Nursing and Healthcare Leadership

Consistently top-ranked, this innovative leadership program is now being offered online. It prepares graduates for a variety of leadership roles throughout the healthcare industry. 

About the Program

Our faculty recognize the critical importance of a Master’s program that develops nurse leaders capable of navigating the complexities of a constantly evolving healthcare environment.

This innovative online program is designed to equip nurse leaders with the knowledge and competencies to drive organizational change, improve outcomes, and confidently lead interprofessional teams in a dynamic healthcare environment. Focused on strong leadership development, the Nursing and Healthcare Leadership Program prepares graduates for various leadership roles, including but not limited to Clinical Directors, Nurse Managers, Healthcare Consultants, and Quality/Safety and Professional Development Specialists. Through synchronous online sessions, students engage with industry leaders and faculty experts. Faculty regularly provide unparalleled individual academic advising to align students’ programs of study with their career goals. By fostering dynamic leadership development, graduates are prepared to respond to current healthcare challenges and anticipate and shape the future of healthcare delivery.

For information regarding Penn Nursing accreditation, please visit our Accreditation page.

Program Information

Part-time (2 CUs per term)

Program Length

20 months

Financial aid available?

Yes

Start Semester

Fall

Learning Format

Online

Part-time (4 CUs per year)

Program Length

27 months

Financial aid available?

Yes

Start Semester

Summer

Learning Format

Online

Program Details

Curriculum

The online Nursing and Healthcare Leadership Program provides a comprehensive and flexible learning experience, comprising a total of 10 course units (CUs). Informed by the AACN Essentials and AONL Nurse Leader Core Competencies, this program ensures that students gain both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, preparing them for advanced leadership roles in the healthcare industry.

Click the following links to download sample plans of study: Fall start plan of study; Summer start plan of study.*

*Alternative plans of study are available, and each applicant/student is provided personalized academic advising to accommodate their needs.

Requirements

Minimum qualifications for the program

BSN degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher

Prerequisites

College level statistics course

Licensure

RN

Application Deadlines

Summer 2026 Enrollment

Deadline: March 16, 2026
Decision Notification: late-April

Fall 2026 Enrollment

Deadline: May 1, 2026
Decision Notification: mid-May

*Dates subject to change without notice.

Costs & Tuition

Discount available for employees of our Academic Practice Partners. Click here to learn more.

Total Estimated Cost (10 CUs starting in 2025)

Part-time, Summer Start (4 CUs per year): $75,856
Part-time, Fall Start (2 CUs per term): $75,569

 

Your program costs will depend on your individual plan of study. Tuition is charged per CU based on your enrollment for the semester.

 

Summer

Per CU rate*

Fall or Spring

Per CU rate**

Tuition $6,890 $6,890
Online Service Fee $162 $162
Tech Fee $126 $126

*Summer semesters are charged per CU regardless of enrollment status
**Registration for less than 4 CUs is charged per CU

Program Outcomes

At the completion of this advanced level of nursing education, Penn Nursing MSN graduates will:

  • Use scientific inquiry to translate evidence into practice and promote clinical scholarship
  • Perform advanced nursing skills for specialty and subspecialty nursing practice
  • Lead quality improvement and manage care delivery models across settings
  • Leverage strong networks to advance in professional role

Our People

  • <div class="section__inner"> <div class="section__image aos-init aos-animate" data-aos="fade-left"> <picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/21/width/320/height/660/crop/1/src_region/49,73,1242,1265/16469_Kristina_Goodrich.rev.1756920980.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/21/width/320/height/660/crop/1/src_region/49,73,1242,1265/16469_Kristina_Goodrich.rev.1756920980.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/21/width/320/height/660/crop/1/src_region/49,73,1242,1265/16469_Kristina_Goodrich.rev.1756920980.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/21/width/320/height/660/crop/1/src_region/49,73,1242,1265/16469_Kristina_Goodrich.rev.1756920980.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/21/width/320/height/660/crop/1/src_region/49,73,1242,1265/16469_Kristina_Goodrich.rev.1756920980.jpg" alt="Kristina Goodrich" width="320" height="660" data-max-w="1193" data-max-h="1192" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/> </picture> </div> <!-- /.section__image --> <div class="section__content"> <div class="heading-label section__label"> <p> Kristina Goodrich, MSN, RN </p> </div> <!-- /.heading-label --> <div class="section__entry"> <h3 class="h2"> Every class I took was directly correlated to the things I was learning and doing at work—the program thoroughly prepared me for the role I’m in now. </h3> </div> <!-- /.section__entry --> <div class="section__actions"> <a class="btn" href="/live/profiles/19656-kristina-goodrich">Find out More<span class="lw_sr_only">Kristina Goodrich</span></a> </div> <!-- /.section__actions --> </div> <!-- /.section__content --> </div>

Exterior image of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing building along Curie Blvd

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