Options are many for Registered Nurses seeking a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree in Illinois. The Land of Lincoln has many colleges and universities with nationally accredited MSN programs to help you meet your career objectives as a Nurse Leader, Nurse Educator, or Advanced Practice Nurse. Please consult the list of Illinois schools and the corresponding program summaries provided below for your convenience.
- North Park University
- Northern Illinois University
- Olivet Nazarene University
- Resurrection University
- Rush University
- Saint Anthony College of Nursing
- Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
- Saint Xavier University
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- University of Illinois at Chicago
- University of St. Francis
Benedictine UniversityDepartment of Nursing and Health
The Department of Nursing and Health at Benedictine University offers Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree programs via a BSN to MSN pathway. MSN programs are offered in the following roles/specialties:
- Nurse Educator
- Nurse Executive Leader
A dual MSN/MBA program is also offered.
The Nurse Educator program requires a total of 39 credit hours. The Nurse Executive Leader requires a total of 36 credits. Both programs consist of 18 credit hours of core graduate nursing coursework with the remaining hours dedicated to specialization courses.
Applicants are required to have earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Candidates must be licensed as a Registered Nurse in the U.S.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
5700 College Road
Lownik Hall, Room 067
Lisle, IL 60532
(630) 829-6300
Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing
Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing offers two pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree. They offer both a traditional BSN to MSN pathway as well as an accelerated RN to MSN pathway.
MSN programs are offered in the following areas of specialization:
- Nursing Education
- Nursing Administration
The programs require 42 to 44 credit hours in order to graduate. Those choosing to complete a scholarly project will have 42 hours. Those opting to write a thesis will have 44 hours.
The RN to MSN program is accelerated such that students can earn their MSN in just 3 years. Students must complete 18 credit hours of undergraduate nursing bridge coursework before progressing into the 42-44 hour graduate curriculum.
Applicants entering via the RN to MSN pathway are required to hold a diploma or Associate’s in Nursing from a nationally accredited program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 for initial acceptance into the program and a 3.0 or higher GPA on all bridge coursework before progressing into graduate courses. Candidates should hold a current license as a Registered Nurse and have clinical experience as an RN.
Applicants entering via the BSN to MSN pathway are required to hold a BSN from a nationally accredited program with a 3.0 or higher GPA for the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate work. They must have completed undergraduate courses in Statistics, Nursing Research, and Physical/Health Assessment with a grade of “C” or higher. Candidates must hold a current license as a Registered Nurse.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
PO Box 7005
Quincy, IL 62305
(217) 228-5520
Bradley UniversityDepartment of Nursing
Bradley University’s Department of Nursing offers two pathways through which to earn a Master of Science in Nursing degree. They offer a traditional BSN to MSN pathway and an RN to MSN pathway. An accelerated BSN to MSN program is also available for current Bradley BSN students who plan to continue on to earn an MSN.
MSN programs are offered in the following specializations:
- Nursing Education
- Nursing Administration
They also offer a “General” MSN to those advanced practice nurses who already hold a certificate in an advanced practice specialization but would like to hold a Master of Science in Nursing.
Applicants entering via the RN to MSN pathway must hold a diploma or Associate’s in Nursing. They must be licensed as an RN in Illinois.
Applicants entering via the BSN to MSN pathway are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. They must have completed courses in Statistics (with a grade of “C” or better) and Nursing Research. Candidates must hold a license as an RN in Illinois or be eligible for licensure in Illinois.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (Formerly NLNAC)
1501 West Bradley Avenue
Burgess Hall 302
Peoria, IL 61625
(309) 677-2530
Chamberlain College of Nursing
Chamberlain College of Nursing offers multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing Degree. They offer both a BSN to MSN pathway and an RN to MSN pathway.
Chamberlain offers MSN degrees in several roles/specialization areas. Those include:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Executive
- Nurse Educator
- Healthcare Policy
- Informatics
The university also offers an MSN/MBA dual degree option.
The RN to MSN pathway allows diploma and Associate’s prepared Registered Nurses to earn both a BSN and an MSN upon completion of the program. The program accelerates getting the MSN by allowing students to take selected MSN courses in place of two of the required BSN courses. However, at least 25 credit hours of the BSN coursework must be taken at Chamberlain. All BSN and MSN coursework is delivered online.
The BSN to MSN programs can be completed in as few as 2 years. All MSN coursework is delivered online. All core MSN courses will be taken during the first year. All specialty courses and clinical practicum are completed during the second year. Students must complete a 100 hour practicum, except for those in the Informatics program who must complete a 200 hour practicum.
Applicants entering via the RN to MSN pathway are required to must hold a diploma or Associate’s in Nursing with a cumulative GPA of 2.0. Students must maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher on all undergraduate BSN coursework (of which at least 25 hours must be taken at Chamberlain). They must hold a current, active license as an Registered Nurse in the U.S. This license must be maintained throughout the entire program of study.
Applicants entering via the BSN to MSN pathway are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale. Candidates must hold a current, active, unrestricted license as an RN in the U.S.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
3005 Highland Parkway
Downers Grove, IL 60515
(877) 751-5783
DePaul University School of Nursing
DePaul University’s School of Nursing offers a direct entry pathway to a Master of Science in Nursing degree. The program is called their Master’s Entry to Nursing Practice program (MENP).
This MSN program from DePaul is a generalist MSN program. It is designed for those who hold a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field who are interested in becoming a Registered Nurse. Students will be prepared to take the NCLEX within two years. Though it is a direct entry program, the MENP program gives you credentials beyond that of a BSN.
Applicants to the program are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field of study. If their cumulative undergraduate GPA is lower than 3.2 then they are required to submit official GRE scores. Students should have completed two courses in Human Anatomy/Physiology with labs, one course in Inorganic (General) Chemistry with lab, and one course in Organic Chemistry with lab. All aforementioned courses must have been completed in the last ten years and before the application deadline with a grade of “C” or better.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
990 West Fullerton Avenue
Suite 3000
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 325-7281
Elmhurst College Deicke Center for Nursing Education
The Deicke Center for Nursing Education at Elmhurst College offers Master of Science in Nursing degree programs via two pathways: an RN to MSN pathway and a BSN to MSN pathway.
The RN to MSN pathway is designed Associate’s prepared Registered Nurses who hold a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. Students in the program must complete two bridge courses (six semester hours) to master certain Baccalaureate competencies and to prepare for graduate level studies. The bridge courses must be completed with a grade of “B” or higher before progressing to the MSN programs.
The MSN program is a 33 credit hour program designed to allow practicing nurses to continue to work by offering most courses on weekday evenings. The program can be completed in two years. It can also be completed over a longer period of time should you so choose.
The MSN at Elmhurst is offered in three areas of specialization:
- Clinical Nurse Leader
- Nurse Educator
- Nurse Administrator
Applicants entering via the RN to MSN pathway are required to hold an Associate’s degree in Nursing with a 3.0 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale. They must have completed undergraduate courses in Statistics, Nursing Research, and Health/Physical Assessment. RNs entering the program must have at least one year of clinical practice in the last two years.
Applicants entering via the BSN to MSN pathway are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Students must have completed undergraduate courses in both Nursing Research and Statistics. Candidates must hold a current license as a Registered Nurse in Illinois.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
190 Prospect Avenue
Elmhurst, IL 60126
(630) 617-3344
Illinois State University Mennonite College of Nursing
Master of Science in Nursing degree programs are offered by Illinois State University’s Mennonite College of Nursing for those already holding a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. MSN programs are offered in three roles/specializations:
- Clinical Nurse Leaders
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Systems Administration
The 36 hour Nursing Systems Administration program is delivered completely online. The 44 hour Family Nurse Practitioner and the 35 hour Clinical Nurse Leader programs are both delivered in a blended format mixing online and on campus courses.
All applicants should hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an ACEN/NLNAC or CCNE accredited programs with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework. They must have completed undergraduate courses in Statistics, Nursing Research, and Physical/Health Assessment with a grade of “C” or better. Two years of recent full-time experience in clinical or administrative nursing is preferred (but not required).
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
Campus Box 5815
Normal, IL 61790
(309) 438-7400
Kaplan University School of Nursing and Health Care
Kaplan University’s School of Nursing and Health Care offers multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Education. They offer a traditional BSN to MSN pathway as well as an RN to MSN pathway.
The accelerated RN to MSN programs at Kaplan allow students to take graduate courses in place of certain BSN electives. This shortens the time it takes to earn both their BSN and MSN degrees. RN to MSN programs are offered in the following specializations:
- Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Educator
The BSN to MSN pathway is offered to those who already hold a BSN. BSN to MSN programs are offered in the following specialties:
- Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Executive Nurse Leader
- Nurse Educator
- Informatics
Kaplan also offers a special MSN-DNP Path pathway designed for BSN prepared nurses seeking a DNP degree. BSN prepared nurses are accepted into the Kaplan DNP program but must complete the MSN-DNP Path program before beginning the doctorate coursework required for Kaplan’s DNP program. The MSN-DNP Path program is offered in three specialty areas:
- Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Executive Nurse Leader
Applicants to the RN to MSN programs must hold a certificate, diploma, or Associate’s in Nursing. They must be licensed as a Registered Nurse.
Applicants to the BSN to MSN and BSN to MSN-DNP Path programs are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Consult with Kaplan for any additional requirements.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
225 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(800) 806-2705
Lewis University College of Nursing and Health Professions
Two pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree are offered by the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Lewis University. The pathways to an MSN offered at Lewis include an RN to MSN pathway as well as a traditional BSN to MSN pathway.
MSN programs are offered in several specialty areas. Those specializations include:
- Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Education
- Healthcare Systems Leadership
They also offer a dual MSN/MBA degree program.
The RN to MSN pathway is designed for diploma and Associate’s prepared nurses who also hold a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree. Students will likely be required to complete undergraduate bridge courses prior to enrolling in the graduate level curriculum, depending on prior undergraduate coursework completed as well as your choice of specialty track.
Those entering Lewis University’s MSN programs via the RN to MSN pathway are required to hold a diploma or Associate’s degree in Nursing from an ACEN/NLNAC accredited program as well as a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree from an accredited degree program. They must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale on all undergraduate coursework. Candidates must hold current licensure as an RN in their state of residency. Students must have successfully completed three semester hour courses in Statistics and Nursing Research plus two core undergraduate nursing courses: 30-306 Concepts of Professional Nursing and 30-432 Promoting Healthy Communities.
Applicants entering an MSN program via the BSN to MSN pathway must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a nationally (ACEN/NLNAC or CCNE) accredited nursing program with at least a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale. They must have completed undergraduate courses in Statistics and Nursing Research. Those pursuing a Nurse Practitioner specialization must also have completed courses in Pharmacology, Health/Physical Assessment, Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology. Those entering the Nursing Administration and Nursing Education programs must hold a license as an RN in the student’s state of residence. Those pursuing a Nurse Practitioner specialization must hold a license as a Registered Nurse in Illinois or their state of practice.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
One University Parkway
Romeoville, IL 60446
(815) 836-5610
Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing
The Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing at Loyola University Chicago offers two pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing. They offer both a traditional BSN to MSN pathway and an RN to MSN pathway.
The RN to MSN program is an accelerated option designed for nurses holding a nursing diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing. Up to 54 semester hours of credit for core university requirements can be transferred as well as up to 35 semester hours of undergraduate nursing courses. Certain bridge courses will be required of all accepted into the program.
MSN programs are offered in a variety of roles and specializations. They include:
- Family Nurse Practitioner (Concentration available in Emergency Nursing)
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (Concentration available in Oncology Nursing)
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Infection Prevention
- Health Systems Management (Concentrations available in Informatics and Outcomes Performance Management)
Loyola also offers a MSN/MBA dual degree program.
Applicants to the RN to MSN program are required to hold a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing. They must have completed both undergraduate Statistics and Health/Physical Assessment courses. Those with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 on a 4.0 scale must submit GRE scores. Candidates must hold a current license as an RN in the U.S. and be eligible for licensure in Illinois.
Applicants to the BSN to MSN program are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing. They should have completed basic courses in Statistics as well as Health/Physical Assessment. Those whose undergraduate nursing GPA is below 2.7 will be required to take the GRE. Those who undergraduate GPA is 2.7 to 2.99 can take the GRE or be considered for admission on strict probation which requires them to enroll in 3 specific courses and receive a minimum grade of B before gaining full admission to the MSN program. Those with a 3.0 or higher GPA are not required to take the GRE. Candidates must be licensed as a Registered Nurse in the US and be eligible for licensure in Illinois. Additional clinical experience is required for those applying to one of the Nurse Practitioner programs.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
2160 South First Avenue, 105-2840
Maywood, IL 60153
(708) 216-9101
McKendree University School of Nursing and Health Professions
McKendree University’s School of Nursing and Health Professions offers a Master of Science in Nursing degree. Their BSN to MSN programs are offered in three areas of specialization:
- Nurse Educator
- Nurse Manager/Administrator
- Palliative Care
They also offer an MSN/MBA dual degree program.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
701 College Road
Lebanon, IL 62254
(618) 537-2148
Millikin University School of Nursing
Two pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing are offered through Millikin University’s School of Nursing: a traditional BSN to MSN pathway as well as a Direct Entry pathway called the Master’s Entry in Nursing Practice: Pre-licensure program (MENP-PL).
Those non-nurses who hold a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field who are interested in entering the field of nursing can do so through the Direct Entry MENP-PL program. The program prepares students to take the National Council of State Board of Nursing Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) in any state so that they can become an RN as well as the Clinical Nurse Leader certification exam.
Those RNs who already hold a BSN can choose from two MSN programs:
- Clinical Nurse Leader
- Nurse Educator
Applicants entering via the Direct Entry/MENP-PL pathway are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline with a 3.25 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale. Those with lower GPAs must take the GRE. Candidates must have completed several pre-requisite undergraduate courses including Organic Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology 1, Anatomy & Physiology 2, Microbiology, Principles of Psychopathology (Abnormal Psychology), graduate level Statistical Methods, Introduction to Psychology, and Lifespan Development.
Applicants entering via the BSN to MSN pathway are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Those with lower scores are required to take the GRE. They must have successfully completed undergraduate courses in Nursing Research, Health/Physical Assessment, Organic Chemistry, and Statistics with a grade of “C” or better. Candidates must hold an unencumbered license as an RN in Illinois.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
1184 West Main Street
Leighty-Tabor Science Center (LTSC) #101
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 424-6348
North Park University School of Nursing
North Park University’s School of Nursing offers Master of Science in Nursing programs in the following roles/specializations:
- Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Leadership and Management
The Adult-Gerontology NP program requires 50 semester hours plus 585 clinical hours. The Family Nurse Practitioner program requires 60 semester hours and 675 clinical hours. The Leadership and Management program requires 37 semester hours and 315 clinical hours.
Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE accredited program with a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The must have completed undergraduate courses in Statistics, Nursing Research, and Health/Physical Assessment. Applicants should hold an active license as a Registered Nurse in Illinois. They must have two years of work experience as an RN.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
3225 West Foster Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 244- 5697
Northern Illinois University School of Nursing and Health Studies
The School of Nursing and Health Studies at Northern Illinois University offers a Master of Science in Nursing degree in several roles/specializations. Those include:
- Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Education
Applicants are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE accredited program. They must have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work or have completed 9 hours of graduate work in nursing at NIU with a GPA of 3.20 or better. Candidates must hold a current unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse in the U.S. and hold or have applied for a license in Illinois prior to beginning coursework in the MSN program. They must have at least 2,000 hours of clinical practice experience in a specialty area such as medical-surgical, pediatrics, community health, psychiatric nursing, etc. within the three years prior to admission.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
1240 Normal Road, NS 190
DeKalb, IL 60115
(815) 753- 1231
Olivet Nazarene University Department of Nursing
The Department of Nursing at Olivet Nazarene University offers Master of Science in Nursing programs in three specializations/roles. MSN programs are offered in the following areas:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Education
- Nurse Leader/Manager
The Nursing Education and Nurse Leader/Manager programs are offered entirely online. They require 34 credit hours and take about 18 months to complete.
The Family Nurse Practitioner program is offered primarily online. However a few of the sessions will require meeting in person in addition to one weekend plenary session. The program requires 41 credit hours and 500 clinical hours. I can be completed in 25 months.
All applicants to MSN programs at Olivet Nazarene University are typically required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and licensure as a Registered Nurse.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
One University Avenue
Bourbonnais, IL 60914
(815) 939-5011
Resurrection University
Resurrection University offers several programs leading to a Master of Science in Nursing. Two pathways to the MSN are offered: an RN to MSN pathway and a BSN to MSN pathway.
Those holding only a nursing diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing who would like to pursue their MSN can do so by entering via the RN to MSN pathway. They are required to complete a series of BSN courses with a grade of “B” or above before matriculating into the graduate level courses.
MSN programs are offered in the following roles/specialty areas:
- Clinical Nurse Leader
- Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Administrator
- Nurse Educator
Applicants entering via the RN to MSN pathway are required to have previously earned a nursing diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing from an NLNAC/ACEN accredited program with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA on all nursing courses as well as at least a 2.75 GPA on all science courses. They must hold a current Illinois license as an RN or be eligible for licensure in Illinois.
Applicants entering the MSN program via the traditional BSN to MSN pathway are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with a 3.0 GPA on all nursing courses. They should hold a current Illinois license as a Registered Nurse or be eligible to be licensed in Illinois.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
1431 North Claremont Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 252-6464
Rush University College of Nursing
Multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing are offered at Rush University through their College of Nursing. Pathways offered leading to an MSN include: a Direct Entry pathway(Generalist Entry Master’s or GEM), an RN to MSN pathway, and a BSN to MSN pathway. All pathways lead to a specialization as a Clinical Nurse Leader.
The Generalist Entry Master’s pathway is designed for those with a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field who desire to become a nurse. It is a two year full-time program that prepares students to gain licensure as a Registered Nurse with a focus on clinical nurse leadership skills.
The Clinical Nurse Leader MSN program is designed for those with either a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or an Associate’s degree in nursing plus a Bachelor’s in a non-nursing field. ADN prepared RNs must take an additional Socialization into Nursing Seminar prior to matriculation into the MSN coursework. The program is two years in length and offered on a part-time basis. All courses are online.
Applicants entering the MSN program via the GEM program must hold a non-nursing degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. All prerequisite coursework must have been completed with a “C” or better prior to application. GRE scores are required but will be waived if the applicant’s cumulative GPA is 3.25 or greater.
Applicants entering the Clinical Nurse Leader MSN program must hold either a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or an Associate’s in nursing plus a non-nursing Bachelor’s with a pre-licensure nursing GPA of 3.0 or higher or a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher for post-licensure programs. GRE scores are required but will be waived if the applicant has a cumulative GPA is 3.25 or higher, a pre-licensing nursing GPA of 3.0 or higher, or a graduate GPA for a completed degree of 3.5 or higher. Candidates must hold a license as a Registered Nurse.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
600 South Paulina Street
Suite 1080
Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 942-7117
Saint Anthony College of Nursing
Saint Anthony College of Nursing offers Master of Science in Nursing programs in several specializations. They include the following:
- Clinical Nurse Leader
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Educator
The programs are offered on both a full-time and part-time basis. Course are delivered in a hybrid format with about 50% class time and 50% online time. Classes are offered in the evenings, generally one night per week
Applicants should hold a Bachelor fo Science in Nursing from an accredited program with a cumulative GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. They should be licensed as a Registered Nurse in the state of practice.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
5658 East State Street
Rockford, IL 61108
(815) 395-5091
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
Two pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing are offered by the Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing. They offer both an Accelerated RN to MSN pathway and a traditional BSN to MSN pathway.
The Accelerated RN to MSN pathway is designed for diploma or Associate’s prepared Registered Nurses who hold a non-nursing Bachelor’s. They are required to have completed 62 hours of pre-nursing liberal arts and science coursework and are awarded 31 hours of professional credits for their nursing experience. Five bridge courses must be completed prior to transitioning to the Master’s level coursework.
MSN programs are offered in the following roles/specializations:
- Adult Gerontology Nursing
- Clinical Nurse Leader (Concentrations available in Medical-Surgical or Child & Family)
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Educator
- Nursing Management Leadership
Coursework is delivered primarily online. Some courses require meeting on campus no more than four times per semester.
Applicants entering the MSN program via the Accelerated RN to MSN pathway must hold a nursing diploma or Associate’s in nursing as well as a Bachelor’s in a non-nursing discipline from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher on a 4.0 scale (those with lower GPAs are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may be able to gain conditional acceptance). They must hold a license as an RN in the U.S. and have at least one year of professional nursing experience.
Applicants entering via the traditional BSN to MSN pathway are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE accredited program with a 2.8 or higher GPA. They must be licensed as an RN in one or more U.S. states. Candidates must have one year or more of experience as a Registered Nurse.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (Formerly NLNAC)
511 NE Greenleaf Street
Peoria, IL 61603
(309) 655-2201
Saint Xavier University School of Nursing
The School of Nursing at Saint Xavier University offers a traditional MSN pathway. MSN programs are offered in the following roles/specializations:
- Clinical Leadership
- Executive Leadership
- Family Nurse Practitioner
Saint Xavier also offers an MSN/MBA dual degree programs.
Applicants must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE accredited program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scaled. Those with a cumulative GPA less than 3.0 may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Candidates should hold a current license as a Registered Nurse in the U.S. Those applying to the Family Nurse Practitioner MSN program must have at least one year of full-time work experience as an RN.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
3700 West 103rd Street
Chicago, IL 60655
(773) 298-3706
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing
Southern Illinois University’s Edwardsville School of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing degree. Programs leading to an MSN in the following roles/specializations:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Health Care and Nursing Administration
- Nurse Anesthesia
- Nurse Educator
Applicants must hold a Master of Science in Nursing from a CCNE or NLNAC/ACEN accredited program with a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale. They must have completed an undergraduate Statistics course with a grade of 3.0 or better. Candidates must hold an unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse. One year of experience as a professional nurse is required prior to enrollment in the first specialization clinical course. Those entering the Nurse Anesthesia MSN program are required to have at least one year of recent adult intensive, critical care experience.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
Alumni Hall, Room 2117
Campus Box 1066
Edwardsville, IL 62026
(618) 650-3956
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing
Multiple pathways to earning a Master of Science in Nursing degree are offered at University of Illinois at Chicago through its College of Nursing. They offer an RN to MSN pathway (called their MS Transition program) as well as a traditional BSN to MSN pathway.
The RN to MSN pathway is designed for those Registered Nurses who hold a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing and also have a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline. They will be required to complete a set of transitional or bridge courses at the beginning of their program.
MSN programs are offered in the following roles/specializations:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Occupational Health/Family Nurse Practitioner
- School/Family Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse-Midwifery Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Occupational Health/Advanced Community Health Nurse
- School/Advanced Community Health Nurse
- Nurse-Midwifery
- Administrative Studies in Nursing
- Advanced Community Health Nurse
Applicants entering via the RN to MSN pathway are required to be licensed RNs with a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline. Those entering via the BSN to MSN pathway are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Candidates must have a 3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale computed on the last 60 hours of the first Bachelor’s degree. They must hold a license as a Registered Nurse in the U.S. and some specializations require an Illinois license before beginning clinicals. GRE is required, but is waived for those applicants with a 3.25 cumulative GPA in their most recently completed degree.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
845 South Damen Avenue
Suite 116, M/C 802
Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 996-7800
University of St. Francis Cecily and John Leach College of Nursing
The Cecily and John Leach College of Nursing at University of St. Francis offers both an RN to MSN pathway and a traditional BSN to MSN pathway to a Master of Science in Nursing degree.
The RN to MSN program (called RN-BS-MSN) is designed for diploma and Associate’s prepared Registered Nurses with a non-nursing Bachelor’s who wish to pursue a career in an Advanced Practice Nursing field. The program prepares nurses for certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
BSN prepared RNs can pursue an MSN in one of the following roles/specializations:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Administration
- Nursing Education
Applicants entering the FNP MSN program via the RN to MSN pathway are required to have an Associate’s degree or diploma in nursing from an accredited program plus a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. They must be licensed as a Registered Nurse, hold a present nursing practice position, and have performed clinical practice for the last two years.
Applicants entering via the BSN to MSN pathway are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a nationally accredited program with a 3.0 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale. They must have completed undergraduate courses in Physical/Health Assessment and Nursing Research with a grade of “C” or better as well as a three hour graduate level Descriptive and Inferential Statistics course. Candidates must be licensed as an RN, have two years of verifiable full-time clinical nursing practice within the last for years (some exceptions allowed), and hold current CPR certification.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
500 Wilcox Street
Joliet, IL 60435
(800) 735-7500