The Best Online MSN Programs of 2024

1. Family Nurse Practitioner (fully online, 48 credit hour hours)
2. Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (Hybrid, 48 credit hours)
3. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (fully online, 43 credit hours)
4. Nursing Leadership – Clinical Operations (fully online, 33 credit hours)

They currently have two start times: Fall (August) and Spring (January). Fall Enrollment Deadline is June 30th and Spring Enrollment deadline is November 30th.

Allen College focuses specifically on healthcare education and has developed high-quality programs at all levels in order to prepare students for successful nursing and healthcare careers. The college creates an intimate, tight-knit community feel with its small student body of around 600 and its location in beautiful, but peaceful Waterloo, Iowa. The online master’s in nursing from Allen offers six different concentrations ranging from 36 to 42 credit hours in length. Each concentration works to get students practical experience with required clinical hours.

Columbus State University is located in Columbus, Georgia, but caters to online students across the country. The MSN degree offered from Columbus State has a specialization of family nurse practitioner. This program offers full flexibility through an asynchronous format. Such a format allows students to complete their coursework whenever they desire without dictated class times. The MSN program from Columbus State also focuses on real world experience requiring 765 clinical practicum hours that can be completed wherever the student may be studying.

The University of Maryland Baltimore is the state’s only human services, law, and public health university. This school a majority of advanced students given that 80% of the student body are graduate students. The online nursing master’s degrees are some of the most popular degrees at the college and have a unique fusion of other disciplines. The online nursing master’s degree from this university provides instruction in information technology, creating well-rounded students with expertise in uncommon, but useful areas for the field of nursing. Although all classes can be completed online, students are required to meet with an advisor to coordinate practicum and receive additional support.

Indiana State University is another University offering a top-level online MSN program and is located in Terre Haute, Indiana. The online MSN offered from ISU has a concentration of family nurse practitioner. The program consisting of fifty credit hours can be completed in a little under three years, only studying part-time. For those willing to dedicate the time for full-time study, that time is cut in half. The program at ISU is a great well-rounded degree that also prepares students for ANCC and AANP certification exams.

Texas Tech University offers its online MSN degree through its Health Sciences Center which has served millions of Texas residents and has produced over 10,000 healthcare professionals. Online nursing students can count on a variety of valuable student services including remote library and database access and student health services. The online degree from Texas Tech has a specific focus on nursing education, preparing students with the capacity of developing lesson plans, curriculum, and effective experience opportunities. Students studying online through Texas Tech are required to complete a few courses on campus.

The 30 credit online MSN program from Northern Arizona University offers two different concentrations: either a generalist path or a family nurse practitioner path. The Flagstaff, Arizona school allows generalist path students to tailor the degree with specific courses in various areas of study, while also serving as a good foundation for a possible doctorate nursing degree. Education in the family nurse practitioner path helps students gain skills in primary family care, especially in rural areas.

Gardner-Webb University is a private, faith-based school located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. GWU offers a superior level, 100% online MSN program with concentrations in Nursing Education and Nursing Administration. Both the education and administration MSN degrees are comprised of 36 credit hours and can be completed in as little as six semesters.  Unique features of GWU’s online MSN program include the option to complete a dual MSN/MBA degree, the RN to MSN option, and the ability to earn a certification in education or administration.  Students are not required to take the MAT or GRE for admission.

Stevenson University is the second Maryland school on our list, located in its namesake, Stevenson, Maryland with an additional campus in Owings Mills. The online MSN degree from this school offers three different concentration areas: nursing education, nursing leadership/management, or population-based care coordination. Courses in any of concentration follow an eight-week, accelerated format with the exception of the integrated capstone project and practicum. Online students only have to visit the physical campus once at the very end of their studies for a final competency-testing workshop.

Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, offers more than 60 graduate and undergraduate degrees, including an online MSN degree. Chatham has been recognized for its environmental sustainability efforts and instills best practices in its students. Apart from normally offered concentrations, online students are also given the ability to pursue other degrees and certifications at the same time as the online MSN study. One example is the BSN to DNP executive track which can be completed in just 56 credit hours.

Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin, serves a vast population of over 2,400 students pursuing a degree in various fields. The online MSN program from Concordia is also very robust, allowing students to choose from a few different specializations and complete an accelerated RN to BSN online completion program, which is very affordable thanks to a Flat Rate pricing program. They offer an online MSN and have a scholarship for Concordia alumni, which BSN students would qualify for.

Concordia University has four MSN concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Healthcare Informatics, and Nurse Educator. They also offer a new BSN to DNP accelerated program with FNP and AGPCNP concentrations for nurses who want to bypass a master’s and go directly for a doctorate, as well as an MSN to DNP.

Wilkes University is another top university in the country located in Pennsylvania. The online MSN from this school offers an extensive array of concentration areas including, adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, family nursing practitioner, nurse executive, nursing education, nursing informatics, and psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner. Each concentration requires 19 credit hours on top of the core MSN requirement of 24 credit hours. As with many other schools, Wilkes University also requires clinical hours in approved local institutions.

Benedictine University is obviously a premier Catholic university established in the Benedictine tradition. The school offers an exceptional online MSN program that is very customizable and centers on the religious values of the institution. The program is comprised of 39 credit hours and offers the option of two different concentrations: either nursing education or nurse executive leadership. The main campus of Benedictine University resides in the Chicago suburb of Lisle.

Jacksonville University is a non-profit institution also providing one of the best online MSN programs in the nation. The degree from this university can be completed in as little as two years and is moderately priced for the schools on our list. Concentrations within the MSN program include leadership in healthcare systems or clinical nurse educator. The Florida school follows an eight-week session format, with students taking just one class per session. Jacksonville University does not require students to take the GRE.

The next school on this list is another from the Chicago area. Olivet Nazarene University is a private Christian liberal arts college connected with the evangelical Church of Nazarene located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The online MSN degree from Olivet Nazarene prepares students who are looking to continue on towards a doctorate degree or simply progress in their current career. The two tracks of the online degree include education and leadership/management. The entire degree takes about sixteen months to complete and does require 120 practicum hours.

Norwich University also offers an online MSN degree with the two concentrations of education or administration. The online program from Norwich can be completed in about eighteen months for full-time students. As for the structure of the program, students start with a strong base of education about health systems and the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students are then pushed into the two tracks to further specialize their education depending on their interests.

Gonzaga University is a school located in Spokane, Washington offering a variety of online degrees including in areas such as theology, communications, and nursing, among others. The online Master of Science in Nursing program from Gonzaga offers classes completely online, supplemented with between one and six on-campus immersions. The three concentrations for the online MSN degree are health systems leadership, family nurse practice, and psychiatric mental health practice. Students applying for the program don’t necessarily have to have their BSN, although it is definitely preferred.

Sacred Heart University has a wide reach due to its multiple campuses. The main campus is located in Fairfield, Connecticut, but the school has also established locations in Cambridge, Griswold, Luxembourg, and Ireland. The online MSN program from Sacred Heart also helps the school to increase its influence and serve students across the country. Within the MSN, there are four concentrations, which are clinical nurse leader, nursing education, nursing management and executive leadership, and family nurse practitioner. For students seeking a more relaxed study pace, Sacred Heart could be a great option, as the university allows students up to six years to complete their degree.

Georgetown University is one of the most well-known and best-established universities in the United States, having its start in 1789. The nursing school from the university also has a great base of experience as it was established in 1903. The online MSN program from Georgetown provides students with whatever schooling option best fits for them. Students can either attend live, real-time class sessions or view the recorded material anytime throughout the day. Resources for online students include virtual access to Georgetown’s libraries as well as webinars.

The University of San Francisco’s online MSN degree program is designed for individuals with either an associate’s or a bachelor’s in nursing. The program focuses on helping students to learn to deliver evidence-based care to improve patient outcomes, staff safety, and overall health care plans. The program does take at least two years to complete, but students do not have to attend classes on campus nor are they required to take the GRE for admission.

Vanderbilt University’s nursing program is one of the most widely recognized in the entire country. The online nursing program for the school is management-oriented but does offer twelve different concentrations for the MSN degree. Vanderbilt allows students to complete the program either on-campus or online, so is a great option for students seeking a mixed approach. The school also offers a unique MSN/Divinity degree. Applicants are required to have at least a BSN in order to be considered for the program.

George Washington University is another well-established institution, with its beginning in 1821. The school is located right in downtown Washington D.C. GWU’s online offerings are very extensive, with over 100 online programs including an online MSN degree. For those with an associate’s degree, GWU offers an RN to MSN degree that takes less than four years to complete. The program also offers a number of different specializations for the normal MSN program including things like adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner and nurse-midwifery among others.