RN to MSN Programs in Connecticut

Online RN to MSN Programs in Connecticut

Many of Connecticut’s RN to MSN/MS programs are available in an online or hybrid format. Each one will have unique admission requirements, we recommend you check the school listings to see if you’re eligible to apply. Here are a few extra points to keep in mind:

• Quinnipiac University: QU is well-known for its interest in holistic nursing and its 100% online RN to MSN program comes in one concentration: Operational Leadership. Classes for this program are delivered in asynchronous format (you can work at your own pace, without mandatory log-in times) and fieldwork opportunities occur in your local area.
• Sacred Heart University: To make the schedule easier for working nurses, SHU’s online RN-MSN and RN-BSN-MSN are also delivered in an asynchronous format. There are 6 start dates per year and courses are 8 weeks long. Because the concentrations do not involve advanced practice licensure, there isn’t much to consider in the way of State Authorizations. Students in non-licensure programs can complete their clinical practicums in their home state.
• American Sentinel College of Nursing & Health Sciences at Post University: ASU’s RN to BSN/MSN program is structured with asynchronous online courses (i.e. no mandatory log-in times). Courses are 8 weeks in length and there are monthly start dates. The university has also been investing in a number of simulations (e.g. virtual hospitals, clinics, data labs, and community experiences) and digital tools.

While we’re here, we also want to highlight the fact that UConn’s program is hybrid. Most of the MSN concentrations are delivered in a blended format, with a combination of online courses and in-person clinical training. And the NNP is almost entirely online, with only 3 campus visits required. Visit the program links in our school listings for more info.

Cheapest RN to MSN Programs in Connecticut

This ranking of the most affordable Connecticut RN to MSN programs is based on one key data point: the per credit graduate tuition rate. But it’s just an estimate! The total price of your degree will depend on the final number of credits, the university’s transfer policies, and any additional fees.

1. American Sentinel College of Nursing & Health Sciences at Post University: View Tuition Rates
2. Southern Connecticut State University: In-State or Part-Time—View Tuition Rates
3. Sacred Heart University: View Tuition Rates
4. Quinnipiac University: View Tuition Rates
5. University of Connecticut: In-State and Out-of-State—View Tuition Rates

Remember, too, that schools may charge different rates for undergraduate and graduate coursework. This is the case for Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart University.

Connecticut’s Healthcare Landscape

Connecticut is often touted as a poster child for healthcare. Many of its counties are full of high income residents and well-respected hospitals. It has a low percentage of uninsured residents. Grades on the U.S. Rural Health Report Card are excellent. And obesity rates are some of the lowest in the country.

Where it struggles is inequality. If you look at the BCBS Health Index Map and the County Health Rankings, you’ll notice that certain areas (e.g. Windham, New London, and New Haven) are often less healthy than their neighbors. As any seasoned RN in Connecticut will tell you, that’s where folks without a great deal of money live.

Urban areas have long been grappling with issues like high poverty (e.g. 25%+ for New Haven and 28%+ for New London), low Medicaid payment rates, and the opioid crisis. According to America’s Health Rankings, drug deaths in Connecticut increased 107% from 2013-2015. During that time opioid overdoses became the leading cause of death in the state for people under 50 years old.

The disparity is particularly noticeable when you compare the health of white Connecticut residents to residents of color. A 2018 report from the Connecticut Health Foundation noted that black Connecticut residents were twice as likely as white residents to die from diabetes-related causes and five times as likely to visit the ER for asthma. Babies born to black women were nearly three times as likely to die as babies born to white women.

In short, there are challenges. But that may be all the more reason for aspiring nurse leaders and APRNs to devote their time to making a difference. There’s plenty to be done in the realm of public health, primary care, midwifery, and community outreach. Even NPs in big cloistered hospitals (e.g. Yale New Haven Hospital) can create opportunities to get out into the streets.

Jobs for Connecticut RN to MSN Graduates

Career Outlook for RN to MSN Graduates

We’re happy to report that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks job & wage data for Nurse Practitioners and Nursing Instructors & Teachers, Postsecondary on an annual basis. Better yet, it also publishes maps that will allow you to compare employment numbers around New England.

• In Connecticut, the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford region is a major center of jobs, employing ~42% of the state’s nurse practitioners and 40% of its nursing instructors.
• Thanks to Yale University and Yale New Haven Hospital (the city’s largest employers), New Haven is the next biggest player, accounting for ~24% of the state’s NPs and ~35% of its nursing instructors.
• CT salaries for APRNs are usually superb. Connecticut has some of the highest annual mean wages—for both categories—in the country.

If you’re interested in a hospital job or want to start searching for clinical practicum sites, have a look at U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of the Best Hospitals in Connecticut and the ANCC’s list of Magnet Facilities in Connecticut. Along with familiar names like Yale New Haven and Hartford Hospital, you also find options in smaller places such as Greenwich, Bridgeport, and Middletown.

Finally, we want to note that Connecticut is a state where NPs have considerable autonomy. For the first 3 years after initial licensure, they are required to collaborate with a physician under a written agreement. But after those 3 years, NPs can practice independently, prescribe medications, and practice as primary care providers.

Career Resources for Future APRNs

Connecticut Nursing Job Boards

• CNA Career Center: Job listings for Connecticut APRNs, nurse leaders, and nurse educators
• CTAPRNS Career Center: Job listings for Connecticut NPs
• ONL Career Center: Job listings for New England nurse leaders & executives

Connecticut APRN Salary & Wage Data

• Annual Mean Wages for Connecticut Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations: Categories can include “Nurse Practitioners,” “Nurse Midwives,” and “Nurse Anesthetists”
• Annual Mean Wages for Connecticut Nursing Instructors & Teachers, Postsecondary
• AANP National Compensation Survey: Available to AANP members

Connecticut Nursing Organizations

State Board of Nursing

• Board of Examiners for Nursing

Connecticut Nursing Associations & Coalitions

• Connecticut Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Society (CTAPRNS)
• Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA)
• Connecticut Nurses’ Association (CNA)
• National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN): Connecticut Chapter
• National Black Nurses Association (NBNA): Connecticut Chapters

Connecticut Nursing Specialty Organizations

• American College of Nurse-Midwives – Connecticut Affiliate (Connecticut ACNM)
• American Psychiatric Nurses Association – New England (APNA New England)
• Association of School Nurses of Connecticut (ASNC)
• Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses – Connecticut (AWHONN Connecticut)
• Connecticut Association of Nurse Anesthetists (CANA)
• Connecticut League for Nursing (CLN)
• Connecticut Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (CSPAN)
• Connecticut State Council Emergency Nurses Association (CTENA)
• Connecticut Student Nurses Association (CSNA)
• Northeast Association of Occupational Health Nurses (NEAOHN)
• Organization of Nurse Leaders (ONL)