Earn two advanced degrees online, on your time, at your pace
| Accreditation | CCNE-accredited MSN-NLA,† IACBE-accredited MBA††; accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Format | 100% online coursework; put academic learning into practice with 135 clinical practicum hours as part of the MSN-NLA degree plan |
| Pace of study | Full- and part-time enrollment options available; designed for working nurses who wish to maintain professional responsibilities while advancing their education |
| Efficiency | 12 waived MBA courses results in 57 total credits, shortening the time and cost to complete two degrees |
| Certifications | Prepare for the nurse executive-board certified (NE-BC) credentialing exam offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), in addition to key business certifications aligned with MBA coursework |
| QuickPaths | Transfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University |
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Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online graduate nursing and MBA programs in 2026
Two disciplines. One powerful leadership path.
The Dual MSN-NLA/MBA program combines advanced nursing knowledge with core business principles in one integrated, online pathway. You’ll build advanced nursing-focused expertise in healthcare systems, patient-centered care, and evidence-based practice while developing business skills in finance, strategy, analytics, and organizational leadership.
The integrated structure allows you to earn two degrees efficiently while developing a well-rounded skill set. Engage with a unique combined nursing leadership and business curriculum plan and gain a deeper understanding of how healthcare organizations function.
As you strengthen both your clinical and business knowledge, you’ll be better prepared to pursue leadership opportunities and make a meaningful impact across today’s evolving healthcare landscape.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Courses & curriculum details
In the Dual MSN-NLA/MBA program, you’ll develop a balanced education in nursing leadership and business administration.
Coursework covers evidence-based nursing practice, healthcare systems, and leadership, paired with studies in finance, human capital, and business analytics.
This unique combination prepares you to approach healthcare challenges with both clinical insight and strategic business perspective.
All didactic courses are delivered 100% online via the Canvas learning management system. The MSN-NLA program includes 135 clinical practicum hours where you will gain experience with a mentor in an approved nursing leadership/administration setting.
| Program | Months i | Semester Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Dual MSN-NLA/MBA Degree Program Pathway | 24 | 57 |
i. Average number of months for students to complete the program attending full-time.
MSN in Nursing Leadership & Administration
Required Core Courses
All courses, 15.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Required Direct Care Courses
All courses, 9.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Required Specialty Courses
All courses, 12.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Master of Business Administration
Required Courses
All courses, 33.00 semester credit hours, are required.
or BU 697 Graduate Internship Semester Credit Hours: 3.00*
*Online students in some states may not be allowed to take this internship due to state restrictions.
Distribution of Contact Hours by Course
Distribution of Contact Hours by Course Course Number Lecture Hours Internship Hours Total Contact Hours Credits BU 502 45.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 BU 506 45.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 BU 520 45.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 BU 525 45.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 BU 531 45.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 BU 541 45.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 BU 616 45.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 BU 621 45.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 BU 631 45.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 BU 680 45.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 BU 695 (or BU 697*) 45.00 0.00 45.00 3.00 Totals with Capstone 495.00 0.00 495.00 33.00 *Totals with Internship Contact Hours: 0/0/135/135 450.00 135.00 585.00 33.00
Degree pathways to nursing leadership, administration, and executive-level careers
Program comparison: individual degrees vs. dual degree
MSN in Nursing Leadership & Administration
- Length: 16 Months
- Credits: 36
Master of Business Administration
- Length: 12 Months
- Credits: 33
Completed separately
- Length: 28 months
- Credits: 69
Dual MSN-NLA/MBA
- Length: 24 Months
- Credits: 57
The dual degree MSN/MBA program provides an opportunity to significantly decrease the time and cost required to earn two degrees you would otherwise need to earn separately.
Each master’s degree program has its own utility in preparing RNs to advance their careers—but shared concepts across MSN and MBA courses can be addressed more efficiently in a dual degree plan.
A total of 12 MBA credits are waived with the completion of MSN-NLA courses:
| MSN-NLA Course | Waived MBA Course |
|---|---|
| NU 725 Technology and Nursing Informatics in Advanced Practice | BU 621 Technology Management |
| NU 650 Healthcare Economics, Finance and Resource Management | BU 520 Integrated Economics and Decision-Making |
| NU 651 Leading and Managing in Complex Organizations | BU 506 Leading Change and Operational Excellence |
| NU 652 Dynamic Healthcare Leadership Practicum | BU 695 Graduate Capstone Project or BU 697 Graduate Internship |
Combining both degree programs provides an impressive foundation for advanced nursing leadership and administration positions benefiting from strong business acumen.
Admissions requirements
Enrollment is open to registered nurses who:
- Hold a current, active and unrestricted license as a registered nurse (RN) in the same state in which they practice. (Note: Holding a multi-state, compact state license and being a resident in a compact license state will be deemed to have met this requirement.)
- Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited university or college with an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- If prior credits have been earned in another graduate nursing program, the Program Chair will conduct a review for transferability into the program. Clinical courses are not eligible for transfer into the Herzing University graduate nursing programs.
- Prospective graduate students must complete an interview with the graduate program chair or a Herzing University admissions representative.
- Prospective students must live in a state where Herzing University is authorized to offer the program. Moving to a state where Herzing University is not authorized to offer the program will result in the student being dismissed from the program.
Conditional enrollment may be considered for students who do not meet the 3.0 GPA threshold. BSN graduates who have not yet received licensure results may be provisionally admitted. Please contact our admissions team for more details.
Eligible states for enrollment: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition & Cost
The cost of tuition for the Dual MSN-NLA/MBA degree program is $630 per credit.
You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.
Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through Herzing University and several national scholarship websites.
Military/Veteran Discounts
Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10-20% tuition discount.
Accreditation & Recognition
Our accredited & recognized online school
We strive to earn rank as one of the top private, nonprofit universities in the United States. Just as you work every day to become the best version of yourself, so do we as a university.
We are proud to have attained institutional accreditation in addition to industry recognition for our accomplishments helping students earn a college education and find career success.
✝The master's degree program in nursing at Herzing University Madison is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin.
††The Business Division at Herzing University has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) located at 11960 Quivira Road in Overland Park, Kansas, USA. For a list of accredited programs please refer to our IACBE member status page.
Herzing University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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Faq
Frequently Asked Questions
Didn't find the answer to your question? Send us an inquiry and we will be happy to answer all your questions!
RNs who pursue an MBA gain a valuable blend of clinical insight and business expertise, making them strong candidates for leadership positions in healthcare.
An MBA helps nurses understand how healthcare organizations operate, from budgeting and resource allocation to strategic planning and quality improvement. With these skills, RNs can move into roles where they help guide decision-making, lead teams, and implement initiatives that enhance patient care and organizational performance.
Earning an MBA also provides career flexibility, allowing nurses to explore opportunities in administration, policy, or consulting, while positioning them to make a meaningful impact at both the patient and system levels.
A master’s degree may not always be required, but you will very likely need to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or be currently enrolled in a postgraduate program.
Attaining a master’s degree best qualifies you to apply for the Nurse Executive Certification (NE-BC) and help you find the position you desire.
An MBA education is pertinent to clinical nursing because patient care happens within larger systems which depend on sound leadership, budgeting, operations, and decision-making. Clinical nursing is not only about direct care. It also involves navigating staffing, finance, policy, quality improvement, and organizational change.
For nurses, business knowledge can strengthen the ability to manage resources, improve workflows, support teams, and help shape care delivery in ways that benefit both patients and organizations.
A nurse leader sees the big picture without losing sight of the day-to-day. They are active in helping organizations move forward in response to an evolving healthcare industry.
Leaders in nursing have the administrative understanding and business expertise to make educated decisions and achieve the optimal balance between what’s best for the organization and what’s best for the patient(s). The importance of nursing leadership is highly evident when organizations struggle to find this balance.
Read more about the most important qualities and characteristics of leadership in nursing and what it takes to earn a higher level of roles and responsibilities as a nurse.
Nurses considering a more significant transition out of healthcare and into business management and administration may focus on earning only an MBA. However, those who wish to continue making an impact in nursing and healthcare can greatly benefit from a dual degree MSN/MBA program.
Earning both an MBA and an MSN equips you to take on high-level roles that require both clinical knowledge and business acumen. Career options include executive leadership positions like Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), healthcare administrator, or program director, where you are responsible for operations, financial planning, and team leadership.
You could also work in consulting, project management, or healthcare policy, helping organizations improve performance and patient outcomes.
This combination of master’s degrees allows you to move beyond bedside care and into roles where you can influence strategy, drive innovation, and make a broader impact within healthcare organizations.
No, taking the GMAT/GRE is not required for admissions.
There isn’t great data available to clearly answer this question. The degree combination of BSN and MBA can result in a wide variety of different types of jobs with a broad pay range (roughly $98,430-$137,730 annually, according to BLS data below).
The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides multiple relevant occupational categories which generally reflect the broad range of salaries you may be able to compete for with the required education and experience:
Average salary estimates for roles in nursing and business*
Average salary | ||
| Career | Per year | Per hour |
| Registered nurses | $98,430 | $47.32 |
| General and operations managers | $133,120 | $64.00 |
| Medical and health service managers | $137,730 | $66.22 |
Nurses who earn “Chief” or C-suite titles such as Chief Nursing Officer may earn substantially higher salaries depending on the size of the institution and specific roles and responsibilities.
Nurses with a desire to work for themselves may consider building several different types of businesses:
- Nurse consulting
- Home care or care management services
- Nursing education or training
- Care coordination or patient advocacy
- Wellness or health coaching
- Healthcare staffing and/or recruiting
Launching a nursing-related business means thinking beyond care delivery alone and understanding how to build something sustainable. Nurses who want to pursue this path can benefit from stronger skills in leadership, finance, analytics, change management, and organizational planning.
Our MBA program is designed to help develop these competencies. You can build on your nursing background with practical business knowledge that supports your ability to evaluate opportunities, lead teams, and make informed decisions in a healthcare-focused business setting.
Yes, you can continue working while completing your studies. We keep things as flexible as possible so you can complete coursework at a pace that’s right for you while maintaining your professional responsibilities.
There are many different types of nursing leadership styles with varying levels of effectiveness depending on the working environment, including:
- Democratic
- Transformational
- Authoritarian (or "autocratic")
- Transactional
- Laissez-faire
...among several others. There are many unique theories of nursing leadership you’ll want to become familiar with throughout your development as a nurse leader. Understanding the right leadership techniques for you and your colleagues is crucial to keep morale high, ensure lines of communication are clear, maximize productivity and improve patient care.
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Dual MSN-NLA/MBA Degree Pathway
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Disclosures
* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.
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