The Top 5 Accredited Online Master of Science in Nursing Degrees

According to the SuperScholar.org website, the top 5 accredited online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees in the US are:

1.  John Hopkins University

The university offers an online Master of Science in Nursing in the following areas: Clinical Nurse Specialist, Health Systems Management, and a combination of the two.  The programs are accredited by The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

2.  Duke University

Duke University School of Nursing offers a distance-based Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). The MSN offers the following tracks: Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, Nursing and Health Care Leadership, Nursing Informatics, and Nursing Education. While much of the MSN is online, there is a limited on-campus component for the program. Both programs are accredited by The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

3.  Ohio State University

Ohio State offers a 100% online MSN degree for students who already have a BSN. The online program has three specializations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The school also has an online Doctor of Nursing Practice with two tracks: Clinical Expert and Nurse Executive.  Both programs are accredited by the CCNE.

4.  Wheeling Jesuit University

Wheeling Jesuit University integrates liberal arts education into the nursing programs. The school has three online nursing degrees – an RN to BSN, an RN to MSN, a MSN with concentrations in Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Education Specialist, and Nursing Administration. All courses are offered online, with clinical and practicum requirements completed in the student’s home community. The tuition for the MSN is $625 per credit. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) provides accreditation.

5.  Vanderbilt University

The Vanderbilt University School of Nursing offers an all-online MSN in Health Care Leadership through their e-learning program; a practicum is required. In order to fit the demands of professional students with busy schedules, students post responses to timely curriculum on the discussion board, receive feedback, and submit assignments 24/7. This 39-credit MSN program, is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Methodology Used for This Ranking

To produce the ranking data was extracted from publicly available sources like the National Centre for Education Statistics.  Only online nursing schools that are accredited by CCNE or ACEN (formerly known as the NLNAC) were considered. This ensures that all online programs have met the highest standards of recognized institutional accreditation. The nursing schools that met that initial accreditation criterion were then evaluated based on reputation, awards, affordability, and return on investment.