Most Affordable Online Master's in Nursing (MSN) Degree

Updated November 17, 2022

Find the best, most affordable online MSN program to achieve your Master's in Nursing degree.

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Most Affordable Online Master's in Nursing

Increasingly popular among aspiring nursing professionals, online MSN programs train nurses to assume critical roles in diverse healthcare fields. Nurses often require nearly the same level of responsibility and dedication as physicians, surgeons, and medical specialists, an ideal career prospect for those motivated by a genuine appreciation for the field of medicine and a desire to help others. With the increasing availability of online learning options, aspiring nurses can earn an MSN degree conveniently and quickly, almost entirely through distance education.

Most online MSN programs combine virtual coursework with in-person practicums, performed at hospitals or clinics near a student's residence. Additionally, an online nursing master's degree also offers students the opportunity to focus their expertise in a specialization of their choice, including popular concentrations like nurse education, nurse administration, and nursing practice, which is commonly offered through a nurse practitioner program.

Featured Online Programs

Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.

The 15 Best Cheap Online Master of Nursing Degrees 2021

  1. The University of Texas Medical Branch
    Location

    Galveston, TX

    UTMB offers an online MSN program in one of seven specialty tracks: adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner (AGPCNP), family nurse practitioner (FNP), adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP), clinical nurse leader (CNL), executive nurse leader (ENL), neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP), and nurse educator (NE). The online MSN at UTMB receives approval from the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and CCNE accreditation. While MSN students complete the majority of coursework online, each track requires minimal campus visits, varying from one to three days per semester. UTMB offers competitive scholarships, and accepts up to 12 transfer credits to maximize affordability in its online programs.
    Score: 45

  2. The University of Texas at Arlington
    Location

    Arlington, TX

    UTA offers an accelerated online MSN program in seven concentrations: nursing administration, education, family nurse practitioner, pediatric primary care nurse practitioner, pediatric acute care nurse practitioner, adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, and adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner. Depending on a student's specialty of choice, online learners must complete between 36 and 41 credits to earn the online MSN, and may complete the degree in as little as 18 months. UTA's graduate nursing programs emphasize integrative care across multiple healthcare disciplines, and boast high first-time certification passing rates for nursing specializations. Residents of some states are ineligible for select specialty tracks in this UTA program and should check individual rules and regulations.
    Score: 44

  3. Regis University
    Location

    Denver, CO

    Regis offers online MSN programs in nursing specializations including family nursing practice, neonatal nursing practice, and leadership in healthcare, with further emphases in education or management. The university also offers a master's degree completion program for nurses with national certification in a particular specialty. Students may choose to complete a traditional MSN in person at Regis' main campus in northwest Denver, or through the university's online program, tailored to rural and underserved communities. The online MSN program combines synchronous distance coursework with five on-campus intensives over six semesters. Students must also complete clinical practicums in a hospital or clinic near their residence.
    Score: 38.9

  4. Texas Woman's University
    Location

    Denton, TX

    Texas Woman's University offers an online MSN with an emphasis in nursing education. The program accepts applications for fall and spring start dates, and no longer requires applicants to submit GRE or MAT scores for admissions consideration. MSN candidates must complete 40 credit hours to earn the degree, including a practicum in nursing education arranged at a healthcare facility near the student's residence. The online MSN program culminates in a simulated project or study plan in the student's area of nursing education expertise. Students admitted into the program automatically become eligible for the Nurse Educator Tuition Award, a scholarship opportunity exclusive to MSN candidates in this specialty.
    Score: 37.5

  5. Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
    Location

    Corpus Christi, TX

    TAMUCC offers online MSN programs in three specializations: family nurse practitioner (FNP), leadership in nursing systems, and nursing educator. Graduates of the FNP and nursing educator MSN degrees qualify to sit for each field's respective certification exams. Each specialty track requires students to complete a combination of online coursework and field practicums or clinical hours at a facility near their residence. Online MSN programs cater to part-time students who also work full time. Applicants with previous academic experience may transfer up to 12 credits toward the online MSN, adding further savings opportunities to this affordable distance degree.
    Score: 32.9

  6. Benedictine University
    Location

    Lisle, IL

    Benedictine's online MSN program offers optional concentrations in nurse education and nurse executive leadership. The curriculum in the CCNE-accredited online MSN follows the traditional program, emphasizing the "three P's" of nursing: physical health assessment, physiology and pathophysiology, and pharmacology. Coursework within each concentration encompasses both foundation and specialty concepts, including a clinical immersion and culminating in a capstone project. Full-time students taking one course per each eight-week term may complete the MSN in roughly two years. MSN candidates can begin the program online at one of three start dates offered each year. Benedictine also offers a dual MSN/MBA option, online.
    Score: 32.5

  7. The University of Texas at Tyler
    Location

    Tyler, TX

    UT Tyler's online MSN programs offer optional administration, education, and family nurse practitioner concentrations; students may also pursue a dual MSN administration/MBA degree online. The curriculum in the online MSN encompasses both distance and field coursework, requiring a total of 36-48 credit hours and including a clinical practicum experience. All concentrations culminate in a capstone project. UT Tyler offers nursing grants to qualifying MSN candidates planning to pursue employment in medically underserved/shortage areas after graduation. Generally, full-time and part-time students can complete the program in two or three years, respectively. Applicants may begin the online MSN in their specialty of choice in either the spring or fall semester.
    Score: 31.1

  8. Graceland University-Lamoni
    Location

    Lamoni, IA

    Graceland's online MSN program offers concentrations in family nurse practitioner or adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner. The curriculum in the graduate nursing degree combines online learning with minimal campus attendance in Independence, Missouri, and a guided practicum near the student's residence. The MSN delivers courses through eCollege, in in 16-week trimesters. Students may enroll in full-time (eight trimesters) or part-time (12 trimesters) study to complete the 47 hours required to earn the degree. MSN candidates complete online coursework as part of a student cohort, and must also attend a two-day focus group and advanced practice competencies lab on campus.
    Score: 30.7

  9. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
    Location

    Standish, ME

    The online MSN program at St. Joseph's College offers optional tracks in nursing administration, nursing education, adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, and family/individual across the lifespan nurse practitioner. All students must complete a core module, consisting of 24 credits including nursing informatics, research methods, and health assessment. Depending on a student's specialization of choice, each track requires an additional 18, 21, or 24 credit hours toward completion of the degree. Each specialty track culminates in a capstone course. St. Joseph's College offers students the opportunity to save on tuition costs by taking advantage of deep discounts, employer reimbursement programs, and educational partnerships with sister schools.
    Score: 30.1

  10. The University of Texas at El Paso
    Location

    El Paso, TX

    Aspiring nursing specialists enrolled in UTEP's online MSN program may choose one of three majors: nursing education, nurse practitioner, or nursing systems management. Students pursuing a nursing education or nursing systems management MSN degree must complete 33 course credits in nursing theory, research, and practice, which includes residencies in the respective specialty; aspiring nurse practitioners must complete 49 credits, including an additional childbearing/childrearing practicum experience. The UTEP MSN degree takes care to offer students the latest and highest-quality nursing curriculum, in accordance with national standards. Graduates qualify to pursue national certification in their area of expertise in the nursing field.
    Score: 29.6

Methodology: Here's How We Rank Schools

At Best Value Schools, we help students of all ages get the best possible value for their education. When choosing the best schools and programs, we prioritize tuition rates, student debt, financial aid opportunities, graduation rates, and the availability of online programs. We source unbiased data from government and educational databases like the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 6,374 schools across the U.S. We organize that data into five weighted categories to compile our school rankings.
Metric Data Used Percentage
Academic Quality Full-time faculty percentage, student-to-faculty ratio, student retention and graduation rates 25%
Affordability Tuition rates, median student debt, and financial aid 35%
Reputation Admission and enrollment rates 15%
Program Offerings Number of program options 10%
Online Enrollment Score Portion of learners taking at least one online course 15%
You can read more about our comprehensive evaluation process on our methodology page.

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Thanks for reading our ranking of the 15 best cheap master's degrees in nursing online!

Sources:
IPEDS Data Center
College Navigator
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education - Accredited Programs

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