The Most Affordable Online MSN Programs

Goodwin University's online RN-to-MSN program features a collaborative cohort model that allows distance learners to progress through their degrees with the same group of students. The curriculum emphasizes disease prevention, social justice efforts in healthcare, and improving access to and quality of care. Online learners may select a general MSN, family nurse practitioner, or psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner specializations. Some tracks require on-campus immersion weekends. The curriculum also requires a 90-hour fieldwork capstone project.

• Program: RN-to-MSN bridge program
• Campus: East Hartford, Connecticut
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Admission Requirements: ADN or nursing diploma, minimum 3.0 GPA, RN license
• Minimum Time Commitment: 20 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2021): 83% 
• Median Earnings Four Years After Graduation: $88,131 

Designed for working RNs with an associate degree or nursing diploma, the RN-to-MSN program at Jacksonville University provides an accelerated and affordable pathway to earning a BSN and an MSN at the same time. This 100% online program delivers courses in a flexible eight-week format, with start times available throughout the year. Students may apply 30 credits from previous nursing education toward their BSN degrees. The RN-to-MSN program prepares graduates for careers in nursing leadership, healthcare quality and safety, nursing education, and nursing informatics.

• Program: RN-to-MSN
• Campus: Jacksonville, Florida
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Admission Requirements: ADN or nursing diploma, minimum 3.0 GPA, RN license
• Minimum Time Commitment: 18 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2023): 81.82% 
• Median Earnings Four Years After Graduation: $70,697 

Ottawa University-Kansas City's MSN bridge degree is one of the most affordable RN-to-MSN online programs. This curriculum includes 10 courses in eight-week terms, which can reduce time to completion. Qualified students may enroll in three graduate-level courses instead of three undergraduate courses, paying the undergraduate tuition rate for their MSN classes. The program features two concentrations: a nurse leadership track for nurses seeking administrator roles and a nurse educator pathway for aspiring teachers. 

• Program: RN-to-MSN bridge program
• Campus: Overland Park, Kansas
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Admission Requirements: ADN or nursing diploma, minimum 2.5 GPA, RN license
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes

Rivier University's MSN with a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) specialization allows registered nurses with nursing diplomas or associate degrees to pursue national board certification in this field. This program prepares graduates to assess, diagnose, and treat patients with psychiatric disorders and mental health needs as PMHNPs.

The fully online MSN requires on-campus attendance for three weekends. The curriculum includes courses in psychiatric nursing theory, pathophysiology, health assessment, and biostatistics for health sciences.

• Program: MSN-Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
• Campus: Nashua, New Hampshire
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
• Admission Requirements: ADN or nursing diploma, minimum 3.0 GPA, RN license, 2 years nursing experience
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2022): 92.47% 
• Median Earnings Four Years After Graduation: $73,734 

The accelerated RN-to-MSN program at University of Maryland, Baltimore allows students to earn both BSNs and MSNs in less time and for less money than pursuing each degree separately. RNs without bachelor's degrees who are interested in moving into leadership and advanced nursing positions can apply six credits of BSN coursework to their master's requirements. Students may choose from three specializations. The university offers a community/public health track in a blended (face-to-face and online) format, along with health services leadership and nursing informatics management specializations delivered fully online.

• Program: RN-to-MSN
• Campus: Baltimore, Maryland
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Admission Requirements: ADN or nursing diploma, minimum 3.0 GPA, RN license
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2023): 81.11% 
• Median Earnings Four Years After Graduation: $75,365 

University of Rochester's RN-to-BS-to-MS, intended for experienced registered nurses, integrates nursing practice, education, and research in convenient online and hybrid formats. Students may choose from nurse practitioner, nurse education, clinical nurse leader, and leadership in health care systems specializations and apply up to nine credits toward their bachelor's and master's degrees. Online learners complete their clinical experiences on campus at the University of Rochester Medical Center. The university's School of Nursing boasts that 100% of its graduates find employment in their field.

• Program: RN-to-BN-to-MS programs
• Campus: Rochester, New York
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Admission Requirements: ADN or nursing diploma, minimum 3.0 GPA, RN license
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months 
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2022): 84%
• Median Earnings Four Years After Graduation: $83,708 

Ranking among the most affordable RN-to-MSN online programs, University of Southern Maine's master of science in nursing degree combines affordability with convenience. The fully online accelerated degree, intended for working nurses, allows students to take fewer courses than earning BSNs and MSNs separately. Enrollees may select concentrations in nursing administration and leadership or nursing education. Distance learners participate in various clinical experiences throughout central and southern Maine and opportunities for international service.

• Program: RN-to-MSN
• Campus: Portland, Maine
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Admission Requirements: ADN or nursing diploma, minimum 3.0 GPA, RN license; undergraduate statistics course with a grade of C or higher
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2023): 88.76% 
• Median Earnings Four Years After Graduation: $63,969