College of Nursing & Public Health • Savannah, GA • Online • $255–$660/Credit
South University offers 2 Nursing Informatics programs:
- MSN
- RN-to-MSN
Program Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | $29.0K | About 1 year (est. 5.5 quarters) | 44 quarter |
| RN-to-MSN | $41.3K | About 2.25 years (est. 11.5 quarters) | 92 at South (215 total) |
South University admits associate-degree RNs straight into an informatics MSN track, with no separate BSN to finish first. Both versions run on quarter credits and end with 240 practicum hours, enough for ANCC’s graduate pathway to NI-BC.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MSN (BSN entry); RN-to-MSN (ADN or diploma entry) |
| Format | Online; practicum completed locally |
| Practicum Hours | 240 (two courses at 120 hours each) |
| Practicum Placement | Student obtains a local mentor (catalog); program page says South arranges the practicum |
| RN License Required | Yes, unencumbered, in every state where licensed and where work is completed |
| Who It’s For | RNs, including ADN-prepared nurses, moving into informatics roles |
| Distinctive Coursework | Two MIS courses from the business school; database and project management practicums |
| Certification Pathway | 240 hours clear ANCC’s 200-hour graduate practicum option for NI-BC |
| Tuition | $660/quarter credit graduate; $255/quarter credit undergraduate (RN-to-MSN) |
| Accreditation | CCNE (MSN); SACSCOC (institutional) |
| Start Terms | New quarters begin about every five weeks online |
| Enrollment Restrictions | Not available to residents of all states; list not published |
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Nursing Informatics
The estimated tuition for the MSN with a Specialization in Nursing Informatics at South University is approximately $29,040 (44 credits at $660/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 13 months.
The duration is an estimate: 11 four-credit courses taken one per five-week session. South does not publish a standard completion time.
MSN Curriculum
The curriculum pairs a 12-credit MSN core with a 32-credit informatics specialization. Two of the specialization courses come from South’s information systems program rather than nursing, covering IT infrastructure, enterprise architecture, security, and IS operations. A business foundations course adds statistics, financial analysis, and financial statement review.
- NSG5000 Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (4)
- NSG6101 Nursing Research Methods (4)
- MBA5009 Managerial Environment (4)
- MIS5010 Information Technology Infrastructure (4)
- MIS5020 Information Systems Fundamentals (4)
- NSG6650 Introduction to Nursing Informatics (4)
- NSG6652 Issues and Trends in Nursing Informatics, including HIPAA and HL7 (4)
- NSG6670 Practicum I: Database Management in Nursing Informatics (4)
- NSG6680 Practicum II: Project Management in Nursing Informatics (4)
- NSG6999 Graduate Project in Nursing (4)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- All credits are quarter credits. 44 quarter credits equal about 29 semester credits, so the program is shorter than its credit count suggests.
- Most courses require a B or higher to progress.
MSN Practicum and Capstone
- NSG6670 and NSG6680 each require a minimum of 120 practicum hours: 240 hours total.
- The catalog says students obtain a local mentor and practice the informatics role under guided mentorship.
- Most practicum time is spent in an informatics setting agreed on by the instructor, mentor, and student.
- NSG6999 is a written and oral scholarly project focused on an evidence-based practice change or quality improvement.
- The catalog does not say whether the practicum can be done at the student’s employer.
The 240 hours clear ANCC’s 200-hour faculty-supervised practicum option, so graduates do not need 1,000 or more logged informatics work hours to sit for NI-BC. Weekly load depends on course length, which South does not publish for these courses. At 120 hours, a five-week session means about 24 hours a week; a ten-week term means about 12.
You Should Know
- The program page says South arranges the practicum “at a local medical practice.” The catalog says the student obtains a local mentor and the site is mutually agreed. The catalog governs requirements, so plan to source your own mentor.
- The catalog overview mentions “direct care practicum experiences,” while both course descriptions place the hours in an informatics organizational setting.
MSN Admissions
Admission has no stated experience minimum, GRE, or essay.
- BSN from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, or an MSN/MN
- Valid, unencumbered RN license in every state where licensed, including the state where coursework and practicum are completed
- Official transcripts from every college attended, due within 5 weeks of the class start date
- No minimum years of RN experience stated
RN to Master of Science in Nursing (RN-to-MSN), Nursing Informatics
The estimated tuition for the RN to MSN with a Specialization in Nursing Informatics at South University is approximately $41,280 (48 undergraduate credits at $255/credit plus 44 graduate credits at $660/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 27 months.
The duration is an estimate: 23 four-credit courses at South, taken one per five-week session.
RN-to-MSN Curriculum
The catalog counts 215 quarter credits, but most arrive by transfer: a 78-credit general education block and 45 nursing credits from the associate degree. Students complete 92 credits at South: 8 general education credits, 40 undergraduate nursing credits, then the same 44-credit MSN as BSN entrants.
- One arts and humanities course and one social and behavioral sciences course (8)
- NSG3007 Foundations for Professional Nursing (4)
- NSG3029 Foundations of Nursing Research (4)
- NSG3039 Information Management and Technology (4)
- NSG4029 Leadership in a Diverse Society (4)
- NSG4068 Trends in Healthcare Policy (4)
- Three more undergraduate nursing courses plus two electives (20)
- The full 44-credit MSN informatics sequence, including both practicums (44)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- The program page headline lists “44 Credits.” That is the graduate portion only; the catalog-style course list on the same page totals 215, with 92 taken at South.
- The program page says qualifying RNs can replace some undergraduate courses with graduate ones. The published course list shows no substitutions, so this estimate assumes none. Any substitution would raise tuition, since graduate credits cost $660 vs $255.
- No BSN is awarded along the way. Students who stop before finishing leave without a bachelor’s degree from this track.
RN-to-MSN Practicum and Capstone
Practicum and capstone requirements match the MSN: 240 hours across NSG6670 and NSG6680, then NSG6999. Graduates hold an MSN, which meets ANCC’s nursing degree requirement for NI-BC.
RN-to-MSN Admissions
The key gate is a 3.0 GPA to move into graduate courses.
- One of: an accredited associate degree in nursing, an equivalent foreign ADN, or a nursing diploma plus an accredited bachelor’s degree
- Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher to enter
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 required to progress into graduate nursing courses; students below 3.0 may switch to the RN-to-BSN and apply to the MSN later
- Valid, unencumbered RN license, same state rules as the MSN
- Not all online programs are open to residents of all states; South does not publish the excluded states
Tuition
Graduate courses cost $660 per quarter credit, about $990 per semester-credit equivalent. RN-to-MSN undergraduate courses cost $255 per quarter credit. Rates come from the current South University catalog.
| Program | Undergraduate | Graduate | Est. Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | None | 44 × $660 = $29,040 | $29,040 |
| RN-to-MSN | 48 × $255 = $12,240 | 44 × $660 = $29,040 | $41,280 |
Confirmed costs:
- $660 per quarter credit, graduate nursing courses, online
- $255 per quarter credit, RN-to-MSN undergraduate courses
- $250 graduation fee, charged to all South University students
- Same rate regardless of state of residence
Be aware that:
- The catalog lists no technology, practicum, or course-material fees for online nursing programs. Textbooks are not included in tuition figures here.
- South announced on October 5, 2026 that it will come under ownership of Perdoceo Education Corporation, expected on or after April 1, 2027, pending regulatory approval. South says no change to academic offerings or financial aid is anticipated.
- RN-to-MSN totals assume the full transfer block and no graduate substitutions.
Budget about $29,300 for the MSN and $41,500 for the RN-to-MSN, including the graduation fee. For comparison, South Alabama’s informatics MSN runs about $22,500 at $609 per semester credit. See the South University tuition page for full rate tables.
Why Choose This Nursing Informatics Program?
Built for ADN-prepared RNs who want an informatics master’s without first finishing a BSN.
One admission, ADN to MSN. The RN-to-MSN accepts associate-degree nurses directly, prices undergraduate credits at $255, and moves them into the same informatics MSN that BSN holders take. That removes a separate RN-to-BSN application and gap.
Certification-ready practicum. Both tracks include 240 practicum hours, which clear ANCC’s 200-hour graduate option for NI-BC. Graduates still need two years of RN practice and 30 hours of informatics continuing education.
The trade-offs. Per credit, South costs more than South Alabama once quarter credits are converted. The practicum placement model is described two ways, with the catalog putting mentor sourcing on the student. The RN-to-MSN awards no BSN along the way, and a pending ownership change adds some uncertainty for students starting now.
Accreditation
The Master of Science in Nursing program at South University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The nursing informatics specialization, in both the MSN and RN-to-MSN versions, sits within that accredited MSN.
South University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
Graduates who meet ANCC’s other requirements can sit for the Informatics Nursing certification (NI-BC). The 240-hour practicum satisfies the graduate program option; South notes it does not guarantee third-party certification.
More Nursing Informatics Programs to Review
See the full Nursing Informatics Schools directory, or start with the nursing informatics degree guide.