Direct Entry MS in Nursing for Non-Nurses with pathway to DNP or PhD

Care to make a difference?

Join a community of caring individuals with a range of academic backgrounds as you prepare to be a master’s-educated registered nurse in as little as 16 months.

The Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing at UMass Chan Medical School offers a high-quality, affordable, collaborative and supportive learning environment. Alongside peers who have earned bachelor’s degrees in fields other than nursing, prepare to become an evidence-based and clinically ready nurse leader who can confidently apply quality and safety data to inform and improve the practice of nursing. We offer guaranteed clinical placements and interprofessional training at the only nursing school in Massachusetts that shares a campus with a nationally top-ranked medical school. Financial aid may be available upon acceptance.

Time to degree Earn your MS in nursing in four semesters with optional pathway to DNP or PhD

100% NCLEX pass rate and guaranteed clinical placements

Affordable high-quality and interprofessional learning environment

Application opens Aug. 8, 2025

Application deadlines for a fall 2026 start

Early admission application deadline (To secure your spot in the class, apply by this date): Nov. 2, 2025

Final application deadline: March 22, 2026

Applicants must submit a completed application to NursingCAS by the final application deadline to be considered for admission. Application status emails will be sent to the email address provided on the application via NursingCAS. 

Admission requirements

Bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field

GPA of 3.0 or higher for all degrees previously earned

Required coursework

• Statistics (no time frame on completion) 
• The following courses must have been completed within five years of application with a grade of B- or higher. If these prerequisite courses were taken between five to seven years prior, you may be accepted with a condition to complete course N590H Human Physiology online at Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing during the summer prior to matriculation: 
  • Anatomy & Physiology 1 with lab
  • Anatomy & Physiology 2 with lab
  • Microbiology with lab
• The following courses must have been completed within seven years of application with a grade of B- or higher:
  • Nutrition
  • Human Growth & Development Across the Lifespan

If any prerequisite courses are in progress at the time of application, the applicant must upload to the documents section of the NursingCAS application the college/university, course and expected date of completion. Online prerequisites from accredited colleges are accepted. 

Personal statement
Please address the following three prompts in up to 500 words:

1. Please discuss a person, an incident or experience in your life that has motivated you to pursue nursing as a career and describe your short- and long-term goals as a nurse.  
2. Please describe what makes you a good fit for the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing.  
3. The direct entry program is demanding in terms of time commitment and the amount of information you will be required to learn. Describe the strategies you will use to meet the requirements of this full-time, fast-paced master's program. 

References
Please submit two letters of recommendation from academic or professional individuals who can speak to your work over the last five years. Academic references should come from a former or current faculty member or advisor. Professional references should come from a former or current supervisor or professional colleague who can speak to your experience, competence, readiness, leadership, work ethic and dedication to your work. 

CV/resume

Supplemental application
The supplemental application is completed outside of NursingCAS. Applicants will gain access via email only once they submit their NursingCAS application and pay the NursingCAS fee. There is an additional supplemental admissions application fee.

Attestation of authenticity of application

Residency validation form

Criminal background check

Video essay
Applicants are required to complete three video essay questions as part of the supplemental application. Each essay response can be up to two minutes.

Total program cost (based on 2025-2026 tuition rates)

In-state                                    $70,849

New England regional            $79,982   

Out-of-state                             $89,107   

Contact

Alicia Collins
Assistant Director, Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing at UMass Chan Medical School
gsnadmissions@umassmed.edu

The Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing pre-licensure program is approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing, Nursing Registration in Massachusetts, 239 Causeway Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114.

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