MidAmerica Nazarene University will welcome the first cohort of students into its new Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DE-MSN) program in January 2027, becoming the first institution in Kansas to launch a program of its kind.
Designed for individuals who already hold an accredited bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing, the DE-MSN offers a streamlined pathway into one of the nation’s most in-demand professions. Rather than earning a second bachelor’s degree before pursuing graduate study, students can complete the coursework to become registered nurses while simultaneously earning a Master of Science in Nursing in just 24 months.
Jennifer Ferguson, DNP, RN, associate dean of MNU’s School of Nursing, says the program is ideal for career changers, recent graduates, and professionals who feel called to nursing yet want a pathway that rewards their prior academic achievements. “We started the DE-MSN to meet the needs of a student population we haven’t helped before,” she said.
Students entering the program do not need prior nursing experience or nursing coursework. Prerequisite science and support courses are required, and MNU faculty will work individually with prospective students to determine which prerequisites they may still need and how best to complete them.
In addition to a meaningful career with ample employment opportunities, the DE-MSN provides an accelerated path to a competitive salary. According to the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center’s “State of Nursing in Kansas” report, registered nurses in the Kansas City area earn an average starting wage of nearly $40 per hour.
The program curriculum includes the same foundational nursing education required of all pre-licensure nursing students, preparing graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination and enter professional nursing practice. Students complete coursework online while attending in-person labs, testing, and clinical experiences to ensure hands-on preparation and professional readiness.
“There is a continuing nursing shortage,” Ferguson said. “Kansas has a problem, especially in rural areas. So, this program allows more people to move into nursing faster.”
Barbara MacArthur, MN, RN, FAAN, is director of the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center.
“It’s beneficial to Kansas students to have several options for attaining their nursing education,” MacArthur said. “Creative options, including master’s direct entry programs, enable students to choose the path that fits their life, timeline and educational goals.”
While graduates of DE-MSN begin their careers as registered nurses just like other new nursing professionals, their master’s-level preparation provides a distinct advantage for future advancement.
“Most nurses work for a couple of years, then they have to go back to school to get their master’s degree,” Ferguson said. “The DE-MSN graduate can start nursing work for a couple of years, and then very seamlessly move directly into leadership at the hospital.”
The new DE-MSN builds on MNU’s longstanding reputation for innovative nursing education and responds to growing workforce needs across Kansas and beyond. By combining entry-level nursing preparation with graduate-level leadership education, the program offers students an efficient path to a rewarding healthcare career while helping address the state’s ongoing nursing shortage.
Applications are now being accepted for the inaugural cohort beginning in January 2027. Learn more about this unique opportunity at mnu.edu/pgs/direct-entry-msn.
