Administration made up 10.3% of fall 2025 master's nursing enrollments, per AACN.
Charge nurse, unit educator, de facto scheduler: plenty of RNs already run the floor without the title or the nurse administrator salary that should come with it. An MSN in Nursing Administration formalizes that work, preparing graduates for nurse manager, director of nursing, and nurse executive roles that control budgets, staffing models, quality metrics, and unit policy.
The programs here are online-eligible master's degrees, including BSN-to-MSN tracks and RN-to-MSN options for nurses still finishing a bachelor's. Most run 31 to 39 credits and prepare graduates for either the NE-BC or CENP credential, though the two certifications carry different practice-hour thresholds. That credential gap, more than tuition, often decides which program actually fits a given career target.
Best Online MSN in Nursing Administration Programs for 2027
This list covers MSN nursing administration programs that can be completed online, including two hybrid options that still carry a heavy online component. Schools are ordered by a mixed quality composite with a boost for online delivery, so the order is not a ranking of the cheapest, quickest, or highest-earning options. Use each card to compare format, concentration, and fit with your own situation.
Factors considered
Net price after aid
Median graduate debt
Program quality indicators
Online delivery availability
Accreditation and admission clarity
Data sources
National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) — nces.ed.gov
Internal program database
Independent program research
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
#1
Lubbock, TX · $7,000/yr
Hispanic-Serving Institution
Best for: Texas nurses pursuing executive certification
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock offers an online, 36-credit MSN in Nursing Administration for BSN-prepared nurses. Program materials say it can lead to eligibility for the CNML or CENP exams through AONL, and the school also offers an MSN/MBA option with its business college. Admission asks for a 3.0 GPA, an RN license, and one year of nursing experience.
BSN, valid RN license, and one year of RN experience required
3.0 minimum GPA and three professional references
Research and statistics prerequisites
Transfer credit possible
Fall and spring admissions
University of North Florida
#2
Jacksonville, FL · $10,000 – $15,000/yr
Best for: Florida RNs who prefer small cohorts
The University of North Florida in Jacksonville delivers its nursing management and leadership MSN online, with a focus on evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and patient-centered care. Cohorts are small and admit in the fall only, and students get an online success coach plus concierge advising. The school's overall graduation rate is about 69%, and the approximate institution-wide average net price after aid is about $10,154.
BSN, 3.0 GPA, current RN license, and one year of RN experience
Resume or CV required
Fall admission only
Graduate cost calculator available
Florida Atlantic University
#3
Boca Raton, FL · $7,000 – $18,000/yr
Hispanic-Serving Institution
Best for: Nurses wanting finance-focused leadership training
Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton offers a fully online MSN in Nursing Administration and Financial Leadership that folds a caring philosophy and business coursework into management training. The program includes 180 to 270 practical hours with preceptor mentoring and requires no campus visits. The school's overall graduation rate is about 63%, and the approximate institution-wide average net price after aid is about $8,752.
180 to 270 practical hours with preceptor mentoring
BSN, 3.0 GPA, and RN licensure required
In-state tuition listed at $371.81 per credit
Fall and spring admission
No campus visits required
CCNE accredited
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
#4
Edinburg, TX · $5,000 – $10,000/yr
Hispanic-Serving Institution
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg offers a fully online, 36-credit MSN in Nursing Administration covering administration concepts, healthcare finance, and clinical leadership. Students finish with a thesis or project capstone. The school's overall graduation rate is about 51%, and the approximate institution-wide average net price after aid is about $4,831.
Unencumbered RN license and a statistics prerequisite
Courses in healthcare finance and nursing administration concepts
Nursing informatics and evidence-based practice courses
Thesis or project capstone
Thomas Edison State University
#5
Trenton, NJ · $10,000 – $15,000/yr
Thomas Edison State University in Trenton offers a fully online RN to BSN/MSN pathway with a Nursing Administration concentration, a good fit for associate-prepared RNs who want both degrees. Rolling admissions, four start terms a year, and eight-week courses make it flexible for working nurses. Credit for prior learning and NCLEX is available, and an advisor supports students throughout.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
#6
Houston, TX · $11,000 – $34,000/yr
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston offers a hybrid, 38-credit MSN in Nursing Leadership and Administration that blends online and campus learning. Coursework covers financial management, quality improvement, project management, and healthcare policy. Note that new admissions to this track are scheduled to be on hold beginning with Spring 2027, and the school points prospective students to a BSN-to-DNP option starting Fall 2027.
Healthcare financial management and quality improvement courses
Healthcare policy, ethics, and project management
Nursing leadership preceptorship
BSN and RN license required
New admissions on hold beginning Spring 2027
Texas A & M International University
#7
Laredo, TX · $7,000/yr
Hispanic-Serving Institution
Texas A&M International University in Laredo offers two online routes into nursing administration, one for BSN holders and one for RNs entering from an associate degree. Both include a 180-hour practicum and coursework in healthcare policy, organizational behavior, and finance for nurse executives. Program materials list the starting MSN route at $11,377 total tuition for Texas residents, and the school's overall graduation rate is about 46%.
Listed total tuition of $19,818, or $367 per credit
Designed for ADN-prepared RNs
180 clinical hours
Texas RN license required
Six start dates a year, seven-week courses
California State University-Dominguez Hills
#8
Carson, CA · $9,000 – $19,000/yr
Hispanic-Serving Institution
California State University, Dominguez Hills in Carson offers an asynchronous online MSN Administrator program built for working nurses. The curriculum blends core MSN courses with nurse administrator coursework on business practices and quality improvement, plus 288 clinical hours under a preceptor. The school's overall graduation rate is about 43%, and the approximate institution-wide average net price after aid is about $8,615.
Binghamton University's Decker School of Nursing in Vestal offers a hybrid MS in Nursing with a nurse administrator role, paired with either an adult-gerontological or community health concentration. It mixes online asynchronous work with campus-based sessions, so it suits nurses who live within reach of the campus. The school's overall graduation rate is about 82%, and the approximate institution-wide average net price after aid is about $21,620.
Advanced health assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology courses
Nursing research component
Southern Utah University
#10
Cedar City, UT · $9,000 – $25,000/yr
Southern Utah University in Cedar City offers a 100% online MSN in Leadership and Administration, plus a longer version with a Cybersecurity and Information Assurance emphasis. Both use seven-week courses and 90 clinical hours completed at your workplace. The school's overall graduation rate is about 61%, and the approximate institution-wide average net price after aid is about $10,462.
Listed total tuition of $21,168, or $504 per credit
Six start dates a year
Cybersecurity and cyber law topics
Background check and drug screen required
How We Ranked These Nursing Administration Schools
What's in the blend
Each program is evaluated using public data only. Online delivery availability gets a boost because this list of online nursing administration programs is built for working registered nurses who need flexible scheduling. After that, cost, graduate outcomes, and completion signals are blended. No single metric decides the order, so an affordable program with strong earnings can outrank a more expensive one. We do not publish exact weights, but the blended view favors programs that balance affordability with strong outcomes. We update the ranking each year as new federal data appears.
Data sources we use
We draw on College Scorecard institution and program-level outcomes, including earnings, median federal debt, and completions. IPEDS-based graduate tuition, net price, and graduation rates fill out the cost and completion picture. Program-level earnings are used only when a program reports enough graduates to be included in the federal data.
Limits to keep in mind
Graduation rates and net price are institution-wide, not specific to the nursing administration master's. Some programs have no published program-level earnings yet, so those schools are ranked without that figure. Federal debt and completion data can lag a few years, so they are a snapshot, not a real-time dashboard.
What this list does not measure
This ranking does not score practicum placement support, certification pass rates, or faculty quality. Those details matter, so review the certification and program sections before you decide. If these factors are dealbreakers, contact the program directly and ask for recent outcomes.
Comparing Cost, Length, and Practicum Hours Across Programs
Total credits in the programs we reviewed run from 31 to 39, inside the typical 30 to 45 range, though Walden's track runs 53 to 63. Completion time is less uniform. Rasmussen advertises as few as 18 months and TAMIU an accelerated 10-month path, but most program pages do not publish a standard timeline for part-time online students, so confirm it with admissions. Practicum hours range from 80 at Franklin to 540 at King. They center on leadership projects, quality work, and mentoring under a nurse executive rather than direct patient care, so they are not comparable to APRN clinical hours. Most schools do not say who secures your preceptor. Franklin lets you choose an internal or external one, FAU offers preceptor mentoring, and CSUDH requires a preceptor and residency in permitted states. FAU reports no campus visits, and UNF offers an optional in-person orientation. Compare total cost (tuition x credits + fees), not per-credit rates alone.
School
Format
Total Credits
Practicum Hours
Program Tuition (In-State)
Program Tuition (Out-of-State)
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Online
36
N/A
$7,153
$14,532
University of North Florida
Online
35
N/A
$10,364
$21,930
Florida Atlantic University
Online
37-39
180-270
$6,693
$18,482
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Online
36
N/A
$8,589
$15,971
UT Health Science Center at Houston
Hybrid
38
N/A
$11,367
$34,403
Texas A&M International University
Online
31
180
$6,650
$15,490
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Online
30 units
288
$8,978
$19,058
What You'll Study: Finance, HR, Operations, Quality, and Policy
The field has moved away from treating nurse leadership as a set of on-the-job habits and toward formal, competency-based graduate preparation anchored in the 2021 AACN Essentials.1
Core Course Blocks
At the master's level, an MSN in Nursing Administration typically builds through five recurring course blocks: healthcare finance and budgeting, human resources and workforce management, operations, quality and patient safety, and health policy. Informatics often threads through these areas, showing students how dashboards, EHR data, staffing systems, and quality metrics support day-to-day decisions. These blocks are not isolated electives; they repeat and reinforce each other across the program.
How the Curriculum Maps to the AACN Essentials
Programs generally use AACN's Level 2 sub-competencies1, the advanced set for master's and DNP in Nursing Administration graduates entering roles such as nursing administration. The domains most visible in these programs are Systems-Based Practice, Quality and Safety, Interprofessional Partnerships, Professionalism, Informatics and Healthcare Technologies, and Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development.2 Person-Centered Care and Population Health also appear in care coordination and population-level planning coursework. This mapping reflects how graduate nursing education has standardized around advanced, systems-oriented competencies rather than general management theory.
Where the AONL Executive Competencies Fit
The five AONL Nurse Executive Competency domains map cleanly onto those AACN areas:
- Communication and Relationship Management: aligns with Interprofessional Partnerships and Person-Centered Care.
- Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment: aligns with Systems-Based Practice, Population Health, Quality and Safety, and Informatics and Healthcare Technologies.
- Leadership: aligns with Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development, Professionalism, and Systems-Based Practice.
- Professionalism: aligns with AACN Professionalism.
- Business Skills: aligns with Systems-Based Practice, Quality and Safety, and Leadership Development.
Capstone and Practicum: Applying the Concepts
Most programs require a practicum or capstone completed with a nurse leader mentor. A common project is a staffing-cost reduction initiative: a student analyzes shift-level labor data, identifies overtime patterns, and proposes a redesigned schedule that maintains coverage while reducing premium pay. Another is a quality improvement project, such as reducing medication administration delays on a unit. The finished capstone typically includes measurable outcomes and a presentation to leadership. For working RNs, the result is a more direct line from course content to what nurse administrators do daily.
Which Certification Each Program Prepares You For: NE-BC Vs. CENP
The ANCC Nurse Executive Board Certified (NE-BC) credential asks for 2,000 hours of leadership, management, or administrative practice within the last three years, while the AONL Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) credential asks for 4,160 hours of executive or senior nursing experience under its master's-degree pathway. That gap tells you most of what you need to know: these two credentials sit at different rungs of the leadership ladder.
NE-BC: The Manager and Director Credential
NE-BC certification comes from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. To qualify you need an active RN license, a bachelor's or higher in nursing, those 2,000 hours of administrative practice within the last three years, and 30 continuing education hours in the same areas.1 The exam is computer-based. Fees for the Nurse Executive Advanced Certification run $395 for nonmembers and $295 for ANA members (additional administrative fees may apply, so check the current ANCC handbook).
This credential fits nurse managers and directors who are actively building their leadership resume. If you supervise a unit, run a department, or hold a director title, NE-BC is usually the credential your experience lines up with first.
CENP: The Senior Executive Credential
CENP, the Certified in Executive Nursing Practice credential, comes from the American Organization for Nursing Leadership. You need a valid, unrestricted RN license and must satisfy one of two pathways.2 Option 1 pairs a master's or higher (at least one degree in nursing) with 4,160 hours of executive or senior nursing experience. Option 2 pairs a nursing baccalaureate with 8,320 hours. The exam requires 108 scored items answered correctly to pass. Fees are $325 for AONL members and $450 for nonmembers. AONL audits roughly 10% of applications each year, so keep your transcript and employer verification handy.
CENP suits experienced executives: CNOs, VPs of nursing, and others in senior enterprise roles.
Checking Program Alignment
To see which credential a program sets you up for, read the course list. Coursework mapped to the AONL competencies points toward CENP, while coursework built around the ANCC test content outline points toward NE-BC. Many strong programs touch both.
One reality check: certification almost never happens at graduation. Both credentials require leadership hours you typically accrue on the job afterward. Treat your MSN as the foundation, then sit for the exam once your experience catches up.
In fall 2025, AACN counted 146,718 students in master's nursing programs, a 6.8% jump from the year before. Administration accounted for 10.3% of those enrollments, meaning roughly one in ten master's students is already aiming for a leadership seat.
Careers and Salary With an MSN in Nursing Administration
Federal wage data does not track "nurse administrator" as its own job, so the closest benchmark is Medical and Health Services Managers, with Chief Executives as the ceiling for CNO and system-level roles. Registered Nurses are shown for contrast. The median for health services managers across all industries is $123,860, and the BLS reports a 2024 median of $128,610 for those working in hospitals (state, local, and private). The BLS projects 23% growth for the occupation from 2024 to 2034, with about 142,900 openings a year and roughly 759,100 jobs by 2034. Wages below are annual, and the experience notes describe common patterns that vary by employer.
BLS Occupation Group
Related Nursing Titles
Typical Experience Tier
25th Percentile
Median
75th Percentile
Registered Nurses
Staff nurse, charge nurse (comparison point)
RN licensure and clinical practice
$80,330
$97,550
$112,350
Medical and Health Services Managers
Nurse manager, director of nursing
Manager roles usually follow solid clinical experience and some informal leadership. Director roles typically build on prior management experience.
$94,700
$123,860
$166,100
Chief Executives
CNO, nurse executive (system-level roles)
Senior tier, generally reached after progressing through director-level leadership. Expectations vary by organization size.
$129,540
$213,990
$356,200
Questions to Ask Yourself
Do you want to control budgets and staffing, or would you rather coach teams and lead change without line authority?
Administration programs build skills in finance, HR, and operations for managers who own budgets and headcount. If you prefer influence over authority, an MSN in Nursing Leadership may fit your goals better.
Could you document the management hours the NE-BC requires within a few years of graduating?
The NE-BC asks for time in a mid-level or higher administrative role, not just a degree. Without a realistic path to a manager title, you may want to aim for the credential later.
Does your target employer hire CNOs with an MSN alone, or does it prefer an MSN/MBA?
Many health systems promote nurse executives with an MSN, while large systems may favor business credentials for C-suite roles. Check recent CNO job postings before choosing between this degree and a dual MSN/MBA.
Can your employer host your practicum, or will you need a school that places you?
Practicum hours need a qualified nurse leader preceptor. If your hospital can't provide one, prioritize online programs that arrange placements, since finding a preceptor yourself can delay graduation.
MSN in Nursing Administration FAQs
These are the questions RNs ask most often before applying to an online nursing administration program. The answers draw on the program data in this article, so check each school's current policies before you commit.
For RNs aiming at manager, director, or nurse executive roles, usually yes. The degree builds finance, operations, quality, and policy skills, and it prepares you for NE-BC or CENP certification. Online formats let you keep working while you study. Worth also depends on your goals, your employer's tuition support, and the program's cost.
Full-time students typically finish in about 16 to 24 months. Union University lists 16 months, while OUHSC, Lamar, and Frostburg State list 24. Part-time paths generally run 27 to 48 months. UNC Charlotte lists 27 months, and Indiana University Northwest lists 48. Credit load and practicum hours affect timing.
No. The MSN in nursing administration is a nursing degree that keeps clinical judgment and nursing leadership at the center. An MHA focuses on health system management more broadly, and an MSN/MBA adds a full business curriculum. The MSN path is the most direct route to nurse-specific leadership certification.
Often, but not always. Many programs are built for working nurses, so your workplace may qualify if your employer, the school, and a qualified preceptor all approve the site. There is no universal rule. Ask each program about its placement policy, since required hours vary, such as 200 at National University and 360 at Union University.
More Online Nursing Administration Programs to Consider
The programs below round out our directory of online and hybrid MSN nursing administration options beyond the ten ranked schools above. Each entry notes the school, its location, the delivery format, and a link to the program page so you can compare curriculum and admission requirements directly. These are additional options to research, not a second ranking.
A 32-credit online MSN in Nursing Leadership and Administration with full-time and part-time options and field experiences completed locally. Admission requires a BSN with a 3.0 GPA, a current RN license, and statistics coursework.
Master of Science in Nursing (Nursing Leadership and Administration)
A 35-credit online Master of Science in Nursing Administration covering organizational theory, health policy, healthcare economics, and informatics. The curriculum includes clinical rotations, an administration practicum, and a capstone seminar.
A 33-credit online MSN in Nursing Administration and Management completed over two years, including a 90-hour mentored residency. Coursework covers human resources, healthcare finance, and quality management, and eligible students can apply for the HCA Healthcare Nursing Fellowship.
A 34-credit hybrid MSN with a Nurse Administration track and a 135-hour role practicum. The curriculum covers healthcare economics, human resource management, and strategic management, and graduates may sit for the Advanced Nurse Administrator certification.
A fully online Nurse Administration MSN requiring 36 credit hours and roughly 27 months part time, with 360 clinical hours. Coursework includes health informatics along with leadership and finance topics, and students may enter in fall, spring, or summer.
A 35-credit online MSN in Nursing Administration with 150 clinical hours that can often be completed at your workplace. Courses blend nursing and business topics through collaboration with the Feliciano School of Business, and eligible partner employees receive a 20% tuition discount.
A 36-credit fully online MSN in Nursing Administration covering management, finance, and policy, with practicum courses and a capstone project. Applications are accepted year round with multiple start dates and small class sizes.
A 39 to 40 credit hybrid MSN with a Family Health-Administration concentration, typically completed in four semesters full time. The program includes roughly 525 clinical hours, core nursing coursework, and administration role preparation.
Nursing, Family Health-Administration (Family Nursing)
An online MSN Nursing Administration concentration focused on fiscal management, resource allocation, patient safety evaluation, and regulatory compliance. The school also offers bridge RN-to-MSN and post-master's options.
An online MSN in Nursing Administration and Leadership centered on leadership theories, organizational design, and problem solving. The program includes human resources and healthcare financing topics and offers a pathway to the DNP.
An online MSN with a Nursing Leadership and Administration specialization that can be finished in as few as 18 months with no GRE requirement. The program pairs online courses with local practicum experiences and multiple start dates each year.
An online MSN in Nursing Administration requiring 36 credit hours and completable in 19 to 22 months. Coursework covers advanced management theory, financial planning, and nursing operations, with practicum experiences and multiple start dates.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Nursing Administration
A 36-credit online MSN in Nursing Administration with a 90-hour practicum and coursework in healthcare management and strategic planning. Fall and spring terms run 16 weeks, while summer courses run eight weeks.
Master of Science in Nursing (Nursing Administration)
Master of Science in Nursing (Nursing Administration) (healthcare financial management)
Master of Science in Nursing (Nursing Administration) (quality improvement)
Master of Science in Nursing (Nursing Administration) (strategic management)
A hybrid MSN with a Nursing Executive Leadership and Administration track that combines online coursework with in-person experiences. The program offers access to more than 1,000 precepting sites along with mentorship and flexible scheduling for working nurses.
A 40-credit online MSN with a Nurse Administrator concentration that can be completed in seven semesters. The curriculum covers policy, finance, and human resources and includes 180 practicum hours, with asynchronous classes and part-time study available.
Master of Science in Nursing (Nurse Administrator)
