Master of Science in Nursing Online (MSN)

Esther E., Master of Science in Nursing — 2019 Grad

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Nurse leaders are shaping the future of healthcare.

Maryville University proudly offers five distinct online MSN programs designed for experienced nurses who want to transform the healthcare system — starting with their own roles.

Take this opportunity to gain a whole new leadership perspective focused on compassion, preventive care, and evidence-based decision-making, and advance your career and salary potential at a time when nurse practitioner is one of the fastest-growing careers in the U.S.

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Access coursework 100% online with no campus visits required

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Apply with no GMAT, GRE, or statistics needed

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Choose from five concentrations

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Complete clinicals locally in your preferred setting

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Enjoy no waiting list once you’re accepted

Benefits of Pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing Online Program

When you choose a master’s in nursing online degree program, you open the door to becoming a mentor, educator, researcher, and administrator. Our online nursing program gives you the flexibility to pursue a degree on your own timeline while continuing to work, allowing you to advance in the nursing profession. Our expert faculty and support staff give you the tools you need to succeed.

Graduating from Maryville can help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to bravely move forward from where you are today.

Take charge of your career. Start with your choice of five nurse practitioner programs.

Defining the focus of your master’s degree is the first step to shaping the type of role you will play as a nurse practitioner. When you choose Maryville for your Master of Science in Nursing online, you have the option of selecting one of five advanced nurse practitioner concentrations accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Five ways to specialize your online MSN degree:

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Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)

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Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)

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A pediatric nurse practitioner with a patient.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

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nurse with infant

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)

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family session

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

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What Can You Do with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)?

Now is the time to invest in your future. It won’t take long to see that going back to school for your Master of Science in Nursing was well worth it. Thanks to ongoing legislative reform, an aging population, the proliferation of unhealthy lifestyle habits, and the rise of chronic illnesses, the demand for well-educated nurse practitioners shows no signs of slowing down. We’ll help you prepare for your career.

  • According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), RNs who earn their Master of Science in Nursing and become nurse practitioners make, on average, $36,000 more than RNs.
  • The BLS projects job openings for nurse practitioners to increase by a tremendous 52% between 2020 and 2030.
  • The median annual pay for nurse practitioners was $111,680 in 2020, according to the BLS. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • Psychiatric NP, general NP, and gerontological NP are ranked among the 15 highest-paying nursing careers according to Nurseslabs.
  • Strong growth is projected for adult-gerontology nurse practitioners as baby boomers age, according to the BLS.
  • The need for nurse practitioners is expected to increase steadily as the nation is expected to be short between 54,000 and 139,000 primary and specialty care physicians by 2033, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Online MSN Career Paths

Completing your online master’s in nursing at Maryville can qualify you for roles such as:

  • Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP)
  • Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner (AGPCNP)
  • Family nurse practitioner (FNP)
  • Pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP)
  • Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP)
  • Aesthetic nurse

In settings such as:

  • Hospitals and clinics
  • Long-term care facilities
  • Retirement homes
  • Nursing research facilities

What Is the Typical MSN Nurse Practitioner Salary?

An online MSN degree can lead to careers with salaries such as:

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)

$90,000**

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

$97,000**

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)

$92,000**

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

$112,000**

Clinical Research Specialist

$91,510*

Nursing Supervisor

$104,280*

*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2020; **PayScale.com, September 2021

MSN Nurse Practitioner Job Outlook

A number of noteworthy trends are driving the demand for nurse practitioners. Here are a few.

holding hands

The changing workforce

As an experienced RN, you may know the future of the workforce is changing — and not just because of the looming nursing/physician shortage. Millennials now make up the largest segment of the workforce, filling the void left by retiring baby boomers, according to Pew Research Center. With the influx of novice talent on the horizon, healthcare organizations need nurse practitioners with the knowledge and skills to function autonomously now more than ever.

The rewards of the profession

Job satisfaction among nurse practitioners is high due to factors such as environment, work-life balance, and workload. Hiring organizations that wish to meet the growing demand for qualified, well-educated NPs will need to work hard to keep their workplaces inviting.

The new model of healthcare

As healthcare continues to operate more and more like business, hospitals seek to discharge patients as soon as possible to keep healthcare and insurance costs down. The result is an increased need for outpatient facility staffing. Nurse practitioners play a pivotal role in this new model by providing services and wellness education in a variety of primary care and community clinic settings.

The preferred caregiver

Nurse practitioners are quickly becoming accepted as primary caregivers, as evidenced by the fact that Americans make more than 1 billion visits to nurse practitioners every year, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Because nurse practitioners take a holistic approach to patient care, encouraging appropriate medical choices and healthy lifestyle habits, it comes as no surprise that people who opt for the high-quality, patient-centered care of an NP tend to have lower costs, fewer emergency room visits, shorter hospital stays, and lower medication costs.

Why Choose Maryville for Your Online MSN Degree?

We’re a private, four-year institution ranked as one of America’s Best Colleges by both U.S. News & World Report and Forbes. When you choose us for your online MSN, you receive a highly flexible and highly regarded education with the added convenience of being delivered with 100% online coursework. Here are a few more reasons why we offer you the best path:

  • Graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
  • Enjoy a flexible and convenient 24/7 online learning
  • Complete your MSN in approximately two years.
  • Leverage your graduate degree to become an advanced practice provider in hospitals, clinics, and private practices.
  • Become a more effective practitioner, caregiver, and nursing leader with the skills to work autonomously in managing patient needs.
  • Gain immediately actionable knowledge in online classrooms and clinicals.
  • Learn from faculty members with hands-on clinical expertise who teach nursing from experience.
  • Receive the student-centered support to become a successful nurse practitioner.
  • Study with a university that embodies the values of caring, collaboration, and excellence.
Why Maryville?

Founded in 1872 — Top Ranked for Today

Proud to be recognized as one of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report and Forbes.

Maryville University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Forbes America's Top Colleges
Kiplinger Best College Values
CCNE Accredited

The Master of Science in Nursing program at Maryville University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

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Mykale Elbe, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Director of the MSN & Nurse Practitioner Programs and Assistant Professor of Nursing

“At Maryville University we are educating the future of nursing. Our graduates are tasked with serving patients with compassion, competency-based health care, and advocacy. Our faculty strive to ensure students are challenged to rise to the top, critically think, and be leaders in the profession. We hope to support our students in their fulfillment of their educational pursuit.

We’ve asked Mykale Elbe for her thoughts on the MSN program. Here are her responses.

The Maryville University faculty members are experts in the field of nursing, and as practicing NPs, they bring their knowledge and skills to the learning experience. Furthermore, our instructors truly care about the students and want them to excel in their educational endeavor and ultimately be amazing nurse practitioners to improve the health of their communities.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Online Program Curriculum

At Maryville University, we encourage bravery and innovation. So we developed our online Master of Science in Nursing program curriculum to cater to experienced nurses — brave nurses like you who are ready to enhance their roles and become leaders in the field.

Our online MSN curriculum features a core of master’s-level coursework relevant to nurses of all types, such as Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice, Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, and Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing. It also features advanced coursework in pathophysiology, health assessment, and pharmacotherapeutics, and courses designed to prepare you for leadership. You can see a full course list at our curriculum page.

Not only that, but you’ll have the opportunity to specialize your online MSN degree further with one of five nurse practitioner concentrations.

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP

Study advanced concepts related to acute care diagnosis and management and learn the skills to become an AGACNP in this 18-credit concentration.

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP

If you want to be a primary care NP who focuses on patients 13 and older, this 12-credit concentration can help you build the skills necessary to provide the best care possible.

Family NP

This 18-credit track features advanced courses in gerontology, pediatrics, and family health that can help you develop the skills necessary to become a family nurse practitioner and treat patients of all ages.

Pediatric NP

If you want to devote your practice as a nurse to working with children, you can earn your online BSN to DNP with a PNP concentration. This 15-credit track features advanced courses in health promotion, assessment, and diagnosis of children.

Psychiatric Mental Health NP*

Want to use your nursing degree to help diagnose, treat, and improve mental health? This concentration features 21 credit hours of courses in mental health assessment, diagnosis, and management.

*To ensure the best possible educational experience for our students, we may update our curriculum to reflect emerging and changing employer and industry trends. Professional licensure and certification regulations vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Students are encouraged to visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing for the state in which they intend to practice to verify specific licensure requirements which includes ensuring the program of interest meets the licensure requirements prior to enrolling. Students may visit the professional licensure page or reach out to our team of enrollment advisors for guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Maryville MSN graduates gain the skills and knowledge to pursue roles in a variety of settings, serving a wide range of patients. Completing your online master’s in nursing can prepare you for a nurse practitioner career in your choice of five distinct concentrations and enable you to  pursue specialized nursing roles such as forensic nurse and clinical research specialist.

Find out more about career opportunities for MSN graduates.

Apply to the online Master of Science in Nursing program at Maryville University.

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