Registered Nurses in The Garden State seeking to advance their careers in nursing have an abundance of New Jersey colleges and universities offering Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees from which to choose. For your convenience you will find below the list of nationally accredited MSN programs offered by New Jersey schools.
College of Saint ElizabethDepartment of Nursing
The Department of Nursing at the College of Saint Elizabeth offers Registered Nurses (RNs) two pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. They offer an RN to MSN Bridge pathway as well as a traditional MSN pathway. The programs at Saint Elizabeth prepare RNs for the Nurse Educator role.
The RN to MSN Bridge program is designed for RNs with a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree. RNs must complete prerequisite courses in Statistics, Health Assessment, and Nursing Research as well as two bridge courses (Concepts and Trends of Professional Nursing Practice and Population Focused Community Health Nursing) prior to progressing into the MSN coursework.
Applicants to the RN to MSN Bridge pathway must hold a diploma or Associate’s in nursing from an NLNAC/ACEN accredited institution. They must also hold a Bachelor’s degree in any field from a regionally accredited college or university with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher. Students must be licensed to practice as an RN in New Jersey.
Those entering via the traditional MSN pathway must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree with a 3.0 or higher GPA. Candidates must be licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in New Jersey.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (Formerly NLNAC)
2 Convent Road
Morristown, NJ 07960
(973) 290-4037
Fairleigh Dickinson University Henry P. Becton School of Nursing & Allied Health
Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Henry P. Becton School of Nursing & Allied Health offers multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree. They offer an RN to BSN to MSN pathway as well as a traditional BSN to MSN pathway.
The RN to BSN to MSN pathway is designed to allow Registered Nurses with a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing to earn both BSN and MSN degrees. Students in the program can take three graduate courses that apply to both their BSN and MSN degrees.
MSN programs are offered in the following areas of specializations:
- Adult Nurse Practitioner (Concentrations available in Forensic Nursing, Nursing Education, and Nursing Administration)
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Education
- Nursing Information Systems
Applicants entering the RN to BSN to MSN program must hold a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing from a regionally accredited program. They must have at least a 2.70 GPA on a 4.0 scale. They must be licensed as a Registered Nurse in the state of New Jersey.
Those seeking admission via the BSN to MSN pathway must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited program with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Those entering the Nurse Practitioner tracks must have successfully completed a course in Health Assessment. All candidates must be licensed in New Jersey as a Registered Nurses and have at least one year of clinical nursing experience.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
1000 River Road, H-DH4-02
Teaneck, NJ 07666
(201) 692-2890
Felician College Division of Nursing and Health Management
Multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree are offered by the Division of Nursing and Health Management at Felician College. They offer both a traditional MSN pathway as well as an RN to BSN to MSN pathway.
The RN to BSN to MSN program allows students in the RN to BSN Fast Track program to take one Master’s level nursing course as part of their BSN curriculum. The program is designed for RNs with a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing.
Master of Science in Nursing degree programs are available in the following areas of specialization:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Education
- Nursing Executive Leadership
Applicants to the RN to BSN to MSN program must hold a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing. They must be licensed in New Jersey as an RN.
Applicants to the BSN to MSN program are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a nationally accredited nursing program with a 3.0 or higher GPA. They must have completed undergraduate courses in Nursing Research, Pathophysiology, Health Assessment, and Statistics. Students must hold a current license as a Registered Nurses in New Jersey and be certified by the American Heart Association or American Red Cross in CPR. Candidates for the Nurse Practitioner tracks must have at least one year of clinical nursing experience.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
262 South Main Street
Lodi, NJ 07764
(201) 559-6074
Kean UniversitySchool of Nursing
Kean University’s School of Nursing offers two pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing. Depending on one’s education, students can choose between an MSN Bridge pathway and a traditional MSN pathway.
The MSN Bridge program is available to RNs with a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline. Students are required to complete 3-4 undergraduate bridge courses (a total of 9-11 credit hours) prior to being fully accepted into the MSN program. Those bridge courses include Health Assessment, Professional Nursing Practice: Health Promotion in the Community, and Independent Practicum in Nursing. One additional course may be required depending on the student’s portfolio.
MSN programs are available in the following specializations:
- School Nursing
- Community Health Nursing
- Clinical Administration
The programs are offered on both a part-time and full-basis.
Applicants to the RN to MSN Bridge program are required to hold an Associate’s degree or diploma in Nursing. They must be licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse.
Those entering the program via the traditional BSN to MSN pathway must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with a 3.0 or higher GPA Students with lower GPAs will be evaluated on an individual basis. The must have completed prerequisite courses in Statistics, Nursing Research, and Nursing Theory with a grade of “B” or higher. Candidates must hold licensure as a Registered Nurse.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (Formerly NLNAC)
1000 Morris Avenue
Union, NJ 07083
(908) 737-3390
Monmouth University Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies
Multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree are offered by the Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies at Monmouth University. They offer both an RN to MSN pathway and a BSN to MSN pathway.
MSN degrees are offered in the following roles/specializations:
- Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Education
- Nursing Education
- School Nursing
- Forensic Nursing
Those seeking admission to the RN to MSN Direct program must hold an Associate’s degree or diploma in nursing from an accredited nursing program with a GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. The GRE is required but can be waived under certain circumstances. Candidates must hold a current RN license in New Jersey. They should have at least one year of clinical work experience to begin the clinical specialty. Those attending full-time will need to have at least two years of clinical experience prior to taking the nursing specialty courses
Those entering the program via the BSN to MSN pathway must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with at least a 2.75 GPA. GRE scores are required but may be waived by achieving a grade of “B” or higher in the first four nursing courses of the program. If at least a “B” is not achieved then GRE scores will be required to continue. Students must hold a current New Jersey license as an RN. They must have one year of experience as a registered nurse.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
400 Cedar Avenue
West Long Branch, NJ 07764
(732) 263-5271
Ramapo College of New JerseyNursing Department
Ramapo College of New Jersey’s Nursing Department offers a Master of Science in Nursing degree with a specialization in Nursing Education. Students are prepared to serve as nursing instructors for institutions of higher education.
Applicants to the program must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. They must have completed an undergraduate Statistics course. Students should hold a current license as a Registered Nurse or be eligible for licensure. They must have one year of full-time recent experience as a Registered Nurses prior to starting clinical practicum courses.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (Formerly NLNAC)
505 Ramapo Valley Road
ASB-435
Mahwah, NJ 07430
(201) 684-7749
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-Newark College of Nursing
The College of Nursing at Rutgers University in Newark offers a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nursing Leadership. The program can be completed in 15 months of full-time study or two to three years of part-time study.
Those entering the MSN program at Rutgers must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a nationally accredited program with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. GRE scores are required unless the student has earned their BSN in the last year with a GPA of 3.2 or higher or has five years of relevant nursing experience. Candidates must also hold a current license as a Registered Nurse in New Jersey.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
180 University Avenue
Ackerson Hall 102
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 353-5293
Saint Peter’s University School of Nursing
The School of Nursing at Saint Peter’s University offers two pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree. They offer an RN to MSN Bridge pathway as well as a BSN to MSN pathway.
They RN to MSN Bridge program is designed for Associate’s or diploma prepared RNs who hold a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline. Students in the program are required to complete a series of four bridge courses with a grade of “B” or higher prior to progressing into the Master’s coursework. Those courses include an undergraduate courses in Statistics, Nursing Research, Physical Assessment, and Dimensions of Professional Nursing. A BSN degree is not awarded to students completing this program
MSN programs are available in the following roles and specializations:
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Administration/Case Management
Applicants to the RN to MSN Bridge program must hold a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing from an NLNAC/ACEN accredited program as well as a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field from a regionally accredited college or university. They must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. Candidates must receive college credit validation through testing for Anatomy and Physiology I & III and Microbiology. They must hold a current license as an RN in the state of New Jersey with at least one year of experience working as an RN.
Applicants to the BSN to MSN program must hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an nationally (NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE) accredited nursing program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. They must have completed undergraduate courses in Statistics and Nursing Research. Students must be licensed as a Registered Nurse in New Jersey. They must at least one year of experience as a Registered Nurse.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
2641 Kennedy Boulevard
Jersey City, NJ 07306
(201) 761-6272
Seton Hall University College of Nursing
Seton Hall University’s College of Nursing offers students the opportunity to earn a Master of Science in Nursing via three different pathways. Students can choose from the Direct Entry Pre-Licensure MSN pathway, the RN to MSN Bridge pathway and the BSN to MSN pathway, depending on the previous degrees they have earned.
The Direct Entry Pre-Licensure pathway prepares students with a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field for the NCLEX examination so that they can become a Registered Nurse. Once they are licensed, they go on to prepare as a Clinical Nurse Leader. It is an intensive 22 month full-time program.
The RN to MSN Bridge program is designed for RNs with a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing major. Students complete a 12 week, 6 credit hour, 2 course bridge program which is delivered entirely online. They complete the Complex Care I & II bridge courses. Once completed, students progress into their MSN curriculum.
Those entering Seton Hall as Registered Nurses are offered MSN programs in a variety of roles and specializations. They include:
- Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- School Nursing
- Health Systems Administration
- Case Management/Health Systems Administration
- Nursing Education
Applicants to the Direct Entry Pre-Licensure program are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing major with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Students must have completed the following prerequisite courses with a grade of “C or higher: Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Chemistry (Organic or Biochemistry), Developmental Psychology, Economics (Micro or Macro), Microbiology, Statistics, and Ethics.
Applicants entering the RN to MSN Bridge program are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. They are required to complete 38 hours of prerequisite general education coursework. Students must submit satisfactory GRE or MAT scores. They must be licensed as a Registered Nurse and have at least one year of work experience as an RN.
Applicants entering via the BSN to MSN pathway are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a nationally accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. They must have completed undergraduate course in Statistics and Nursing Research. Students must hold a current license as a Registered Nurse.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
400 South Orange Avenue
South Orange, NJ 07079
(973) 761-9015
The College of New JerseySchool of Nursing, Health and Exercise Science
The School of Nursing, Health and Exercise Science at The College of New Jersey offers Master of Science in Nursing degrees via two pathways. They offer both an RN Bridge to MSN pathway and a traditional BSN to MSN pathway.
The RN Bridge to MSN pathway is designed for RNs who do not have a BSN but who do have a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. The program requires the student to complete certain bridge courses that take two semesters of full-time study. Once completed, the remaining MSN coursework can be completed in two academic years plus two summers of full-time study.
MSN degrees are offered in the following roles and areas of specialization:
- Adult Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Clinical Nurse Leader
- School Nurse
Those entering the RN Bridge to MSN program must hold an Associate’s degree or diploma in nursing from an NLNAC/ACEN accredited program as well as a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field from an accredited college or university. Those entering via the BSN to MSN pathway must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE accredited institution. GRE scores must typically be submitted, but can be waived under certain circumstances. Students must have completed undergraduate courses in Health Assessment and Statistics. Candidates must be licensed to practice as an RN in the state of New Jersey (and possibly in Pennsylvania depending on the location that clincal practice will occur). They must also be certified in CPR.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
Paul Loser Hall 206, 2000 Pennington Road
PO Box 7718
Ewing, NJ 08628
(609) 771-2591
The Richard Stockton College of New JerseyNursing Program
The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey offers a Master of Science in Nursing degree. The program prepares RNs for a career as an Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. The program requires 42 credit hours of graduate coursework and typically takes 2+ years to complete.
Applicants to the MSN program are required to have a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE accredited program with a 3.2 undergraduate GPA with a 3.0 or higher GPA on all nursing courses. Candidates must be licensed in New Jersey to practice as a Registered Nurse. They must be certified in CPR.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
School of Health Sciences
101 Vera King Farris Drive
Galloway, NJ 08205
(609) 652-4496
Thomas Edison State College W. Carey Edwards School of Nursing
Multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree are offered at Thomas Edison State College through their W. Carey Edwards School of Nursing. The college offers an RN to BSN/MSN pathway and a traditional MSN pathway.
The RN to BSN/MSN program at Thomas Edison is designed for diploma and Associate’s prepared RNs. It is a self-paced online program allowing Registered Nurses to enroll any day of the year. Students can take as long as they would like to complete the program as long as they earn at least 3 credits in each 12 month period. The program allows students to take 9 hours of graduate credits which apply to both their BSN and MSN degrees.
All MSN students are allowed to choose from one of the following roles/specializations:
- Nursing Informatics Specialist
- Nurse Educator
- Nurse Administrator
The programs require 36 credit hours for completion.
Those students seeking entry into the RN to BSN/MSN program are required to hold a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing. They must hold a current and valid RN license in the U.S.
Students entering the traditional BSN to MSN program are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a regionally accredited institution. A 2.75 or higher GPA is recommended. Applicants must hold a valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the U.S.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
101 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
(609) 633-6460
William Paterson University of New Jersey Department of Nursing
Students at William Paterson University of New Jersey can earn a Master of Science in Nursing degree through its Department of Nursing. The MSN programs offered prepare Registered Nurses for careers in the following roles/specialty areas:
- Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Education
- Nursing Administration
Applicants to the program are required to hold a BSN degree with a 3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale. They must submit acceptable scores on either the GRE or MAT exam. Students must have completed undergraduate prerequisite courses in Statistics, Nursing Research, and Physical/Health Assessment. Candidates should hold a license as a Registered Nurse in New Jersey and have work experience in community-based nursing or some other related area.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
300 Pompton Road
Hunziker Wing 106
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 720-3494