RN to MSN Online Degree

Climb the Nursing Ladder. Elevate Your Career.

You’ve found your calling as a caregiver, and you’re passionate about the impact you’re making as an RN. But your career goals don’t end there — you’re ready to advance your leadership skills and become more specialized in your practice.

The University of Tulsa provides a pathway for motivated nurses like you to keep progressing in their careers. Our online RN to MSN pathway links our 35-credit* RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to our 30-credit Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) , allowing you to earn a graduate-level nursing education in as few as 24 to 36 months. Designed to accommodate the working nurse, the RN to MSN features a flexible eight-week course format.

To support your degree attainment, TU accepts up to 90 transferable credits, which includes 72 credits in general education and foundational nursing courses.* You may also be eligible for up to 18 additional transfer credits upon submission and review of a professional portfolio.

If you’re not already a licensed RN and you have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, TU’s online Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) can help you take those first steps toward a nursing career.

*Please note that the time to completion and total credit hours required may vary based on your individual official transcript evaluations and professional portfolio credit worksheet.

Earn Your RN to MSN Online at TU

You have what it takes to lead in nursing, and the BSN curriculum will introduce key concepts and competencies to level up your leadership skills. The MSN curriculum builds on this foundation, offering four specialty tracks so you can advance your skills in your preferred area of focus:

Leadership and Innovation
Emphasizes key leadership competencies such as cross-disciplinary communication, budgeting, staffing, and performance measurement
Education and Elevation
Prepares nurse educators with pedagogical theories and strategies, assessment and evaluation tools, and curriculum development tools
Public Health Global Vision
Develops expertise in population health and wellness, public health promotion, and disease prevention — both locally and globally
Informatics and Analytics
Guides nurses in the practice of informatics, data and information management, health care information workflows, and project management

Elevate Your Career With an Online RN to MSN Program

Pursuing education beyond a BSN not only amplifies your leadership influence but also prepares you for roles with more independence and higher salaries. Take a look at the differences in potential career outcomes for BSN- and MSN-educated nurses:*

BSN Careers

Charge Nurse

Median Annual Salary: $80,533

Nurse Case Manager

Median Annual Salary: $77,054

Unit Manager

Median Annual Salary: $73,512

Hospice Nurse

Median Annual Salary: $73,353

MSN Careers

Medical Director, Community Health

Median Annual Salary: $212,589

Chief Nursing Officer

Median Annual Salary: $140,246

Chief Nursing Informatics Officer

Median Annual Salary: $135,931

Nursing Curriculum Developer

Median Annual Salary: $85,000

*Salary data from Payscale

“If you’re looking to elevate your nursing career, we want to help. TU offers a seamless journey for RNs seeking to rise into an endless world of possibilities by earning a versatile and highly impactful MSN degree.”

– Dr. Cassy Abbott Eng, The Oxley College of Health and Natural Sciences Executive Director of the School of Nursing

Tuition Planning

65 TOTAL CREDITS

$458 PER CREDIT HOUR

FINANCIAL PAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE

The RN to MSN pathway program prepares you to level up as a nurse leader and become more specialized in your practice so you can realize your full earning potential. The online RN to BSN is the first step in your degree path at TU, affordably priced with textbooks included in the cost of tuition. Once you’ve completed your BSN with a 3.0 or greater GPA, you’ll enjoy priority admission to TU’s online MSN program at $458 per credit hour, saving you $145 per credit hour you earn. Pre-semester monthly payment plans are also available for your convenience.

Learn More

ELEVATE TO LEADERSHIP

We teach the hard sciences alongside valuable soft skills, preparing you to take the lead in your career.

GROWTH-MINDED EDUCATION

We prepare you for continued career growth as a nurse leader to increase your impact in health care.

ACCOMPLISHED FACULTY

Our faculty includes certified nurse educators and advanced practitioners, with 60% holding a doctorate.

COMMUNITY OF CARE

Our educators take the time to provide one-on-one academic support and career guidance.

FUTURE-PROOF PRACTICES

We shape our programs around current industry needs, preparing you to face them with confidence.

REPUTATION OF EXCELLENCE

TU grads are consistently recognized as capable leaders by partner hospitals and patients.

What You Need for Admission

The University of Tulsa is home to future leaders and compassionate caregivers with diverse backgrounds and experiences who seek impactful roles in nursing. Please review the below requirements for admission to the online RN to MSN pathway program at TU.

Completed application for admission
Documentation of an active, unencumbered registered nurse license

Unofficial college transcripts
An associate degree from a regionally accredited institution

*Graduates of TU’s RN to BSN program with a 3.0 or greater GPA enjoy priority admission into the online MSN program.

TRANSFER CREDIT GUIDELINES

Please note that the total credit hours required may vary based on your individual official transcript evaluations and professional portfolio credit worksheet.

The RN to BSN program requires a total of 125 credit hours
Students must complete at least 35 credit hours at TU
TU applicants to the RN to BSN program may transfer up to 90 credits:
- 50 credits may be applied towards the general education requirements
- With an associate degree and an RN license, 22 credits will be applied toward foundational nursing courses
- Up to 18 additional transfer credits may be awarded upon submission and review of a professional portfolio. Applicants with less than 18 credits from professional experience will necessitate additional coursework. Acceptable portfolio materials include:
  - Documentation of advanced certification
  - Work experience as a registered nurse
  - Continuing education program credits
  - Professional association membership
  - Nursing leadership roles
  - Participation in nursing research
  - Peer-reviewed publications
  - Presentations at health care conferences
  Note: Applicants who have worked at least 12 months as a registered nurse may complete the Professional Portfolio Credit Worksheet to have work experience evaluated for credits. Applicants who are early in their nursing careers may still be eligible to receive professional transfer credits, as long as they achieve at least 12 months of work experience while enrolled in the program. RN to BSN students may apply for professional credit evaluation at any time while enrolled.
- Electives and block credits are transferable
- Non-nursing credits earned from regionally accredited colleges and universities are generally transferable if:
  - A grade of C or better has been earned in the course
  - The University of Tulsa offers a comparable course
- Pass/fail courses are not transferable unless a grade of C or better can be documented

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About The University of Tulsa

The University of Tulsa is known for its long-standing legacy of producing skilled and hard-working nurses, dating back to its first graduating class from the School of Nursing in 1973. TU’s online programs are sharing this reputation of academic excellence with a cohort of learners across the United States, preparing a new generation of future-ready nurses, compassionate caregivers, and nursing leaders to thrive in their field.

Want to hear more about online programs at The University of Tulsa?

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ONLINE RN TO MSN PATHWAY