Top 25 Best MSN Nursing Education Degrees Online

Healthcare continues to be one of the fastest-growing, most in-demand sectors of the U.S. economy. There has also been an ongoing nursing shortage that some predict is about to get much worse. While this is a problem in many respects, it’s great news to anyone who plans to earn a degree in nursing. Nurses who go on to earn their master’s degree will have even better job prospects, as the specialized clinical knowledge and leadership skills they’ll gain are practically invaluable to employers. Given that the demand for qualified healthcare practitioners isn’t going to decrease any time soon, students who earn their MSN in Nursing Education – and who will be responsible for training the next generation of nurses – are especially valuable.

The Advantage of Online MSN Programs

Thanks to the power of technology and the growing availability of online programs, it’s now easier than ever to earn an advanced nursing degree without ever visiting a college campus or taking time off from work. All of our top-ranked online masters in nursing education programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Methodology for Ranking Online Nursing Degrees

Our search for the best programs began on College Navigator, an online higher education database that we used to compile a list of all public and private non-profit colleges in the United States that offer online graduate nursing education programs. We then narrowed our search to only include programs that offer coursework 100% online (with the exception of required practicums and occasional campus visits for workshops, orientation, etc.). Finally, we ranked all the eligible programs according to these five metrics:

• Hands-on Experience, as determined by the total number of required practicum hours (30% of Total Score)
• Practicum Balance, as determined by the inclusion of required practicums in both academic and clinical/patient-care settings (25% of Total Score)
• Knowledgeable Professors, as determined by the percentage of full-time nursing faculty with doctoral degrees (10% of Total Score)
• Experienced Professors, as determined by the percentage of full-time nursing faculty who are actively practicing in the field (25% of Total Score)
• Affordability, as determined by the approximate cost per credit to attend (10% of Total Score)

The data for professors and affordability came from the nursing school profiles on U.S. News’ online education website. In the event that data was not available, we obtained cost information from the school’s website instead. All other data came directly from the colleges’ websites.

Top Online MSN Nursing Education Programs

25. Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi

At Texas A&M Corpus Christi, working nurses and recent BSN graduates alike can leverage their experience and expertise into a career in nursing education. Corpus Christi is home to one of the best MSN education online programs in the country, providing students with technical, hands-on training in nursing theory, advanced practice, and – above all – teaching strategies and curriculum development. Indeed, the experiential component of the curriculum comprises the single largest component of this program’s credit requirement. To complete this part of the program, students participate in clinical practicums while receiving guidance and regular evaluations from an assigned mentor.

• Cost per Credit: $780
• Score: 40

24. Carlow University

Carlow University offers a number of MSN specialization offerings, but the Education and Leadership program is the only one that is available exclusively online. This is good news for aspiring nurse educators, who stand to benefit from an accelerated and affordable online masters in nursing education that suits full-time students and professionals equally well. Program participants can complete all 33 credits of Carlow’s MSN program in as little as 20 months, taking relevant courses in management, communications, and statistics – not to mention advanced topics in nursing like policy and ethics – along the way.

• Cost per Credit: $801
• Score: 41

23. University of Texas-El Paso

The University of Texas – El Paso’s School of Nursing offers a top MSN nursing education degree online. Over the course of the program, students gain access to specialized academic resources designed for graduate nursing success.

Program Comparison Overview

The following list summarizes the key data points for the featured institutions based on our scoring metrics:

1. Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi: Cost per credit of $780 and a total score of 40.
2. Carlow University: Cost per credit of $801 and a total score of 41.

Please be advised that – especially when it comes to tuition – exact figures are subject to change and can depend on a number of factors that are unique to each individual applicant. The best strategy for getting an accurate tuition quote is to speak directly with an admissions representative at the university.