Online Earl and Nancy Hutto MSN in Nursing Leadership

Program Details

Next Start Date: January 7

Credit Hours: 39

Course Length: 8 and 16 weeks

Estimated Program Length: 24 months

UWF's Earl and Nancy Hutto Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Nursing Leadership is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and prepares the advanced nurse for jobs in nursing executive leadership and management.

Why Study Nursing Leadership at UWF?

Recognized as a "Best Online Nursing School Master's Program" in 2025 by the Princeton Review, University of West Florida’s online nursing leadership master’s degree program will give you the skills and knowledge needed to pursue administrative roles in areas such as nursing informatics, case management, risk management, quality improvement and more. As you learn from nurse educators who are highly experienced in the field, you’ll build a strong foundation in nursing leadership and project management.

Designed for working nurses, the online program features an asynchronous format that allows you to fit your studies into your busy schedule and can be completed in 24 months.

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What You Will Learn

Our nursing leadership online program will develop your nursing leadership skills and equip you with the tools you need to improve healthcare processes and outcomes. You’ll study topics that include:

Financial concepts, principles and theories used in the healthcare industry
Using technology and information systems to assess programs and outcomes of care, financial decision making and patient safety and care systems
Development and implementation of basic project plans that can support organizational objectives in a healthcare organization
Nursing leadership models, styles and theories, along with the functions and roles of management
Strategic organizational decision-making within the healthcare system
Improvement of processes and outcomes in a healthcare organization

Designed for licensed RNs with a BSN who want to advance into executive nursing roles, nurses hoping to enter professions in case management, informatics or risk management or current nurses seeking better job opportunities and want to increase their earning potential, the online MSN in Nursing Leadership program includes three practicum courses in which you will acquire 90 hours of practical experience in a nursing leadership role. An additional 135 hours focus on identifying and resolving a healthcare organization's issues through strategic planning, policy development and more.

Upon completion of this program, you will be able to:

Implement financial principles, concepts and theories in a healthcare environment
Evaluate the financial status of healthcare systems and decisions
Discern information using various analysis, classification and management tools

Courses

Accreditation

The master’s degree in nursing at UWF is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Courses & Requirements

UWF’s online nursing leadership master’s degree program includes a total of 39 credit hours. Through the program’s common core courses, you’ll explore advanced topics in nursing. The nursing leadership specialization courses, a total of 27 credit hours, focus on subjects that will help you become a strong nursing leader.

MSN Common Core (12 credit hours)

NGR 6111 - Foundations of Nursing Science
NGR 6803 - Integration of Evidence in Advanced Nursing Practice
NGR 6893 - Health Systems Leadership and Policy Strategies
NGR 6638 - Population Health Promotion and Management

Nursing Leadership Specialization (27 credit hours)

NGR 6798 - Fiscal Administration for the Health Professional
NGR 6872 - Information Technology and Data Analysis for Healthcare Professionals
NGR 6734 - Project Development and Management for Healthcare Professionals
NGR 6728 - Nursing Leadership Seminar I
NGR 6728L - Nursing Leadership Practicum I
NGR 6729 - Nursing Leadership Seminar II
NGR 6729L - Nursing Leadership Practicum II
NGR 6727 - Nursing Leadership Seminar III
NGR 6727L - Nursing Leadership Practicum III

Some UWF academic programs prepare students to sit for licensure in Florida. In order to comply with U.S. Department of Education regulations for professional licensure, UWF is required to make the following disclosure with respect to professional licensure outside the state of Florida. UWF cannot confirm whether a particular program meets requirements for professional licensure outside of the State of Florida. Please contact applicable licensure board(s) in any state you may want to pursue licensure prior to beginning the academic program in order to determine whether the program meets licensure requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm program eligibility for licensure in any state outside Florida.

To be considered for admission into UWF’s nursing leadership online program, you must:

Have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an NLNAC, ACEN or CCNE accredited nursing program with a minimum 3.0 overall GPA on a 4.0 scale or a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 hours of coursework on the BSN
Successfully complete an undergraduate statistics course with a grade of C or better
Possess a current unencumbered U.S. registered nurse license (express admission students are required to become licensed as a registered nurse to practice in a state or territory of the United States by the end of the first semester of enrollment to progress in the program

How to Apply

To apply for admission to this program, you first need to submit an application for graduate admission (plus a $30 application fee) and be accepted for admission into the University of West Florida. In addition, you must:

Submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended
Submit a copy of your curriculum vitae that includes your work history, educational background and community service involvement

Have questions about this program or the admissions process? Contact our graduate admissions team at gradadmissions@uwf.edu.

Full Course Descriptions Registration Requirements

Careers & Outcomes

Upon completion of our nursing leadership online program, you can pursue a variety of careers within the field.

Job Titles

Nurse Administrators
Nurse Case Managers
Healthcare Administrators

Career Outlook

The median annual wage for healthcare administrators is $98,350.
Employment for healthcare administrators is expected to grow 20 percent through 2026.

Source: BLS, 2025

Tuition Rate Per Credit Hour

Online Nursing Leadership MSN Tuition
Component	Cost*	Total*
Tuition	$425.00 per credit hour	$16,575.00
Tuition with Maximum Transfer Credits (Up to 9)	$425.00 per credit hour	$12,750.00

Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Fees are charged per semester unless otherwise noted. This program takes up to six semesters to complete, depending on transfer credits.

Refer to UWF Cost of Attendance Estimates and Financial Literacy for more information on UWF costs and financial aid.

* Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Military & Financial Aid

Military & Veterans

The UWF Military & Veterans Resource Center (MVRC) serves as the campus advocate for military, dependents and veteran students. Contact the MVRC to learn more about the various military and veteran education assistance or tuition waiver opportunities and eligibility requirements.

UWF Financial Assistance

The University of West Florida offers various financial aid options for our online students, including loans, scholarships and grants for degree-seeking students. We provide eligible students with an alternative to paying the full amount of tuition at the beginning of each term in the form of an installment payment plan or a short-term loan. See more about Financial Aid and Education Funding Opportunities.;