ADN to MSN / Masters in Nursing Programs
(found programs from 179 schools)

"RN to MSN" means different things at different schools. Listed below are what you might call the "true" RN to MSN programs, which admit nurses who have not yet earned their Bachelors degree, and enable them to complete their Masters degree.

As a rule of thumb, you should contact multiple schools during the course of your research. There are significant differences between the programs in terms of cost, admissions requirements, and other characteristics. As with many things in life, the way to find the best Masters in Nursing program for your needs is to spend some time shopping around.

ADN to MSN programs in (only states that have them are listed):

Most of the programs will grant you a BSN degree along the way, and in fact let you stop there if you want to. However, not all of them do this. This is one of the confusing things about RN to MSN programs. There are a good number that do not actually give you a BSN degree - just the MSN, at the end. That may not be the most important factor in your decision, but it’s something to ask the school about.

Even the "true" RN to MSN programs go by a range of different names at different schools. For the curious, we counted almost 90 distinct names across the 160+ schools that offer programs for ADN/diploma RNs. Here’s a sample: Accelerated ADN to MSN, Accelerated RN to MSN, AD/MS Pathway, ADN to MSN Bridge, Bridge to MSN for RNs, BSN/MSN Gateway, Career Mobility Model MSN, Combined Option, Post-RN Programs, Pre-Master’s Pathway, RN Options, RN to BS to MS, and RN to MSN Fast-Track. The "bridge" part of these names usually refers to the courses you’ll take to catch up to the BSN level of preparation, before you begin taking courses in your Masters specialty.

So I Don’t Need A BSN - What About The Other Admissions Requirements?

The admissions requirements for Masters programs tend to be more strict than the requirements for Bachelors programs.

As you would probably expect, you will need a current, active United States RN license. For online programs, this can often be a license in whatever state you are going to complete clinicals in. However, for campus based programs it usually needs to be in the state the school is located in.

Your previous GPA is important to the admissions departments. They will look at your prior coursework, and will often require a cumulative prior GPA of 2.5 to 3.0 out of 4.0, which equates to a B-/C+ to a B. Some schools may require that you take the GRE (Graduate Record Examination), though this is less common.

In addition, most programs require 1-2 years of prior work experience as an RN. Sometimes this has to be in the area you intend to specialize in (i.e. a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program may require that you’ve previously been in a role where you worked with children/adolescents), and sometimes it doesn’t.