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Earn Your Master’s in Nursing online
Hone your skills by pursuing your master’s in nursing and transform patient care within the healthcare system or as an educator. You’ll get to explore the complexities of the healthcare systems, leadership and strategy to better serve patients and hospitals on a larger scale.
Lock In Your Tuition, Unlock Your Future.
Our Locked-In Tuition program guarantees you’ll pay the same price for your entire graduate degree.
About the Program
ACU’s online Master of Science in Nursing program prepares registered nurses to grow into advanced leadership roles in education and healthcare administration. Grounded in Christian values, the curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, ethical decision-making, leadership theory and healthcare systems management so you lead with purpose. With concentrations in Nurse Education and Nursing Administration, you can fine-tune your skills to support your career path.
Program Structure
All the Details on Your Degree
The online Master of Science in Nursing is a 36-credit-hour graduate program that offers nurses two concentrations in education and administration.
Timeframe
36 hours
2 Years
Cost: $650/Hour with $210 resource fee per term
Example Coursework
Organizational Leadership & Organization
Healthcare Systems & Strategic Planning
Health Informatics
Conflict Management in Healthcare Organizations
Upcoming Start Dates
August 25, 2026
January 17, 2027
Common Job Titles
Nurse Manager
Nurse Administrator
Academic Nurse Educator
Healthcare Administrator
Director of Nursing
Chief Nursing Officer
Curriculum & Concentrations
Our curriculum prepares you to lead with confidence in healthcare administration or nursing education through practical, career-focused learning designed for today’s evolving healthcare industry. You’ll build skills in healthcare management, communication, strategic thinking and planning, ethical leadership, evidence-based practice and patient-centered care while learning to navigate complex healthcare environments with clarity and purpose.
Through ACU’s online programs, you can personalize your experience by choosing from two 12-credit-hour concentrations in Nurse Education or Nursing Administration. Each pathway is designed to help you grow as a compassionate leader who can strengthen healthcare teams, support patient outcomes and make a meaningful impact in your community.
Nurse Education
The Nurse Education concentration prepares nurses to teach in academic and healthcare settings through coursework in instructional theory, curriculum design and student assessment. Students also build knowledge in healthcare ethics, finance and evidence-based practice to support effective teaching and mentorship. Designed for nurses passionate about education and leadership, the program equips graduates to help shape the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Nursing Administration
The Nursing Administration concentration equips nurses with the advanced leadership and strategic management skills needed to make a lasting impact across healthcare organizations. Students learn how to support teams, manage resources and improve patient outcomes while navigating the challenges of modern healthcare systems. Through coursework grounded in ethical decision making and healthcare operations, nurses are prepared to grow into roles such as Nurse Manager, Director of Nursing, Chief Nursing Officer and Nurse Administrator.
Meet the Program Director
Dr. Sandra Cleveland
Dr. Sandra Cleveland serves as an associate professor in Abilene Christian University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program, where she mentors and equips future nursing leaders through ACU’s online programs. With more than 30 years of combined experience in nursing and higher education, Cleveland brings a diverse professional background that includes work in dialysis, hospice and neurology care, particularly with stroke patients.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Grand Valley State University, a master’s degree in community health education from Wayne State University and a doctorate in nursing education from Capella University. Before joining ACU, she taught at institutions including the University of Michigan and American Sentinel University. Passionate about servant leadership and professional growth, Cleveland encourages nurses to pursue both personal and professional development while making a meaningful impact in healthcare and their communities.
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To be considered for admission, students must:
- Complete the online program application accompanied by a non-refundable processing fee.
- Submit official transcripts showing earned bachelor’s from a regionally accredited college or university or the equivalent.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.
- Have completed an undergraduate-level statistics course with a “C” or better.
- Write a purpose statement addressing career goals and fit with the program, including the Christian identity of the university
- Submit a professional CV or resume.
- Provide proof of unencumbered registered nurse licensure in the United States.
Abilene Christian University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Ga. 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of ACU.
Abilene Christian University enjoys a strong national reputation as one of the leading private Christian universities in the west and southwest, indicated by various ratings (such as U.S. News and World Report and other reports).