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RN to MSN student with a stethoscope reads information to a patient who is in a doctor's office with words Lauren Caruso 16.

RN to MSN Online Pathway Seamlessly transition from BSN to MSN Program

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Register By: October 21 Classes Start: October 23

Save time on your MSN

  • $330/credit (BSN), $637/credit (MSN)
  • Take graduate-level courses during your BSN that count toward your MSN
  • Transfer up to 90 credits (45 credits for unencumbered RN license, transfer up to 45 more)
  • No application fee or test scores required
  • Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
  • Save time and tuition in two specialty MSN tracks, earn credit for your RN license

RN to MSN Online Program Option Overview

Are you a current or aspiring BSN student with a long-term goal of earning your MSN?

Our RN-to-MSN online program option may be for you. This pathway allows students to take advanced placement (AP) courses during their BSN that they can use to waive one course for certain MSN tracks. This allows eligible registered nurses to more seamlessly transition from a BSN to MSN, and gives you the added benefit of earning a credential along the way.

The AP courses required for this pathway are:

  • NUR-540: Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan
  • NUR-545: Advanced Health and Literacy Assessment

Make sure you speak to your student advisor early in your BSN to ensure your course plan includes the requisite AP courses.

The online RN-to MSN pathway at SNHU requires you to choose from 2 specialty tracks — giving you the expertise you need to stand out in a number of nursing roles. The MSN tracks available within the Pathway are:

Fast, affordable and online. SNHU's nursing programs are built to fit your busy life – so nothing can stand between you and your goals. 

As leaders of online education, we also offer authentic learning experiences that empower nurses to immediately apply what they learn from the online classroom to their current role.

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What You'll Learn

  • Safe nursing practice and quality patient outcomes
  • Evidence-based practice to implement and evaluate outcomes of care
  • Strategies to promote health and prevent disease
  • Patient safety and quality initiative implementation

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How You'll Learn

At SNHU, you'll get support from day 1 to graduation and beyond. And with no set class times, 24/7 access to the online classroom, and helpful learning resources along the way, you'll have everything you need to reach your goals.

Fast Track Your MSN

Earn your degree faster, for less. With SNHU's 5 MSN program tracks - updated to align with today’s healthcare standards - you'll build the skills you need to help advance your career.

RN to MSN Career Outlook

As a registered nurse (RN), you are part of a noble profession, one that blends professionalism with compassion.

The demand for nurses with bachelor's-level education continues to grow at hospitals and other healthcare organizations. Since the National Academy of Medicine, formerly the Institute of Medicine, recommended that the number of BSN-prepared nurses increase to 80% by 2020, healthcare providers across the U.S. placed urgency and expectations for furthering the education for registered nurses. With this additional degree attainment, nurses with an MSN will be needed for supervisory and managerial opportunities.2

Community Health Nurse

As a community health nurse, you will help improve the health and well-being of a community by educating them about illness, safe health practices, disease prevention and how to obtain health care services.

Nursing Instructor

In this role, you'll demonstrate and teach patient care in classroom and clinical units to nursing students. Your position may keep you primarily engaged in teaching or require you to do a combination of teaching and research.

Nurse Manager of Population Health

If you elect to become a nurse manager of population health, you'll be responsible for improving clinical health outcomes of a defined group of individuals through community engagement and targeted programs.

Infectious Disease Program Nurse

As an infectious disease program nurse, you will understand how infectious agents spread and focus on the prevention and control of conditions that are contagious. You are likely to be involved more in research, education and policy than hands-on care.

It's important to note that some of these roles may require additional certifications. However, the opportunities encompass a wide range of roles throughout the country – and are not just limited to highly-populated metro areas, either. 

Daniel Arellano with the text Daniel Arellano"I believe the greatest demand for nursing is within primary care and medical-surgical nursing units," said Daniel Arellano, a nurse practitioner and graduate faculty member at SNHU. “This is particularly true in rural areas of the country that may not have a local nursing school graduating new nurses for the community.”

The RN-to-MSN option can help expand your nursing career employment and leadership opportunities and prepare you to serve in several types of nursing careers and various settings. Reach your career goals faster by moving from RN to MSN.

"I became a nurse to help other people," said Bonnie Fecowicz, who earned her MSN at SNHU. "Before applying to SNHU, I went back to school but it just didn't fit in with a working lifestyle."

Bonnie's education not only gave her the opportunity to explore the present and future of nursing – it gave her a global perspective on the needs and challenges nurses face every day.

"When you take a course at SNHU, you're meeting students from around the world. So when we talk about global health – I'm working with students that are living in Africa or in South America. I'm hearing firsthand what drought means, what Zika virus outbreaks really mean."

Ultimately, these experiences lead her to career advancement – combining her skill set with an innate ability to lead, support and empower her nursing staff.

"The quality of the program has allowed me to advance my career into more diverse roles as a director of nursing. I use everything I learned every day in my position. SNHU has really invested in my success."

Still interested in learning more? Read all about what degree you need to become a nurse.

Job Growth and Salary

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Job Growth

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses are projected to be a fast-growing occupation with 195,400 new jobs expected through 2031.1

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Salary

The median annual salary for registered nurses was $77,600 in 2021, though those with a master's earn $12,000 more (on average) than those with only a bachelor's.1

Start Your Journey Toward an RN to MSN Program Pathway

Bonnie Fecowicz

Keep Your Skills Sharp

Bonnie Fecowicz '16 

"I've been doing this job for 30-plus years. [I thought]: What could they possibly teach me? And taking my first course, I was humbled immediately. Healthcare is changing so quickly, you must remain current in best practices. You've got to have that education at your fingertips."

Courses & Curriculum

Nursing is, at heart, a profession about compassion. Your instructors are caring nursing professionals who are leaders in their field and who understand that good nurses put the needs of their patients first, whether they're in the boardroom, the classroom or the operating room.

Our nursing curriculum emphasizes both patient care and leadership. For instance, in the online RN to BSN and online MSN degree programs you'll:

  • Develop a community assessment with a health education plan
  • Create a capital budget proposal
  • Develop a nursing philosophy and change proposal
  • Complete both a genetics and a medical malpractice case study
  • Earn NIH Security and Privacy certification and a CITI training certificate

Throughout the RN to MSN program pathway you'll develop an electronic portfolio of completed assignments and certificates, a convenient way to demonstrate the achievement of program outcomes and showcase your accomplishments to your employer. 

Curriculum Requirements & Resources

General Education

All undergraduate students are required to take general education courses, which are part of SNHU's newly redesigned program, The Commons. The goal of The Commons' curriculum is to empower you with some of the most in-demand skills, so you can succeed not only in your academic career, but in your personal and professional life too.

Technology Resources

We provide cloud-based virtual environments in some courses to give you access to the technology you need for your degree – and your career. Learn more about our virtual environments.

Earn Math Credits

Save time and tuition with our Pathways to Math Success assessments. Depending on your scores, you could earn up to 12 math credits – the equivalent of 4 courses – toward your degree for less than $50 per assessment. For additional information, or to register for a Pathways to Math Success assessment, contact your admission counselor or academic advisor today.

HEaRT Experiential Learning

Looking to gain professional healthcare experience, even before you graduate? Do it with HEaRT.

Specially designed for learners in healthcare and nursing, HEaRT (Higher Education and Real World Training) is a powerful experiential learning opportunity at SNHU. These online, asynchronous, voluntary experiences help connect students with employers to help solve real-world business problems – so you can be ready to make an impact in your field.

University Accreditation

New England Commission of Higher Education Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.

ANCC Accredited Provider

At Southern New Hampshire University, we’re committed to your success — even beyond graduation. That’s why we’re committed to delivering accredited continuing education for nurses and healthcare professionals. From one-hour webinars to multi-day conferences and more, these opportunities are built to help you continue to meet the needs of communities across the globe.

Visit our SNHU continuing education page to learn more.

Southern New Hampshire University is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Commission on Accreditation.

Tuition & Fees

As a private, nonprofit university, we’re committed to making college more accessible by making it more affordable. That’s why we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.

We also offer financial aid packages to those who qualify, plus a 30% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Online Undergraduate Programs Per Course Per Credit Hour Annual Cost for 30 credits 
Degree/Certificates $990 $330 $9,900
Degree/Certificates (U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)* $693 $231 $6,930

Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually. *Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional Costs No Application Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)

Frequently Asked Questions

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