RN to MSN Bridge Programs in New Jersey (NJ)

Several schools in New Jersey offer bridge programs that allow registered nurses (RNs) without a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Continue reading below.

<h2 id="section---CollegeOfSaintElizabeth">College of Saint Elizabeth</h2> <p>Registered nurses with an associate's degree or diploma in nursing who also hold a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field can complete an MSN bridge program at College of Saint Elizabeth. Applicants who have met other prerequisite requirements may complete four courses within their MSN bridge (14 credit hours). Students can then pursue their Master of Nursing Science with a concentration in nursing education or nursing leadership through 36 credit hours of online and on-site instruction along with clinical practicum experiences. </p> <h2 id="section---FairleighDickinsonUniversityMetropolitanCampus">Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus</h2> <p>Fairleigh Dickinson University has an RN-to-BSN-to-MSN program which enables registered nurses with a diploma or associate's degree in nursing to earn both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing. The length of the program depends on the number of transfer credits (from an associate's degree program) as well as the MSN concentration area. Students can choose a concentration in adult gerontology nurse practitioner (83 credit hours), adult gerontology nurse practitioner (with a focus in administration or education, 83 credit hours), education (86 credit hours), family nurse practitioner (91 credit hours), family psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (86 credit hours), forensics (83 credit hours), or nursing information systems (83 credit hours). </p> <h2 id="section---FelicianUniversity">Felician University</h2> <p>Registered nurses with either an associate's degree or a diploma in nursing can pursue a Master of Science in Nursing through Felician University's online RN-to-MSN program. Students will complete 30 credit hours of undergraduate bridge courses through 8-week sessions. Upon completion of the undergraduate component, students begin 12-week sessions of graduate coursework, specializing their MSN in nursing administration (30 credit hours), family nurse practitioner (40 credit hours), or adult-gerontology nurse practitioner (37 credit hours). </p> <h2 id="section---KeanUniversity">Kean University</h2> <p>Registered nurses who have a bachelor's degree in a field outside of nursing can earn a Master of Science in Nursing at Kean University by completing three bridge courses (11 credit hours) and 32 credit hours of graduate courses. Students can attend classes at two different campuses, complete clinical practicums, and focus their MSN in nursing leadership. </p> <h2 id="section---MonmouthUniversity">Monmouth University</h2> <p>Monmouth University provides registered nurses with two alternative routes to the MSN program: a bridge program for nurses who have a non-nursing bachelor's degree (6-9 credits) and an RN-to-MSN direct program for nurses with a diploma or associate's degree in nursing through which students earn an Undergraduate Nursing Certificate (around 30 credit hours). Students taking either route can specialize their MSN in adult-gerontological primary care nurse practitioner (42 credit hours), family nurse practitioner (45 credit hours), nursing administration (36 credit hours), school nursing (32-40 credit hours), nursing education (36 credit hours), forensic nursing (39 credit hours), or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (48 credit hours). </p> <h2 id="section---RamapoCollegeOfNewJersey">Ramapo College of New Jersey</h2> <p>Ramapo College of New Jersey offers an RN-to-MSN transition program to registered nurses who have a bachelor's degree in a field outside of nursing. Bridge courses are required prior to beginning the MSN track, and are determined by the assistant dean and student. The Master of Science in Nursing can be specialized in family nurse practitioner (49 credit hours), nursing administration (34 credit hours), or nursing education (33 credit hours). </p> <h2 id="section---SaintPeterSUniversity">Saint Peter's University</h2> <p>Registered nurses with a diploma or an associate's degree in nursing who also have a non-nursing bachelor's degree can earn a Master of Science in Nursing through Saint Peter's University's on-campus RN-to-MSN bridge program. Students will complete up to five bridge courses (around 17 credit hours) and can then pursue their MSN with a focus in adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner (39 credit hours). </p> <h2 id="section---TheCollegeOfNewJersey">The College of New Jersey</h2> <p>The College of New Jersey has an MSN bridge program which enables registered nurses with an associate's degree or diploma in nursing as well as a bachelor's degree in any field to earn a Master of Science in Nursing. Students will first complete up to four undergraduate bridge courses, then enter into the graduate coursework specializing their MSN curriculum in adult gerontological primary care nurse practitioner (44 credit hours), family nurse practitioner (47 credit hours), neonatal nurse practitioner (38 credit hours), or clinical nurse leader (34.5 credit hours). </p> <h2 id="section---ThomasEdisonStateUniversity">Thomas Edison State University</h2> <p>Registered nurses with either a diploma in nursing or an associate's degree in nursing can earn both a BSN and an MSN through Thomas Edison State University's RN-to-BSN/MSN program. Nurses complete at least 30 undergraduate credit hours and 27 graduate credit hours through the online program. Students can focus their MSN in nurse administrator, nurse educator, or nursing informatics. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>School Name </th><th>Programs Offered </th><th>Average Graduate Tuition (2018-2019)*</th></tr> <tr><td>College of Saint Elizabeth </td><td>MSN Bridge <br />MSN <br />*Nursing Education <br />*Nursing Leadership </td><td>$18,018</td></tr> <tr><td>Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus </td><td>RN-to-BSN-to-MSN <br />*Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner <br />*Education <br />*Family Nurse Practitioner <br />*Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner <br />*Forensics <br />*Nursing Information Systems </td><td>$22,896</td></tr> <tr><td>Felician University </td><td>RN-to-MSN <br />*Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner <br />*Family Nurse Practitioner <br />*Nursing Administration </td><td>$18,720</td></tr> <tr><td>Kean University </td><td>MSN <br />*Nursing Leadership </td><td>$15,025 in-state, $19,890 out-of-state</td></tr> <tr><td>Monmouth University </td><td>Bridge Program <br />RN-to-MSN Direct <br />*Adult Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner <br />*Family Nurse Practitioner<br />*Forensic Nursing <br />*Nursing Administration <br />*Nursing Education <br />*Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner <br />*School Nursing </td><td>$26,114</td></tr> <tr><td>Ramapo College of New Jersey </td><td>RN to MSN <br />*Family Nurse Practitioner <br />*Nursing Administration <br />*Nursing Education </td><td>$16,948</td></tr> <tr><td>Saint Peter's University </td><td>RN-to-MSN Bridge <br />*Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner </td><td>$20,664</td></tr> <tr><td>The College of New Jersey </td><td>MSN Bridge <br />*Adult Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner <br />*Clinical Nurse Leader <br />* Family Nurse Practitioner <br />*Neonatal Nurse Practitioner</td><td>$14,234 in-state, $21,972 out-of-state</td></tr> <tr><td>Thomas Edison State University </td><td>RN-to-BSN/MSN <br />*Nurse Administrator <br />*Nurse Educator <br />*Nursing Informatics </td><td>$12,024</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *National Center for Education Statistics</i> </p> <p>Registered nurses can directly earn a Master of Science in Nursing through bridge programs at several schools in New Jersey. Students can choose MSN concentrations such as administration, nursing education, and nurse practitioner.</p>