Study Nursing
Accelerated online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs give working nurses the chance to earn their degree in as little as 12-20 months, with some programs offering options that can be completed in less than 1 year. These programs often use 7-8 week courses to help students move through the curriculum more quickly.
These accelerated programs also provide an intensive nursing education that gives strong attention to hands-on clinical practice and high-level skill development.
In this article, we have reviewed popular on-campus and online accelerated MSN degree programs based on speed, flexibility, academic strength, and value.
Accelerated MSN Degrees
St. Thomas University
Accelerated Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
The CCNE-accredited accelerated Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) at St. Thomas University helps build your experience in providing evidence-based care in real-world settings and gives you a strong base for added specialization in your field.
The accelerated MSN program is offered in an online format that works well for working professionals. The program also includes multiple start dates throughout the year.
The program has a total tuition cost of $19,400. It may be completed in as little as 12 months and requires 30 credit hours. Tuition for the accelerated MSN online degree program is the same for both in-state and out-of-state students, and payment may be made by the course. The total tuition includes all fees, including a technology fee for each course.
The curriculum for the accelerated MSN degree strengthens your ability to work well with varied patient groups, gather and interpret important health data, and support positive policy changes in healthcare. You will learn from experienced faculty while studying pathophysiology, health promotion and disease prevention, and pharmacokinetics. The program also helps prepare you to succeed as a nursing leader in demand.
The accelerated MSN degree curriculum is comprised of 10 core courses for a total of 30 credits:
- Philosophical and Theoretical Basis of Nursing
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Advanced Health Assessment and Differential Diagnosis
- Diversity in Advanced Health Practice
- Influencing Health Policy
- Transition to Advanced Practice Nursing
- Advanced Clinical Pharmacology
- Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- Advanced Nursing Leadership
- Advanced Nursing Practicum
After completing the program, you will be expected to:
- Gain the knowledge and skills needed to move forward in your nursing career.
- Create processes for self-accountability in professional growth, adopt lifelong learning, and practice safely and effectively within a chosen specialty to maintain health and improve patient outcomes.
- Create an advanced practice environment that supports effective interactions with patients, other disciplines, and other groups in communities.
- Support policies that improve health outcomes for populations and raise the quality of healthcare at local, state, national, and global levels.
- Use theoretical knowledge and clinical skills in the development and implementation of evidence-based projects in real-world healthcare settings.
Admission Requirements
The program has admission requirements that allow students from varied academic backgrounds broader access to the online Master of Science in Nursing programs. You must hold an active and unencumbered RN license and a bachelor’s degree in nursing. You must also submit transcripts from all institutions previously attended. Because of in-person clinical requirements, only students who currently live in Florida or Georgia may enter this program.
The following items are required for admission to the MSN online program:
- Completed free application.
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution.
- Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions, with unofficial transcripts accepted.
- 3.0 or higher GPA.
- Active and unencumbered Florida or Georgia nursing license.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Accelerated Master’s in Nursing Pathway
The accelerated Master’s in Nursing Pathway (AMNP) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham is an entry-level nursing pathway for individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in a non-nursing field and want to move into a nursing career.
The accelerated curriculum includes pre-licensure coursework that leads to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree in only 3 semesters. Students are admitted every spring. Coursework and clinical learning experiences are completed on campus.
Graduates of the AMNP pathway are eligible to apply to take the National Certification Licensure Exam for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN) to become a registered nurse.
After completing the accelerated Master’s in Nursing Pathway, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate the integration of multiple viewpoints, knowledge, nursing history, liberal arts, and science into nursing practice to develop a personal way of knowing, caring, and clinical judgment.
- Practice person-centered, holistic care by building relationships, using effective communication, and creating individualized plans of care.
- Take part in partnerships and advocacy efforts across the healthcare delivery continuum for collaborative activities that support strong population health.
- Apply theoretical foundations and evidence-based care concepts to support high-quality healthcare delivery and ongoing scholarly nursing practice.
- Use established and emerging principles of quality and safety science in care delivery and maintain a culture of safety within healthcare organizations.
- Work with professionals across healthcare disciplines and lead within care-focused interprofessional teams.
- Use resources to lead safe, fair, and high-quality care within healthcare systems.
- Use healthcare information technologies to support care delivery and the growth of knowledge for practice.
- Develop a professional identity that reflects the values of the nursing profession, including ethical conduct, intentional participation, professional accountability, and principles of social justice.
Prospective students must meet the following admission requirements:
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Combined score of 297 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE or a score of 480 on the GMAT.
- Test scores submitted from the GRE or GMAT must be no more than 5 years old.
- International students must earn a TOEFL score of at least 500.
- Completion of AMNP foundation and prerequisite courses.
- 3 letters of professional reference that speak to the applicant’s potential for graduate study.
- An essay written in response to a prompt provided in the application.
- A personal interview.
Applicants must submit an official transcript from every college or university attended, even if attendance was for only 1 semester.
If applicable, applicants who were previously enrolled in a medical professional program, such as nursing, medical school, or physician assistant, must provide a letter of good standing from the previous institution. This letter must show that the applicant is in good standing and eligible to return to that school or program.
All application materials must be received by the published application deadline along with the fee.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham offers many scholarships, including both need-based and merit-based options, to support nursing students across all programs. Scholarships are awarded 2 times each year, during the spring and fall semesters.
Elmhurst University
Online Master’s Entry in Nursing Practice
Elmhurst University’s online Master’s Entry in Nursing Practice (MENP) program is the 1st program of its kind in the country to be offered online. It is designed for students who hold bachelor’s degrees in other fields and want to enter the nursing profession.
Through this direct-entry nursing program, students earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree in just 20 months. The program also prepares students to sit for the registered nurse licensure exam, the NCLEX-RN, and the clinical nurse leader (CNL) certification exam.
This accelerated MSN for non-nurses offers students an intensive nursing education that gives strong attention to hands-on clinical practice and strong skill development, with attention to quality and safety.
After finishing the program, you will be prepared for a new role in direct patient care and will graduate with the skills of a clinical nurse leader. You will also be eligible to continue toward a nurse practitioner role through post-graduate certification programs or a Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
Within the program, students build skills and experience in several in-demand areas, including:
- Health care systems and delivery systems
- Biostatistics
- Family health and childbearing
- Epidemiology
- Technology and information management
The online Master’s Entry in Nursing Practice program includes 71 credits across 22 courses, along with 810 clinical hours. Each term includes between 3 and 5 courses, and the final term includes the clinical nurse leader residency.
All coursework is 100% online, but students complete nursing clinicals as close as possible to their local area and attend 1 on-campus residency. This rigorous program is a full-time commitment and is not self-paced. Some courses also include live sessions through Zoom.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements include:
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university
- Minimum cumulative 3.2 GPA
- Prerequisite courses
- No prior nursing experience required
To be admitted to the Accelerated Master’s nursing program, students must:
- Meet certain health requirements and functional abilities.
- Show the ability to take part in varied, complex, and specific experiences that are necessary for learning and practicing essential nursing skills and functions.
- Have the needed mix of cognitive, affective, psychomotor, physical, and social abilities required to perform these skills and functions in a satisfactory way.
Required Prerequisites
Your enrollment advisor will help you identify which prerequisites you need before you can begin the online MENP program. You must complete 22 credit hours of prerequisites, along with the following college-level courses, earning a grade of C or better in each one:
- Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits)
- Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits)
- General Chemistry with Lab (4 credits)
- Microbiology with Lab (4 credits)
- Intro to Psychology or Sociology (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
Prerequisites for the MENP program must have been completed within the past 5 years. If you have not earned credits for these courses, an enrollment advisor will help you with the next steps.
Rush University
Generalist Entry Master’s Clinical Nurse Leader Program
The Generalist Entry Master’s (GEM) Clinical Nurse Leader program at Rush University is for students who have a bachelor’s degree in another field and want to move into nursing.
The program is full-time and uses a hybrid format. The length is 2 years. Tuition is $1,131 per credit hour. The curriculum includes 74 term hours of graduate coursework in nursing and related sciences. You are expected to complete the MSN requirements on a full-time basis in 6 terms.
Rush’s MSN is a generalist master’s program, which means you will graduate prepared to provide full, holistic care to any patient group or community. Your education will be based on a health equity framework that helps prepare graduates to provide patient-focused care.
This accelerated nursing program is well suited for non-nurses who want to enter the nursing field quickly. The MSN program supports career changers and gives a strong path into nursing.
Your preparation as a clinical nurse leader will give you a strong base for building a nursing career. You will be in a strong position for success no matter what your career goal may be.
As a student in one of Chicago’s leading Generalist Entry Master of Science in Nursing programs, you will focus on clinical leadership in nursing while earning your degree. The program is made for non-nursing majors and allows you to study both online and in person.
You will be trained by experts who teach from their own work as clinicians at a top-tier academic medical center. At Rush University Medical Center, you gain hands-on experience in a modern facility alongside top professionals in their areas.
You will also have volunteer opportunities that can broaden your education beyond the Rush campus while helping underserved communities.
You will be well-prepared to work at a high level in inpatient, outpatient, or community settings. You will also be ready to continue your education and seek a doctoral degree in nursing.
Classes and clinical rotations are usually held Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The university arranges all of your clinicals. Clinical practice sites include Rush University Medical Center and other healthcare facilities in the Chicago metropolitan area.
After graduation, you will take the NCLEX exam to receive your RN license before moving into nursing practice. You may also choose to continue your education by applying to one of Rush’s doctoral programs.
Graduates of the program are expected to:
- Use communication methods that show understanding of the dignity and respect given to all people.
- Provide capable, holistic, and contextually appropriate patient-family-population-centered nursing care.
- Bring together knowledge from nursing science, social science, and the humanities in promoting health, preventing disease, and delivering care across varied populations and healthcare settings.
- Show the ability to work with interdisciplinary teams to improve nursing care delivery.
- Show leadership behaviors within and across systems at all levels of prevention.
- Recognize the effect of micro and macro system environments on healthcare delivery.
- Show professional values in nursing practice.
Graduates work as registered nurses in many hospital and clinical settings, including:
- Emergency department
- Intensive care unit
- Labor and delivery
- Medical-surgical unit
- Neonatal intensive care unit
- Operating room
- Orthopedics
- Palliative care unit
- Pediatric intensive care unit
Program Prerequisites
You must complete all of the courses listed below with a grade of C or higher at a regionally accredited college or university by the application deadline. The program recommends, but does not require, that you complete a laboratory part for each of these courses.
- General Chemistry
- Human Anatomy
- Human Physiology
- Microbiology
Admission Requirements
The program carefully reviews all of your credentials. It welcomes applicants from varied backgrounds, and the program benefits from that variety.
Applications are reviewed based on the following:
- A bachelor’s degree, at minimum, from a regionally accredited institution.
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- 3 letters of recommendation. Letters must come from faculty members or work managers. You should choose recommenders who can assess your current or future clinical and leadership abilities, critical thinking, and potential to complete the program. Recommendations from friends, relatives, or co-workers are not accepted. Your application may be delayed or denied if you submit them.
- A resume or CV that includes the following:
- Community service.
- Educational, leadership, and professional activities.
- Scholarly activities, including publications, presentations, research, honors, and awards.
- Work experience.
- Faculty interview by invitation only.
- Completed prerequisite courses.
Southern New Hampshire University
Accelerated RN to MSN Online Pathway
If you want to move forward in your career more quickly and at a lower cost, Southern New Hampshire University’s accelerated RN to MSN online pathway may be a strong choice for you. This pathway was created for students who want a faster and more cost-friendly route to career growth.
Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the program requires you to choose one of five specialty tracks so you can build the knowledge needed to stand out. The available tracks are:
- MSN – Nursing Education
- MSN – Population Healthcare
- MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
- MSN – Healthcare Quality & Safety
- MSN – Nurse Executive Leadership
Through this pathway, you will build skills in the following areas:
- Safe nursing practices
- Care and outcome analysis
- Disease-prevention strategies
- Patient protection techniques
- Leadership tactics
- Data-driven decision making
This pathway option allows students to take graduate courses during the BSN program. These courses may then be used to waive credits in each MSN track. 4 of the MSN tracks – Population Healthcare, Family Nurse Practitioner, Healthcare Quality & Safety, and Nurse Executive Leadership – may be reduced by 6 credits. The Nursing Education track may be reduced by 9 credits.
This structure helps eligible registered nurses move more smoothly from a BSN to an MSN and also provides the added benefit of earning a credential along the way.
All classes in this pathway give strong attention to patient care and leadership. Along with courses tied to your chosen track, you will also need to complete advanced classes.
All undergraduate students must also complete general education courses, which are part of SNHU’s redesigned program, The Commons. The purpose of The Commons curriculum is to help you build some of the most in-demand skills so you can succeed in your academic, personal, and professional life.
Vanderbilt University
Master of Nursing and Master of Nursing Prespecialty Program
You can become a master’s-prepared registered nurse with NCLEX-RN licensure in just 4 full-time, in-person semesters. This accelerated pre-licensure program is for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing and want a full base in nursing.
Students build the skills and knowledge required of registered nurses, along with beginning clinical teaching skills and advanced ability in interprofessional teamwork, nursing leadership, and nursing informatics.
The 64-credit Master of Nursing (MN) and Master of Nursing Prespecialty (MN Prespecialty) program at Vanderbilt University prepares students to provide high-quality, full care in a changing healthcare environment as registered nurses. Students who choose the MN Prespecialty route continue for added semesters into an advanced practice specialty through a Post-Master’s Certificate or Doctor of Nursing Practice.
Both options lead to the same MN degree and prepare you to take the NCLEX-RN exam. The difference is what happens after you finish the MN portion.
The MN path is for students who want to begin working as registered nurses and keep future options open.
The MN Prespecialty path is for students who already know the advanced practice specialty they want to follow and want a direct move into that specialty without submitting a 2nd application. These students add 3-4 more semesters to their path after earning the MN. In most cases, they finish the MN degree and, within a few weeks, begin their specialty or DNP classes.
All MN students complete the same 4-semester curriculum. The difference comes after that. Prespecialty students continue into their chosen advanced practice specialty once the MN portion is complete.
The MN portion has the same length for both options. However, MN Prespecialty students should plan for the added time and cost required to complete the advanced practice specialty that follows, which is 3-4 semesters after graduation with the MN degree. Total cost and length depend on the specialty.
MN generalist students may begin in both the fall and spring semesters. MN Prespecialty students begin only in the fall semester so they can move directly into the specialty portion of the curriculum as a Post-Master’s Certificate student after earning the MN degree.
Program Highlights
- Accelerated Program for Non-Nurses: If you are choosing nursing as a 2nd career or degree, the MN program can prepare you to become an RN or move into a specialty in just 4 semesters. No BSN is required for admission.
- Fall and Spring Starts: MN Prespecialty students start in August, while the MN program admits students in both January and August. This accelerated program requires 66 credit hours across 4 semesters.
- In-Person Format: MN courses are delivered in a full-time, face-to-face format. Students should live within daily commuting distance of Vanderbilt’s campus.
- Strong Clinical Experience: The integrated, accelerated curriculum includes virtual simulation, high-fidelity patient simulations, and AR/XR clinical simulations, giving you a safe, standardized, and repeatable setting to practice clinical skills before working with actual patients.
- Focus on Health Equity and Justice: The program gives strong attention to health equity and health justice, encouraging students to view patients through a holistic and health equity perspective.
As master’s-prepared registered nurses, graduates are prepared to provide patient care in many settings and to many types of patients. They may provide care in providers’ offices, hospitals, including ICUs and acute care units, long-term care facilities, schools, clinics, imaging centers, and anywhere an RN is needed. Students on the MN Prespecialty path are also well-prepared to begin further education as nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives.
Admission Requirements
The admission requirements include:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in a discipline other than nursing.
- A GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is recommended.
- Submit three reference letters from faculty members, professional colleagues, or supervisors only. At least one reference must hold a master’s degree or higher. There is no advantage in sending more than the required number of references.
- Request official electronic transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
- Prerequisites, including online courses, must be completed before the term begins.
- Statistics is required for all applicants.
- For applicants without nursing degrees, added prerequisites include human anatomy, human physiology, microbiology, lifespan development (or developmental psychology), and nutrition.
Purdue Global
ExcelTrack Master of Science in Nursing
You can earn the same respected Purdue Global CCNE-accredited Master’s in Nursing in a faster and more affordable self-paced ExcelTrack. Purdue Global is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
This accelerated MSN program is made for highly disciplined, self-motivated learners who already have strong professional nursing knowledge. The program gives you the freedom to move past material you already know, so you can spend more time on the topics you still need to learn.
You may take assessments to show what you already know. You will also complete 1-credit courses that focus on one area of knowledge or skill, allowing you to move through the degree more quickly.
The ExcelTrack Master of Science in Nursing includes ExcelTrack core and specialty courses, along with standard online clinical and final project courses. Courses are reviewed and revised by industry experts to make sure they reflect the newest changes in health care.
You may choose from 2 specialty tracks that give added knowledge for your advanced role, along with a guided clinical practice experience.
- Executive Leader: This track prepares you to oversee complex systems and take on system-focused roles, including positions in health facility administration, public health, and policy.
- Nurse Educator: This track prepares you to teach patients and their families, provide interprofessional staff development programs, and evaluate the success of educational programs.
In both of these tracks you will complete a clinical experience designed to give you the chance to apply theoretical knowledge while working with a mentor.
The program is built on previous nursing education and clinical experience. It is designed to prepare you for advanced practice in different health care settings and to create a base for later doctoral study. The main purpose of the master’s degree program is to provide graduate education for advanced nursing roles that respond to the needs of individuals, families, and communities.
The program of study includes completion of the core curriculum, concentration or population focus area courses, and an evidence-based project proposal. The core courses focus on building a theoretical base in nursing, evidence-based decision making, health policy, financing and organization of the health care delivery system, advanced practice issues, ethics, health promotion and disease prevention, and biostatistics.
This curriculum prepares you for advanced practice and nursing leadership roles. The courses are updated regularly by industry experts to keep them current with the newest developments in health care.
Core courses of the program include:
- Advanced Nursing Roles
- Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Practice Nursing
- Scientific and Analytic Approaches to Advanced Evidence-Based Practice
- Epidemiology and Health Promotion
- Health Policy, Ethical, and Legal Perspectives of the Health Care System
- Promoting Optimal Models and Systems for Health Care Delivery
The standard program length is 1.9 years, which is the average time to degree completion. Individual experiences may differ based on full-time or part-time enrollment and other factors. Terms are 10 weeks long. Start dates are available throughout the year.
Admissions Requirements
A bachelor’s degree with a major in nursing and an approved criminal background check are required. You must provide an official transcript showing completion of your bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, although an unofficial copy may be submitted during the application process.
How Fast Can You Earn an MSN?
The fastest MSN programs may allow you to graduate in about 1 year. These accelerated programs help nurses move forward in their careers in a shorter period than traditional degree options.
Is Earning an MSN Difficult?
Earning a nursing master’s degree in just 12 months can be challenging because the curriculum is condensed. Students should make sure they can manage coursework along with personal and professional responsibilities.
How Online Accelerated MSN Degrees Work?
Online MSN programs usually offer flexible schedules that help working professionals manage their studies along with other responsibilities. Many programs use a mix of less-structured online classes and live online sessions to teach advanced topics in nursing theory, research, healthcare policy, and specialized clinical practice.
Some online MSN programs also include required in-person parts for onboarding, assessments, or other course activities. For example, all clinical requirements must be completed in person. Some programs help arrange clinical placements, while others only approve placements that students find on their own.
Students may also take part in virtual simulations, online discussions, and group projects. The pace is often designed to be adaptable, and most programs offer both full-time and part-time enrollment options. This flexibility is very important for nurses who want advanced education while also managing professional and personal responsibilities.
What are the Admission Requirements for Online Accelerated MSN Programs?
The admission requirements and application process for online MSN programs differ by school. However, many programs share several common requirements:
- Common application requirements often include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or, for an online RN-to-MSN program, an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Many programs also require an active and unencumbered RN license, along with 1-2 years of experience, although this varies by program.
- Most MSN programs usually ask for a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Some schools may allow conditional admission for students with a lower GPA.
- Other common requirements may include prerequisite courses, letters of recommendation, resumes, transcripts, and personal statements or essays. Some programs also require background checks, drug screenings, and health clearances.
Your application should clearly show your strengths and your ability to succeed in the program. It is also important not to wait until the last minute to apply. Leave enough time for a colleague or mentor to review your materials and give feedback.
Is an Online Accelerated MSN Degree Worth It?
Absolutely! Advances in technology have allowed programs to become strong in providing the proper and necessary resources for a successful online learning experience. Online programs are built with the understanding that many students manage full lives outside academics. They are designed to offer an education that is realistic and achievable for a changing nursing workforce.