Acquiring a masters degree helps to elevate your career in the healthcare industry. If you have an interest in managing clinical experiences, creating budgets, or quality improvement of organizational systems, then a Masters in Nursing Administration Online is the right move for you. Online means you don't have to sacrifice your on-the-job experience for advanced education; you can have both.
35 Best Online Masters in Nursing Administration
Nursing Administration is a way for you to take a step away from direct patient care and, well, call the shots. Obtaining this degree will move you into a role where you can have an even more significant impact on the communities you serve. You will know more about management, strategic planning, regulatory standards, and ethical decision-making skills necessary to work in healthcare. For some, going back to school can seem too big a time and money burden, but some options are more comfortable than you may realize. An Online Masters in Nursing Administration can be achieved on your own time, while you're still working so you can continue to practice and make a living while increasing your knowledge base and, in the long run, value to the community.
In addition to climbing the ladder in your career, you'll be in a position to earn more in new roles. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median salary for Health Services Managers is $99,730. To earn the wages of a Nursing Administrator, you'll be expected to have the five core competencies: communication, superior knowledge of the industry, leadership in planning and managing, ethics exhibited through professionalism, and business skills including marketing and budgeting. Honing these skills through an MSN can lead to positions as a Nurse Manager, Chief Nursing Officer, Nursing Director, Clinical Coordinator, and other executive roles within the healthcare environment. With the minor exception of location-based requirements that differ state by state, it doesn't matter where you live. An online course can transport you to any Online Master's Degree at a college or university that most interests you.
Selection Criteria
Healthcare Administration Degrees uses the best publicly available data from the National Center for Education Statistics, Payscale, and student review sites. Healthcare is a high-earning field with demanding education expectations. Because of that, Healthcare Administration Degrees focuses on the Mid-Career Pay of Graduates, Student Retention Rates, and the Average SAT Scores of accepted students, collectively amounting to 70 percent of a school's final score. Student Reviews and Affordability round out our metrics.
Here are the 35 Best Online Master's in Nursing Administration for 2019!
#35. University of Saint Mary – Leavenworth, KS
Master of Science in Nursing with Nursing Administration
Website
Net Price: $20,839
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 78.37
Healthcare enthusiasts can earn their Master's of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nursing Administration entirely online from the University of Saint Mary. The university designed its online MSN for past nursing students and professionals who are interested in upper-management positions. USM's undergraduate nursing alumni can also save more money on masters-level tuition because they qualify for a 5% discounted rate. Overall, the MSN consists of 35 credits, where up to nine credits can be transferred into the degree program.
USM's MSN curriculum for Nursing Administration offers courses such as Leadership and Business Operations in Healthcare; and Delivery of Care in the Healthcare Environment. Core classes also include Informatics in Nursing, an introductory stats class, and Health Care Policy and Ethics.
#34. American International College – Springfield, MA
Online Master of Science (MSN): Nursing Administrator Concentration
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Net Price: $19,800
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 79.08
On online degree from the American International College is for busy nurses who have lofty dreams of the fast-track to a Master of Science with a Nursing Administrator Concentration. The degree brings these dreams to reality by focusing on teaching administration goals and strengthening management skills centered on the core concern of patient care. The program is made with consideration for today's complex healthcare challenges and aims to give its students a thoughtful, analytical approach.
Degree requirements cover The Art and Science of Advanced Nursing, Policy, Politics, and Organization of Healthcare, and Nursing Leadership and Management. Additional specialties for this concentration cover Nursing Administration Practicum I and II. The outcome for graduates of this program can include many contributions to the industry, including progressive and transformational roles in nursing education, nursing administration, and advanced practice nursing.
#33. University of Oklahoma–Health Sciences Center – Oklahoma City, OK
Master of Science in Nursing Administration
Website
Net Price: not reported
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 80.16
A total of 33 semester hours go into earning an Online Master's Degree in Nursing Administration from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. The role of a professional in a Nursing Administration role is vast. They're responsible not only for managing informational, material, and fiscal responsibilities of a healthcare organization but also for facilitating the delivery of trusted health care services. Students at UOK will learn to be advocates of the profession.
The curriculum will cover courses like Organizational & Systems Leadership, Technology, Safety, & Quality Improvement, and Leadership of Innovation in Complex Systems. The emphasis of courses on leadership highlights improvement so that students return to the healthcare field with an aptitude for a lifetime of learning and an ability to promote positive change.
#32. Drexel University – Philadelphia, PA
Online Master of Nursing
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Net Price: $40,977
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 80.25
Drexel University is part of Philadelphia's dense college population, but you don't need to take a bus to earn your Master of Nursing. The Online Master of Nursing (MSN) program at Drexel seeks to give students the freedom and flexibility of learning at home while participating in a leadership-focused curriculum from an accredited university. Drexel's program is one where you can explore your interests and career goals before settling into a concentration. The option for Clinical Nurse Leader or Leadership in Health Systems Management can be chosen after completing five core MSN courses. The Leadership in Health Systems Management track builds a wealth of knowledge in information systems management and evidence-based decision-making so that graduates will be able to devise and implement a plan for delivering high-quality care. Similarly, the Clinical Nurse Leader concentration teaches leadership skills and values and includes a Clinical Practicum requirement where you'll demonstrate these skills.
#31. Mercy College – Dobbs Ferry, NY
Master of Science in Nursing Administration
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Net Price: $16,246
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 80.34
The 36-credit Nursing Administration M.S. program from Mercy College equips its students with advanced nursing management principles. There are three stages of this online program: core, specialization, a written capstone, and a 120-hour practicum requirement. However, the program is completely online, allowing students to work and learn simultaneously. The degree is normally achieved in 3 years, but a student may take up to 5 years to complete the curriculum once it starts. The ideal workload is between 6 and nine credits per semester. Mercy College is a train ride from New York City and is a partner of Suburban Hospital Alliance and the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA). Mercy is well-regarded for diversity, affordability, and innovation.
#30. Queens University of Charlotte – Charlotte, NC
Online MSN: Nurse Administrator Specialization
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Net Price: $24,512
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 80.70
The Queens University of Charlotte brings leadership, strategic planning, financial management, and quality nursing lessons together to comprise their Online MSN. The Nurse Administrator concentration of the program can be taken at home on your schedule as you continue to work as in a nursing role with your eyes set on something higher. You'll find much less emphasis on clinical expertise and more arching themes of leadership and management through Queens University.
Core courses cover Theoretical Foundations, Health Policy, Informatics in Healthcare, Data Interpretations, and Research Methods. It then moves into courses that will prepare you for advanced roles, like Professionalism and Ethics in Clinical Leadership, Management of Clinical Outcomes, and Management of the Care Environment. This Online MSN also offers the opportunity for classes in Nurse Educator, where it explains how to develop and budget for effective educational programs.
#29. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley – Edinburg, TX
Master of Science in Nursing Administration Online
Website
Net Price: $4,095
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 80.88
Becoming a registered nurse requires courses in anatomy, biology, and chemistry, but a Master of Science in Nursing Administration ultimately requires a different set of skills. The outcome of curriculums like that of the Online program at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is aimed at managing nursing units or facilities. The tools needed for this level of healthcare professionalism include Nursing Informatics, Advanced Leadership, Nursing Research–all of which are part of this program. The completion of the course calls for a final Capstone Project.
Overall, the coursework is intended to introduce behavioral, natural, social, and applied sciences, as well as the cost analysis, strategic planning in budgeting and marketing to your nursing practice. The program is estimated to last for 12 months with seven-week courses. U.S. News and World Report also put UTRGV's on its list of Best Online Nursing Programs.
#28. Wheeling Jesuit University – Wheeling, WV
Online Master of Science in Nursing
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Net Price: $18,250
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 82.59
The Wheeling Jesuit University's Online Master of Science in Nursing is an online program that promotes engagement in the field and community. The online aspect means that students from anywhere can participate. Clinical and practicum requirements take students out into the field, but it's flexible so that it can be completed at an approved clinical site within your own local community. It doesn't require living in proximity or driving to Wheeling. The Master of Nursing with a focus on Nursing Administration emphasizes business and management skills within a healthcare environment so that you can take your career to the next level. Nursing Administration-specific core requirements include Financial Management, Organizational Behavior, Communications, and Interpersonal Relations, and 168 clinical hours of Capstone Seminar.
#27. Lenoir-Rhyne University – Hickory, NC
Online Master of Science in Nursing in Nursing Administration
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Net Price: $19,380
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 82.68
Whether it's spring or fall, full- or part-time, Lenoir-Rhyne University's Online Master of Science in Nursing is available to prospective nursing graduates to advance their education. Their foundational principles are based in Evangelical Lutheran Christian morals but invite a diverse student body–both on-campus and online. The Nursing Administration concentration puts global responsibility and accountability for developing leadership skills into focus with classes like Theories for Advanced Nursing Practice, Introduction to Health Policy and Ethics, and Advanced Nursing Leadership. It also calls for three required electives with options including Global Health or Bioethics in Nursing. U.S. News and World Report consider it among the Best Value Schools.
#26. Penn State University – World Campus
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Website
Net Price: $18.194
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 82.86
The Pennsylvania State University has a reputation that precedes itself, and their "World Campus" Online Programs are of the very same caliber. The Online Master of Science in Nursing collaborates with the renowned Penn State College of Nursing. Though higher-level administration duties are the overarching theme of the program, students will also be able to hone their nursing skills through Advanced classes and put them to work in their day job.
Earning an MSN online is the best way to keep working while also preparing to seek a higher-ranking position. You'll engage in classes like Leadership Concepts and Theories for Nurse Administrators and Health Care Economics and Policy for Nurse Administrators to get you in the mindset of leading a health care system. Some of the common outcomes for these students are nurse administrator, nurse manager, vice president of patient care, chief nursing officer. Penn State consistently ranks among the top 10 on U.S. News and World Report's lists for Best Online Programs.
#25. Liberty University – Lynchburg, VA
Master of Science in Nursing in Nursing Administration
Website
Net Price: $26,954
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 82.95
Following up your Bachelor's in Nursing is the perfect way to continue your career while still working in your hard-earned job. The Online Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nursing Administration from Liberty University will bring leadership, management, and educational roles into your radar. The curriculum helps to weave together the clinical experience of a Bachelor's of Nursing with next-level education, sharpening skills for strategic planning, resource management, and creating a safe and quality environment. In full, the program is anticipated to take two years, though they also have a one-year MSN fast-track. This non-profit university has a reputation for academic quality and affordability and teaches with a basis in the Christian belief system. Students are more than just an online attendee; this university believes they are each fulfilling God's mission for them to help the world.
#24. University of North Carolina – Charlotte, NC
MSN in Nursing Administration
Website
Net Price: $14,811
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 83.04
Getting an MSN in Nursing Administration doesn't mean you have to move away from working in healthcare facilities. You can bring a fresh set of theories, models, and research to a team environment and be tasked with evaluating and improving how the facility runs. You'll also have the opportunity to move into different environments within healthcare, like health departments, community agencies, or schools of nursing. Through the Distance Education MSN in Nursing Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, you'll get to brush up on your practicum, explore current trends and issues of healthcare, and learn to analyze and forecast difficult decisions in the workplace. This particular sector of the program is offered bi-annually and is anticipated to be completed in a little over two years.
#23. Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, TX
Leadership in Nursing, MSN
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Net Price: $12,948
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 83.40
If you live in a state that is in line with the rules that Texas Nursing programs abide by, then you're able to apply for the Nursing Administration MSN at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi. The Nursing Administration curriculum is in the Leadership in Nursing program. It teaches the very same set of skills necessary for the job–administration organization, budgetary management, and project and team leadership strengths–through courses including Diverse Care Environments, Health Economics and Policy, Organizational Design and Behavior, and Human Capital Management. Students will also be tasked with spending 135 clinical hours at a local site, so long as it's approved. Texas A&M at Corpus Christi is a top-rated Online Program, appearing at 29 of 75 schools on the U.S. News and World Report's 2017 list of Best Online Nursing Programs.
#22. Saint Xavier University – Chicago, IL
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Website
Net Price: $14,911
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 83.44
Practicality, affordability, and return on investment surround what makes Saint Xavier University's Online Master of Science in Nursing a great program. For those interested in Nursing Administration, the pathway for you among the three that are on offer is Executive Nurse Leadership. The focus in this track is on managerial skills, administrative expertise, and critical thinking ability that will teach you how to improve patient outcomes within a hospital, doctors' office, rehabilitation center, hospice, or other healthcare facilities.
Core courses will cover topics related to administrative skills–like Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice and Communication and Culture, Collaboration, and Conflict in Health Care–while focusing on the leadership aspect as well with courses including Administrative Leadership in Nursing Practicum and Advanced Health and Social Policy. U.S. News and World Report put Saint Xavier at #3 for Best Online Masters in Nursing.
#21. Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville – Edwardsville, Illinois
Master of Science, Healthcare and Nursing Administration (HCNA)
Website
Net Price: $15.090
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 83.49
Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, sometimes known as "Little Egypt" because of its centralized location between two major U.S. rivers, is also known for Southern Illinois University and its satellite campuses throughout the region. You don't have to be in Edwardsville to apply for the Master of Science in Healthcare and Nursing Administration; in fact, you don't have to be in Illinois at all.
SIU's Online Master's program centers on courses in Theoretical Foundations of Nursing, Organizational, Behavioral, and Leadership for Nurse Executives, Management of Human Resources in Health Care, and Nurse Executive Leadership I and II. The curriculum ends with the completion of a Master's Terminal Project, where students will get the chance to demonstrate their wealth of knowledge and the subsequent ability to enter roles as managers, leaders, or executives in a healthcare setting.
#20. University of Colorado–Denver – Denver, CO
Master of Science in Nursing–Leadership
Website
Net Price: $14,586
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 84.38
The Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Colorado–Denver is cleverly nicknamed "iLEAD." It goes beyond the normal Master's in Administration and builds in the necessary elements of Leadership as well, creating a comprehensive program which can be completed online. UC Denver "meets you where you are" and helps to build on your healthcare knowledge so you can enter higher-earning roles. There is an element of hands-on practicum which also affords you the flexibility of completing it in your home state.
The well-regarded and stream-lined program is completed with just 30 required credits and covers Informatics, Leadership Theory, Health Policy, and Evidence-Based Practice. The most motivated students can take it to step further and work toward a Ph.D. in either Health Systems or the DNP in Health Systems Leadership. The Master's Program was ranked at #4 on the U.S. News and World Report's list of Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs.
#19. Lamar University – Beaumont, TX
Online MSN in Nursing Administration
Website
Net Price: $11,485
Accreditation: ACEN
Score: 84.38
The Lamar University MSN in Nursing Administration is a completely online way to get to participate in one of the country's best Master's programs. The curriculum teaches and sharpens clinical, theoretical, and research skills over 24 months. Since its online, it leaves the door open for some flexibility in completion and course selection. Some of the core courses that are common to online students are Theoretical Nursing, Nursing Research, and Healthcare Policy and Finance. These types of courses help to bring the nursing and healthcare practices into the bigger picture, illuminating the necessary facets of the business that a Nursing Administration professional will need to understand. Lamar University, overall, is highly regarded for their healthcare degrees.
#18. California University of Pennsylvania – California, PA
Online MSN in Nursing Administration and Leadership
Website
Net Price: $17,755
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 84.47
In today's changing healthcare landscape faced with daily demanding challenges, a Master's of Science in Nursing Administration and Leadership is a big decision you can make for your nursing career. The California University of Pennsylvania created a completely-online Master's program that will provide the foundation for students to design nursing programs, lead a team of nurses, and make a stronger impact on the prevalent challenges within the industry.
The projected timeframe for completion is less than two years, even for part-time students, making it a great investment for both the time and money. If you live locally in Pennsylvania, completion of the program can open the door for opportunities at Allegheny Health Network hospitals or the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. CalU's reputation isn't just at home in their state, and opportunities can even be presented with West Virginia University Hospital or the U.S. Army or Navy.
#17. Capella University – Minneapolis, MN
Online Master's in Nursing Administrations and Leadership
Website
Net Price: $15,667
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 84.83
As a nurse, you get the chance to make a direct impact with patients, but rarely to make overarching decisions on how the care is provided case to case. A Master's in Nursing Administration and Leadership will pivot your career from the front lines to the boardroom and beyond. Capella University teaches leadership, finance, operations management, and health care informatics and technology to their students through two tracks of learning: GuidedPath or the accelerated program called FlexPath.
Capella's degree programs give you the flexibility of working from home and, for GuidedPath, at your own pace. It still encompasses the necessary assets of the classroom with discussions, academic coaches, and weekly deadlines. The end of the course is marked by the capstone project, during which you'll implement your new skills and knowledge in the real-world; good practice for when you land your first executive role!
#16. Ball State University – Muncie, IN
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Website
Net Price: $13,535
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 85.10
Get the ball rolling–and airborne–with your Nursing Administration career at Ball State University. There are 36 required credits for the Online Master of Science in Nursing within the Nursing Administration concentration, and they include Data Analysis in Nursing Research, Nursing Information Technology, Nursing Administration in Complex Organizations, Managing Organizational Behavior, and Financial Management for Nurses.
Ball State is set apart from many of the other schools for their recognized excellence. The coursework is completely online except for a mandatory clinical practicum. Students are charged with locating and receiving approval for a local site where they can fulfill the mandatory clinical hours. The program was given the coveted and limited designation as a National League for Nursing Center of Excellence and is top-ranked on U.S. News and World Report's list of Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs.
#15. St. Joseph's College of Maine – Standish, ME
Online Master of Science in Nursing Administration
Website
Net Price: $25,694
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 85.19
St. Joseph's College of Maine has an Online Master of Science in Nursing Administration that students from 43 states are eligible to join. The Online MSN focuses on teaching leadership skills for patient-centered care facilities with an anticipated completion of two years. Students still get the flexibility to take on as much as they can, and enrollees have up to five years to complete the curriculum in full. The Administration track consists of 45 credits, with 24 credit hours at its core. The required classes will make you not just a master in leadership, but also critical thinking, data analysis, interpersonal collaboration, and organizational leadership. In the end, you'll have a strong knowledge of safety, quality, and efficacy in your hands to bring to a healthcare environment and enact positive change for both the patients and the team.
#14. Seton Hall University – South Orange, NJ
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Website
Net Price: $22,662
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 86.03
Within just two years, you can go from a nursing practitioner to a nursing administrator or executive. Seton Hall University's Online Master of Science in Nursing evolves your knowledge of patient care by introducing core competencies for hospital administration, including finance, strategic planning, operations, and care delivery. Seton Hall puts extra weight into the financial aspect of Nursing Administration, preparing you to face inevitable budgetary pressures of patient care in a way that promotes quality, comfort, and fairness.
Aside from the financial aspects, you'll also learn more on how to analyze patient cases from a speculative perspective of quality improvement. A leadership role will task you with everything from conflict resolution to privacy policies, and propose budgets to create a smoother, more successful facility. Seton Hall also earned a spot on U.S. News and World Report's list of Best Graduate Nursing Programs by continually offering quality education and practical knowledge for tomorrow's nursing leaders.
#13. Kennesaw State University – Kennesaw, GA
MSN in Nursing Administration and Transformational Leadership
Website
Net Price: $17,929
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 86.03
Tied with Seton Hall, Kennesaw State University offers a well-rounded Master's of Science in Nursing Administration and Transformational Leadership, which is one of the oldest programs in Georgia state. Unlike their New Jersey peer, this program has a focus on the global and cultural elements of Nursing Leadership. Healthcare theory and research are the guiding principles for this 15-month program, which brings emerging technologies, global initiatives, and collaborative healthcare models into perspective through the lens of a united, multicultural world.
Students learn about Theoretical Foundations, Research Applications, and Outcome Evaluations in a required course, and zero-in on the Administration track with Advanced Leadership and Policy in a Multicultural World, Global Initiatives in Healthcare [in a] Changing World, and Advanced Nursing Leadership. It all comes together in a three-part Nursing Practicum requirement, which takes place at a student-chosen and faculty-approved site.
#12. Fort Hays State University – Hays, KS
Online Masters in Nursing Administration
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Net Price: $12,196
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 86.09
The price is right for this Online Master's in Nursing Administration from Fort Hays State University. In just 36 credits, students will get the chance to make their schedule, participate in class, and hold down a nursing job as they navigate through the curriculum at their own pace, from any place (except Tennessee, Utah, Alabama, and Washington). Foundational courses cover Advanced Foundations for Nursing Practice, Advanced Statistics, and the all-encompassing Policy/Politics/Organization/Cost course.
Classes specific to the Nursing Administration track take a deeper dive into managerial responsibilities with Complexity in Health Care, Administrative Management in Health Care Organizations, and Development, Implementation, & Evaluation of an Evidence-Based Practice Project. The end of the course will leave graduates prepared for various healthcare settings, advanced informational technology, and a humanistic view of our global society and its diverse populations.
#11. University of St. Francis – Joliet, IL
Master of Science in Nursing
Website
Net Price: $18,766
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 86.18
The University of St Francis keeps a very steady aim at the core competencies and ethical responsibilities of Nurse Administrators. The Master of Science in Nursing is centered around biostatistics and research, evidence-based practice, advanced practice nursing roles, and population-based health studies. Completely online, the course still makes sure to foster a sense of teamwork and peer-support under the guidance of experienced professors in a low teacher-student ratio environment. This accredited program is only available to students in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, New Mexico, or Wisconsin. The University of St. Francis in considered in the U.S. News and World Report to be #13 on the list of Best Value Schools.
#10. University of Texas at Tyler – Tyler, TX
Nursing Administration MSN Degree
Website
Net Price: $12,776
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 86.21
The University of Texas at Tyler offers their Masters in Nursing Administration online so you can still work and learn simultaneously. There are options for both full and part-time studies. Full time takes two years and is the recommended course of action, but if you have less time in your day for lessons, the part-time program can be completed in an extra year. Right from the beginning, you'll get into the meat of Nursing Administration through courses such as Health Care Informatics, Health Policy, Leadership in Healthcare, and Translational Science. During the second year (or third for part-time students), you'll complete a capstone project before completing the degree. Many of UT's students go on to work in large healthcare systems, government agencies, clinical facilities, and other professional organizations.
#9. New Mexico State University – Las Cruces, NM
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Website
Net Price: $9,449
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 86.54
If you already have your RN license and a baccalaureate degree, you can take your career to the next step with New Mexico State University's Online Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Nursing Administration. The goal of this program is to teach leadership skills to active nurses so that they may take a step back from the floor and oversee an organization's teams or processes and implement positive change. A minimum of six-semester courses is all that's required to be considered a full-time student. Part-time students will have 3-4 courses per semester. The total credits for both are 36 and cover Quality Improvement in Healthcare, Nursing Informatics, Health Policy, Evidence-Based Practice, Management of Fiscal & Human Resources, Fieldwork in Nursing, Promoting Health Behavior, and Innovations and Health Care Organizations.
#8. Clarkson College – Omaha, NE
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Website
Net Price: $21,655
Accreditation: ACEN
Score: 87.41
Voted one of U.S. News and World Report's Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs in 2018, the Online Master of Science in Nursing from Clarkson College has its own Nursing Administration specialization. The full curriculum for this option takes place over eight semesters for full-time students and 12 for part-time students and is completed with 42 semester hours.
Course material covers Nursing Law and Ethics and Evaluation of Theory in Nursing, while also keeping in mind students want to progress in their roles. As a result, many of the advanced classes center around Nursing Management, including Role Transition, Concepts of Advanced Practice Roles, Organizational Behavior, Healthcare Strategic Marketing, and Finance for Health Care Leaders. The program wraps up with an Evidence-based Practice Research Project, where you'll create a poster presentation based on your approved clinical experience.
#7. Western Governors University – Salt Lake City, UT
Master's of Science in Nursing–Leadership & Management
Website
Net Price: not reported
Accreditation: CCNE
At Western Governors University, you'll get the personal power to transform your career in Nursing into a career in Management. It's a chance to take all of the technical skills you learned in your nursing roles and mold them into business-minded leadership. The unique model lets you pay by semester as opposed to by credit, so you have the potential for significant savings if you complete the coursework on track with full-time studies. There is a framework as to how long each course should take, but ultimately it's up to you. Use your time–any time you have–as you see fit to study, take tests, and work toward completing each course you chip away at your MSN whenever you can!
Nursing Leadership courses to take are Nursing Leadership and Management Field Experience, Principles of Organizational Performance Management, Principles of Healthcare Business and Financial Management, Strategic Leadership and Future Delivery Models, and finally the Nursing Leadership and Management Capstone.
#6. Indiana Wesleyan University – Marion, IN
Master of Science in Nursing–Nursing Administration
Website
Net Price: $22,105
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 89.76
One of the best Master's Universities in the Midwest has its own Master of Science in Nursing developed to turn nurses into leaders. You'll navigate through organizational behavior, human resources, finance, and role development so you may design and create an evidence-based approach to healthcare management and become a transformational leader. Instead of taking several courses at once, you'll move through the curriculum one at a time and sequentially, allowing you to give full attention to a course on your schedule.
The curriculum works through 30 required credit hours, beginning with Evidence-Based Communication and ending on Integration of Theory Into Nursing Administration Practice. Other competencies you'll learn are Ethics and Health Policy, Professional Role Development for the Nursing Administrator, Nursing Leadership and Human Resources, and Organizational Behavior.
#5. The University of Texas at Arlington – Arlington, TX
Online Master of Science in Nursing Administration
Website
Net Price: $17,800
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 94.38
Active RNs with two years of experience may apply online with official transcripts to the Master of Science in Nursing Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington. The goal over 18-20 months is to learn core competencies that will elevate your career from a nurse to a nurse manager. Some of the courses will cover Nursing Management in the Healthcare Environment, Financial Management in Nursing, Nursing Leadership and Complex Healthcare Systems, and Nursing Informatics.
The key elements of this accredited program include a blended, online learning model with technology-enhanced courses that offer flexibility to progress at your own pace, and students will get hands-on experience analyzing organizations, interviewing executives, and creating healthcare business plans. If you so choose to expedite your education, that opportunity is within your power. The program also acts as a stepping stone to completing a Ph.D.
#4. Old Dominion University – Norfolk, VA
Nurse Administrator MSN Online
Website
Net Price: $15,213
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 94.41
Addressing today's healthcare issues isn't easy, but Old Dominion University provides advanced problem-solving skills and theory application to help make you into a successful Nurse Administrator. The online curriculum combines 36 credit hours with a clinical practicum at a location of your choice to create a full MSN. Some of the classes are live, some are self-driven, but all of them take place over the ODU's regular calendar year. All classes will be conducted by a professor complete with exams and assignments. You'll also get the immersive experience of engaging with classmates as you work toward shared individual goals. ODU offers its online students the same resourced as on-campus students, including a career coach and guide.
#3. University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Website
Net Price: $22,848
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 94.62
As a nurse, you abide by the rules put into place within your employer's organization. By getting your MSN in Nursing, you'll be able to move into roles where what your decisions influence the way healthcare is delivered. The Online Master of Science in Nursing from Pittsburgh University helps you along the way to leadership. Choosing the specialization of Clinical Nurse Leader, you'll work through core, specialty, and role development courses to develop competencies needed to implement change.
By the end of the program, all students will be able to apply research to resolve problems, lead interprofessional teams, and enhance the overall experience of patients within a healthcare facility. Students hoping to become healthcare leaders can also elect a minor in Nursing Administration. Completing your MSN at Pitt gives you access to a top-rated graduate nursing program with an extensive alumni pool and continued press within your field through the Pitt Nurse Magazine.
#2. Excelsior College – Albany, NY
Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Administration of Health Care Systems
Website
Net Price: not reported
Accreditation: ACEN
Score: 95.89
It may seem counterintuitive to learn communication skills online, but the Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Administration of Health Care Systems program is designed, so you get to stay in your day-to-day role while you work toward a higher one. As a future leader in nursing, knowing how and when to voice your opinions on executive decisions will be within your power. At Excelsior College, you'll learn critical thinking skills in a challenging curriculum and mentor-driven leadership practice experience through a series of 38 online credits.
The program moves you through 3 phases: Nursing Core, Nursing Leadership and Administration of Health Care Systems, and the Capstone Course, respectively. In Phase I, you'll brush up on some of your nursing knowledge like Policy, Ethics, and Population Health. Phase II teaches elements of Administration with classes like Leadership in Organizational Systems, and the Capstone Course will blend the two stages into a cumulative project. Have credits or certifications from before? This ACEN-accredited program is known for generously accepting many transfer credits, helping you achieve your end-goal faster.
#1. The University of Texas at El Paso – El Paso, TX
M.S.N. – Nursing Administration and Management
Website
Net Price: $6,785
Accreditation: CCNE
Score: 100
The University of Texas at El Paso is our top-scoring choice for a Master of Science in Nursing Administration and Management. This 33-credit hour course can be completed online, except for some face-to-face responsibilities of the students. There's an orientation that is recommended to attend before the start of the course, clinical hours, and advisement meetings that call for a trip to campus at least three times throughout the program. Other than that, you'll get to take Organizational Theory and Culture in Health Care, Nursing Administration Roles & Operations, and Financial Management for Nurse Managers & Administrators online on your own time.
There are only three courses at the start of the program that revisit Nursing Fundamentals, and the remainder of the curriculum is heavily rooted in Administration and Management principles. This educational lineup is intended to develop secure interpersonal and inter-professional communications so you can utilize research and theoretical perspectives to improve the quality and safety of an organization with through a highly affordable and accessible program.