It’s never been a better time than right now to get an advanced nursing education. Luckily, Aspen University offers an online MSN program with specializations in five different areas.
Whether you want to become a Nurse Educator or Nurse Manager, Aspen may have the courses you need to advance your career.
However, it’s always smart to weigh your options before committing to any program, and this is especially true when going for an advanced degree. That’s why we put together this review.
In this post, you’ll learn about Aspen University’s online MSN program and see if one of their degree pathways may be a good choice for you.
Table of contents
Why Enroll in Aspen University’s Online MSN Program?
While choosing which online MSN program to enroll in can be overwhelming, Aspen University appears to be one of the most solid choices we’ve looked at.
In fact, it had the highest overall rating of the programs we looked at on OnlineU and GradReports.
88% of alumni respondents said their MSN degree from Aspen University improved their career prospects. Meanwhile, 88% of respondents said they would recommend this program to others.
With five different areas of nursing specializations, there’s also a good chance you’ll find an area that interests you. Once you graduate, you should be able to leverage your newfound skills and knowledge to advance your career in your area of specialty.
Graduate Reviews of the MSN Program at Aspen University
Most of the reviews of Aspen University’s online MSN program were positive. Here a few of them:
“This school has been a blessing for me. Taking courses at my pace and enrolling in a course when ready because they offer classes every two weeks. I have been able to work a full time job and take two classes comfortably. Teachers are so helpful and they care about how well you progress. My experience was smooth and uncomplicated at Aspen university. I completed my Masters in Science in nursing specialization in administration.
-Kathy, (June 1, 2022)
“Aspen University is very military friendly and the MSN degree I obtained was online with classes every 8 weeks so it was easy to take a brief break between classes if needed due to my military lifestyle. It is an affordable tuition and works with the GI bill entitled members well.”
-Maria Horn, (March, 31, 2022)
“Aspen University has provided the way for me to obtain my Master’s of Nursing Degree with as little disruption to my work-life as possible. Completing the classes online was beneficial for me in that it fit with my schedule and work/home life balance. The cost of the education could not be matched. It does require you to be a highly motivated learner and to be able to be self-directed. As long as you have a high work ethic, you will greatly add to your knowledge during the Master’s classes and learn how to produce professional papers. I am 46 years old and have graduated with a 4.0 GPA and am very glad that I took that first step to further my education. If you are thinking about taking that first step–do, you will not regret it!”
-Krista Jeffries, (December 9, 2021)
4 Pros of Aspen University’s Online MSN Program
There are quite a few benefits to getting your MSN through Aspen University’s online program compared to other schools. We discuss four of them below.
1. Multiple Specializations
Aspen University’s online MSN program offers five different degree specializations. These specializations include:
- Forensic Nursing
- Informatics
- Nursing Administration and Management
- Nursing Education
- Public Health
While there are some core classes that must be taken regardless of specialty, like Health Care Systems, Theory and Research, and the Nursing Capstone, many of the courses you complete will depend on which degree pathway you choose.
If you know you’d like to advance your knowledge and build your career in one of the specific areas, Aspen University’s MSN program might be a good choice for you.
2. RN-to-MSN Option
Each of the specializations above can also be completed in an RN-to-MSN format. This means you can go for your MSN even if you haven’t gotten your BSN.
Interestingly, those who enroll in this program never need to get their BSN, unlike some other programs which bridge you from RN to BSN to MSN.
Instead, you graduate with your MSN in one of the above speciality areas.
This is the perfect program for those that have an Associate’s Degree and want to go directly for their MSN. While it may be a little more challenging without the groundwork a BSN provides, experienced RN’s should be able to handle it.
3. Flexible Schedule
Another upside to Aspen University’s online MSN program is that all of the courses are completed online and on your schedule. This school offers self-paced courses which start every two weeks.
Additionally, you can take your class during the day or at night, and you can choose to enroll full time or part time.
According to the university, full-time students can complete their MSN degree program in 20 months.
4. Affordable and Transparent
Unfortunately, many schools make it difficult to determine the total cost of completing a degree.
Luckily, Aspen University is very transparent about the cost of its online MSN programs.
According to their website, the non-bridge MSN program’s tuition is $13,455. They also mention that fees cost an additional $1,420 to $1,670, bringing the total cost of the degree to $14,875 to $15,125.
Aspen offers a private monthly payment plan in which you pay $375 a month for 40 months. This is technically a loan, but it has a 0% fixed rate of interest.
The RN-to-MSN bridge program is a little more expensive, however. The tuition for this pathway is $20,963, with $2,039 to $2,289 in fees. This brings the program’s total to $23,002 to $23,252.
The university offers a similar payment plan for the RN-to-MSN program as well. The terms are the same as the BSN-to-MSN program, only you’ll need to make payments for 62 months instead of 40 months.
Cons of Aspen University’s Online MSN Program
While the reviews for Aspen University’s online MSN program were overwhelmingly positive, there were a few concerns. Take this review for example:
“When I contacted the practicum coordinator (several times) I was told to “think outside the box” and “keep looking as we do not find placement for students.” I was not looking for Aspen to find me placement but wanted the coordinator to be aware of my situation and delay in completing the program and to see if she had any other ideas. I continued my practicum preceptor search for at least eight months and exhausted all prospects due to the above reasons.”
-Deb Russell, (January 16, 2022)
It’s important to note that the reviewer’s location was not provided, and this could have impacted her ability to find a practicum preceptor.
Before beginning any online nursing program, be sure to do some research on where you’re going to complete your practicum BEFORE you enroll. This will ensure you are able to complete your degree without any hiccups.
Conclusion
Overall, Aspen University’s online MSN program appears to be a solid choice. They have multiple specializations, options for BSNs and RNs, flexibility, affordability, and transparency.
While there is one negative review, as long as you do your due diligence before you enroll, you shouldn’t have any trouble.
If you’re ready to enroll in an MSN program and advance your nursing career, then search for a program today!
Nurse Luke is a CRNA who specializes in Nursing content and still enjoys a very busy career with Locum, Per Diem and Travel nursing in the greater midwest. He has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare field and received his CRNA masters degree from the Mayo Clinic School of Healthcare. He is passionate about helping nurses explore the options of becoming a travel nurse as well as spending time with his Family.
