10 Best Online MBA/MSN Dual Degree Programs 2027

Nurses who want to move into management often find that clinical expertise alone isn't enough to lead a department, manage a budget, or shape strategy for a health system. An online MBA/MSN dual degree adds business training to advanced nursing leadership coursework, giving you two graduate credentials built around the realities of healthcare operations. Among online dual MBA programs, this pairing is designed specifically for registered nurses.

Most of the schools on this list let you keep working while you study, and many allow you to complete clinical or practicum hours at your current workplace. Read on for a closer look at each program, along with what you'll study, how long it takes, what it costs, and the nurse leadership roles it can lead to.

What Is an Online MBA/MSN Degree?

An MBA/MSN dual degree combines a Master of Business Administration with a Master of Science in Nursing, usually with a focus on nursing leadership, administration, or health systems management. Shared courses count toward both degrees, so you can typically finish in less time and with fewer credits than you'd need to earn them back to back. Unlike nurse practitioner tracks, these programs prepare you for administrative and executive roles rather than advanced clinical practice. Nurses who only need business training might also weigh standalone MBA programs for nurses, which take less time but don't include the MSN.

Most programs require between 51 and 82 credits, depending on whether the school uses semester or quarter hours. Nursing coursework covers leadership theory, quality and safety, health policy, informatics, and healthcare finance, while MBA courses address accounting, marketing, economics, operations, and strategy. Nearly every program also includes a leadership practicum, which ranges from under 100 clinical hours to more than 500.

Best Online MBA/MSN Dual Degree Programs

Each school on this list offers an MBA/MSN dual degree that registered nurses can complete fully or almost entirely online. Programs were chosen for their flexibility, accreditation, and strong focus on nursing leadership.

1. Southern Utah University

Southern Utah University (SUU) offers one of the fastest paths on this list, with an MSN in Leadership and Administration and MBA dual degree that you can finish in as few as 18 months. The program requires just 51 credit hours, delivered in seven-week online courses with six start dates each year. SUU's master's nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and its business school holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

You'll complete 90 clinical hours at your current workplace, which is less clinical time than many advanced nursing programs require. Admission calls for a BSN, an active RN license, and a minimum 2.5 GPA, with no GMAT or GRE required. Graduates are prepared for roles like director of nursing, chief nursing officer, and nursing consultant.

2. Herzing University

Herzing University's dual MSN in Nursing Leadership and Administration and MBA pathway waives 12 MBA credits, bringing the total down to 57 semester credits. Full-time students can finish in about 24 months, and part-time options are also available. The MSN is CCNE-accredited, the MBA is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), and the university holds institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Coursework is 100% online, with 135 clinical practicum hours in an approved nursing leadership setting. The curriculum also prepares you for the Nurse Executive Board Certification (NE-BC) exam. Rolling admissions, lifelong career coaching, and tuition discounts for veterans and military families add to the program's appeal.

3. Benedictine University

At Benedictine University in Illinois, the dual MSN/MBA requires 60 to 69 credit hours across 18 to 21 courses, compared with 20 to 24 courses if you earned the degrees separately. Classes are fully online and asynchronous, running one course every eight weeks, and you can complete clinical hours at your workplace. Nursing courses come from Benedictine's CCNE-accredited MSN program.

The program opens with nursing leadership courses on quality, safety, and person-centered care, then moves into MBA topics like operations and project management. Admission requires a nursing bachelor's degree with at least a 2.75 GPA, and there's no application fee, GRE, or GMAT. Most students finish in about 3.5 years, and veterans can take advantage of Yellow Ribbon participation and a military scholarship.

4. Midway University

Midway University in Kentucky delivers its MSN-MBA dual degree fully online in eight-week courses, with completion possible in about 24 to 30 months. The nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Small classes are a highlight here, with an average of 16 students and a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Coursework spans quality improvement and safety, ethics and health policy, financial and resource management, and organizational leadership. Since licensure information centers on Kentucky, nurses in other states should confirm eligibility before enrolling.

5. Indiana Wesleyan University

Designed for working nurses who want a predictable routine, Indiana Wesleyan University's MSN/MBA in Health Systems Leadership is fully online and asynchronous, with no required live sessions or campus residency. You'll take one course at a time in a set sequence, finishing 60 credit hours in about 36 months. The university's nursing programs hold CCNE accreditation, and its business programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Expect a substantial practicum component, with 520 clinical hours at an approved healthcare site that you secure yourself. The curriculum blends epidemiology, pharmacology, and nursing leadership with financial reporting, accounting, and marketing. Indiana Wesleyan is a Christian university, and tuition is locked in as long as you remain continuously enrolled.

6. Liberty University

Liberty University's 60-credit MSN/MBA is offered fully online in eight-week terms, with no required on-campus courses or thesis. One major advantage is transfer flexibility, since you can bring in up to 50% of the degree total from previous graduate coursework. Liberty's nursing programs are CCNE-accredited, and the university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Nursing courses like Financial and Resource Management for Nurse Leaders pair with business courses in management and leadership. You'll need an active RN license and a bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA, though no standardized tests or application fee are required. Some states have limited availability, so check Liberty's state licensure page before applying.

7. Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor University in Michigan uses a "7-1-7" model, with seven-week online courses taken one at a time followed by a one-week break. The 61-credit MSN/MBA takes just under three years and includes one four-day campus residency during the second year. The nursing programs are CCNE-accredited.

What sets this program apart is its range of concentrations, with seven options, including healthcare administration, human resource development, executive leadership, and cybersecurity and data. You'll complete 125 clinical hours, and the program prepares you for the AONL Certified Nurse Manager and Leader and ANCC Nurse Executive certification exams. Typical class sizes stay between 20 and 25 students.

8. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Through a partnership between the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Nursing and Texas Tech's AACSB-accredited Rawls College of Business, nurses can earn an MSN in Advanced Nursing Leadership and an MBA in about three years. Twenty-one hours of pre-approved transfer credit count toward both degrees, which significantly reduces the total course load.

Coursework is online, with practicum experiences built into the nursing program. You'll start in the MSN Advanced Nursing Leadership program and can move into the dual track once you've earned at least a 3.0 MSN GPA and gained acceptance to Texas Tech. Applicants need an unencumbered RN license, a BSN, and a 3.0 undergraduate GPA.

9. University of Nebraska Medical Center and University of Nebraska Omaha

This joint program pairs a nursing leadership MSN from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) with an MBA from the University of Nebraska Omaha's (UNO) AACSB-accredited College of Business Administration. Together, the degrees require 56 shared credit hours, compared with 81 if completed separately. UNMC's College of Nursing holds CCNE accreditation.

You can complete both degrees online with just one immersion weekend, or take evening classes on campus in Omaha. The 500-hour clinical practicum can be completed in your own area. Most students study part time and finish in four to six years, and the GMAT or GRE is waived for applicants with a BSN and a current RN license.

10. Drexel University

Drexel University's online MSN/MBA is built for part-time study, with four 10-week quarters per year and an average completion time of about four years. Nursing faculty from the College of Nursing and Health Professions teach alongside business faculty from the AACSB-accredited LeBow College of Business. The MSN program is CCNE-accredited.

Nursing coursework includes quality and safety, healthcare economics, and project management, plus two practicums in healthcare operations and information management. MBA courses cover financial reporting, corporate finance, strategic management, and marketing. Special tuition rates are available for alumni, military members, and employees of partner organizations, and the university is in the process of moving from quarters to a semester calendar.

How We Rank Schools

To create this list, we review data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), along with program-level details published by each university. Since these programs serve practicing nurses, flexibility and clinical requirements carried significant weight in our evaluation. The following criteria guided our selections:

• Accreditation: Each nursing program holds CCNE or ACEN accreditation, and AACSB, ACBSP, or IACBE business accreditation was viewed favorably.
• Online availability: Programs that can be completed fully or almost entirely online received priority, with any residencies or immersions noted.
• Clinical flexibility: Practicums that can be completed at a student's workplace or in their local area ranked higher.
• Career alignment: Curricula focused on nursing leadership, healthcare finance, and executive certification preparation earned extra consideration.
• Student outcomes: Graduation rates and other publicly reported outcomes data were reviewed when available.

Learn more about our ranking methodology.

What Will You Learn in an MBA/MSN Degree Program?

The nursing side of an MBA/MSN program focuses on leading people and improving care. You'll study nursing leadership theory, quality improvement and patient safety, health policy and ethics, informatics, and evidence-based practice. Some programs also include advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment to meet MSN core requirements.

The MBA coursework builds the business skills nurse leaders often learn on the job. Expect courses in accounting, corporate finance, economics, marketing, human resources, operations, and strategic management. Most programs end with a leadership practicum or capstone where you apply both skill sets to a real organizational challenge, often in your own workplace.

How Long Does It Take To Earn an MBA/MSN Degree Online?

Online MBA/MSN programs typically take between 18 months and four years. Accelerated programs with around 50 to 57 credits and seven- or eight-week courses can be finished in under two years, while programs with 60 or more credits usually take about three years.

Part-time pacing, large practicum requirements, and quarter-based calendars can stretch your timeline to four years or longer. If you're juggling 12-hour shifts, a one-course-at-a-time format may be easier to sustain, even if it takes a bit longer overall.

How Much Does an Online MBA/MSN Degree Cost?

Total tuition for an online MBA/MSN dual degree generally ranges from about $26,000 to more than $90,000. Public universities and private schools with flat online pricing tend to fall at the lower end, while research universities with high per-credit rates sit at the upper end.

Beyond tuition, budget for technology fees, textbooks, background checks, and any travel for residencies or immersion weekends. Since total credits vary widely, comparing the full program cost rather than the per-credit rate gives you a clearer picture of what you'll actually pay.

Financial Aid for Online MBA/MSN Degrees

Nurses have access to several funding sources that can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs. Many students combine employer support with federal aid and scholarships.

• Employer tuition assistance: Hospitals and health systems frequently pay for nursing leadership degrees, especially for nurses moving into management. Many hospitals that offer tuition reimbursement provide thousands of dollars per year to eligible staff.
• Federal student loans: Graduate students can use Direct Unsubsidized Loans to cover part of their costs, subject to annual and lifetime limits. Completing the FAFSA for an MBA also unlocks many school-based scholarships and grants.
• Nursing scholarships: Professional organizations, state nursing associations, and foundations offer awards for graduate nursing students. Some target nurses pursuing leadership or administration specifically.
• Loan repayment programs: Programs like the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program help repay student loans for nurses who work in high-need facilities. These programs can make borrowing less of a long-term burden.
• Military benefits: Service members and veterans may qualify for education benefits and Yellow Ribbon support at participating schools. Learning whether the GI Bill covers an MBA can help you plan your funding.

How To Choose the Right MBA/MSN Degree

MBA/MSN programs vary widely in clinical requirements, pacing, and structure. Weighing these factors carefully can help you find a program that fits both your career goals and your work schedule.

Nursing and Business Accreditation

Confirm that the nursing program holds CCNE or ACEN accreditation, since this affects eligibility for certification, doctoral study, and some employer tuition benefits. Business accreditation from AACSB, ACBSP, or IACBE adds credibility to the MBA side of your degree.

Clinical Hour Requirements

Practicum requirements range from 90 hours to more than 500, and some programs require you to find your own site. If you work full time, look for programs that let you complete hours at your current employer.

Course Format and Pacing

Seven- and eight-week courses can speed up your progress, while one-course-at-a-time formats are often easier to manage alongside shift work. Ask whether courses are asynchronous or include scheduled live sessions.

Residency and Immersion Requirements

A few programs include short on-campus residencies or immersion weekends. These can be valuable for networking but require planning around work schedules and travel costs.

State Authorization

Online nursing programs must be authorized to enroll students in each state, and some programs aren't available everywhere. Check the school's state authorization or licensure page before you apply.

Career Outlook With an Online MBA/MSN Degree

An MBA/MSN dual degree prepares you for roles such as nurse manager, director of nursing, nursing home administrator, and chief nursing officer. Many of these positions fall within the broader category of medical and health services managers, which includes leaders who oversee clinical departments and healthcare facilities.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical and health services managers earn a median annual wage of $123,860, and employment is projected to grow 24% through 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. Your clinical background combined with business training can give you an edge for senior nursing leadership roles as you gain management experience.

FAQs About the Best Online MBA/MSN Degree Programs

Registered nurses considering a dual degree often have questions about eligibility, career paths, and how this pairing compares with other options. The answers below address several of the most common ones.

Do You Need a BSN To Enroll in an Online MBA/MSN Program?

Most MBA/MSN programs require a BSN and an active RN license, though a few accept a non-nursing bachelor's degree combined with extensive nursing experience or bridge coursework. If you hold an associate degree in nursing, completing an online RN to BSN program is usually the first step. Some schools also offer RN-to-MSN pathways that can shorten the overall timeline.

Can an MBA/MSN Lead to Becoming a Nurse Practitioner?

An MBA/MSN focuses on leadership and administration, so it doesn't prepare you for nurse practitioner certification or advanced clinical practice. Nurse practitioner programs require specialized clinical coursework and hundreds of supervised patient-care hours in a specific population focus. If you want both clinical and leadership expertise, you might complete an NP program first and add business training later.

Should Nurses Choose an MBA/MSN or an MBA/MHA?

An MBA/MSN keeps you on a nursing career track and is ideal if you want to lead nursing departments or become a chief nursing officer. An MBA/MHA is broader and better suited to hospital administration roles that extend beyond nursing, and it's open to non-nurses as well. Reviewing how the dual MHA/MBA degree is structured can help you compare the two paths.

What Certifications Can You Earn After an MBA/MSN?

Many graduates pursue the Nurse Executive (NE-BC) or Nurse Executive, Advanced (NEA-BC) certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The American Organization for Nursing Leadership also offers the Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) and Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) credentials. These certifications validate your leadership skills and can strengthen your candidacy for senior roles.

Can You Complete Clinical Hours at Your Current Job?

Many online MBA/MSN programs allow you to complete practicum hours at your current employer, as long as the site and preceptor meet program requirements. Your practicum project usually needs to go beyond your normal job duties and focus on leadership or administrative work. Other programs expect you to secure a separate site, so ask about placement support before enrolling.

Find Online MBA/MSN Dual Degrees

An online MBA/MSN dual degree can help you turn clinical expertise into leadership influence across a hospital, health system, or long-term care organization. Browse programs through Learn.org and connect directly with schools to get personalized information about clinical requirements, admission criteria, and costs.