Top Mississippi MSN Programs + Online Options

Mississippi needs nurses. The state ranks last for healthcare access and outcomes, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health, and an MSN positions you to fill that gap as a nurse practitioner, educator, or administrator.

Below are the top MSN programs in the state, what graduates can do with the degree, and what they earn.

Mississippi MSN Programs and Schools

University of Mississippi Medical Center

RNs with a bachelor's degree can advance toward nurse educator, nurse practitioner, or nurse administrator roles here.

• Campus: Jackson, MS
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: $389/credit in-state; $1,058/credit out-of-state
• Minimum time commitment: 37-51 credits
• Online availability: Hybrid
• Admission: BSN, 3.0 GPA, statistics course, GRE, clinical experience, RN license, TOEFL if applicable
• Programs: RN-to-MSN; MSN (Nurse Administrator, Nurse Educator, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP, Acute Care Adult-Gerontology NP, Psychiatric/Mental Health NP, Family NP)

University of Southern Mississippi

USM's MSN programs prepare advanced practice nurses through a core curriculum plus coursework in statistics and research, role development and ethics, and healthcare finance and policy.

• Campus: Hattiesburg, MS
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: ACEN
• Tuition: $388/credit in-state; $865/credit out-of-state
• Minimum time commitment: 44-47 credits
• Online availability: Yes
• Admission: BSN, 3.0 GPA, GRE, statistics course, three letters of reference, RN license
• Programs: RN-to-MSN; MSN Adult-Gerontology NP; Family Psychiatric Mental Health NP; Family NP

Robert E. Smith School of Nursing (Delta State University)

Students pursue nurse administrator, nurse educator, or nurse practitioner tracks. Admission requires a current RN license and a bachelor's degree.

• Campus: Cleveland, MS
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: $334/credit
• Minimum time commitment: 44 credits (nurse administrator), 45 (nurse educator), 42 (nurse practitioner)
• Online availability: Yes
• Admission: BSN, 3.0 GPA, GRE, one year work experience, RN license, resume, personal statement, three letters of reference, pathophysiology course, interview
• Programs: MSN Nurse Educator, Nurse Administrator, Nurse Practitioner (Family, Gerontological, Psych Mental Health)

William Carey University

Carey's MSN programs build on baccalaureate training to prepare nurses for education and leadership roles, helping address the state's nursing shortage.

• Campus: Hattiesburg, MS
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: $315/trimester hour
• Minimum time commitment: Six semester hours
• Online availability: Yes
• Admission: Transcripts, two letters of recommendation, RN license, resume, personal statement
• Programs: MSN Nursing Education, Case Management, Gerontological Nursing, Healthcare Simulation Education, Nursing Administration, Population-Focused Nursing

Mississippi University for Women

"The W" established its MSN programs in 1975, making them among the oldest and most established in the state, accredited throughout.

• Campus: Columbus, MS
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: $2,770/semester in-state; $7,630/semester out-of-state
• Minimum time commitment: 39 credits
• Online availability: No
• Admission: Transcripts, 3.0 GPA, GRE, three letters of recommendation, immunizations, BSN, statistics course, RN license, two years work experience, pathophysiology course, background check, drug screening, interview
• Programs: Family NP, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP, Psychiatric Mental Health NP

Alcorn State University

Alcorn's Graduate Nursing Department offers nurse educator and nurse practitioner tracks, plus postmaster's certificates.

• Campus: Lorman, Natchez, and Vicksburg, MS
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: NLNAC
• Tuition: $21,288/year in-state; $30,529/year out-of-state
• Minimum time commitment: 43 credits (FNP), 51 (GNP), 37 (NE), 55 (PMHNP)
• Online availability: No
• Admission: GRE, two letters of recommendation, transcripts, TOEFL if applicable, personal statement, BSN, RN license
• Programs: MSN Family NP, Psychiatric Mental Health NP, Geriatrics NP

Program details reflect a 2021 ranking. Confirm current tuition, credit requirements, and admission rules with each school before applying.

What an MSN Gets You in Mississippi

A graduate degree has become close to a baseline for advancement in nursing, especially for nurse practitioners. Mississippi's online and hybrid MSN programs train nurse educators, nurse practitioners, and nurse administrators on a schedule that works for licensed nurses. Most require a bachelor's degree in nursing and a valid RN license to apply.

Salary and Job Outlook

Mississippi employs roughly 3,390 nurse practitioners, who work mostly in physicians' offices, hospitals, and outpatient care centers. NPs in the state earn a mean of about $123,943 a year (2024), below the national mean of roughly $129,238. Pay varies with experience, setting, and whether you work in a metro or rural area.

Nursing Resources for Mississippi

The Mississippi Nurses Association represents RNs and NPs and offers continuing education, exam discounts, and specialty conferences.

The Mississippi Association of Nurse Practitioners provides networking, leadership opportunities, and conferences for current and future NPs.

The Mississippi Board of Nursing grants licensure to LPNs, RNs, and NPs through its online portal.

The Mississippi Organization for Associate Degree Nursing promotes associate degrees as an affordable route to LPN or RN licensure.

The Mississippi Nurses Foundation awards grants and scholarships and offers continuing education and networking.