Direct-entry master of science in nursing (MSN) programs are for students with a non-nursing bachelor's degree who want to start a career as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). 

In a direct-entry (MSN) program, students can earn a bachelor of nursing (BSN) and a master of nursing (MSN) at the same time by combining the two in an accelerated program.

Some direct-entry MSN programs bypass a BSN completely for an MSN. These programs still allow students to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) midway through their programs so students can earn licensure as an RN during their studies.

This article will discuss this type of program, the program length, requirements, and review top direct-entry master’s in nursing programs in the United States.

Direct-entry MSN programs require the completion of prerequisite courses for admission, which usually include:

We ranked the best direct-entry master’s in nursing programs in the United States. Programs are rated on a variety of factors such as:

UCLA’s Master’s Entry Clinical Nurse (MECN) program is designed to prepare non-nurses with a bachelor's degree in another field for a nursing career. 

Graduates of the MECN program are eligible to take a Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNL) certification exam and apply for a Public Health Nursing Certificate.

Through the John Hopkins University direct-entry MSN program, students will be prepared to take the NCLEX-RN to become licensed as an RN upon graduation. Students are divided into two sections of approximately 60 students for lecture classes. The ratio for clinical is one instructor to six or seven students. 

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University offers a “pre-specialty entry” for students with a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field who wish to earn an MSN.

Upon entry into the program, students can complete a bachelor of science nursing (BSN) content and clinical work in three semesters all within an accelerated program. The school also reports an NCLEX pass rate of 97%.

Students are expected to prepare for 30-40 hours per week of classroom and clinical experience throughout the program.

The University of Texas at Austin offers an “Alternate Entry” MSN program for non-nursing bachelor's students. The program includes an adult-gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist curriculum.

Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the national certification exam from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and become Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS).

Davis's University of California campus is located in northern California about 45 minutes west of Sacramento. The school offers an accelerated Master’s Entry Program in Nursing (MEPN) for students with a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field who wish to become advanced practice nurses. 

Students typically attend classes Monday thru Friday and should expect to work in clinics in the evenings and weekends.

Graduates earn an MSN and are eligible for a Public Health Nurse certification.

The University of California, Irvine, has a direct entry master's in nursing program with a concentration in Community and Population Health Nursing (CPHN). The school's website reports that the benefits of their program include small cohort sizes and preparing graduates for careers that advocate for healthcare opportunities within many under-served populations.

At the University of Rochester, students can achieve a BSN in 12 months and then continue into a master's in nursing program and become nurse practitioners (NP).

The NP specialties to choose from include Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, Family, Family Psychiatric Mental Health, and Pediatric

Ohio State enables students with a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field to earn a Master of Science in Nursing in one cohesive program. The program is full-time, with year-round coursework. 

Marquette University's accelerated MSN program website states that students can start a career in nursing in 19–21 months by leveraging their non-nursing bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 or higher.

Augusta University offers an MSN with a concentration to be a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL).

The school's website reports that it is an accelerated and intensive program. Graduates of this program are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN and the CNL Certification exam offered by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Direct entry MSN programs prepare students to enter many different advanced level nursing roles, such as:

Typical coursework usually includes a combination of classwork and in-person clinical rotations. Coursework usually includes studies on the following topics:

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