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Frequently Asked Questions

North Park’s Direct Entry MSN is an accelerated pathway that’s even more advanced than traditional accelerated BSN programs. Located in Chicago, the DEMSN allows you to earn a master’s degree while becoming a registered nurse. Chicago also offers several accelerated BSN programs, but our Direct Entry MSN provides additional leadership training and advanced nursing knowledge that can accelerate your career growth.

There are additional fees not included in the base tuition. Take a look at the MBA program page for applicable information.

A Direct Entry MSN (DEMSN) prepares you to become a registered nurse, not a nurse practitioner. However, after graduating and gaining RN experience, you can pursue post-master’s certificates or additional education to become a nurse practitioner. Many DEMSN graduates go on to specialize in areas like family practice, pediatrics, or acute care through additional training programs.

Yes. Licensed teachers can earn the LBS1 endorsement, ESL endorsement, middle grades endorsement, or the combined LBS1 & ESL endorsement by selecting the appropriate elective courses (and passing the relevant exam, if applicable).

Yes, students can take courses on a part-time or full-time basis.

The choice depends on your goals and timeline:

Choose Direct Entry MSN if you:

  • Want to complete nursing education faster
  • Desire leadership preparation from day one
  • Prefer higher earning potential
  • Want advanced critical thinking skills
  • Plan to pursue leadership or specialty roles

Choose Traditional BSN if you:

  • Prefer a longer, less intensive pace
  • Want to work as an RN before pursuing graduate education
  • Need more flexibility in your schedule
  • Are concerned about program intensity

Yes, a current Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) is required.

A nursing background is not required. Direct Entry MSN programs are specifically designed for college graduates with bachelor’s degrees in non-nursing fields. Whether your background is in business, psychology, biology, education, or any other field, you can apply to our DEMSN program. The DEMSN curriculum is designed to teach you everything you need to know about nursing from the ground up while providing graduate-level education.

When you apply, our admissions office will determine your eligibility for North Park’s financial aid offerings. All students may apply for student aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

No, they do not offer licensure or certification.

Yes. The coursework covers the characteristics of exceptional learners, IDEA requirements, assessment, and instructional methods, and prepares you to sit for the LBS1 exam.

Yes, for most programs. The amount accepted varies—for example, up to 6 credits for the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and up to 9 credits for the MSN-FNP—and is confirmed through an official transfer credit evaluation after you submit transcripts.

Yes—in addition to online coursework, students complete practicum and internship experience with faculty support.

No. Like other endorsement-only programs, it is not eligible for federal financial aid.

Coursework is delivered through Canvas and taught by faculty experienced in online instruction, with most programs following a flexible, asynchronous format. Some programs — like the Direct Entry MSN and MSN-FNP — combine online coursework with required in-person clinical or skills-immersion components in the Chicago area.

It depends on the program. Standalone endorsements can be completed in as few as two–four months, master’s programs generally run 11–24 months, and more clinically intensive programs like the MSN-FNP take up to 32 months.

North Park’s Direct Entry MSN can be completed in as few as 20 months over 5 semesters of intensive, full-time study. This accelerated format allows you to become a registered nurse faster than traditional 4-year BSN programs while earning a master’s degree. The program includes 68 credit hours of coursework and 612 hours of clinical experience.

As few as 32 months (52 credit hours) at $925 per credit hour.

It can be completed in as few as 4 months (4 courses, 12 credit hours) at $665 per credit hour.

As few as 11–16 months (30 credit hours) at $665 per credit hour—no GRE or entrance exam required.

As few as 2 months, made up of 2 courses, comprising 6 credit hours.

It’s designed to be completed in about two years (60 credit hours) at $860 per credit hour.

The program includes 765 practicum hours. Clinical placement is a shared responsibility among the student, faculty, and university—students are encouraged to draw on their professional networks to secure a preceptor, and faculty can assist if needed. However, all sites and preceptors require University approval.

The program includes 612 hours of practicum experience, completed in North Park’s simulation center and at partner healthcare facilities throughout the Chicago area.

You may transfer up to 10 credit hours, which may be applied to either core or elective requirements. To learn more, review the Admissions and Aid information for transfer students.

North Park offers multiple start dates throughout the year (for example, the fall term begins September 7, 2026 and the summer term begins May 11, 2026), though exact deadlines and start dates vary by program.

North Park’s Direct Entry MSN program costs $925 per credit hour for 68 total credits, with an estimated total tuition of $62,900 plus fees. While this represents a significant investment, Direct Entry MSN graduates often see faster career advancement and higher earning potential compared to BSN graduates. Financial aid, including federal loans and scholarships, may be available to help offset costs.

No—a teaching license isn’t required for the general (non-licensure) track. It’s only required if you’re pursuing one of the licensure concentrations.

Yes. North Park is the university of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and its mission is to prepare students for lives of significance and service through education in the liberal arts, professional studies, and theology. Its core identity is Christian, city-centered, and intercultural—the university welcomes students of all backgrounds and beliefs, and enrollment isn’t limited to any particular faith.

Yes, the program is CACREP-accredited—a distinction that supports a smoother path to licensure and is widely recognized by employers as a mark of quality counselor education.

North Park’s DEMSN program is primarily on-ground with some hybrid elements. Based out of our Chicago campus, some coursework may include online components. Clinical experiences take place at partner healthcare facilities throughout the Chicago area. This format ensures you get hands-on experience while benefiting from face-to-face interaction with faculty and classmates.

Coursework is 100% online, with a required on-site skills immersion/simulation lab on North Park’s campus.

No—the program is 100% online with no in-person field experience required.

An active, unencumbered RN license in Illinois; a BSN from a CCNE-, ACEN-, or NLNAC-accredited program; a minimum GPA of 3.0; prerequisite coursework in nursing research, statistics, and health assessment; and a completed NursingCAS application with essay and two professional recommendations.

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (recommended GPA of 2.75 or higher), a current résumé, two professional/academic recommendations, an essay, and a faculty interview. Up to six transfer credits may be accepted.

When evaluating Direct Entry MSN programs, consider factors like:

  • NCLEX-RN pass rates (North Park: 100%)*
  • Accreditation status (North Park is CCNE-accredited)
  • Clinical partnership quality
  • Faculty-to-student ratios
  • Location and clinical opportunities
  • Job placement rates
  • Alumni network strength

North Park’s program stands out for its perfect NCLEX pass rate, strong Chicago healthcare connections, small class sizes, and comprehensive support system.

Requirements vary by program, but most require a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, a minimum GPA (typically 2.75–3.0), official transcripts, and professional or academic references. Education endorsement programs require a current Illinois teaching license, and nursing programs have additional prerequisite coursework, and, for FNP, an active RN license.

To apply to North Park’s DEMSN program, you need:

  • A bachelor’s degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA with no D’s, F’s, or more than one withdrawal
  • Prerequisite courses: Anatomy & Physiology I & II with labs, Microbiology with lab, Chemistry with lab, and Statistics
  • Professional resume and 500-800 word essay
  • Two professional or academic references
  • U.S. citizenship or permanent residency

Licensed applicants need a current Illinois teaching license. All applicants need a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75 and official transcripts—no GRE is required.

Graduates are prepared to sit for the family nurse practitioner certification exam and begin practicing as an FNP.

North Park University offers one of the premier Direct Entry MSN programs in Illinois. Located in Chicago, our program provides access to diverse clinical experiences in one of the nation’s largest healthcare markets. Other Illinois options may include programs at various universities throughout the state, but North Park’s program stands out for its 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate*, small class sizes, and strong community partnerships.

Options include FAFSA (federal loans, grants, work-study—North Park’s school code is 001735), private loans, scholarships, and employer tuition reimbursement, plus dedicated benefits for military and veteran students. Note: standalone graduate certificate and endorsement-only programs are not eligible for federal financial aid.

A Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DEMSN) program is designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and want to become registered nurses. Unlike traditional nursing paths that require a BSN first, direct entry programs allow you to earn your master’s degree while completing all the requirements to become an RN. North Park’s DEMSN can be completed in as few as 20-months, this intensive program prepares you to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and enter the workforce as a master’s-prepared nurse.

Direct Entry MSN programs combine RN preparation with graduate-level nursing education in one streamlined program, typically taking 20-24 months. Traditional BSN programs focus solely on undergraduate nursing education and take 4 years for pre-nursing students or 12-18 months for accelerated programs. With a Direct Entry MSN, you graduate with a master’s degree, advanced nursing knowledge, and leadership skills that can lead to higher starting salaries and faster career advancement opportunities.

Learn more about why to choose a Direct Entry MSN.

North Park’s DEMSN graduates achieved a 93% NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2025.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses in the Chicago area earn an average of $93,600 per year, with critical care RNs averaging $95,779. Direct Entry MSN graduates often command higher starting salaries due to their master’s-level education and advanced knowledge. Many employers recognize the value of master’s-prepared nurses and offer additional compensation or faster pathways to leadership roles.

North Park University’s online business programs are accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). Read about how this outcomes-based business program accreditation is elite and rigorous at the IACBE website.

Graduates of direct entry MSN programs can work in any role that requires RN licensure, often with enhanced opportunities due to their master’s-level education:

  • Staff nurse in hospitals, clinics, or specialty units
  • Charge nurse or unit coordinator positions
  • Quality improvement specialist
  • Patient care coordinator
  • Clinical research coordinator
  • Eventually, with experience: nurse manager, clinical nurse specialist, or pursue nurse practitioner certification

Our graduates have achieved a 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate* and find employment in Chicago’s top healthcare systems.

Early childhood, elementary, middle grades, PK–12, and senior high education licensure.

North Park offers online programs in four fields: business (MBA with four concentrations), counseling (MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling), education (MA in Education plus licensure tracks and standalone endorsements like LBS1/special education, ESL, bilingual, and middle grades), and nursing (Direct Entry MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-AGPCNP, MSN Leadership and Management, post-graduate certificates, and DNP).

Online students get an assigned academic advisor and enrollment counselor, plus access to tutoring and academic coaching, disability resources, research/library support, and career services (e.g., career mapping, résumé development, and interview preparation).

For North Park’s DEMSN program:

  • Application Deadline: November 10, 2025
  • Start Date: January 12, 2026
  • Recommendation: Apply early, as spaces are limited and the program is competitive

We recommend starting your application process 6-12 months before the deadline to ensure you have time to complete prerequisite courses and gather all required materials.

It’s designed for aspiring teachers as well as educators already licensed in early childhood, elementary, or secondary education. For those already licensed, the special education approval is limited to the grade level of the teaching license you hold.

Yes. Graduates are prepared to sit for the National Counselor Examination (NCE); per the program’s most recent annual report, students have a 100% licensure exam pass rate and a 95% job placement rate.

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