Online RN to MSN Programs: Find the School for You

How They Work: Online RN to MSN Profiles

As with most professionals, moving up the career ladder for a registered nurse almost always means heading back to school to get an advanced degree. Often, that’s a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). An MSN degree is the gateway to positions in management, education, and advanced practice, and can also mean a substantial boost in salary. According to the job market compensation website PayScale, for example, the current average annual salary for RNs in the United States is $63,000, while the average annual salary of individuals who hold an MSN degree currently stands at $92,000.

But what about the RN who doesn’t hold the bachelor’s degree that’s often a prerequisite to admission into an MSN program? Fortunately, today there are now many high-quality, fully-accredited online RN to MSN programs that offer qualified candidate nurses a way to skip the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and go directly to earning their MSN. These online “bridge” programs are designed with the working RN in mind, offering practical curriculums, flexible study schedules, and faster completion times than traditional MSN programs.

Find Online RN to MSN Degrees by State

Answers to Common RN to MSN Student Questions

Although you already have experience as an RN, pursuing a graduate degree can be an overwhelming prospect. To answer some of your questions about the RN to MSN bridge, we have provided the answers to five of the most common questions students have below.

Is RN to MSN worth it?

Yes. An RN to MSN bridge program is worth it if you want to advance your career into a leadership role or if you want more specialized training. Nurses with MSN degrees can become nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, or nurse administrators. Even more beneficial is a higher salary with more long-term career stability.

What percentage of nurses have an MSN degree?

As of 2022, the American Association of Colleges of Nurses reports that 17.4% of the nation’s RNs have an MSN degree. The small percentage of nurses with advanced degrees, makes nurses with MSNs more in demand. Especially with the increasing need for specialized nurses, master’s degrees are slowly becoming a necessity in the healthcare industry. An RN to MSN is a great investment for your future even though it will initially require major time and financial commitment.

Do you have to take NCLEX again for MSN?

No. As long as you already have an RN license, you can pursue an MSN without taking the NCLEX-RN again. In fact, you can’t apply to an RN to MSN program without having the RN credentials. However, you do have to renew your RN license. The renewal process of your RN license varies from state to state. If you need to renew your license, you can go to your state’s board of nursing to learn more about this process.

What is the best nursing master’s degree to get?

In 2023, the most in-demand nursing job was a nurse practitioner. This job has the closest responsibilities to a doctor, including prescribing medication and diagnosing conditions. However, the education required for an NP is a master’s or doctoral degree. If this field sounds interesting, you will want to look for graduate programs that offer a nurse practitioner concentration. For example, Ohio State University offers an online RN to MSN program with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration.

Does MSN require clinicals?

Yes. MSN programs require clinicals to graduate. The number of hours depends on your specialty: an MSN program for nurse midwife would require more hours than a nurse practitioner master’s program. However, with the RN to MSN bridge program, you can use your previous experience as an RN towards your degree, which decreases the number of clinical hours you have to do.

RN to MSN Program Cost Comparison

Cost is an important factor when considering any college degree, including an MSN earned through an online RN to MSN program. And, as with any other degree, tuition and fee costs for different programs vary significantly depending on a range of factors: program length, geographic location, school reputation, and whether the school is public or private. Additionally, online programs may be different than their traditional counterparts. To help you with your research, we’ve chosen seven sample schools to compare on the table below. We have cut out the cost for room and board to give you the most direct comparison. This will give you an idea of the financial commitment you make for your RN to MSN education.

RN to MSN Certification Requirements

For RN to MSN degrees, you do not have to take the NCLEX-RN again, but you can polish your resume with certifications in the chosen specialty of your MSN program. The American Nurses Association Credentialing Center (ANCC) provides multiple certification options for those who have completed an MSN program. To give you a better idea of what these certification exams entail, we have provided in-depth descriptions of two certification exams that ANCC offers.

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – ANCC

The Family Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (FNP-BC) exam is a competency based exam that tests your preparedness to be a family nurse practitioner in a professional healthcare setting. To be considered eligible for this exam you must hold a current, active RN license as well as a graduate degree. This credential is valid for 5 years and the exam costs $295 for American Nurses Association (ANA) members and $395 for non-members. While the exam has an 85% pass rate, that does not guarantee your success on the exam. In order to properly prepare the ANCC has provided readiness tests to help you study.

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP-BC) – ANCC

The ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Board Certified (AGACNP-BC) exam requires you to have a current, active RN license and a graduate degree in nursing to be eligible to take the exam. This exam has a pass rate of 83% and once you pass the exam the certification lasts five years. The exam fee is $295 for ANA members and $395 for nonmembers. Much like all exams provided by the ANCC, there are specific readiness tests to ensure your success on the exam.

Salary & Career Outlook for RNs with MSNs

Ranking Today’s Best Online RN to MSN Programs

At EduMed, our data scientists evaluate data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the U.S. Department of Education, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, and universities themselves to rank post-secondary programs of all levels and subjects. We specifically evaluate each program’s flexibility, affordability, and quality to give you a well-rounded picture of what you will potentially encounter in each program. The goal of these rankings is to make the process of choosing your ideal program a little less daunting and provide you with some preliminary information for your further research. Keep reading to review programs that truly stand out.