If you are a diploma, ADN, or BSN prepared Registered Nurse in North Carolina and are considering a career as a Nurse Leader, Nurse Educator , or Advance Practice Nurse then obtaining a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree is a logical next step. We have compiled the list below of North Carolina schools offering nationally accredited MSN programs to help you with your search for a program that best suits your career objectives.
Duke University School of Nursing
Duke University’s School of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program for Registered Nurses (RNs). Students can enter the program via two pathways: an RN to MSN pathway for diploma or Associate’s prepared RNs holding a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline as well as a traditional MSN pathway for Registered Nurses who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
MSN programs at Duke are offered in a wide variety of roles/specializations including the following:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (Concentrations available in Cardiology and Oncology)
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
- HIV/AIDS Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Anesthesia
- Nursing and Health Care Leadership
- Nursing Education
- Nursing Informatics
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 from a regionally accredited institution with an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale. Those students with a cumulative undergraduate GPA lower than 3.4 as well as all students entering the Nurse Anesthesia program must submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores taken with the last five years. Candidates must hold current licensure or eligibility to be licensed as a Registered Nurse with one year of nursing experience recommended.
Applicants entering via the traditional BSN to MSN pathway must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE accredited nursing program with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. Other requirements are the same as those entering via the RN to MSN pathway above.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
307 Trent Drive
Box 3322 DUMC
Durham, NC 27710
(919) 684-3786
East Carolina University College of Nursing
East Carolina University’s College of Nursing offers three pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree. They offer an accelerated Alternate (Direct) Entry pathway, an RN to MSN pathway, and a traditional MSN pathway.
The accelerated Alternate Entry pathway is designed for those with no nursing background who hold a Bachelor’s degree in another field. The program has two phases. The pre-licensure phase prepares students to pass the NCLEX exam to become a licensed RN. The second phase educates students in advanced practice and clinical concentration nursing roles.
East Carolina does offer an RN to MSN bridge program. It’s designed for diploma or Associate’s prepared Registered Nurses who are seeking an MSN degree. A set of undergraduate prerequisite and bridge courses will need to be completed before progressing into the graduate coursework.
MSN programs are available in the following roles and/or specializations:
- Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse-Midwifery
- Nurse Anesthesia
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Nursing Education
- Nursing Leadership
All programs are offered online with the exception of the Nurse Anesthesia program.
Applicants entering via the Alternate Entry pathway are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. Students must have completed a set of prerequisite courses including courses in Chemistry, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Human Growth and Development, Nutrition, Ethics, and Statistics.
Registered Nurses entering via the RN to MSN pathway are required to hold a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing from an approved nursing program. They must have both an overall GPA and nursing GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. They must have achieved a grade of “C” or higher on all mathematics and science courses as well as having completed courses in Statistics and Nursing Research. Acceptable GRE or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores taken in the past five years must be submitted. Candidates must be licensed as an RN in North Carolina or an NCSBN-compact state. They should have at least one year of experience as a registered nurse.
RNs entering via the BSN to MSN program are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited program. Students applying must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 and a nursing GPA of 3.0. Students must submit GRE or MAT scores taken within the last five years. Those entering the Nurse-Midwifery or Nurse Anesthesia program are required to submit GRE scores. Students must also have completed courses in Statistics and Nursing Research. Candidates must have a current non-restrictive license to practice as an RN. The amount and type of clinical experience required varies by specialization.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
4205L Health Sciences Building
Mailstop 162
Greenville, NC 27858
(252) 744-6372
Gardner-Webb UniversitySchool of Nursing
The School of Nursing at Gardner-Webb University offers two pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree. They offer an RN to MSN pathway and a traditional BSN to MSN pathway.
The RN to MSN program is designed for students who are diploma or Associate’s prepared RNs with a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline who have already been accepted to the RN to BSN program. Acceptance into both programs allows the student to take two MSN courses as an undergraduate and have them apply to both the undergraduate and graduate degree. Both a BSN and MSN degree are awarded.
The MSN degree is offered in the following roles/specialty areas:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Administration
- Nursing Education
An MSN/MBA dual degree program is also available.
Applicants to the RN to MSN program must hold a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing as well as a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field of study. Students must have completed courses in Statistics, Nursing Health Assessment, and either a Community Health course or Nursing Leadership/Management course. They must have a 2.7 or better GPA on all undergraduate work. Students are required to submit GRE or MAT scores. They must hold current unrestricted licensure to practice as a Registered Nurses.
Applicants entering via the BSN to MSN pathway must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a regionally accredited program with a nationally (NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE) accredited program. They must hold a GPA of 2.7 or higher on all undergraduate work. Students must submit satisfactory GRE or MAT scores (the GRE is required for all MSN/MBA dual degree students). Candidates must hold a current unrestricted RN license.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (Formerly NLNAC)
PO Box 7309
Boiling Springs, NC 28017
(704) 406-4360
Queens University of Charlotte Presbyterian School of Nursing
Two pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree are offered through the Presbyterian School of Nursing at Queens University of Charlotte. Pathways offered include an RN to MSN pathway and BSN to MSN pathway.
Students in the RN to MSN program must first be admitted to the RN to BSN program. Acceptance to both programs allows students to take 9 hours of graduate coursework in place of three courses normally taken for their BSN degree.
MSN programs are available in the following areas of specialty:
- Health Systems Management
- Clinical Nurse Leader
- Nurse Educator
An MSN/MBA combined program is also offered by Queens.
Those seeking entry via the RN to MSN program must first be accepted to the RN to BSN program. They must hold a current, unrestricted license to practice as an RN. Applicants must have a 2.5 or higher cumulative GPA.
Those seeking entry via the BSN to MSN program must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a regionally accredited institution and a nationally (NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE) accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and upper division nursing GPA of 3.0 or higher. Candidates must hold a current unrestricted license to practice as an RN in the state where they plan to complete any clinical practicum requirements.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
1900 Selwyn Avenue
MSC 1433
Charlotte, NC 28274
(704) 337-2314
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing
The School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers a Master of Science in Nursing program. They offer both an RN to MSN pathway and a traditional MSN pathway.
The RN to MSN program is designed for diploma or Associate’s prepared Registered Nurses. Once admitted students in the program are required to take three undergraduate bridge courses before progressing to the graduate coursework in their area of specialty.
MSN programs are available to prepare RNs for the following roles and specializations:
- Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (Concentration available in Oncology)
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Health Care Systems (Concentrations available in Administration, Clinical Nurse Leader, Education, Informatics, and Outcomes Management)
Applicants to the RN to MSN program must complete 51 credit hours of college-level coursework including certain pre-nursing courses before applying. Registered Nurses applying to the program are required to have at least a 3.0 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale on the courses that make up the 51 credit hours of prerequisites. Applicants must have at least one year of clinical experience as an RN.
Those entering via the BSN to MSN pathway must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE accredited program. They must have completed a course in Statistics with a grade of “C” or better within the last 10 years. Candidates must hold a current unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse in the state where the student will do clinical coursework. They should have at least one year of clinical experience as an RN within the last five years (experience may be required in specific settings based on the specialization chosen).
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (Formerly NLNAC)
107 Carrington Hall
CB #7460
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
(919) 966-3731
University of North Carolina at CharlotteSchool of Nursing
Multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree are offered through the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte They offer an RN to MSN pathway as well as a traditional MSN pathway.
The RN to MSN Early Entry program is designed for Registered Nurses who hold either a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing who are seeking a graduate nursing degree. Applicants must be accepted to both the RN to BSN program and the MSN program of their choice. Students are allowed to substitute 10 credit hours of BSN coursework with graduate courses that will also apply to their MSN degree accelerating their course progression.
Those diploma or Associate’s prepared RNs who also hold a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field can be accepted directly into the traditional MSN program if they complete a series of five bridge courses. Those include Aging and Health, Health Assessments for Nurses, Leadership in Nursing Practice, Community Health Nursing, and Research in Nursing Practice.
Graduate nursing students can choose from several options. MSN programs are available in the following specializations:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Anesthesia
- Community/Public Health Nursing
- Nurse Educator
- Nurse Administrator
Those seeking admission to the RN to MSN Early Entry program must also gain admission to the RN to BSN program. They must have completed certain nursing and general education prerequisite courses. They must have a grade of “C” or higher on all nursing prerequisites. Students must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher on all transfer courses. All candidates must hold a current unencumbered license to practice as an RN in North Carolina.
Applicants entering via the traditional MSN pathway are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a nationally accredited nursing program is preferred. However, RN’s with a non-nursing Bachelor’s can also be admitted if they have completed the aforementioned series of five upper division undergraduate nursing bridge courses. They must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 hours of coursework. Students must have completed an undergraduate course in Statistics with a grade of “C” or better. All applicants are required to submit GRE or MAT scores. Candidates should hold an unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina with at least one year of nursing practice as an RN.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
9201 University City Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28223
(704) 687-7952
University of North Carolina at Greensboro School of Nursing
The School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro offers Master of Science in Nursing programs in the following roles and specializations:
- Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Anesthesia
- Nursing Education
- Nursing Administration
Students can also pursue an MSN/MBA dual degree program.
Applicants to the graduate programs must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited program with at least a 3.0 GPA. Students must have completed courses in Statistics and Health Assessment. Those applying to an MSN program are required to submit GRE or MAT scores taken within the last five years. Those pursuing the MSN/MBA dual degree must submit either Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) or GRE scores. Candidates must be licensed as a Registered Nurse. One year of full-time experience practicing as an RN is preferred. Those entering the Nurse Anesthesia program are required to have at least one year of recent experience as an RN in a critical care setting.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
McIver Street, Moore Building
PO Box 26170
Greensboro, NC 27402
(336) 334-5010
University of North Carolina at Wilmington School of Nursing
Master of Science in Nursing programs are offered through the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in the following roles/specialization areas:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Educator
- Clinical Research and Product Development
Applicants to the program must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a nationally (NLNAC/ACEN or CCNE) accredited program. They must have a 3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA. Students must have completed courses in Leadership, Community Health, Nursing Research, Statistics, and Health Assessment. They are required to submit GRE or MAT scores. Students must hold a current unrestricted license to practice as an RN in North Carolina or one of their affiliated compact states.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
601 South College Road
McNeill Hall 1011
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 962-7410
Western Carolina University – Cullowhee School of Nursing
Two pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree are offered by the School of Nursing at Western Carolina University – Cullowhee. They offer an RN to MSN pathway as well as a traditional MSN pathway.
The RN to MSN Early Entry pathway is designed for students already in the RN to BSN program. This graduate pathway allows RN to BSN students to take up to eight semester hours of graduate MSN courses and use them to satisfy part of their BSN electives. This reduces the time required to complete both their BSN and MSN degrees by one semester.
MSN degree programs are available in the following specialty areas:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Anesthesia
- Nurse Administrator
- Nurse Educator
Applicants to the RN to MSN Early Entry program must have completed at least 12 of the required 24 hours of RN to BSN nursing courses with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework. They must have completed a course in Statistics with a grade of “C” or better. Students must submit either GRE or MAT scores. Those specializing as a Family Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Anesthetist are required to submit GRE scores. Students must hold a current, unrestricted license as an RN in the state where clinical requirements will be performed.
Applicants entering via the traditional MSN pathway are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a regionally accredited institution and nationally accredited nursing program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework. Students must have completed courses in Statistics and Nursing Research. GRE or MAT scores are required for Nurse Educator and Nurse Administrator specializations. GRE scores are required for those entering the Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Anesthesia programs. Candidates must be licensed as a Registered Nurse in the state where they intend to perform their clinical requirements. They must have at least one year of clinical experience as an RN within the last five years.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
1 University Drive
207 Moore Building
Cullowhee, NC 28723
(828) 227-3526
Winston-Salem State University Division of Nursing
Winston-Salem State University’s Division of Nursing offers Master of Science in Nursing degree programs to prepare Registered Nurses as Family Nurse Practitioners and Advanced Nurse Educators. The programs can be completed with two years of full-time enrollment, or students can attend part-time as long as the program is completed within six years.
Applicants to the MSN program are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Students must have completed undergraduate courses in Statistics, Nursing Research, and Health Assessment with a grade of “C” or higher. Students must submit either GRE or MAT scores. Applicants must hold an active unencumbered North Carolina RN license or such license from one of their affiliated compact states. One year of clinical experience practicing as a Registered Nurse is required but can be waived if one’s GPA and GRE scores are high enough.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
601 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
F.L. Atkins Building, Room 241
Winston-Salem, NC 27110
(336) 750-2570