Are you interested in pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program in Louisiana? Regardless of whether your goal is to become a Nurse Leader, a Nurse Educator, or some type of Advanced Practice Nurse, the Pelican State offers you numerous options. Below you will find the list of nationally accredited MSN programs offered by colleges and universities in Louisiana which we have compiled to assist you in your search for the most suitable degree program.
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing
The School of Nursing at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center offers Registered Nurses (RNs) a program leading to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. The program prepares RNs as Nurse Educators. The program is an intensive track designed to be completed in one year as a full-time student. However, it can be completed on a part-time basis.
Applicants are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Students must submit official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. They must hold a current unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
1900 Gravier Street
4th Floor
New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 568-4106
Loyola University – New OrleansSchool of Nursing
The School of Nursing at Loyola University – New Orleans offers two pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree. They offer an RN to MSN pathway and a BSN to MSN pathway.
The RN to MSN pathway is named the Bridge to Leadership Education for Nurses at a Distance (BLEND) program. It is designed for diploma and Associate’s prepared RNs with a Bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing. Students complete a 6 credit hour, two course bridge program in one semester before progressing to their MSN coursework.
The BSN to MSN pathway leads to a MSN degree with a specialization in Health Care Systems Management. The program is offered completely online.
Applicants entering via the RN to MSN pathway must hold a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing as well as a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field of study. They must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on all undergraduate work. Students must have completed an undergraduate course in Statistics. Candidates must hold a current unrestricted license to practice as an RN in the U.S.
Applicants entering via the BSN to MSN pathway are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a nationally (NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE) accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on all undergraduate work. Students must have completed a course in Statistics. They must hold a current and unrestricted RN license in the U.S.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (Formerly NLNAC)
6363 St. Charles Avenue
Campus Box 45
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 865-2643
McNeese State University College of Nursing
McNeese State University’s College of Nursing offers an MSN degree through the Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing. The consortium consists of McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
MSN programs are available in three areas of specialization including:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Executive
Those entering the program must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with at least an overall GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale in all undergraduate coursework counted toward the BSN. Acceptable GRE scores must also be submitted. Students must have completed a course in Statistics with a grade of at least “C” or higher. Candidates must hold or be eligible to hold an unencumbered license as an RN in Louisiana or Texas, depending on where the clinical experiences will occur.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
PO Box 90415
Lake Charles, LA 70609
(800) 622-3352 Ext 5753
Nicholls State UniversityDepartment of Nursing
Nicholls State University’s Department of Nursing offers MSN programs through the Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing (ICMSN). The ICMSN universities include McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, and University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
MSN programs are offered in the following roles and specializations:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Executive
- Nurse Educator
Those seeking admission to a consortium MSN program are required to have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate BSN coursework. GRE scores are required to be submitted. Applicants must have completed an introductory course in Statistics and achieved a grade of “C” or higher. They must hold a valid, unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Louisiana.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
PO Box 2143
Thibodaux, LA 70310
(985) 448-4696
Northwestern State University of Louisiana College of Nursing and Allied Health
The College of Nursing and Allied Health at Northwestern State University of Louisiana offers a Master of Science in Nursing degree. MSN programs are offered in a variety of roles and specialty areas including the following:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (Concentrations available in Maternal Child Nursing, Adult-Gerontology Nursing, and Adult-Gerontology Critical Care Nursing)
- Nurse Administrator (Concentrations available in Maternal Child Nursing, Adult-Gerontology Nursing, and Adult-Gerontology Critical Care Nursing)
- Nurse Educator (Concentrations available in Maternal Child Nursing, Adult-Gerontology Nursing, and Adult-Gerontology Critical Care Nursing)
Applicants should hold a BSN from a nationally accredited college or university nursing program. They must have a 3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale for full admission status. Those with GPAs as low as 2.5 up to 2.99 will be considered for conditional admission status. Students must have completed college courses in Statistics and Physical Assessment. They must hold a current, unencumbered, unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse in Louisiana.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
1800 Line Avenue
Shreveport, LA 71101
(318) 677-3100
Our Lady of the Lake CollegeSchool of Nursing
Multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree are offered through the School of Nursing at Our Lady of the Lake College. The college offers both an RN to MSN pathway and a traditional MSN pathway.
The RN to MSN program is designed for diploma and Associate’s prepared Registered Nurses. The program can be completed on either a full-time or part-time basis. Students in the RN to MSN pathway can choose between two roles/specializations:
- Nurse Educator
- Nurse Administrator
The required BSN nursing courses can be completed in only two semesters of full-time enrollment. 30 additional hours are required for the MSN. A full-time student can complete the MSN coursework in four semesters. Both BSN and MSN degrees are conferred.
Students entering via the traditional MSN pathway can choose from three specialties:
- Nurse Anesthesia
- Nurse Educator
- Nurse Administrator
Those seeking entry via the RN to MSN pathway must hold a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program. They must hold a current license as a Registered Nurse in Louisiana or be eligible for licensure in Louisiana. Those who have not yet obtained their license as an RN can be provisionally accepted for one semester.
Those seeking entry via the traditional BSN to MSN pathway must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a regionally accredited college or university with an NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE accredited nursing program with a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA. GRE scores taken within the last five years must be submitted. Students must hold a current, unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse. Those entering the Nurse Anesthesia program must have at least one year of full-time experience (two preferred) as an RN in an adult critical care setting (preferably in an adult ICU). They must also hold BLS and ACLS certification.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (Formerly NLNAC)
7500 Hennessy Boulevard
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
(225) 768-1750
Southeastern Louisiana University School of Nursing
Southeastern Louisiana University offers an MSN degree through its participation in the Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing. The universities making up the consortium include McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, and University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Programs leading to a MSN are offered in the following roles and specialties:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Executive
- Nurse Educator
Those seeking entry into the program must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited nursing program with a minimum GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale for all undergraduate coursework. They must have completed an introductory course in Statistics with a grade of “C” or higher. Students are required to submit GRE scores. Candidates must hold a valid unencumbered license as an RN in Louisiana.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
548 Western Avenue
SLU 10781, University Station
Hammond, LA 70402
(337) 482-6808
Southern University and A&M College School of Nursing
The School of Nursing at Southern University and A&M College offers Master of Science in Nursing programs in the following areas of specialization:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Administrator
- Nurse Educator
Those entering the programs must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with at least a 3.0 overall GPA on a 4.0 scale across all courses counted toward the BSN. Students must have completed an introductory course in Statistics. They must hold a current unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the U.S. and eligibility for licensure in Louisiana.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
School of Nursing Building – Room 107
PO Box 11784
Baton Rouge, LA 70813
(225) 771-2663
The University of Louisiana at LafayetteCollege of Nursing and Allied Health Professions
The College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions at The University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers an MSN degree through the Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing. Four universities comprise the consortium including McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, and University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
MSN programs are available in the following specialties:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Executive
Applicants to the MSN programs should hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program with a 2.75 or higher undergraduate cumulative GPA. Students must have completed undergraduate courses in Statistics and Physical Health Assessment. Satisfactory GRE scores are required. Students must have an active unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Louisiana.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
PO Box 43810
Lafayette, LA 70504
(337) 482-5601