Nursing

Master of Science (MS)

Master’s Program

Modes of study:

In person

Graduate with your Family Nurse Practitioner MS in as few as three years!

If you are passionate about providing patients with holistic care across the lifespan, consider pursuing your MS to become a Family Nurse Practitioner at the University of Southern Maine (USM). FNPs are nationally certified and licensed to practice independently in many states.

By earning your degree at USM, you will graduate “day-one ready” with the clinical skills, theoretical knowledge, professional expertise, and connections you need to excel and flourish in today’s healthcare environment. FNP graduates at USM consistently demonstrate 100% pass rates on certification exams.

Credit hours

49 required credit hours. Most courses are equal to three credit hours.

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Program duration

Study full-time and finish in as little as three years, or study part-time and finish in four years.

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School

School of Nursing

Admissions

No GRE required. Apply by April 1 for the fall term, October 1 for the spring term.

View application process and deadlines

What awaits you when you receive your Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) MS degree from USM?

Top-tier labs and equipment: Develop your skills in the university’s Boyne Family Advanced Simulation Center, our Physical Assessment Lab working with standardized patients (SPs) through our Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) model of training, and also enjoy opportunities to train within virtual reality environments.
Be graduate-certification ready: Qualify to sit for the FNP certification exam through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) after graduating.
Enjoy the university’s broad network across southern Maine: Gain immersive clinical experience through practicums that include family practice, internal medicine, cardiology, endocrinology, women’s health, pulmonology, dermatology, orthopedics, and pediatrics, as well as community based clinics.
Take advantage of flexible scheduling as a working professional: Most courses are available through a hybrid delivery with face-to-face learning just once a week, that ensures optimal competency for practice.
Study with expert faculty: Learn from practicing clinical experts who are dedicated to advancing excellence in nursing with the next generation of students at the University of Southern Maine.
National accreditation: Study in a program approved by the Maine State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Support from the Office of Graduate Studies: As a graduate student at the University of Southern Maine, you’ll have access to the Office of Graduate Studies, who will help you with professional development, as well as information about applying for current scholarship opportunities.

Expected career outcomes in the nursing field

Nurse practitioners and primary care providers are in short supply, making it an excellent time to get your degree from USM.

Change lives as a primary care provider

As shortages in clinical staff continue, primary care providers have never been more necessary. That’s why it’s a great time to get your MS as a Family Nurse Practitioner. USM alums receive lifelong advising and support services from the Career and Employment Hub.

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We’re here to help answer questions about costs

Tuition & fees Financial aid Scholarships

If you're a current New England resident, you may qualify for a NEBHE Tuition Break!

Are you a New England resident?

New England residents who are students at USM may qualify for a reduced tuition rate thanks to the NEBHE Tuition Break Program.

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If you're interested in enrolling in the Family Nurse Practitioner program, consider applying for scholarships.

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Scholarships offer valuable financial aid that doesn’t need to be repaid. You’ll be automatically considered for Merit Scholarships when you apply for admission by the deadline. Additional opportunities are available.

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Accredited in Maine and nationally

The University of Southern Maine is honored to be accredited by the nationally-recognized Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

More about CCNE accreditation

What should I know about admission information and application deadlines?

Applications will be reviewed after the deadline.

Application deadline	Fall term start	Spring term start
Applicants not currently enrolled in BS degrees at USM	April 1	October 1
Admissions Pathway: Early consideration*	October 1 (of previous year)	Not available
Admissions Pathway for current BS in Nursing students at USM**	April 1	Not available

*Must be a current student in the University of Southern Maine BS in Nursing – Traditional Program.
**Must be a current student in the University of Southern Maine BS in Nursing – Traditional Program or Nursing – Accelerated Program.

Because the MS in Nursing program includes supervised clinical experiences and the desire to maintain a high-quality program, the nursing faculty reserves the right to limit enrollments. The number of students accepted varies by program (Family Nurse, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner) and is based on clinical cohorts.

Admission to the program is highly selective. The graduate program in nursing seeks candidates whose baccalaureate preparation, scholastic achievement, professional experience, interest, motivation, and references are predictive of successful graduate study.

Each student’s application for admission will be evaluated based on a composite of the following recommended standards.

A baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing from a degree program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the National League for Nursing.
Minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or a B average.
An undergraduate course in Microbiology with a grade of B- or better.
An undergraduate course in introductory Statistics that includes descriptive and inferential statistics, completed with a grade of B- or better.
An undergraduate course in total health assessment.
Proof of RN licensure in Maine before the start of the graduate program. Students who do not hold this when applying can be considered for conditional admission
Students with a GPA less than 3.0 may submit GRE or MAT scores to be considered.
A personal interview with the graduate faculty of the School of Nursing may be requested following a preliminary review of all required admission materials.

Admissions pathway for current University of Southern Maine (USM) BS in Nursing students

Current USM students in the Nursing program may apply through a reduced application process to the Master of Nursing program. Concentrations students can apply to via this pathway are: Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.
Students applying to this pathway will be considered for entry in the Fall semester following their graduation from the BSN. Eligible students will maintain a GPA of 3.3 or better throughout the undergraduate nursing program and be current BSN students at USM at the time of application. Admission to the MS program is conditional upon passing the NCLEX exam. Conditionally admitted students may take 6 credits of graduate courses before matriculation.
Students will still follow the admissions and application process, but will have the following requirements changed:
No letters of recommendation required.
No GRE or MAT required.

Applicants are required to provide the following materials:

General requirements

Application: Online application (external link)
Application fee:
- In-state, out-of-state, and Canadian applicants: Free to apply
- International applicants: Submit US $50 fee to apply
Transcripts: Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, excluding the seven campuses of the University of Maine System (UMS transcripts are accessible to USM). A transcript is official when sent directly from the institution.
- International College transcripts: In addition to an official copy of the transcript, we require an official evaluation of college-level transcripts approved by one of the following transcript analysis agencies
  - National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) (external link)
  - Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE) (external link)
Resume: Submit a resume or CV that outlines professional, volunteer, and community experience.
Students whose first language is not English may be required to take one of the following: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Pearson Test of English (PTE) or Duolingo. Applicants must submit official scores as part of the application process. Get additional information regarding test scores and requirements.

What are the international student application instructions?

What are the English proficiency test score requirements?

Where do I send my application materials?

Next steps

Our graduate admissions counselors are here to answer you questions about the admissions process, our academic programs, and student support services.