Fast Track Your Online MSN
- Low tuition: $627 per credit (most tracks 36 credits; FNP track is 51)
- Choose from 5 program tracks aligned with the latest AACN Essentials
- Complete in as few as 1.5 years for most tracks (under 2 years for FNP track)
- Learn from the experts: 100% doctorally prepared faculty
- Program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)1
- No entrance exams required
Online MSN Degree Program Overview
Earn your nursing degree faster with our affordable online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Southern New Hampshire University.
Healthcare is evolving at a rapid pace. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated these changes – creating even more opportunities for nurses like you to take the next step in your career.
You're ready. But with challenges of time, tuition and a demanding work schedule, it feels impossible to go further.
At SNHU, it is possible. We understand the barriers standing between you and your goals. That's why we've updated our online MSN to help you break through to the next phase of your career.
Our online MSN offers:
A way to fast track your degree. With 5 career-focused program tracks and fewer credits to earn your degree (36 for most MSN tracks; 51 for the family nurse practitioner track), you can earn your MSN in as fast as 1.5 years. At SNHU, you have the flexibility to take one or two courses per term, allowing you to accelerate at times that fit your life and schedule.
Plus, at only $627 per credit, you can take advantage of some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation. For the four 36 credit tracks, this means you pay under $23,000 in tuition. The FNP track is 51 credits, meaning students would pay approximately $32,000 in tuition plus the cost of the immersion experience.
More options. Our 5 affordable tracks can help prepare you for various career paths. Whether you want to become a family nurse practitioner (FNP), nurse leader, educator, population health professional or an advocate for healthcare quality and safety, you can tailor your MSN degree to your goals.
Advanced skills. Each track is aligned to the latest American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) essentials, helping you build the critical-thinking, leadership and evidence-based practice skills you need to provide equitable care in any number of healthcare environments. Plus, 100% of our faculty are doctorally prepared – giving you the industry expertise and insider knowledge you need to get ahead.
"The learning experience goes beyond being simply academic to practical in my everyday work," said Les Rothrock '15, a graduate of the MSN program at SNHU. "It has given me the edge to be better prepared and equipped in doing my job. I have learned how to research and problem solve issues in my work as well."
Our online MSN program has been designed with the future of the nursing profession in mind, while keeping a finger on the pulse of the current healthcare industry. This is especially important now, as new therapies, technologies and complex medical treatments to address patient needs are introduced on a daily basis. Not only that – healthcare legislation and regulation continue to evolve.
To keep quality of care aligned with the industry's expectations and demands, healthcare organizations need highly educated nurses to fill leadership roles.
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) online program at SNHU prepares you with the key competencies necessary for continuous improvement of the safety and quality of healthcare systems.
Learn how to:
- Propose initiatives and technologies that facilitate decision-making for patient care
- Motivate change and drive improvement in healthcare
- Create health prevention and promotion initiatives
- Generate solutions for navigating quality and cost in healthcare excellence
- Advocate for policies and effective systems that meet the needs of consumers
- Build effective working relationships across organizations
No BSN yet? No problem! SNHU offers an accelerated online RN to MSN pathway option that allows eligible registered nurses to achieve their MSN faster and for less money. The RN to MSN accelerated pathway can be applied to the nursing education and population healthcare tracks.
Fast Track Your MSN
Ready for the next phase of your career? With SNHU's 5 MSN program tracks — updated to align with today’s healthcare standards — you'll be on your way to earn your degree faster, for less.
MSN Track Options
No 2 nurses are the same; your professional experience and passion for what you do is unique. That's why we offer 5 unique tracks to help prepare you for the role and setting for the next step in your career. Choose from 5 MSN tracks built to align with your career goals:
Family Nurse Practitioner
Position yourself for success in one of most high-demand nursing roles with your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP).
This track satisfies the educational requirements needed for the two national FNP certifications. Successfully passing one of those certification examinations allows the FNP graduate to apply for their Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) license from their state Board of Nursing.
Learn more about earning your family nurse practitioner degree online.
Courses include:
- Advanced Clinical Pathophysiology
- Advanced Health Assessment & Clinical Reasoning
- Advanced Pharmacology for the Prescriber
The family nurse practitioner track includes a multi-day in-person immersion experience in New Hampshire as well as 650 clinical practicum hours under the guidance of preceptors.
Program Outcomes:
- Apply evidence-based practice, informatics, and healthcare technologies to support continuous quality improvement in complex health systems
- Lead and collaborate within interprofessional teams and organizational structures to manage change, improve nursing practice, and coordinate care across populations
- Develop advanced communication and advocacy strategies to improve health outcomes across the four spheres of care
- Advance equitable health policies and regulations that reduce health risk and promote financial stewardship, in alignment with ethical and legal standards
- Integrate person-centered health promotion and disease prevention strategies to address actual and potential problems through the role of change agent and patient advocate
- Integrate an advanced level of scientific knowledge in the role of an advanced practice registered nurse to independently assess, diagnose, and manage the health outcomes of individuals, families, and populations across the lifespan in primary care settings
- Collaborate interprofessionally to provide high quality, ethical, and safe care to diverse populations
Healthcare Quality & Safety
Become an advocate for change and gain the skills you need to implement a culture of safety with your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Healthcare Quality & Safety.
It's estimated that 1 in 10 patients are harmed while receiving hospital patient care – and of those cases, about 50% are preventable.1 This MSN track can give you the skills you need to change those numbers and improve patient-centered care.
Learn more about earning your healthcare quality & safety MSN online.
Courses include:
- Healthcare Quality & Improvement
- Health Policy & Law
- Healthcare Finance & Reimbursement
The healthcare quality and safety track includes 135 clinical practicum hours under the guidance of a preceptor in the student's final course.
Program Outcomes:
- Apply evidence-based practice, informatics, and healthcare technologies to support continuous quality improvement in complex health systems
- Lead and collaborate within interprofessional teams and organizational structures to manage change, improve nursing practice, and coordinate care across populations
- Develop advanced communication and advocacy strategies to improve health outcomes across the four spheres of care
- Advance equitable health policies and regulations that reduce health risk and promote financial stewardship, in alignment with ethical and legal standards
- Integrate systems-based quality improvements across various healthcare settings
- Analyze integrated healthcare systems and processes to mitigate risks and advocate for a culture of safety
Nursing Education
Take your nursing expertise to an academic or clinical setting with your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Nursing Education.
Nursing education is a high-demand field with a promising future – as healthcare itself is dynamic and ever-evolving. As a graduate of this program, you'll meet the educational requirements you need to sit for the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) exam offered by the National League for Nursing.
Learn more about earning your nursing education MSN online.
Courses include:
- Advanced Pathophysiology and Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
- Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
- Population Care Management
During the final course, nursing education students will complete 135 clinical practicum hours divided between clinical and academic settings under the guidance of preceptors.
Program Outcomes:
- Apply evidence-based practice, informatics, and healthcare technologies to support continuous quality improvement in complex health systems
- Lead and collaborate within interprofessional teams and organizational structures to manage change, improve nursing practice, and coordinate care across populations
- Develop advanced communication and advocacy strategies to improve health outcomes across the four spheres of care
- Advance equitable health policies and regulations that reduce health risk and promote financial stewardship, in alignment with ethical and legal standards
- Integrate best-practices in teaching and learning to develop and evaluate high-quality educational experiences and model effective professional and leadership practices for diverse populations
- Design, implement, and evaluate teaching and learning strategies in various educational and healthcare settings
Nurse Executive Leadership
Set the vision for the delivery of safe, timely, efficient, equitable and patient-centered care with your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Nurse Executive Leadership.
As a nurse, you're already an advocate for your patients. This program track can take you a step further – helping you advance your career from a bedside role to the role of a leader.
As a nurse leader in executive practice, you'll build leadership, strategic planning, human resources and finance skills. Working within a collaborative and interprofessional environment, you'll influence and improve both the patient experience of care and the health of populations.
You'll also discover ways to reduce the per capita cost of health care, making healthcare more equitable and affordable to all. You'll then make recommendations to leadership on strategic plans, budgets, human relations and patient care.
Career outlook:
Because of this, the job market for nurse leaders is growing fast. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for medical and health services managers could grow 32% through 2029 – far faster than the national average for all occupations.1
Graduates of the MSN in Nurse Executive Leadership track will have the option to demonstrate the achievement of program competencies through two national exams: the Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) and/or Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) offered by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL).
Courses include:
- Healthcare Quality and Improvement
- Strategic Skills for Nurse Executive Leaders
- Advanced Concepts for Nurse Executive Leaders
The nursing executive leadership track includes 135 clinical practicum hours under the guidance of a preceptor in the student's final course.
Program Outcomes:
- Apply evidence-based practice, informatics, and healthcare technologies to support continuous quality improvement in complex health systems
- Lead and collaborate within interprofessional teams and organizational structures to manage change, improve nursing practice, and coordinate care across populations
- Develop advanced communication and advocacy strategies to improve health outcomes across the four spheres of care
- Advance equitable health policies and regulations that reduce health risk and promote financial stewardship, in alignment with ethical and legal standards
- Apply strategic planning and business principles to design, develop, and implement high quality, equitable, cost-effective healthcare
- Lead interprofessional teams through the execution of innovative leadership strategies
Population Healthcare
Promote practices that keep communities safe with your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Population Healthcare.
COVID-19 offered a stark lesson in the value of population healthcare. While population health as a practice is focused on improving the patient health outcomes of groups and communities such as schools, businesses, homes and hospitals, this was amplified in 2020. Suddenly, these same spaces were at risk of spreading one of the most unprecedented viruses of our time.
An MSN in Population Healthcare can help you identify ways to connect practice to policy in pursuit of local change. You'll learn how non-traditional partnerships among different sectors of the community – such as public health, industry, academia, health care, local government entities and beyond – can help achieve positive health outcomes.
With assignments and projects focused on telehealth, diversity, equity and inclusion as well as informatics, this track can also help you learn how to integrate evidence-based guidelines for health promotion and disease prevention.
Career outlook:
Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, population healthcare is likely to be an important field in for years to come.
Those with an MSN in Population Healthcare could, for example, treat infected patient populations and collaborate with healthcare partners to identify factors that led to diagnosis. You may work to reduce the risk of exposure to other healthcare workers and the patient’s family and friends, or even coordinate a recovery plan with multiple healthcare providers.
This is a unique track, an emerging discipline and a major focus of authoritative sources in the nursing education space including American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Courses include:
- Informatics and Communication Technology
- Population Care Management
- Healthcare Quality and Improvement
The population healthcare track includes 135 clinical practicum hours under the guidance of a preceptor in the student's final course.
Program Outcomes:
- Apply evidence-based practice, informatics, and healthcare technologies to support continuous quality improvement in complex health systems
- Lead and collaborate within interprofessional teams and organizational structures to manage change, improve nursing practice, and coordinate care across populations
- Develop advanced communication and advocacy strategies to improve health outcomes across the four spheres of care
- Advance equitable health policies and regulations that reduce health risk and promote financial stewardship, in alignment with ethical and legal standards
- Develop interprofessional partnerships to coordinate the delivery of health services across populations
- Lead population-based care through ethically grounded policies, data-driven decisions, and value-based care management principles
Career Outlook
Healthcare and nursing are changing fast – our online MSN can help you keep up.
In 2021, the National Academy of Medicine published ''The Future of Nursing: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity'' – a long-awaited follow-up to the ground-breaking 2010 report, "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health."
"By 2030, the nursing profession will look vastly different and will be caring for a changing America," the report said.
"Nurses will need to be educated to care for a population that is both aging, with declining mental and physical health, and becoming increasingly diverse; to engage in new professional roles; to adapt to new technologies; to function in a changing policy environment; and to lead and collaborate with professionals from other sectors and professions."4
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of nurses with advanced skills and other medical and health services managers is projected to grow 32% through 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.2 The median annual pay in May 2020 for these managerial roles was $104,280.2
Some top medical centers – including ANCC Magnet designated hospitals – consider advanced degrees a minimum requirement for their nurses. A master's in nursing degree can expand your nursing career employment and leadership opportunities and prepare you to serve in many roles depending on your chosen track.
Start Your Journey Toward an Online MSN Degree
Why SNHU for your Master's in Nursing
Flexible
With no set class meeting times, you can learn on your schedule and access online course materials 24/7.
Affordable
Take advantage of some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation, plus financial aid for those who qualify.
Respected
Founded in 1932, Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with over 100,000 graduates across the country. SNHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), a regional accreditor, which advocates for institutional improvement and public assurance of quality.
Recently, SNHU has been nationally recognized for leading the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education:
- “Most Innovative” regional university honors from U.S. News & World Report each year since 2015
- A $1 million grant from Google.org to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth
- Recognition as a 2017 Digital Learning Innovator by the Online Learning Consortium
Network
At Southern New Hampshire University, you'll have access to a powerful network of more than 200,000 students, alumni and staff that can help support you long after graduation. Our instructors offer relevant, real-world expertise to help you understand and navigate the field. Plus, with our growing, nationwide alumni network, you'll have the potential to tap into a number of internship and career opportunities.
96.5% of students would recommend SNHU.6 Discover why SNHU may be right for you.
Admission Requirements
Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 5 graduate terms. You can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials.
MSN admission requirements for nursing executive leadership, population healthcare, healthcare quality and safety, and nursing education tracks:
- Must maintain an active unencumbered registered nurse license. Licensure exam must be equivalent to NCLEX-RN examination. (If a student holds active licenses in more than one state/jurisdiction, all licenses must be unencumbered.)
- Must have an earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited nursing program (ACEN, CCNE and CNEA) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Must complete the MSN Program Acknowledgement Form.
- Provisional acceptance may be extended to applicants with an undergraduate GPA between 2.67 and 2.99.
For family nurse practitioner track:
- Must maintain an active unencumbered registered nurse license. Licensure exam must be equivalent to NCLEX-RN examination. (If a student holds active licenses in more than one state/jurisdiction, all licenses must be unencumbered.)
- Must have an earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited nursing program (ACEN, CCNE and CNEA) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Must complete the MSN Program Acknowledgement Form.
- Must have two years of full-time work experience as a licensed registered nurse.
- Must identify one potential preceptor for a clinical practicum.
- Must be available for one week-long in-person immersion experience.
- No provisional acceptance policy for this track.
Immersion experience: As part of the FNP track, you'll also take Advanced Pharmacology for the Prescriber, Immersion. This course requires you to travel to New Hampshire for one immersion experience, where you'll participate in simulation activities and perform assessments with standardized patients. This multi-day experience should help prepare you for your clinical practicums and provide pivotal hands-on learning to supplement your educational journey.
The cost of the Immersion Experience is $2,000 and is separate from course tuition. The fee covers items associated with the immersion, such as facility rentals, on-site faculty, training materials and standardized patients. Travel including transportation costs, flights, lodging and meal costs are not included in this fee and are the responsibility of the student to pay for and secure. The Immersion Experience is scheduled in NUR-600 and will be held in New Hampshire.
After the Immersion Experience, you'll embark on your practicum experiences, which includes 650 clinical hours across five courses. FNP Students will need to complete their program within five (5) years after completing the NUR 600, Advanced Pharmacology for the Prescriber, Immersion course.
SNHU nursing programs are not authorized in the state of Washington or US territories and we are not accepting students residing in Washington state or US territories into nursing programs at this time. Currently enrolled students who move into the state of Washington or a US territory will not be able to continue in nursing courses until they move out of the state of Washington or the US territory. Prospective students are encouraged to contact admission, and current students should contact their advisor, for more information.
Please note that we are currently only accepting students in the family nurse practitioner track in the following states: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey. Students must reside in one of these states while taking FNP courses at SNHU, and all practicum experiences must be completed in one of these states. SNHU expects students to complete their practicum experiences in their state of domicile, as reported by the student during the application/admission process. Any student looking to change their state of domicile and/or complete their practicum experience in a different state (listed herein), may face interruptions or delays in their program. Students are responsible for reporting any change to their state of domicile immediately to academic advising.
Please note that the family nurse practitioner track is accepting applications from a limited number of students per term.
Applicants and students are advised that their success in their chosen program may be dependent on an ability to meet the Nursing Program Health and Technical Requirements (PDF).
How to Apply
Simply contact an admission counselor, who can help you explore financial options, answer all your questions and walk you through the application process, which includes:
- No application fee
- Completing a graduate application
- Providing undergraduate transcripts
Courses & Curriculum
The master's in nursing online degree is designed to help you build key competencies you need for nursing practice at the master's level.
All online MSN tracks begin with the same 5 core courses – giving you the opportunity to explore before you choose the direction you want to go.
The 5 core courses are:
- Role Development and the Transformation of the MSN Nurse. In this course, you'll explore the roles of an MSN professional nurse. This includes the differentiation of the APRN role and scope of practice and development of a plan for career-long learning. You'll evaluate practice experiences and explore the influence of healthcare systems, policy and trends in shaping MSN professional practice. Finally, you'll continue to form and cultivate your professional nursing identity through critique, engagement and the development of inter-professional relationships.
- Interprofessional Leadership in Healthcare. In this course, you'll develop the skills of an MSN professional working in complex healthcare systems to promote a culture of safety and quality outcomes. You'll learn how to challenge assumptions, be prepared to proactively take action based on timely and reliable information and create solutions that anticipate needs across the four spheres of care: prevention and promotion of health and well-being, chronic disease care, regenerative care, and hospice/palliative care. You'll cultivate leadership, communication skills and strategies to promote interprofessional team collaboration and strengthen partnerships – thereby improving outcomes across a variety of settings.
- Epidemiological and Biostatistical Applications in Healthcare. This course focuses on the principles and foundations in epidemiology and biostatistics for healthcare application. You'll evaluate basic concepts of disease transmission and study designs as you learn how to quantify disease progression and assess risk factors. You'll gain skills in the application of data collection, data analysis and hypothesis testing to health data as a way to support health promotion, disease prevention and clinical decision-making.
- Global Health & Diversity. In this course, you'll explore major global health challenges and their impact on healthcare delivery systems. Topics explored include determinants of health, multiple approaches to advance health, social justice principles and strategies to advocate for social justice. You'll gain critical knowledge to apply social justice and human rights principles to address global health and wellness in the face of a more diverse patient population.
- Evidence-Based Practice & Scholarly Inquiry. This course can help you translate evidence-based practice that is essential for continuous improvement in a variety of healthcare settings. Course topics include the use of scholarly inquiry, evaluation of existing clinical practice guidelines, critical analysis and synthesis of the best evidence to inform practice. You'll gain skills in using various databases for retrieving scholarly evidence and best practices to improve healthcare outcomes, and then apply evidence-based practices to the role of an MSN professional.
Each online MSN program track integrates hands-on learning to help you succeed in the role of your choice. Plus, you'll get the expert instruction of our full-time faculty – 100% of whom are doctorally prepared – giving you the insider knowledge you need to get ahead.
"The instructors at Southern New Hampshire University are professionals, they're friendly and they connect to you as a person," said Bonnie Fecowicz '16. "They share their personal lives with you and want you to share yours."
Curriculum Requirements & Resources
- Clinical practice experience (CPE): Clinical practice hours are incorporated into all graduate nursing programs accredited by CCNE. SNHU incorporates these authentic learning experiences into your MSN program through indirect and direct clinical experiences. You'll be able to achieve these CPE hours through coursework and assignments and time spent with a preceptor. Connect with our Student Experience team to learn more about clinical practice experiences by track.
Students enrolled in the MSN program must comply with requirements of the organizations where their clinical practice experiences/practicum will be completed. These requirements may include (but are not limited to) a criminal background check, active and unencumbered license verification, immunization records, professional liability insurance. Students may incur additional costs to meet organizational requirements (ex. drug screening, physical examination co-pay, etc.). These requirements must be met prior to registering for the clinical practice experience course.
It is a requirement that nursing students carry their own medical malpractice insurance while enrolled in practicum courses. At least two terms prior to the start of the clinical components, students will be required to demonstrate proof of having an active individual medical malpractice certificate.
View Full Curriculum in the Catalog
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Technology Requirements
Students enrolled in the MSN program courses are responsible for ensuring they have the minimum system hardware, software and equipment. In addition to the SNHU technology requirements, MSN students should have the following:
For nurse executive leadership and healthcare quality and safety tracks:
- 10Mbps or higher for ideal streaming (download)
- Ability to record (webcam and microphone are often built into laptop or computer)
- A laptop is recommended
For nursing education and population healthcare tracks:
- 20Mbps (download) and 5Mbps (upload)
- Ability to record (webcam and microphone are often built into laptop or computer)
- Assessment kit (tools specified in course syllabus)
- A laptop is recommended
For family nurse practitioner track:
- 20Mbps (download) and 5Mbps (upload)
- Ability to record (webcam and microphone are often built into laptop or computer
- Government-issued photo ID is required for proctored exams
- Browser plug-in for online proctored exams
- Assessment kit (tools specified in course syllabus)
- A laptop is required during NUR-600 and all practicum courses
Minimum Hardware Requirements
|
Component Type |
PC (Windows OS) |
Apple (Mac OS) |
|---|---|---|
|
Operating System |
Currently supported operating system from Microsoft. |
Currently supported operating system from Apple. |
|
Memory (RAM) |
8GB or higher |
8GB or higher |
|
Hard Drive |
100GB or higher |
100GB or higher |
|
Antivirus Software |
Required for campus students. Strongly recommended for online students. |
Required for campus students. Strongly recommended for online students. |
|
SNHU Purchase Programs |
||
|
Internet/ Bandwidth |
5 Mbps Download, 1 Mbps Upload and less than 100 ms Latency |
5 Mbps Download, 1 Mbps Upload and less than 100 ms Latency |
Notes:
- Laptop or desktop? Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility.
- Note: Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10.
- Office 365 Pro Plus is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for Microsoft 365 plans for business, education and government.
- Antivirus software: Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers.
Tuition & Fees
Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer a 25% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.
| Online Graduate Programs | Per Course | Per Credit Hour |
|---|---|---|
| Degree/Certificates | $1,881 | $627 |
|
Degree/Certificates (U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)* |
$1,410 | $470 |
Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.
*Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.
Additional Costs:
$150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)
Students enrolled in the MSN program may be subject to ongoing licensure checks through a third party vendor, additional fees will apply and may vary by state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are online nursing degrees accredited?
Yes, you can enroll in and graduate from online nursing programs that are accredited and can help you in your career.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and the master’s degree program in nursing at Southern New Hampshire University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202.887.6791.
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, or CCNE, is an autonomous accrediting agency that ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate and residency programs in nursing across the country.
In 2019, SNHU's online nursing programs received a 10-year reaccreditation from CCNE, which awarded initial accreditation in 2014.
Are online MSN degrees respected?
The short answer is yes. Assuming the program is accredited and aligned with the latest industry standards, an online MSN degree is respected by today's employers.
Just ask Katie Smith '21, a recent grad of Southern New Hampshire University's MSN program.
According to her, she not only got a respected degree that helped her build skills as a nurse – she also gained invaluable support along the way.
Of her academic advisor, Smith said: "It was just really nice to have that support and have someone in my corner that I could turn to that understood the academic world."
Smith's MSN also positioned her to pass on her skills and help build an even stronger nursing community.
"I’m definitely not the same nurse I was when I started," she said. "Learning to mentor either new people or especially new grads has been a real honor and privilege."
How long does it take to get a Master of Science in Nursing?
This depends on many factors, depending on how many courses you take per term and your chosen track.
The 36-credit MSN tracks at Southern New Hampshire University include healthcare quality and safety, nursing education, nurse executive leadership and population healthcare. These tracks are comprised of 12 courses. Full-time status means you'd take 2 courses during each 10-week term. Full-time students who satisfactorily complete their coursework in these tracks could expect to complete an MSN degree in less than 1.5 years.
The family nurse practitioner track is 51 credits, or 17 courses. Full-time students could finish this track in less than 2 years.
Attending school as a full-time student isn't always feasible for working adults. At SNHU, taking 1 class per term puts you at part-time status, which means it would take longer for you to earn your degree, but could work better with your life and schedule. However, it can be worth it, if it gives you the time you need to learn the information and do the coursework. There is flexibility within this model too, even taking two courses per term for one or two terms can save significant time on your educational journey.
What's most important in deciding whether to enroll at full- or part-time status is how successful you can be at that level. If you feel comfortable taking 2 courses per term with your schedule, it may be worth it to you so that you can reach that finish line sooner.
What can you do with a Master of Science in Nursing?
Earning your master's degree means you're creating more opportunity for yourself. It opens so many more doors for your career and, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)3, it positions you to be able to:
- Conduct research
- Consult with corporations
- Impact public policy
- Implement evidence-based solutions
- Lead health systems
- Provide direct patient care at an advanced level
- Teach online and in the classroom
With a projected 32% growth for medical and health services managers2, the outlook looks good for MSN-educated nurses. The AACN notes that because of the high demand, established and new positions are opening in practice areas like administration, forensics, genetics/genomics, geriatrics, informatics, pediatrics, public health and systems improvement.3
In addition, the right MSN program can help you build cultural competence – a skill the National Academy of Medicine pinpoints has one of the most vital for today's nurse leaders.
These perceptions are indeed felt by all patient populations – factors like age, gender, socioeconomic status and more can impact how communities receive care. But for people of color (POC), this issue presents an especially challenging barrier to effective treatment. "There’s often the fear of not being understood, or being dismissed or minimized,” McGill said.
However, with representation, exposure and empathy, nurses can identify a better way forward.
"Increased exposure to diversity leads to an understanding of inclusivity which leads to responses that break barriers and biases; it leads to responses that are effective, inclusive, and equitable; responses that are indeed patient-centered, student-centered, person-centered," she said.
Is it worth it to get an MSN?
If you have career goals that align with where an MSN can take you, then, yes, earning a master's in nursing is definitely worth the investment.
Beyond the reward of expanded knowledge, nurses who earn their MSN degree broaden their range of opportunities and open the door to a potential boost in pay.
"The employer interprets the additional credential as a highly desirable indicator of future performance and assigns value to the degree holder accordingly," said Laurie Lewis, an SNHU Career advisor.
Some value may not be monetary rewards, either. Though the potential of a bumped-up paycheck is certainly one of the biggest benefits, there may be other perks. You may find it valuable to be eligible for positions that come with better hours – meaning an MSN could have benefits to your personal life, too.
And while you may have a career goal in mind as the reason behind getting your master's, an MSN continues to open the door to opportunity beyond that first role that you land.
Plus, getting your master's in nursing doesn't have to be expensive. SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation, meaning you could achieve your return on investment (ROI) on your degree faster.
Can I get my MSN online?
Yes. Students who are already registered nurses – and who have previously earned their BSN – can enroll in an online MSN program.
Not only are nurses able to pursue this advanced degree online, but for many, attending online makes more sense. Many nurses have demanding schedules that aren't always the same week to week, making it nearly impossible to attend set classes at a brick-and-mortar institution. The time and money attributed to commuting to a physical institution alone is valuable, and at SNHU we get it.
"The flexibility and support the nursing program offers students is exceptional and has been instrumental in helping me achieve my goals," said Sherry Consolin '19, who spent time as a travel nurse throughout her program and needed the convenience of an online degree.
By earning a master's in nursing online, it allows you to continue your career as a nurse – while working to advance it at the same time. SNHU's program was designed so that the learnings from each course are immediately applicable to your career, which can help patients reap the rewards right away.
What is the best online MSN program?
The best online MSN program is the one that can help you reach your personal and professional goals, at an affordable price, on your timeline and is accredited.
At SNHU, that translates to:
- Career focused: Our MSN program was built by nurses, for nurses. It was designed around recommendations within "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health" report from the National Academy of Medicine, formerly the Institute of Medicine – which outlined how roles should change in our healthcare system. In 2021, the report was updated to reflect new recommendations to meet further meet the needs of today's nursing workforce.
- Affordability: Take advantage of some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.
- Convenient: Enroll in 1 or 2 classes per term – whichever works best for your busy schedule. Plus, you'll have 24/7 access to your courses, meaning you can complete your work any time during the week to meet your deadlines.
- Accredited: The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and the master’s degree program in nursing at Southern New Hampshire University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202.887.6791. CCNE is an accrediting agency that ensures baccalaureate, graduate and residency programs meet quality standards.
SNHU also offers 5 MSN program tracks – family nurse practitioner (FNP), nurse executive leadership, nursing education, healthcare quality & safety and population healthcare – helping you meet your needs as you determine the next path of your career.
Licensure and Certification Disclosures
SNHU has provided additional information for programs that educationally prepare students for professional licensure or certification. Learn more about what that means for your program on our licensure and certification disclosure page.
University Accreditation
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.
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References
Sources & Citations (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
1The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and the master’s degree program in nursing at Southern New Hampshire University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202.887.6791.
2 World Health Organization, 10 facts on patient safety, on the internet, at https://www.who.int/news-room/photo-story/photo-story-detail/10-facts-on-patient-safety (viewed April 1, 2021)
3 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm (viewed June 3, 2021).
Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.
4 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25982.
5 American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Master's Education, on the internet, at https://www.aacnnursing.org/Nursing-Education-Programs/Masters-Education (viewed Nov. 21, 2019)
6 According to more than 9,200 SNHU online students in survey responses from the fall of 2019.