The Rush online MSN is ranked No. 9 in the U.S. News 2026 Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs. At Rush, the online master’s for working nurses is a single programme: the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) for RNs, a part-time, 37-credit MSN that takes six semesters. Rush’s nurse practitioner specialties sit in its DNP, so if you want to become an NP at Rush, this is the wrong page.
Can a nurse living outside the U.S. take it? Not in practice. The Rush online MSN requirements include RN licensure in the United States, clinical hours arranged where you live, and on-campus days in Chicago, and Rush does not admit residents of Louisiana or Tennessee to any online programme. Tuition is $1,493 per credit, which puts the full programme at about $55,000. I checked everything below on Rush University’s own pages on 29 October 2026.
Rush online MSN ranking
A Rush University news release dated 7 April 2026 says the College of Nursing “ranked ninth” in the U.S. News 2026 Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs list, published in January. U.S. News released that edition on 27 January 2026. Rush’s release does not mention a tie, but East Carolina University also reports No. 9 in the same edition, so the place appears to be shared. No specialty ranks are given.
What the Rush online MSN covers
The Clinical Nurse Leader is a master’s-prepared nurse who manages care for a group of patients at the point of care: quality improvement, care coordination and evidence-based practice on a unit. It is a leadership role, not a prescribing one. Graduates are prepared for the CNL certification exam.
| Feature | Rush CNL for RNs |
|---|---|
| Credits | 37 |
| Length | 6 semesters, part time, about two courses per term |
| Delivery | All didactic courses online |
| On-campus time | Two live lab days for advanced health assessment, plus one day to present the capstone (summer/fall track) |
| Clinical hours | 200 on the programme page; the curriculum page says 500 clock hours |
| Where clinicals happen | Where you are located, with help from a placement coordinator |
| Capstone | A quality project, which can be done at your workplace |
The two Rush pages disagree on clinical hours, so ask the College of Nursing which figure applies to your intake. The programme page speaks of two to three campus visits in total, with advance notice.
Courses in the 37 credits
- Applied epidemiology and biostatistics, and health care economics, policy and finance.
- Health promotion, advanced pathophysiology and advanced pharmacology.
- Research for evidence-based practice and antiracism in organisational leadership.
- Advanced health assessment with a two-day lab on campus.
- The CNL role practicum immersion (5 credits), clinical leadership and project development, and clinical project implementation (5 credits).
Some core courses carry into Rush’s DNP programmes if you continue later.
Can international nurses apply to the Rush online MSN?
Rush’s pages do not address applicants who live outside the United States. The admission rules answer the question for you: you must hold RN licensure in the United States, and clinicals take place where you live, under U.S. state rules.
| Your situation | Can you enrol? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Living in Nigeria or elsewhere abroad, no U.S. licence | No, in practice | U.S. RN licensure is required and clinical placements follow U.S. state board rules |
| Wanting an F-1 student visa | No | The programme is online; Rush says it cannot enrol student-visa holders in its DNP and PhD because of their online format, and the MSN is more online than either |
| Living in Canada | Not stated for the MSN | Rush cannot enrol residents of Canada in its DNP and PhD programmes |
| U.S. resident in Louisiana or Tennessee | No | Rush cannot offer its online programmes to residents of these states |
| U.S. resident with an RN licence in another state | Yes, if you meet the requirements | Rush is in SARA, and its clinicals can be done where you live |
Rush also warns that if you move to another state after you enrol, it cannot guarantee a clinical placement there. Plan your move before you apply, not halfway through.
The route for a foreign-educated nurse
- Have your nursing degree reviewed: U.S. state boards usually want a credentials review of foreign nursing education, often through CGFNS (TruMerit).
- Meet your board’s English rule: many boards accept IELTS, TOEFL or OET from internationally educated nurses; scores vary by state.
- Pass the NCLEX-RN: register through the board in the state where you will work. NCSBN has international test centres.
- Move to the U.S. with a work-based visa: most nurses come through employer-sponsored immigrant visas.
- Apply to Rush through NursingCAS: once licensed and living in an eligible state, you apply like any U.S. RN.
Rush online MSN requirements
The CNL admission guidelines list:
- A bachelor’s degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution.
- A GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, calculated by NursingCAS from your transcripts.
- RN licensure in the United States. Recent BSN graduates submit the licence when they enrol.
- Three professional letters from leaders who can speak to your clinical abilities. A letter from your current manager is strongly preferred, and one faculty letter is allowed if your coursework was in the last two years.
- Answers to the personal essay questions in NursingCAS.
- A resume covering work, leadership, community service, professional organisations and scholarly activity.
- An interview with faculty.
- A TOEFL score where required.
Clinical experience is not required, and the GRE is not required. You may apply to only one Rush programme and one term per cycle. After NursingCAS, Rush sends a supplemental application with a $40 fee. Rush rejects incomplete or inaccurate applications, and it advises sending transcripts to NursingCAS early because processing can take several weeks.
Rush does not list IELTS or a credential evaluation service on the CNL page. If your degree is from outside the U.S., ask admissions which evaluation NursingCAS should receive.
Rush online MSN deadlines
| Intake | Deadline | Classes start |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | 2 November 2026 | 4 January 2027 |
| Fall 2027 | 3 May 2027 | 7 September 2027 |
The curriculum page also shows a summer/fall admission plan, but the admissions page I checked gives dates only for spring and fall.
Rush online MSN tuition
The CNL programme page gives tuition of $1,493 per credit hour. Rush’s published 2025-26 rate for post-licensure MSN, DNP and PhD programmes was $1,436 per credit, and the university says it expects rates to rise each year, so $1,493 looks like the newer rate.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition per credit (programme page) | $1,493 |
| 2025-26 post-licensure rate for comparison | $1,436 |
| Credits | 37 |
| Estimated tuition for the full programme | About $55,241 |
| Supplemental application fee | $40 |
The total is my estimate at $1,493 per credit. Rush is a private university, and its rate page shows no lower rate for Illinois residents.
Costs not covered by tuition
- Flights and hotel for the on-campus lab days and the capstone presentation in Chicago.
- Unpaid time for 200 to 500 clinical hours, depending on which Rush figure applies.
- Background checks, immunisations and other clinical compliance items.
- Your U.S. RN licence, plus credential evaluations and English tests if you trained abroad.
- The CNL certification exam fee after graduation.
Scholarships and financial aid
Rush points students to its financial aid office. Federal loans through FAFSA are only for U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens. I found no scholarship on the CNL pages aimed at international students. Many U.S. hospitals offer tuition reimbursement for a master’s like this one.
Accreditation
The CNL for RNs programme is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Rush does not publish CNL certification pass rates on the programme page.
How to answer the Rush essay questions
Rush uses essay questions in NursingCAS rather than one open statement, and admission includes an interview with faculty. Treat the essays as the first half of the interview.
- Pick one quality problem on your unit, with numbers if you have them: falls, readmissions, delays at handover.
- Say what you have already tried as an RN and where you ran out of authority or skills.
- Show that you understand the CNL is a unit-level leadership role and say why you want that role over NP practice.
- Name your manager as a referee if you can. Rush strongly prefers that letter.
For illustration only, an opening might read:
“In one quarter our surgical unit had nine patient falls, and six happened between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. I started a night-shift rounding checklist with two colleagues, and falls dropped, but I could not get the day team to use it. I want the training to lead that kind of change across a whole unit.”
Common mistakes foreign-educated nurses make
- Expecting an NP route: Rush’s online MSN is the CNL. NP specialties are in the DNP.
- Applying without a U.S. licence: RN licensure in the United States is a requirement.
- Counting on a student visa: an online programme does not support F-1 study.
- Ignoring state rules: Louisiana and Tennessee residents cannot enrol, and a move mid-programme can block your clinicals.
- Applying to several Rush programmes at once: Rush allows one programme and one term per cycle.
- Sending transcripts late: NursingCAS verification can take weeks, and incomplete files are not reviewed.
Who should apply
Rush fits U.S.-licensed RNs who want a unit leadership role, a quality-improvement capstone at their own hospital, and a short path into a later DNP. It is a strong choice if your employer pays tuition, because the $1,493 rate is high for a 37-credit degree.
If you are abroad or still preparing for the NCLEX, Rush is a later step. Our guide to recommendation letters with samples shows how to brief the managers who will write for you.
How Rush compares with other top online MSN programmes
| Programme | U.S. News 2026 rank | Can you enrol from outside the U.S.? | Tuition basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rush (this guide) | No. 9 | No, in practice; U.S. RN licence required | $1,493 per credit |
| Ohio State online MSN | No. 1 | No | $1,158.58 per credit including fees |
| Duke University online MSN | No. 2 (tied) | Only with Duke’s confirmation; F-1 needed for intensives | $2,345 per credit (2026-27) |
| East Carolina University online MSN | No. 9 | No, in practice; F-1 not available | $304.84 (NC) or $1,071.84 (non-resident) per credit, plus $150 MSN fee (spring 2026) |
| University of Cincinnati online MSN | No. 19 | No; residents outside the U.S. cannot be admitted | $836 (Ohio) or $851 (non-resident) per credit plus $57 online fee (2025-26) |
FAQs
Can I do Rush’s online MSN from outside the United States?
Not in practice. Rush requires RN licensure in the United States, and clinical hours are done where you live under U.S. state rules.
Does Rush offer an online FNP master’s?
No. The online MSN for RNs is the Clinical Nurse Leader programme. Rush’s nurse practitioner specialties are offered through its DNP.
How much does the Rush online MSN cost?
Tuition is $1,493 per credit hour. At 37 credits that is about $55,241 before travel and other costs.
What is the Rush online MSN deadline?
Apply by 2 November 2026 for spring 2027 or by 3 May 2027 for fall 2027.
Sources and updates
Checked on 29 October 2026. Ranking: Rush University, “Rush University Shines in Latest Rankings” (7 April 2026). Format, tuition, clinical hours and accreditation: Rush Online Clinical Nurse Leader Program for RNs (MSN). Credits, courses and campus days: Rush CNL for RNs curriculum page. Requirements and deadlines: Rush CNL admissions guidelines. Restricted states and student-visa rule: Rush College of Nursing enrollment restrictions and its state authorization page. 2025-26 rates: Rush Student Business Office tuition page. We will update this guide when Rush posts 2026-27 rates or new deadlines.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
