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Online RN to MSN Programs in CA: Your Guide to Top Schools

This guide covers important basics and key details about RN to MSN programs in California. Below, we profile three bridge programs that can help you earn your MSN in a shorter amount of time. We also answer questions you may be asking about RN to MSN programs, and dive into what to know once you graduate.

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Author: Mark Earnest
Editor: Edumed Editing Staff

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Inside Online RN to MSN Degrees in California

Earning your MSN is one of the best ways California RNs can advance their nursing careers. Earning the degree can lead to nursing roles with more responsibility and opportunities to change care policies and outcomes. Plus, it leads to more potential salary.

There are several RN to MSN bridge programs in the state that are hybrid, which means that there are some online classes that are part of the curriculum along with on-site and on-campus education. No matter how the format works, bridge programs were established so students could take a shorter time getting a master’s degree after earning an associate or bachelor’s degree.

We researched California’s RN to MSN programs to determine some of the most popular and high-quality ones, all to help you learn what to look for during your own school search.

University of San Francisco

The bridge course for a master’s degree in nursing at USF features didactic courses that can be completed online in an asynchronous format for maximum flexibility, while the practicum work takes place in person. This makes the program ideal for those who work full-time while getting their MSN. The program aims to teach nurses about specialty care, ways to improve safety and outcomes, and coordinate clinical teams for the best care possible. Licensed nurses with associate and bachelor’s degrees will find entry pathways to the program, as will nurses with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing.

Duration: Two years

Mode: Hybrid

Cost: Tuition is $28,800

Admissions Requirements:

  • Have an active RN license
  • Earned an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing
  • Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA
  • Submit personal statement and recommendation letters
  • Provide transcripts
  • Complete prerequisites

Curriculum:

  • Foundations of Leadership in Healthcare
  • Quality, Improvement, and Patient Safety
  • Health Informatics
  • Health Policy, Ethics, and Advisory

West Coast University

West Coast University offers one of California’s most affordable online RN to MSN programs. Students can choose between a wide variety of specializations, including tracks to become an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner, a family nurse practitioner, a nurse educator, and a psychiatric nurse. There are also specializations in nurse informatics and nursing leadership. These courses are 100% online, and there’s an option to complete practicums either online or in person. Many courses are offered asynchronously or at flexible times, so the coursework fits into a full-time nurse’s schedule. West Coast also offers mobile-friendly classes and assignments.

Duration: 20 months to 32 months

Mode: Hybrid

Cost: Tuition ranges between specialties from $21,925 to $59,870

Admissions Requirements:

  • Associate degree with 3.0 GPA or better
  • Valid RN license
  • Submit transcripts
  • Provide letter of intent

Curriculum:

  • Principles of Leadership for Healthcare
  • Pathophysiology
  • Evidence-Based Practice
  • Advanced Nursing Technologies & Collaborative Care
  • Advanced Health and Physical Assessment

Western University of Health Sciences

The RN to MSN program at WUHS includes asynchronous online courses, intensive virtual seminars, and clinicals authorized at facilities in your community. MSN degrees at Western can be earned in different interest programs: administrative nurse leader, clinical nurse leader, and ambulatory care nursing. The goal of the program is to train nurses who can make a positive change in modern healthcare with a greater emphasis on quality and at facilities ranging from clinics to long-term care sites. A wide range of practice patterns, real-world skills, and specialties are part of a curriculum that is taught by facility with clinical experience.

Duration: Two to three years

Mode: Hybrid

Cost: Tuition is between $19,207 and $28,635 depending on specialty

Admissions Requirements:

  • Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA
  • Associate degree in nursing
  • Active RN license with one year of experience preferred

Curriculum:

  • Leadership and Professional Role Transition
  • Public Health and Population-Based Nursing Practice
  • Advanced Health Systems
  • Nursing Research
  • Nursing Informatics

FAQs About RN to MSN Online Programs in California

There are bound to be some essential questions that need answering as you research the best RN to MSN bridge program for your needs. Below we go through some of the more common questions students like you are wondering about, from specific programs to what happens after graduation day.

What are the advanced licenses I need to practice, once I earn my MSN degree in California?

You can choose between a few advanced licenses, including Nurse Anesthetist (NA), Nurse-Midwife (NMW), Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Nurse Practitioner (NP), and Public Health Nurse (PHN). The California Nursing Board requires you to renew your nursing license regularly, including after you complete your RN to MSN program, so this is when these licenses come into play. The only requirement for advanced license renewal is to graduate from a program that is recognized by the board for the specific specialization to which you are applying.

What should I look for in a quality RN to MSN program in California?

While everyone might have slightly different ideas of what makes a high-quality program, accreditation, test pass rates, and career placement stats are all important to check.Programs should be approved by the California Board of Nursing as well as the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Also, look at high NCLEX-RN pass rates in recent years. Finally, look at career placement stats to learn what resources the program has to help you in your job search.

Is there financial aid for students in RN to MSN programs in California?

Yes, there are plenty of financial aid resources available to you, including the loans and grants that the state of California offers students with state residency who enroll in RN to BSN programs. The California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) is responsible for allocating state-funded grants, scholarships, and loan repayment programs. HCAI provides these financial aid packages for those who agree to work in critically understaffed hospitals upon graduating. Along with state-funded aid, you may also be eligible for private nursing scholarships.

What are some of the new opportunities for me in the workplace when I earn an MSN?

Many programs include skills you wouldn’t have encountered in your RN programs, such as nurse supervision, healthcare management, and health ethics. Also, if you have a specialty attached to your MSN — such as informatics, education, or administration — it can make you hirable in contexts outside of a hospital or clinic, including academia or research.

Will I get a bachelor’s degree in nursing if I’m part of an MSN bridge program?

The short version of this question is simple: it depends on the program you’ve chosen. There are some colleges and universities that include the BSN degree in the entire program, so you earn that bachelor’s degree on the way to getting your MSN. Other programs do not have a BSN requirement and also don’t award BSNs. Also, check the admissions requirements with each program to learn if you need a BSN before starting it.

Top Online RN to MSN Bridge Programs in California

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About the ranking

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Base Methodology for EduMed’s Best Online College Rankings for the ’23-’24 school year.

One: Create list of Eligible Schools and Programs

To be eligible, schools were required to meet the following criteria based on data pulled from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), which was self-reported by the schools themselves.

  • Institutional accreditation from an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  • At least 1 online component in a program within the ranking-subject area.

Two: Assign Weighting

After creating the list of eligible schools, EduMed data scientists assigned weights and ranked schools based on a mix of metrics, which were all self-reported by the schools themselves to the U.S. Department of Education and IPEDS.

The metrics are listed below in order of most- to least-heavily weighted.

Online Programs – Number of online programs in the relevant subject area.

Online Student % – Number of total students who are enrolled in at least 1 distance-learning course in the relevant subject area.

Tuition – The average in-state tuition for undergraduate students studying full-time, as self-reported by the school.

Academic Counseling – Existence of this service on campus or online.

Career Placement Services – Existence of this service on campus or online.

Student/Faculty Ratio

About Our Data: EduMed’s rankings use the latest official data available from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Most recent data pull: July 2023

# School Name Type Tuition Online Programs More Details School Information Online Students Academic Counseling Career Placement Students w/Institutional Aid Median Earnings 10yrs After Entry Accreditation
1 University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA Private not-for-profit $$$$ 2

The University of San Francisco hosts an online RN to MSN degree with multiple entry options. Licensed nurses with associate and bachelor's degrees will find entry pathways for them, as will nurses with a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing. Students take courses in health informatics, health policy, and leadership in healthcare. All didactic courses can be completed online in an asynchronous format for maximum flexibility. This makes the program ideal for those who work full-time while getting their MSN.

Program Highlights:

Master of Science in Nursing, RN to MSN

  • Credits: 33-38
  • Length: 2 years
  • Cost: $28,800 total
  • Mode: Hybrid
  • Accreditation: CCNE
 Academic
CounselingYes		 Career
PlacementYes		 Student/
Faculty Ratio13/1		 Online
Student %61%

California RN vs. MSN Salary & Career Comparison

Occupation ↕ Area ↕ 10th Percentile ↕ Median ↕ 90th Percentile ↕
Registered Nurses California $83,510 $133,990 $194,240
Nurse Practitioners California $86,190 $164,050 $227,310

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.

Occupation ↕ Area ↕ Curr. Jobs ↕ Proj. Jobs ↕ New Jobs ↕ Growth % ↕ Avg. Ann. Openings ↕
Registered Nurses California 333,700 376,900 43,200 12.90% 23,420
Nurse Practitioners California 21,500 34,100 12,600 58.60% 2,500

Source: Projections Central

Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.

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Mark Earnest is from Reno, Nevada, and he loves words. He loves them so much that he’s made them his career, first as a sports, arts, and business journalist and then as a specialist in paid advertising and corporate communications. He’s also crafted words for hundreds of executives to help boost their resumes, social media content, and thought leadership. He even loves words set to really loud music, as he is the guitarist and singer for several rock bands in his hometown. SUBJECTS OF EXPERTISE: Business, Health, Arts, Careers, Marketing, Communications, Technology

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