BSN vs MSN: Which Nursing Path Should I Pursue?

As the healthcare industry keeps growing every day, getting a degree related to this field would be a wise investment for your career. The two famous options you need to choose between are the BSN and the MSN degree. But which one is the right career path for you?

Keep reading through this article to learn more about BSN vs. MSN degrees, and their differences regarding the curriculum, job outlook, salary, and program length.

BSN Meaning and Overview

BSN stands for Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is an undergraduate degree that prepares aspiring nurses for entry-level positions in healthcare. The BSN degree provides a solid foundation for a career in nursing while giving you the chance to advance your career. The program includes classes that cover the core elements of nursing practices and enables you to gain experience through clinical hours.

Except for the standard BSN program, students who have already earned a non-nursing degree can choose to pursue an accelerated BSN. On the other hand, there are RN to BSN programs available if you are a  student nurse who is already licensed.

BSN general admission requirements

While different universities may set different criteria, typical admission requirements include academic transcripts, 2.5-3.0 GPAs, TEAS scores, and a resume. 

When applying for a BSN program, candidates must have completed general prerequisite education courses at an accredited higher education institution. In addition, you need to pass the Test of Essentials Academic Skills (TEAS), which includes reading, math, science, and English and language usage.

Other requirements may include letters of recommendation, an essay, and TOEFL scores for international students.

MSN Meaning and Overview

An MSN refers to a Master's of Science in Nursing and is a graduate degree that qualifies nurses for advanced and leadership positions in healthcare. With the program focusing on specific nursing fields, a professional holding an MSN can pursue a career in advanced practice nursing, healthcare administration, or as a nurse researcher. 

For nurses interested in broadening their career horizons, enrolling in an MSN program can be ideal. There are different pathways to earning this degree, including the following:

  • BSN-to-MSN

  • RN-to-MSN

  • BA/BS-to-MSN

  • Post-Master's Certificate.

While the BSN-to-MSN is the most common type, the RN-to-MSN is an option where you can get the MSN without completing a BSN. If you hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree, you can go for the BA/BS-to-MSN, while if you already have an MSN but are interested in another specialization, you can choose a Post-Master's certificate.

MSN general admission requirements

Following the traditional route, you would need a BSN degree to be able to apply for an MSN program. However, that can vary depending on the type of program you choose. Above we established that you do not need a BSN for certain MSN programs. 

In addition to this, other prerequisites for enrolling in an MSN can vary on the university and program but usually include:

  • An RN license

  • Transcripts

  • Minimum GPA scores (usually 2.5-3.5)

  • Clinical experience 

  • Personal essays

  • Letters of recommendation, etc.

MSN degree specializations

Since an MSN degree enables students to focus on one specific area during their studies, programs usually offer specializations in various advanced practice areas. These MSN specializations prepare you for a career such as:

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Main Differences Between BSN and MSN Degrees

Though they both feature nursing programs and share some similarities, BSN and MSN are two different degrees that contrast each other in many ways. 

When comparing them, the primary difference between BSN and MSN degrees lies in the curriculum—what the program focuses on and prepares you for—therefore affecting the degree length, job prospects, and finally, the salary of your potential job. Below you can learn more as we go through each of these aspects.

Curriculum

While the BSN curriculum offers general nursing knowledge, an MSN degree program will allow you to focus on a specific area of nursing. 

Depending on your MSN concentration, you can expect advanced core classes in physiology/pathophysiology, health assessment, pharmacology, and courses specific to your area of specialty.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)'s The Essentials of Master's Education in Nursing, the MSN curriculum focuses on three components:

  • Graduate Nursing Core: the foundational curriculum necessary for all MSN students regardless of their concentration.

  • Direct Care Core: crucial content to provide advanced direct patient services

  • Functional Area Content: including clinical and didactic learning focusing on specific nursing roles or functions

On the other hand, a BSN curriculum covers general education courses such as basic math, communications, and public health. In addition, BSN programs include nursing-specific courses like:

  • introduction to nursing,

  • health assessment,

  • nursing management,

  • healthcare policy,

  • professional nursing,

  • medical and surgical care,

  • gerontology,

  • pharmacology,

  • family nursing, etc.

The MSN curriculum offers more advanced training and education, going beyond the basic knowledge that the BSN provides. 

Program length

A standard BSN program usually takes four years to complete, while an MSN takes two years. However, you need a bachelor's degree to be able to apply for an MSN; therefore, an MSN may take longer than four years if the student hasn't earned an undergraduate degree yet.

Furthermore, depending on the type of the program, the time it takes to graduate from each degree may vary. LPN-to-BSN programs take approximately two to three years, while RN-to-BSN programs can take 18 to 24 months to complete. On the other hand, RN-to-MSN bridge programs may take three to four years, direct-entry MSNs can take from 18 months to three years, and accelerated BSN-to-MSN programs can take as little as a year and a half or less to complete.

Job prospects

Holding an advanced degree will generally offer more employment opportunities than an undergraduate degree. That is also the case when comparing BSN vs. MSN job outlooks. To support this statement, we will rely on Bureau of Labor Statistics data, showing the estimated employment growth for the top positions that a graduate can earn by pursuing these degrees.

BSN graduates are usually employed as registered nurses, a position with a promising job outlook of 9 percent from 2020 to 2030. However, when it comes to jobs you can get by pursuing an MSN, the BLS predicts a much higher employment growth. This decade's job outlook for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners is expected to be 45 percent. 

Salary

When it comes to MSN salary vs. BSN salary, advanced education guarantees higher payments for its graduates compared to those of undergraduate degree holders.

According to the latest data, nurses with a BSN degree in the United States make an average of $79,623 per year. On the other hand, the average annual salary for an MSN nurse is $102,522.

Even if we go further and compare different BSN vs. MSN positions, nurses with MSN-required jobs usually earn higher incomes compared to nurses with BSN degrees.

BSN vs MSN: Which One Should I Pursue?

Ultimately, aspiring nurses can benefit from both degrees. When it comes down to deciding on one of them, you must consider your personal career goals and long-term plans.

Keep in mind that you can always choose both—building upon the BSN foundation by later pursuing an MSN and advancing your career can be a perfect option.

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