduates often work in physician offices or hospital settings, they also possess the credentials to create their own practice and work independently.
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse Anesthetist
Nurse Midwife
What to Look for in a Direct-Entry Master's in Nursing Program
MSN programs often accommodate nontraditional learners, as students often work and attend classes full-time. Prospective students should consider the following metrics to select a program that best meets their individualized needs.
Applying to a Direct-Entry Master's in Nursing Program
Direct-entry MSN programs provide an expedited pathway to launching a student's career in the nursing field as an advanced practitioner. These programs rely heavily on clinical experiences.
The following overview addresses common admission requirements:
Students should expect to provide proof of earning a bachelor's degree from a regionally or nationally accredited school, a resume, letters of recommendation, an entrance essay, GRE scores, and possibly an interview.
MSN programs often require a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Applicants who earned their bachelor's degree outside of the U.S. may need to provide additional documentation to satisfy admission requirements.
Featured Online Programs
Why Is Accreditation Important for a Direct-Entry Master's in Nursing Program?
Accreditation is the process of evaluating colleges and universities to make sure they offer students a quality education. Independent agencies assess higher education programs and grant — or deny — accreditation status.
Students should be wary of schools or programs that are not accredited. Graduate schools accept students with accredited undergraduate degrees. Credits earned from an unaccredited school rarely transfer to other programs.
Accreditation has many benefits, such as:
- Helping determine how successfully programs meet or exceed minimum standards of quality
- Qualifying students for the NCLEX exam
- Ensuring graduates can pursue DNP programs should they want to further their education
- Helping students receive federal financial aid, whereas an unaccredited school may not qualify
- Providing an incentive if employers consider where students earned their degree
To further distinguish themselves from other graduates, students may also want to consider programmatic accreditation through organizations, including the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Paying for Direct-Entry Master's in Nursing Programs
While enrolling in a direct nursing MSN program is pivotal to aspiring nurses' success, students should also consider factors that affect the overall cost and ways to pay for their education. For instance, in-state tuition typically costs less than out-of-state tuition. Similarly, schools may charge a lower rate for online programs.
Students attending an accredited direct MSN program can access financial assistance by completing a free FAFSA form. Federal financial aid offers grants and loans. Students should note that while grants do not need to be repaid, loans require repayment beginning six months after graduation. Nursing students also qualify for multiple scholarships or grants often offered by their school or external organizations.
Learn More About the Top Direct-Entry Master's in Nursing Programs and Schools
A leading public research institute located in west Los Angeles, UCLA ranks as the most applied-to school in the nation, receiving more than 100,000 freshman applications in 2020.
The School of Nursing offers five programs, including one of the best direct-entry master of science in nursing (MSN) programs.
This program qualifies graduates to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and apply for certifications as a clinical nurse leader and public health nurse.
Students gain practical experience through clinicals at partnership sites and UCLA-run facilities, including Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, and Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA.
The UCLA School of Nursing admits 70 students every fall.
- Program: Direct-entry MSN
- Campus: Los Angeles, California
- Type: Public
- Accreditation(s): Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $17,486 per year for California residents; $32,588 for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college; a minimum 3.0 GPA; three letters of recommendation
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 97.1%
- School Site: Tuition | Financial aid
Founded in 1883, UT Austin features 18 schools and colleges that offer a combined 139 graduate programs.
UT Austin's School of Nursing boasts one of the top ranked alternate/direct-entry master of science in nursing (MSN) programs. Students without a background in nursing can complete the requirements in 2.5-3 years, graduating with the qualifications to become a registered nurse in Texas.
The program's first year begins in the summer and requires students to study full time to complete 38 credits in theory and practical experiences. Students take courses such as child health nursing theory and maternity nursing theory, along with practicums.
Degree-seekers can go to school part time in their second year. At that time, students may take concentrations in such options as leadership in diverse settings or clinical adult gerontology.
- Program: Alternate/direct-entry MSN
- Campus: Austin, Texas
- Type: Public
- Accreditation(s): Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $1,418 per semester for Texas residents; $9,670 for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree; minimum 3.0 GPA; GRE taken within the last five years; three letters of recommendation; reference from a healthcare professional; resume; statement of purpose
- Minimum Time Commitment: 30 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 94.83%
- School Site: Tuition | Financial aid
Since UC Davis opened in 1908, it has expanded to offer 101 graduate programs, most of which feature interdisciplinary curricula.
Opened in 2009, the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis offers nine graduate programs. The direct-entry master of science in nursing (MSN) degree takes 18 months to complete and trains students to secure leadership and clinical nursing positions.
Intended as an intensive program, degree-seekers commit to six quarters of full-time study at the UC Davis Sacramento campus, beginning in June. Students complete 1,080 clinical hours in acute and ambulatory care and home and community support services.
- Program: MSN
- Campus: Davis, California
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $11,442 per academic year for California residents; $28,700 for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree; minimum 3.0 GPA; three letters of recommendation; minimum 2.7 GPA for science prerequisites; statement of purpose
- Minimum Time Commitment: 18 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 84.09%
- School Site: Tuition | Financial aid
Since opening in 1873, Vanderbilt has grown to educate some 6,480 graduate and professional students in Nashville, Tennessee.
Students enrolled in the direct-entry master of science in nursing (MSN) degree complete six semesters of studies, broken into two phases: pre-specialty and specialty. During three semesters of intensive generalist nursing courses, students complete 43 credits. Learners spend about 30-40 hours per week in the classroom and in clinical settings.
Students then take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and complete three more semesters. During that time, they work in mental health centers, children's hospitals, and hospital inpatient units to gain clinical experience in their specialty.
Optional specialities include adult gerontology, pediatrics, and women's health.
- Program: Prespecialty MSN
- Campus: Nashville, Tennessee
- Type: Private
- Accreditation(s): Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $1,716 per credit hour
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree; minimum 3.0 GPA; statement of purpose; three letters of recommendation or a professional reference
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 97%
- School Site: Tuition | Financial aid
Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins offers one of the best direct-entry MSN programs and boasts an emphasis on community-based learning experiences.
The direct-entry MSN degree requires 72 credits, which students complete over five semesters at an accelerated pace. Students must enroll full time.
Courses include pharmacology, health assessment, integrated clinical management, and community outreach to underserved communities in Baltimore.
Degree-seekers take lectures with about 60 students and clinicals with about seven students. Graduates earn 12-14 credits eligible toward a Johns Hopkins doctor of philosophy in nursing and 17 credits that can go toward a doctor of nursing practice.
Baltimore public high school graduates qualify for full tuition scholarships. Johns Hopkins also provides stipends for students who complete community service projects.
- Program: MSN with entry into nursing
- Campus: Baltimore, Maryland
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $41,724 per academic year
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing; minimum 3.0 GPA; two academic letters of recommendation and one professional reference; transcript(s); optional GRE scores; resume; two application essays
- Minimum Time Commitment: 21 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 97.49%
- School Site: Tuition | Financial aid
Founded in 1851 before Minnesota statehood, UMN hosts more than 500 graduate and professional degrees.
As the state's only land grant institution, UMN offers one of the fastest direct-entry master of science (MSN) programs, providing a 16-month pathway to a career as a registered nurse. Nursing students must enroll in the four-semester program full time. Scheduled during the daytime, classes operate weekly on the Twin Cities campus.
Degree-seekers must complete 500 practicum hours. Learners can choose from 250 partner health and community organizations.
The direct-entry MSN prepares graduates to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) or to use 18 credits toward a doctorate in nursing.
- Program: MSN
- Campus: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $719 per credit
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field; minimum 3.0 GPA; official transcript(s); essay; resume; professional references
- Minimum Time Commitment: 16 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 95.31%
- School Site: Tuition | Financial aid
Stony Brook, spanning 1,039 acres in Long Island and founded in 1957, offers more than 100 graduate programs.
Offered in a convenient hybrid format, Stony Brook provides a direct-entry nurse practitioner (NP) program that serves students who do not hold a bachelor's degree in nursing.
The program requires students to complete 45 credits in core nursing, research, pharmacology, health assessment, pathophysiology, and clinical experiences in a specialized area.
Degree-seekers can earn a specialty in adult-gerontology primary care, family health, neonatal health, pediatric primary care, and psychiatric mental health.
Stony Brook's master's in nursing leadership and master's in nursing education programs also conditionally accept students who did not study nursing as undergraduates.
- Program: Master of science in nursing-NP
- Campus: Stony Brook, New York
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $13,748 per semester for New York residents; $17,268 per semester for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: One year of work experience; minimum 3.0 GPA; clinical practice portfolio; unofficial transcript(s); current registered nurse license
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 93.1%
- School Site: Tuition | Financial aid
UVA, founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, educates 7,862 graduate students.
The UVA School of Nursing trains people with backgrounds outside of nursing to become certified clinical nurse leaders (CNL) through the direct-entry master of science in nursing (MSN) program.
This full-time program requires students to complete 36 credits. Classes include the research and biostatistical process for healthcare, advanced pathophysiology, and health leadership seminars.
Degree-seekers gain experience in rotations at the UVA Medical Center in Charlottesville and in nearby regions.
Virginia residents receive tuition assistance and eligibility to receive a stipend through the Conway Community Scholars program.
Candidates with prior healthcare experience and at least a 3.3 GPA receive priority admission.
- Program: MSN-CNL
- Campus: Charlottesville, Virginia
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $27,334 per academic year for Virginia residents; $44,532 for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: A bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited college; minimum 3.0 GPA; a resume; three recommendations letters, including one from a healthcare professional
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 93.33%
- School Site: Tuition | Financial aid
Boasting a distinguished 300-year history in New Haven, Yale educates 7,517 graduate and professional students.
Yale's direct-entry master of science in nursing (MSN) degree prepares students in three years for a career as a nurse with a clinical specialty. This full-time, accelerated program requires students to adhere to an intense schedule of classroom studies, labs, and clinical practices in hospital units and community health centers.
Degree-seekers complete a pre-specialty year to earn a certificate in nursing. Learners spend the second year studying a clinical specialty.
Nursing students at Yale also encounter interdisciplinary opportunities with the School of Medicine and the physician associate program, the Yale Center for British Art, and the Yale School of Music.
- Program: MSN with prespecialty entry option
- Campus: New Haven, Connecticut
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $64,510 total tuition (across three semesters)
- Admission Requirements: Resume; three references; transcript(s); GRE scores; a 400-600 word essay; two 150-300 word essays
- Minimum Time Commitment: 36 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 94%
- School Site: Tuition | Financial aid
Established in 1965, UCI offers 82 majors and 75 minors for its more than 36,000 students.
In two years, students can complete UCI's master's degree in nursing, one of the top ranked direct-entry master of science in nursing (MSN) programs.
The 87-credit program trains students to work in vulnerable communities with a concentration in community and population health nursing.
Students must attend on-campus, daytime lectures twice weekly. New students start classes during the 10-week summer session. In the spring of their first year, students begin their clinicals, working two days a week.
Through clinical partnerships, students gain nursing experience across UCI Health locations, acute care facilities, ambulatory and outpatient settings, and surgical settings.
- Program: Direct-entry MSN
- Campus: Irvine, California
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $11,442 per academic year; additional $15,102 supplemental tuition for nonresidents
- Admission Requirements: A non-nursing bachelor's degree from an accredited college; transcript(s); minimum 3.0 GPA
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 94.74%
- School Site: Tuition | Financial aid
Founded in 1850, Rochester educates more than 12,000 students.
The School of Nursing offers a direct-entry master of science in nursing (MSN) degree that allows students to complete coursework alongside learners enrolled in the accelerated bachelor's program. Degree-seekers graduate in 6-9 semesters.
Students devote their first year to completing bachelor of science in nursing coursework and preparing for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) exam. First-year learners spend three semesters completing 700 clinical hours and 90 lab hours.
In the second and third years, students take courses in their chosen clinical specialty: adult-gerontology acute care, adult-gerontology primary care, psychiatric mental health, pediatrics, or pediatrics/neonatal.
- Program: Accelerated master's for non-nurses
- Campus: Rochester, New York
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $1,610 per credit hour
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree in a non-nursing major from an accredited college; minimum 3.0 GPA; work experience in healthcare concentration
- Minimum Time Commitment: 36 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 95.1%
- School Site: Tuition | Financial aid
Established in 1836, Emory offers a number of nursing programs, including a direct-entry master of nursing (MN)-master of science in nursing (MSN) degree designed to allow non-nursing students to prepare for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) exam with an MN before moving on to their MSN. Students typically graduate within four semesters.
Coursework in pathophysiology, pharmacology, acute and chronic care, pediatric nursing, and mental health nursing prepares students for the NCLEX-RN. Clinical practicums expose students to community and public health nursing, health assessments, and ambulatory care. Learners must complete 675 clinical hours.
Degree-seekers also earn specializations in adult-gerontology primary care, pediatric primary care, women's health, or as family nurse practitioners or certified nurse midwives. Emory offers a pathway to allow graduates to pursue a doctorate in nursing to become a licensed nurse practitioner or a certified nurse midwife.
Offered as a cohort-based program, students begin their studies in the summer.
- Program: MSN
- Campus: Atlanta, Georgia
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $1,928 per credit hour
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college; minimum 3.0 GPA; resume; official transcripts
- Minimum Time Commitment: 15 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 96.26%
- School Site: Tuition | Financial aid
Philadelphia's Penn traces its history to 1740, when Benjamin Franklin organized the purchase of the school.
The direct-entry master of science in nursing (MSN) degree allows students who received a bachelor's degree in another field to become a nurse practitioner or nurse midwife by completing a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) and MSN in the same program.
The flexible program caters to working students with part-time and full-time options that take 12-18 months or 2-3 years to complete. However, students must complete their master's in nursing within five years.
Learners have the option to earn one of nine minors, including health informatics, integrated nursing care of autism spectrum disorder, global health, and palliative care.
- Program: Accelerated BSN-to-MSN
- Campus: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $131,300 total program cost (across five semesters)
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree; preferred minimum 3.0 GPA; personal statement; two letters of recommendation; transcript(s); GRE scores for students with an undergraduate GPA lower than 3.2
- Minimum Time Commitment: 18 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 94.83%
- School Site: Tuition | Financial aid
With more than 200 years of history in South Carolina, UofSC educates some 8,198 graduate and professional students.
Students enrolled in the direct-entry master of science in nursing (MSN) program begin the program in the spring and commit to full-time study, completing 76 credits over five semesters. The program requires in-person classwork at the Columbia campus and 784 clinical hours in the Midlands region.
Clinical requirements provide a well-rounded learning experience in maternal and newborn nursing, pediatrics, medical surgical nursing, and psychiatric nursing.
Instructional courses may be available online, but students need to complete clinical requirements in person.
- Program: Master's entry to practice nursing
- Campus: Columbia, South Carolina
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $770 per credit hour for residents; $870 per credit hour for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree from an accredited school; minimum 3.0 GPA; three letters of reference; personal statement; resume
- Minimum Time Commitment: 19 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 100%
- School Site: Tuition | Financial aid
UVM boasts 61 master's programs, including 35 accelerated degrees.
To pursue a career as a clinical nurse leader (CNL), students enrolled in UVM's direct-entry master of science in nursing (MSN) degree can graduate in three and a half years.
Beginning in August, the program's pre-licensure year includes courses in pharmacology, pathophysiology, and practicums working with children and older adults. This hybrid program offers in-person classes at the Burlington campus and online courses delivered asynchronously and synchronously.
After the first year, students obtain part-time nursing work to fulfill CNL requirements. In their later semesters, degree-seekers gain advanced knowledge in healthcare informatics, health assessments, and professional role development.
- Program: Direct-entry MSN-CNL
- Campus: Burlington, Vermont
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $683 per credit for Vermont residents; $1,720 per credit for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree in a non-nursing major; minimum 3.0 GPA; three letters of recommendation; optional GRE scores
- Minimum Time Commitment: 42 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 95%
- School site: Tuition | Financial aid
Frequently Asked Questions About Direct-Entry Master's in Nursing Programs
How long are direct-entry MSN programs?
Students should note that a direct-entry MSN requires 18-36 months, depending on the program and enrollment status. For instance, part-time students should plan to double the average length of a program. Learners with relevant prior coursework or transferable credits may qualify to have certain course requirements waived.
What schools offer direct-entry MSN?
Students can access direct-entry MSN programs through many schools. Prospective learners should consider what learning format works best for their schedule. For instance, entirely online programs may offer direct-entry MSN coursework, while students interested in traditional classrooms may want to narrow their search by selecting institutions with a brick-and-mortar location.
Can you get a master's in nursing without experience?
Direct-entry MSN programs target students interested in jumpstarting their nursing career or students who would like to transition out of their current profession and enter the nursing field in an expedited format. Therefore, applicants do not need experience, as direct-entry MSN programs emphasize clinical coursework to provide students with enough experience to begin their careers.
Are direct-entry MSN programs competitive?
As the nursing field continues to expand, so does the demand for more highly qualified practitioners. As more students and transitioning professionals turn to nursing, schools look for the best candidates. This makes the admission process more competitive.
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