By Sharon A. Takiguchi, RN, MS, APRN, DrPH
The online nursing programs cataloged below provide a thoughtful review of options for deciding on a graduate nursing program leading to a Master of Science in Nursing. This article focuses on faculty-to-student ratio. Enhanced learning opportunities can transpire when teachers interact frequently with students.
Featured Programs
- MSN in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- MSN in Care Coordination
- MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner
- MSN in Nursing Education
- MSN in Nursing Informatics
- MSN in Nursing Leadership and Administration
- RN-to-MSN Care Coordination
- RN-to-MSN Nursing Education
- RN-to-MSN Nursing Informatics
- RN-to-MSN Nursing Leadership and Administration
Numerous faculty and students turn to the US News & World Report on the “Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs” to review aspects of the various programs. The US News & World Report used a ranking approach based on features related to student immersion into learning, faculty qualifications, student support with equipment and tools, status with peers and admissions decisions. Jelinek’s (2014) ranking of schools used costs of tuition to list the least expensive schools.
Prospective students need to take into consideration multiple factors when choosing a Master’s of Science Program. The ratio of student to teacher represents another key factor in selecting a program that might reduce drop-out rates and boost the number of graduating students (Kirp, 2008).
Methodology for ranking the schools by faculty support used the number of students enrolled divided by the number of faculty. To take into account factors from the US News & World Report, the overall score from the US News report was multiplied by the ratio number. The lowest numbers indicate the highest faculty to student support.
The ranking of nursing schools presents a review of pertinent information for individuals searching for a Master of Science in Nursing program. After reviewing ranking information, the student-to-be can drill down to master’s programs of interest.
The summary below ranks best ratio of faculty to students first. The lower numbers on faculty support indicate higher support to students.
To learn more about this list, please visit our Selection Criteria page: How We Decided on the Best MSN Programs
Catholic University of America, DC
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Number of New Students Accepted: 19
Graduation Rate: 76%
Recognition: #11 by U.S. News
Tuition: $1,091 per credit hour
Faculty Support: 5.1
University of Massachusetts-Amherst, MA
Online Master of Science – Clinical Nurse Leader, Nursing Education, or Nursing Science
The University of Massachusetts-Amherst, a public institution, offers a Master of Science degree delivered primarily online with three track options: Clinical Nurse Leader, Nursing Education, or Nursing Science. The program is rated first in our ratio of students to teachers. The program prepares nurses in health promotion, risk moderating, illness prevention, and disorder management services to individuals and populations. This online program provides 24/7 live tech support.
Number of Students Accepted: 118
Graduation Rate: 95%
Recognition: #3 by U.S. News
Tuition: $799 per credit hour in-state tuition, $1677 per credit hour out-of-state tuition.
Faculty Support: 9.7
University of Michigan – Flint, MI
Online Master of Science in Nursing
The University of Michigan – Flint, a public institution, presents a Master of Science in Nursing degree with options for Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator. All classes are recorded and archived so that the student has full access at all times. The School of Nursing campus sits in a revitalized urban setting along a river front.
Number of New Students Accepted: 107
Graduation Rate: Data Not Available
Recognition: #24 by U.S. News
Tuition: $685 per credit hour in-state; $1,024 per credit hour out-of-state
Faculty Support: 29.6
Duquesne University, PA
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Duquesne University, a private Catholic university, offers a Master of Science in Nursing with three levels of specialization that include: Family Nurse Practitioner, Forensic Nurse and Nursing Education. The School of Nursing received the Outstanding Achievements in Student Learning and Professional Development for 2008-2015 from the NLN Center of Excellence in Nursing Education. The School also hosts the Alpha Tau Delta Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing honor society.
Number of New Students Accepted: 249
Graduation Rate: 58%
Recognition: #6 by U.S. News
Tuition: $1,509 per credit hour
Faculty Support: 31.4
Florida Atlantic University, FL
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Number of New Students Accepted: 91
Graduation Rate: 74%
Recognition: #7 by U.S. News
Tuition: $370 per credit hour
Faculty Support: 38.6
University of Nevada-Las Vegas, NV
Online Master of Science in Nursing
The University of Nevada-Las Vegas, a public institution, offers a Master of Science in Nursing with three areas of specialty that encompass Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The School of Nursing utilizes an exceptional trimester system that allows students to finish the program in 16 months.
Number of New Students Accepted: 43
Graduation Rate: 100%
Recognition: #10 by U.S. News
Tuition: $571 per credit hour in-state; $720 per credit hour out-of-state
Faculty Support: 35.8
Oregon Health and Science University, OR
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Number of New Students Accepted: 25
Graduation Rate: 86%
Recognition: #17 by U.S. News
Tuition: $625 per credit hour in-state; $809 per credit hour out-of-state
Faculty Support: 37.8
University of Alabama-Huntsville, AL
Online Master of Science in Nursing Administration
The University of Alabama-Huntsville, a public institution, contains the Capstone College of Nursing that offers three Master of Science in Nursing programs: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Nursing Administration, the latter of which is offered fully online. The Capstone College of Nursing promotes life-long learning for a rapidly changing health care system.
Number of New Students Accepted: 113
Graduation Rate: 86%
Recognition: #6 by U.S. News
Tuition: $426 per credit hour
Faculty Support: 42.1
George Washington University, DC
Online MSN
The George Washington University, a private institution, comprises a Master of Science in Nursing in six areas of specialization: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care/Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Leadership and Management, Nurse Midwifery, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The School of Nursing graduate programs and faculty excel in research and health policy endeavors. The School of Nursing is home to Phi Epsilon chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International.
Number of New Students Accepted: 351
Graduation Rate: 66%
Recognition: #4 by U.S. News
Tuition: $1,395 per credit hour
Faculty Support: 43.1
University of South Carolina, SC
Online Master of Science in Nursing
The University of South Carolina, a public university, offer five tracks in the Master of Science in Nursing: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Administration, and Nursing Informatics. The College of Nursing uses the Blackboard course management system for online learning.
Number of New Students Accepted: 178
Graduation Rate: 85%
Recognition: #16 by U.S. News
Tuition: $572 per credit hour in-state; $1,240 per credit hour out-of-state
Faculty Support: 65.7
University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston. TX
Online MSN
The University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston, a public university, offers a Master of Science in Nursing with seven tracks consisting of Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Primary Care/Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Leader, Executive Nurse Leader and Nurse Educator. The School of Nursing is home to Alpha Delta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. A unique feature of the School is that it receives funding to carry out research in its Sealy Center for Aging.
Number of New Students Accepted: 307
Graduation Rate: 95%
Recognition: #10 by U.S. News
Tuition: $377 per credit hour in-state; $799 per credit hour out-of-state
Faculty Support: 71.7
University of Kansas, KS
Master of Science in Nursing Online
The University of Kansas, a public university, offers a Master of Science in Nursing with three areas of specializations: Nursing Education, Organizational Leadership, and Public Health Nursing. The School of Nursing ranked number 21 for receiving funds from the National Institutes of Health. The nursing program is also home to the American Nurses Association’s National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators.
Number of New Students Accepted: 24
Graduation Rate: 50%
Recognition: #24 by U.S. News
Tuition: $521 per credit hour
Faculty Support: 75.0
University of Texas-Tyler, TX
Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
The University of Kansas, a public university, offers a Master of Science in Nursing with three areas of specializations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Education, and Nursing Administration. The School of Nursing ranked number 21 for receiving funds from the National Institutes of Health. The nursing program is also home to the American Nurses Association’s National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators.
Number of New Students Accepted: 207
Graduation Rate: 65%
Recognition: #16 by U.S. News
Tuition: $325 per credit hour in-state; $796 per credit hour out-of-state
Faculty Support: 86.6
Johns Hopkins University, MD
Master of Science in Nursing Degree Online
The Johns Hopkins University, a private university, offers an online MSN degree with a focus in Health Systems Management, plus the option to combine that with an MBA. It also offers a DNP with 10 different track specializations along with four post-master’s certificate options, all of which are online. The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing resides alongside of the School of Medicine, the Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins Hospital. The location gives students addition opportunities for training.
Number of New Students Accepted: 41
Graduation Rate: Data Not Available
Recognition: #24 by U.S. News
Tuition: $1,688 per credit hour
Faculty Support: 89.7
University of North Carolina-Greensboro, NC
Online Masters of Science in Nursing
The University of North Carolina-Greensboro, a public institution, offers the Masters of Science in Nursing. Students can choose between two different specializations: of Nursing Administration and Nursing Education. The University of North Carolina-Greensboro is one of two schools of nursing in the US to be designated a Center of Excellence by the National League of Nursing. This designation lets prospective students know the school is high caliber in education.
Number of New Students Accepted: 35
Graduation Rate: 90%
Recognition: #45 by U.S. News
Tuition: $300 per credit hour in-state; $972 per credit hour out-of-state
Faculty Support: 90.0
East Carolina University, NC
Online Master of Science in Nursing
The East Carolina University, a public university, offers a number of options for the online Master of Science in Nursing. The areas of online concentration are: Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Nurse-Midwifery, Nursing Education, Nursing Leadership, and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The online programs allow students to access the homework site 24 hours a day/7 days a week to accommodate working students. The School of Nursing believes in supporting the students who work and attend school.
Number of New Students Accepted: 125
Graduation Rate: 57%
Recognition: #45 by U.S. News
Tuition: $358 per credit hour in-state; $1,002 per credit hour out-of-state
Faculty Support: 98.3
Lamar University, TX
Online Master of Science in Nursing
Lamar University, a private institution, offers a Master of Science in Nursing with two areas of specialization, Nursing Administration and Nursing Education. The Dishman Department of Nursing’s online program is designed to meet the active schedules and commitments of adult learners in the working world. Lamar University provides a Center for Military Services that assists and advises these active duty and veterans into nursing programs and other degrees.
Number of New Students Accepted: 65
Graduation Rate: 99%
Recognition: #19 by U.S. News
Tuition: $288 per credit hour
Faculty Support: 114.0
California State University-Chico, CA
Online Master of Science in Nursing Education
Online Master of Science in Nursing Leadership
The California State University-Chico, a state university, offers a Master of Science degree in either Nursing Education or Nursing Leadership. The School has an outstanding record of collaboration with community and regional partners in education and business. The online classes help to meet the needs of working nurses in rural setting. The School of Nursing is home to Kappa Omicron Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International.
Number of New Students Accepted: 6
Graduation Rate: 50%
Recognition: #81 by U.S. News
Tuition: $347 per credit hour in-state; $743 per credit hour out-of-state
Faculty Support: 115.7
University of Delaware, DE
Master of Science in Nursing Online
The University of Delaware, a public institution, bestows an online Master of Science in Nursing with specialization in Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The School of Nursing Faculty obtained funding from NIH aimed at supporting elderly adults distressed by cancer. Beta Xi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International resides under the School of Nursing.
Number of New Students Accepted: 87
Graduation Rate: 17%
Recognition: #19 by U.S. News
Tuition: $776 per credit hour
Faculty Support: 130.6
Loyola University New Orleans, LA
Online Master of Science in Nursing – Healthcare Systems Management
The Loyola University New Orleans, a private Jesuit university, offers a Master of Science in Nursing with specializations in Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Leadership, and Nurse Educator. It also offers an online RN to MSN track. The accommodating online course format provides access 24/7 to online sources and the program of study requires no campus visits. The Blackboard technology used for the online format mirrors the in class discussions at the School of Nursing.
Number of New Students Accepted: 154
Graduation Rate: 70%
Recognition: #6 by U.S. News
Tuition: $818 per credit hour
Faculty Support: 142.5
Ohio State University, OH
Online Master of Science in Nursing
The Ohio State University, a public institution, offers an online Master of Science in Nursing with four different specialties: Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Leader, and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. The Epsilon Chapter of the Ohio State University Nursing School became the fourth chapter in 1932 to part of Sigma Theta Tau.
Number of New Students Accepted: 108
Graduation Rate: Data not available
Recognition: #32 by U.S. News
Tuition: $823 per credit hour in-state; $828 per credit hour out-of-state
Faculty Support: 143.1
Union University, TN
Master of Science in Nursing Online
Number of New Students Accepted: 4
Graduation Rate: 98%
Recognition: #56 by U.S. News
Tuition: $615 per credit hour
Faculty Support: 144.1
Delta State University, MS
Online Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Administrator
Online Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Educator
Online Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Practitioner
Number of New Students Accepted: 13
Graduation Rate: Data Not Available
Recognition: #41 by U.S. News
Tuition: $417 per credit hour
Faculty Support: 144.3
Texas Christian University, TX
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Online
Number of New Students Accepted: 15
Graduation Rate: 100%
Recognition: #23 by U.S. News
Tuition: $1,710 per credit hour
Faculty Support: 144.9
Arizona State University, AZ
Online Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Research Management
Arizona State University, a public institution, offers a Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Research Management. The College of Nursing and Health Innovations provide this MS degree to appeal to nurses and other health care professionals nationally and globally who are interested in a career in clinical research. Research opportunities are available in the clinical research industry involved in therapeutic drug, biologicals or device invention. The program combines innovation and entrepreneurship.
Number of New Students Accepted: 15
Graduation Rate: 66%
Recognition: #52 by U.S. News
Tuition: $895 per credit hour in-state and out-of-state
Faculty Support: 146.3
University of Missouri-Kansas City, MO
Online Master of Science of Nursing
The University of Missouri-Kansas City, a public institution, provides a Master of Science of Nursing with seven online tracks: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Educator, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. The School of Nursing created distinct and virtual learning communities for quality learning by their students. Affiliated clinical facilities comprise Truman Medical Center, Children’s Mercy Hospital and nearly 100 community wide facilities in the Kansas City area.
Number of New Students Accepted: 390
Graduation Rate: 94%
Recognition: #10 by U.S. News
Tuition: $647 per credit hour in-state; $1,189 per credit hour out-of-state
Faculty Support: 160.5
Stony Brook University-SUNY, NY
Online Master of Science in Nursing – Clinical Leadership
Online Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Practitioner
The Stony Brook University-SUNY, a public institution, offers a primarily online Master of Science in Nursing with eight tracks: Nursing Education, Nursing Leadership, Nurse Midwifery, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP, Family NP, Neonatal NP, Pediatric Primary Care NP, and Psychiatric Mental Health NP. The faculty publishes on diverse areas of research from coping skills to end of life/palliative care. The poignant values held by the School of Nursing include integrity, respect, excellence, accountability, creativity and honesty.
Number of New Students Accepted: 497
Graduation Rate: 63%
Recognition: #16 by U.S. News
Tuition: $471 per credit hour in-state; $1,281 per credit hour out-of-state
Faculty Support: 169.1
George Mason University, VA
Online Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Educator
Online Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Practitioner
Online Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Administration
George Mason University, a private university, prepares students to receive a Master of Science in Nursing in three areas of concentration, nurse educator, nurse practitioners and nursing administration. The Nurse Practitioner program further offers two sub-specialties of Adult-gerontology Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care and the Family Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care. Since the school is located close to Washington, DC, it has a very active program on healthcare policy. The Centers on Health Informatics and Chronic Disease provide other sources of rich learning.
Number of New Students Accepted: 64
Graduation Rate: Data not available
Recognition: #48 by U.S. News
Tuition: $850 per credit hour
Faculty Support: 174.3
Old Dominion University, VA
Online Master of Science in Nursing
The Old Dominion University, a public institution, offers the online Master of Science in Nursing with 10 areas of specialization: Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist-Administrator/Educator, Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Administrator, Nurse Midwifery, Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Students take courses by a variety of methods including web-based online, TELETECHNET or Video Streaming. The School of Nursing hosts the Epsilon Chi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International.
Number of New Students Accepted: 122
Graduation Rate: 84%
Recognition: #24 by U.S. News
Tuition: $547 per credit hour in-state; $1,383 per credit hour out-of-state
Faculty Support: 191.4
Graceland University, MO
Online MSN
Number of New Students Accepted: 347
Graduation Rate: 82%
Recognition: #10 by U.S. News
Tuition: $830 per credit hour
Faculty Support: 198.9
References
Jelinek, M. (2014). Affordable Online Master’s Degree Programs. Retrieved from
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/affordable-online-colleges/masters/
Kirp, D. (2008). Audacity in Harlem. Retrieved from
http://prospect.org/authors/david-kirp?page=1
US News & World Report (2014). Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs. Retrieved
from
https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/nursing/rankings?int=a2a109
About the Author
Sharon A. Takiguchi, RN, MS, APRN, DrPH
Nurse Consultant and Freelance Writer
Sharon possesses a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Nursing as well as a Doctoral degree in Public Health. She enjoyed eight years as a bedside nurse, 12 years as an advanced practice nurse, 16 years in healthcare quality assurance, four years in the medical-legal field, 12 years in medical research, four years teaching college level courses, four years in patient safety at a military medical facility and seven years as a freelance writer.