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108 Most Affordable Online MSN Programs in Nursing Administration

Cost rankings of online MSN programsIdentifying top programs that are also cost effective in a sea of nursing schools and online MSN programs can be a daunting and time-consuming task. You, however, need to move forward and get to the next stage of your career as a nurse practitioner, leader, and administrator. You are looking for the top master’s in nursing administration online programs with the most economic price to fit your budget and match your nontraditional working student lifestyle.

Do you need accelerated, asynchronous courses? Hands-on guidance from experienced nursing faculty? Internships where you can work for an accessible local practice? A master’s in nursing administration online can offer you this and more. Plus, with a difference in tuition price of well over $50,000 between the most affordable and most expensive online MSN programs, it pays off to do your research before committing to a school.

Take a look at our “Best Buy” list below to make the next move toward an affordable master’s in nursing administration online. These rankings were calculated by analyzing tuition at 177 regionally accredited nursing schools offering 194 different online MSN programs. GetEducated is designed to make sure you are an informed consumer so you can efficiently take the next step in your professional medical career.

ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide

Average Cost (In-state): ~$23,400
Least Expensive: Texas A & M International University ~$10,410.11
Most Expensive: Johns Hopkins University ~$61,330

Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There’s no fancy formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and therefore factually showcase the cheapest master’s in nursing administration online. The online degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2021 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.

Most Affordable Online MSN Programs

RankSchool / DegreeStatePriceNote
1
Texas A & M International University
(TX)
$10,410.11
$25,513.00
In-State
Out-of-State
2
Fort Hays State University
(KS)
$10,747.80
All Students
3
Western Carolina University
(NC)
$11,029.60
$31,435.60
In-State
Out-of-State
4
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
(NC)
$11,035.00
$18,703.00
In-State
Out-of-State
5
Northeastern State University
(OK)
$11,036.80
$11,068.80
In-State
Out-of-State
6
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
(TX)
$11,206.00
$23,014.00
In-State
Out-of-State
7
University of Central Florida
(FL)
$11,783.52
$41,461.92
In-State
Out-of-State
8
Louisiana College
(LA)
$12,350.00
All Students
9
Missouri State University
(MO)
$12,360.00
All Students
10
University of North Alabama
(AL)
$12,800.00
All Students
10
Emporia State University
(KS)
$12,800.00
All Students
12
Lamar University
(TX)
$13,098.00
All Students
13
University of West Georgia
(GA)
$13,606.00
All Students
14
Central Methodist University
(MO)
$13,675.00
All Students
15
Florida Atlantic University
(FL)
$13,757.34
$37,991.97
In-State
Out-of-State
16
The University of Alabama
(AL)
$13,860.00
All Students
17
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
(NC)
$14,007.15
$23,472.86
In-State
Out-of-State
18
University of Alabama in Huntsville
(AL)
$14,040.00
All Students
19
University of Wyoming
(WY)
$14,220.00
All Students
20
Henderson State University
(AR)
$14,355.00
All Students
21
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
(TX)
$14,543.52
$33,772.72
In-State
Out-of-State
22
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
(IL)
$14,625.60
All Students
23
Arkansas Tech University
(AR)
$14,761.50
$26,149.50
In-State
Out-of-State
24
New Mexico State University
(NM)
$14,814.00
$9,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
25
The University of Texas at Tyler
(TX)
$15,156.00
$32,112.00
In-State
Out-of-State
26
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
(OK)
$15,188.25
$24,362.25
In-State
Out-of-State
27
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
(TX)
$15,196.68
$29,560.68
In-State
Out-of-State
28
Marshall University
(WV)
$15,219.00
All Students
29
Ohio University
(OH)
$15,360.00
$15,930.00
In-State
Out-of-State
30
Delaware State University
(DE)
$15,475.00
All Students
31
Wheeling University
(WV)
$15,635.00
All Students
32
East Carolina University
(NC)
$15,718.92
$42,789.60
In-State
Out-of-State
33
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
(OK)
$15,736.05
$35,892.45
In-State
Out-of-State
34
Bushnell University
(OR)
$15,750.00
All Students
35
SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
(NY)
$16,272.96
$19,374.96
In-State
Out-of-State
36
University of Missouri-Columbia
(MO)
$16,387.60
All Students
37
Bethel University - IN
(IN)
$16,415.00
All Students
38
Granite State College (part of University of New Hampshire)
Master of Science in Nursing / Health Care Leadership 14
(NH)
$16,480.00
$18,040.00
In-State
Out-of-State
39
The University of Texas at El Paso
(TX)
$16,500.00
$20,460.00
In-State
Out-of-State
40
Empire State University
(NY)
$16,539.10
$19,641.10
In-State
Out-of-State
41
University of West Florida
(FL)
$16,575.00
All Students
42
Frostburg State University
(MD)
$16,812.00
$21,363.00
In-State
Out-of-State
43
Western Governors University
(UT)
$16,890.00
All Students
44
Kennesaw State University
(GA)
$17,095.00
All Students
45
University of Iowa
(IA)
$17,126.00
All Students
46
The University of Texas Medical Branch
(TX)
$17,165.92
$32,822.84
In-State
Out-of-State
47
Ball State University
(IN)
$17,239.50
$24,871.50
In-State
Out-of-State
48
CUNY Graduate School and University Center - School of Professional Studies
(NY)
$17,355.00
All Students
49
Wilmington University
(DE)
$17,768.00
$11,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
50
McKendree University
(IL)
$18,315.00
All Students
51
University of Mount Olive
(NC)
$18,425.00
All Students
52
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
(LA)
$18,525.00
$7,488.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
53
Ottawa University
(KS)
$18,599.00
All Students
54
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
(NY)
$18,681.30
$22,347.30
In-State
Out-of-State
55
Northern Kentucky University
(KY)
$18,695.00
All Students
56
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
(WI)
$18,734.00
All Students
57
Pennsylvania Western University
(PA)
$18,768.00
$19,428.00
$15,258.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Military
58
Gardner-Webb University
(NC)
$18,960.00
All Students
58
Cleveland State University
(OH)
$18,960.00
$19,280.00
In-State
Out-of-State
60
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
(WI)
$18,986.55
$38,528.10
In-State
Out-of-State
61
Kent State University
(OH)
$19,180.00
$19,530.00
In-State
Out-of-State
62
University of Kansas
(KS)
$19,282.55
All Students
63
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
(OH)
$19,326.00
All Students
64
Baker University
(KS)
$19,355.00
All Students
65
Mayville State University
(ND)
$19,425.00
All Students
66
University of Indianapolis
(IN)
$19,444.00
All Students
67
Oklahoma City University
(OK)
$19,470.00
All Students
68
Jacksonville University
(FL)
$19,500.00
All Students
69
Lincoln Memorial University
(TN)
$19,530.00
All Students
70
Galen College of Nursing
(KY)
$19,650.00
All Students
71
Wilson College
(PA)
$19,680.00
All Students
72
Midway University
(KY)
$19,884.00
All Students
73
The University of Texas Medical Branch
(TX)
$19,989.70
$38,185.58
In-State
Out-of-State
74
Research College of Nursing
(MO)
$20,500.00
All Students
75
AdventHealth University
(FL)
$20,565.00
All Students
76
National University
(CA)
$20,760.00
$15,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
77
Bryan College of Health Sciences
(NE)
$20,875.00
All Students
78
MidAmerica Nazarene University
(KS)
$21,015.00
All Students
79
Queens University of Charlotte
(NC)
$21,164.00
All Students
80
Nebraska Methodist College
(NE)
$21,230.00
All Students
81
Liberty University
(VA)
$21,236.00
$10,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
82
D'Youville College
(NY)
$21,320.00
All Students
83
Post University
(CT)
$21,345.00
$11,475.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
84
Stony Brook University
(NY)
$21,404.88
$24,788.88
In-State
Out-of-State
85
Lenoir-Rhyne University
(NC)
$21,450.00
All Students
86
Mercyhurst University
(PA)
$21,600.00
All Students
87
University of Saint Mary
(KS)
$21,625.00
All Students
88
Texas Woman's University
(TX)
$21,759.22
$38,937.22
In-State
Out-of-State
89
Morningside College
(IA)
$21,762.00
All Students
90
Campbellsville University
(KY)
$21,842.00
All Students
91
University of Arizona
(AZ)
$21,901.50
All Students
92
Franklin University
(OH)
$22,195.00
$17,773.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
93
Regis University
(CO)
$22,200.00
All Students
94
University of South Carolina-Upstate
(SC)
$22,227.50
$47,602.00
In-State
Out-of-State
95
Quinnipiac University
(CT)
$22,365.00
All Students
96
University of South Alabama
(AL)
$22,477.00
All Students
97
Stevenson University
(MD)
$22,500.00
All Students
98
King University
(TN)
$22,630.00
All Students
99
University of Colorado Denver
(CO)
$22,766.00
$35,876.00
In-State
Out-of-State
100
Olivet Nazarene University
(IL)
$22,770.00
All Students
101
Northwest Nazarene University
(ID)
$22,870.00
All Students
102
South Dakota State University
(SD)
$22,879.55
$28,513.80
In-State
Out-of-State
103
Lander University
(SC)
$22,998.00
All Students
104
University of South Alabama
(AL)
$23,071.00
All Students
105
Eastern Mennonite University
(VA)
$23,089.00
All Students
106
University of South Carolina-Columbia
(SC)
$23,107.50
$43,140.00
In-State
Out-of-State
107
Minnesota State University-Moorhead
(MN)
$23,313.01
All Students
NOTE: The following schools did not make our Best Buy ranking but are also great online options.
School / DegreeStatePriceNote
The University of Texas at Arlington
(TX)
$23,544.00
All Students
Cumberland University
(TN)
$23,745.00
All Students
Indiana Wesleyan University
(IN)
$24,067.00
All Students
Benedictine University
(IL)
$24,120.00
All Students
Franklin Pierce University
(NH)
$24,140.00
All Students
Thomas Edison State University
(NJ)
$24,346.00
All Students
Waynesburg University
(PA)
$24,480.00
All Students
Charleston Southern University
(SC)
$24,490.00
All Students
Southern New Hampshire University
(NH)
$24,603.00
$18,480.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Walden University
(MN)
$24,810.00
$21,232.50
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Rivier University
(NH)
$24,910.00
All Students
Thomas University
(GA)
$25,040.00
All Students
Florida National University
(FL)
$25,172.00
All Students
Union University
(TN)
$25,740.00
All Students
Wright State University
(OH)
$25,740.00
$43,875.00
In-State
Out-of-State
West Coast University
(CA)
$25,860.00
$22,440.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Mercy College of Ohio
(OH)
$25,882.00
All Students
University of Memphis
(TN)
$25,884.00
All Students
University of Mobile
(AL)
$25,960.00
All Students
Sacred Heart University
(CT)
$26,040.00
All Students
Regent University
(VA)
$26,100.00
All Students
Siena Heights University
(MI)
$26,116.00
All Students
Excelsior College
(NY)
$26,325.00
$13,025.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
(IL)
$26,330.00
All Students
Chamberlain University
(IL)
$26,370.00
$22,770.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
South Dakota State University
(SD)
$26,569.80
$33,112.80
In-State
Out-of-State
Messiah University
(PA)
$26,980.00
All Students
East Tennessee State University
(TN)
$27,045.00
$36,045.00
In-State
Out-of-State
American International College
(MA)
$27,220.00
All Students
Nova Southeastern University
(FL)
$27,322.00
All Students
Saint Xavier University
(IL)
$27,325.00
All Students
Robert Morris University
(PA)
$27,360.00
All Students
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
(CA)
$27,643.00
All Students
Clarkson College
(NE)
$27,652.00
All Students
University of Connecticut
(CT)
$27,750.00
All Students
La Roche University
(PA)
$28,505.00
All Students
University of Kentucky
(KY)
$28,538.00
All Students
Baker College
(MI)
$28,660.00
$16,852.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
(MA)
$28,718.00
$57,883.50
In-State
Out-of-State
Sacred Heart University
(CT)
$28,725.00
All Students
Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences
(IL)
$29,450.00
All Students
Walden University
(MN)
$29,470.00
$25,217.50
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Azusa Pacific University
(CA)
$29,493.00
All Students
Saint Xavier University
(IL)
$29,575.00
All Students
Gonzaga University
(WA)
$29,730.00
All Students
Lewis University
(IL)
$29,770.00
All Students
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
(ME)
$29,910.00
All Students
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
(PA)
$30,300.00
All Students
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences (School Merged)
Master of Science in Nursing / Administration CCNE,14
(PA)
$30,464.00
All Students
Loyola University New Orleans
(LA)
$30,659.00
All Students
Edgewood College
(WI)
$30,960.00
All Students
Norwich University
(VT)
$31,200.00
All Students
Allen College
(IA)
$31,870.00
All Students
Madonna University
(MI)
$32,740.00
All Students
South College
Master of Science in Nursing / Nurse Executive 14
(TN)
$33,200.00
All Students
La Roche University
(PA)
$33,255.00
All Students
Pennsylvania State University
(PA)
$33,264.00
All Students
University of Maryland-Baltimore
(MD)
$33,587.00
$57,780.84
In-State
Out-of-State
Roberts Wesleyan University
(NY)
$34,035.00
All Students
University of Detroit Mercy
(MI)
$35,301.00
All Students
Mercy College
(NY)
$35,472.00
All Students
Virginia Commonwealth University
(VA)
$38,349.00
$78,363.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Rush University
(IL)
$43,142.00
All Students
Loyola University Chicago
(IL)
$43,540.00
All Students
Creighton University
(NE)
$45,111.00
All Students
Duquesne University
(PA)
$45,270.00
All Students
Drexel University
(PA)
$46,170.00
$38,475.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
University of Pittsburgh
(PA)
$47,624.00
All Students
Ohio State University
(OH)
$49,012.00
$50,012.00
In-State
Out-of-State
The George Washington University
(DC)
$50,360.00
All Students
Thomas Jefferson University
(PA)
$50,732.00
All Students
Texas Christian University
(TX)
$60,500.00
All Students
Johns Hopkins University
(MD)
$61,330.00
All Students

Accreditation & Program Notes

To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.

ACEN   Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
CCNE   Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
14  Options for this program have changed since publication.

Rankings Note

These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Spring 2021 review of regionally accredited online MSN programs. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online master degree programs in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules.

The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost

Editorial Note

Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers a master’s degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.

These rankings of the cheapest online schools for a master’s in nursing administration online may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best online MSN programs for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.

Career Guide: Online MSN Programs

If you are an experienced professional working as a registered nurse, or any other type of nursing or healthcare career, a master’s of science in nursing (MSN) with a concentration in nursing administration may be perfect for you.

Online MSN programs expand your knowledge of the nursing profession, molding you into a top-notch leader for this growing industry. The world needs outstanding medical experts; it also needs motivated individuals to manage, organize, and lead these experts. An MSN in nursing administration will show you how.

Master’s of Science in Nursing: Nursing Administration

Online MSN programs which build on your previous nursing experience, prepare you for advanced leadership roles in clinics, hospitals, and other medical facilities. You’ll not only expand your understanding of nursing in general, you’ll have a better idea of how they operate from a managerial, financial, and organizational perspective.

When you complete one of the excellent master’s in nursing administration online programs, you’ll better understand fiscal responsibility and human-resource management, especially as it applies to medical facilities. You’ll know how to develop collaborative relationships between various medical disciplines while improving the health of individuals and communities. You’ll also have the tools and knowledge to create and manage nursing and care systems; you’ll know how to conceptualize and implement health care delivery methods that bring the best results for everyone, including patients and nurses.

The classes in a master’s in nursing management program will vary, but you can generally expect a set of core classes as well as classes that apply to your concentration in nursing administration and leadership.

Core classes will likely include health- and science-based courses, such as epidemiology and analytical approaches, as well as industry-specific classes that address topics such as advanced nursing roles, health policy, and legal issues for the healthcare industry.

Courses specific to your concentration will address leadership and management issues. They may include organizational theory, healthcare finances, human-resource management, and strategic planning in a healthcare setting.

Once complete, you’ll have the advanced skills you need to work in a variety of careers. While you may be qualified to work as a nurse practitioner or another type of advanced nursing profession, these online MSN programs prepare you for advanced leadership roles, including…

Chief Nursing Officer

  • Median Salary: $104,690 (All executives)
  • Job Growth: 4% (All executives)
  • Education: Bachelor’s
  • Training/Work Experience: 5 years experience

A chief nursing officer is responsible for managing and organizing teams of nurses. They are often the highest-ranking nurse manager at a facility, and may have hundreds, even thousands of nurses working under their leadership. A “CNO” is responsible for overseeing nursing activities, maintaining quality care at entire organizations, and evaluating the performance of nurses. The median pay for all top executives is $104,690, but it’s possible that CNOs could earn more because this is a highly demanding career.

While most top executives only need a bachelor’s, a master’s in nursing administration online would give you the right tools to excel in this profession.

Medical Services Manager

  • Median Salary: $100,980
  • Job Growth: 32%
  • Education: Bachelor’s
  • Training/Work Experience: 5 years experience

These highly-experienced professionals improve the efficiencies and quality of care at a healthcare facility. They serve many of the same roles as a CNO, but they are usually involved with a broader set of medical professionals, including physicians, surgeons, and administrative staff. They may manage an entire healthcare facility or clinical department, creating work schedules, developing goals, organizing records, collaborating with staff, and performing many essential roles.

Medical services managers need at least a bachelor’s degree, but a master’s in nursing administration online makes you an attractive candidate for these careers.

Licensing & Other Requirements for Healthcare Leaders

While most medical and healthcare careers require certifications and licensing of some kind, leadership roles generally do not.

So if you are working as a CNO or a medical services manager, you may not need certification or state-issued licensing. You will, however, need experience. Both of these careers require at least five years of experience in the medical profession. This makes sense, as these leadership roles require a deep understanding of the industry. Working as an RN or medical professional of some kind (which does require certification) will be critical to your success.

However, if you transition into an advanced nursing position, such as a nurse practitioner or nurse midwife, you will need licensing.

A master’s in nursing administration online can prepare you for a rewarding career as a healthcare leader. You’ll know how to improve healthcare facilities and create more efficient organizations, all while enhancing the lives of people who visit your location.