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. Save up to 20 credits in the bachelor's portion of the program.
Choose from our six nurse practitioner or nursing education master's degree programs, including:
Take the next step in your career and become a UR Nurse!
Program eligibility requirements include:
an associate degree or diploma in nursing
RN licensure within the United States or U.S. territory
clinical experience for the following nurse practitioner specialties:
AGPCNP, FNP, PNP, and FPMHNP programs: one year clinical experience is preferred
AGACNP program: one year full–time (or equivalent) RN experience in acute care prior to clinical enrollment
PNP/NNP program: two years NICU experience in the last five years
CPR certification (professional course must be taken with the American Heart Association or American Red Cross)
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.)
official transcripts from all schools attended, including prerequisites (cumulative GPA of 3.0 preferred)
two letters of reference (one from master’s-prepared nurse and/or nursing supervisor)
professional goal statement
resume or CV
writing sample (academic paper, clinical document, or publication)
for international students, TOEFL with a minimum score of 560 (paper-based), 230 (computer-based) or 88 (iBT)
There are no required standardized test scores, but you have the option to submit your GRE scores to be considered for admission.
Please send all supplemental application materials to:
Admissions Office University of Rochester School of Nursing Box SON 601 Elmwood Avenue Rochester, NY 14642
Application Deadlines
Students can enroll and begin the RN to BS to MS Program in September, January or May. We encourage applicants to submit their applications well before the deadline and then supplemental documents can be sent.
For a September start date
The application deadline is the prior April 1.* Notification to applicant by July to August.
For a January start date
The application deadline is the prior Sept. 1.* Notification to applicant by October to November.
For a May start date
The application deadline is the prior Jan. 2.* Notification to applicant by March to April.
*Applications for the RN to BS to MNE program are accepted on a rolling basis. The fee for applying is $50
Program Costs
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 2018-19 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 and may be eligible for 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 may be eligible for the 55% Affiliate Professional Development Grant for the RN to BS portion of the program.
$1,510
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
The RN to BS to MS Program saves a maximum of 20 undergraduate credits over the course of the part-time program.
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 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: