25 Best Master's in Nursing Schools (MSN) 2020
We ranked the top 25 colleges that offer a Master of Science in Nursing based on the median entry-level salaries of alumni. The top ranked school is Central Connecticut State University, with a median salary of $188,500. University of North Carolina at Greensboro has the lowest median debt of all the ranked schools, with MSN graduates owing a median of $34,706. Graduates of these top nursing schools have median starting salaries in the $133,500-$188,500 range.
Tuition, median salaries, and median debt were reported by the U.S. Department of Education in November 2019. View our methodology for more details about these rankings or read more about the top-ranked schools.
| School | Annual Tuition | Median Debt | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Connecticut State University | $26,186 | $44,035 | $188,500 |
| Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | $11,835 | $60,500 | $186,000 |
| University of New England | $30,198 | $132,170 | $184,700 |
| Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University | $26,274 | $143,158 | $177,000 |
| Bryan College of Health Sciences | $23,512 | Not Reported | $167,200 |
| Villanova University | $21,307 | $81,634 | $167,000 |
| Mount Marty College | $9,995 | $114,925 | $166,500 |
| Missouri State University | $13,098 | Not Reported | $166,200 |
| Texas Wesleyan University | $18,547 | $126,267 | $165,200 |
| Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia | Not Reported | $108,131 | $164,400 |
| AdventHealth University | $26,982 | $141,150 | $160,300 |
| Mayo Medical School | $23,667 | $85,599 | $158,900 |
| Gannon University | $21,410 | $105,199 | $156,100 |
| Newman University | $8,484 | $111,967 | $153,400 |
| Medical University of South Carolina | $25,673 | $142,759 | $149,100 |
| Holy Names University | $18,590 | $51,241 | $147,100 |
| University of Michigan - Flint | $18,900 | $45,946 | $145,300 |
| Touro College | $13,678 | $41,000 | $139,800 |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | $22,013 | $34,706 | $139,100 |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | $31,216 | $77,875 | $137,100 |
| Loma Linda University | $31,780 | $73,413 | $135,100 |
| The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga | $18,538 | $63,256 | $133,500 |
2020 Best Colleges Highlights
Central Connecticut State University features a unique Master of Science Nursing in Hospice and Palliative Care. The program focus is on advanced nursing care for end-of-life and chronic care patients and their caregivers. Students may focus on palliative or chronic care, or both. Students will learn to assess, evaluate and effectively offer care. The program focus is competent care delivered in a patient-sensitive way, and also developing nurse advocacy for clients. Graduates are eligible for certification by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Center.
The program uses a cohort system for entering students. The 35 credit degree may be completed in less than two years. It is geared toward working nurses with current RN certification. Entrants must have a bachelor's degree, with a BSN strongly preferred. All courses are available online, and the program can be completed entirely online. The last 6 credits are a capstone research project.
Among the courses in the program are Theory of Hospice and Palliative Care, Health Assessment Across the Lifespan, and Comparative Domestic Delivery Systems and Informatics.
CCSU is located in New Britain, Connecticut.
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota features a Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia. The program is designed for practicing RNs who want to qualify as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. The 64-credit program takes 28 months (7 semesters) to complete. The academic portion is based on the Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis, with a blended online and on-campus format. Hospitals all over the state participate in the clinical portion. Students will learn the techniques and practice of anesthesia. Courses offered include Principles of Anesthesia, and Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology.
In addition to the Twin Cities campus, Saint Mary's has campuses in Winona, Rochester, and Apple Valley, all in Minnesota.
The University of New England offers a Master of Science in Nursing degree both on its campus in Portland, Maine. The program specializes in anesthesia.
The Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia is designed for practicing RNs who want to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. The first 8 months are in Portland, After that is a 19-month clinical training, UNE works with hospitals all over New England. In this second phase courses are online. Students will learn the procedures of anesthesia for all patients. Courses include Airway Management and Regional Techniques and Advances Principles of Anesthesia. The degree requires 51 credits. To date, graduates have a remarkable 100% pass rate on the certifying exam, and an equally impressive 100% employment rate within one year of graduation.
In July of 2019, UNE launched its new School of Nursing and Population Health on the Portland campus. UNE has a second campus in Biddeford, also in Maine.
The Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University features a Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner. The degree is designed for licensed and practicing RNs to become advanced practice nurses focusing on family practice. Students will learn the application of nursing practice across the lifespan for a diverse population. The program's special emphasis is practicum experience in rural and underserved communities. Completion takes two to three years, with 44 credits and a minimum of 600 hours of clinical practice.
The most recent graduating class has an impressive 100% pass rate on the MSN-Family Nurse Practitioner certification exam. Among the courses offered in the program are Physiology and Pathophysiology, Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Nursing Theory and Advanced Practice, and Health Assessment/ Health Promotion.
The university is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The School of Nursing is over 90 years old. The clinical practicum portion of the program is geared to underserved areas or rural and urban Louisiana.
Expedited entry is available for students enrolled or recently graduated from the university.
Visit Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University's website.
Bryan College of Health Sciences features two Master of Science in Nursing degrees. They are Nurse Educator and Nurse Leadership. Both are blended format, approximately 75% on line and 25% on campus. The 36 credit program usually is completed in two years. Students must have a bachelor's degree with a major in nursing, and a current unencumbered RN license in Nebraska, or in the state where the practicum will take place.
Both programs stress integrity, teamwork, flexibility, evidence-based nursing, and the integration of technology. Students will learn best practice nursing, current nursing theory, and building teams. Nurse Educators will be able to teach community outreach, beginning nurses, individuals, and families. Nurse Leaders will be able to build networks, apply analysis to statistics and devise solutions to problems. Courses offered include Teaching and Learning Strategies, Applied Statistics, Applied Theoretical Foundation, and Evidence-Based Practice and Informatics.
Bryan College of Health Science is uniquely a college within a major medical center, Bryan Health, in Lincoln Nebraska. Bryan Health is a nonprofit organization. Graduates report a 100% employment rate within four months.