Michigan State University Nursing Programs

Michigan State University offers nursing education pathways for students at different points in their careers, from those preparing for initial nursing licensure to registered nurses pursuing advanced practice, leadership, education, or doctoral study. The best option depends on the student’s current education, RN licensure status, desired role, preferred learning format, and state licensure requirements.

This profile reflects nursing options currently published by the college. Applicants should verify current program availability, degree requirements, tuition, approval, accreditation, clinical expectations, deadlines, and state eligibility directly with the university before applying.

School Contact and Location

Official Social Media

The university maintains an official social-media directory that identifies institutional and unit-level accounts. Use that directory to confirm active accounts before publishing a production listing.msu

General institutional accounts

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Spartans.MSU

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michiganstateu/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/michigan-state-university/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MichiganStateUniversity

• X: https://x.com/michiganstateu

• TikTok: Official MSU social-media directory

Nursing school accounts

• Facebook: Official college social links

• Instagram: Not publicly confirmed on the reviewed nursing-school pages

• LinkedIn: Not publicly confirmed on the reviewed nursing-school pages

• YouTube: Not publicly confirmed on the reviewed nursing-school pages

• X: Not publicly confirmed on the reviewed nursing-school pages

• TikTok: Not publicly confirmed on the reviewed nursing-school pages

Campus and Program Images

No verified, reusable university image was identified for this listing.

Use only images, logos, or media assets supplied through an approved university licensing, trademark, partnership, or media workflow. A directory should not assume that photos or logos displayed on institutional pages are automatically available for third-party republication.

Nursing Programs at a Glance

The college publishes traditional and accelerated BSN options, an online RN-to-BSN, MSN and DNP advanced-practice pathways, nurse anesthesiology, clinical nurse specialist, graduate certificates, a teaching certificate, a post-master’s DNP, and a PhD in Nursing. Some specialties have different curriculum plans and start-date rules; applicants should verify the pathway and entry term directly with admissions.reg.msu+2

Choosing the Right Nursing Path

• Choose a pre-licensure BSN if you are not yet an RN and want an academic pathway that prepares eligible graduates to seek initial licensure.

• Consider the traditional BSN if you are seeking your first bachelor’s degree and can complete a three-year campus-based plan in East Lansing. nursing.msu

• Consider the accelerated second-degree BSN if you already have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and can undertake full-time, four-semester study in Detroit or East Lansing. nursing.msu

• Consider RN-to-BSN if you are a currently licensed RN with an associate degree or nursing diploma and want an online bachelor’s-completion option. nursing.msu

• Consider MSN or DNP specialty study if you hold a BSN, current RN license, and meet the academic, statistics, experience, interview, and clinical requirements for your specialty.

• Consider a post-master’s DNP or NP certificate if you already have graduate nursing education and, where required, national certification and advanced-practice preparation.

• Consider PhD study if your goal is research, scholarship, and academic inquiry rather than an entry-level route to RN licensure or a clinical APRN specialty.

Entry-Level Nursing Pathways

Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Credential: Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Who it is for: Students working toward their first bachelor’s degree who want initial nursing preparation. The college identifies the traditional BSN as a three-year East Lansing program. nursing.msu

Delivery and location: Campus-based in East Lansing. nursing.msu

Published admissions requirements:

• Completion of pre-nursing coursework with a minimum 2.0 grade or equivalent in required courses.

• Sophomore status, defined as at least 28 credits recognized by the university.

• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

• A college application documenting relevant work, life, and community experiences and including personal-reflection responses.

• A university application if not already enrolled. nursing.msu

Transfer option: Transfer applicants may apply to the university and the traditional BSN program at the same time by completing the general university application and the BSN supplemental application. nursing.msu

Published timing: The college lists April 1 as the fall-application deadline and November 1 as the spring-application deadline. Verify dates for the desired admission cycle. nursing.msu

Clinical learning: The college publishes clinical-course requirements for traditional BSN students. Examples in the current clinical-experiences resource include NUR 205, Introduction to Professional Nursing, at 18 hours per semester and NUR 471, Public Health Nursing, at 42 hours per semester. Course plans can change; students should confirm their current curriculum and placement expectations. nursing.msu

Licensure relationship: This program is approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing and accredited by CCNE. It prepares eligible graduates to seek initial RN licensure. reg.msu

Best fit for:

• Students pursuing a first bachelor’s degree

• Students ready to complete pre-nursing coursework and meet the 3.0 cumulative GPA requirement

• Applicants seeking a campus-based BSN program in East Lansing

• Transfer applicants who want to pursue simultaneous university and nursing-program review

Official links: Traditional BSN · Undergraduate programs · Apply now

Accelerated Second-Degree BSN

Credential: Accelerated Second-Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Who it is for: Students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree or higher in a non-nursing field and want to complete a BSN. nursing.msu

Locations: Detroit or East Lansing. nursing.msu

Format, credits, and length: Full-time; four semesters over 16 months; 61 credit hours. nursing.msu

Published admission expectations:

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, completed by the end of the spring semester before the program begins.

• Cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 across coursework from all institutions attended.

• Minimum 2.0 grade in each required prerequisite course.

• Prerequisites completed by the end of the spring semester before the program begins. nursing.msu

Published cost reference: As of February 2026, the school listed a resident tuition rate of $898 per credit and estimated tuition of about $54,800 across all four semesters for the 61-credit program. Tuition and fee rates can change; confirm the applicable residency rate and current costs before enrolling. nursing.msu

Licensure relationship: The program is CCNE-accredited and Michigan Board of Nursing-approved. The school states that graduates qualify to take the NCLEX-RN; licensure decisions remain with the relevant state board. nursing.msu

Best fit for:

• Students with a completed non-nursing bachelor’s degree

• Applicants prepared for a full-time, accelerated 16-month sequence

• Students able to attend in Detroit or East Lansing

• Applicants who meet the published GPA and prerequisite standards

Official links: Accelerated BSN · ABSN application information

Other Entry-Level Pathways

• ADN/ASN/AAS nursing: Not identified among the university’s currently published nursing offerings. Confirm available pathways directly with the nursing school.

• Practical nursing/LPN certificate or diploma: Not identified among the university’s currently published nursing offerings. Confirm available pathways directly with the nursing school.

• Nursing assistant certificate: Not identified among the university’s currently published nursing offerings. Confirm available pathways directly with the nursing school.

• Standalone pre-nursing credential: A separately credentialed pre-nursing program was not identified. The traditional BSN requires pre-nursing courses before nursing-major admission. nursing.msu

• Direct or early assurance: The college’s Nurse Scholar Program is a published special program for high-school seniors with a cumulative high-school GPA of at least 3.8. It requires students to meet continuing conditions, including specified first-year coursework and a currently stated 3.4 cumulative GPA. It is not a guarantee of nursing-major admission. nursing.msu

RN Completion and Degree-Advancement Options

Registered Nurse to BSN

Credential: Bachelor of Science in Nursing completion program.

Who it is for: Currently licensed RNs who hold a nursing diploma or Associate Degree in Nursing and want to complete a BSN. nursing.msu

Format: The program is 100% online. The college states that it includes arranged, minimal clinical experiences close to the student’s home. Clinical location, availability, state eligibility, and individual placement arrangements should be confirmed directly with the program. nursing.msu

Published admission requirements:

• Completion of a nursing diploma or ADN with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75.

• Current, unencumbered RN license before taking NUR courses.

• Minimum 30 credits completed at the university to meet undergraduate residency requirements.

• At least 120 total course credits for graduation, including transfer credit. nursing.msu

Published deadline: April 1 for fall admission. Confirm the deadline, start terms, transfer process, clinical expectations, and whether the program can enroll students in your location. nursing.msu

Progression: An RN-to-BSN may support later graduate applications where separate admission standards are met. It does not guarantee graduate admission, certification, employment, or career advancement.

Best fit for:

• RNs with an ADN or nursing diploma

• Nurses seeking a fully online BSN-completion structure

• Students who can meet licensure and minimal clinical-experience requirements

• RNs who need transcript and transfer-credit review before enrollment

Official links: RN-to-BSN · Admissions · Apply now

Graduate Certificates

Credential: Graduate or post-graduate nursing certificate.

Who it is for: Graduate or post-graduate nurses adding a new specialty or completing focused coursework in a published nursing area.

Published NP certificate options: Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificates are identified on the college’s current graduate-certificate page. nursing.msu

Published academic expectations: The certificate page lists a BSN from an accredited program with a minimum 3.0 GPA and enrollment in or completion of a graduate nursing program with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applicants should confirm RN license, clinical, national-certification, state authorization, and specialty-specific rules. nursing.msu

Official link: Graduate Certificates

Graduate Nursing Programs

Nurse Practitioner Programs

Degree levels: Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice pathways are published for the listed NP concentrations. nursing.msu

Published concentrations:

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

• Family Nurse Practitioner

• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner nursing.msu

Intended applicant: BSN-prepared RNs pursuing a graduate advanced-practice specialty.

Published admission expectations for BSN-to-MSN and BSN-to-DNP NP routes:

• BSN from an accredited institution.

• Current, unrestricted RN license in the applicant’s state; Michigan RN licensure is required before clinical courses.

• Minimum 3.0 GPA calculated on the second half of the four-year baccalaureate nursing program.

• A three-credit statistics course completed within five years of program start, with the stated minimum undergraduate or graduate grade.

• University application, résumé or CV, essay, three recommendation letters, and faculty admission interview.

• English-proficiency documentation for applicants whose native language is not English.

Clinical and certification considerations: NP programs include clinical preparation. Applicants should verify the current program plan, population focus, national-certification route, practice-state requirements, clinical-site process, preceptor policies, travel needs, and any specialty experience expectations directly with the college.

Official link: Nurse Practitioner programs

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Degree levels: MSN and DNP pathways. nursing.msu

Who it is for: Registered nurses who want advanced-practice study in the Clinical Nurse Specialist role.

Format and credits: The school states that the curriculum is fully online, requires at least 54 credits for the MSN, and at least 70 credits for the DNP.

Published requirements: Applicants must hold a current, unrestricted RN license and complete a three-credit statistics course within the past five years. Other degree, GPA, clinical, and application requirements should be verified on the current program page. nursing.msu

Official link: Clinical Nurse Specialist

Nurse Anesthesiology

Credential: Doctor of Nursing Practice, Nurse Anesthesiology.

Who it is for: BSN- or MSN-prepared RNs who meet the program’s academic, licensure, clinical-practice, and certification requirements.

Published MSN-to-DNP requirements include:

• A master’s degree from a CCNE- or NLNAC-accredited program.

• BSN from an accredited institution.

• Minimum 3.0 GPA based on the second half of the BSN program.

• Unencumbered U.S. or territorial RN/APRN licensure; Michigan RN licensure before clinical courses.

• Current American Heart Association BLS, ACLS, and PALS certifications.

• A three-credit statistics course completed within five years, with published minimum grade standards. nursing.msu

Published BSN-to-DNP curriculum: 92 credits. The program uses a block-tuition model with a fixed annual cost. nursing.msu

Clinical and certification considerations: The program is a graduate nurse-anesthesiology pathway. Applicants should confirm current ICU or other clinical-experience requirements, simulation and clinical expectations, national-certification pathway, state eligibility, clinical-site process, and all deadlines directly with admissions.

Official link: Nurse Anesthesiology

Post-Master’s DNP

Credential: Doctor of Nursing Practice.

Who it is for: Nurses holding an MSN who seek doctoral nursing-practice study. nursing.msu

Published entry requirements: An MSN and graduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The college notes an April 1 materials deadline and an application period opening August 1; verify the next cycle and all requirements before applying. nursing.msu

Tuition: Rates vary by residency status. Consult the Controller’s Office for current tuition and fees. nursing.msu

Official links: Post-Master’s DNP · Tuition and fees

Graduate Certificate in Teaching

Credential: Graduate Certificate in Teaching.

Who it is for: Graduate and post-graduate nurses developing nurse-educator competencies for teaching in clinical or academic settings. nursing.msu

Format and credits: Online; nine credits. nursing.msu

Official link: Graduate Certificate in Teaching

PhD in Nursing

Credential: Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing.

Who it is for: Bachelor’s- and master’s-prepared nurses pursuing research-focused doctoral education. nursing.msu

Published admission requirements:

• An online graduate application with a published $75 application fee.

• BSN or MSN; BSN applicants may need additional coursework.

• Official transcripts.

• Program application materials delivered through the university’s graduate-admissions process. nursing.msu

RN license: The PhD page states that applicants must hold a BSN or higher. Applicants should verify current RN-license requirements, GPA standards, research-fit materials, interview expectations, funding, residence requirements, and deadlines with the PhD program. nursing.msu

Official link: PhD in Nursing

Admissions Requirements

Entry-Level and Pre-Licensure Admissions

Traditional BSN

• Complete pre-nursing courses with at least a 2.0 grade in each required course.

• Have at least 28 university-recognized credits and a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

• Submit the university application if needed and the college’s supplemental application.

• Complete personal-reflection responses and provide information about relevant experiences. nursing.msu

Accelerated Second-Degree BSN

• Hold a bachelor’s degree by the end of the spring term before fall entry.

• Earn at least a 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA across all undergraduate institutions.

• Complete each prerequisite with at least a 2.0 grade. nursing.msu

Nurse Scholar Program

• Available to high-school seniors with a high-school GPA of at least 3.8.

• Continued participation requires completion of first-year traditional-BSN prerequisites with at least a 2.0 in each, specified nursing scholarship courses, and a currently stated 3.4 cumulative GPA. nursing.msu

RN Completion Admissions

RN-to-BSN

• Nursing diploma or ADN with a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA.

• Current, unencumbered RN license before NUR coursework.

• Transfer and residency requirements, including 30 credits at the university and 120 total credits for graduation. nursing.msu

Graduate Nursing Admissions

MSN/DNP NP routes

• Accredited BSN, current unrestricted RN license, minimum 3.0 GPA for the latter half of the BSN, statistics coursework, essay, references, interview, and other published documents.

Clinical Nurse Specialist

• Current unrestricted RN license and qualifying statistics coursework within five years. nursing.msu

Nurse Anesthesiology

• Current RN/APRN licensure, academic qualifications, nursing degree requirements, current AHA BLS/ACLS/PALS certifications, and qualifying statistics coursework are published requirements for MSN-to-DNP applicants. nursing.msu

Post-Master’s DNP

• MSN and minimum 3.0 graduate GPA. nursing.msu

PhD

• BSN or MSN, university graduate application, transcripts, and the published application fee. nursing.msu

Clinical Compliance

The college states that traditional and accelerated BSN students must complete annual ACEMAPP enrollment before entering clinical nursing experiences. Clinical compliance and training requirements may also include health documentation, background screening, drug screening, CPR, HIPAA, safety training, immunizations, and other site-specific requirements. Confirm the full current list for your pathway before enrolling. nursing.msu

Admissions requirements and clinical-compliance standards can change. Confirm all current requirements and deadlines directly with the university.

Accreditation, Approval, and Licensure Considerations

Institutional Accreditation

Institutional accreditation was not independently confirmed in the reviewed source set for this profile. Prospective students should verify current institutional accreditation through official university disclosures and the Higher Learning Commission.

Programmatic Nursing Accreditation

The college states that its baccalaureate, master’s, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. nursing.msu

The university’s academic-program listing also states that the BSN is CCNE-accredited and that the MSN holds CCNE accreditation. reg.msu

Applicants should verify the current status, locations, degree levels, and effective dates of accreditation in the CCNE accredited-program directory before enrolling.

State Approval

The university’s academic-program listing states that the BSN is approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing. The accelerated second-degree BSN page also states that the program is approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing.

Michigan’s nursing regulator publishes approved education-program resources. Confirm the approval status of the exact pre-licensure location—especially East Lansing or Detroit—through the Michigan Board of Nursing education-program page before enrolling.

Licensure and Distance Learning

Nursing licensure is regulated by states. Before enrolling in a campus-based, online, hybrid, clinical, DNP, MSN, certificate, or APRN pathway, verify:

• Whether the program is authorized for students located in your state.

• Whether the curriculum meets educational requirements for the license or certification you seek.

• Whether Michigan RN licensure is required before clinical coursework.

• Where clinicals, practica, simulations, laboratory work, residencies, or intensives occur.

• Whether a specialty requires particular practice experience, RN/APRN licensure, certification, or additional clinical credentials.

Program approval and national accreditation are related but different considerations. Approval is a regulatory matter, particularly for pre-licensure education, while accreditation evaluates nursing education against recognized quality standards.

Tuition, Financial Aid, and Costs

Rates, residency rules, fees, and additional costs can change. nursing.msu

The post-master’s DNP page states that tuition varies by residency status and directs students to the university Controller’s Office for current rates and fees. nursing.msu

 

Current nursing-program tuition and fees were not clearly published in a complete program-specific format for every pathway. Contact the university for an individualized cost estimate.

 

Ask the program for current estimates covering:

• Tuition by degree, specialty, credit load, residency, and program site

• Mandatory university, college, technology, laboratory, and clinical fees

• Clinical, preceptor, simulation, equipment, uniform, testing, and travel costs

• Background-check, drug-screening, immunization, CPR, ACEMAPP, health-insurance, and compliance expenses

• Scholarships, federal aid, employer assistance, military benefits, and payment options

• College of Nursing admissions

• Undergraduate nursing scholarships

• MSU tuition and fees

• Student Financial Aid

Clinical Learning and Student Support

The college publishes information about clinical experiences, student affairs, academic facilities, and program compliance.

• Clinical experiences: The traditional and accelerated BSN curricula include clinical courses; the college publishes course-level clinical-hour examples. nursing.msu

• RN-to-BSN clinical work: The online RN-to-BSN program includes minimal clinical experiences arranged near the student’s home, according to the college. nursing.msu

• Clinical compliance: Traditional and accelerated BSN students must enroll in ACEMAPP annually before clinical nursing experiences. nursing.msu

• Student Affairs: The Office of Student Affairs is located at the Bott Building for Nursing Education and Research, 1355 Bogue St., Room C120, and lists (517) 353-4827 and CON.nurse@msu.edu for nursing-student assistance.

• Technology and classrooms: The college lists immediate technology and classroom support at (517) 353-9020. nursing.msu

• Scholarship information: The nursing school publishes undergraduate scholarship information, including some opportunities requiring U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, demonstrated financial need, and a minimum 3.0 GPA. Eligibility differs by award. nursing.msu

• Disability services, tutoring, NCLEX preparation, career services, and student organizations: Not publicly confirmed in detail on the reviewed college pages; prospective students should contact the nursing school and central student-support offices directly.

No published clinical-learning resource should be read as a guarantee of a particular clinical placement, preceptor, site, schedule, or outcome.

Questions to Ask Before Applying

• Is the pathway approved or authorized for a student living in my state?

• Does the program meet educational requirements for my intended RN, APRN, CNS, nurse-anesthesia, or other credential?

• Which route matches my education: traditional BSN, ABSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP, certificate, or PhD?

• What prerequisite courses, GPA standards, statistics coursework, RN license, and work-experience requirements apply to me?

• Is admission to the university separate from admission to the nursing major or graduate specialty?

• What is the total cost, including tuition, fees, clinicals, simulations, travel, equipment, testing, and compliance requirements?

• Which program components are online, campus-based, hybrid, or offered at Detroit versus East Lansing?

• Where could clinical experiences, labs, simulations, or intensives take place, and what travel flexibility is expected?

• Can I work while enrolled based on the expected course and clinical workload?

• How will prior college, ADN, diploma, BSN, or graduate credits be evaluated?

• What CCNE accreditation and Michigan Board of Nursing approval applies to my precise degree, specialty, and site?

• What advising, tutoring, accessibility, clinical-preparation, wellness, and career-support resources are available?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which nursing programs are currently offered?

The college’s reviewed official pages identify traditional and accelerated BSN options, RN-to-BSN, NP MSN/DNP pathways, CNS MSN/DNP paths, nurse anesthesiology DNP, post-master’s DNP, graduate certificates, a teaching certificate, and PhD in Nursing.

Which option is appropriate if I am not yet an RN?

The published options for non-RNs are the traditional BSN and accelerated second-degree BSN. The traditional BSN is for students pursuing a first bachelor’s degree, while the ABSN is for students who already have a bachelor’s degree outside nursing.

Does the college offer an RN-to-BSN program?

Yes. The school’s RN-to-BSN is a fully online bachelor’s-completion program for currently licensed RNs with an ADN or nursing diploma. nursing.msu

Are there BSN programs at more than one location?

The traditional BSN is listed in East Lansing. The accelerated BSN is offered in Detroit and East Lansing.

Does the college offer an accelerated BSN?

Yes. The ABSN is a full-time, four-semester, 16-month, 61-credit program for applicants with a prior bachelor’s degree or higher in a non-nursing field. nursing.msu

Which nurse-practitioner concentrations are available?

The school identifies Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, Family, and Psychiatric Mental Health NP concentrations at the MSN and DNP levels. nursing.msu

Is a Clinical Nurse Specialist program available?

Yes. The college publishes CNS education at the MSN and DNP levels. It states the curriculum is fully online, with a minimum of 54 credits for the MSN and 70 for the DNP.

Is a nurse-anesthesia DNP offered?

Yes. The school publishes a Nurse Anesthesiology DNP pathway. The MSN-to-DNP admissions criteria include a nursing master’s degree, RN/APRN licensure, current BLS/ACLS/PALS credentials, GPA standards, and statistics coursework. nursing.msu

Is a PhD in Nursing available?

Yes. The school publishes a PhD in Nursing for BSN- and MSN-prepared nurses. Applicants submit the graduate application, a published $75 fee, and transcripts, among other current admissions materials. nursing.msu

How can I verify accreditation and Michigan approval?

Review the College of Nursing accreditation page, the CCNE directory, and the Michigan Board of Nursing education-program resource. Confirm the details for your exact program, specialty, campus, and admission term directly with the nursing school.

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