If you are a diploma, ADN, or BSN prepared Registered Nurse in Minnesota and are seeking a school in the Land of 10,000 Lakes where you can pursue a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree then you have numerous options. There are several such programs that can prepare you for advanced nursing certification. Consult our compilation of Minnesota colleges and universities below offering nationally accredited MSN programs.
Augsburg College Department of Nursing
Augsburg College’s Department of Nursing offers Master of Arts in Nursing programs in two roles/areas of specialization:
- Transcultural Nursing in Community
- Transformational Nursing Leadership
Applicants must either hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution or hold an Associate’s degree in nursing plus a Bachelor’s in a non-nursing field. Students must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on all college coursework. They must hold a current unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) and have clinical practice experience.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
2211 Riverside Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55454
(612) 330-1326
Bethel University Department of Nursing
Bethel University’s Department of Nursing offers Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs that prepare Registered Nurses as Nurse Educators and Nurse Administrators. The program is taught in an adult format where classes are held one night each week for five semesters and one summer session.
Applicants must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE accredited program. Registered Nurses with a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree will be considered on an individual basis. All applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA. Candidates should hold a current license to practice as an RN with at least three years of clinical work experience.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
3900 Bethel Drive
Saint Paul, MN 55112
(651) 638-6400
Capella University Nursing Department
Capella University’s Nursing Department offers two pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree. They offer both an RN to MSN pathway and a traditional MSN pathway.
Regardless of the entry pathway, students can choose between MSN programs offered for the following roles and specializations:
- Diabetes Nursing
- General Nursing
- Nurse Educator
- Nursing Leadership and Administration
Applicants entering via the RN to MSN pathway are required to hold a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing. They must have 135 quarter hours of prior undergraduate coursework with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students must hold a current unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Nurse within the U.S. They must have one year of clinical work experience as a Registered Nurse.
Applicants entering via the traditional MSN pathway are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. They must hold a current unrestricted RN license to practice in the U.S. Candidates must have at least one year of licensed RN work experience or current employment as a Registered Nurse.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
225 South 6th Street, 9th Floor
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(866) 933-5901
Metropolitan State University College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree are offered through the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Metropolitan State University. They offer a Direct Entry pathway as well as a traditional MSN program.
The Direct Entry pathway is called the Entry Level MSN program at Metropolitan State. It’s designed for those with no nursing background who hold a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and would like to become a nurse. The program requires seven semesters of full-time study. Graduates are prepared to take the licensure exam required to become a Registered Nurse and are awarded an MSN degree.
The university offers MSN programs in the following areas of specialization:
- Nursing Leadership and Management
- Nurse Educator
Those seeking to become an RN via the Direct Entry MSN pathway are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline from a regionally accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better for all post-secondary coursework and degrees. Students must have completed 8 prerequisite courses with grades of “C” or higher and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher: Chemistry with lab, Human Anatomy with lab, Human Physiology with lab, Microbiology with lab, Medical Ethics, Nutrition, Life Span Psychology, and Statistics.
Those entering via the traditional MSN program must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a regionally accredited institution and a NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE accredited nursing program. They must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Candidates must hold a current unencumbered license to practice as an RN in the U.S. with eligibility for licensure in Minnesota.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
700 East Seventh Street
Saint Paul, MN 55106
(651) 793-1375
Minnesota State University Mankato School of Nursing
The School of Nursing at Minnesota State University Mankato offers multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree. They offer an RN to MSN pathway and a traditional BSN to MSN pathway.
Though they do not specifically refer to as an RN to MSN program, the university allows entry to diploma or Associate’s prepared Registered Nurses who also hold a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. Students must demonstrate skills that would typically have been gained through a BSN. These competencies can be satisfied by completing a series of undergraduate nursing bridge courses most of which are available online.
MSN programs are offered in two roles/specializations:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Educator
Applicants entering via the RN to MSN pathway must hold a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing plus a Bachelor’s in a non-nursing discipline. Students must demonstrate competencies in Leadership/Management, Nursing Research, and Public Health Nursing Theory & Clinical by completing the corresponding undergraduate bridge courses. Applicants entering via the BSN to MSN pathway must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a nationally accredited nursing program.
Regardless of pathway to entry, all students must have a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA. Those with lower GPAs must submit GRE scores and will be considered on an individual basis. Candidates must hold a current U.S. license as an RN and be eligible for licensure in Minnesota. One year of experience as an RN is required, but two years are preferred.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
360 Wissink Hall
Mankato, MN 56001
(507) 389-6022
Minnesota State University Moorhead School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership
The School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership at Minnesota State University Moorhead offers Master of Science in Nursing degrees in the following specialties:
- Nursing Administration and Organizational Systems Leadership
- Nursing Education
Applicants are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE accredited nursing program. They must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale in all undergraduate coursework at the last school where a nursing degree was awarded. Students must hold a current unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse in the U.S.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
1104 7th Avenue South
Moorhead, MN 56563
(800) 593-7246
The College of St. ScholasticaSchool of Nursing
The College of St. Scholastica’s School of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing degree in the following specialty areas:
- Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The Master’s programs will be replaced by BSN to DNP programs after the 2014 admission cycle.
Applicants to the MSN programs are required to have a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Students must have completed a course in Statistics with a grade of “B” or better within the past 7 years. If not taken prior to admission, the course must be taken during the first term of the program. Students must be licensed as a Registered Nurse and have one or more years of experience as an RN is preferred.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
1200 Kenwood Avenue
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 723-6025
University of Minnesota School of Nursing
The University of Minnesota’s School of Nursing offers a Master of Nursing program. It is a Direct Entry program designed for those students with a non-nursing Bachelor’s who seek to enter the nursing profession. It is an accelerated curriculum with graduate level courses that prepares graduates to take the National Licensure Examination for Registered Nursing (NCLEX-RN) and for certification in Public Health Nursing.
Students seeking entry into the program are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing. A series of nine prerequisite programs is required with grades of “C-” or higher including courses in Chemistry, Microbiology, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Human Pathology, Lifespan Growth & Development, Abnormal Psychology, Human Nutrition, and Inferential Statistics. Candidates must submit GRE scores taken within the last five years.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
308 Harvard Street SE
5-140 Weaver-Densford Hall
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(612) 624-9600
Walden University School of Nursing
Walden University’s School of Nursing offers a variety of Master of Science in Nursing programs. They offer two pathways to an MSN degree: a RN to MSN pathway and a BSN to MSN pathway.
The RN to MSN pathway is designed for diploma or Associate’s prepared Registered Nurses. Those entering via this pathway are required to fulfill undergraduate general education requirements. So also holding a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field can greatly accelerate being admitted. Once those requirements are met, students can be admitted to Walden and begin working on their 29 hours of bridge/foundation courses. Once those are completed, students progress into the MSN core and specialization coursework.
Programs are offered in the following specializations:
- Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Informatics
- Nursing Education
- Nursing Leadership and Management
Applicants entering via the RN to MSN pathway are required to hold a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing. They must hold a license as a Registered Nurse. Those entering either of the Nurse Practitioner programs must have two years of direct patient care experience within the last five years.
Those entering via the BSN to MSN pathway are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. They must be licensed as a Registered Nurse. Students specializing as an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner or Family Nurse Practitioner are required to have at least two years of experience in the last five years with direct patient care.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
155 Fifth Avenue South, Suite 100
Minneapolis, MN 55401
(866) 492-5336
Winona State University College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Winona State University’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences offers two pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree: an RN to MSN pathway for those currently enrolled in Winona State’s RN to BSN program and a traditional MSN pathway.
Several MSN specializations are offered including the following:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Educator
- Nursing and Organizational Leadership
Those seeking entry via the RN to MSN pathway are required to be currently enrolled in the RN to BSN completion program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. They must hold a current and valid license as an RN with at least one year of clinical nursing experience (two years of experience are preferred to be competitive).
Those seeking entry via the BSN to MSN pathway are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program with a 3.0 or higher GPA. Those with lower GPAs will be considered on an individual basis. Students must have completed an undergraduate course in Physical Assessment. Courses in Nursing Research and Statistics are highly recommended. Candidates must submit GRE scores taken within the last five years. They must hold a current unencumbered license to practice as an RN. At least one year of clinical nursing experience is recommended. Those specializing as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner are required to have at least on year of critical care experience and an Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
301 Stark Hall
PO Box 5838
Winona, MN 55987
(507) 285-7473