Nurses are a vital and irreplaceable part of the healthcare system. Obtaining a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) enhances job opportunities and earning potential and increases a nurse’s ability to provide excellent care to their patients. With hundreds of online nursing programs in the U.S. to choose from, finding an affordable and flexible program is essential for avoiding debt and being able to work while in school.
The online MSN programs highlighted below are not only affordable, but they also show you what to look for in a high-quality program. You’ll also get an idea of cost and find information on funding your degree.
Most Affordable Online MSN Programs in 2023
When choosing an online MSN program, there are several important factors to consider in addition to affordability. You also want to investigate potential specialties, school and program accreditation, faculty qualifications, clinical placements, and learning format.
Our rankings of the most affordable online MSN programs profiled below are based on a combination of affordability and other data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Click on the “About the ranking” button below for more details.
Students seeking a master’s degree in nursing can enroll in the hybrid master of science in nursing program from Denver College of Nursing. The bulk of the courses are offered online through the Blackboard learning management system, although some classes could be in a hybrid format requiring students to visit campus. The program is spread out over six quarters of learning and is designed for registered nurses who already have a bachelor of science in nursing degree and would like to continue working while earning their master’s. The courses students take will provide a broad spectrum of skills to prepare them for careers in advanced nursing practice, education, and leadership.
Program Highlights:
MS in Nursing
- Credits: 56 (quarter credits)
- Length: About 15 to 18 months
- Cost: $15,137 (total program cost)
- Mode: Partially online
- Accreditation: CCNE
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | ACCSC |
The master of science in nursing in nursing administration from Texas A&M International University is a perfect program for registered nurses who want to shift their professional focus from clinical care to a position with leadership and management responsibilities. To achieve these goals as conveniently as possible, students can adjust the pace of their learning (and graduate in as little as 10 months) or take longer and continue working full-time while in school. The curriculum consists of 10 classes that last for seven weeks. Almost all of them can be completed online, although students must complete the practicum requirements that require in-person learning.
Program Highlights:
MSN in Nursing Administration
- Credits: 31
- Length: Varies
- Cost: $11,377 (total program cost; in-state); $31,930 (total program cost; out-of-state)
- Mode: Partially online
- Accreditation: ACEN
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
Albany State University offers a variety of traditional and hybrid nursing programs including master of science in nursing degree programs with nurse educator (NE) and family nurse practitioner (FNP) concentrations. Both of these offer many classes online, but some of them may require on-campus visits. Both programs also require students to complete in-person practicums for experiential learning. One difference between the two programs is that the FNP option is offered in both part-time and full-time formats, while the NE option is full-time only. After completing the FNP program, graduates will be ready to take either the AANP or ANCC exams while NE graduates will be ready for the NLN exam.
Program Highlights:
MSN – Nurse Educator
- Credits: 36
- Length: About two years
- Cost: $300/credit
- Mode: Partially online
- Accreditation: ACEN
MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
- Credits: 44
- Length: About two or three years
- Cost: $300/credit
- Mode: Partially online
- Accreditation: ACEN
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
Fayetteville State University offers prospective graduate nursing students the opportunity of enrolling in a hybrid Master of Science in Nursing program, with a concentration in patient safety and quality. This program is intended for currently licensed registered nurses who want to focus their work on improving the efficiency and efficacy of patient care. Many of the course requirements can be completed online, but students will need to be on campus one to three times during their last semester. They’ll also need to complete a capstone project practicum, which has in-person elements. To accommodate working students, both part-time and full-time curriculum plans are available and each class lasts 16 weeks.
Program Highlights:
MSN in Patient Safety and Quality
- Credits: 36
- Length: About two to three years
- Cost: $320.96/credit (in-state); $607.46/credit (out-of-state)
- Mode: Partially online
- Accreditation: CCNE
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi provides a convenient way for current registered nurses to become advanced practice nurses by enrolling in the master of science in nursing – family nurse practitioner. Because incoming students will already have their registered nursing license, the curriculum is set up for part-time completion so students can work full-time while in school. Even though this is an online program where students can complete most classroom training online, the curriculum still has in-person clinical requirements. For example, in addition to classwork, students must complete 630 clinical hours. Students are responsible for finding facilities and preceptors close to them to meet the experiential learning requirements for their degree.
Program Highlights:
MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
- Credits: 49
- Length: Varies
- Cost: $397.27/credit (in-state); $847.58/credit (out-of-state)
- Mode: Partially online
- Accreditation: CCNE
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | DEAC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | NWCCU |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | NWCCU |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | ABHES |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | NWCCU |
Funding Your Online Master of Science Nursing Degree: 5 Ways to Save
No matter which online MSN program you choose, cost is a significant factor. Fortunately, there are many ways to make getting your MSN more affordable, and we discuss five of the most common ways below.
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Scholarships, grants, and fellowships created for MSN students.
There are many grants, scholarships, and fellowships available for students pursuing their MSNs. Awards are based on factors like financial need, academics, special interests, race, gender, and ethnicity. You can find scholarships and grants through sources like the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and our scholarships and resources guide.
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Work-Study or Assistantships
Word-Study or Graduate Assistantships allow you to get hands-on experience while also pursuing your degree. Work-study provides part-time work through your school, either on or off campus. Assistantship commitments vary significantly from one opportunity to another.
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Employer Tuition Reimbursement Programs
Many employers recognize the value of employees pursuing advanced degrees. They know they’ll bring more value and knowledge to the organization and its patients. Offering tuition reimbursement is also a way for companies to attract top talent. Check with your supervisor or HR department to find out if this is an option through your employer. Many companies offer up to $5,250 per year, the maximum allowed by the IRS that is free of taxes. Healthcare employers like Duke University Health System and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center offer tuition reimbursement programs.
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Payment Plans
Many schools allow students to pay their tuition fees via a payment plan. Mt. Carmel College of Nursing, for example, lets students pay costs monthly for up to a year with no finance charges or interest. The University of Cincinnati Online is another school that offers payment plan options based on a student’s needs.
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Paid Internships
Some students find paid internships where they learn on the job by putting their skills and education to work. Internships are offered in hospitals, educational settings, clinics, and in a variety of specialty areas. You can even find some paid internship opportunities on career websites like Indeed.
FAQs about Affordable MSN Programs
Q. What impacts the affordability of an online MSN Program?
Many factors impact the affordability of an online MSN program, including whether a school is private or public or if the program is online or in person. Other factors such as available scholarships, work-study programs, and transfer credits also directly affect how much the program will cost you. Carefully consider each of these factors to calculate the affordability of a program.
Q. What is the ROI of an online MSN program?
Obtaining an MSN advances your career and increases earnings. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the median annual income for medical and health service managers was $104,280 with the lowest ten percent of workers making less than $59,980 and the highest ten percent earning upwards of $195,630. Knowing what you might make with an MSN as compared to the cost of your degree can help you determine your ROI.
Q. How can I ensure that an affordable MSN program is high-quality?
To ensure a program is high-quality, choose one that is accredited by the U.S. Department of Education through agencies like the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), or the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME). Also look at a school’s ranking, the faculty’s experience, networking opportunities, available clinical experience, graduate performance on national certification exams, and job placement numbers.
Q. Is an online MSN more affordable than an in-person MSN?
Some schools provide a cheaper tuition rate for online students than for in-person ones. Affordability goes beyond this, though, extending into time saved from travel and from having to take time off to attend classes.
Q. Can job experience count towards an MSN and help cut costs?
Some schools offer credit toward their programs based on previous work experience, which allows students to skip some courses, graduate faster, and ultimately pay less for their degrees. Every program is different, though, and some programs require that applicants take examinations to evaluate the number of credits and assess competency in different subjects before allowing job experience to count toward their degrees.
Q. How can I know if an affordable MSN program is right for me?
Begin by listing your must-haves for an online MSN program. You might include items like cost, program length, whether it’s fully or partially online, the specialties offered, admissions requirements, faculty, etc. Compare this list to what potential schools offer. Only by doing adequate research up front can you be sure that any affordable MSN program is right for you.