ABSN vs. MSN Direct Entry Pathways: Which Program is Right for You?

At Herzing, we’ve helped many students make the switch to a career in nursing. Those who come to us with a bachelor’s degree in another field often expect that their only path into the profession is to earn another bachelor’s through an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program.

However, there’s another option for these students: the Master of Science in Nursing – Direct Entry program (MSN DE).

Both these programs allow bachelor’s graduates with no nursing background to prepare for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). They differ in the credential you graduate with and what your next move looks like once you are licensed. They also have some different admission requirements and slightly different formats.

This blog post explains what each program covers, followed by a side-by-side comparison to help you decide which one fits your degree, your timeline and your goals.

About Accelerated Nursing Programs

Accelerated nursing programs like the ABSN and MSN-DE are well-established routes into the profession. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) counted 340 accelerated baccalaureate programs and 104 entry-level master's programs in 2025. Enrollment that year reached 29,421 students in accelerated baccalaureate programs and 11,249 in entry-level master's programs.

What accelerates these programs is the credit you have already earned—they’re not a shortcut, and they don’t skip any crucial nursing education. The AACN reports that students in accelerated programs “receive the same number of clinical hours as their counterparts in traditional entry-level nursing programs.” Admission standards are high, study is rigorous, and students are encouraged to stay out of the workforce while enrolled so they can give the coursework their full attention.

The Herzing ABSN Program: What to Know

Our Accelerated BSN is a 120-credit bachelor's degree built for students who have already earned a bachelor's degree in another field.

Format:

Blended. ABSN students take general education courses online and nursing core courses on campus. Campus experience includes nursing simulations in labs with faculty present, followed by in-person clinical rotations.

The Accelerated BSN option is available at 10 Herzing campuses: Atlanta, Brookfield, Clarksville, Kenosha, Madison, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, Orlando and Tampa.

Time to Complete:

Most ABSN students finish in as few as 20 months. Students who still need science prerequisites should plan on closer to 24 months. You can transfer up to 90 approved credits toward the degree, so a large share of the general education requirement is often satisfied by the coursework behind your first degree.

Admission Requirements:

You’ll need at least a 2.50 GPA to qualify for admission to the ABSN. Note, however, that additional requirements may apply if your GPA is close to the minimum:

• Cumulative GPA of 3.50 to 4.00: no additional requirements (students with GPAs in this range may also want to consider the MSN DE)
• Cumulative GPA of 3.00 to 3.49: You will also need a 3.00 GPA in college science coursework
• Cumulative GPA of 2.50 to 2.99: You will need to take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) and achieve a composite score of 66 or higher

Licensure Prep:

The ABSN program includes a dedicated review course, Review of Integrated Nursing Concepts, that prepares students for the NCLEX-RN.

Next Steps:

Earning a BSN establishes the foundation for graduate study in the future—either our BSN to MSN programs or BSN to DNP programs. Eligible students may be able to earn dual credit toward a Herzing master's degree during their ABSN program.

The Herzing MSN DE Program: What to Know

Our MSN Direct Entry program takes students who hold a bachelor's degree in another field straight to a master's degree in nursing.

Format:

Online with campus intensives. MSN DE students complete didactic coursework 100 percent online through a mix of on-demand and real-time classes. Hands-on learning comes through 585 clinical hours, along with three campus intensives of two to four days each held at our Brookfield, Wisconsin or Nashville, Tennessee campuses.

The MSN-DE program currently enrolls residents of 26 states. Several of those states reach enrollment capacity from time to time, so it is worth confirming availability in yours before you plan around it.

Time to Complete:

The program requires 60 to 77 credits, depending on whether or not you’ve taken your science prerequisite courses (see below). If you haven’t, the program will take about 24 months. If you have taken your prerequisites, you can finish in as few as 20 months.

Admission Requirements:

You'll need evidence of graduation from a non-nursing bachelor's degree program at an accredited institution, a minimum 3.0 GPA and an aggregate score of 66 on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). No GRE is required. You will also need 17 semester credit hours of prerequisite coursework:

• Anatomy & Physiology I (4 credits, B or better)
• Anatomy & Physiology II (4 credits, B or better)
• Chemistry (3 credits)
• Microbiology (3 credits)
• Statistics (3 credits)

Licensure Prep:

The MSN DE curriculum prepares you to take the NCLEX-RN and practice as an MSN-prepared registered nurse.

Next Steps:

The degree qualifies you to practice as an RN with a general MSN education. If you want to pursue a specialty—for example, becoming a family nurse practitioner—you’ll need to complete further study after you’re licensed. Options include our post-master's certificate programs or our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. You can earn dual credit towards the DNP core while studying toward your MSN DE with Herzing.

Accelerated BSN vs. MSN Direct Entry: Side by Side

Both programs land in the same 20-to-24-month window and both end with NCLEX-RN eligibility, so speed to licensure is rarely the deciding factor. It’s more about what your academic background is like and where you want to go after you start your nursing career.

How to Decide Which Path Fits Your Goals

The Accelerated BSN tends to be the better fit when you want clinical training in person, you live near one of our campuses, your GPA falls below the 3.0 graduate threshold, or you want to start earning as an RN and decide about graduate school once you have worked as a nurse for a while.

The MSN Direct Entry program tends to be the better fit when you already know you want advanced practice or a leadership role, you meet the 3.0 requirement, online coursework suits your schedule, and you would rather complete the graduate credential up front than return to school after a few years of practice.

Two Doors Into the Same Profession

Depending on your academic history and your goals, your nursing career change options could be wider than you think. Compare the Accelerated BSN and the MSN Direct Entry program side by side, then talk to a Herzing admissions advisor about which option could be best for you.