You’ve already made one of the bigger decisions: a direct entry Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is the right path. You hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, want to enter nursing at the graduate level and are ready to do the work. The question now is how fast to get there without derailing the rest of your life.
Alverno College’s Direct Entry MSN program offers two tracks built around that question. Both award a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a Master of Science in Nursing, preparing you to sit for the NCLEX-RN. The difference lies in how quickly you move through the curriculum and where you can complete it.
Choosing between them isn’t about ambition—both tracks cover the same 77 credits and lead to the same degree. It’s about being honest with yourself about what the next 18-20 months of your life can realistically hold. This guide breaks down what each track involves so you can make that call with confidence.
The 5-Semester DEMSN: Built for Full Immersion
The 5-semester track is an accelerated track designed for students who want to move through the program as quickly as possible. It runs 18–20 months of full-time study and is available at both Alverno’s Milwaukee and Mesa campuses. If your primary goal is to enter the nursing workforce fast and your schedule allows for complete dedication to the program, this is the track built for career changers ready to make a full commitment.
Full-time study here means full commitment. Your days will include nursing theory coursework, clinical hours at partner healthcare facilities, and hands-on practice in Alverno’s Center for Clinical Education. NCLEX-RN preparation is woven into the curriculum from the start, with exams structured to mirror the licensing test so you’re building toward boards from your first semester. Working alongside your studies is not recommended—the pace is designed to demand your full attention.
The 9-Semester DEMSN: A More Moderate Pace
The 9-semester track covers the same curriculum at a more moderate pace, spreading 77 credit hours across roughly three years. It is offered exclusively at Alverno’s Milwaukee campus. Like the 5-semester track, it leads to the same BSN and MSN and qualifies graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN—the plan of study is simply extended to distribute the workload across more semesters.
This track is designed for students who need flexibility. If you are managing work, family responsibilities, or other commitments alongside your studies, the 9-semester option gives you more breathing room between clinical rotations and coursework. It is still considered full-time enrollment for financial aid purposes, and you will still complete the same nursing licensure requirements—the journey is longer, but the destination is identical. Students drawn to a part-time direct entry MSN experience often find the 9-semester structure provides the balance they need without compromising the quality of the degree.
How Do the Two Tracks Compare?
The clearest difference between the 5-semester and 9-semester DEMSN is time: one gets you to graduation in 18–20 months, and the other takes approximately three years. For students weighing an accelerated 18-month MSN option against a longer direct entry MSN program, that gap represents a meaningful difference in how soon you can sit for the NCLEX-RN and begin your career.
Campus availability is the other key variable. The 5-semester track runs at both the Milwaukee and Mesa locations, giving prospective students in Arizona a path into the program that the 9-semester track does not offer. If Mesa is your preferred campus, the accelerated format is your only option. Students choosing Milwaukee have access to both tracks and can make the decision based on pace alone.
What does not change between the tracks are the credentials. Both tracks lead to the conferral of a BSN and an MSN degree. DEMSN graduates are prepared as nurse generalists, ready for the NCLEX-RN, ready for professional nursing practice, ready to lead, and well-positioned to advance their career after gaining RN experience. Alverno College offers post-MSN certificate pathways to becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) as well as Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree pathways focused on Educational Leadership (DNP-EDL) and Executive Leadership (DNP-EXL) tracks. For career changers entering nursing with a prior degree, the 18-month vs. 24-month MSN question is ultimately about timing and life circumstances, not about the quality or recognition of the degree you earn.
Which DEMSN Track Is Right for You?
The answer comes down to two things: how quickly you need to enter the nursing workforce, and what your schedule can realistically support while you are in school. If you can commit fully to your studies for the next 18–20 months, the 5-semester track is likely the better fit. The nursing workforce is growing—the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects about 189,100 registered nurse job openings each year through 2034, with employment growing 5% faster than the average for all occupations. Getting into the field sooner has real value, and the 5-semester track is built for students ready to make that move. It suits career changers who want to complete the transition quickly, students without significant outside obligations and those who want access to the Mesa campus.
The 9-semester track fits a different profile. If you are working, raising a family or managing other responsibilities that make an immersive schedule impractical, a part-time direct entry MSN pace offers a sustainable path to the same credential. The 9-semester track is also the right choice for students who know from prior experience that they benefit from taking things a little slower and maximizing all available learning supports. The Health Resources and Services Administration projects a shortage of registered nurses through at least 2028—the need for new nurses is durable, and completing the program at a pace that keeps you on track academically matters more than finishing a year sooner only to struggle through it.
Whichever track you choose, you will graduate with a degree employers value. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, employers report that entry-level MSN graduates are more mature, possess strong clinical skills, and are quick studies on the job—reflecting the prior professional experience these students bring to nursing. With more than 5.9 million active registered nurse licenses in the U.S. as tracked by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, and demand continuing to grow, the weekly time commitment you make now positions you for a career with genuine long-term stability.
What Both Tracks Have in Common
Regardless of which track you choose, the core of what you earn is the same. Both the 5-semester and 9-semester DEMSN are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the U.S. Department of Education-recognized body responsible for nursing program accreditation nationwide. CCNE accreditation means the curriculum meets rigorous national standards for nursing education—standards that matter when you sit for the NCLEX-RN and when you enter the job market.
Both tracks use the same clinical training facilities, including Alverno’s Center for Clinical Education with its Clinical Simulation Center and Clinical Learning Center. You will develop effective history-taking, physical assessment, and other clinical skills as you learn to diagnose health problems by connecting your findings with concepts in pathophysiology. Moreover, you will cultivate advanced analytical and problem-solving abilities to gain essential clinical reasoning and clinical judgment skills to support nursing actions through the same evidence-based practice framework, in the same simulation environments, and under the guidance of the same faculty. Class sizes are kept small in both tracks to ensure you get the personal attention a program this demanding requires.
Learn more about Alverno’s Direct Entry MSN program.
About Alverno College’s Online Direct Entry MSN Program
Alverno College offers a Direct Entry MSN program for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree outside of nursing and want to enter the profession at the graduate level. This pathway allows career changers to move directly into nursing without first completing a separate BSN.
The program holds accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. It is also approved by both the Wisconsin Board of Nursing and the Arizona Board of Nursing.