Teaching the next generation of nurses requires several academic and licensing steps. If you are a registered nurse with a BSN, the next step in this career path is an online master’s in nursing education. Online programs offer the benefits of flexible scheduling, asynchronous courses, small class sizes and more, not to mention at an affordable cost.
An online master’s in nursing education will build your sought-after skills in leadership, communication, and the clinical skills and experience to back up your knowledge in the classroom. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the mean annual salary of a nurse educator to be over $83,000, there is some variation. If you consider your future to be in academia, hospital teaching nurses bank a projected salary of $121,000 annually. Teaching in a technical or trade school still brings in a rich salary of $73,100.
No matter your next step, the cost of your online nurse educator program will factor in and determine your financial stability over the next several years. GetEducated has surveyed 177 accredited online master’s in nursing education from 176 schools to bring you the following “Best Buy” list. These rankings reveal the most affordable MSN options in the United States. With a difference in tuition of up to $54,800, it pays to compare prices before committing to a degree. Take a look below to find an online nurse educator program that best fits your goals and your budget.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$22,800
Least Expensive: Winston-Salem State University ~$7,463.12
Most Expensive: Texas Christian University ~$62,290
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 online master’s in nursing education. The online degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2021 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Most Affordable Online Master’s in Nursing Education
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Winston-Salem State University | (NC) | $7,463.12 $26,422.19 | In-State Out-of-State |
2 | University of North Carolina-Wilmington | (NC) | $8,547.33 $30,918.03 | In-State Out-of-State |
3 | University of Central Arkansas | (AR) | $10,075.00 | All Students |
4 | Appalachian State University | (NC) | $10,393.89 $36,075.39 | In-State Out-of-State |
5 | Western Carolina University | (NC) | $10,478.12 $29,863.82 | In-State Out-of-State |
6 | Fort Hays State University | (KS) | $10,747.80 | All Students |
7 | Georgia Southern University | (GA) | $10,842.00 | All Students |
8 | Northeastern State University | (OK) | $11,036.80 $11,068.80 | In-State Out-of-State |
9 | University of Central Florida | (FL) | $11,456.20 $40,310.20 | In-State Out-of-State |
10 | University of North Georgia | (GA) | $11,805.00 | All Students |
11 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | (NC) | $11,944.00 $20,251.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
12 | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | (TX) | $12,088.00 $24,880.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
13 | Pittsburg State University | (KS) | $12,243.00 | All Students |
14 | University of West Georgia | (GA) | $12,670.00 | All Students |
15 | University of North Alabama | (AL) | $12,800.00 | All Students |
15 | Emporia State University | (KS) | $12,800.00 | All Students |
17 | Lamar University | (TX) | $13,098.00 | All Students |
18 | Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi | (TX) | $13,194.40 $30,500.68 | In-State Out-of-State |
19 | Missouri State University | (MO) | $13,287.00 | All Students |
20 | University of Central Missouri | (MO) | $13,485.45 | All Students |
21 | Central Methodist University | (MO) | $13,675.00 | All Students |
22 | Wheeling University | (WV) | $13,985.00 | All Students |
23 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | (NC) | $14,167.10 $23,888.64 | In-State Out-of-State |
24 | University of Wyoming | (WY) | $14,220.00 | All Students |
25 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | (IL) | $14,625.60 | All Students |
26 | East Carolina University | (NC) | $14,970.40 $40,752.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
27 | Alcorn State University | (MS) | $15,135.00 | All Students |
28 | The University of Texas at Tyler | (TX) | $15,156.00 $32,112.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
29 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | (TX) | $15,196.68 $29,560.68 | In-State Out-of-State |
30 | Marshall University | (WV) | $15,219.00 | All Students |
31 | Wichita State University | (KS) | $15,280.26 | All Students |
32 | Delaware State University | (DE) | $15,475.00 | All Students |
33 | New England Institute of Technology | (RI) | $16,250.00 | All Students |
34 | Indiana State University | (IN) | $16,362.00 $21,098.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
35 | Granite State College (part of University of New Hampshire) Master of Science in Nursing / Health Care Education 14 | (NH) | $16,480.00 $18,040.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
36 | The University of Texas at El Paso | (TX) | $16,500.00 $20,460.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
37 |  University of West Florida | (FL) | $16,575.00 | All Students |
38 |  Western Governors University | (UT) | $16,890.00 | All Students |
38 | Bethel University - IN | (IN) | $16,890.00 | All Students |
40 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center - School of Professional Studies | (NY) | $17,355.00 | All Students |
41 | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | (NY) | $17,752.32 $21,136.32 | In-State Out-of-State |
42 | Mount Vernon Nazarene University | (OH) | $17,928.00 | All Students |
43 | Empire State University | (NY) | $17,957.20 $21,341.20 | In-State Out-of-State |
44 | The University of Texas Medical Branch | (TX) | $17,958.70 $34,038.78 | In-State Out-of-State |
45 | Auburn University at Montgomery | (AL) | $18,038.00 $19,634.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
46 | Ball State University | (IN) | $18,046.50 $25,678.50 | In-State Out-of-State |
47 | Frostburg State University | (MD) | $18,168.00 $23,088.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
48 | McKendree University | (IL) | $18,315.00 | All Students |
49 | University of Mount Olive | (NC) | $18,425.00 | All Students |
50 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana | (LA) | $18,525.00 $7,488.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
51 | Ottawa University | (KS) | $18,599.00 | All Students |
52 | SUNY Polytechnic Institute | (NY) | $18,681.30 $22,347.30 | In-State Out-of-State |
53 | Northern Kentucky University | (KY) | $18,712.00 | All Students |
54 | Bushnell University | (OR) | $18,900.00 | All Students |
55 | Gardner-Webb University | (NC) | $18,960.00 | All Students |
56 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | (WI) | $18,986.55 $38,528.10 | In-State Out-of-State |
57 | Texas A & M University | (TX) | $19,152.00 $37,954.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
58 | Kent State University | (OH) | $19,180.00 $19,530.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
59 | Oklahoma Baptist University | (OK) | $19,350.00 | All Students |
60 | Baker University | (KS) | $19,355.00 | All Students |
61 | Research College of Nursing | (MO) | $19,400.00 | All Students |
62 | University of Indianapolis | (IN) | $19,444.00 | All Students |
63 | Oklahoma City University | (OK) | $19,470.00 | All Students |
64 | Galen College of Nursing | (KY) | $19,650.00 | All Students |
65 | Wilson College | (PA) | $19,680.00 | All Students |
66 |  Ohio University | (OH) | $19,833.00 $20,460.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
67 | Midway University | (KY) | $19,884.00 | All Students |
68 | Mayville State University | (ND) | $19,950.00 | All Students |
69 | University of Mary | (ND) | $20,313.00 | All Students |
70 | University of Kansas | (KS) | $20,324.85 | All Students |
71 | Stephen F. Austin State University | (TX) | $20,394.00 $36,306.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
72 | Austin Peay State University | (TN) | $20,410.25 $28,285.25 | In-State Out-of-State |
73 | AdventHealth University | (FL) | $20,565.00 | All Students |
74 | Texas Woman's University | (TX) | $20,801.40 $37,161.40 | In-State Out-of-State |
75 | Bryan College of Health Sciences | (NE) | $20,875.00 | All Students |
76 | University of Missouri-Columbia | (MO) | $20,920.70 | All Students |
77 | Queens University of Charlotte | (NC) | $21,164.00 | All Students |
78 | Nebraska Methodist College | (NE) | $21,230.00 | All Students |
79 |  Liberty University | (VA) | $21,236.00 $10,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
80 | Post University | (CT) | $21,345.00 $11,475.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
81 | Jacksonville University | (FL) | $21,450.00 | All Students |
82 | University of Saint Mary | (KS) | $21,625.00 | All Students |
83 | Saint Francis University | (PA) | $21,645.00 | All Students |
84 | Pennsylvania College of Technology | (PA) | $21,859.00 | All Students |
85 |  Colorado Christian University | (CO) | $22,158.00 | All Students |
86 | University of Southern Indiana | (IN) | $22,203.56 $23,463.56 | In-State Out-of-State |
87 | University of South Carolina-Upstate | (SC) | $22,227.50 $47,602.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
88 | Stevenson University | (MD) | $22,500.00 | All Students |
89 | Cleveland State University | (OH) | $22,515.00 $22,895.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
90 | Olivet Nazarene University | (IL) | $22,770.00 | All Students |
91 | Cedarville University | (OH) | $23,102.00 | All Students |
92 | MidAmerica Nazarene University | (KS) | $23,155.00 | All Students |
93 | Notre Dame College (School Closing) Master of Science in Nursing Education 14 | (OH) | $23,160.00 | All Students |
94 | Jacksonville State University | (AL) | $23,200.00 $15,250.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
95 | Cumberland University | (TN) | $23,310.00 | All Students |
96 | Minnesota State University-Moorhead | (MN) | $23,881.62 | All Students |
97 | Indiana Wesleyan University | (IN) | $24,067.00 | All Students |
98 | Franklin Pierce University | (NH) | $24,140.00 | All Students |
99 | Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing | (IL) | $24,215.00 | All Students |
100 | University of Mobile | (AL) | $24,220.00 | All Students |
101 | Thomas Edison State University | (NJ) | $24,346.00 | All Students |
102 | Waynesburg University | (PA) | $24,480.00 | All Students |
103 | Charleston Southern University | (SC) | $24,490.00 | All Students |
104 | St. Catherine University | (MN) | $24,520.00 | All Students |
105 | Southern New Hampshire University | (NH) | $24,603.00 $18,480.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
106 | Western Michigan University | (MI) | $24,780.12 | All Students |
107 | Walden University | (MN) | $24,810.00 $21,232.50 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
108 | Cox College | (MO) | $24,905.00 | All Students |
109 | Thomas University | (GA) | $25,040.00 | All Students |
110 | Florida National University | (FL) | $25,172.00 | All Students |
111 | East Tennessee State University | (TN) | $25,242.00 $33,642.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
112 | Lenoir-Rhyne University | (NC) | $25,350.00 | All Students |
113 | King University | (TN) | $25,425.00 | All Students |
114 | Indiana University Online | (IN) | $25,494.00 $67,200.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
115 | The University of Texas at Arlington | (TX) | $25,506.00 | All Students |
116 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | (MA) | $25,626.00 | All Students |
117 | Clarkson College | (NE) | $25,684.00 | All Students |
118 | South Dakota State University | (SD) | $25,831.75 $32,193.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
119 | West Coast University | (CA) | $25,860.00 $22,440.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
120 | Mercy College of Ohio | (OH) | $25,882.00 | All Students |
121 | Regent University | (VA) | $26,100.00 | All Students |
122 |  Benedictine University | (IL) | $26,130.00 | All Students |
123 | Excelsior College | (NY) | $26,325.00 $13,025.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
124 |  Rivier University | (NH) | $26,340.00 | All Students |
125 | Chamberlain University | (IL) | $26,370.00 $22,770.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
126 | Stony Brook University | (NY) | $26,756.10 $30,986.10 | In-State Out-of-State |
127 | Union University | (TN) | $27,060.00 | All Students |
128 | University of Memphis | (TN) | $27,080.00 | All Students |
129 | American International College | (MA) | $27,220.00 | All Students |
130 | Nova Southeastern University | (FL) | $27,322.00 | All Students |
131 | ECPI University | (VA) | $27,428.00 | All Students |
132 | University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences | (CA) | $27,643.00 | All Students |
133 | Messiah University | (PA) | $27,690.00 | All Students |
134 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | (MO) | $27,867.70 $50,602.20 | In-State Out-of-State |
135 | Saint Joseph's College of Maine | (ME) | $27,921.00 | All Students |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Robert Morris University | (PA) | $28,120.00 | All Students | |
 Sacred Heart University | (CT) | $28,525.00 | All Students | |
Baker College | (MI) | $28,660.00 $16,852.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
California State University-Northridge | (CA) | $28,675.00 | All Students | |
Spring Arbor University | (MI) | $28,710.00 | All Students | |
University of Massachusetts-Amherst | (MA) | $28,718.00 $57,883.50 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Fairleigh Dickinson University | (NJ) | $28,875.00 | All Students | |
Eastern University | (PA) | $28,993.00 | All Students | |
Southern Adventist University | (TN) | $29,250.00 | All Students | |
La Roche University | (PA) | $29,290.00 | All Students | |
Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences | (IL) | $29,450.00 | All Students | |
Azusa Pacific University | (CA) | $29,493.00 | All Students | |
Saint Xavier University | (IL) | $29,575.00 | All Students | |
University of Utah | (UT) | $29,831.88 $66,159.12 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Concordia University Wisconsin & Ann Arbor | (WI) | $29,837.00 | All Students | |
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology | (PA) | $30,300.00 | All Students | |
Wright State University | (OH) | $30,360.00 $51,750.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
 Carlow University | (PA) | $30,444.00 | All Students | |
Bellin College | (WI) | $30,635.00 | All Students | |
Idaho State University | (ID) | $30,755.00 | All Students | |
Norwich University | (VT) | $31,200.00 | All Students | |
University of Michigan-Flint | (MI) | $31,539.00 $46,354.50 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Allen College | (IA) | $31,870.00 | All Students | |
Rockhurst University | (MO) | $33,001.00 | All Students | |
Lewis University | (IL) | $33,115.00 | All Students | |
Pennsylvania State University | (PA) | $33,264.00 | All Students | |
University of Connecticut | (CT) | $33,300.00 | All Students | |
Davenport University | (MI) | $33,729.00 | All Students | |
Roberts Wesleyan University | (NY) | $34,035.00 | All Students | |
Edgewood College | (WI) | $34,056.00 | All Students | |
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences (School Merged) Master of Science in Nursing / Education CCNE,14 | (PA) | $34,944.00 | All Students | |
Mercy College | (NY) | $35,472.00 | All Students | |
University of Providence | (MT) | $39,644.00 | All Students | |
Creighton University | (NE) | $40,353.00 | All Students | |
Drexel University | (PA) | $46,170.00 $38,475.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Duquesne University | (PA) | $54,604.00 | All Students | |
Texas Christian University | (TX) | $62,290.00 | 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 master’s in nursing education options. 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 nursing education 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 master’s in nursing education for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.
Career Guide: Online Master’s in Nursing Education
There are many ways you can contribute to healthcare. You can improve people’s overall wellbeing by working directly with patients as a nurse or nurse practitioner. You can use your industry experience to become a manager or leader for other medical experts. Or you can teach the next generation of nurses. With any path you consider, an online master’s in nursing education opens many doors.
What to Expect from an Online Master’s in Nursing Education
When you complete the nursing education specialization, you’ll graduate with a deep understanding of both teaching and nursing, which will help you guide top-quality nurses who go on to do great things in the profession.
Educators in nursing are desperately needed, as many schools and nursing programs are actually turning people down because they don’t have enough teachers. While nothing is certain, you can be virtually assured that you will find work as a nurse educator. Even if you don’t go specifically into nurse education, you can still use an MSN education online to advance your healthcare and nursing career.
Throughout your online master’s in nursing education, you’ll complete a wide variety of course. You’ll learn how to design and implement a nursing curriculum that is focused on evidence-based knowledge and nursing theory. You’ll also understand how to evaluate students to ensure they graduate as top-quality nursing professionals.
Specific course in a master’s in nursing administration online will change depending on the program, but classes will address issues like health care information systems, student-assessment methods, and the theoretical basics of nurse education.
Who Will You be Teaching?
When you complete an online nurse educator programs, you’ll have the chance to teach a variety of nursing professionals. Depending on the program, you may be teaching people who will go on to RN (registered nurse) positions, or people who will work as a nurse practitioner, nursing midwife, or nurse anesthetist. Although you may need further education, you will have the foundational skills to teach almost anyone in nursing.
Nursing Teacher
- Salary: $74,600
- Growth: 18%
- Education: Master’s (Some with doctorate degrees)
- Experience: 5 years or more
Nurse educators hold many responsibilities, but most importantly they create curriculum, teach courses, and work with students to develop the next generation of high-quality RNs and APRNs. Depending on the level of teaching and the lesson plans, the instruction can include direct guidance in a medical setting or providing classroom lectures and other forms of support.
According to the BLS, the median salary among all post-secondary teachers was $79,540 in May of 2019, while the expected growth is a promising 9%. For nursing instructors, however, the pay was slightly lower, coming in at $74,600. However, with the expected growth of the healthcare profession (nurse practitioners, for example, could grow 52%), it seems possible that the increases for nursing teachers could be even higher. If fact, the BLS expects nursing instructors to see increases of 18%.
Medical Services Manager
- Median Salary: $100,980
- Job Growth: 32%
- Education: Bachelor’s
- Training/Work Experience: 5 years experience
Most people who complete master of nursing education online programs will work as nursing instructors, but some may move into alternative careers, such as management and leadership. A medical services manager is a great position for someone with a master’s in nursing, and the education concentration will help you work with nurses to hone and refine their skills.
Because of the growing demand for healthcare professionals, there will also be a need for managers in the industry. This will lead to an expansion of medical services manager that far outpaces most careers.
Certifications, Licensing & Experience Requirements for Nurse Educators
In most cases, you don’t need certification to work as an educator. (Philosophy professors, for example, don’t need licensing.) However, because this is a career field that deals with the important topic of nursing, which is heavily rooted in science, you may need certification or licensing to teach. Even if it is not needed, certification is a mark of professionalism, a sign that you truly value your role as an educator and want to provide the best possible service to your students.
Post-secondary teachers who prepare students for careers that require licensing may need licensing or certification themselves. Which means you are more likely than other post-secondary teachers (an English professor, for example) to need certification.
If you have been working in nursing but feel a strong desire to advance your career, an online master’s in nursing education may be the right fit for your needs. You’ll have the chance to learn more about the profession while becoming one of the most important contributors to the healthcare industry.