If you’re an RN looking to become an advanced practice registered nurse, ADN-to-MSN bridge programs, including RN-to-NP programs, could be a great option. These allow you to skip the step of having to earn a BSN separately, and instead, you can jump straight into your MSN program.
We’ve ranked the top ADN-to-MSN RN to NP programs to help you find the right option for you.
Popular Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs
GCU’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals. GCU offers a full spectrum of nursing degrees, from a pre-licensure BSN degree to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.
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At Purdue Global, discover a faster, more affordable way to earn your Nursing degree. Purdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.
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Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
WGU’s award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
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Nursing@Georgetown delivers Georgetown University’s MS in Nursing program online, preparing RNs with a BSN to pursue certification in an APRN specialty. Students can earn their degree in as few as 19 months.
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Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.
RN (ADN) to MSN programs are specially designed graduate-level programs that allow nurses with an ADN degree to earn an MSN degree, without having to take the extra step to earn a BSN. RN to NP programs are a type of ADN to MSN program that results in them earning a degree with an NP specialization.
Our ranking methodology considered the following factors:
- Accessibility and affordability
- Accreditation
- Program length
- The program’s educational preparation
- Admission requirements
- Additional accolades that the program has received
Bloomsburg University offers two RN to NP programs: Adult-Gerontology and Family/Individual Across the Life Span. Students do not have to have the required one year of bedside clinical experience before the start of the program but must have one year of experience before the start of clinicals.
Core courses are asynchronous online. Clinical courses are synchronous online with minimal on-campus requirements.
- School Type: Public
- Location: Bloomsburg, PA
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (570) 389-3786
- Email Address: buadmiss@bloomu.edu
The RN to NP track at Loyola University New Orleans is one of the top-rated programs in the country, awarding graduates with an FNP degree.
Students are required to attend in-person clinicals and intensive days on campus each semester. This is something to consider when determining if the program is a good fit for you. This online MSN program is a “fast track” to the MSN, in which students earn the MSN without earning a BSN.
- School Type: Private
- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Contact Information:
The RN-to-NP program at the University of South Alabama is broken into two components: BSN completion and MSN. Students may pursue the following specialties: Informatics, Nursing Administration, Clinical Nurse Leader, or Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult/Gerontological Nursing.
The program is extremely competitive, requiring students interested in becoming an NP to have at least two years of clinical experience before beginning clinical nurse practitioner specialty courses.
- School Type: Public
- Location: Mobile, AL
- Contact Information:
Popular Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs
GCU’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals. GCU offers a full spectrum of nursing degrees, from a pre-licensure BSN degree to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.
Accreditation
Location
Prerequisite
At Purdue Global, discover a faster, more affordable way to earn your Nursing degree. Purdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.
Accreditation
Location
Prerequisite
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
WGU’s award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Accreditation
Location
Prerequisite
Nursing@Georgetown delivers Georgetown University’s MS in Nursing program online, preparing RNs with a BSN to pursue certification in an APRN specialty. Students can earn their degree in as few as 19 months.
Accreditation
Prerequisite
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.
WCU offers an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care RN to NP program. There are 8-week terms that allow for multiple start dates throughout the year.
While didactic courses are held online, two on-site intensives allow students to have hands-on practice during an immersive experience.
- School Type: Private
- Location: Texas, Florida, California
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (866) 508-2684
Students enrolled in the RN to BSN to MSN Upward Mobility program at Regis College can choose between five NP tracks. Specializations include Family NP, Pediatric NP, Women’s Health NP, Adult-Gerontology NP, and Psychiatric-Mental Health NP.
- School Type: Private
- Location: Weston, MA
- Contact Information:
South College offers an RN to NP with a Family Nurse Practitioner focus. Designed to accommodate the schedules of working nurses, the program combines online coursework with hands-on clinical practice experiences.
- School Type: Private
- Location: Knoxville, TN
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (865) 259-0893
NP programs can be stressful, especially when it comes to finding a clinical practicum site. Walden University offers the Walden Practicum Pledge, a collaborative approach to help you navigate the practicum process and better ensure a successful placement. If, for some reason, you cannot find a practicum site and preceptor, the Field Placement Team partners with you to secure a site and preceptor. This can help tremendously as NP programs require multiple clinical rotations.
- School Type: Private
- Location: Minneapolis, MN
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (866) 537-3075
The program at MCPHS is one of the best on the East Coast, as this college specializes in the healthcare profession. The dedication from faculty, the services available, and the connections students can make are unparalleled. The program is entirely online, with the exception of clinicals, and starts every fall. Because of the one-time-a-year start date, this RN-to-NP position is extremely competitive. Students will graduate with an FNP degree.
- School Type: Private
- Location: Boston, MA
- Contact Information:
The RN to MSN program prepares students to become FNP upon graduation. The degree sequence is designed to be part-time, allowing students to work full-time.
The FNP degree is offered completely online and only admits new students in the fall semester. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
- School Type: Private
- Location: Boston, MA
- Contact Information:
Students interested in the RN to MSN program at Carlow University can apply anytime and start in the fall or spring. The program is offered at three different campuses.
The course format consists of web-based coursework, an evening class twice per month on campus, and required clinical hours (600 hours in a mix of urban and rural healthcare agencies).
- School Type: Private
- Location: Oakland, Greensburg & Cranberry, PA
- Contact Information:
- Phone Number: (412) 578-6059
- Email address: admissions@carlow.edu
How Do ADN to NP Programs Work?
ADN to NP programs allow nurses to take courses directly related to earning an NP certification. Upon completion, you can take the national certification exam and apply for your APRN license.
Coursework can either be online or in-person, depending on the program. However, all ADN to NP programs require in-person clinicals. The number of hours will vary depending on the program. If the graduate program is in another state, you most likely will be able to complete the clinical requirements closer to home. Work with your academic advisor and the clinical coordinator to determine eligibility.
What Are the Prerequisites for ADN to NP Programs?
The prerequisites for ADN to NP programs include:
- Active, unencumbered RN license in state of practice and/or state of nursing program
- Letter(s) of recommendation
- Personal Interview
- Application fee
- CV/Resume
- Prior and relevant nursing experience (1-2 years)
- Associate degree in nursing (ADN) from an accredited nursing program
How Long Are RN to NP Programs?
RN to NP programs take at least two years to complete, but most programs require you to complete the program, including clinicals, in five years. Your prior experience and transfer credits will determine the specific amount of time it will take you to complete the program.
Pros:
- Job security and outlook
- Affordability
- Convenience
- Flexibility
- Less costly
- Self-paced learning
- Reduced pressure
Cons:
- Technology requirements and familiarity with technology
- Less interaction with classmates and faculty
- Finding clinical placements
- Difficulty with self-motivation
- Non-traditional learning environment
- In-person campus requirements
Popular Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs
GCU’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals. GCU offers a full spectrum of nursing degrees, from a pre-licensure BSN degree to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.
Accreditation
Location
Prerequisite
At Purdue Global, discover a faster, more affordable way to earn your Nursing degree. Purdue Global is committed to keeping your tuition costs as low as possible and helping you find the most efficient path to your degree.
Accreditation
Location
Prerequisite
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
WGU’s award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Accreditation
Location
Prerequisite
Nursing@Georgetown delivers Georgetown University’s MS in Nursing program online, preparing RNs with a BSN to pursue certification in an APRN specialty. Students can earn their degree in as few as 19 months.
Accreditation
Prerequisite
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY and WA.
RN to NP options are an excellent, time-efficient, and cost-saving way to earn a graduate degree and become an NP. Each program on the list offers a unique experience for students and will help them gain the advanced knowledge to become a nurse practitioner.
Determining which program is right for you depends on multiple factors, including cost, program length, clinical experience availability, and on-campus requirements. The right program will also fit into your work schedule and life responsibilities.
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