3 Best (1-YEAR) Direct-Entry MSN Online Programs


Written By: Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA

Interested in making a mid-course career change? Worried that your lack of a BSN degree will hold you back from fulfilling your aspirations to become an advanced practice RN? A direct-entry Master’s of Science in Nursing degree can make the transition from your previous field of study to nursing easy. There are online programs that will allow you to earn an MSN in just 12 to 20 months, and because they use distance learning technology, you won’t have to rearrange your work or family obligations to accommodate class times. What are the best 12-20 month online direct-entry MSN programs? The list below of the 3 best 12-20 month direct-entry MSN online programs is an invaluable resource.

(Please note that no 12-month Direct-Entry MSN online programs are currently being offered. To provide our readers with the next fastest alternative option, for our rankings, we have evaluated online Direct-Entry MSN programs that can be completed in 12-20 months.)



RECOMMENDED ONLINE MSN PROGRAMS

What are the Best (12-20 MONTH) Direct-Entry MSN Online Programs in the Nation?

(Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 3 best 12-20 month direct-entry MSN online programs in the nation. You can complete these programs in 12-20 months.)


1. Marquette University - Pleasant Prairie, WI


Program Length: 19 Months


Program Details: Marquette University offers one of the nation’s best 12-20 month direct-entry MSN online programs. The Direct-Entry Master of Science in Nursing program is designed for non-nurses who wish to transition to a nursing career. The program features a blended learning model that combines online and classroom didactic courses, on-site skills and simulation labs, and clinical practicums.

The five-semester program features a 75-credit curriculum. You will begin the program by taking foundational nursing courses, such as Health Assessment and Fundamentals, Pharmacotherapeutics for Nursing Practice, and Ethics, Policy, and Healthcare Advocacy. As the program progresses, you will begin taking more advanced courses and participate in laboratory simulations and clinical practicums.

Clinical Training: Clinical rotations are a vital part of your nursing education. At Marquette University, you will begin clinical simulations in your first semester. Simulations are designed to help you prepare for in-person clinical practicums, which will begin in the program's second semester.

Program faculty design your clinical experiences with pre-assigned locations in a variety of settings. The university has clinical partnerships with healthcare organizations in metro-Milwaukee, northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and Chicago.


How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The Direct-Entry MSN program at Marquette University can be completed in as few as 19 months.


Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission to the Direct-Entry MSN program at Marquette University, you must hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and have a minimum cumulative college GPA of 3.0. You must complete prerequisite courses in Human Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology with lab, Chemistry or Biochemistry or Biology, Nutrition for Health Science, Behavioral Sciences: Psychology or Sociology, and Statistics, including Inferential Analysis. All prerequisite courses must be passed with a “C” or better.

Prospective students are encouraged to speak with an admissions advisor to verify eligibility and create an academic plan. You must complete a Marquette Graduate School application and pay a $50 application fee. Additionally, you must provide official transcripts from any college or university you have attended, three letters of recommendation, an updated resume, and an admissions statement.


Why Choose This Program

• Marquette University believes in promoting career growth for all its students. After graduating from the Direct-Entry MSN program, you have the option to pursue an advanced nursing certification. The university offers options for earning post-Master's certification in Nursing Administration and as a Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Midwife.
• Marquette University has been named in U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Online Master’s in Nursing programs.
• As a student in Marquette University’s 19-month online direct-entry MSN program, you will have opportunities to learn in top healthcare facilities under the supervision of experienced, dedicated faculty and clinical preceptors.


2. Carroll University - Waukesha, WI


Program Length: 20 Months


Program Details: Baccalaureate degree holders who wish to transition to a career as a registered nurse can find an excellent opportunity at Carroll University. The university offers another of our featured 12-20 month direct-entry MSN programs online. The program admits students each year in the fall.

The program is presented in an accelerated, hybrid format. Eight-week didactic courses have both online and in-person classroom components. Lab simulations occur on campus once per week. The Direct-Entry MSN program is a 72-credit pathway. The rigorous curriculum features classes, including Advanced Pathophysiology for Nurses, Population Focused Nursing Care, Nursing Informatics, and Nursing and Mental Healthcare.

Clinical Training: Clinical training for the Direct-Entry MSN program is conducted one day per week throughout the program. You will participate in direct patient care experiences in various healthcare settings. All practicums are completed under the direct supervision of clinical faculty and approved preceptors. Clinical training sites and assignments are arranged by the clinical coordinator.


How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The program offered at Carroll University is a 20-month direct-entry MSN online program.


Admission Requirements: Candidates who wish to enroll in the Direct-Entry MSN online program at Carroll University must have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree from an accredited post-secondary institution and have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher. You will begin the application process by completing the Graduate Studies Application. You must provide a Personal Statement defining your goals and objectives, a resume or curriculum vitae, two professional references, and copies of official post-secondary transcripts. Additionally, you must complete the Technical and Profession Standards Form and complete the required pre-professional coursework with a grade of “C” or better.


Why Choose This Program

• At Carroll University, you will learn valuable clinical skills at the school’s state-of-the-art simulation facilities. Your experiences on campus will help you prepare for clinical practicums and independent practice after graduation.
• Carroll University’s nursing school has a solid history of ranking among the top schools in the state for NCLEX pass rates. This track record speaks highly of the quality of the education the school provides!
• At Carroll University, you will have opportunities to provide healthcare services to those in need in the community. The university offers a variety of low- and no-cost community health and wellness services, which you can participate in while taking advantage of top-notch clinical opportunities!


3. Texas Lutheran University - Seguin, TX


Program Length: 20 Months


Program Details: Texas Lutheran University offers another top 12-20 month direct-entry MSN program online. The program, which features a hybrid learning format, admits students in the fall of each academic year.

You will experience in-person learning in the classroom, designed to help you master fundamental and advanced concepts in nursing. Additionally, you will participate in laboratory simulations to learn patient assessment and clinical treatment methods and have extensive clinical practicum experiences.

The 75-credit program features a rich curriculum. You will take classes such as Age-Span Health Assessment, Complex Nursing Concepts and Practice, Power, Policy, & Politics in Nursing, Nursing Research, and Evidence-Based Professional Nursing.

Clinical Training: The online 20-month direct-entry MSN program at Texas Lutheran University includes a minimum of 990 clinical hours. In your clinical training, you will participate in hands-on training, providing a range of patient care in diverse healthcare settings. Some of the settings where you will obtain clinical training include geriatrics, behavioral health, medical-surgical acute care, surgery, OB-GYN, pediatrics, ICU, emergency rooms, community, and intermediate care settings.


How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You can complete the Direct-Entry MSN program at Texas Lutheran University in as few as 20 months.


Admission Requirements: The Direct-Entry MSN program at Texas Lutheran University is designed for students who hold a bachelor's degree in any academic major other than nursing. You must provide official transcripts from all institutions you attended, be a graduate of a regionally accredited baccalaureate degree program, and have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or greater. You must provide ATI TEAS test scores with a composite of 70 or higher, taken within the last year. You must provide one letter of reference and complete two essay questions. Finally, you must complete Statistics and Developmental Psychology courses and pass all science prerequisites with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.


Why Choose This Program

• The Direct-Entry MSN program features small class sizes, which means you have more opportunities for individual attention from faculty and preceptors.
• Texas Lutheran University has state-of-the-art simulation labs where you will learn clinical assessment and treatment skills using high-fidelity patient simulators in realistic healthcare environments.
• At Texas Lutheran University, you will have opportunities to work with faculty members on research projects to help gain an understanding of how research is conducted.


VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY


Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA
Darby Faubion is a nurse and allied health instructor with over 20 years of clinical experience. Her work history includes clinical experience in pediatrics, mental health, addiction and behavioral disorders, geriatrics, wound management, and communicable disease. Darby has worked in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health and hospice agencies. Darby also has experience as a nursing and allied health educator at both community college and university levels. Her love for nursing and nursing education led to her becoming a test-taking strategist and NCLEX prep coach.