California RN to MSN / Masters in Nursing Programs
(found programs from 30 schools)

In 2005, Arnold Schwarzenegger, then governor of California, established the California Nurse Education Initiative to address the state's nursing shortage. The program provides funding for BSN and MSN programs, encourages California residents to consider careers in nursing, and awards scholarships to nurses who wish to advance their education. The effort seems to be working. MSN enrollment is up at both the University of California – Los Angeles and San Francisco, and the number of nurse practitioners in the state more than doubled between 2004 and 2008.

The state continues to need more nurse educators and advanced practice nurses, though. Nurse educators are essential to keep up the supply of new nurses; advanced practice nurses are an important part of the primary care system in California, the union's most populous state.

The California Student Aid Commission provides loan assistance for nurses who go back to school to become nursing instructors. Also, the state will forgive a large portion of student loans for MSN students who agree to serve as full-time faculty members at an eligible state school of nursing for a set time period after graduation.

Advanced practice nurses, including nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified nurse midwives and clinical nurse specialists, are required to have a master's degree in the state of California. According to the Center for Health Professions, the use of advanced practice nurses – especially nurse practitioners – as primary care nurses is on the rise. Demand continues to be strong.

MSN programs for California nurses include:

• Western University of Health Sciences. Western University has grant money available to help nurses obtain MSN education as nurse educators and advanced practice nurses. MSN courses are designed to accommodate busy nurses: most classwork is completed online, with some required weekend on-campus time. An ADN-to-MSN program is available for nurses who lack a BSN, while an entry-level MSN program is designed for students who have a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing.
• University of California – Los Angeles. UCLA offers a wide range of MSN programs, including a Masters Entry Clinical Nurse (MECN) program for students who have a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing. MECN students graduate with a MSN degree and are eligible to take both the Clinical Nurse Leader and public health nursing certification exams. Advanced practice MSN programs include a dual MSN/MBA option for nurse administrators and a unique underserved populations sub-specialty for nurse practitioners.

Below is a list of all the accredited schools with campus locations in California that offer MSN programs.