As fulfilling as nursing is, there comes a time when many nurses find themselves in search of a new challenge. This may come through greater specialization and autonomy, better compensation, or moving into a new field like nursing education. A common path for advancing one’s nursing career is completing a master of science in nursing (MSN) program.

An MSN degree is a graduate-level qualification for nurses seeking advancement in specialized areas such as nursing administration, nursing education, family practice nursing, or anesthesia. More than seventy MSN programs are offered throughout Ohio in a broad range of specialties, including pediatric health, midwifery, public health, and geriatric nursing. There is a very good chance you can find a program in-state that fits your career advancement goals.

In fact, there are even direct-entry MSN programs for aspiring nurses who decide to enter the field after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing subject. These programs prepare students for the NCLEX-RN initial licensure examination. Ohio has four universities offering this program: Case Western Reserve University, College of Mount St. Joseph, University of Toledo, and Xavier University.

MSN-educated nurses can expect strong compensation in their field of specialization. For example, Ohio’s nurse practitioners earn a median annual salary of $88,780, while the state’s nurse midwifes earn $89,390 per year on average. Ohio’s nurse anesthetists do even better, earning an impressive $141,910 in annual compensation.

If you are interested in pursuing an MSN degree at one of Ohio’s prestigious universities, you may find our list below helpful. We’ve identified the schools with the best MSN programs in each of the state’s major cities.

Akron

Kent State University
1375 University Esplanade | Kent, Ohio 44242
  • Master of Science in Nursing
University of Akron
209 Carroll Street | Akron, Ohio 44325
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse Anesthesia
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
School Address Programs offered
Kent State University 1375 University Esplanade
Kent, Ohio 44242
  • Master of Science in Nursing
University of Akron 209 Carroll Street
Akron, Ohio 44325
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse Anesthesia
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion

Canton

Malone University
2600 Cleveland Avenue NW | Canton, Ohio 44709
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing
Walsh University
2020 East Maple Street | North Canton, Ohio 44720
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
School Address Programs offered
Malone University 2600 Cleveland Avenue NW
Canton, Ohio 44709
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing
Walsh University 2020 East Maple Street
North Canton, Ohio 44720
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion

Cincinnati

Mount St. Joseph University
5701 Delhi Road | Cincinnati, Ohio 45233
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
University of Cincinnati
3110 Vine Street | Cincinnati, Ohio 45221
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse-Midwifery
  • MSN: Nursing Administration
  • MSN: Occupational Health Nursing
  • MSN: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing
Xavier University
3800 Victory Parkway | Cincinnati, Ohio 45207
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • MSN: Nursing Administration
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • MSN: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
School Address Programs offered
Mount St. Joseph University 5701 Delhi Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45233
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
University of Cincinnati 3110 Vine Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse-Midwifery
  • MSN: Nursing Administration
  • MSN: Occupational Health Nursing
  • MSN: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing
Xavier University 3800 Victory Parkway
Cincinnati, Ohio 45207
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • MSN: Nursing Administration
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • MSN: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion

Cleveland

Case Western Reserve University
10900 Euclid Avenue | Cleveland, Ohio 44106
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Emergency Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse Anesthesia
  • MSN: Nurse-Midwifery
  • MSN: Palliative Care
  • MSN: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Cleveland State University
2121 Euclid Avenue | Cleveland, Ohio 44115
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • MSN: Nursing Administration
  • Master of Science in Nursing
Ursuline College
2550 Lander Road | Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • MSN: Palliative Care
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
School Address Programs offered
Case Western Reserve University 10900 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44106
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Emergency Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse Anesthesia
  • MSN: Nurse-Midwifery
  • MSN: Palliative Care
  • MSN: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Cleveland State University 2121 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • MSN: Nursing Administration
  • Master of Science in Nursing
Ursuline College 2550 Lander Road
Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • MSN: Palliative Care
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion

Columbus

Capital University
East Main Street & College Avenue | Columbus, Ohio 43209
  • MSN: Nursing Administration
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • Master of Science in Nursing
Franklin University
201 South Grant Avenue | Columbus, Ohio 43215
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Generalist
  • MSN: Nurse Administrator
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
127 South Davis Avenue | Columbus, Ohio 43222
  • Master of Science in Nursing
Ohio State University
1585 Neil Avenue | Columbus, Ohio 43210
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • Master of Science in Nursing
Otterbein University
One South Grove Street | Westerville, Ohio 43081
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse Anesthesia
  • MSN: Nursing Administration
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
School Address Programs offered
Capital University East Main Street & College Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43209
  • MSN: Nursing Administration
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • Master of Science in Nursing
Franklin University 201 South Grant Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43215
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Generalist
  • MSN: Nurse Administrator
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
Mount Carmel College of Nursing 127 South Davis Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43222
  • Master of Science in Nursing
Ohio State University 1585 Neil Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • Master of Science in Nursing
Otterbein University One South Grove Street
Westerville, Ohio 43081
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse Anesthesia
  • MSN: Nursing Administration
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion

Dayton

Wright State University
3640 Colonel Glenn Highway | Dayton, Ohio 45435
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • MSN: Nursing Administration
  • Master of Science in Nursing
School Address Programs offered
Wright State University 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway
Dayton, Ohio 45435
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • MSN: Nursing Administration
  • Master of Science in Nursing

Toledo

Lourdes University
6832 Convent Boulevard | Sylvania, Ohio 43560
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • MSN: Nurse Anesthesia
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
University of Toledo
3000 Arlington Avenue | Toledo, Ohio 43614
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing
School Address Programs offered
Lourdes University 6832 Convent Boulevard
Sylvania, Ohio 43560
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • MSN: Nurse Anesthesia
  • MSN: Nursing Education
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • RN-to-MSN Degree Completion
University of Toledo 3000 Arlington Avenue
Toledo, Ohio 43614
  • Direct Entry MSN
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing

Youngstown

Youngstown State University
One University Plaza | Youngstown, Ohio 44555
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse Anesthetist
  • MSN: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing
School Address Programs offered
Youngstown State University One University Plaza
Youngstown, Ohio 44555
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse Anesthetist
  • MSN: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Nursing

Other Ohio cities

Franciscan University of Steubenville
1235 University Boulevard | Steubenville, Ohio 43952
  • Master of Science in Nursing
Ohio University
53 Richland Avenue | Athens, Ohio 45701
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse Educator
  • MSN: Nurse Leader
  • MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
School Address Programs offered
Franciscan University of Steubenville 1235 University Boulevard
Steubenville, Ohio 43952
  • Master of Science in Nursing
Ohio University 53 Richland Avenue
Athens, Ohio 45701
  • MSN: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner
  • MSN: Nurse Educator
  • MSN: Nurse Leader
  • MSN: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Category: 
Ohio