MSN Programs in Mississippi

By EveryNurse Staff on January 16, 2023

The role of a nurse leader is constantly growing, and the training of future managers, coordinators, and program designers related to nursing is quite important. Not only does getting an MSN degree in Mississippi equip the next crop of nurses with the leadership skills and knowledge needed to make a difference within the industry, but advanced studies in nursing also create a new generation of educators, family nurse practitioners, and nurse-midwives. Nurses registered to work in the state will encounter a mix of on-campus and online MSN programs that offer varying specialties.

Schools With MSN Programs in Mississippi

University of Mississippi Medical Center provides access to a CCNE-accredited MSN program in the city of Jackson. Boasting high pass rates on national certification examinations, students may pursue one of six tracks centered on a curriculum for advanced practice, education or administration. The school also provides an RN-to-MSN degree program for part-time and full-time students who have an associate degree or diploma in nursing, or who would like to earn a master’s degree in three years or less. The MSN programs at the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Alcorn State University is home to an MSN program that offers two options of study: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Nurse Educator (NE). The programs offered through the Department of Graduate Nursing are accredited by the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).

Located in Columbus, students attending Mississippi University for Women may concentrate their studies on obtaining a degree to become a Family Nurse Practitioner (39 semester hours), Adult-Geriatric Nurse Practitioner (44 semester hours), and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (47 semester hours). The CCNE accredited programs are geared towards nurses who not only possess a baccalaureate in nursing, but also have two years of bedside registered nursing experience under her belt.

The University of Southern Mississippi, located in Hattiesburg,offers an MSN program through the school’s College of Nursing. The CCNE accredited curriculum allows students to focus their studies on becoming an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Executive, or Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.

With classes taken at the Hattiesburg and Tradition campuses, William Carey University offers a CCNE accredited Master of Science in Nursing program for nurses interested in focusing on the field of education. Through the University’s School of Nursing, students have the choice to pursue their degree on a part- or full-time basis.

At the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing at Delta State University, students may pursue a graduate-level education though online instruction for the following accredited MSN program tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner (42 to 45 credit hours), Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (43 credit hours), Nurse Administrator (44 credit hours), Nurse Educator (45 to 48 credit hours), and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Adult/Family – 43 credit hours).

For nurses with an interest in working with pregnant mothers and newborns, Frontier Nursing University provides online instruction for Mississippi residents that culminate in the receipt of a MSN-DNP degree in Nurse Midwifery.

Mississippi MSN Checklist

Become licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in Mississippi.
Apply to and enter a Master of Science in Nursing program at an accredited college or university.
If applicable, fulfill requirements for graduation, such as completing a thesis, specialty project, or pre-determined number of clinical hours.
Apply for licensure with the Mississippi Board of Nursing (~ $100 fee); the Board requires that an applicant’s school submits an official final transcript indicating the type of degree earned and the completion date of a specific program within 30 days of graduation.
Complete and notarize an Authorization to Release Information form with application.
Pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Mississippi.

Level Up Your Career

Mississippi MSN Salary & Job Outlook

Since a Master of Science in Nursing increases the number of jobs that a nurse may qualify for that demand a higher-level of responsibility, the advanced degree also increases the potential income of a healthcare professional. For starters, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median annual salaries for the following MSN-degree related careers in Mississippi: medical and health service managers ($78,470),nurse practitioners ($91,940), and nurse anesthetists ($135,630).