By Kathleen Gaines

Advancing your nursing career often requires earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. MSN education prepares nurses for clinical specialties like certified nurse midwives and nurse practitioners, as well as administrative roles like clinical nurse leaders and nurse administrators.

There are numerous choices, and to help you decide, we’ve put together a list of the top MSN degrees for nurses.

Top Master’s Degrees for Nurses

1. Nursing Education

Why This is a Top Pick

With the ongoing nursing shortage, there is an increase in the demand for educators. Nursing school enrollment is continuing to rise, but programs have to turn away qualified applicants because there are not enough educators.

Jobs

- Hospital nurse educator

- Clinical instructor

- Nurse consultant

- Professor (classroom)

Salary

- Nurse educators earn an average annual salary of $102,263.

Requirements

1. Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

2. Pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)

3. Complete an MSN in Nursing Education program

4. Pass the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) or Certified Academic Clinical Nurse Educator (CNEcl) exam administered by the National League for Nursing.

2. Nursing Administration

Why This is a Top Pick

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 23% (much faster than average) increase in medical and health services managers over the next decade.

Jobs

- Nurse manager

- Chief nursing officer

- Director of Nursing

- Clinical supervisor

- Healthcare consultant

- Risk management

- Nurse educator

- Clinical research manager

Salary

Nurse administrators earn an average annual salary of $84,334.

Requirements

1. Earn a BSN

2. Pass the NCLEX

3. Complete an MSN in Nursing Administration program

4. Earn one of the following nursing administration certifications:

a. Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML), administered by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL)

b. Nurse Executive Board Certification (NE-BC), administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

c. Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP), administered by the AONL

3. Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

Why This is a Top Pick

The BLS reports that APRN jobs will grow by 35% (much faster than average) over the coming decade.

Jobs

- Clinical nurse specialist in:

- Pediatrics

- Psychiatric mental health

- Women’s health

- Adult gerontology

- Primary care

- Public health

Salary

Clinical nurse specialists earn an average annual salary of $94,545.

Requirements

1. Earn a BSN

2. Pass the NCLEX

3. Attend a Clinical Nurse Specialist program

4. Earn a CNS certification in your chosen specialty

4. Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Why This is a Top Pick

In May 2024, the BLS predicted a 35% (much faster than average) growth for nurse practitioners over the next deca

Jobs

- Nurse practitioner in:

- Acute care

- Primary care

- Pediatrics

- Psychiatric mental health

- Women’s health

- Adult gerontology

- Primary care

Salary

The median annual salary for nurse practitioners in the United States is $129,210 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in May 2024.

Requirements

1. Earn a BSN

2. Pass the NCLEX

3. Earn an MSN in your chosen nurse practitioner specialty

4. Pass the national certification exam

5. Obtain state licensure and national provider identifier (NPI) number

5. Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)

Why This is a Top Pick

According to the BLS, there is an expected 35% (much faster than average) growth for midwives over the next decade.

Jobs

- Midwife

- Doula

- Nurse educator

- Director of midwifery services

- Homebirth specialist

Salary

The median annual CNM salary is $128,790 per year according to the BLS in May 2024.

Requirements

1. Earn a BSN

2. Pass the NCLEX

3. Earn an MSN in Nurse Midwifery

4. Pass the national midwifery certification exam

5. Pass the CNM national certification exam offered by the American Midwifery Certification Board

6. Obtain state licensure

6. Nursing Informatics

Why This is a Top Pick

The BLS also projects that medical and health services managers will grow by 23% (much faster than average) over the next decade, indicating a steady growth and positive career outlook for informatics nurses.

Jobs

- Clinical analyst

- Nursing informatics specialists

- Director of clinical informatics

- Chief informatics officer

- Health informatics officer

- Clinical nurse researcher

- Nurse educator

- Chief nursing officer

- Clinical informatics nurse

Salary

The average annual nursing informatics salary is $67,310 per year, $32.36 per hour, according to the BLS’s latest May 2024 report.

Requirements

1. Earn a BSN

2. Pass the NCLEX

3. Complete an MSN in Nursing Informatics Program

4. Earn a nursing informatics certification

7. Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)

Why This is a Top Pick

A relatively new position in the hospital, there are only roughly 1,000 CNLs in the U.S., but healthcare systems are continually seeking them out.

Jobs

- Nurse manager

- Chief nursing officer

- Director of Nursing

- Clinical supervisor

- Nurse educator

- Clinical research manager

Salary

Clinical nurse leaders earn an average annual salary of $89,949.

Requirements

1. Earn a BSN

2. Pass the NCLEX

3. Complete an MSN in Clinical Nurse Leadership

4. Pass the national CNL certification exam

8. MSN/MBA Dual Degree

Why This is a Top Pick

Earning a dual degree makes you more marketable within a healthcare setting. C-suite positions can be rare, but there are plenty of administrative opportunities available. The BLS projects a 23% (much faster than average) increase in employment of medical and health services managers over the next decade.

Jobs

- Nurse Manager

- Chief Nursing Officer

- Director of Nursing

- Clinical Supervisor

- Healthcare Consultant

- Risk Management

- Nurse Educator

- Clinical Research Manager

- Hospital Administrator

Salary

Nurse administrators earn an average annual salary of $84,334.

Requirements

1. Earn a BSN

2. Pass the NCLEX

3. Earn an MSN/MBS dual degree

4. Obtain a national certification depending on the MSN specialty

Benefits of Master’s Degrees for Nurses

While an MSN degree might be costly and time-consuming, there are many benefits to advancing your nursing education. Specific benefits will vary depending on the type of MSN degree obtained. The most significant advantage is the ability to independently or with minimal supervision treat and manage the care of patients.

Other benefits include:

- Career opportunities

- Higher salary potential

- Knowledge and experience gained

- Leadership opportunities

- Independence and autonomy

- Specialization

- Improved patient care

- Develop an advanced skill set

- Research and funding opportunities

- Better working hours

- An expert in the field

- Flexibility in career

Which Nursing Master’s Degree for Nurses Is Right for You?

Deciding which master’s degree is right for you depends on your individual career goals.

For example, if you are interested in treating patients, then an APRN MSN would make the most sense - this would mean becoming a nurse practitioner or a certified nurse midwife. Alternatively, if you want to teach and work with nursing students, then an MSN in Nursing Education would be a good option.

You will also need to consider your experience at the bedside. Most APRN programs require specific experience for admission.

FAQs

Are Master’s Degrees For Nurses Worth It?

Yes! They are absolutely worth it and essential depending on the nursing career you are interested in pursuing. For example, you can not work as a nurse practitioner without at least an MSN degree.

How Much Do Nursing Master’s Degrees Cost?

MSN degrees can cost between $15,000 and $120,000, depending on the type of program and nursing specialty. For example, an MSN APRN degree will cost significantly more than an MSN in education or administration.

How Long Do Nursing Master’s Degrees Take?

MSN programs can take between one and five years.

What’s The Highest-Paying Nursing Master’s Degree?

According to the BLS, nurse practitioners earn the highest annual salary of $129,210 per year.