Some RNs want to move through the Master of Science in Nursing program as fast as possible and move on to advanced practice nursing.  Others are continuing to work full time and as a matter of necessity must locate a part-time MSN program that allows for a work schedule and family schedule along with the academic schedule.  Not all schools with graduate nursing programs are willing to accommodate part time students.  Here is a list of schools from around the country that provide part time MSN options.

1. Simmons College School of Health Sciences has options for RN to MSN students, for MSN students with a non-nursing bachelors degree, for nurses with an associate’s degree and for BSN graduates.  All of the programs have the flexibility for full time and part time study.
2. Pacific Lutheran University in the Seattle/Tacoma area has an MSN program for working nurses that features evening classes one or two days a week.  The school is very career oriented; many of their faculty members maintain advanced nursing careers of their own.  For clinical student hours they have contracted with over 100 institutions in the area.
3. East Carolina University has a part time plan for MSN students in various specialties including neonatal nurse practitioner, acute care nurse practitioner, nurse educator and several of the other specialties.  The part time curriculum plans generally extend over four years rather than two.  Many of these programs are available online as well as on campus.
4. Michigan State University is offering the MSN program in an assortment of formats including online courses, interactive courses and campus based classroom and clinical activities.  Students may enroll on a full time or part time basis.
5. University of Washington has the finest nursing school in the country.  Their MSN Nurse Practitioner program is a twelve-quarter course of study that is available to selected students on a part time basis.  Those schedules are set based on individual need.  Other MSN specialties have some degree of part time availability as well.
6. New York University College of Nursing makes the MSN programs available full time over a two year period or part time over three years plus one summer session.  Their specializations include the nurse practitioner fields of pediatrics, acute care, geriatrics, mental health nursing, nurse educator and several others including nursing informatics.
7. University of Texas has the entire range of advanced practice nursing programs affiliated with the MSN degree.  Students on the RN to MSN track generally take up to three years to finish; students on the alternate degree track can take up to four years to complete the program.  Part time status is acceptable but will take longer yet.
8. Johns Hopkins University has one of the finest medical education facilities in the nation.  The School of Nursing has all of the MSN specialties available for both full time and part time students.  There is a strong public health orientation with an MSN/MPH dual degree option and a Health Systems Management MSN specialty.  There is also a graduate program in Nurse Forensics.
9. University of Vermont offers the Master of Science in Nursing for both full time and part time students.  The entire program requires 54 – 60 credit hours of work and a thesis or capstone project along with the clinical hours that accompany the medical specializations.
10. University of Illinois offers the MSN program at the Chicago, Rockford, Peoria, Urbana and Quad Cities campuses.  All programs are available on a full time or part time basis; the part time student will likely take four years to complete the program and longer if there are additional specialization classes or clinical hours required.