Nursing Leadership
Master's
Northeastern University's Master of Science in Nursing Leadership provides fulfilling professional paths for students who want to take their undergraduate nursing degree and career to the next level.
Program overview
Step up to a leadership role
Northeastern University’s Master of Science in Nursing Leadership prepares you for healthcare leadership with advanced knowledge, skills, and experience in evidence-based clinical practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, healthcare innovation, fiscal responsibility, and leadership principles.
You’ll learn alongside nursing colleagues who bring diverse experiences and specialties to the program. Together, you will explore theoretical topics and gain experience in various healthcare environments-building a deep proficiency in healthcare services and quality, organizational systems analysis, fiscal responsibility, and effective student and peer evaluation and mentorship.
You can personalize your degree to your interests with a concentration in postsecondary teaching, nurse executive, patient safety, or AI applications.
Northeastern University’s Master of Science in Nursing Leadership prepares you for healthcare leadership with advanced knowledge, skills, and experience in evidence-based clinical practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, healthcare innovation, fiscal responsibility, and leadership principles.
You’ll learn alongside nursing colleagues who bring diverse experiences and specialties to the program. Together, you will explore theoretical topics and gain experience in various healthcare environments-building a deep proficiency in healthcare services and quality, organizational systems analysis, fiscal responsibility, and effective student and peer evaluation and mentorship.
You can personalize your degree to your interests with a concentration in postsecondary teaching, nurse executive, patient safety, or AI applications.
- Leverage your current experience in a program that develops new professional pathways
- Flex your studies to meet your needs with online courses and the choice of a part- or full-time schedule
- Advance your career with a rigorous and relevant curriculum
- Participate in research opportunities and professional mentorship
- Earn an interprofessional degree with a concentration that matches your interests
- Study and network with high-performing, high-achieving classmates from a variety of backgrounds
- Gain a lifelong alumni and professional community
Clinical Nurse Educator
In many states, nursing registration boards now mandate that clinical nursing faculty and all BSN-prepared instructors serving as clinical faculty must have a minimum of a master’s degree with coursework in education or an education certification. This concentration allows you to meet employer requirements and pursue more advanced roles as a healthcare educator.
Administration/Nurse Executive
Hospitals and healthcare facilities are looking to enhance the level of leadership and business skills in nurses who serve as nurse managers and departmental directors with unit, team, or service line influence. This interdisciplinary concentration prepares beginner nurse executives to meet the need for healthcare leadership on a unit and departmental managerial level. The concentration provides skills related to fiscal responsibility, budgetary management, communication, and organizational culture within a variety of healthcare settings.
Patient Safety
Patient safety is integral to healthcare quality and financial viability. While patient safety is the responsibility of all healthcare providers, nurses who are the direct care providers have the opportunity, with an expanded knowledge base, to serve as the leaders and designers of organizational patient safety programming and quality improvement initiatives. This concentration will prepare you to succeed in roles that uphold this critical nursing component.
AI Applications
Explore foundational concepts of AI and its applications in healthcare, public health, pharmacology, and pharmaceutical sciences. The concentration covers the history of AI, common AI approaches, and state-of-the-art applications across the health sciences. You’ll learn to discern between AI’s capabilities and limitations while examining ethical and regulatory considerations.
Nursing leaders with advanced degrees are in demand as:
- Educators
- Nurse managers
- Nurse executives and officers
- Clinical and nursing professors
- Quality improvement specialists
- Patient safety innovators
- Nurse faculty
- Unit leaders
- Program directors
- Industry leaders
- Community leaders
Admissions
Apply to the program
A graduate degree or certificate from Northeastern can accelerate your career through rigorous academic coursework and real-world professional experience in your area of interest. Apply to take your career to the next level.
A graduate degree or certificate from Northeastern can accelerate your career through rigorous academic coursework and real-world professional experience in your area of interest. Apply to take your career to the next level.
Fall Term
| Application Deadline: | August 1 |
Spring Term
| Application Deadline: | November 15 |
Application
Application fee
Baccalaureate degree in nursing
Minimum GPA of 3.0
Transcripts from all institutions attended
Transcripts from outside of the U.S. will require a course-by-course evaluation from WES or ECE
Current U.S. RN license
Two letters of recommendation (academic and professional)
Resumé / Curriculum vitae
Statement of Purpose / Essay
*TOEFL or IELTS for applicants who do not hold a degree from a U.S. institution and whose native language is not English
Program objectives
Prepare for success
Prepare for a healthcare leadership role with advanced knowledge, skills, and experience in evidence-based clinical practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, healthcare innovation, fiscal responsibility, and principles of leadership.
Lead the design, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of evidence-based practice improvement initiatives as you critically analyze complex clinical situations and practice environments to healthcare system changes.
Direct the development and implementation of social, economic, political, and health policies as you establish and evaluate cultural competency initiatives to promote equity in healthcare and health outcomes.
Degree building
Occupations
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Cost of attendance
Tuition and financial aid
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$48,645 - $54,855Tuition in USD
Estimated Total Tuition
This is an estimate based on the tuition rates for Academic Year 2025-2026 and does not include any fees or other expenses. Some courses and labs have tuition rates that may increase or decrease total tuition. Tuition and fees are subject to revision by the president and Board of Trustees at any time. Select programs at select campuses offer additional scholarships of up to 25% off the listed price for domestic students studying on campus. For more detailed information, please visit Student Financial Services.
For students interested in pursuing financial assistance or educational loans, additional educational costs, known as Cost of Attendance (COA) components, can be included in the calculation of aid and loan eligibility. Components may include food, housing, books, course materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, personal expenses, and the cost of obtaining a first professional licensure. You can find comprehensive details on the Student Financial Services website. Please keep in mind that COA can vary significantly depending on academic program, enrollment intensity, and individual circumstances.
There are many ways to pay for your education, including scholarships, financial aid, and more. Connect with a financial counselor to learn about your options and make your dream a reality.
Visit tuition & financial aidYour education, your way
Northeastern's online classes give you the same top-tier education you'd get in person, on a schedule that works for your lifestyle and career needs. They offer a range of videos, interactives, breakout sessions, and experience-focused learning opportunities to immerse you in the material and build community. You'll graduate with the same degree as your in-person peers.
#8
Northeastern's national ranking for Most Innovative Schools
(U.S. News & World Report, 2024)
53.5%
Percent of graduate students in the U.S. enrolled in online courses
(NCES, 2022)
97%
Percent of students in the U.S. who recommend online education
(BestColleges, 2024)
Connect with us
Want more information?
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