Online RN to MSN
Bring Your Future Into Focus
Discover Your Path to Nursing Excellence
Nursing is more than just an occupation—it’s a calling. You’ve seen firsthand the importance of your work’s impact, and now it’s time to build on your existing experience to do more with your career.
Our online RN to MSN program was designed for nurses who have a diploma or associate degree in nursing and at least three years of work experience. Because we value the on-the-job skills you’re coming in with, we require no clinical hours—empowering you to earn your degree anytime, anywhere, without disrupting your schedule.
At Wilson, we offer you a choice of two RN to MSN tracks—Education or Leadership and Management—so that you can pursue the path that works best for your career goals:
- Education Track: Prepares you to work as a clinical instructor, professor, or staff educator and includes the required coursework to continue toward a nurse practitioner certification after graduation.
- Leadership and Management Track: Allows for administrative advancement in fields such as nursing, healthcare business, allied health, and quality assurance.
If you’re interested in continuing to the doctoral level after your RN to MSN online program, both tracks can lead to a PhD in nursing.
Are you ready to get the education you need to become a nursing leader? It’s time to join us at Wilson.
Please note that an RN license is required for admission.
Tuition and Financial Aid
$600 per credit hour
6-14 credits per semester
Financial assistance and payment plans available
Wilson College Online is committed to making your education as affordable as possible. We’re proud to offer online courses at $600 per credit hour as a private college. Plus, our dedicated financial services team will help you along the way.
Choose Wilson for Your RN to MSN Degree
Our online RN to MSN program provides an accelerated pathway to gain the research-based foundations and applied leadership strategies to become a transformative nursing leader or educator. While both tracks will teach students to manage quality improvement, health policy, and ethical care across healthcare settings, each track also has specific learning outcomes, including:
Education Track
- Curriculum planning and design
- Student assessment and evaluation techniques
- Technology and informatics applications that support learning
- Political, social, and institutional factors that influence the nurse educator role
Leadership and Management Track
- Policy development and implementation
- Economics, business management, and quality improvement
- Project management and data analysis
- Social, cultural, and political factors that influence the healthcare system
What Will You Do With Your MSN Degree?
Whether you choose the Education or Leadership and Management track, our online RN to MSN prepares you with the dynamic skill set to serve in a variety of purpose-based roles. Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared for careers such as the following*:
Education Track
-
Professor of Nursing
Median Annual Salary: $98,700 -
Nurse Educator
Median Annual Salary: $88,900 -
Clinical Educator
Median Annual Salary: $87,150 -
Education Program Director
Median Annual Salary: $74,500
Leadership and Management Track
-
Chief Nursing Officer
Median Annual Salary: $158,800 -
Nurse Manager, Operating Room
Median Annual Salary: $105,850 -
Hospital Administrator
Median Annual Salary: $98,750 -
Clinical Nurse Manager
Median Annual Salary: $93,850
Salary data from Payscale, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I balance school and work with an online RN to MSN?
Typically online MSN programs are designed with the working nurse in mind, providing RNs with the flexibility to complete their degree at their own pace. The online RN to MSN at Wilson College Online is designed for busy RNs to take courses on their own schedule.
Are clinical hours required in the online RN to MSN program?
No, clinical hours aren’t required to earn your MSN, regardless of the track you choose.
Will earning an RN to MSN degree increase my salary?
An online MSN prepares you with advanced skills necessary for roles with higher levels of responsibility and increased compensation. According to Payscale, as of April 2026, MSN graduates earn an average of $110,000 a year, compared to $100,000 per year for BSN-educated nurses.
What careers will I qualify for with an RN to MSN degree?
MSN graduates can pursue positions as nurse managers, nurse educators, and even chief nursing officers (CNOs). They may also take on roles as nurse navigators, nurse case managers, and health coaches. Earning an MSN can also pave the way for nurse practitioner (NP) certification.
Personal Learning Environment
Our 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio ensures every student gets the individualized attention they deserve.
Flexible Coursework
Asynchronous coursework allows you to work at your own pace with no set class times—enabling you to earn a degree when and where it makes sense for you.
Attentive Faculty
Our devoted faculty truly care about your success, both in the classroom and beyond. Their virtual door is always open for mentorship, career advice, and academic support.
Regional Recognition
Wilson College provides the opportunity for transformative education, which is why U.S. News named the institution among the Top Performers on Social Mobility in the North.
No Clinical Hours
We value the clinical experience you’ve gained through working at the bedside. Regardless of the track you choose, no clinical hours are required to earn your MSN.
Sense of Belonging
Our online programs honor Wilson’s rich history of providing accessible and inclusive education. No matter your background, you belong at Wilson.
The next class start date is approaching. Don’t wait to apply!
Get Your Degree While You Work
We know you’re more than just a student and you have many responsibilities outside of school. That’s why we offer flexible, asynchronous online courses that allow you to study at your own pace, on your own schedule.
What You Need for Admission
We believe in equitable education and the individuality of every student. Each student has had their own experiences that have led them to Wilson, and those specific experiences should be weighed when a student is applying for admission.
That’s why Wilson College Online reviews every application on a holistic, case-by-case basis, without any steadfast GPA or standardized test score requirements. Every student’s application is assessed solely on their own merits, not against any hardline admission requirements.
Entry requirements for the RN to MSN program:
- A diploma or associate degree in nursing from an accredited college or university, a minimum of three years of nursing experience, or a clinical recommendation
- Active RN license in the state in which you practice
- GPA of 3.0 (A lower GPA may be accepted upon interview and conditions set at the discretion of the program director.)
- Resume
- Upon acceptance into the RN to MSN program, additional paperwork may be required.
About Wilson College
Initially founded as an all-women’s college in 1869, Wilson College’s mission is to empower students to be confident critical thinkers, creative visionaries, effective communicators, and agents of justice in their communities. Across all programs and fields of study, the College is fiercely committed to and passionate about providing student-centric education and individualized attention and support to ensure our students succeed.
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