What Can You Do With a Master’s in Nursing?
| 8 Min Read
Nursing professionals who are ready to move beyond bedside care often ask the same question: What doors does a graduate degree actually open? Sacred Heart University’s online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program prepares registered nurses for advanced clinical practice, education, leadership and administrative roles across the health care system.
The answer to what you can do with an MSN is broader than most nurses expect. Depending on your chosen specialization, an MSN can position you to diagnose and treat patients as a nurse practitioner, lead clinical teams, shape nursing curricula, oversee a hospital department or provide specialized psychiatric care. The sections below walk through the most common questions RNs have before deciding whether an MSN is the right next step.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Master’s in Nursing?
Most full-time students complete an MSN in two to three years. Part-time and online programs offer more flexibility, allowing working nurses to spread coursework over four to six years if they desire without stepping away from their careers.
The exact timeline depends on the specialization, the number of required credit hours and the pace set by each individual. MSN programs typically range from 36 to 42 credit hours, though nurse practitioner tracks often require more due to additional clinical practicum requirements. Sacred Heart University’s online MSN program can be completed in as little as two to two and a half years, with multiple start dates offered throughout the year.
What Can You Do With an MSN?
An MSN opens pathways that are not available to registered nurses with only a BSN or ADN. The roles you qualify for depend on which specialization you complete, but the field broadly spans advanced clinical practice, education, leadership and management.
Sacred Heart University’s online MSN program offers five career-aligned specializations designed to match different professional goals. These tracks include nursing education, nursing management and executive leadership, clinical nurse leader, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and family nurse practitioner. Each track prepares graduates for a distinct set of roles and responsibilities within the nursing profession.
Common career paths for MSN graduates include nurse practitioner, nurse educator, clinical nurse leader, chief nursing officer and nurse manager. Nurse practitioners work in physicians’ offices, clinics and hospitals. In a growing number of states, nurse practitioners can independently diagnose conditions, prescribe medications and order diagnostic tests, depending on state-by-state practice environment.
How Much Do MSN Nurses Make?
Earnings for nurses with an MSN vary significantly depending on the role, specialization, setting and geographic location. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) such as nurse anesthetists, nurse midwifes and nurse practitioners earned a median annual wage of $132,050 as of May 2024, compared to $93,600 for registered nurses. The table below compares median annual salaries for common nursing roles by degree level.
| Role | Typical Degree | Median Annual Salary |
| Registered Nurse | BSN | $93,600 |
| Medical/Health Services Manager (e.g., Nurse Manager, Chief Nursing Officer) | MSN or higher | $117,960 |
| Certified Nurse-Midwife | MSN | $128,790 |
| Nurse Practitioner | MSN | $129,210 |
| Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist | MSN/DNP | $223,210 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. Registered Nurses; Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners; Medical and Health Services Managers. May 2024.
The salary differences above reflect the expanded scope of practice and clinical responsibility that comes with advanced nursing education. Nurse anesthetists earn the highest median wages among nursing roles because they independently administer anesthesia and provide complex perioperative care in high-acuity settings.
Do You Need a BSN to Get an MSN?
Most MSN programs require a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) as the baseline credential, and this is the standard path for nurses who want to become nurse practitioners. However, requirements can differ by specialization, and some non-NP tracks are accessible to nurses who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field.
For nurse practitioner specializations, including the family nurse practitioner and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner tracks, a BSN from an accredited nursing program is typically a prerequisite. These programs build directly on foundational clinical nursing coursework that a BSN curriculum provides.
For non-NP specializations such as nursing management, nursing education and clinical nurse leader, some programs accept applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing, provided they hold a current, active RN license. Sacred Heart University, for example, accepts applicants to these non-NP tracks who have a bachelor’s degree in any field with a minimum 3.0 GPA, along with an unencumbered RN license. What all MSN applicants share is the requirement for an active RN license before entering any graduate nursing program.
Is a Master’s in Nursing Worth It?
For most nurses, an MSN delivers measurable returns on the investment in time and tuition. The salary premium for MSN nursing roles is substantial. APRN roles are also among the best job outlook in health care, with the BLS projecting 35% employment growth from 2024 to 2034, far exceeding the 3% average across all occupations. In fact, nurse practitioners and medical and health services managers both rank near the top of BLS’ list of the fastest growing occupations in the U.S.
Beyond salary, an MSN provides a level of professional flexibility and clinical authority that a BSN alone does not. MSN-prepared nurses can pursue careers in education, shaping the next generation of nurses through a nursing education specialization, or step into executive leadership through a nursing management and executive leadership track. For nurses drawn to behavioral health, an MSN with a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner specialization opens doors in one of the highest-need areas of modern health care.
How Can You Get an MSN?
The first step is confirming you hold an active, unencumbered RN license in your state, which is a prerequisite for all MSN programs. From there, you will choose a specialization based on your career goals, research accredited programs and gather application materials such as transcripts, letters of recommendation, a professional resume and a statement of professional goals.
Most MSN programs do not require GRE or GMAT scores, which lowers the barriers for experienced nurses returning to school after time in clinical practice. Sacred Heart University’s online MSN program requires no GRE or GMAT and offers multiple start dates per year, with 36 to 42 credit hours distributed across 11 to 13 courses, depending on the specialization.
The clinical nurse leader and family nurse practitioner specializations are two strong options for nurses who want to remain in direct patient care while building advanced clinical credentials. All clinical and practicum hours can be completed at a facility near you.
MSN vs RN ROI
The financial case for an MSN is most visible when you compare lifetime earning trajectories. As noted above, an RN earns a median of $93,600 per year, while a nurse practitioner earns $129,210, a difference of more than $35,600 annually. Over a 20-year career, that gap represents more than $712,000 in additional earnings before accounting for raises or cost-of-living adjustments.
The premium is even larger for other MSN-level roles. Nurse anesthetists earn a median of $223,210 per year, outpacing RN earnings by nearly $130,000 annually. Nurses in management and executive roles earn median wages approaching $131,000 per year in hospital settings, according to BLS data. When weighed against average MSN tuition costs, which typically range from $30,000 to $60,000 depending on the program, the annual salary premium alone often recoups the tuition investment within one to two years of completing the degree. For nurses planning a 15-to-20-year career ahead, the long-term financial advantage of an MSN is substantial.
Advance Your Nursing Career With Sacred Heart University’s Online MSN
For nurses considering the transition from bedside care to advanced practice or leadership, the timing of that decision matters. Demand for MSN-prepared nurses is growing faster than the overall health care workforce, and the wage premium for advanced credentials means earlier completion translates directly into more career years at a higher earning tier. Sacred Heart University’s online MSN is structured around the realities of mid-career nurses, with a format that accommodates full-time clinical work without requiring relocation or a leave of absence.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, the master’s degree program in nursing, the Doctor of Nursing Practice, and the post-graduate APRN certificate program at Sacred Heart University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. CCNE is the standard recognized by hospital systems, health networks and licensing boards nationwide. Sacred Heart University’s specialization tracks allow graduates to pursue a defined advanced role rather than a generalist credential, and the admissions process is designed to be accessible to experienced nurses who have been out of an academic setting for several years.
Explore Sacred Heart University’s online MSN program to learn more about specializations, curriculum and admissions requirements.
About Sacred Heart University’s Online MSN Program
Sacred Heart University’s accredited online Master of Science in Nursing program prepares registered nurses for advanced clinical, educational and leadership roles. The program is offered fully online, with clinical and practicum requirements completed at facilities near each student’s home or workplace.
Students choose from five specializations: Nursing education, nursing management and executive leadership, clinical nurse leader, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, and family nurse practitioner. Graduates of the nurse practitioner specializations are eligible to sit for national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).