Online MSN Admissions Requirements by Program
Nursing Colleges Search
When you click on a sponsoring school or program, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.
Completing a master’s of science in nursing takes dedication and hard work, which starts with the application process. Each school will have its own admission requirements. However, there are some standard qualifications most programs look for.
Every program will require candidates to complete an application and pay an application fee or have a waiver. Also, applicants must provide official transcripts from all previous institutions attended. Many programs have a minimum GPA requirement, although there are few that do not. Few programs require GRE scores, although some programs may ask for them if an applicant’s GPA is below the minimum requirement. Other common requirements include letters of recommendation, personal statements, writing samples, and work experience.
The one qualification that all MSN programs require is that applicants have already completed a registered nursing education program at the associate’s or bachelor’s level and hold an unencumbered and current registered nurse license in the state where they will be attending school. The licensing state is often the student’s home state, although that can vary for online programs, and applicants should contact their prospective school for specific requirements.
Earning an MSN degree can offer nurses several benefits, including higher potential wages, more opportunities for advancement, better employability, specialization options, and personal growth and satisfaction in their careers. MSN degree programs will lead to distinct career paths, such as leadership or education, with specializations such as nurse administrator or executive, nurse educator, nurse informaticist, or clinical nurse leader. The other option is to complete an MSN to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). This can include family practice (FNP), adult-gerontology (AGACNP, AGPCNP), psychiatry (PMHNP), pediatrics (PNP-AC, PNP-PC), women’s health (WHNP), neonatal (NNP), and certified nurse midwife (CNM).
Here is a list of 30 schools that offer online MSN degrees along with their admission requirements:
| School | Degree Required to Apply | GPA | Speciality/Concentration | Other Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Governors University | ADN, ASN, BSN | N/A | ASN, ADN, or BSN applicants can complete a degree in leadership and management, nursing informatics, and education. BSN applicants can complete an FNP or PMHNP MSN. | Current CV, letters of recommendation, application essay, and a criminal background check |
| University of South Carolina | BSN | 3.0 | AGACNP, PMHNP, FNP, healthcare leadership, nursing education, nursing informatics | 2400 hours of nursing experience in the past 24 months, personal statement, current CV, and three letters of recommendation |
| Duke University School of Nursing | ADN or ASN as well as a bachelor’s in any field or a BSN | 3.0 | AGACNP, AGPCNP, FNP, NNP, health informatics, healthcare leadership, education, PNP-AC, PNP-PC, PMHNP, WHNP | Prerequisite coursework in statistics, three letters of recommendation, personal statement, and up to date CV |
| Ohio State University | BSN | 3.0 | FNP, NNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP, PNP-AC | Current resume, purpose and goals statement, recorded online interview, and three letters of recommendation |
| University of Alabama | BSN | 3.0 | Nurse Executive | Statement of purpose, current resume, two references, and an interview |
| Saint Xavier University | BSN or MSN | 3.0 | FNP, nurse educator | Reside in Illinois, NW Indiana, or southern Wisconsin. Must submit a current resume, two letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. One year of work as an RN is required. |
| The Catholic University of America Conway School of Nursing | BSN | 3.0 | Complex Healthcare Systems Administration | One year of RN experience is required. A professional resume, one letter of recommendation, and a personal goal statement are recommended but not required |
| University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing | BSN | 3.0 | Nursing Informatics, NNP, school nursing | Prerequisite coursework in statistics, pre-admission interview, three letters of recommendation, and a 500-word essay on personal philosophy of nursing |
| George Washington University School of Nursing | Bachelor’s degree in any field | 3.0 | AGACNP, AGPCNP, FNP, leadership and management, CNM, PMHNP | Statement of purpose, two letters of recommendation, and a current resume |
| Stony Brook School of Nursing | BSN or supply a clinical practice portfolio to demonstrate baccalaureate level nursing competencies | 3.0 | AGACNP, AGPCNP, FNP, NNP, PNP-PC, PNP-AC, PMHNP, CNM, education, and leadership. | Three letters of recommendation, current resume, and prerequisite coursework in health assessment and statistics |
| Indiana University School of Nursing | BSN | 3.0 | Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nursing Education, Nursing Leadership in Health Systems | One to two years of RN experience for CNS tracks. All programs require prerequisite coursework in statistics. |
| Rush University College of Nursing | BSN | 3.0 | Clinical nurse leader | Answers to personal essay questions, three letters of recommendation, current resume, and personal interview |
| University of Central Florida College of Nursing | BSN | N/A | Nurse educator, Nursing Leadership and Management, Nursing and healthcare simulation | Prerequisite coursework in statistics |
| University of Colorado College of Nursing | BSN | 3.0 | AGACNP, AGPCNP, FNP, PNP-PC, PNP-AC, PMHNP, WHNP, AGCNS, CNM, healthcare informatics, nursing leadership and healthcare systems, veteran and Military healthcare | Prerequisite coursework in research and statistics, current resume, personal essay, and three letters of recommendation |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | BSN | 2.75 | FNP, nurse education, PMHNP | Prerequisite coursework in statistics and health assessment, and three letters of recommendation |
| University of Nevada, Las Vegas | BSN | 3.0 | FNP, nurse education, PMHNP, CNM | Three letters of recommendation, a current resume, and a personal statement |
| University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing | BSN | 3.0 | AGACNP, AGPCNP, FNP, NNP, clinical nurse leader, executive nurse leader, nurse educator | A personal statement, three letters of recommendation, and one to two years of recent work experience as an RN depending on specialty |
| East Carolina University College of Nursing | BSN | 2.7 | CNS gerontology, CNS neonatal, NNP, CNM, education, health systems leadership, PMHNP | A written statement about the applicant’s interest in graduate study, three professional recommendations, a personal interview, prerequisite coursework in statistics, and computer literacy |
| Thomas Jefferson University | BSN | 3.0 | AGACNP, AGPCNP, FNP, NNP, PNP-PC, PMHNP, WHNP, transformative system leadership, and academic nursing | Some specialties require work experience. Other requirements include a personal statement, two letters of recommendation, and a current resume |
| University of Connecticut School of Nursing | BSN | 3.0 | AGACNP, FNP, nurse leader, nurse educator, NNP | Some specializations may require up to 2 years of work experience. Other requirements include a written response to essay questions, three letters of recommendation, and a current resume |
| Hawai’i Pacific University | BSN | 3.0 | AGACNP, FNP, PMHNP | Two letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, current resume, and an undergraduate course in statistics |
| Ball State University School of Nursing | ADN or ASN as well as a bachelor’s in any field or a BSN | 3.0 | Nurse educator, nurse administrator, and FNP | Complete supplemental applicant forms and provide three letters of recommendation |
| Georgia College & State University College of Health Sciences | BSN | 2.75 | FNP, PMHNP, WHNP, nurse educator, CNM | Three letters of recommendation, current resume, statement of professional goals, and a writing exercise to be completed at the time of an interview |
| Oregon Health and Science University | BSN | 3.0 | Nursing Education, Health Systems and Organizational Leadership | Three letters of recommendation, essay responses, and an undergraduate basic statistics course |
| The University of Texas at Tyler School of Nursing | BSN | 3.0 | Administration, education, PMHNP, and informatics, quality, and safety, FNP | Answer essay and video prompts, current resume, an undergraduate statistics course, and three letters of recommendation |
| University of Colorado Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences | BSN | 3.0 | AGPCNP, FNP, PMHNP | A current resume and three letters of recommendation |
| University of North Carolina School of Nursing | BSN | 3.2 | Leadership and management, FNP | If applicants have a GPA below 3.2 they can apply with a GRE score. Other requirements include a criminal background check, evidence of immunization, health insurance, a personal statement, and three letters of recommendation. One year of full-time work experience as a registered nurse is recommended |
| University of Utah College of Nursing | BSN | 3.0 | Nursing education, nursing informatics, AGNP, nursing Leadership | A current resume, three references, and a professional goal statement |
| Vanderbilt University | BSN | 3.0 | AGPCNP, AGACNP, ENP, FNP, NNP, PNP-PC, PNP-AC, PMHNP, CNM, Nursing Informatics, Nursing and Health Care Leadership | Prerequisite coursework in statistics, and three letters of recommendation |
| Xavier University | BSN | 3.0 | PMHNP, FNP, education, forensics | One to two years of nursing experience, and undergraduate statistics course |
Kimmy Gustafson
WriterThanks to her experience writing in healthcare, Kimmy Gustafson has delivered in-depth articles on timely topics for NursingColleges.com since 2022. Her aim is to assist both students and professionals in navigating the intricate process of selecting a nursing program and understanding the ever-evolving realm of nursing education.
Kimmy has been a freelance writer for more than a decade, writing hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics such as startups, nonprofits, healthcare, kiteboarding, the outdoors, and higher education. She is passionate about seeing the world and has traveled to over 27 countries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. When not working, she can be found outdoors, parenting, kiteboarding, or cooking.