<div class="edu-card" data-widget-id="18" data-cy="edu-card"> <div class="edu-card-banner" data-cy="edu-card-banner"> Advertisement </div> <div class="edu-card-container" data-cy="edu-card-container"> <div class="edu-card-content" data-cy="edu-card-content"> <div class="edu-card-title" data-cy="edu-card-title"> <h1 class="edu-card-title-heading" data-cy="edu-card-title-heading"> USC`s Online Master of Science in Nursing Program </h1> <p class="edu-card-title-subheading" data-cy="edu-card-title-subheading"> Earn Your MSN Online From USC in Just 21 Months </p> </div> <div class="edu-card-content-description" data-cy="edu-card-content-description"> <div class="edu-card-content-description-content"> <p>Become a family nurse practitioner online in as few as 21 months with top-ranked USC's CCNE and BRN-Accredited online Master of Science in Nursing program.</p> </div> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore"> <input type="checkbox" id="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-18" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input" /> <label for="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-18" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label"> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label-arrow"></span> </label> </span> </div> <a class="edu-card-content-button" target="_blank" href="https://nursing.usc.edu/requestinfo/index/">Visit Website</a> <span class="edu-card-content-caption"> </span> </div> <div class="edu-card-action" data-cy="edu-card-action"> <picture class="edu-card-picture" data-cy="edu-card-picture"> <img src="https://fortune.com/img-assets/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/USC-MSN_Formal-Vertical_Ver_S.Dworak-Peck-School-of-SW_CardOnTrans.png?w=250&amp;h=165" class=""> <span class="edu-card-picture-label"> </span> </picture> <div class="edu-card-action-cta" data-cy="edu-card-action-cta"> <a class="edu-card-action-button" target="_blank" href="https://nursing.usc.edu/requestinfo/index/">Visit Website</a> <span class="edu-card-action-caption"> </span> </div> </div> </div></div><script> function checkWidgets() { document.querySelectorAll('.edu-card-content-description-content').forEach((content) => { const readMoreBtn = content.nextElementSibling; if (!readMoreBtn) { return; } if (content && content.clientHeight === content.scrollHeight) { readMoreBtn.style.display = 'none'; } else { delete readMoreBtn.style.removeProperty('display'); } }) } window.removeEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); window.addEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); checkWidgets();</script>

<div class="edu-card" data-widget-id="19" data-cy="edu-card"> <div class="edu-card-banner" data-cy="edu-card-banner"> Advertisement </div> <div class="edu-card-container" data-cy="edu-card-container"> <div class="edu-card-content" data-cy="edu-card-content"> <div class="edu-card-title" data-cy="edu-card-title"> <h1 class="edu-card-title-heading" data-cy="edu-card-title-heading"> Online MS in Nursing From Georgetown University </h1> <p class="edu-card-title-subheading" data-cy="edu-card-title-subheading"> Earn Your Master’s in Nursing Online From Georgetown University </p> </div> <div class="edu-card-content-description" data-cy="edu-card-content-description"> <div class="edu-card-content-description-content"> <p>Nursing@Georgetown delivers Georgetown University’s MS in Nursing program online, preparing RNs with a BSN to pursue certification in an APRN specialty. Students can earn their degree in as few as 23 months. </p> </div> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore"> <input type="checkbox" id="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-19" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input" /> <label for="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-19" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label"> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label-arrow"></span> </label> </span> </div> <a class="edu-card-content-button" target="_blank" href="https://online.nursing.georgetown.edu/requestinfo/index/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-content-caption"> </span> </div> <div class="edu-card-action" data-cy="edu-card-action"> <picture class="edu-card-picture" data-cy="edu-card-picture"> <img src="https://fortune.com/img-assets/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Georgetown_S_SNHS_grayCMYK.png?w=250&amp;h=165" class=""> <span class="edu-card-picture-label"> </span> </picture> <div class="edu-card-action-cta" data-cy="edu-card-action-cta"> <a class="edu-card-action-button" target="_blank" href="https://online.nursing.georgetown.edu/requestinfo/index/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-action-caption"> </span> </div> </div> </div></div><script> function checkWidgets() { document.querySelectorAll('.edu-card-content-description-content').forEach((content) => { const readMoreBtn = content.nextElementSibling; if (!readMoreBtn) { return; } if (content && content.clientHeight === content.scrollHeight) { readMoreBtn.style.display = 'none'; } else { delete readMoreBtn.style.removeProperty('display'); } }) } window.removeEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); window.addEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); checkWidgets();</script>

<div class="edu-card" data-widget-id="20" data-cy="edu-card"> <div class="edu-card-banner" data-cy="edu-card-banner"> Advertisement </div> <div class="edu-card-container" data-cy="edu-card-container"> <div class="edu-card-content" data-cy="edu-card-content"> <div class="edu-card-title" data-cy="edu-card-title"> <h1 class="edu-card-title-heading" data-cy="edu-card-title-heading"> Advance Your Career With Nursing@Simmons </h1> <p class="edu-card-title-subheading" data-cy="edu-card-title-subheading"> Earn Your MSN and Become an FNP or PMHNP Online From Simmons University </p> </div> <div class="edu-card-content-description" data-cy="edu-card-content-description"> <div class="edu-card-content-description-content"> <p>Choose from two program options — FNP or PMHNP — and prepare to raise the standard of patient care. Explore Nursing@Simmons programs for RNs who hold a BSN or bachelor’s degree.</p> </div> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore"> <input type="checkbox" id="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-20" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input" /> <label for="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-20" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label"> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label-arrow"></span> </label> </span> </div> <a class="edu-card-content-button" target="_blank" href="https://online.simmons.edu/requestinfo/msn-fwp/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-content-caption"> </span> </div> <div class="edu-card-action" data-cy="edu-card-action"> <picture class="edu-card-picture" data-cy="edu-card-picture"> <img src="https://fortune.com/img-assets/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SC-MSN_University_Nursing_Color_Stacked.png?w=250&amp;h=165" class=""> <span class="edu-card-picture-label"> </span> </picture> <div class="edu-card-action-cta" data-cy="edu-card-action-cta"> <a class="edu-card-action-button" target="_blank" href="https://online.simmons.edu/requestinfo/msn-fwp/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-action-caption"> </span> </div> </div> </div></div><script> function checkWidgets() { document.querySelectorAll('.edu-card-content-description-content').forEach((content) => { const readMoreBtn = content.nextElementSibling; if (!readMoreBtn) { return; } if (content && content.clientHeight === content.scrollHeight) { readMoreBtn.style.display = 'none'; } else { delete readMoreBtn.style.removeProperty('display'); } }) } window.removeEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); window.addEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); checkWidgets();</script>

ad_Nursing

cat_Graduate

Low Intent

ptype_Explainer

Kenneth Partridge

<p>The role of <a href="https://fortune.com/education/careers/how-to-become-an-advanced-nurse-practitioner/">nurse practitioner</a>, a subset of nurses qualified to work as primary and specialty care providers, is the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/10/14/the-fastest-growing-role-in-the-u-s-is-paying-nurses-120k-and-up/">fastest-growing occupation</a> in the U.S.. By 2031, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/fastest-growing.htm">46% growth rate</a> in the number of nurse practitioner positions, compared with 2021. Now is clearly a great time to enter this rewarding and potentially lucrative field, and to do so, you’ll need a master’s in nursing (MSN), a degree that many universities offer online.</p><div class="paywall-selector"></div><div class="paywall">



<p>One of the nation’s leading online MSN programs is the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/health/masters/rankings/university-of-nevada-las-vegas/">University of Nevada–Las Vegas School of Nursing</a>. In fact, it landed No. 1 in <em>Fortune’s</em> ranking of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/health/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-nursing/">best online MSN programs</a>. The school currently offers three tracks: family nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, and nursing education. All applicants are required to be registered nurses (RNs) with 2,000 hours of experience, and they should have a good idea of what they hope to gain from their degree. </p>



<p>“For most nurses who have an RN, it’s not just about advancement,” says Deven Richardson, the outgoing enrollment coordinator at UNLV’s School of Nursing. “Some of them want to go into their own practice. Some <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/09/27/how-nursing-schools-are-addressing-high-demand-for-nurse-practitioners/">nurse practitioners</a> can prescribe medication. They can work in the psych field. They can do a lot of things with their degrees, but they need those advanced credentials that a program like ours grants them.”</p>



<p>Earning these credentials from UNLV isn’t easy. Incoming students have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.62, and the school’s overall acceptance rate is 50.3%. Fortunately, there are ways to increase your chances of landing a spot in this prestigious program.</p>



<p>Through our conversation with Richardson, we came up with the following guide to getting in to UNLV’s online MSN program:</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Focus on more than your GPA</li>



<li>Come with your “why”</li>



<li>Pick the right recommenders</li>



<li>Be ready for anything in the interview</li>



<li>Check your eligibility</li>



<li>Above all, come prepared</li>
</ol>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-focus-on-more-than-your-gpa">1. Focus on more than your GPA</h2>



<p>If your undergraduate grades aren’t super impressive, don’t immediately throw in the towel. “What we try to do is look at the whole applicant and not just GPA,” says Richardson. “GPA isn’t always reflective of how well a student will perform in a program.”</p>



<p>In applying for the MSN program, you’re also applying to UNLV’s Graduate College, which considers students with GPAs of 2.75 and above. So as long as you meet that criteria, you have a chance with the School of Nursing. If your grades are on the low side, you might balance the scales with <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/08/09/what-type-of-experience-do-you-need-to-enroll-in-an-online-masters-in-nursing-msn-program/">work experience</a>. While the requirement is 2,000 hours of experience as an RN—roughly one year—some candidates come in with 20 years of hands-on nursing behind them.</p>



<p>Decades of experience—like a sky-high GPA—doesn’t guarantee entry. But it will give applicants a leg up. “They’ve shown they’re consistent in showing excellence in the nursing career field—they will most likely show excellence in the nursing program itself,” Richardson says. “We can at least look at them and say, ‘This person’s a very experienced nurse. We probably don’t have to worry about them too much.’” </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-come-with-your-why">2. Come with your “why”</h2>



<p>As part of the application, you’ll need to write a 300-word personal statement about your <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/08/04/is-a-masters-degree-in-nursing-msn-worth-it/">career goals</a>. The key with this prompt, Richardson says, is to “come with your <em>why</em>.”</p>



<p>“Why do you want to do this?” Richardson asks. “We don’t want a 15-page dissertation on why you want to be in the master’s of nursing program. That’s not going to help anybody. Just come prepared with what you’re looking for. And because nurses are who they are, many are prepared to state in 300 words why they want to do this.”</p>



<p>It’s also crucial to tailor your statement to <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/08/19/the-must-haves-for-getting-into-a-top-online-masters-in-nursing-program/">the program you’re applying to</a>. If it’s psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, write specifically about this field and how your UNLV degree will help you on your path.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-pick-the-right-recommenders">3. Pick the right recommenders</h2>



<p>The UNLV application asks for three letters of recommendation—a sticking point for many students. “The letters of rec usually take the longest,” Richardson says. “It’s usually a function of people not being able to find the right people to do a letter for them. And it’s also a function of people just not doing it on time.”</p>



<p>To avoid scrambling at the last minute, Richardson suggests reaching out to four or five potential recommenders, just in case some are slow to respond. As for what types of people you should approach, Richardson cautions against asking friends and family.</p>



<p>“We want professional references,” he says. “A good reference comes from a faculty member from your [bachelor’s of science in nursing] program. If you have a good relationship with a professor from university, you are OK to ask them for a letter of rec. I promise they’re fine with it. They do it all the time. I know many faculty members who have a template for it.”</p>



<p>And of course, it’s good to find people who can speak to your nursing abilities. Consider former bosses and people you’ve worked with at hospitals or clinics. You want them to give a “professional view” of your skills, and if they can discuss your leadership abilities, that’s even better.</p>



<p>“A big conversation right now is a lack of leaders in the nursing field, so they’re always looking for people willing to step up and take on more,” Richardson says. “People who can point out and say, ‘Hey, I’ve seen this person. They’re great under fire. They’re capable of doing the work that’s required from them’—that’s just a great benefit when you’re applying to any program.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-be-ready-for-anything-in-the-interview">4. Be ready for anything in the interview</h2>



<p>If your application makes it through the first round, you’ll take part in a video interview. You won’t actually be speaking to another person. Instead, you will give you a series of randomized questions tailored to the program you’re applying to and you’ll respond to the prompts.</p>



<p>“As I said, we try to look at the whole entire applicant,” Richardson says. “That’s what the interview helps with. You can’t really get a good encapsulation of a person just on some documents they submit. Having them go through the interview process gives us a more well-rounded view of our applicants.”</p>



<p>“Make sure you’re coming prepared for an interview,” Richardson adds. “We don’t know the questions beforehand. We won’t tell you the questions beforehand. [Applicants] need to be ready for whatever they’re coming across. They’re nurses, and they’re going to come across some unexpected things in the field.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-check-your-eligibility">5. Check your eligibility</h2>



<p>For a variety of complex regulatory reasons, UNLV can’t accept students from all states. For example, the family nurse practitioner and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner tracks are unable to admit students from California.</p>



<p>“Certain programs need to be authorized in a certain way, and it can be cumbersome, or it can just be difficult to do so because the state doesn’t have a nursing board, as Nevada does,” Richardson says. </p>



<p>It’s also worth noting that the family nurse practitioner and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner tracks have clinical components that require students to perform hands-on nursing. UNLV will help students find clinical placements in Nevada, but things may get trickier beyond state lines. </p>



<p>“We have partnerships with certain states, but it’s easier if you are within the state of Nevada,” says Richardson. “I’d always recommend students reach out and say, ‘Hey, I’m in such and such state. Is your program approved within us?’ That way, they don’t run into any issues. There’s nothing more frustrating than applying for a program and then getting told, ‘I’m sorry, we can’t accept you because you’re out of state.’ No one wants that kind of time waste.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-6-above-all-come-prepared">6. Above all, come prepared</h2>



<p>Richardson recommends that students not apply to UNLV until they’re totally ready. That means having all of their documents in order, but more importantly, it means being <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/08/10/how-to-time-when-to-pursue-your-online-masters-degree-in-nursing/">prepared to devote themselves fully</a> to a challenging and time-consuming program.</p>



<p>“Come not just physically prepared, but mentally prepared,” Richardson says. “A lot of people who come to these programs have families. They have outside commitments. Consider all aspects of your life. A graduate program is a completely different sort of beast. There are a lot of things you need to consider before you commit.”</p>



<p><em><em>Check out all of </em></em>Fortune’<em><em>s <a href="https://fortune.com/education/">rankings of degree programs</a>, and learn more about specific <a href="https://fortune.com/education/careers/">career paths</a>.</em></em></p>



<div class="wp-block-group pro-tip-box-widget"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading pro-tip-box-heading">Read more</h3>



<li>If you want to find great resources to become a health coach, check out the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/articles/best-health-coach-certifications/">best health coach certifications</a>.</li>
<li>Interested in a psychology degree? Here are some of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/health/best-online-masters-in-psychology-degree-programs/">best online masters in psychology programs</a> you can find.</li>
<li>Want a more flexible way to earn an online master’s degree in nursing? Explore our list of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/health/best-online-msn-nurse-practitioner-programs/%22">best online MSN nurse practitioner programs</a>.</li>
<li>Choose one of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/health/best-online-masters-in-public-health-programs/">best online masters in public health programs</a> to help you find the right school for you.</li>
<li>Our ranking of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/health/best-online-masters-in-nursing/">best online masters in nursing programs</a> can be a useful tool in your search for advanced online learning.</li>
<li>Many universities offer <a href="https://fortune.com/education/health/most-affordable-online-msn-nurse-practitioner-programs/">affordable online MSN nurse practitioner programs</a>.</li>
<li>For those looking to learn the basics of nutrition, one of the programs in our list of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/articles/best-nutritionist-certifications/">best nutritionist certifications</a> is a great first step.</li>
<li>Fulfill your ambitions of being a personal trainer with one of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/articles/best-personal-trainer-certifications/">best personal trainer certification</a> programs. </li>
</div></div>
</div>

A step-by-step guide to increase your chances for admission to the online master's degree program in nursing at the University of Nevada–Las Vegas.

How to get into UNLV’s online master’s degree program in nursing

F-Search

Education

Education Articles

Jasmine Suarez

Health and Wellness

Have your eye on the online master's degree program in nursing at the University of Nevada–Las Vegas? This guide will help.

Fortune earns a commission for purchases made from affiliate partners via some links on our site; other links are not affiliate partner links. <a href='/affiliate-disclosure/'>Click here</a> to read the full Fortune advertiser disclosure and how we earn commissions.

We have independently evaluated the products and services below. We may earn affiliate revenue from links in the content.

Fortune Editors

Fortune Education is designed to be your guide to navigating this new, rich and somewhat overwhelming world of education. Our team of experienced editors is committed to scouring the universe of online offerings in order to rank, rate, provide comparisons and recommend the right solutions for you and your career.

Fortune Education

Uncategorized

homepage

articles

Articles Hub

By Region

By State

By Cost

Business

Career Hub

Tech

EDUCATION

EDUCATION ARTICLES

HOW TO GET INTO UNLV’S ONLINE MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAM IN NURSING

How to get into UNLV’s online master’s degree program in nursing | Fortune Education

Rich Griset

10 free data analytics courses you can take online

https://fortune.com/education/articles/free-data-analytics-courses/?itm_source=parsely-api

Preston Fore

2024 real estate school review: AceableAgent

https://fortune.com/education/articles/real-estate-school-review-aceableagent/?itm_source=parsely-api

Brad Haft

Best health coach certifications for 2024

https://fortune.com/education/articles/best-health-coach-certifications/?itm_source=parsely-api

Brit Morse

A law associate making $300,000 a year at Skadden Arps quit over the firm’s deal with Donald Trump

/article/rachel-cohen-making-300k-year-law-associate-skadden-arps-quit-protest-firms-deal-trump/

Get ready to pay more than $2,000 for a new iPhone: Experts say Trump’s 125% tariff on China is a ‘complete disaster for Apple’ akin to ‘Armageddon’

/2025/04/10/apple-iphone-16-price-complete-disaster-china-trump-tariffs/

It’s about to get a lot harder for job seekers as tariffs are set to make the hiring landscape even more daunting

/2025/04/07/trump-tariffs-labor-market-more-challenging-job-seekers-economists-say/

This company does peer performance reviews—And then lets everyone read each other’s evaluations

/2025/03/24/performance-review-process-company-allows-all-workers-read-garner-health-workplace-culture/

2024 health coach certification review: Catalyst Coaching Institute

/education/articles/health-coach-certification-review-catalyst-coaching-institute/

A guide to a nurse’s salary: Broken down by all 50 states and industry type

/education/careers/nurse-salary/

2024 health coach certification review: Institute for Integrative Nutrition

/education/articles/health-coach-certification-review-institute-for-integrative-nutrition/

10 high-paying public health jobs right now

/education/careers/public-health-jobs/

Jason Del Rey

Is eBay actually sexy again as the ecommerce old-timer’s stock surges to an all-time high?

/2025/07/31/ebay-earnings-live-sports-cards-trading-pokemon/

Erik German

Meet the CIA-backed venture fund behind Palantir, Anduril—and a spy tool that might be on your phone

/2025/07/29/in-q-tel-cia-venture-capital-palantir-anduril/

Dana Hull

Kiel Porter

Bloomberg

Tesla engineering VP Moravy says company in ‘big swing moment’

/2025/07/27/tesla-engineering-vp-lars-moravy-big-swing-moment-musk-robotaxi-optimus-semi/

Christiaan Hetzner

Volkswagen seeks audience with Trump, dangling more than $10 billion in U.S. investments in exchange for tariff exemptions

/2025/07/25/volkswagen-trump-tariffs-exemptions/

Whether you’ve just completed your undergraduate degree or you are a professional with years of experience, Fortune is here to guide you on the next step of your educational journey.

How to get into UNLV’s online master’s degree program in nursing

About the Contributors

Top Articles

10 free data analytics courses you can take online

2024 real estate school review: AceableAgent

Best health coach certifications for 2024

Advance Your Career With Nursing@Simmons