---
title: 5 Best RN-MSN Programs Online | ThriveAP
description: Last night I was talking with some nurses at work as the patient flow began to taper off for the evening (some might call 2 am the morning…) and it seems like many nurses are considering going back to school to become NPs.  I couldn’t support this decision more wholeheartedly.  For nurses with an RN … 5 Best RN-MSN Programs Online Read More »
---

[ThriveAP Blog ](https://provider.thriveap.com/blog)

# [5 Best RN-MSN Programs Online | ThriveAP](https://provider.thriveap.com/blog/5-best-rn-msn-programs-online)

 Written by [Erin Tolbert, MSN, FNP-C](https://provider.thriveap.com/blog/author/erin) | Feb 19, 2014 1:55:36 PM

Last night I was talking with some nurses at work as the patient flow began to taper off for the evening (some might call 2 am the morning…) and it seems like many nurses are considering [going back to school to become NPs](https://thriveap.com/blog/looking-back-my-first-5-years-nurse-practitioner).  I couldn’t support this decision more wholeheartedly.  For nurses with an RN degree, there are a few schools offering accelerated RN-MSN programs leading to a nurse practitioner degree.

Online versions of these RN-MSN programs allow registered nurses without a BSN degree to [become nurse practitioners ](https://thriveap.com/blog/7-habits-highly-effective-nurse-practitioner-students)with ultimate flexibility.  Most nurses choose to work throughout these programs.  While this leads to a super-busy couple of years, nurses can support themselves throughout their program taking on less debt.

I reached out to RN-MSN programs across the country to assess their quality.  To rank these RN-MSN programs, I asked admissions staff at each school about [national certification exam pass rates](https://thriveap.com/blog/top-5-family-nurse-practitioner-certification-review-books) for their NP program grads, post-graduation job placement rates and support they offer students throughout the RN-MSN program particularly in the area of clinical placements.  I silently assessed their responsiveness to my questions as well.  Which online RN-MSN programs prepare nurses best for life as a nurse practitioner?

**1. Drexel University**

[Drexel’s RN-MSN program](https://www.drexel.com/online-degrees/nursing-degrees/rn-msn-bridge/index.aspx) offers nurse practitioner education to RN’s holding a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing.  Standing out above other programs, Drexel offers a [wide selection of nurse practitioner specialties ](https://thriveap.com/blog/help-i-chose-wrong-nurse-practitioner-specialty)from Women’s Health to Pediatric Primary Care.  Graduates of Drexel’s RN-MSN program enjoy a 100 percent pass rate on the national certification exam.  The downside of Drexel?  Like most RN-MSN programs, students at Drexel are required to locate their own clinical sites.

**2. Graceland University **

[Graceland University’s RN-MSN program](https://www.graceland.edu/nursing/RN-to-MSN.cfm) does not require that students have a bachelor’s degree.  The program enrolls qualified RN’s into their Family Nurse Practitioner Program.  Graceland nurse practitioner program students do well when it comes down to what matters.  Graduates of the RN-MSN program boast a 98 percent pass rate on the national certification exam.  While students are required to [find their own clinical placements](https://thriveap.com/blog/5-ways-excel-your-np-program-clinical-experience), staff say that most students don’t have difficulty finding clinical sites…as long as they don’t procrastinate.

**3. Concordia University**

[Concordia University’s program](https://www.cuw.edu/Programs/rnbsnmsn/index.html) is unique in that it is an RN-BSN-MSN program awarding both BSN and MSN degrees.  Students may choose from [Family Nurse Practitioner](https://thriveap.com/blog/trend-towards-np-pa-specialization-will-you-stay-primary-care) and Adult/ Gerontology Nurse Practitioner tracks.  Courses are designed to accommodate full-time workers.  Concordia graduates have a 97 percent pass rate on the national certification exam speaking to the quality of the program.  Unfortunately, like our [other top RN-MSN program picks](https://thriveap.com/blog/5-things-consider-your-rn-msn-program-search), students are required to locate their own clinical placement sites.

**4. Ball State University**

Like the Drexel University’s program, the[ RN-MSN program at Ball State University ](https://cms.bsu.edu/academics/collegesanddepartments/nursing/academics/mastersdegrees/rntomsoption)requires that applicants hold not only an RN degree but also a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing.  The program has two tracks, Adult Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner.  Graduates of Ball State’s RN-MSN program have a noteworthy 95 to 100 percent pass rate on the national certification exam.  Students considering this program should [begin looking for clinical placements](https://thriveap.com/blog/np-students-how-do-you-find-clinical-preceptor) as soon as possible- the school does not help in this process.

**5. University of Delaware**

Finally, a program that meets student’s needs when it comes to completing the most important part of the nurse practitioner education- clinical hours.  The [University of Delaware online RN-MSN program](https://www.udel.edu/nursing/undergraduates/nursing_education.html) employs a clinical coordinator to locate clinical placements for students.  This means that students do not experience delayed graduation due to lack of a clinical site.  University of Delaware students may choose from the Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult/ Gerontology Nurse Practitioner tracks.  Graduates of these programs do well in the “real world” as evidenced by a pass rate of 95 percent on the[ national certification exam](https://thriveap.com/blog/national-nurse-practitioner-certification-exam-what-best-way-study).

***Where are you planning to go for your RN-MSN program?***

 

You Might Also Like: [5 Most Expensive FNP Programs](https://thriveap.com/blog/5-most-expensive-fnp-programs)

See Our [Complete List of Online RN-MSN Programs With a Nurse Practitioner Focus](https://thriveap.com/blog/online-rn-msn-programs-nurse-practitioner-focus)

 

 

[View full post](https://provider.thriveap.com/blog/5-best-rn-msn-programs-online)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Erin Tolbert, MSN, FNP-C"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2022-05-05T20:41:51.903Z",
  "datePublished" : "2014-02-19T13:55:36Z",
  "headline" : "5 Best RN-MSN Programs Online",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "height" : 60,
    "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png",
    "width" : 60
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://provider.thriveap.com/blog/5-best-rn-msn-programs-online",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "height" : 60.0,
      "url" : "https://5942389.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/5942389/Logos/ThriveAP-494.png",
      "width" : 251.18645
    },
    "name" : "Latest for Advanced Practice Providers"
  }
}
```