8 Best (12-MONTH) BSN-to-MSN Online Programs
Written By: Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA
With a 12-month Master’s of Science in Nursing degree, you can become a nurse practitioner or a clinical nurse specialist in record time. You’ll land jobs with higher salaries and greater responsibilities. In short, you’ll become a recognized leader in your field. If all that’s holding you back from earning your MSN are barriers like job and personal commitments, you should know that online 12-month BSN-to-MSN programs offer the same high-quality education as their classroom counterparts but with the flexibility to pace yourself. Eager to discover what are the best 12-month BSN-to-MSN programs online? The list below of the 8 best 12-month BSN-to-MSN online programs will help you get started.
What are the Best (12-MONTH) BSN-to-MSN Online Programs in the Nation?
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 8 best 1-year BSN-to-MSN online programs. You can complete these programs in 12-months or less.)1. University of South Carolina - Columbia, SC
Specialties Offered: Healthcare Leadership
Program Length: 12 Months
The program admits full-time students in the spring semester each year, and part-time students begin in the fall. Didactic coursework is delivered in a distance-learning format. You can complete practicum requirements at your current place of employment or sites near your home, making this program an excellent option if you have a job or other responsibilities.
This BSN-to-MSN online 12-month program features a 30-credit hour curriculum. You will take classes, including Coordinating Processes in Healthcare Leadership, Application of Basic Statistics for Nursing and Nursing Services Management, Facilitative Processes in Healthcare Leadership, and Financing Healthcare. The program also requires you to complete two precepted leadership experiences that are 112 clock hours each.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The 12-month BSN-to-MSN online program is designed to be completed in one year if you enroll full-time. Part-time students typically take an average of 18 months to complete the program.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission to the 12-month BSN-to-MSN online program, you must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree earned from a nationally accredited nursing program and have an active, unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse in your state of residence. You must provide official transcripts from any college or university you have attended, even if you did not receive a degree. Transcripts should reflect a minimum cumulative college GPA of 3.0 for all attempted college coursework. You must prepare and submit a Personal Goal Statement that reflects the MSN program outcomes and provide three professional recommendations.
Why Choose This Program
• U.S. News ranks the University of South Carolina as one of the Best Online Programs for Graduate Nursing, indicating this school is an excellent option for earning your MSN!• At the University of South Carolina, you will learn from faculty members who have demonstrated success in nursing leadership across many specialties and in diverse settings.
• Students in the program report high satisfaction rates for both faculty and the school overall.
2. University of North Carolina-Wilmington - Wilmington, NC
Specialties Offered: Nurse Educator
Program Length: 12 Months
In this program, you will learn to design health-centered nursing curricula based on concern for students, patients, and communities and design and implement programs focused on population health and clinical prevention. You will be prepared to educate learners in post-secondary institutions of learning as well as diverse healthcare settings.
Didactic coursework for the 36-credit BSN-to-MSN Nurse Educator program is entirely online, making it a perfect choice for working professionals. The program culminates with two sequential practicum courses, with corresponding practice experiences where you will apply the skills you learned.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The online BSN-to-MSN program takes 12 months or four semesters to complete.
Admission Requirements: With a bachelor's degree in nursing from a nationally accredited nursing school and a current, unrestricted RN license, you may apply for admission to the 12-month online BSN-to-MSN program at the University of South Carolina. You must complete a Graduate School application and submit transcripts from any post-secondary school you have attended. Candidates with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher are preferred. However, with a GPA of 2.7-2.99 and GRE or GMAT scores, you may still apply. You must have completed an undergraduate or graduate level Statistics course with a grade of "B-" or higher. Supplemental items, such as letters of recommendation and a personal statement, may be required. Additionally, you may be asked to participate in an admission interview with the program faculty.
Why Choose This Program
• Graduates of the University of South Carolina’s 12-month BSN-to-MSN online Nurse Educator program have outstanding national certification exam pass rates.• At the University of South Carolina, you will learn from master’s and doctoral-prepared faculty with diverse experiences in nursing education.
• The 100% online format makes this program a great option for working professionals.
3. University of Nevada, Las Vegas - Las Vegas, NV
Specialties Offered: Nursing Education
Program Length: 12 Months
At UNLV, you will learn to evaluate the personal values, principles, and beliefs used in ethical decision-making that make up the framework for professional nursing practice. The Nursing Education pathway is designed to prepare you for a faculty position within a post-secondary institution of learning or a nurse educator position within a clinical setting.
The online BSN-to-MSN 12-month program is a 33-credit program, which includes MSN core and MSN education courses and a culminating Nurse Educator Scholarship Project. In this program, you will take classes such as Developing and Evaluating Curriculum for Nursing Education, Course Level Evaluation Strategies for Nurse Educators, and Informatics and Quality Improvement.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The program offered at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas is a 1-year BSN-to-MSN online program.
Admission Requirements: Admission to the BSN-to-MSN 12-month online program at UNLV is a competitive process. Candidates are reviewed based on academic and professional strengths and qualifications and the number of available spots in the class.
You must apply simultaneously to the Graduate College and the School of Nursing. All candidates must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA or 3.0 GPA for the last two years of undergraduate coursework. You must be a graduate of an accredited bachelor's nursing program and have a valid, unrestricted license to practice as a registered nurse in your state of residence. You must provide official transcripts from all post-secondary schools you attended, a current resume or curriculum vitae, and three letters of recommendation. Additionally, you must have one year of clinical nursing work experience as a registered nurse by the time the program begins.
Why Choose This Program
• At the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, you will learn from seasoned nursing faculty whose goal is to further the profession by preparing strong nurse educators.• UNLV is ranked by U.S. News in its Best Nursing School category for Master’s Nursing Programs.
• Graduates of the program report excellent employment rates, with most securing jobs in the specialty within six months of graduation.
4. Texas A&M International University - Laredo, TX
Specialties Offered: Nursing Administration
Program Length: 10 Months
At Texas A&M, you will be engaged in a curriculum that combines knowledge of relationship building, communication, leadership, and business to prepare you for administrative roles in nursing. The program features a 31-credit hour curriculum that provides you with opportunities to observe and implement administrative competencies and principles and the fiscal environments of healthcare.
You will take classes such as Population Health, Finance for the Nurse Executive, Organizational Behavior, and Transformational Leadership. The program also includes a 180-hour practicum course, which provides opportunities to design practice objectives and complete an administrative collaborative health project relevant to nursing administration.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The program offered at Texas A&M International University can be completed in as few as 10 months.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission to the 12-month online BSN-to-MSN program at Texas A&M International University, you must have a baccalaureate degree in nursing earned at a nationally accredited college or university, an active, unencumbered RN license in the state of Texas, and a minimum 3.0 grade point average in all upper-division nursing coursework. You must complete an undergraduate statistics course with a grade of “B” or higher and submit transcripts from any college or university you have attended.
Why Choose This Program
• Texas A&M International University has renowned faculty known for their contributions to the nursing profession who are ready to help you succeed in your professional endeavors.• Graduates of the 1-year BSN-to-MSN Nursing Administration online program score exceptionally well on national certification exams.
• The university has a large network of graduates and faculty who act as peers for students in the program.
5. Weber State University - Ogden, UT
Specialties Offered: Nurse Educator and Nursing Leadership & Management
Program Length: Nurse Educator (12 Months) and Nursing Leadership & Management (12 Months)
The Nurse Educator and Nursing Leadership and Management 12-month BSN-to-MSN online programs require completion of 32 credits. You will earn credits from MSN core courses, such as Translating Research and Evidence into Practice and Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice, as well as from specialty core courses. Additionally, each pathway includes a 90-hour residency arranged in your community and specific to your chosen specialty.
In the Nurse Educator program, you will learn about nursing education and standards, curriculum design, student assessments, and program evaluation methods. You will also learn about diverse teaching methods and strategies to help you excel as a nurse educator. The specialty component of this pathway includes classes such as Advanced Pathophysiology for Nurse Educators, Socialization in the Role of Nursing Educator, and Curriculum Development for Nursing Educators.
The Nursing Leadership and Management program will prepare you to design and establish professional work environments as you lead multidisciplinary teams. You will learn about best practice standards and procedures to help promote high-quality patient care and outcomes. Some of the classes in this specialty pathway include Healthcare Systems and the Healthcare Economy, Retaining and Developing a Competent Workforce in Nursing, and Leadership and Accountability in Advanced Nursing.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Both the Nurse Educator and Nursing Leadership and Management BSN-to-MSN programs at Weber State University are designed to be completed in 12 months. Students enroll in three continuous semesters, including one summer session.
Admission Requirements: Admission to both pathways of the 1-year BSN-to-MSN online program at Weber State requires you to be a graduate of a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited bachelor’s nursing program and to have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. You must have an active, unrestricted RN license in your state of residence. You must complete an online MSN application and submit a curriculum vitae or professional resume, an admission essay, and official transcripts from all post-secondary schools you have attended.
Why Choose This Program
• At Weber State University, you will learn from experienced faculty who are dedicated to improving the nursing profession and helping you succeed.• The university reports a high retention rate among students enrolled in the 12-month BSN-to-MSN online programs, which indicates student success and satisfaction.
• As a student at Weber State, you will have ongoing support from academic advisors and clinical mentors throughout the program.
6. National University - San Diego, CA
Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Lifespan
Program Length: Family Nurse Practitioner (12 Months) and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Lifespan (12 Months)
Students in both pathways complete 27 quarter credits of MSN core requirements and 15 pre-specialty quarter credits. After completing MSN core and pre-specialty classes, the FNP pathway requires you to complete 47 quarter credits of specialty coursework, and the PMHNP pathway requires you to complete 45.
The Family Nurse Practitioner pathway includes 600 hours of preceptor-supervised clinical hours. The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner pathway includes 540 hours of clinical practicum. Both programs require the completion of a Capstone Project designed to demonstrate your knowledge from the core, specialty, and clinical coursework of your chosen specialty.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Both the Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner pathways are designed in a 12-month format.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission to the 12-month online BSN-to-MSN program at National University, you must be a registered nurse with an active, unencumbered RN license in your state of residence and be a graduate of an accredited baccalaureate nursing program or currently enrolled in the final course of an RN-to-BSN program. You must complete a National University graduate admission application and provide official transcripts from any post-secondary college or university you attended, as well as two professional recommendations. Candidates with a 3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA are preferred. However, candidates with a 2.5-2.99 GPA will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Why Choose This Program
• At National University, you will have an academic advisor who mentors you from the time you enroll in the program until you graduate, ensuring you have the best learning experience.• National University has a long history of educating graduate-level nursing professionals, going back to 1971!
• You will learn from renowned faculty who are experts in nursing and their chosen specialties.
7. William Paterson University - Wayne, NJ
Specialties Offered: Nursing Administration and Nursing Education
Program Length: Nursing Administration (10 Months) and Nursing Education (12 Months)
The Nursing Administration 12-month BSN-to-MSN online program is a 31-credit pathway. The curriculum includes classes such as Economic Analysis for Decision-Makers, Statistics for Decision-Making, Healthcare Data Analytics, and Financial Management of the Community. In the Nursing Education program, you will complete 35 credits in classes, including Clinical Teaching Strategies, Curriculum Development, Advanced Pharmacology, and Classroom Teaching Strategies.
Both options require you to complete a minimum of 170 clinical hours. Additionally, you will participate in virtual seminars every other week during the practicum period of your program to help integrate learning.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The Nursing Education pathway is a 12-month path. The Nursing Administration pathway can be completed in as few as 10 months.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission to the Nursing Administration or Nursing Education 1-year BSN-to-MSN online program at William Patterson University, you must have a BSN from an accredited nursing program, a valid and unencumbered RN license, and an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher. You must be currently employed as an RN and provide two references, one current manager or supervisor and one former faculty member. Additionally, you must provide a current resume or curriculum vitae and official transcripts.
Why Choose This Program
• William Patterson University is ranked by U.S. News in its Best Grad Schools category for Master’s and DNP education.• You will learn from doctoral-prepared faculty with years of experience and expertise who are dedicated to your success.
• Graduates of the William Patterson University 12-month online BSN-to-MSN programs have excellent pass rates on national certification exams among first-time testers.
8. West Coast University - Irvine, CA
Specialties Offered: Nurse Educator and Nurse Leader
Program Length: Nurse Educator (12 Months) and Nurse Leader (12 Months)
The Nurse Educator pathway is a 30-credit program that will prepare you for diverse roles. You will study Curriculum Design, Innovative Teaching Strategies and Learning Styles, and Scholarship for Advanced Nursing Practice. The program culminates with a Nursing Education Practice Integration Experience course as well as direct and indirect practice hours working with a master’s prepared nurse educator.
The Nurse Leader program also requires you to complete 30 credits. In the Nurse Leader pathway, you will take classes, including Business Management for Advanced Nursing Practice, Financial Management for Advanced Practice Nursing, and Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management. The Nurse Leader pathway includes a final evidence-based Scholarly Project and Integration Experience through which you will demonstrate mastery of the principles taught in the program.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Both the Nurse Educator and Nurse Leader 1-year BSN-to-MSN online programs take 12 months to complete. Students enroll in three consecutive trimesters.
Admission Requirements: Candidates seeking admission to the 12-month BSN-to-MSN online programs at West Coast University must possess a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree earned at an ACEN-, CNEA-, or CCNE-accredited nursing program and have a nursing GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. You must have a valid, unrestricted license to practice as a registered nurse. All applicants must meet university admission requirements as well as criteria for admission to the School of Nursing.
Why Choose This Program
• The 1-year online BSN-to-MSN programs at West Coast University are designed with working professionals in mind, offering virtual classes that make it easy to align learning with your busy schedule.• At West Coast University, you will learn from faculty with decades of experience preparing nurse educators and leaders in the industry.
• Students in the BSN-to-MSN programs report high satisfaction rates with the program and faculty.
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.