Advance Your Nursing Career
Are you ready to take the next step in becoming a nurse leader or educator? Whether your goal is to guide teams, shape learning environments, or prepare for doctoral study, the online MS in Nursing program at IUP is designed to take you where you want to go. Our online MS in Nursing program prepares nurses to lead, educate, and influence practice across healthcare and academic settings, all within a flexible format and time frame that work for you.
Virtual Information Session
Thursday, April 9
- 6:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
- Status: Space available
- Location: Online
Why Earn a MS Nursing Degree at IUP
You know that a master’s degree is a serious financial and time commitment. IUP's program offers generous financial support options, low tuition costs, and a self-paced online degree path.
The MS in Nursing program at IUP is designed to meet the realities of modern nursing practice, preparing graduates for advanced roles that integrate leadership, teaching, and organizational influence across healthcare and academic settings.
Students develop expertise in:
- Leadership and administration across healthcare and academic environments
- Teaching and learning strategies for students, staff, and patient education
- Program development and evaluation, including curriculum design, outcomes, assessment, and continuous quality improvement
- Organizational change and quality improvement to enhance care delivery and learning systems
- Professional communication and role development to support collaboration, mentoring, and career advancement
Whether your passion is shaping the future of nursing as a nurse leader, academic faculty, staff development specialist, or clinical educator, this program prepares you to make an immediate and lasting impact.
Accreditation
The Indiana University of Pennsylvania Master’s Degree in Nursing Program holds initial accreditation from the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA), located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037. 202-909-2487.Schedule
Flexible, days/nights/weekends; part-time seven-week courses
Contact Info:
Program Lead
- Meigan Robb
- Associate Professor; Master’s in Nursing Program Coordinator
- 724-357-2558
- mrobb@iup.edu
Imagine Your Future
With an MS in Nursing, your professional opportunities expand well beyond a single role. Organizations value nurses with advanced preparation who can influence practice, guide learning, and support high-quality patient, staff, and community outcomes.
Graduates of the MS in Nursing program at IUP are prepared to work in a variety of settings, including:
- Hospitals and health systems
- Nursing care facilities
- Academic institutions and nursing programs
- Home health and community-based organizations
- Healthcare insurance and managed care organizations
Within these environments, master-prepared nurses may serve as:
- Nurse leaders
- Academic, clinical, or staff development educators
- Program coordinators or evaluators
- Quality improvement or professional practice leaders
Salary expectations depend upon the industry in which nursing instructors are employed. The following are mean wages by industry according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
Education Support Services
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
Mean Annual Wage, 2023
Classes and Requirements
A Flexible Schedule to Meet Your Needs
You may be juggling a full-time job, childcare, parent care, and self-care. IUP's MS in Nursing program is designed for busy, ambitious learners like you.
You’ll find flexibility in every aspect of the curriculum:
- Online coursework is offered along with hands-on practicum experiences.
- Your professors and advisor will make every effort to ensure you can complete your practicum at the clinical site you prefer.
- Take courses during all semesters, including summer.
- Want to complete your MS in Nursing requirements as quickly as possible? You can finish your degree in just six semesters (two years).
Full Academic Catalog Listing
The course catalog is the official reference for all our degree and course offerings. Check it out for a full listing of the classes available and requirements for this degree.
What You’ll Need for Admission
To be considered for admission in the nursing administration or nursing education track within the IUP MS in Nursing program, you will need to meet these requirements:
- Have successfully completed an accredited nursing program.
- Hold current licensure as a registered nurse.
- Have earned a bachelor’s degree (not necessarily in nursing).
- If your degree was completed within the past five years, you must have earned a minimum 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
- If your degree is older than five years, the minimum GPA is 2.6 (on a 4.0 scale).
- Have evidence of coursework completed in statistics and research.
For International Student Admissions
International students need to meet these requirements:
- Have earned a TOEFL score of 540 or above, or IELTS score of 6 or above.
- Hold a current nursing license from your home country.
- If you do not have evidence of coursework in statistics and research, you can take an undergraduate course in these subjects at a university or a community college.
- If you have taken graduate courses at other institutions, you may transfer up to 12 credits to count toward your IUP degree if:
- You took the courses within the past five years.
- You earned at least a B.
- We recommend that you have completed a minimum of one year of clinical practice before joining our graduate nursing degree program.
Your Application Process
If you’re ready to apply, we’re ready to help. Follow these steps to get started.
- Complete your IUP Admissions Profile online. Once you’ve created your profile, you’ll be able to start your application.
- Complete and submit your application.
- Pay the $50 nonrefundable application fee.
- You’ll need to send additional documents. When you submit your application form and payment, we will request the additional items we need from you to complete the application process.
- Note: We do not require GRE scores.
- Send official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended, even if you did not obtain a degree.
- Send a copy of your current RN license.
- Send a signed and dated statement of your career and academic goals.
- Send two letters of recommendation:
- One from your direct supervisor
- One from a professor, mentor, or colleague
Practicum Requirements
Hands-on experience is an important part of your graduate nursing education. IUP has partnered with a wide variety of health care facilities so that you gain this clinical experience.
You are responsible for:
- Transportation to and from clinical experiences.
- Rental fees related to clinical experiences.
- Any fees for meeting clinical facility requirements.
Requirements for Students at Clinical Facilities
As a student in IUP’s MS in Nursing program, you must meet certain requirements before starting your clinical experiences. Some of these requirements might include:
- Criminal background checks
- Drug testing
- Immunization records
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of immunity
- Proof of liability insurance
- Vaccinations
Specific facilities may list additional requirements. You are responsible for making sure you have met all the requirements before the clinical experience begins.