RN to MSN vs. RN to BSN: What’s the Right Next Step for Working Nurses?

Nursing careers are all unique—and they rarely follow straight lines. However, there comes a time when many registered nurses (RNs) realize they want to move into advanced practice, leadership or education—which means it’s time to advance their education. 

For many years, the only choice available for RNs was to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and then move on to grad school. Today, there’s another option: heading straight into a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). This article covers both options and how Herzing can help you explore what’s best for you.

Specialization factor: Why earn an MSN in the first place?

While a BSN prepares you for a broader scope of RN roles, an MSN opens advanced practice tracks and leadership skills that can make you eligible for board certification as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) or for leadership and teaching roles. 

At Herzing, you can choose from 9 MSN specialty tracks, including:

• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
• Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
• Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
• Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-PC)
• Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
• Nursing Education
• Nursing Leadership and Administration
• Public Health Nursing

RN to BSN: Who benefits most?

The RN to BSN is a degree completion pathway for registered nurses who already hold an associate degree and want to earn a bachelor's. For some RNs (but not all), earning the BSN is an end in itself. For others, it’s the next step on a journey towards an MSN program.

You may want to start with the BSN if you:

• Work for an employer that requires a BSN to keep your current role or move into a new one
• Want a bachelor's credential before committing to a specific graduate specialty
• Plan to pursue graduate study eventually, but not right away
• Prefer a step-by-step progression with time to recalibrate between degrees

At Herzing, you can go from RN to BSN online in as few as 12 months if you study full time. Plus, there are no traditional clinicals or residencies—instead, you’ll complete a 45-hour community health project. 

Our dual credit opportunity offers qualifying students the option to complete up to three MSN-level courses as part of their BSN program. If you do decide to enroll in an MSN program, that credit can be considered for transfer, which could shorten the time it takes to finish your master’s degree.

RN to MSN bridge: Skip the BSN, go directly to advanced practice prep

If your employer doesn’t require you to earn a BSN before your MSN, you have another opportunity—one that gets you on the graduate school path (and potentially into advanced practice) sooner. That’s the RN to MSN pathway, which allows you to take selected bachelor’s-level courses followed by MSN courses. 

At Herzing, we offer an Accelerated RN to MSN program that’s designed to lead you toward MSN completion in about two years. In fact, depending on the specialty track you choose, you could finish in as few as 20 months. 

The program blends 100% online didactic coursework with in-person intensives and clinicals, so you can keep working while you study. We also pledge your clinical placement—if you have trouble securing a site or a preceptor after following our process, we’ll step in to help.

RN to BSN to MSN: Why some employers may require this

Not every healthcare employer treats the BSN as optional. Some hospital systems and Magnet-designated facilities require a BSN to qualify for promotions, certain units or leadership tracks—even if you ultimately plan to pursue an MSN.

Herzing's RN to BSN to MSN track is built for that situation. You earn the BSN on the way to the MSN and graduate with both credentials. Depending on the specialty you choose, this pathway can take 28 to 32 months.

Timeline comparison: RN to BSN to MSN vs. RN to MSN

Below is a side-by-side look at the two pathways RNs can take to an MSN at Herzing.

Cost and salary ROI: When accelerating to MSN pays off sooner

Continuing education in nursing is an investment in your future—one that can lead to stronger earning potential. The sooner you complete your MSN, the sooner you can begin to pursue higher-level roles. That’s why RNs who don’t need a BSN tend to prefer the accelerated RN to MSN option:

• You earn your MSN in one connected program rather than paying tuition across two separate degrees
• You can potentially become eligible for advanced practice roles months earlier

Faster time to completion means you can begin pursuing new APRN opportunities sooner—opportunities that can position you to qualify for higher salary ranges. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nationwide median annual salaries* for RNs and NPs were as follows in May 2024:

• RNs: $93,600
• NPs: $129,210

If your employer requires a BSN, your timeline will lengthen by about a year. Herzing’s RN to BSN to MSN tracks are an average of 36 months long. However, this option still takes you through both credentials in a single connected pathway, which tends to be more efficient than completing your BSN and MSN with separate institutions.

Explore Herzing's continuing education options for RNs with an ADN

Whether you're leaning toward the BSN-first route, the accelerated bridge or you want a closer look at both, we're here to help you find the right pathway. You'll get personalized support from an experienced advisor who'll walk through transfer credit eligibility, specialty options and the timeline that fits your life.

Request information about the RN to MSN program or learn more about the broader Herzing nursing pathway to see how each option fits your career goals.

Frequently asked questions

Can RNs with an ADN enroll in Herzing's RN to MSN bridge?

Yes. Applicants must hold a current, active, unrestricted RN license and hold an associate degree (ADN/ASN/AASN) in nursing from a nationally accredited college or university. Eligibility also depends on whether Herzing is authorized to offer the program in your state, which varies by specialty.

How long does it take to earn an MSN at Herzing?

Earning an MSN with Herzing can take anywhere from 16 to 32 months. Nurse Practitioner tracks (AGACNP, AGPCNP, FNP, PNP, PMHNP and WHNP) typically run 24 to 32 months full-time. Nursing Education, Nursing Leadership and Administration and Public Health programs typically take 16 to 28 months to complete.

Is the Accelerated RN to MSN program online?

Classes are 100% online with a hands-on clinical or practicum component, depending on your chosen specialty. You can keep working while you study and complete clinicals in your community.

What if my employer requires a BSN?

Choose the RN to BSN to MSN track. This pathway earns you a bachelor's degree along the way to your MSN.

Which MSN specialty tracks are available?

Herzing offers 10 MSN specialty tracks: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP, FNP, Nursing Education, Nursing Leadership and Administration, Pediatric NP, PMHNP, Public Health Nursing and Women’s Health NP. Program availability varies by state.

How do I decide between the bridge and the BSN-first route?

Start with two questions: Does your employer require a BSN, and how soon do you want to reach advanced practice? If the BSN is required, the RN to BSN to MSN track is built for that. If it's not, the Accelerated RN to MSN bridge reaches the same MSN credential—and the same advanced practice eligibility—in as few as 20 months.

Disclosures

The master's degree program in nursing at Herzing University Madison is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (ccneaccreditation.org). Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin.

Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Program availability varies by location.