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RN to MSN Programs in California

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Online RN to MSN Programs in California

If you need the flexibility of a distance learning program, you’re in luck! California is full of 100% online RN to MSN programs and hybrid alternatives (a blend of campus coursework and online study). Each College of Nursing has specific admissions requirements, so we recommend you examine the profiles in our school listings to determine if you’re eligible to apply. Here are a few extra points to consider:

  • University of San Francisco: Applicants who are interested in the 100% online MSN (as opposed to the hybrid program) must reside in an approved state—see the State Authorization Status page for more info. Online students must be a licensed RN in the state where they reside and have chosen to complete their clinical practicums. In the 100% online option, students complete coursework asynchronously, with classes that contain modules and video content. In-person class sessions are not required and classes are offered year-round.
  • West Coast University: It’s important to know that WCU Nursing has two campuses.  Distance education nursing programs for Texas residents are offered through the Dallas, TX campus. For other states, online nursing programs are offered through the Orange County, CA campus. However, bear in mind that the online program may not be available to residents in all states. Non-NP concentrations are delivered in a 100% online format; courses include video, simulations, and adaptive quizzing. Students in the FNP take most of their courses online, but they are also required to attend two 3-day, on-site intensives on the Orange County campus (or Dallas, if you’re in Texas). Travel costs are not included in tuition & fees.

And this is just the start! If you can afford to spend a little bit of time on campus, then you can expand your options even further.

  • California State University-Dominguez Hills: The non-NP concentrations from CSUDH are hybrid in nature— most courses are delivered online, in an asynchronous format; there are periodic mandatory on-campus meetings for just a few courses. The FNP program tends to have more face-to-face components. It includes online course work, on-campus instruction days, and clinical practice days in ambulatory settings.
  • Holy Names University: In HNU’s hybrid set-up, MSN classes meet one weekend per month and students complete the rest of the coursework online. Typically, clinical experiences may be arranged close to students’ homes.
  • Touro University: Half of Touro’s program is face-to-face (one evening per week and one Sunday per month) and the remaining half is online. Clinical hours may be conducted in the agency where the student is employed if the health care facility agrees.
  • Western University of Health Sciences: WesternU’s hybrid program consists of a web-based curriculum, weekend sessions at the Pomona, CA campus (twice per semester), and clinical training experiences in the student’s community. Weekend sessions include traditional lectures, group-skills labs, exams, and presentations. Distant students enrolled in clinical programs are required to periodically extend their weekends to work with clinical faculty. Applicants who live outside of California should check the State Authorization page to ensure they can apply.

Cheapest RN to MSN Programs in California

To come up with this ranking of the most affordable California RN to MSN programs, we examined per graduate tuition rates. That’s why you’ll see CSUDH at the top of the list—as a public school, it can afford to offer a reasonably low rate to residents. But please don’t take this list as definitive. Each program in our school listings has a different number of credits, different transfer policies, and different discounts. Once you examine your final budget, you may find that a private school is actually more affordable for your situation.

  1. California State University-Dominiguez Hills: In-State (Out-of-State is much higher)—View Tuition Rates
  2. West Coast University: Non-NP Specialties (FNP concentration courses have a slightly higher rate)—View Tuition Rates
  3. California Baptist University: View Tuition Rates
  4. Touro University: View Tuition Rates
  5. Western University of Health Sciences: View Tuition Rates

California’s Healthcare Landscape

California is full of contrasts. In a state with so much land, an overwhelming majority of residents live in urban areas—LA and San Diego Counties alone account for a third of the state’s population. The state’s population is incredibly diverse, as are the income levels. That means RNs and APRNs encounter a huge range of healthcare issues on a day-to-day basis (e.g. high levels of air pollution exposure in big cities vs. low childhood immunization coverage in high income suburbs).

Despite all this, California often does remarkably well in America’s Health Rankings. It tends to have a low prevalence of obesity, a low infant mortality rate, and even a falling rate of children in poverty. The introduction of the Affordable Care Act and a push by the state government to provide health benefits to all (including undocumented immigrants) has meant the percentage of uninsured residents has also been steadily dropping.

California Nursing Challenges & Opportunities

One of the most pressing issues for California APRNs is independence. As of 2019, California was the only western state that restricts NPs by requiring them to work with physician oversight. In that year, the California Future Health Workforce Commission issued a report that said expanding the role of nurse practitioners would help to ensure California’s growing population received direct access to care. That would mean reforming regulations to give NPs full practice authority after a transitional period of collaboration with a physician or experienced NP.

Empowering nurses may be critical for California’s future—the state is facing a growing shortage of healthcare professionals:

  • In a 2017 report, the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis warned that California was projected to have a major shortfall of full-time equivalent RN positions by 2030, with deficits exceeding 44,000.
  • The push for universal health coverage in the state is also causing a surge in demand for qualified primary care providers.
  • The Future Health Workforce Commission report recommended increasing the growth rate of NP supply by 25%.

Jobs for California RN to MSN Graduates

Career Outlook for RN to MSN Graduates

In other words, you should be looking at great job opportunities in CA. You’ll see this exemplified in the employment maps on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)’s pages for Nurse Practitioners and Nursing Instructors & Teachers, Postsecondary. California has some of the highest employment levels for these two job categories in the country.

  • As you might expect, the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan area is a massive center of employment for NPs and nurse educators, but it’s not the only city with healthcare needs.
  • Other major hotspots for NPs include San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, and the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area. Many of these metropolitan areas have great wages, especially for nursing instructors, but high numbers usually reflect the hefty cost of living.

If you’re thinking of applying for a hospital position, U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of the Best Hospitals in California may be of interest. You’ll notice that many of the top ten names are a) affiliated with the UC system or a major university (e.g. Stanford) and b) located in Los Angeles or the greater San Francisco area. Magnet Facilities in California also tend to be centered around San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

Considering a teaching role in a university? You’re likely to be in demand. California nursing schools are struggling to hire more teachers, even in the face of multiplying applications. A Special Survey on Vacant Faculty Positions, released in 2018 by AACN, reported that there was a national nurse faculty vacancy rate of 7.9%.

Having said that, most of the vacancies (90.7%) were faculty positions requiring or preferring a doctoral degree. You may want to consider a DNP after the MSN.

Career Resources for Future APRNs

California Nursing Job Boards

California APRN Salary & Wage Data

California Nursing Organizations

State Board of Nursing

CA Nursing Associations & Coalitions

CA Nursing Specialty Organizations

California RN to MSN School Listings

6 Schools Found

California Baptist University

College of Nursing

Riverside, California

ADN to MSN - Clinical Nurse Specialist Adult Gerontology Concentration

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

ADN to MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

ADN to MSN - Healthcare Systems Management Concentration

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

ADN to MSN - Nursing Informatics Concentration

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

ADN to MSN - Teaching-Learning Nursing Concentration

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

Nursing School Overview

CBU is a private Christian liberal arts university in Riverside that's affiliated with the California Southern Baptist Convention. So you'll notice a Christian slant in the mission of the College of Nursing. The College has its own Clinical Simulation Lab and Resource Center and it makes a point of emphasizing interprofessional education across health-related disciplines. Nursing students are also encouraged to participate in community outreach efforts, including disaster preparedness training. Because it's not a big school, students get a fair amount of support and individualized attention. Independent reviews of professors on rating sites are largely positive, and alumni are quick to compliment CBU's emphasis on holistic care, the strength of the support system, the quality of the teaching, and their level of preparedness upon graduation.

RN to MSN Admissions & Curriculum

CBU's campus-based program is open to RNs with an associate degree in nursing. All candidates must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and an active California RN license. In your application, you'll also need to include a resume, 3 recommendations, and a comprehensive essay. An interview is required. The entire ADN to MSN program takes 8-10 semesters or around 2.5-3.5 years; it's only offered on a part-time basis. The undergraduate portion includes 5 transition courses (15 units/credits), including a course on Christian Leadership for the ADN. The MSN portion consists of 31 core units and 12-24 units in your choice of concentration (Healthcare Systems Management is the shortest; FNP is the longest). All of the MSN concentrations include practicums. The Informatics concentration also has a final capstone. MSN students attend classes one afternoon/night per week. Most MSN cohorts consist of 30 students.

California State University-Dominguez Hills

School of Nursing

Carson, California

MSN Pathway Program - Clinical Nurse Specialist/Adult-Gerontology

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

MSN Pathway Program - Clinical Nurse Specialist/Parent Child

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

MSN Pathway Program - Family Nurse Practitioner

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

MSN Pathway Program - Nurse Administrator

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

MSN Pathway Program - Nurse Educator

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

Nursing School Overview

CSUDH is the big public player in our list - a well-known commuter school that's part of the California State University System. That means tuition rates for in-state residents are considerably lower than rates for out-of-state residents (just watch out for fees). CSUDH also has a reputation for graduating more African American students than any public university in California. The School of Nursing is one of the largest in the Cal State system and the name is known in Los Angeles and SoCal areas. One student reviewer noted that nobody who was living in the Orange County area had any trouble finding clinical sites. According to U.S. News & World report data, the online graduate nursing programs often have 9 full-time/19 part-time faculty, 57% minority students, and an average class size of ~13. Independent ratings of professors are a mixed bag, but a number of student reviews mention the flexibility of the hybrid format and the diverse range of experiences. If you're looking at old nursing threads on the FNP program, keep in mind that CSUDH changed their FNP admission policy in 2017 to do away with the multi-phase process.

RN to MSN Admissions & Curriculum

CSUDH's offering is a bridge program - it's designed for RNs who hold a bachelor's degree in another field. To apply, candidates must have a number of undergraduate prerequisites (e.g. anatomy, physiology, statistics, etc.), current & clear licensure as an RN, a minimum 3.0 GPA on the last 60 semester units at the baccalaureate level, and a BA or BS from an accredited university. Prospective MSN Pathway students must also participate in a workshop to have their transcripts and potential credit transfers evaluated. Once you're accepted, you'll take 5 bridge courses at the undergraduate level (20 units/credits), unless you've been granted permission to waive certain credits. No BSN is granted in this program. Instead, you'll proceed straight into the MSN. The length of the master's portion will vary depending on the specialty. The Nurse Administrator concentration is the shortest (30 units over 3 years of part-time study); FNP is the longest (48 units over 4 years of part-time study). Most concentrations are delivered in a hybrid format, with online courses, clinical practicums, and periodic mandatory on-campus meetings for some classes (e.g. health assessment). However, the FNP is a bit more involved, with on-campus instruction days and clinical practice days in ambulatory settings. FNP students must complete their clinical hours in the state of California. All clinical sites and preceptors must be approved by program instructors and fit the requirements for the course.

Touro University California

School of Nursing

Vallejo, California

ADN to MSN - Clinical Nurse Leader

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

Nursing School Overview

Touro University California is a private, non-profit health professions graduate school on Mare Island in Vallejo. It's part of the Touro College and University System, a Jewish-sponsored system which also includes the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Medical College, and Touro University Nevada. However, it has a diverse student body who practice all religions. We didn't find many independent reviews of the School of Nursing. But we did notice that it is housed in the College of Education and Health Sciences, which is doing some interesting research work into important community concerns (e.g. reducing childhood obesity in the Vallejo City Unified School District, supporting Solano County breast cancer needs assessments, etc.). According to Touro, undergraduate practicum hours for PHN certification will be conducted in local health departments, schools, and community clinics. MSN clinical placements can be completed in the agency where the student is employed if the health care facility agrees. Students are also provided with a faculty advisor that facilitates their progress through the program.

RN to MSN Admissions & Curriculum

Touro's hybrid offering is one of the shortest we've seen - an 18-month program that's open to RNs with an associate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution (or its equivalent). In addition to the ADN, candidates must have a California RN license by the end of the first semester and a minimum of 90 applicable semester units (135 quarter units) of undergraduate coursework, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher. Preference will be given to applicants who have at least 1 year of clinical experience. The 4-semester program starts every fall and finishes the following December. The first semester deals with undergraduate coursework: 3 courses in nursing essentials, including 90 hours for a Community Health Nurse clinical (13 units in total). The remaining semesters are devoted to MSN CNL coursework: 6 courses in the spring semester, 3 courses in summer, and 5 courses in fall (33 units in total, including 400 clinical hours). The program finishes with a Quality Improvement Project. Half of the program is face to face (one evening per week and one Sunday per month) and the remainder is online.

University of San Francisco

School of Nursing & Health Professions

San Francisco, California

MSN for Registered Nurses - Clinical Nurse Leader

Offered Online

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

Nursing School Overview

USF is a private Jesuit university in San Francisco with a respected School of Nursing and Health Professions. NCLEX & CNL pass rates are strong and competition for graduate spots is fierce - the school says it typically receives between 250-400 applications for the MSN per semester, and admits approximately 36 for San Francisco and 26 for Orange County. According to U.S. News & World Report data, USF's online graduate nursing programs have a 75%+ graduation rate after 4 years. All MSN students are provided with an academic advisor who is accessible by appointment. When it comes to clinicals, USF has close ties to a number of organizations around the Bay Area, including Kaiser Permanente, the VA Northern California Health Care System, and multiple hospitals in San Francisco and Orange County (e.g. UCSF, SFGH, Laguna Honda, La Clinica, St. Joseph Hospital, Orange, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, etc.). It also runs Nursing Students' Mobile Health Clinics. USF is expensive, but the school sometimes offers limited scholarships to help offset program-related fees. There are tons of independent reviews about USF's nursing programs on the web, so we recommend you browse through all the opinions. CNL alumni tend to say that the program is fast-paced and rigorous, with a heavy workload, experienced instructors, and high standards.

RN to MSN Admissions & Curriculum

USF's flexible program is available in two forms: hybrid or 100% online. It's open to RNs who have an associate degree or bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited institution, a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and an active & unencumbered RN license. The application must also include a personal statement, resume, and 2 letters of recommendation. Be aware that candidates who are interested in the online option must reside in an approved state. If accepted, you'll be enrolled in a 2-year, 6-semester program (46 credits in total); no BSN is awarded in this pathway. There are 3 courses per semester until the last semester, but ADNs with a BA or BS can waive 2 courses early on. Semesters 4 and 5 include clinical practicums (180 hours in total); semester 6 includes a 220 hour internship. With supervisor and site approval, these hours may be completed at a student's place of work. Students are responsible for securing their own preceptor and identifying their own practicum site. If you opt for the hybrid format, you'll meet one night per week for classes. In-person class sessions are not required for the 100% online version.

West Coast University

College of Nursing

Anaheim, California

RN to MSN - Advanced Generalist

Offered Online

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

RN to MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner

Offered Online

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

RN to MSN - Informatics

Offered Online

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

RN to MSN - Nurse Educator

Offered Online

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

RN to MSN - Nurse Leader

Offered Online

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

Nursing School Overview

WCU may be a for-profit university focused on healthcare degrees, but it is CCNE-accredited. It launched its online RN to BSN and RN to MSN nursing programs in 2015, and it has made of a point of keeping tuition fairly reasonable. In its program description, WCU promises that FNP students will have access to a faculty mentoring program and a team who can help to secure clinical placements. It also offers grants & scholarships, including a Health Services Partner Grant (i.e. tuition discount) to employees of certain partners and a limited number of full scholarships to employees of premier Nursing Partners. There are plenty of independent reviews and discussions about WCU on the web. Positive reviewers tend to praise the convenience of the online format, the small class sizes, the quality of the teaching, and the support of professors. Others worry that the stigma of earning a degree at a for-profit university may work against them when it comes to job applications. If you're concerned about this issue, talk to your work mentors, contact alumni, and ask WCU for exam pass rates.

RN to MSN Admissions & Curriculum

WCU's online program is designed for RNs with an associate degree or diploma in nursing from a Board of Nursing licensed program. WCU will want to see a minimum 3.0 GPA, although it will consider lower GPAs (2.7-2.99) on a probational basis. Candidates awaiting the RN licensure exam can be conditionally admitted, but all students must have a current and unobstructed RN license in the U.S. prior to entering the third trimester of the program. For non-NP concentrations, 1 year of direct patient care nursing experience within the past 5 years is preferred. FNP candidates must have a minimum of 1 year of recent experience prior to entering FNP courses. FNP applicants will also have submit an essay, supply 3 letters of recommendation, and take part in an interview. WCU awards 42 transfer credits for an unobstructed current RN license and up to 48 credits of general education transfer credits (total of 90 transfer credits). Non-NP concentrations take 24 months to complete. The first year (3 trimesters) is primarily devoted to undergraduate work. MSN coursework appears in the third trimester and the second year. Coursework is online and practice experience hours are completed in the student's community. The 68-credit FNP track is longer - it takes around 4 years (40 months) to complete, including precepted clinical hours. MSN core courses are delivered online, but FNP specialty courses include two on-site weekend intensives (3 days each). National board preparation exams are embedded in the coursework.

Western University of Health Sciences

College of Graduate Nursing

Pomona, California

ADN to MSN - Administrative Nurse Leader

Offered Online

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

ADN to MSN - Ambulatory Care Nursing

Offered Online

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

ADN to MSN - Clinical Nurse Leader

Offered Online

Curriculum InfoCost InfoHow To Apply

Nursing School Overview

WesternU is a private, non-profit university and one of the largest graduate schools for the health professions in California. The university runs a variety of patient care facilities in California and Oregon, and the Pomona campus is home to a medical center, dental center, eye care institute, pharmacy, and travel health center. The College of Graduate Nursing was the first to offer a web-based MSN and FNP program and it typically achieves respectable results. According to U.S. News & World Report data, successful applicants to online graduate nursing programs have an average GPA of 3.5 and the program has an 87% graduation rate after 4 years. As a further sign of quality, WesternU has strong NCLEX pass rates (e.g. often above 90%). There are even some scholarships that are open to MSN students. WesternU provides testimonials on its program website, but you'll also find a number of independent reviews on the web. Reviewers have noted that the blended structure is student-friendly, the educator to student ratio is low, the nursing programs are rigorous, and most teachers are knowledgeable and supportive (with a few exceptions). One alumni noted that being at health sciences university means that students have access to plenty of networking opportunities.

RN to MSN Admissions & Curriculum

WesternU's hybrid program is built for RNs with an associate degree in nursing who wish to skip the BSN and go straight to the MSN. Applicants are expected to have an associate degree in nursing from a BRN-approved school, a minimum 3.0 GPA, an active and unencumbered RN license in the state where clinical hours will be completed, and various undergraduate prerequisites (earned with a grade of C or better). 1 year of experience as an RN is preferred. The ADN to MSN program takes 2-3 years to complete, depending on whether you choose full-time or part-time study. Most of the coursework is online, but every concentration includes clinical training in the student's community under the supervision of a preceptor and weekend sessions at the Pomona, California campus (twice per semester). During those weekends, students participate in instruction & demonstrations, student presentations, and group project work. Out-of-state student should check the State Authorization page to make sure they're eligible to apply.

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