11 Best MSN Programs in Ohio – 2025
Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org
Advanced practice registered nurses in Ohio fill a critical need for healthcare services in the Buckeye State. As a graduate of one of the MSN programs in Ohio, you’ll have more responsibilities, more employment opportunities and a higher salary—$113,850 on average. Many of Ohio’s MSN programs are offered online, which means you can fit your coursework around your existing family and job responsibilities. Sound interesting? Begin exploring the options with this list of the 11 best MSN programs in Ohio for 2025.
WHAT ARE THE BEST MSN PROGRAMS IN OHIO (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?
Based on our
Ranking Methodology, listed below are the 11 Best Master of Science in Nursing Programs in Ohio (Online & Campus) for 2025.
Programs Offered:
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Family Nurse Practitioner,
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner,
Clinical Nurse Leader, and
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Did you know that the jobs for nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and other MSN nurses are estimated to grow by over 30% from 2019 to 2029? Offering one of the best MSN programs in Ohio, the Ohio State University’s nursing school has been constantly evolving to keep up with the demands of the healthcare industry for over 100 years. Research being one of its most valued missions, you will get several opportunities to make substantial contributions in the field of nursing through interdisciplinary collaborations and access to 22 research laboratories stationed on the premises. The college also provides various global engagement and community outreach activities in the country and abroad.
MSN Program Details:
The college offers its MSN program with four specialization options (3 NP specializations and one Clinical Nurse Leader). Depending on your preference, you can enroll in any of the four tracks either part-time or full-time. While the FNP track prepares you to offer advanced primary care to individuals and families across the lifespan, the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track trains you to care for mental health patients of all age groups. If you join the Clinical Nurse Leader pathway you will learn to manage comprehensive client care, evaluate patient outcomes, and function as an advanced generalist. You can graduate from this curriculum by completing 42 credits of full-time or part-time study. Lastly, the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner specialization which is offered in both on-campus and online formats, provides you with theoretical knowledge and practical skills to demonstrate nursing care practices to infants and children up to 2 years of age.
Programs Offered:
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Adult-;Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner,
Education with Population Focus,
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP),
Family Systems Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing,
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP),
Nursing Anesthesia,
Nurse Midwifery,
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP),
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Acute Care, and
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
Offering one of the well-known MSN programs in Ohio, it’s no surprise that Case Western Reserve University’s school of nursing has made valuable contributions to the overall advancement in nursing science. Here research activities not only focus on various diseases, pathology, and the techniques of diverse therapies but also on social factors and behaviors that affect health. You will be guided by instructors who are fellows of the American Academy of Nursing, allowing you to study under the mentorship of some of the most accomplished leaders in education, practice, and research.
MSN Program Details:
The college provides you with as many as 10 specialization options that you can choose from based on your interests. Also, you can further expand your skills by enrolling in one of the dual specialization tracks. If you are particularly interested in elderly care, you can choose the adult gerontology track in primary or acute care, with the acute care track ranking 10th in the U.S. News & World Report’s list of best programs. Both the tracks take 18 months to complete and mainly educate you in the healthcare management of adults and the geriatric population.
If you are interested in delivering nursing care to patients of all age groups, then the 40-credit Family Nurse Practitioner concentration might be the right choice for you. On the other hand, the Family Systems Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing track includes 720 hours of clinical experiences and entails courses in psychopathology, theoretical foundations, and integration & application of family systems. Whereas, the NNP curriculum which has close to a 100% passing rate on the certification exam includes 40 credits worth of courses that can be completed in 4 semesters of study.
The Nursing Anesthesia, Nurse-Midwifery, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Acute Care, and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner concentrations are also popular choices among students and require you to complete courses varying in between 38 to 49 credits.
Programs Offered:
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care,
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care,
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP),
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner,
Nurse-Midwifery,
Nursing Administration, and
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
Do you see yourself working with physicians in a challenging and constantly evolving medical care industry? If so, then an advanced career in nursing can take you places. The University of Cincinnati is listed among the best online MSN programs in Ohio as well as the country for veterans by U.S. News and World Report. The college offers several opportunities to earn scholarships and financial aid. More than 400 of its nursing students received funding for the academic year of 2020-2021.
MSN Program Details:
AT UC you can complete your MSN in either of the 7 concentrations, five NP, one in Nursing Administration and the seventh track that trains you to become a nurse mid-wife. Except for the NP tracks in adult-gerontology acute care, neonatal and family health which are offered in the on-campus/hybrid format, all the other four tracks can be completed entirely through the distance learning format. Besides, the FNP and AGPC tracks can be completed either way, face-to-face or online, depending on the format you prefer.
You can enroll in any of the majors at the beginning of the fall or spring semester. Regardless of the program, you decide to major in you will be prepared to take up advanced practice positions in diverse healthcare settings. Its mention worthy that the college’s Nursing Administration concentration is ranked 10th and the Nursing Anesthesia track is listed 22nd in the country by U.S. News and World Report.
Programs Offered:
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Nurse Educator,
Family Nurse Practitioner,
Nurse Leader, and
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
With an MSN you can seamlessly climb the career ladder as this degree makes taking up leadership and managerial roles extremely achievable. According to U.S. News and World Report, Ohio University holds the number one position for providing the best value among all the public universities in the state of Ohio. Here you get access to high-quality education without having to break the bank as the college has not increased its tuition fees in over 4 years. Furthermore, with a student-faculty ratio that is as little as 16:1, you get to have personalized interactions with your faculty.
MSN Program Details:
This Ohio MSN program allows you to major in any of its five concentrations.
The Adult-gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration trains you in the management of routine adult health issues and helps in building your diagnostic and decision-making skills. You can graduate from this program in 6 semesters by completing 46 credits of coursework and 650 hours of clinical experiences.
The Nurse Educator concentration, on the other hand, is less intensive and requires you to complete 33 credits. Here you will learn advanced pathophysiology, health appraisal for nurse educators, analyzing EBP for APN, and curriculum development.
Aspiring NPs interested in serving patients across the lifespan can enroll in the 41-credit Family Nurse Practitioner curriculum that includes 3 on-campus intensives and accepts students in the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
The Nurse Leader concentration comes with the flexibility of 100% online classes without any campus requirements and could be a great choice for working students. This fast-paced curriculum can be completed in just 5 semesters and comprises courses in informatics, health policy & advocacy, leadership in systems and organizations, and resource management.
Lastly, the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialization provides you with the didactic knowledge and practical skills to support the mental health needs of individuals, groups, and families. Classes will focus on teaching you the assessment and management of mental disorders, psychotherapeutic treatment modalities, and assessment and interventions for families.
Programs Offered:
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner,
Family Nurse Practitioner,
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, and
Leadership
Sub-Specialties:
Palliative Care, and
Nursing Education
One of the major boons for pursuing a master’s degree in nursing is the ability to gain specialization in a focused area of advanced nursing. Ursuline College offers one of the few MSN programs in Ohio with a low student to instructor ratio of just 1:8. The college is popularly known for supporting the academic needs of low-income groups and is ranked number one in the nation for student mobility by an American Enterprise Institute study. US News and World Report has also listed it among the Best Value Schools in the country. Furthermore, to make your education more affordable you can also earn a scholarship from the National League for Nursing and RN Careers.
MSN Program Details:
To enroll in any of the MSN specialization tracks offered at Ursuline you are required to have work experience as a registered nurse for at least one year. You are also required to have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in required nursing courses. If you choose to join the 39-credit Adult- gerontology track you will learn health care informatics, healthcare policy, adult-gerontology health disease management, advanced pharmacology, introduction to evidence-based practice, and advanced diagnostics.
On the other hand, the 45-credit Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner concentration trains you to perform complex monitoring and high-intensity nursing interventions in high acuity care. Upon graduating from the FNP curriculum you will be prepared to deliver primary healthcare to individuals and their families across the lifespan. Through the 39 credits long Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist pathway you will take classes in CNS Adult Health Management, Advanced Physiology/Pathology, Health Care Organizations and Finance, and Ethical and Legal Responsibilities.
Finally, the Leadership track prepares you to use evidence-based knowledge to manage healthcare systems.
Furthermore, to expand your nursing practice, this program offers you the opportunity to complete a sub-specialty in either Palliative Care or Nursing Education along with your chosen MSN-track.
Programs Offered:
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist,
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner,
Family Nurse Practitioner,
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner,
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner,
Women's Health Nurse Practitioner,
Nurse Educator, and
Nursing Administration & Health Systems Leadership
If you are thinking of leveling-up your nursing skills by enrolling in any of the reputed MSN schools in Ohio, then you must learn about Kent State University's MSN that prepares you to become a globally-engaged and empathetic healthcare leader of the future. Its mission is to discover, innovate, and share practical knowledge and theoretical understanding of nursing at the same time nurture humanitarian values in supporting the medical needs of people across the state and country. The college aims at providing you with maximum clinical exposure through its collaborations with around 350 hospitals, schools, clinics, and healthcare organizations. You will also gain the required hands-on experience on-campus at the Olga A. Mural Simulation laboratory, where you will be trained in the management and treatment of realistic healthcare scenarios that will make you ready to apply your practical skills in the real world.
MSN Program Details:
The MSN tracks offered by the college are carefully planned not only to get you job ready to take high paying positions in any healthcare facility but also provide a strong foundation for doctoral-level education, should you plan to study further. You can complete courses on a full-time or part-time schedule based on your convenience. Concentrations like Nurse Educator, Nursing administration & Healthcare systems Leadership, Women’s Health, and Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist are offered fully online whereas the remaining tracks can be completed by attending on-campus classes. All tracks require you to complete major courses such as advanced nursing informatics, health policy & advanced nursing practice, the theoretical basis for nursing practice, and methods of inquiry.
Programs Offered:
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Education, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Forensics
Counted among the reputed MSN programs in Ohio, the MSN degree at Xavier University is available to registered nurses as well as to students holding a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. The college also has a nursing student organization that serves as a perfect platform for aspiring nurses to debate on health and wellness issues, engage in community service projects, and work on scholarship activities with your classmates. This organization also has a mentoring program that can help you move in the right direction with the support and guidance of your mentors.
MSN Program Details:
The college offers you specialization options in Education, Family nurse Practitioner and Forensics. No matter which track you choose to pursue, you will study core nursing courses that provide you with the theoretical and hands-on knowledge in critical systematic inquiry, management of informatics, and professional & personal development as a whole. The Education track can be taken up online or on-campus where you will complete courses in teaching strategies, advanced technology & simulation, and assessment for the nurse educator.
On the other hand, the Family Nurse Practitioner pathway trains you in clinical pharmacology, childbearing family care, pediatric and adolescent family care, and leadership through several on-campus lectures. Finally, the forensics track is delivered through an online format where you will gain an understanding of specialty courses like psychological, social, and legal forensics, foundation of forensic nursing, and social foundations of crime and delinquency.
Programs Offered:
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Administration, Education, and Clinical Nurse Leader
While RNs primarily assist doctors and other specialists by delivering several support services, MSN nurses have greater independence and are authorized to take charge of a wide range of responsibilities. If you’re thinking of completing your MSN in Ohio, then you can consider Mount Saint Joseph University as an option. Its excellent reputation comes from graduating high-quality nurses for over 80 years. Your education here will comprise of theory and research in liberal arts, sciences, technology, philosophy, and religious study. Even though the coursework is delivered online, classes are still highly interactive keeping you engaged all throughout.
MSN Program Details:
Regardless of the track you choose, you can complete your education in 6 semesters. Its part-time, blended schedule allows you to strike the right work-life balance. The college also focuses on keeping its class sized small so that, you have a personalized learning experience. Each of the three tracks trains you in the fundamentals of evidence-based practice, leadership, nursing informatics, and global healthcare policy. Towards the end of the curriculum, you will also participate in a practicum and an integrative project based on your concentration. Should you wish to pursue the terminal degree in nursing at MSJ, you will be able to apply four MSN credits to your DNP.
Programs Offered:
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
If you want to become a nurse practitioner or any other advanced nurse, then you can complete your MSN from the University of Toledo. Once enrolled, you will gain clinical experiences in the college’s high tech 15,000 square-foot simulation laboratory that comprises everything from surgical simulation suites to virtual reality medical visualization. The college has also addressed the issues of mental health, by designing a ‘Mental Health First AID’ program that teaches its students to help and support those going through mental health crises.
MSN Program Details:
UT offers 5 NP MSN specialization tracks that you can take up on a full-time or part-time schedule. Some of the common core courses you will take include theoretical and ethical foundations of nursing, advanced nursing research, public policy and healthcare, family and cultural diversity theories. Regardless of the concentration, this Ohio Master of Science in Nursing program requires you to complete anywhere between 51 to 56 credits.
Programs Offered:
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner,
Family Nurse Practitioner,
Administration of Nursing and Health Care Systems,
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner,
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care,
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care, and
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
As the country’s need for medical care increases, the demand for proficient advanced nurses and specialized clinical assistance will also grow. Wright State university’s Dayton campus not only comprises an abundant forest area and a biology reserve but is also a cutting-edge entertainment and athletics site allowing you to follow your passions and fulfill your academic goals simultaneously. The main mission of the school is to create a robust foundation for student success through its dynamic programs, scholarly research activities, and contributions to the community.
MSN Program Details:
After signing up for this Ohio master’s in nursing degree you can choose to major in any of the 7 specializations offered by the college. Each concentration will comprise 13 credits of core nursing courses. These include statistics and research, role development and leadership, nursing research and evidence practicum, health policy, politics and issues, and an introduction to multivariate biostatistics. To graduate from any of the tracks you will have to complete 39 to 55 credits. To be eligible for any of the concentrations you are required to have a minimum of 2 years of full-time work experience as a nurse. Additionally, it is also important for you to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited college.
Programs Offered:
MSN
MSN Specialties Offered:
Nursing Education, Administration, and Legal Studies
MSN programs in Ohio can instantly give a significant boost to your annual income as a nurse. Capital University employs immersive, effective, and convergent methods of training so that you can transform your life with higher education. The college’s expert faculty not only helps you with your regular nursing coursework but also performs multiple roles as career counselors, mentors, and co-workers. The school is also the only college in central Ohio that provides you with dual MSN degree options such as MSN/JD and MSN/MBA. These could serve as excellent choices for you if you aim at pursuing executive roles in the future.
MSN Program Details:
This MSN degree allows you to specialize in Nursing Education, Administration, or Legal Studies. All the three majors are offered online where you can complete one or two courses in 8 or 16 weeks depending on the format you choose. Upon joining, any of the concentrations you will undergo a minimum of 360 hours of on-field training giving you the practical experiences you need and deserve. Classes with not more than 20 students could serve as an added advantage to you as you can benefit from gaining one-on-one training from your faculty.
The Administration track requires you to complete 38 credits through courses in organizational behavior, healthcare informatics, managerial economics, ethics and social responsibility, and evidence-based nursing administration. Whereas the nursing education track is 44 credits long and prepares you to assume the roles of an academic nurse, educator, patient educator, or nurse professional developer. Finally, the 38-40 credits long Legal Studies pathway provides you with complete knowledge in health law, evidence-based nursing administration, and legal concepts in healthcare.
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