Online MSN Program Overview
Earn your Master’s in Nursing degree online
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree will grant you the advanced training and qualifications to provide superior nursing care. With a master’s degree, you can specialize in multiple facets of healthcare, including nursing education, administration, and quality management. By completing our program, you can also move into higher levels of practice and nursing leadership roles.
Our online master’s in nursing program can help you advance your professional development and pursue a rewarding career with greater responsibilities, salaries, and job opportunities. The best part of our online MSN program is you can do it all from the safety of your own home. All MSN courses are taught entirely online, while capstone courses include practicum hours that allow graduates to apply their learning in the practice setting.
Get started today by filling out our contact form and our admissions department can answer all your question and provide you with more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What you need to know
Can you get your MSN degree online?
Yes! In fact, MSN programs like ours can be completed entirely online. The virtual environment at Eagle Gate College allows busy adults to attend class from the comfort of their own home. Through the online MSN program, you will study various topics, including Health Policy in Nursing, Disease Prevention, Nursing Administration & Leadership, and the Legal Aspects of Healthcare Administration.
What can you do with a master’s in nursing?
A master’s in nursing can equip you with the skills and advanced training you’ll need to provide superior nursing care in a specialized role, such as faculty or management positions.
What jobs can you get with a master’s in nursing?
A master’s degree in nursing could prepare graduates for additional education in several advanced practice areas, including Certified Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), and Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM). Other common jobs for MSN graduates include Nurse Executives, Ambulatory Care Managers, and Long-Term Care Executives. Nurses with an MSN degree may also be eligible for teaching positions at the certificate and undergraduate levels.
How long does it take to get your MSN?
Though it depends on the individual school, most MSN programs can be completed in about two years. However, you can also pursue an entry-level MSN program if you already hold a bachelor’s degree in another subject. These programs typically take about three years to complete.
How much do MSN nurses make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that as of May 2020, the average salary of MSN-trained nurses was $114,510. The top 10 percent earned more than $156,160.
Please note that wage data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) or other third-party sources may not be an accurate reflection of all areas of the country, may not account for the employees’ years of experience, and may not reflect the wages or outlook of entry-level employees, such as graduates of our program. (accessed on 11/15/2021)
How much does a master’s in nursing cost?
Tuition costs for a master’s in nursing can vary depending on your individual situation (i.e. location, finances, etc.). For the MSN degree at Eagle Gate, we offer several financial aid options to qualifying students. Reach out to one of our school representatives for more information.
My favorite part of Eagle Gate College was their flexible online and on campus schedule. And the clinicals were awesome!
Online MSN Program Curriculum
Our MSN curriculum will prepare you for a nursing career with the option to specialize in higher levels of practice. You will gain valuable knowledge and develop an advanced skillset through virtual practice and clinical nursing experiences. Our blended curriculum will prepare you to work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, emergency rooms, private practices, nursing homes, and public health departments.
By the end of our program, you will complete 36 semester hours, 600 instructional hours, and 90 instructional weeks. Course topics include foundations and perspectives of MSN, ethics of healthcare delivery, leading change through nursing theory, research for promotion of evidence-based care, healthcare informatics in nursing, and more. You will also be prepared to pursue leadership positions in the field.
Core principles of our Master of Science in Nursing Program include:
- Implementation of evidence-based practices
- Critical decision-making skills
- Administration of patient-centered care
- Population health
- Organization and systems leadership
- Informatics
- Healthcare technologies
- Interprofessional collaboration
- Self-directed lifelong learning
MSN Nursing Program Specialty Tracks
At Eagle Gate College, we offer a post-licensure MSN degree with three difference specialty tracks. Your first year will consist of six core courses. After you have completed the first year of the MSN program, you can choose which track to pursue for your second and final year. All paths include virtual classes, six specialty courses, and 90-practicum hours.
Administration and Leadership Specialty Track
Our MSN Administration and Leadership Track prepares graduates for nursing administration and leadership roles. Not only are the classes conveniently online, but this track prioritizes research, analysis, and the development of critical thinking skills. The MSN Administration and Leadership Track will prepare you to work in a number of healthcare settings that require Nurse Administrator and leadership knowledge, skills, and competencies.
This track accepts qualified applicants who are bachelor-prepared RNs. It can help you obtain specialization as a Nurse Administrator in managerial and leadership capacities. An MSN degree with this specialization could lead to various career options. These might include managing a small team of nurses, several nursing units, an entire department, or even a health system. Nurse Administrators can deliver quality patient care while coordinating workflow and managing nursing care at micro, macro, and meso system levels.
Nursing Education Specialty Track
Our MSN Nursing Education Track is designed for BSN-educated nurses who want to pursue a Nurse Educator role. For example, you might aspire to become a Clinical Nurse Educator working in staff development or an institution of higher education. Our Nursing Education Track will prepare you to teach in a variety of settings that require nurse-educator knowledge, skills, and competencies.
This track accepts qualified applicants who are already bachelor-prepared Registered Nurses (RNs). It provides specialty courses that are usually required for careers in nursing education. For example, graduates of the MSN Nurse Educator Track can often meet the education requirements to teach in Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) programs, Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) programs, associate-degree programs, or baccalaureate degree nursing programs.
Nursing Quality Management Specialty Track
The MSN Quality Management Track prepares BSN graduate nurses for roles in healthcare quality management. The curriculum includes courses that prepare graduates to address patient care quality and risk management issues using analytic skills in research and the Six Sigma Lean approach.
An MSN degree with this specialization could lead to various career options. These might include managing a small team of nurses, several nursing units, an entire department, or even a health system. Nurses with expertise in continuous quality improvement address the need for patient care quality and risk management issues using analytic skills in research and best practices in process improvement strategies.
I chose Eagle Gate College because of the small class sizes, I got a lot of personal attention. I also made so many friends in my program and consider them my family!
Online MSN Admissions Requirements
What do I need to do to start?
At Eagle Gate, we don’t believe in making our students jump through hoops. We know you want to change your life, so our admissions process is simple and straightforward. The first step to enrolling in our master’s program begins with a telephone conversation with one of our admissions representatives. It is their mission to help you understand all the options surrounding your education. They will guide you through the enrollment process so that you feel comfortable, confident, and motivated for your first day of class. We also conduct a career planning session to learn about your unique interests and goals.
To apply for the online MSN program, you must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited school that’s recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation or the U. S. Department of Education.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale in a completed BSN program.
- Active, unrestricted Registered Nursing license in your state of residence.
- Meet the requirements as outlined in the Online Readiness section of the catalog.
Please see the school catalog for a complete list of requirements.
MSN Tuition and Financial Aid
Out-of-pocket costs for our master’s programs can vary depending on your individual situation. There are several financial aid options available to students who qualify at Eagle Gate College. Please reach out to one of our admissions representatives for more information.
Our representatives can help you determine your financial aid eligibility and help you apply for those programs. Student loans may also be available to help you cover your college expenses, such as:
- Tuition
- Transportation
- Room and Board
- Books
- Computer Equipment
- Living Expenses
Nurse Educator Career
Nursing Education is one of many specialized career paths that are available, upon earning your MSN degree. Other specialty tracks include Nursing Administration and Quality Management. Nurse Educators are healthcare professionals who serve as faculty teachers or training instructors at nursing colleges, universities, or other healthcare settings, such as hospitals and clinics. They impart critical knowledge and skills to prepare the next generation of nurses. Their responsibilities include teaching, developing training curriculums, student advisement, course evaluations, and clinical practice oversight for students.
Employment of postsecondary teachers and educators is projected to grow 12% by 2030. Becoming a Nurse Educator can also lead to a steady source of income. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary of a Nurse Educator is about $84,000. Nurse Educators who earn salaries in the top 10th percentile can earn as much as $133,000 or more, annually.
To learn more, click here to view our comprehensive career guide on how to become a Nurse Educator.
Please note that wage data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) or other third-party sources may not be an accurate reflection of all areas of the country, may not account for the employees’ years of experience, and may not reflect the wages or outlook of entry-level employees, such as graduates of our program. (accessed on 11/15/2021)
MSN Program Accreditation
The masters degree program in nursing at Eagle Gate College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
On February 8, 2022, the Master of Science in Nursing Education (MSN-E) program at Eagle Gate College in Murray, UT received a show cause notice from the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). CCNE advised that during the January 18-20, 2022 Board of Commissioner’s Meeting, the Board acted to direct the MSN-E program to Show Cause for a specific compliance concern.
The issuance of a show cause directive by CCNE is not an adverse action. The CCNE Board can issue “show cause” concerns when substantive questions and serious concerns are raised regarding a CCNE-accredited program’s compliance with CCNE standards, key elements, or its adherence to CCNE procedures. The program is allowed to respond to CCNE concerns as to why adverse actions should not be taken against the program.
The deadline for the program to submit the show cause response to CCNE is on April 15, 2022. Our response will be considered at a subsequent Board of Commissioner’s meeting, where CCNE may act to vacate the show cause, continue the show cause and require additional reporting or conduct a focused on-site evaluation, or take adverse action.
As background, CCNE’s compliance concern is related to Key Element III-H: evaluating that the MSN-E curriculum includes planned clinical practice experiences that enable students to integrate new knowledge and demonstrate attainment of program outcomes at the advanced practice level, foster interprofessional collaborative practice, and are evaluated by faculty. The MSN-E program is prepared to submit additional supporting materials which will demonstrate full compliance and that all clinical practice experiences do align with student and program outcomes; direct care clinical experiences reflect professional nursing standards and guidelines and the needs and expectations of the community of interest. The College will submit our response by the end of February, well ahead of the deadline.
We would like to assure our community of interest that all tracks of our MSN program, including the Nursing Education track, remain as accredited programs through this show cause period. The Master’s programs accreditation term expires June 30, 2025.
As required by CCNE and the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 602.26(b), this notice is sent to our students and prospective students of any show case action. It is also the policy of CCNE to share information regarding show cause actions with other appropriate accrediting agencies, state agencies, and the US Department of Education. The College remains fully compliant and will diligently maintain communications with all such agencies.”
