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Online RN to MSN Programs in New Jersey
We’re pleased to report that private and public New Jersey universities offer online RN to MSN programs. Each College of Nursing will have its own specific admissions requirements, so we recommend you examine the profiles in our school listings to determine if you’re eligible to apply. For instance, Felician’s program is open to RNs with an associate degree or diploma in nursing, but MSU and SHU’s offerings require a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Here are a few extra points to consider:
- Felician University: All full-time faculty in Felician’s undergraduate & graduate programs are certified to teach online. In addition, distance learners who need extra help can request face-to-face meetings, either online or on-campus. For the Advanced Practice concentrations, licensure as an RN in New Jersey is required and must be obtained within 3 months of enrollment. For the Nursing Administration concentration, RN applicants who are licensed in a state outside of NJ will be evaluated on an individual basis.
- Montclair State University: MSU’s Online RN to MSN Bridge is not completely online—courses for the undergraduate portion are offered in hybrid or online formats; students meet on campus approximately once per month or 3-4 times over the course of a semester. However, all courses for the MSN are 100% online. The university’s page on State Authorization states that MSU is part of SARA, which means it’s eligible to offer distance education programs to students in 49 states and is not subject to approval or exempt in the non-SARA state of California.
- Seton Hall University: Certain concentrations in SHU’s Online RN to MSN Bridge have on-campus components. Students who choose NP specialties (e.g. AGNP or PNP options) are expected to take part in 3 immersion experiences, which will include hands-on clinical work. The HSA concentration doesn’t have any on-campus clinical experiences, but it does contain internships in a workplace setting.
Bear in mind, too, that some of the other programs in our listings are blended. For example, classes for Monmouth University’s MSN occur in the evening, either in an online or hybrid format, with alternating weeks on campus. And MSN courses at the College of Saint Elizabeth are offered in a format that combines face-to-face classes with online coursework, independent study, and group assignments.
Cheapest RN to MSN Programs in New Jersey
This ranking of the most affordable New Jersey RN to MSN programs is based on per graduate tuition rates. That means it’s only a rough estimate! Each program in our school listings has a different number of credits and different tuition structures. For example, Felician has two tuition rates: one for RN to MSN undergraduate courses and one for MSN coursework. In contrast, TCNJ’s program charges a graduate rate for all required bridge courses.
- Montclair State University: View Tuition Rates
- Kean University: In-State (Out-of-State is somewhat higher)—View Tuition Rates
- The College of New Jersey: In-State (Out-of-State is comparable to Monmouth)—View Tuition Rates
- College of Saint Elizabeth: View Tuition Rates
- Felician University: View Tuition Rates
We also want to point out that you may be able to reduce the total number of credits you need to earn at the university—in some cases, schools accept transfers and/or a portfolio review on selected bridge courses (e.g. TCNJ).
New Jersey’s Healthcare Landscape
Like many urban/suburban states, New Jersey faces a range of complex healthcare challenges. According to America’s Health Rankings, the state has been battling a high prevalence of physical inactivity, rising obesity rates, a surge in drug-related deaths, and low per capita public health funding.
One of the most challenging centers for NJ nurses is Newark. According to 2024 Census results, 24.7% of the population were living in poverty and 21% of people under the age of 65 lacked health insurance. A WalletHub report ranked Newark as the third neediest city in the country, with high levels of child poverty, food insecurity and homelessness. And it’s not unique. Substance abuse, depression, HIV/AIDS, and diabetes are just some of the conditions that APRNs in urban areas have to address on a daily basis.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that New Jersey is winning some of its healthcare battles. For instance:
- It has made significant progress in reducing the number of residents without health insurance, including new immigrants.
- New Jersey Health Initiatives (NJHI), a statewide grantmaking program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is investing millions of dollars in healthy community projects and organizations.
- And the state is fighting the opioid epidemic tooth & nail. In 2019, the Governor announced that he intended to advance $100 million from the Fiscal Year budget to tackle the drug crisis. Money will be used to fund prevention & treatment programs, increase accessibility to MAT, provide training to primary care clinicians, and more.
New Jersey also has a network of well-respected hospitals and medical centers that are committed to improvement. For instance, a large number of New Jersey hospitals are Magnet Facilities. The state almost always does well in Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade rankings. And the New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) is working on multiple advocacy goals, including healthcare coverage expansion, healthy communities, and quality control (e.g. NJHA Institute for Quality & Patient Safety).
Jobs for New Jersey RN to MSN Graduates
Career Outlook for RN to MSN Graduates
Aspiring APRNs and nurse leaders will find plenty of fulfilling job opportunities in the state.
- If you look at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)’s pages for Nurse Practitioners and Nursing Instructors & Teachers, Postsecondary, you’ll notice that New Jersey has a high level of employment for both categories, especially in the New York-Newark-Jersey City metropolitan area.
- In fact, Trenton often has the highest concentration of nursing instructor jobs in the country (think TCNJ and the Capital Health Regional Medical Center.).
There’s another factor at play for MSN graduates: the retirement of older nurses and nursing instructors. According to Projections Central, New Jersey is projected to experience a surge in NP jobs—more than a 30% increase between 2016 and 2026. New senior nurses will be very much needed, and not only in hospitals. The dearth of nursing faculty has meant some New Jersey universities have had to turn away qualified undergraduates.
Interested in a medical center job or need ideas for MSN clinical placements?
- U.S. News & World Report rankings of the Best Hospitals in New Jersey will be of use. You’ll see a lot of familiar names in this list, including Morristown Medical Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, and the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
- Keep in mind, too, that other NJ hospitals will have key strengths in certain areas. For example, Saint Peter’s University Hospital’s Adult ICU Unit has been awarded a Beacon Award from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) five times in a row.
Finally, it’s useful to know that APNs in NJ have a considerable degree of autonomy. For instance, they are not required to have their work supervised by a physician. That means physician proximity, meeting with a physician, or on-site or in-person oversight is not required. However, as of 2019, APNs were still required to have a joint protocol collaborative agreement (JP) in order to prescribe medications, including controlled substances.
Career Resources for Future APRNs
New Jersey Nursing Job Boards
- NJSNA Career Center: Job listings for New Jersey nurses, including NPs and nurse leaders
- APN-NJ Careers: Job listings for New Jersey APRNs
- FNAP Career Center: Job listings for New Jersey & neighboring state NPs
New Jersey APRN Salary & Wage Data
- Annual Mean Wages for New Jersey Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations: Categories can include “Nurse Practitioners,” “Nurse Midwives,” and “Nurse Anesthetists”
- Annual Mean Wages for New Jersey Nursing Instructors & Teachers, Postsecondary
- AANP National Compensation Survey: Available to AANP members
New Jersey Nursing Organizations
State Board of Nursing
NJ Nursing Associations & Coalitions
- Advanced Practice Nurses of New Jersey (APN-NJ)
- Forum of Nurses in Advanced Practice (FNAP)
- National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN): New Jersey Chapters
- National Black Nurses Association (NBNA): New Jersey Chapters
- New Jersey Nursing Initiative (NJNI)
- New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA)
NJ Nursing Specialty Organizations
- American College of Nurse-Midwives – New Jersey Chapter (NJ ACNM)
- American Psychiatric Nurses Association – New Jersey Chapter (APNA New Jersey)
- Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses – New Jersey (AWHONN – New Jersey)
- International Association of Forensic Nurses – New Jersey Chapter (NJ-IAFN)
- New Jersey Association of Nurse Anesthetists (NJANA)
- New Jersey Emergency Nurses Association (NJENA)
- New Jersey League for Nursing (NJLN)
- New Jersey Nursing Students (NJNS)
- New Jersey State School Nurses Association (NJSSNA)
- New Jersey State Association of Occupational Health Nurses (NJSAOHN)
- Organization of Nurse Leaders of New Jersey (ONL NJ)
New Jersey RN to MSN School Listings
6 Schools FoundKean University
Department of Nursing
Union, New Jersey
Nursing School Overview
Kean is a public university, so per credit tuition rates are more reasonable than private options, especially if you're a New Jersey resident. The School of Nursing is confident enough to post achievement data about its programs. In recent years, the MSN has achieved a 100% job placement rate. Independent reviews of nursing faculty are good, with only a few negatives, and the school's community-focused concentrations are different to many of the usual offerings.
RN to MSN Admissions & Curriculum
Kean's short bridge program is open to RNs with a non-nursing baccalaureate degree. Applicants are expected to have a minimum 3.0 GPA on any undergraduate work and a valid RN license. They'll also be required to submit a professional resume, personal statement, and 2 letters of recommendation. A departmental interview may be required. Once admitted, Bridge students take 3 undergraduate courses, including an independent practicum in nursing. If they successfully complete those credits, they can proceed to the MSN. Students can choose part-time or full-time study (3-9 credits per semester) for the master's degree; the entire MSN can be completed in 4 academic semesters and 1 summer session. The concentration in Clinical Management is 36 credits and has 3 possible instructional sites. The concentration in Community Health Nursing is 39 credits and 2 possible instructional sites. Both programs include clinical coursework.
Monmouth University
School of Nursing and Health Studies
West Long Branch, New Jersey
Nursing School Overview
Monmouth is a medium-sized private university in West Long Branch with a reputation for small classes. The School of Nursing and Health Studies has designed the MSN for working professionals - courses are offered in the evening, either online or in a hybrid format with alternating weeks on campus. There's a full-time placement coordinator to help with internship opportunities and clinical sites, and externships are available through Monmouth's partners, Hackensack Meridian Health and Monmouth Medical Center. Monmouth is also actively engaged in research & outreach. In addition, all Monmouth University Nursing students are members of the Monmouth University Professional Nurses Association (MUPNA).
RN to MSN Admissions & Curriculum
Monmouth offers two pathways to a master's degree. The RN to MSN Direct is for RNs who hold an associate degree or diploma in nursing. The Bridge to the MSN is for RNs who hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree (e.g. BA or BS). Neither of them include a BSN. Applicants to the Direct program should have a minimum 2.75 GPA. Once accepted, students in the Direct program are expected to complete a 30-credit Undergraduate Nursing Certificate (UNC) before applying for the MSN portion of the program (36-48 graduate credits). The MSN application will require a personal statement, 2 letters of recommendation, a resume, a current New Jersey RN license, and 1 year of clinical experience (if applying to a clinical specialty). GRE scores may be waived pending a minimum of a B earned in each of the first 4 courses at the graduate level. Students in the Bridge program do not need to complete the UNC. Instead, they'll be required to take 1-3 courses, which vary depending on the specialties. After that, students can register for master's level coursework. Bridge applicants should have a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, a current New Jersey RN license, 1 year of RN experience, and 1 year experience in the specialty track (before beginning MSN practicums). 2 letters of recommendation, a resume, and a personal statement will also be required.
Montclair State University
School of Nursing
Montclair, New Jersey
RN to MSN Bridge Program - Nursing Administration
Offered Online
RN to MSN Bridge Program - Nursing Education
Offered Online
Nursing School Overview
Montclair State is a public research university in Montclair, which means per credit tuition rates are relatively affordable for online programs. The School of Nursing is relatively new - it was founded in 2016 - but it began with considerable investment. For example, three floors of Partridge Hall are dedicated to the School of Nursing's clinical training program, with modern simulation labs, a mock quarantine room, debriefing rooms, and anatomy and physiology labs. Nursing faculty are experienced and tuition scholarships may be available for the MSN. Plus the online format makes it easy for students to fit their studies in around their schedule. In most cases, MSN students can complete their clinical requirements at their current place of employment.
RN to MSN Admissions & Curriculum
Montclair State's Online RN to MSN Bridge program is open to RNs with baccalaureate degrees in non-nursing disciplines. Applicants should have a non-nursing bachelor's degree, a minimum 3.0 GPA from their pre-licensure RN program, active RN licensure or eligibility for licensure (new graduate nurses must successfully complete the NCLEX-RN within six months of matriculation), and 2 reference letters. Once accepted, students must complete up to 5 undergraduate upper division nursing courses (13 credits) or demonstrate competency in these fields. Competency can be confirmed with a portfolio review. All students are required to successfully complete an undergraduate statistics course within 5 years of the first graduate level nursing course. With permission from the MSN Program Director, Bridge students may take up to 2 graduate-level courses from the MSN core while completing bridge requirements. The 35-credit MSN portion is available in 3 concentrations. Most students take 1-2 courses per semester and finish within 2-3 years. All MSN concentrations include a final Capstone Nursing Synthesis Project. This consists of a seminar and practicum experience, as well as regular meetings with a faculty mentor and content expert. Courses for the Bridge portion are hybrid (e.g. 3-4 campus meetings per semester) or online. Courses for the MSN are 100% online.
Saint Peter's University
School of Nursing
Jersey City, New Jersey
Nursing School Overview
SPU is a private Jesuit university in Jersey City with a reputation for diversity - nearly a 1/4 of undergraduates are Black and almost 1/2 are Hispanic. It also places an emphasis on Jesuit values (e.g. service & outreach). The School of Nursing is small, which means you'll get to know your professors well. Nursing faculty tend to receive positive reviews on rating sites and some are even engaged in their own research projects.
RN to MSN Admissions & Curriculum
SPU's RN to MSN Bridge program designed for RNs who hold a diploma or associate degree in nursing from an NLNAC-accredited institution (or its equivalent) and a baccalaureate degree in a field other than nursing. Candidates must have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, a GPA of at least 3.0, a current RN license, and college credit validation through testing for Anatomy and Physiology I and II (Excelsior Examination) and Microbiology. A personal statement, 3 letters of recommendation, and a current resume should be included in the application. To be accepted into the MSN, applicants are also required to have a minimum of 1 year professional nursing practice experience. The Bridge portion of the program consists of 5 courses, which must be completed with a grade of B or higher before enrolling in graduate coursework. (Students in the Bridge program do not earn a BSN.) The 39-credit MSN is split into core, cognate, and role courses, and teaching takes place on campus. Full-time students can complete the MSN in 2.5-3 years; part-time students must complete the program in 5.5 years.
Seton Hall University
College of Nursing
South Orange, New Jersey
RN to MSN Bridge - Health Systems Administration/MBA
Offered Online
Nursing School Overview
SHU is the poster child for New Jersey - you'll often see it in the top 50 of U.S. News & World Report rankings for Best Nursing Schools and Best DNP. It's a private Roman Catholic university, with locations in South Orange and Nutley, where the Interprofessional Health Sciences (IHS) Campus and College of Nursing are based. Quality markers for the College are everywhere. Graduate programs have achieved 98% AANPCB exam pass rates in recent years. 80% of full-time nursing faculty have doctoral degrees. Distance learners receive the benefits of hands-on experiences, mentoring, and practicums. SHU has clinical affiliations with many New Jersey hospitals and medical centers (e.g. Hackensack University Medical Center, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, etc.). Former graduates often visit the campus to speak about their career experiences. And independent reviews of the nursing program are glowing. One online student studying for an NP specialty said the quality of the professors and their teaching methods far surpassed what he/she had expected, with plenty of classroom discussion and feedback.
RN to MSN Admissions & Curriculum
SHU's online bridge program is open to RNs who have an AS or AAS in nursing and a non-nursing baccalaureate degree. Applicants are expected to have a bachelor's degree in any non-nursing major with a 3.0 GPA or higher, current RN licensure, 1 year of professional nursing experience, 2 letters of recommendation, and various prerequisites (e.g. statistics, research, etc.). You'll also need to provide an MAT score, which should be at or above average level for graduate nursing students (satisfactory GRE scores are also acceptable). After completion of undergraduate course prerequisites and 2 bridge courses (11 credits) at SHU, students can proceed to the MSN. All of the MSN concentrations are designed to be taken online, with clinical practicums or HSA internships completed in a relevant workplace. However, the NP specialties also include 3 mandatory, on-campus immersions. The 30-credit MSN HSA takes around 2 years to complete; the 55-credit MBA/MSN takes 3 years; and the 46-48 credit NP specialties take about 3 years. Part-time study is available.
The College of New Jersey
School of Nursing, Health and Exercise Science
Ewing, New Jersey
Nursing School Overview
If you're a resident of a New Jersey, TCNJ is an affordable choice - it's a public university in Ewing with a strong regional ranking. The School of Nursing, Health, and Exercise Science is an NLN Center of Excellence in Nursing Education and it maintains partnerships with several healthcare systems. The Department of Nursing also encourages its students to be active in the community. Through a collaboration with the Mercer County Division of Public Health, many TCNJ nursing students have become Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers. In addition, students have helped to staff clinics and volunteered their time in childcare assistance. Keep in mind that TCNJ is a campus-based program - interactive classrooms, mentoring, and exposure to various clinical settings are part of the set-up. Independent reviewers tend to comment favorably on the small class sizes and close-knit community.
RN to MSN Admissions & Curriculum
TCNJ's Bridge to the MSN is open to RNs with an associate degree or diploma in nursing from an NLN-accredited institution and a baccalaureate degree in any field from an accredited institution. Applicants must have a license to practice as an RN in the state of New Jersey (license to practice in the state of Pennsylvania may be required for some clinical sites), certain prerequisites (e.g. health assessment), and GRE scores (test waivers are available for candidates with high GPAs or course grades). A pre-admission interview may be requested. Bridge students are expected to take up to 4 undergraduate courses, including practicum hours. However, students who have significant community health expertise and experience may apply for a waiver of up to 8 credits based on a portfolio review. Once all the credits have been met, students can proceed to the MSN. Bridge coursework can be completed in 2 semesters of full-time study. The MSN portion will take 2 academic years plus 2 summers of full-time study.
