6 Best (FASTEST) Nursing Administration Online Programs
Written By: Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA
What Are The Best (Fastest) Nursing Administration Online Programs In The Nation?
(Based on our
Ranking Methodology, the following are the 6 best fastest Nursing Administration online programs. You can complete these programs in 12 months or less.)
Programs Offered: MSN
Program Length: 12 Months
Program Details: If you want a career in nursing administration and are searching for a program that offers flexibility and does not take years to complete, the University of Southern Maine offers one of the best fastest nursing administration online programs you will find! At USM, the accelerated Master of Science in Nursing-Nursing Administration program is designed with working professionals in mind. The program offers six start dates throughout the year, which means you can begin earning your degree at a time that is most convenient for you.
The program at the University of Southern Maine features an accelerated track consisting of seven-week online courses, which are primarily asynchronous. You will complete
36 credits to earn the degree, including 270 practicum hours. Classes in this program include Organizational Theory 7 Behavior, Healthcare Operations: Human Resources, Law, & Ethics, Evidence-Based Practice Change in Healthcare, and Leadership, Health Policy, & Role. Your practicum experience provides opportunities to explore leadership roles in nursing within various healthcare systems. You will participate in activities designed to help you develop a professional identity and to enhance competence in professional, personal, and leadership practices.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: While the online nursing administration program at the University of Southern Maine is available in both part-time and full-time enrollment options, if you pursue the degree full-time, you can complete the program in just 12 months.
Admission Requirements: Candidates seeking admission to the online nursing administration program must have a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an NLN- or CCNE-accredited nursing program and have a current, unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse. A minimum undergraduate nursing grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale is preferred. However, if your GPA is less than 3.0, you may submit GRE or GMAT scores to be considered.
You must complete an online application and provide copies of official transcripts from all colleges or universities you have attended outside of the University of Main System. Additionally, you must provide a resume or curriculum vitae that includes professional, community, or volunteer experience and submit an essay/personal statement that addresses your understanding of the nurse administrator role and your reasons for choosing to pursue this role, your professional goals, experiences, and reason for choosing the University of Southern Maine to earn your degree.
Why Choose This Program
• The University of Southern Maine believes everyone should have the opportunity to earn a degree and further their career without the added worry of financial burdens. The school offers one of the most affordable tuition rates among our featured fastest online nursing administration programs, with online students receiving the e-tuition rate.
• At the University of Southern Maine, you will learn from dedicated faculty who are active in research and policy issues at local, state, and national levels. Many faculty members are board members of state and national nursing organizations, and several are published authors. Their real-world experience and insight will be instrumental in guiding you to become an effective nurse leader.
Programs Offered: MSN
Program Length: 12 Months
Program Details: At Tarleton State University, you will find another excellent fast-track nursing administration online program. The school accepts applications on a rolling basis. The program offers two start dates each year, one in the spring and one in the fall semester, and new courses begin every eight weeks.
At TSU, you will complete a minimum of
36 credits to earn the MSN in Nursing Administration degree. After completing core graduate nursing courses, including Advanced Nursing Role Development, Informatics, and Nursing Research, you will transition into concentration-specific coursework. You will study Organizational Behavior & Human Resources, Healthcare Change & Communication, Outcomes & Evaluation in Healthcare, and Leadership Development.
The program integrates two practicum experiences designed around nursing leadership opportunities. You will be challenged to apply your leadership knowledge and skills in various healthcare settings such as clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities, under the direction of experienced nurse leaders and faculty. The program culminates with the completion of a graduate project, which involves identifying an opportunity to improve a patient care issue and proposing an interprofessional project to accomplish that goal.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The online nursing administration program at Tarleton State University is designed to be completed in one year.
Admission Requirements: Prospective students desiring admission to the fast-track nursing administration online program at Tarleton State University must have a BSN from an accredited nursing program, have a minimum 2.5 GPA on the last 60 hours of college coursework completed, and have a current, unrestricted United States RN license and be eligible for RN licensure in the state of Texas. You must submit an admissions essay outlining your goals and reason for pursuing a graduate degree, provide official transcripts from any college or university you have attended, and provide a current resume. Additionally, you must have completed a basic statistics course with a grade of “C” or better.
Why Choose This Program
• At Tarleton State University, you will learn from the firsthand knowledge and experience of faculty from diverse clinical backgrounds with years of experience in nursing leadership. Faculty and staff offer personalized support to help guide you through the program to promote your success both in the program and in your career following graduation.
• The online nursing administration program at TSU has excellent retention rates, which is indicative of student satisfaction and success. Additionally, the school reports students have excellent job placement rates following graduation.
Programs Offered: MSN
Program Length: 12 Months
Program Details: If you are ready to move over to the business side of nursing and believe administration is the place for you, Arkansas State University has an excellent fast-track online nursing administration program you may find worth considering. The program is designed to equip you with the core competencies and knowledge of nursing leadership and management, so you can apply critical thinking, evidence-based decision-making, and analysis to promote solid business strategies and positive organizational outcomes. The program is delivered in an accelerated format and has three start dates annually.
The nursing administration online program features a
34-credit curriculum, which includes 31 core course credits. At ASU, you will take classes, including Healthcare Law & Quality Improvement, Applied Clinical Research& Role Seminar, Budgeting & Financial Management, and Leadership in Health Professions.
You will complete three capstone credit hours, which consists of 180 clinical hours. The capstone course in health management is the culminating component of the program and involves utilizing leadership and management skills to identify and develop solutions for a healthcare-related problem. You will work with a faculty mentor and team members to synthesize theories, techniques, and strategies to solve problems from the viewpoint of a nurse leader.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You can complete the fast-track online nursing administration program at Arkansas State University in as few as 14 months.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission to the program at ASU, you must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited nursing program earned at a regionally accredited college or university. You must have an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and submit official transcripts from each college or university you have attended. All applicants must have a current, unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse.
Why Choose This Program
• Arkansas State University has a long history of educating nurses at the graduate level. The first Master’s nursing class was initiated in 1969. Since then, the program has grown to include several specialties, including the online nursing administration program.
• Just because you are enrolled in an online program does not mean you are left to fend for yourself. At Arkansas state University, you will have the full support of program faculty and support staff. Your success is their priority. From easy access to and communication with instructors and academic advisors to online tutoring and support teams, you never have to feel alone.
Programs Offered: MSN
Program Length: 12 Months
Program Details: At Radford University, you can build on your nursing knowledge and experience, preparing to transition as a nurse leader through one of the nation’s best shortest nursing administration online programs. The program offers six start dates per year, making it easy to pick a time that works best for you to begin pursuing your degree.
The master’s in nursing administration program is a 33-credit pathway. You may transfer up to 16 credits from qualifying prior coursework. The curriculum consists of 11 courses, including Quality & Safety in Healthcare, Healthcare Informatics, Organizational Behavior & Human Resources, and Ethical & Legal Issues in Practice.
The program includes an in-depth focus on healthcare policy and systems, leadership issues and ethics, and factors that impact organizational practice. In addition to online coursework, you will complete an administrative practicum at an approved facility in your home region. You will collaborate with program faculty to arrange your practicum at an approved site with a qualified preceptor. You will also complete a scholarly master’s project conducting research in an area of nursing administration that interests you.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The fast-track online nursing administration program at Radford University is designed to be completed in 12 months.
Admission Requirements: Eligible applicants for the fast-track online nursing administration program will have a BSN from a regionally accredited college or university and an accredited nursing program, a current, unrestricted RN license in the state where clinicals will occur, and a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0. All candidates must have taken a college level Statistics course and passed with a grade of "C" or better. You must provide one letter of recommendation from a professional contact who can speak to your potential for success in advanced nursing practice. Additionally, you must submit official transcripts from any college or university you have attended, a personal essay describing your career goals and how earning this degree will help you achieve those goals and provide a professional resume or curriculum vitae.
Why Choose This Program
• At Radford University, online learning does not mean you are alone. Faculty are easily accessible to students, and you have access to 24/7 online tutoring.
• Program faculty for the Radford University online nursing administration program are graduate-prepared and experienced in nursing administration and leadership. Their knowledge and diverse experiences will provide insight into the world of nursing leadership to help you prepare for a successful career as you take the next step and move your career forward.
Programs Offered: MSN
Program Length: 10 Months
Program Details: If you are ready to enhance your leadership skills and abilities and expand your nursing practice to include administrative roles, Texas A&M International University has a fast-track nursing administration online program that can help you accomplish that goal. The program offers an accelerated path to earn your Master’s degree in nursing through a flexible online learning format that provides flexibility without conflicting with work and other responsibilities you may have.
This master's in nursing administration program features a rigorous core nursing curriculum covering topics in global healthcare, business skills, relationship building, and communication. You will learn the relationship between social justice and healthcare policy, statistical analysis and research methodology, and transformation leadership. You will also participate in an immersive 180-hour integrative leadership practicum designed for nurse executives. In this practicum, you will observe and implement administrative competencies and principles and complete a collaborative health project.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The fast-track nursing administration online program at Texas A&M International University can be completed in as little as 10 months.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission to the fast-track online nursing administration program at Texas A&M International University, you must have a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited college or university and have an unencumbered, active RN license in Texas.
Why Choose This Program
• One of the things I like about the program offered at Texas A&M International University is that they stress the importance of transformational leadership in their nursing administration program.
Transformation leadership in nursing is a powerful tool when used correctly because leaders use it to motivate nurses to take ownership of their roles and responsibilities and to perform above and beyond general expectations, which benefits patients, staff, organizations, and the nursing profession overall.
• At Texas A&M International University, you have six start dates to choose from to begin the program, which means you have a better chance of acceptance, and beginning on your terms is easier.
Programs Offered: MSN
Program Length: 12 Months
Program Details: You will find another featured fast-track online nursing administration program at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma. This Master of Science in Nursing Administrative Leadership program is designed to prepare you with advanced knowledge in research, evidence-based practices, and cultural perspectives to guide you as you develop key leadership skills.
The program features a
curriculum filled with rich content aligned with core competencies set forth by the American Nurses Association Scope and Standards of Practice for Nurse Administration and the American Organization of Nurse Executives. You will take classes, including Leadership Development for the Advanced Nursing Professional, Organizational & Systems Management in Nursing, Healthcare Finance & Economics.
How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You can complete the online nursing administration program at Northeastern State University in 12 months.
Admission Requirements: Admission to the online fast-track nursing administration program is contingent upon meeting the following requirements. You must possess a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a nationally accredited nursing program (ACEN, CCNE, or NEA) and a regionally accredited college or university OR have an associate degree in nursing and a non-nursing bachelor's degree. You must have and maintain a current, unrestricted RN license throughout the program. Candidates with an associate degree in nursing and a non-nursing bachelor's must complete Population Health, Nursing Leadership & Management, and an approved Statistics and Research course before beginning the program.
All candidates must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 for all undergraduate coursework or a 3.0 GPA for all nursing coursework. You must provide official copies of all transcripts from any post-secondary school you have attended.
Why Choose This Program
• Northeastern State University's nursing program boasts expert faculty with years of experience in healthcare leadership and education. Their dedication to the nursing profession, school, and the students they serve is evident in the success rates of students and the program's reputation. At NSU, you will truly be learning from some of the best nurses in the industry!
• One of the deciding factors many would-be students state that gives them pause when it comes to going back to school is cost. At Northeastern State University, you will find one of the most affordable online nursing administration programs, putting a graduate degree within reach for students who may otherwise be unable to pursue a degree.
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.