Online RN to MSN Programs in GA: Uncovering Top Schools
Completing an RN to MSN program in Georgia can open doors to nursing careers in administration, teaching, and specialized nursing practice. The guide below will teach you about several Georgia bridge programs’ costs, requirements, and curriculum. We also answer questions about how these programs work, how to secure financial aid, and what to expect after graduation. We also look at Georgia’s job climate, showing possible salaries and career outlooks for MSN graduates.
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Inside Online RN to MSN Degrees in Georgia
Registered nursing (RN) is a solid career path with high pay and demand in Georgia. If you want to take the next step in your nursing career, becoming a nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, or nurse practitioner (NP) is the logical next step. To be considered for these leadership roles, however, you’ll need to earn your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). This is why many nursing programs have established RN to MSN bridge programs to accommodate ambitious nurses and offer the most significant learning flexibility.
Online and hybrid programs provide students with ways to study around their work, personal, and family obligations. Most MSN bridge programs are hybrid and include in-person or on-the-job training, while others are offered entirely online. You must be a working RN with a current license to be eligible for these programs. Whether you earned an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) usually does not matter but may be required for specific bridge programs.
To help you compare your options, we’ve profiled three of Georgia’s top RN to MSN bridge programs below, detailing their curriculum, admissions requirements, timeline, and tuition costs.
Thomas University
Thomas University offers a 132-credit RN to MSN bridge program that takes place entirely online and features education and nursing administration tracks. Although there are no practicums, students still have some in-person requirements, including an internship. Coursework emphasizes empowered decision-making, problem-solving, care skills, research skills, and leadership theories and practices. To further enhance professional prospects after graduation, there’s also the option to join the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society. This program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Duration: Two to three years
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $62,700
Admissions Requirements:
- Valid RN license
- Cumulative college GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Provide official transcripts from all prior colleges
- Provide resume and statement of purpose
- Provide three recommendations
Core Curriculum:
- Anatomy and Physiology I & II
- Microbiology
- Professional Nursing Praxis
- Advanced Health Assessment
- Community/Public Health Nursing
- Evidence-based Practice in Nursing
- Information Technology in Nursing Administration and Education
- Advanced Theoretical Foundations
- Research Design and Methodologies
- Policy, Law and Ethics in Nursing
- Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics, Pathophysiology and Health Assessment
- Global Perspectives on Population-Based Health
- Leadership & Financial Management Strategies
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Georgia State University
The RN to MS bridge program at this Atlanta-based university includes four concentrations to become a nurse practitioner (NP): Adult-gerontology Primary Care NP, Family NP, Pediatric Primary Care NP, and Psychiatric Mental Health NP. The program develops students’ leadership skills in healthcare teams and facilitates their coordination of patient care, with an eye toward training to take on more responsibility and effect greater policy and outcome changes in the healthcare workplace. Most classes are offered online, but there are also in-person clinical requirements for which GSU can help you with placement in the community of your choice.
While a BSN is not required, nurses with an ADN must complete additional undergraduate coursework as prerequisites to master’s coursework and demonstrate outstanding practice experience and professional involvement. Students entering with a BSN complete 48 credits, while those without complete 54 credits.
Duration: Two to four years (full vs. part-time)
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $33,456 to $37,638
Admissions Requirements:
- A BSN or an ADN with commensurate experience
- Registration as a professional nurse in Georgia or another U.S. state and evidence of application to the Georgia Board of Nursing
- One to two years of clinical practice as an RN
- Complete all undergraduate prerequisites
- A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale
- Previous college transcripts
- A statement of purpose and writing sample
- Two letters of recommendation
- A professional resume
- One to two years of clinical practice in the specialty area for master’s education is preferred for applicants in the clinical practice specialist
Curriculum:
- Advanced Pathophysiological Concepts Across the Lifespan I & II
- Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
- Pharmacology Across the Lifespan for the Advanced Practice
- The Culture of Healthcare
- Theoretical Foundations and Research Methods for Advanced Practice Nursing
- Concentration-specific courses
South University
South University offers a series of fully online RN to MSN bridge programs with specialized tracks for aspiring family nurse practitioners, adult-gerontology nurse practitioners, nurse administrators, and nurse educators (as well as a nursing informatics track). Which tract you choose will affect program length, but the core curriculum — which remains the same between specializations — emphasizes community-based care with clinical judgment, critical thinking, and communication skills. Some classes go into care for specific healthcare communities and how to best effect change for that care. Financial aid opportunities are available.
Duration: Two to three years
Mode: Online
Cost: $42,160 to $56,020 (depending on specialty)
Admissions Requirements:
- An ADN or a nursing diploma and a bachelor’s degree
- A cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university attended within 5 weeks of the class start date
- A valid and unencumbered license as a registered nurse in all US states or the territory in which the student is licensed
Curriculum:
- Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse
- Advanced Theoretical Perspectives for Nursing
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Health Policy and Health Promotion
- Nursing Research Methods
- Specialty courses
RN to MSN Bridge Programs: Student FAQs
What can you do with an MSN in Georgia?
In Georgia, an MSN usually leads to a career in nursing administration, management, or advanced practice. For that last designation, the MSN degree is the minimum you’ll need to practice as a clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse midwife, certified nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist/psych-mental health, or certified registered nurse anesthetist. Many RN to MSN programs in Georgia have concentrations to prepare you for one or more of these advanced nurse practitioners. An MSN degree is also a stepping stone to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
Can I get financial aid in Georgia to help pay for my RN to MSN program?
Online RN to MSN students in Georgia have scholarships, grants, student loans, and other forms of financial aid. Scholarships and grants are well-known types of gift-based aid and can come from the nursing program itself or private entities like corporations and nonprofit organizations. Another option comes from special government programs like the Nurse Corps Scholarship through the Health Resources and Service Administration.
What are the hallmarks of a quality RN to MSN program in Georgia?
When choosing the right RN to MSN program for you, emphasize the schools that offer the specialization in which you’re interested. Along with your personal preferences and professional needs, make sure the program is approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing and check to see if there are other credible national or regional designations for its program. Other factors to help tilt your decision include the availability of online classes, choices for practicum or internship locations, accelerated learning options, and certificate exam passage rates for a particular program’s graduates.
Will I also earn a bachelor’s degree at the same time I’m in an MSN program?
It depends on the program. Some Georgia universities offer ADN nurses BSN-level coursework as a part of their programs, but it doesn’t result in a BSN degree in addition to the MSN degree. Some schools make special arrangements for students interested in a BSN and an MSN. However, this usually adds considerable time and expense to the MSN degree process.
What do I need to do in Georgia to become an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse after I earn my master’s degree?
If you want to practice at a more advanced level with your MSN degree, such as an APRN, you must earn your MSN degree, complete an application, and pay a fee. Part of this application process confirms that your MSN is in the same specialty as the APRN credential you’re applying for. Still, it also shows you passed the applicable national board certification for your APRN specialty.
RN vs. MSN: Which Earns More in Georgia?
| Occupation ↕ | Area ↕ | 10th Percentile ↕ | Median ↕ | 90th Percentile ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | Georgia | $63,450 | $83,620 | $124,330 |
| Nurse Practitioners | Georgia | $91,770 | $119,490 | $165,140 |
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 | Georgia | 81,800 | 94,310 | 12,510 | 15.30% | 5,990 |
| Nurse Practitioners | Georgia | 7,900 | 12,500 | 4,600 | 58.20% | 910 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
