As a registered nurse, one of the best ways to broaden your skills and ensure a long and rewarding career is to invest in your education. Industry expectations are changing, and more hospitals and health care organizations recommend an advanced degree in nursing. The RN to BS to MS program offers a flexible, accelerated path allowing you to earn a master’s degree from the region’s largest and most trusted health care system.
The University of Rochester School of Nursing is the ideal place to complete your master’s degree. We provide amazing student support and direction to help balance your full work and class schedule. A blend of online and evening in-class sessions provides the convenience of working at your own pace to earn your bachelor’s degree along with a personal touch that other schools don’t offer.
Our faculty are highly experienced clinicians and researchers, and classwork is focused on real-world applications of industry-leading best practices. Complete all of your clinical experience right here in the University of Rochester Medical Center or in the region.
The RN to BS to MS program is designed for academically strong, experienced nurses who want to enhance their skills and meet the challenges of a rapidly changing health care system.
Choose from the following master's degree programs, including:
Take the next step in your career and become a UR Nurse!
How to Apply
Review the eligibility and application requirements for the RN to BS to MS program before starting your online application.
Program eligibility requirements include:
an associate degree or diploma in nursing
RN licensure, specifically New York State RN licensure required to complete field study and clinical practicum
CPR certification (professional course must be taken with the American Heart Association)
statistics course with a grade of C or above. (For those who do not currently meet the requirement, we offer an online, self-paced statistics course which can be completed in as little as four weeks)
(Students without clinical experience are also eligible to apply and should discuss their options with our Admissions Office.)
Admission to matriculated programs, and transfer credit approval, requires previously earned coursework to have been earned from an institution accredited by a USDE (U.S. Department of Education) or CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation) approved accrediting agency. Transfer credit from institutions meeting accreditation requirements shall be approved upon review of course content and alignment with learning outcomes. Nursing degrees must also be accredited through an approved professional agency, such as Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Tuition for the RN to BS to MS program is charged per credit hour and varies between the RN to BS portion and master's portion of the program. Tuition for the 2020-21 academic calendar year is:
$1,200
per credit hour
Full tuition rate for the RN to BS program.
$600
per credit hour
for nurses who live or work in the 18-county Western NY region who will receive the 50% Finger Lakes Regional Scholarship for the RN to BS portion of the program.
$540
per credit hour
for associate or diploma-prepared nurses who work at a University of Rochester affiliate organization and who will receive the 55% Affiliate Professional Development Grant for the RN to BS portion of the program.
$0
per credit hour
for University of Rochester employees who are eligible for the School of Nursing Tuition Grant. for the RN to BS portion of the program.
$1,610
per credit hour
for the master's portion of the program. Scholarships and grants at the master's level are based on concentration. See Scholarships and Funding Opportunities page for more information.
Program Duration
Students earn a bachelor's degree upon completion of 32 nursing credits in as little as 16 months (assuming arts and sciences credit requirements have been met) and a master's degree part time in as little as two to three years. Actual program length depends on course load.
With a master’s degree from the UR School of Nursing, you’ll enjoy an exciting variety of career options across a broad selection of health care organizations, including: