41 Direct-Entry MSN Programs in the U.S. [2023]

Direct-entry MSN programs allow non-nursing bachelor’s degree holders to become RNs and earn an MSN degree by combining foundational education and advanced coursework.

There are a multitude of pathways available for those who aspire to make a transformative impact on healthcare, even if their initial study field is not related to nursing. For individuals holding non-nursing bachelor’s degrees, the prospect of seamlessly transitioning into nursing has been significantly enhanced by a range of entry-level Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs, commonly known as direct-entry MSN programs. This article explores such MSN pathways, offering excellent options and highlighting the key factors you should consider before choosing a program.

Takeaway

Pursuing a direct-entry MSN program can be likened to hopping aboard an express train that can efficiently transport individuals with different educational backgrounds into the intricate world of nursing. Just like how an express train bypasses several stops to minimize travel time, these programs expedite the journey to nursing practice for non-nursing degree holders by merging essential foundational knowledge with specialized expertise.

What Is a Direct-Entry MSN Program?

A direct-entry MSN program is designed for people with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees who want to switch to the nursing field. Unlike traditional nursing pathways, which often require a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree as the starting point, such direct entry programs leverage the students’ existing educational background while introducing them to nursing regardless of their diverse academic backgrounds.

41 Direct-Entry MSN Programs in the U.S.

Below, we will explore 41 outstanding options for direct-entry MSN programs across the United States, spanning various states, program lengths, and even specialty areas.

Azusa Pacific University

• Study length: Over 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Education
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Health Care Administration
• Tuition: $860 per unit

Case Western Reserve University

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Nurse Anesthesia
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Midwifery
  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Systems Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Tuition: $50,878 in total

Columbia University

• Study length: Over a year
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Nurse Midwifery
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Tuition: $95,964 in total

Emory University

• Study length: Over a year
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Nurse Midwifery
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Tuition: $23,494 per semester

Elmhurst College

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Clinical Nurse Leader
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
• Tuition: $25,740 in total

Saint Louis University

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Clinical Nurse Leader
• Tuition: $1,240 per credit hour

Saint Catherine University

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Tuition: $995 per credit hour

Northeastern University

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Tuition: $21,750 per semester

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Sciences

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties: 
  • Public Health Nurse
• Tuition: $601 per credit hour

Marquette University

• Study length: 19 to 21 months
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Adult-Older Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse-Midwife
  • Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Systems Leadership and Health Care Quality
• Tuition: $65,000 in total

Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
• Public Health Nursing
• Tuition: $55,574 in total

Ohio State University

• Study length: 3 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Midwifery
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Clinical Nurse Leader
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Tuition: $9,682 per semester

Seton Hall University

• Study length: 3 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Clinical Nurse Leader
• Tuition: $24,335 per semester

Samuel Merritt University

• Study length: Over 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Clinical Nurse Leader
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
• Tuition: $1,647 per unit

Rush University

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Clinical Nurse Leader
• Tuition: $1,087 per credit hour

University of California, Irvine

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Community and Population Health Nursing
• Tuition: $11,700 per year

Pacific Lutheran University

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Care and Outcomes Manager
• Tuition: $1,093 per credit hour

Metropolitan State University of Denver

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Public Health Nursing
• Tuition: $508.59 per credit hour

Johns Hopkins University

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Healthcare Organizational Leadership
• Tuition: $1,881 per credit hour

San Francisco State University

• Study length: Over 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Nursing Administration Public/Community Health
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Tuition: $675 per unit

University of Illinois, Chicago

• Study length: Over 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Advanced Generalist
• Tuition: $785 per credit hour

University of Massachusetts Medical School

• Study length: 3 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Advanced Generalist Registered Nurse (AGRN)
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Tuition: $46,590 per year

University of Arizona

• Study length: Over a year
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Clinical Systems Leadership
• Tuition: $652 per credit hour

University of California, Los Angeles

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Clinical Nurse Leader
• Tuition: $27,405 per year

University of New Hampshire

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Clinical Nurse Leader
• Tuition: $41,100 per year

University of Hawaii at Manoa

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Advanced Nursing Certificate – Family Nurse Specialist
  • Advanced Nursing Certificate – Care Management Nurse
• Tuition: $1,001 per credit hour

University of San Diego

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Clinical Nurse Leader
• Tuition: $1,640 per unit

Mount Saint Joseph University

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Clinical Nurse Leader
  • Nurse Educator
• Tuition: $680 per credit hour

University of Maryland

• Study length: Over 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Clinical Nurse Leader
• Tuition: $873 per credit hour

University of Pennsylvania

• Study length: Over 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Transformative Nursing Education
  • Quality Improvement & Safety Processes in Health Care
  • Health Informatics
  • Integrated Nursing Care of Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Nursing Administration
  • Global Health
  • Women’s Health Studies
  • Palliative Care
  • Adult Oncology Specialist
• Tuition: $84,552 per year

University of San Francisco

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Primary Care Clinical Focus
• Tuition: $28,894 per year

University of Rochester

• Study length: Over 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
• Tuition: $1,740 per credit hour

University of Texas at Austin

• Study length: 2.5 to 3 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Leadership in Diverse Settings
• Tuition: $12,427 per year

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Institute of Health Professions

• Study length: 3 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology/Women’s Health
• Tuition: $141,596 in total

University of Cincinnati

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Midwifery
  • Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
• Tuition: $8,359 per semester

Alverno College

• Study length: Over a year
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:

• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Tuition: $755 per credit hour

University of Toledo

• Study length: Over 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Clinical Nurse Leader
• Tuition: $639.75 per credit hour

University of Virginia

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Clinical Nurse Leader
• Tuition: $920 per credit hour

University of Wisconsin Milwaukee

• Study length: 3 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Clinical Nurse Leader
• Tuition: $12,266 per semester

Vanderbilt University

• Study length: Over 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Nurse-Midwifery/Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Nursing and Health Care Leadership
  • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Emergency Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Midwifery
  • Nursing Informatics
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
• Tuition: $1,939 per credit hour

Western University for Health Sciences

• Study length: 2 years
• Advanced nursing practice specialties:
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
• Tuition: $58,943 in total

What To Consider When Looking for a Direct-Entry MSN Program

• Accreditation: Ensure relevant nursing accreditation agencies have accredited the program to guarantee its compliance with quality standards in education and training.
• Admission requirements: Before applying, review the entry requirements, including GPA, prerequisite courses, and other criteria to ensure your eligibility.
• Cost: Evaluate the total expenses, including tuition, fees, and any additional costs, to make an informed financial decision.
• Program format: Consider its structure, including full-time or part-time options, and whether it’s on-campus or online, to make sure it fits your schedule and learning style.
• Faculty: Research the staff’s qualifications and expertise to ensure they are qualified to guide your education effectively.
• Program length: Consider how long the program lasts so you can plan and coordinate your schedule.
• Curriculum and clinical hours: Analyze the curriculum’s comprehensiveness, the courses offered, and the amount of hands-on clinical experience provided to ensure a well-rounded education.
• Graduation and NCLEX-RN pass rates: Investigate the percentage of graduates and the number of them who pass the NCLEX-RN exam on their first try, as this demonstrates the program’s effectiveness in preparing students for licensure.

The Bottom Line

In the realm of higher education, direct-entry programs stand out as remarkable pathways, offering a seamless transition into nursing for individuals who embarked on diverse academic journeys. Among the 41 programs introduced in this article, various durations, specialty areas, and tuition fees were showcased. However, a consistent theme emerges: their pivotal role in enhancing the healthcare sector by nurturing a cadre of skilled and adept nurses.

FAQ

Can you go straight to an MSN degree?

Yes, you can jump straight to an MSN degree through direct-entry MSN programs if you have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. 

Is an MSN the same as an NP?

No, an MSN is a graduate-level degree that can lead to multiple advanced practice roles, whereas an NP is a specific specialization within the broader scope of MSN education.

Is a direct-entry nursing program right for me?

A direct-entry MSN program could be the right choice if you possess a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and are seeking a transition into nursing.

What are the benefits of a direct-entry MSN program?

A direct-entry nursing program combines undergraduate and graduate coursework for an accelerated route to nursing practice. It also serves as a streamlined path for career changers to enter nursing.

What is the difference between an accelerated nursing program and a direct-entry MSN?

The distinction between an accelerated nursing program and a direct-entry MSN lies in their outcomes. Accelerated nursing programs are typically designed to provide a shorter path to a BSN. Conversely, direct-entry MSN programs lead to RN licensure and a Master of Science in Nursing by integrating both undergraduate and graduate coursework.

How long is a direct-entry MSN program?

The length of a direct-entry MSN program can vary depending on the institution and program structure. However, typically, it takes around 2 to 3 years to complete.

How much does a direct-entry MSN program cost?

The cost of a direct-entry MSN program may range from approximately $20,000 to over $100,000. It is best to directly contact the institution you are interested in for up-to-date information regarding tuition and fees, as they are subject to change each year.