Combine your passion for nursing with your inclination toward innovative clinical technologies by earning your MSN informatics online degree. This article is for those in possession of their BSN who are interested in pursuing more autonomy in a technology-driven marketplace. MSN informatics programs are designed to address the rapid development and improvement of technology in the healthcare field. As an informatics nurse, you take on and expand upon the role of educator, implementer, designer, developer and researcher.
Whether you have already gained clinical experience before applying to a MSN informatics online program or you plan to work throughout your academic pursuit, there are excellent options awaiting you. Through some of the best online nursing informatics programs, you can reach certification goals as well as an annual median salary of $81,294 (mid-career), according to Payscale. While a BSN is still the primary requirement to enter the field of nursing, in a competitive marketplace with an exceptionally high job outlook for NP’s (45% projected growth), an MSN is the best ticket to a sustainable, secure career. As you compare your options, take note of tuition. With a difference between the most expensive and cheapest nursing informatics programs online of almost $40,000, it helps to do some research before committing to a new degree.
Explore our “Best Buy” list below to compare the most affordable nursing informatics programs online. GetEducated has compared the cost of 32 accredited MSN informatics online from 32 nursing schools to bring you the most economically viable options across the United States. With a tool like this, you could end up pursuing a degree which suits your professional goals and your budget more so than you originally planned, enhancing your college experience and lessening any student debt.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$25,000
Least Expensive: Northeastern State University ~$11,036.80
Most Expensive: Thomas Jefferson University ~$50,732
Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There’s no fancy formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and therefore factually showcase the cheapest MSN informatics online programs. The online degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2021 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Most Affordable MSN informatics online
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Northeastern State University | (OK) | $11,036.80 $11,068.80 | In-State Out-of-State |
2 | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | (TX) | $11,206.00 $23,014.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
3 | The University of Texas at Tyler | (TX) | $15,156.00 $32,112.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
4 |  Western Governors University | (UT) | $16,890.00 | All Students |
5 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center - School of Professional Studies | (NY) | $17,355.00 | All Students |
6 | Troy University | (AL) | $18,278.00 | All Students |
7 | University of Mary | (ND) | $18,834.00 | All Students |
8 | Jacksonville University | (FL) | $19,500.00 | All Students |
9 | Queens University of Charlotte | (NC) | $21,164.00 | All Students |
10 | Nebraska Methodist College | (NE) | $21,230.00 | All Students |
11 |  Liberty University | (VA) | $21,236.00 $10,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
12 | Post University | (CT) | $21,345.00 $11,475.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
13 | Concordia University Wisconsin & Ann Arbor | (WI) | $23,757.00 | All Students |
14 | Thomas Edison State University | (NJ) | $24,346.00 | All Students |
15 | Walden University | (MN) | $24,810.00 $21,232.50 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
16 | Excelsior University | (NY) | $24,995.00 $12,395.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
University of South Carolina-Columbia | (SC) | $25,418.25 $47,454.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
University of Colorado Denver | (CO) | $25,710.00 $40,568.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
West Coast University | (CA) | $25,860.00 $22,440.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Chamberlain University | (IL) | $26,370.00 $22,770.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Waynesburg University | (PA) | $26,520.00 | All Students | |
Nova Southeastern University | (FL) | $27,322.00 | All Students | |
Robert Morris University | (PA) | $27,360.00 | All Students | |
Loyola University New Orleans | (LA) | $30,659.00 | All Students | |
Norwich University | (VT) | $31,200.00 | All Students | |
Allen College | (IA) | $31,870.00 | All Students | |
University of Utah | (UT) | $32,027.16 $71,222.34 | In-State Out-of-State | |
University of Maryland-Baltimore | (MD) | $35,235.00 $60,702.20 | In-State Out-of-State | |
University of Pittsburgh | (PA) | $43,597.00 | All Students | |
Thomas Jefferson University | (PA) | $50,732.00 | All Students |
Accreditation & Program Notes
To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.
ACEN Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
CCNE Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
14 Options for this program have changed since publication.
Rankings Note
These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Spring 2021 review of regionally accredited MSN informatics online programs. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online master degree programs in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules.
The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost
Editorial Note
Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers a master’s degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.
These rankings of the cheapest online schools for an MSN in informatics may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best MSN informatics online for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.
Career Guide: MSN Informatics Online
Do you work as a nurse, yet constantly find yourself solving tech and computer problems around the clinic or hospital? Have you dreamed about a career in technology, but don’t want to leave the rewarding field of the medical profession? Then perhaps you need to learn to apply your tech skills directly to the nursing industry through one of the top nursing informatics programs online.
If you are ready to pivot your nursing career and take your future in a new direction, an MSN informatics online education may be the best choice.
What is an Online MSN in Nurse Informatics Like?
“Informatics” is simply the science of how to use data, information, and knowledge. It’s not so much concerned with collecting data (although that does come into play), but more concerned with utilizing data to reach the best possible outcomes. Medical-based informatics, therefore, leverages information to advance life sciences, medical results, public health, and patient care.
This is, to be honest, both a nursing degree and a tech degree. Delivered through the school of nursing at most institutions, MSN informatics online degrees give you a deeper understanding of technology and information, as well as how it applies directly to the healthcare industry. But you’ll also complete core nursing classes such as nursing theory, physical assessments, and nursing research.
Classes will vary, but the informatics section of your education may include classes such as “population health informatics,” “IT systems in healthcare,” and “information security and privacy in healthcare.”
With this education, you can go on to perform in a variety of nursing and technology careers, but most graduates of the best online nursing informatics programs will hold titles like “informatics specialist” at a major hospital or “clinical information systems manager” for a network of clinics. People with degrees in nursing informatics can find employment at universities, health organizations, IT management companies (especially those that specialize in healthcare), and even hospital-based nursing schools.
During an MSN informatics online education, you’ll also encounter classes and subjects that improve your leadership and management skills. This is not a primary focus for the programs, but subjects like leadership and management will make you more likely to land a great job while improving your longterm chances of success.
Once complete, you’ll be ready to transition your career into a variety of different IT-based professions. In most cases, you’ll be hired by a medical-based organization, and your job titles may include…
Information Systems Manager
- Salary: $151,150
- Education: Bachelor’s
- Growth: 10%
- Experience: 5 years or more
Medical systems are becoming more important for how hospitals and clinics operate, and they are changing how many people receive care and interact with medical professionals. As such, there is a need for top-quality people to manage information and computer systems to ensure smooth, accurate operation of these platforms.
An information systems manager performs a variety of roles, but they generally analyze data-system needs, create plans for installation and use, and direct the work of other IT professionals. They are well paid across all industries, and this career is expected to see strong growth over the next ten years.
Information Research Scientists
- Salary: $146,360
- Education: Bachelor’s
- Growth: 10%
- Experience: 5 years or more
The medical industry will also need knowledgable professionals to create new software and technology innovations. Information research scientists look at a specific need, create a plan for new software or hardware, then use their training to make it a reality. People who complete an MSN informatics online will have a strong foundation of knowledge, but more training may be required for this high-paying career.
MSN Informatics Licensing, Certification & Other Requirements
After completing a master’s in nursing informatics, you probably will not be working in a career where you deliver care directly to patients, so licensing and certification may not be required. However, to gain acceptance into many nursing informatics programs online, you will need experience as a registered nurse, a career that does require certification.
But for most tech careers, including tech careers at hospitals, clinics, and nursing facilities, you likely won’t need to be certified. As long as you have the basic skills and knowledge to perform in your career, you can begin practicing your craft. However, certification through various tech organizations can help you advance your career while gaining further knowledge on the industry.
Online nursing informatics programs can launch a rewarding career in many different settings. Helping you build on your current nursing skills, while also making you a tech-savvy IT professional, this could be the perfect choice for your future, especially if you are a current RN with a natural interest and talent for technology.